FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wabco]

Do not look for 'Bash to go the 20 something route.  Look for a coach with demonstrated leadership, record, recruiting talents.  Believe you do not get that in the 20 something group ... they are still teething.  Perhaps these are perceived to cost less, maybe just maybe will get a hit, and by the way ... relate in age.  I look for our coach to be a leader not a brother.  And soon.

[aueagle]

Age has it's advantage & disadvantage...... Hanover has made their statement with youth. The last Panther coach was there, what...20 plus years? His resume might not be padded with a lot of experience, but Hanover hopes this youth movement will work to it's advantage (recruiting, etc). I trust this works for the Panthers. It is not for every program.

[smedindy]

Though Creighton was barely over 30 when he started at Wabash...

[BashBacker#16]

...but Wabash is in a much different position now then we were in 2001.  I think that changes the requirements and the guidelines that the Search Committee is working from.

Hoping for some progress soon.

WAF!

[aueagle]

Same for Collins at Cap (early 30's?) ....the link for Collins & Austin (Hanover) is Univ of Dubuque...Collins was the HC from '94-'96....Is it a roll of the dice? Maybe...remember Shula at Alabama....the is a ton of quality coaches out there....it's just how young do you go into the well of talent...and, fit your need.

[smedindy]

...but Wabash is in a much different position now then we were in 2001.  I think that changes the requirements and the guidelines that the Search Committee is working from.

Hoping for some progress soon.

WAF!

That's true. But I still like the guy from Wartburg, if he would so choose to move. He's young, motivated and has a great track record. A perfect storm!

[BashBacker#16]

Smeds - hypothetically speaking; compare the Coe guy with the Wartburg guy?  Would you have a preference?  You seem to be high on this conference.  Curious on your take.

[smedindy]

IIAC gets lost in the shadow of the WIAC and MIAC, but they are a tough league, and this year Central proved its mettle by handing it to St. John's in the playoffs. The IIAC was 16-5 in non-conference play this year, including playoffs.

Wartburg has 15 or more 7 win seasons in a row, so the coach at Wartburg knows about sustaining excellence. Coe has been no slouch either.

Frankly, the only reason I touted Wartburg's coach was his Indiana credentials. Raeburn's a Mt. Union guy. Yet either would be good if they decided to pull up stakes and move to Indiana.

[LG Alum]

Hey fellas been away a bit for the holidays.  SmedIndy- Don'
t quite understand your logic on Koehler....the former long-time Head Coach who built the Wartburg program is the AD! Koehler has been the Head Coach for 2 years and took over AFTER they had gone to the playoffs 2 straight years!  He brought virtually nothing to the table as far as implementing his own program.  The Wabash situation is a whole differnt animal.  Besides, looking at his resume, before he went to Wartburg he didn't have a single standout season as an assistant.  This guy seems to be the furthest thing from coming in and implementing his own program, he got in the drivers seat after the same car was already rolling.  Come on Smed, think creatively,your a Wabash Man.  Look at Jeff McMartin from Central!  Do you think he created that program?  Heck no, he got hammered the 3 years he was offensive coordinator at DePauw, then he goes back to his alma mater, takes over a progam that was already rolling...and now he is the king of the hill in that conference!  Wabash needs to go get the best guy, and that doesn't mean it is the best resume.  Sometimes its the place that makes the coach, and I think Wabash has that quality to a higher degree than most places.

[aueagle]

                         Left-Field Thinking On The Wabash Job:

Sure, it's a long-shot, but, since Univ. of Saint Francis had a great run in the NAIA playoffs (lost in semi to champion Carroll)...and I know we hashed over the NAIA a year or two ago...but....Warren Maloney...Def. Cord.  Coach...solid background....Franklin Griz grad & Shelbyville HS grad....knows Ind football...a big part of Cougar football success...hey, wally...I marked Feb 13 as the drop-dead date for a coach...

[Knightstalker]

Come on smeds, injuries aren't an excuse.  Injuries happen to everybody.  Great teams overcome them and still accomplish goals. 

It would be better if we had an example of a team overcoming a catastrophic injury to a vital player and still winning a conference title. Has that happened recently?

Rowan lost Oriehl a couple of years ago and still won the NJAC.

[wabco]

I have one word:  Ward.

Knows Wabash, Wabash kids love him, driven and successful ...D III  Assistant Coach of the Year, came from the CC system and has experience on the outside, is a #1 recruiter.  Probably can even get his old house back.

Timewise:  anticipate in the next 10 days.  Tick Tock Tick Tock

[smedindy]

LG Alum -

I AM thinking critically. I think the situations are quite similar between Wartburg and Wabash - a coach has to step in and take the reins of a successful program with expectations of success. I went through almost every D3 school and looked for younger coaches that are at successful programs. There are only a handful, really, that I would consider. I didn't look at NAIA, nor did I dip into coordinators.

As for the place making the coach - I don't know about that. CC was pretty darn successful at Ottawa and he was going to be successful anywhere he went. Navarro and Parrish built the program and Carlson maintained it for many years. I think Wabash has made good hires going back to Navarro and that's why they've maintained success.

As I outlined earlier, it is POSSIBLE that Wabash could be 5-5 next year. Not likely at all, but POSSIBLE. An excellent hire will make that a dim possibility.

I still don't think Ward will come back.

[BashBacker#16]

Smeds,

Curious (have I really asked your opinion 2 times in 2 days... ) - what makes you say that with so much certainty about Coach Ward?

Wabco mentioned his recruiting skills, makes you think about the guys he brought in which I know has been mentioned but this list is pretty crazy (off the top of my head):  Darryl Kennon, Matt Kraft, Russ Harbaugh, Bubba Lange, Michael Russell, Aaron Lafitte, Ray Green, Kyle Piazza, Andy Deig, Billy King, Brandon Roop, Patrick Millikan...  Not a bad group of talent.  Wow!

[old wabash]

will certain is from arizona connection!!