FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[formerd3db]

Is there any word coming from Delaware as to when OWU will hire a new HC?  I haven't even heard of any names of coaches involved.  Can anyone enlighten us?

If anyone would know, it would be aueagle.  Anyway, it does seem strange and puzzling why it is taking so long for them to choose a coach.  I seem to recall only a couple of times within this current decade where some DIII schools took this long (or close to it) to name their next coach.  I would think that it would somwhat hinder recruiting, even at the DIII level.  Anyway, I would hope they are going to make a decision before too long - it would be very surprising/puzzling if it went on well into February or even March - the latter would be nothing short of shocking (unless there is some underlying really complicated and/or important reason why the administration is taking so long).

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Is there any word coming from Delaware as to when OWU will hire a new HC?  I haven't even heard of any names of coaches involved.  Can anyone enlighten us?

If anyone would know, it would be aueagle.  Anyway, it does seem strange and puzzling why it is taking so long for them to choose a coach.  I seem to recall only a couple of times within this current decade where some DIII schools took this long (or close to it) to name their next coach.  I would think that it would somwhat hinder recruiting, even at the DIII level.  Anyway, I would hope they are going to make a decision before too long - it would be very surprising/puzzling if it went on well into February or even March - the latter would be nothing short of shocking (unless there is some underlying really complicated and/or important reason why the administration is taking so long).

I think Wallys post in Reply #22389 still applies. It is much more important to get the right hire than to worry too much about this recruiting class. I am anxious to finf out as well, but would rather have the right coach then worry about this class.

[formerd3db]

Is there any word coming from Delaware as to when OWU will hire a new HC?  I haven't even heard of any names of coaches involved.  Can anyone enlighten us?

If anyone would know, it would be aueagle.  Anyway, it does seem strange and puzzling why it is taking so long for them to choose a coach.  I seem to recall only a couple of times within this current decade where some DIII schools took this long (or close to it) to name their next coach.  I would think that it would somwhat hinder recruiting, even at the DIII level.  Anyway, I would hope they are going to make a decision before too long - it would be very surprising/puzzling if it went on well into February or even March - the latter would be nothing short of shocking (unless there is some underlying really complicated and/or important reason why the administration is taking so long).

I think Wallys post in Reply #22389 still applies. It is much more important to get the right hire than to worry too much about this recruiting class. I am anxious to finf out as well, but would rather have the right coach then worry about this class.

Certainly, I agree with that priority order.  However, I would think that just about 3 months is more than plenty of time to make that decision. Unless, OWU didn't have as high a number or the quality of coaching applicants as they think they should have had.  I'm just comparing it to some other schools, which despite having 100+ applicants for their spot, seem to make the seemingly right decision for them.  I don't think many schools rush that decision, although it certainly has happened.  Obvioulsy, I don't know the particulars at OWU and they have kept public info on the progress kind of out of the media it appears, at least more than many schools do.  On the other hand, then you have a school like Lake Forest, which only just now took the "interim" label off their head coach's title after this, his third year.  That is kind of strange IMO. Plus, many high school seniors even at the DIII level are wanting to (usually do and/or want to) make their decision on a school by March if not before.  But again, I can't imagine that OWU will wait that long to name a coach.

[Lawrence Oliver]

Any names?  I heard they had almost 200 applicants.

[aueagle]

The Bishops have had a mixed-bag of applicants. Many high school coaching applicants, but, I've not heard of any
"Top Flight" programs from that group. The ones I know (HC's) at the HS level, with consistent playoff/championship
experience, are not interested. The problem with the "more seasoned" resumes is that at this point, OWU needs energy
and not someone that wants to ride into the sunset & pad the 401k. The two guys I know & like, have 1) solid D2 and D3
experience and 2) big time program exposure......There is an Ohio Wesleyan connection in the group...which can't hurt, BUT,
this program needs to break from the mediocritry of it's past...not to say an OWU guy can't deliver....he would be outstanding. And on the flip-side...who else would know the internals of the school better than someone who had spent 4,5,6 years on campus.
The direction and support the program needs, has to come from Prez Rock...the future of Battling Bishop football needs his stamp of FULL support to do it right. On the website, the former coach has been taken off, except under the "staff listing"....Wesleyan has a pattern of doing methodical steps in their processes...so, this could be a sign. I look for the announcement...soon.

[smedindy]

Hiring a HS coach is fraught with peril I think. I keep flashing back to Gerry Faust...

[aueagle]

....or what Akron did....Hired a guy who hasn't been on the field in 13 years!!!
KangaROO!!!

[The_Bishop]

From the AD:

Greetings,

I would like to share some exciting news about the status of the search for a new head football coach at Ohio Wesleyan University. 

We are very happy with our pool of candidates. The depth and talent of the pool is one of the deepest I have ever been involved in.
We have received approximately 195 applicants to date for this position. It is very apparent that the football world looks at Ohio Wesleyan as a great opportunity.

The applicants have come from all levels of football backgrounds including NCAA Division I-II-and III, NAIA, Junior College, Professional and High School.
Candidates have come from some of the top programs in the country at all levels. Key criteria for the search committee is experience in a highly successful program
and a complete understanding of recruiting and working in a selective liberal arts environment. The search committee narrowed our initial pool down to 30 candidates
for final consideration. To demonstrate the depth of the pool, 29 of the 30 candidates in our top pool, received some support from a member of the committee to move on.

The committee selected 12 from that group for phone interviews. Those individuals have been scheduled for phone interviews and immediately upon the conclusion
of the phone interviews, the search committee will select those who will be asked on campus for final interviews.

We will select between 3-5 candidates for on campus interviews. Those interviews will be conducted on campus between January 25th and February 2nd.  The committee
hopes to conclude the search by the end of the first week of February at the latest.

It has been very gratifying to see the outpouring of support for the football program. We have an initiative going forth called the Football Excellence Campaign. We are
seeking donors to commit support for three years. This fund will be used to upgrade the football staff, provide additional revenue for recruiting and equipment and allow our
new staff to compete annually for NCAC titles. Should you have an interest in participating in this program or questions about it, please call alumni co-chairs John Guy at 614-224-5844
or Pat Huber at 419-230-3640 to participate.

The goal of the athletic department to increase the football team roster size to at least 100, install a junior varsity program, improve full-time staff to five coaches and hire a
full-time strength and conditioning coach to oversee off season workouts in the football program. By improving the overall quality of the type of student-athletes that Ohio Wesleyan
attracts and improving retention within the program we will place the University in a position to pick up these additional costs after three years.

Thanks for all your support as we move forward in this search process.

Roger

--
Roger Ingles
Director of Athletics
Ohio Wesleyan University
740-368-3738 (Office)
740-368-3799 (Fax)
rdingles@owu.edu

[aueagle]

Note the Football Excellence Campaign is only 3 years.
The nuts n bolts from Roger is very solid...JV...100...staff..
Looks like a program is going to be built...I still say the 14th for the final word.
I'm calling ESPN...cameras on campus from the 25th to the 3rd...
Very exciting

[wally_wabash]

They're saying the right things over in Delaware.  If they do follow through with what's outlined here, the Bishops have a good chance to get back into the top half of the league. 

[formerd3db]

aueagle and The_Bishop (and Wally and smeds):

Excellent posts, gentlemen.  And thanks for the info, aueagle and The_Bishop.  It sounds like they are serious and ready to make the commitment to return OWU football to respectability and "the next level".  That should help in overall enrollement of the university in general, much like Adrian College did with adding varsity men's/women's hockey and lacrosse.  They had to do it, however, there is nothing wrong with that as this fits in with the overall educational mission of these schools without question and especially since it is done in the right way and with the right vision.

As far as the Football Excellence Campaign, I think that the 3 year request is an appropriate level to start. It would make it appealable and feasible to donars of all means, and for those those who have the financial means to donate some really "big time" $, then a 3 year commitment, IMO, is not over-bearing, yet at the same time long enought to start the initial assistance needed for the goals of the overall mission.

I will be away the week the announcement is supposed to be made public according to the memo that you posted from the AD, so if I miss it (i.e. if I don't have access to the internet before I return), I will post something when I return.  Thanks again for the follow-up info and all best wishes for them choosing the best and right person for the next HC.  Obviously, rebuilding the program will take some time (i.e. I'm sure no one expects immediate overnight, total transformation), however, yes, this is very exciting.

[aueagle]

 I did some fuzzy math on the FEC (Football Excellence Campaign)...I think a cool million should cover it.
Great to see AD Ingles state that the new staff will compete annually for Championships....With the right
hire, this attitude & energy could be very well push the NCAC elite very quickly...in 2-3 seasons?
I hope the brass has addressed the admissions/financial aid scenarios.

[aueagle]

Transfers helped Coach Jay Martin win the Soccer National Championship
for OWU....Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Western Michigan & Southern Indiana
is where they came from....With the right football coach, who has an upper division
football background, this "transfer pipeline" could be a plus. Sure, it is rare...
but if a D2 or D1 wants to go D3...The Bishops have to be a player in that market.

[wally_wabash]

Transfers helped Coach Jay Martin win the Soccer National Championship
for OWU....Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Western Michigan & Southern Indiana
is where they came from....With the right football coach, who has an upper division
football background, this "transfer pipeline" could be a plus. Sure, it is rare...
but if a D2 or D1 wants to go D3...The Bishops have to be a player in that market.

I think you have to be careful with that.  Transfers are a case by case situation...more than anything, you have to make sure you're getting a kid that wants to be at your school, not just looking for a small pond in which to be the big fish.  I get the sense that an awful lot of guys that transfer out of D-I do so because of false senses of entitlement and not putting in the work to get better.  Those characteristics aren't going to lead to success for anybody at any level.  Certainly some kids transfer for good reasons, but you have to really careful about the kid who's trolling around for a shallow depth chart. 

I think you've also got make sure that you're not doing something drastically different with respect to admissions.  Is OWU a big "transfer in" school in general? 

[luvncac]

Good point Aueagle,

A friend of my grandson transfered to OWU from Ohio Dominican and was OWU's leading scorer this year.  I saw him over Christmas and he said he transfered to OWU for academic reasons.....ODU couldn't provide some classes he needed for his minor.  ODU is a perfect example of what a great coaching change can do for a program; they're only in their second year of NCAA D2 and Bill Conley coached them to 7 victories in the GLIAC, one of the best, if not the best, D2 conferences in the country.  The GLIAC is full of Central Ohio players, maybe the new coach at OWU can recruit from this pool.