FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[bleedpurple]

Slightly off topic of these boards, but noteworthy enough for a mention:

Jilleane Rookard, a Michigan native, is an Olympic U.S. Speed Skater. She lost her mother to a battle with cancer. I just returned from her mom's funeral in Woodhaven, MI.

Jilleane reminds me a lot of a D3 Athlete. She has incredible heart and incredible character. She has fought through adversity and risen through the ranks of the unknowns to accomplish her dream. She is a rising star in the speed skating world. I've gotten to know her as she has trained at the Petit Center in Milwaukee.

Michigan and Wisconsin (and the USA!) has a gem in  Jilleane Rookard.

A part of her story is told in Sunday's edition of the Detroit Free Press:

http://www.freep.com/article/20091220/SPORTS17/912200490/Speedskater-will-draw-inspiration-from-her-mother

[sac]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3BorxSYgyo&feature=player_embedded

This was described to me as the worst trick play ever, maybe if the Giants had scored, but its still terrible.

[formerd3db]

My source tells me their candidate asked for more time (no hurry with students off-campus and no recruiting till after the new year)...but I could not get a name....IMOP  OC should bring back Irv and get this rolling again...

Apparently no word yet from Olivet.

former3db,

Who are the lead candidates for Olivet? I would think filling the HC position as soon as possible is critical for recruiting. Any progress now is key down the road.

Rome and Raider:

First, I'm not sure why the "lead" candidate, whoever, he is if he was already offered the job, would ask for more time.  He should have had all his parameters (family, personal, job, financial needs/projections, etc.) already figured out before he applied - and... if he did not know what the potential salary would be that Olivet would offer, I would think he should have inquired after the first round of interviews, if they did it via a sequential process i.e. initial interview, then invited back for a second - although perhasp they did not do it that way.  Yet, at the same time, if this candidate is from "within the system", IMO, he should have had an idea of what the basic package there would probably be.  Moreover, if it involved a family decision i.e. spouse considering this as well, then, again, I think a candidate should have that figured out in his considerations before applying.  I am not intending this to be critical of any of the candidates, rather just "talking out loud here" as to what some of the considerations should be, IMO, for someone who has a serious interest in trying to land the HC job at Olivet, or for that matter, anywhere.

Second, to answer you question Raider, I do not know who the leading candidates are.  what I've heard via the "rumor" mill is what everyone else here has speculated on and discussed from the beginning (although we do know these guys had expressed interest in the job at some time in the past if not the present) i.e. Kubiack, Smith, Sparks on the current staff, with Jones on the current staff and Haygood of Saginaw Valley State being mentioned as possibly having interest.  Other than that, I do not know who else was seriously considered on the Olivet administration's "short list" although I don't doubt there were probably many outside applications from the high school ranks.

Indeed, this is an important decision and while I argued that make such at the DI level for example in the ND situation and others, IMO, while important, is not an absolute necessity in making it before the bowl games even despite the signing date in early February, neither do I think it a "do or die" situation at DIII.  However, that being said, once a school starts the interview process, narrows it down and then apparently offers the job, I think there should be a "window" deadline, for example of 24 hours to decide.  Either one wants the job or not, although we all know of cases where coaches at all the levels, including DI have accepted a job only to change their mind within 24 hours and decide to stay at their current jobs.  Of course, "big" $ plays a big part in that at the DI level, not so much at the DIII level.  Just my thoughts on this and as I've said in the past, it will be interesting to see who ends up accepting the Olivet job.

Almost forgot; Rome, while it would be great to have Irv back, I seriously doubt that will happen.  He said at his last retirement that as he was getting up in years, he was getting tired and mainly wanted to spend more time with his family.  So doubt he would come back; then again, Stagg coached until he was 98 and we've had Paterno and up to this year Bowden as well as Gagliardi at St. Johns.  If Irv did change his mind, in that sense, it might not be a surprise to some - however, I would be surprised.

[Pat Coleman]

I understand Olivet had someone in for an interview last Thursday. If that's so, it might be a stretch for Olivet to have even made an offer yet, and certainly not unusual to expect there wouldn't be a response yet.

[D306]

Merry Christmas to all, enjoy your family.

Unconfirmed rumor making the rounds in mid Michigan area

Rich Holkuw  Marshall HS AD and Head Football coach has accepted the Olivet Job
Holkuw is a mulitple State Champion coach with 2 decades of coaching experience.
Most recent success State Championship D4 2009 Football

Can not confirm this, just throwing it out for discussion
If this is the case, I would believe it is an attempt to have local draw for football recruits, a proven coach ( HS level) local name recognition.
This would be a hire outside the "family", a direct attempt to change the direction of the program.
Olivet seems to have had huge swings in talent and "game plan", as I have said before regarding "recruits" set a profile of the type of Student Athlete you want in your program and recruit those kids. This holds true for every team, consistency in skill set, coaching, and expectations of student athletes leads to a strong program.

[Pat Coleman]

http://www.d3football.com/notables/2009/12/23/1816/olivet-hires-coach-of-high-school-state-champs.html

Confirmed.

[sac]

http://www.d3football.com/notables/2009/12/23/1816/olivet-hires-coach-of-high-school-state-champs.html

Confirmed.

Obviously this is his most prestigious honor.......
http://www.detroitlions.com/news/article-1/Rich-Hulkow-of-Marshall-Named-Lions-High-School-Coach-of-the-Year/e6eda44f-e0aa-42d4-9f69-cc6304842dbe

[Pat Coleman]

I believe the runner-up for that honor got to coach the Lions.

[SaintsFAN]

I believe the runner-up for that honor got to coach the Lions.

it was offered, but turned down...

[blb]

So, their "national search" extended all of about 10-15 miles!   

Nevertheless, Hulkow is a fine coach who will do a good job at Olivet.

[blb]

I believe the runner-up for that honor got to coach the Lions.

In 2006 I was notified that I had been named "Detroit Lions Coach of the Week" and was horrified until I realized it was an honorary title awarded to a HS coach each week.

Thought I was actually going to have to coach Millen's losers and misfits for seven days...

[formerd3db]

Surprise selection for Olivet.  While they ended up not going far to select their next head coach and I don't doubt that there were other high school coaches who applied, it does provide a person with an opportunity to get started at the college level if that is their ultimate (or eventual dream).  It may also help with regional recruiting as has been mentioned.  Hopefully, though, this now former high school coach will stay awhile, at least longer than Irv did, despite his being in the high school coaching ranks for quite some time already.  As far as a national search, I'm sure that someone can assure you that it really was.    

[Raider 68]

Surprise selection for Olivet.  While they ended up not going far to select their next head coach and I don't doubt that there were other high school coaches who applied, it does provide a person with an opportunity to get started at the college level if that is their ultimate (or eventual dream).  It may also help with regional recruiting as has been mentioned.  Hopefully, though, this now former high school coach will stay awhile, at least longer than Irv did, despite his being in the high school coaching ranks for quite some time already.  As far as a national search, I'm sure that someone can assure you that it really was.    

Former 3db,

The new Olivet coach can  really recruit in the area and knows the where the best players are. The question is, can Olivet as a school attract them vs. the competition.

All the Best for a Merry Christmas to you and your family, Great health and a Happy New Year!

[formerd3db]

Surprise selection for Olivet.  While they ended up not going far to select their next head coach and I don't doubt that there were other high school coaches who applied, it does provide a person with an opportunity to get started at the college level if that is their ultimate (or eventual dream).  It may also help with regional recruiting as has been mentioned.  Hopefully, though, this now former high school coach will stay awhile, at least longer than Irv did, despite his being in the high school coaching ranks for quite some time already.  As far as a national search, I'm sure that someone can assure you that it really was.    

Former 3db,

The new Olivet coach can  really recruit in the area and knows the where the best players are. The question is, can Olivet as a school attract them vs. the competition.

All the Best for a Merry Christmas to you and your family, Great health and a Happy New Year!

Raider68:

I would agree with you.  Hopefully, he/they can; I think there is a good chance for that happening.  They've done it at times in recent years (despite the occasion down years during this stretch) and the administration, staff, alumni, etc. have really made commitments in the last decade or so in improving all aspects of the college, including the academic program.  I, for one, like their slogan..."Education for Individual and Social Responsibility".  Anyway, like Zorbo/Kazoo and Deere/Adrian, the "watch will be on".

Thanks for the holiday well wishes and I wish you and your family as well as all our other colleagues/friends here on our board the same.  I've really enjoyed our board here this year, posting with all of you - we've had some great discussions and perhaps more activity than we've had in past years.  I look forward to more of the same in 2010.  A great thanks once again to Pat and his staff for making all this possible in the first place.   

[short]

I don't know much about this new Coach but I can tell you recruiting at this leave takes a whole lot more than knowing the area and the coaches from the area.  Best of luck to him and his staff (is the rest of the staff the same).