FB: American Rivers Conference

[Loras70sGrad]

Hostility no. (Never been a big Bierie fan but this situation has nothing to do with that)   Could not pick this guy Klieman out of a line up if I had to.  But felt the same way when he was picked.  There had been some great Loras "grad" coaches over the years who I understand werent even interviewed.   That isn't right and the current situation is evidence of what goes around comes around.  I am sure that Kieman is going for good personal reasons and you can never fault a guy with a family for doing that but the timing is not reall good.  Again my point is that they should look within first or recent Loras staff members.  Tradition starts by taking care of your own, so lets see what the Duhawks do.

[Confused77]

LorasGrad-
Klieman was the right person for the job last year. I do not believe there was a better person for the job, with all of his experience and the fact that he was already on staff was a good thing. I worked with him for 2 years and have nothing but respect for him as a person and as a coach. His decision to leave is for all the right reasons. Yes, the timing probably isn't all that great, but is there ever really a good time to leave any job?

Do you have any names off the top of your head that you think would be a good fit? I know when the Wartburg job opened all the Knights had lists of former Knights they would have liked to have taken that job(not that they made a bad decision)

Believe me, there are lots of people on the Loras campus right now(players especially) that would love hear who some of us think would be a good fit for THEIR football team.

[dutchfan1]

Pardon my two cents...

I don't know that a grad of a particular program has a leg up, or should be considered over a grad of another institution. For argument's sake, take a look at the situation with Indiana basketball -- Davis seems to think that the next coach needs to be a grad of the Indiana basketball program (for all of the reasons you guys are listing here -- program familiarity, etc.) ...he all but named Alford for the job. The fan support would be inherant, but the bottom line is that if the coach proves that he can direct the team and win ball games, it doesn't matter where he/she graduated from. (I think the administration sees that they can do better than Alford, even though he has the fan support already.) When any instituation is looking for a coach to build a successful program, knowing that he has a plan for improvement is key -- what is he going to change/implement/improve upon? Loras has a framework for being an amazing program, but when was the last time the Duhawks came away with a title? Someone coming in and keeping the status quo won't win a championship in the IIAC. Someone who comes in and makes changes and takes Loras to the next level will be a key find.

Then again, this is (I'm sure) pretty ironic, coming from a Central grad -- we have hired sucessful coaches from within our program in the past....again, just my high level thoughts on the matter.

[Confused77]

agreed df1--nicely put

Hire the best coach for the job, regardless of their alma mater

[Loras70sGrad]

Yes, there are better times to leave a job.  Right after the season or right before the annual coaches convention is the normal time, where schools have time to review available candidates.  All that being said, I am sure the guy has his reasons but lets not kid ourselves here Loras is taking one on the chin here.  It is the end of March and the thick of D3 recruiting.

I think it says volumes for the Wartburg program and their tradition if the situation of former players you described is true.  The real question is how does Loras get there?  Not sure I have the answer but I still feel having a Loras kid at the helm is a real good start in that direction.  This is my opinion, I have no relative that is a coach or friend looking for a job or personal agenda but have been around enough college football programs to know that tradition comes from within.  

[Loras70sGrad]

Interesting analogy, but IU basketball and Loras football are a bit of a stretch.  Loras is now on the hot sieat, they have to find a coach during the time of the year that most of the candidates have already secured head coaching jobs or signed contracts for 2006 or have left the profession.  Loras with the exception of last season has had one guy at the helm for 26 yrs and he never won the IIAC title.  My point is if you have to take a chance then do it with someone who has a passion for the place not someone who just sees it as a bus stop.  At this time of year the candidates are not all from the A list, mostly B list guys.  Take a young Loras grad and let him get a shot.  The perfect person for the job was 3-7, how much worst can a young coach do.

Dont discount Alumni support and fan support, it pays dividends for a long time.

[KoHawk01]

If I were a player/fan for Loras, I would also consider the possibility of players transfering.  For all of you Loras fans/players; anything on any transfers away from the school with the departure of coach Kleiman (sp?)? 

Best of look with your situation!

[The Show]

I don't think you'll see many (as in none) departures from current players.  This is D3 afterall.  Most players decide on a school, the coach has an influence, but usually isn't a reason to transfer.

[Confused77]

Believe me, Klieman had and incredible passion for the school and for program. He was there for 4 seasons. I know he was in the office bright and early each morning and left late at night, he poured himself into the school.

I am just not sure that because a person is coaching at their alma mater, it means they will do a better job and they will stay forever.

My brother had 3 different coaches during his time at Wartburg none of the 2 coaches after the first were alums. Obviously the first one was Nielson and was a W'burg alum, but the last two, Hagen and Willis had no ties to the burg, Willis was an Iowa guy. My point here is-  Hagen brought in a different attitude that went well with the tradition already established and had success. Willis also brought in an attitude that meshed well with the what was already there and as we all know the rest is history.   Both Hagen and Willis had been successful Coordinators, from successful schools.

So, with the above being said, I think the right guy for the job is a younger successful coordinator, Loras ties or not.

And to all you Loras Football guys especially Seniors, you have every right to be a part of selecting your new coach, find a way and get involved.

[Loras70sGrad]

Sure everyone would like the young successful coordinator you described, but lets be real the passionate Coach Klieman resigned in March not November, not December but MARCH.  March is not the buyers market for coaches.

Nice idea regarding getting invoived but since when has Loras ever embraced its alumni's opinions especially its football alumni.

[coacher]

There are alot of  Alums that are out there in coaching:

Helminiak  - Head Coach, Southern Oregon
Mierkewicz - Head Coach, Hastings College, NE
Hoskins - Head Coach, Rockford College, IL
Sullivan - Head Coach, Eureka College, IL
Steger - Defensive Coordinator, UM-Duluth
Diesing - Asst. Coach, UW-Platteville
Hansen - Asst. Coach, Austin College, TX
Verble - Asst Coach, D2 in Texas

[Loras70sGrad]

Great list coachr.  I think Hoskins was a COE grad, but a great list. 

Don't know any of them personally but I say start there.

[lboogie99]

Coacher:
I think Bower is at NIU still
and there are a couple of younger guys that are at some other programs as well

[coacher]

Yes, I know I forgot some more...

Greg Bower, Asst Coach NIU
Tom Kropf, Asst Coach SUNY Maritime, NY
Josh Varner, Asst Coach UW-Platteville
Ryan Carney, Asst Coach Loras
Sean Carney, Asst Coach Lake Forest High School, IL
Justin Friske, Head Coach, Pius HS, Milwaukee
Rick Arrand, Head Coach, Lena-Winslow IL
Jeremy Kasper, Asst Coach, Rockford College

and there are alot og guys that have had stops at Loras...

[Walston Hoover]

Interesting-I Step away for a few days and there's some big news.
I'll echo what everyone else said that this is NOT good timing at all for the Duhawks. This is the time of year when aid packages are coming out and players are making their final decisions.