FB: American Rivers Conference

[Walston Hoover]

For the sake of Eric Koehler, how awesome would it be for him if the GVSU staff was hired at PSU after this season? That would be like a record fast jump.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=3504915&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos1

Looks like Iowa isn't the only team in the media about legal trouble.  I know many D1 teams have these types of troubles with young men getting into trouble with the law, but not every school is brought in the front of headlines nationaly like Iowa and now Penn State has recently.  Also, does anyone have any opinions on wether this is Joe Pa's last year coaching or at least at Penn State?  His contract is up at the end of the season, and both Joe Pa and the President of Penn State have said they will wait until the end of the season to talk about the contract issue.  Does this year put exta pressue on Joe Pa and Penn State to have a good year?  Since, Joe Pa is 2nd in most wins I believe he will be able to stay at Penn State until he dies....so I don't see any extra pressure.

[doolittledog]

I think Koehler is getting out while the going is good.  Knowing that the Dubuque Spartans will be the future power in the conference his stock could only go down.  So he hitched up his pony and got the heck outta town 

Or, he saw a good opportunity, talked it over with his mentor and family, and then decided to take a chance to move up in the coaching ranks...while at the same time being able to better support his family finantially. 

[Alfredeneumann]

Or, he saw a good opportunity, talked it over with his mentor and family, and then decided to take a chance to move up in the coaching ranks...while at the same time being able to better support his family finantially. 

Maybe the roof on the NEW house he built last year was leaking already. or he couldn't find a landscaper/running back.

[TheOne89.1]

Wartburg is now looking for a QB coach.

Jake Olsen anyone?

What is Mike Woltz up to these days?

[TheOne89.1]

This changes my pick from Simpson to Wartburg for the new coach that does the best with his team.  I think that it goes to Wartburg now. 

I did chuckle when I read this.  I too have to change my previous opinion on which new coach will do the best with his team.  I switch my vote from Luther to Wartburg!

[dutchfan1]

This changes my pick from Simpson to Wartburg for the new coach that does the best with his team.  I think that it goes to Wartburg now. 

I did chuckle when I read this.  I too have to change my previous opinion on which new coach will do the best with his team.  I switch my vote from Luther to Wartburg!

Considering Willis' history, do we really consider him a "new" coach? I guess I don't.... he's been out of the driver's seat for all of three seasons. His recruits are still there. 

[TheOne89.1]

As for the whole Koehler/Willis situation, I think none of the players have anything to worry about.  I never played for Koehler as a head coach, but I think a lot of Koehler's views and strategies and the way he ran the Knight program as a head coach came from Willis.  The values and expectations are the same.  I'm sure Koehler recruited many of the same players that Willis would have.

With Morrison as the OC and Dettwiler as the DC (and the help of Willis' Def. knowledge) I really think Wartburg will win the IIAC this year.  Of course I thought the same thing with Koehler as head coach last week, but Defense wins games and championships.  We saw that in the late 90's early 00's.

Congratulations to Coach Willis and Coach Koehler.  I think this is a big positive for both.  Willis obviously wanted to get back into coaching with his applying for jobs.  I'm sure Wartburg was his first choice, but he didn't want to kick a guy like Coach Koehler out.  Works out best for all involved.

[Walston Hoover]

Actually just 2.

Considering Willis' history, do we really consider him a "new" coach? I guess I don't.... he's been out of the driver's seat for all of three seasons. His recruits are still there.

[doolittledog]

Does the IIAC get 1 or 2 teams in the playoffs this year???

Who gets in and how far to they reach into the playoffs???

What will be the won-loss total for the IIAC in non-con games this year???

[the_mayne_event]

WIllis is a Defensive guy, Koehler was offensive (no pun intended)
Koehler told me nothing would change because coordinators are set and will remain.
The main difference between the 2 at Wartburg is there were multiple championships won with Willis's recruits.  (Koehler pointed that out to me)

WOW-- Miss a few days and look what happens.

With Willis running the show again in Waverly I predict an IIAC Title this season.

Are Willis and Koehler very same in play calling/strategies?

will the kids there respond to Willis teh same?  such as frosh/sophs/juniors that might have wanted to play for Koehler instead of Willis?

i liked Koehler during the recruting process... can't say the same about Willis.

Not starting a war here but with that quote about Willis' recruits.  Were they not the players that Coach K had as well?  With only two years of recruiting I don't think there were many players there that were Coach K's recruits contributing to much playing time.  I may be wrong but that does not make sense to me.  If you want to say he recruited three years then the last class Coach Willis recruited has this years seniors in it does it not?  I think this does bode well for Wartburg as Coach Willis will have his boys to coach the final year they are there.  


This changes my pick from Simpson to Wartburg for the new coach that does the best with his team.  I think that it goes to Wartburg now.  

the juniors on the team would have been recruited by Koehler, no?  not sure, just a guess... but if they are, most juniors are pretty big contributers.. but i dont knwo what Wartburg's team shakes out like.
i'm not trying to start a war here either, just trying to point some things out.
Koehler and Willis had different recruiting styles when Willis was there, but maybe that was due to Koehler only being OC at the time...

[the_mayne_event]

Does the IIAC get 1 or 2 teams in the playoffs this year???

Who gets in and how far to they reach into the playoffs???

What will be the won-loss total for the IIAC in non-con games this year???

i'd say that with how much parity there apparently is in the conference this year... only the champs get in with the automatic qualifier.

i think it all depends on how Coe and Central replace their losses (mainly at QB)

[Klompen]

Right now, the only coaches I can think of around the IIAC that have stayed at their post despite the chance to move onward and upward would be VanHaaften at BV (basketball) Jim Miller at Wartburg (wrestling) and both of Simpson's basketball coaches.  Good, bad, or indifferent, that's just the way of the world right now.

I'm pretty sure George Wares is in that club as well.  Coaches that are coaching at their alma mater have more reason to stay than other coaches.  I'm hoping Coach Mac is right in there.  I heard rumors last year and he is still here.  I hope he follows Skip's example of knowing a good thing when he has it without all the added pressure that you have at higher division schools. 

[the_mayne_event]

Right now, the only coaches I can think of around the IIAC that have stayed at their post despite the chance to move onward and upward would be VanHaaften at BV (basketball) Jim Miller at Wartburg (wrestling) and both of Simpson's basketball coaches.  Good, bad, or indifferent, that's just the way of the world right now.

I'm pretty sure George Wares is in that club as well.  Coaches that are coaching at their alma mater have more reason to stay than other coaches.  I'm hoping Coach Mac is right in there.  I heard rumors last year and he is still here.  I hope he follows Skip's example of knowing a good thing when he has it without all the added pressure that you have at higher division schools. 

Coach O at Coe (wresting) would probably only give it up for the Iowa job (which will never be opened up in his coaching lifetime)

[the_mayne_event]

i dont think anyone mentioned this either:
Coe's Jordan Wilkens, DE was named to Lindy's pre-season 2nd team along with Breitbach

[doolittledog]

I think only 1 IIAC team makes the playoffs...

No idea how far that team will advance...depends on the seed

I think the IIAC goes 15-3 in the non-con...

I have Monmouth beating Loras...St. Olaf beating Luther...Redlands beating Dubuque.  A lot of 50/50 games I just took the IIAC team. 

Should be quite a few good non-con matchups this fall.  With the conference part of the schedule really being interesting with all the coaching turnover.