FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Onward on, John Carroll]

The Arth news reminds me of how fortunate we were that LK was content with staying in Alliance.    That fact is as remarkable as his winning percentage.

We need to be mindful of the age difference between Arth and LK when they both became a hot commodity in the coaching circles.  Coach Arth is only 35.  LK was 45+ when the D1 overtures were first made to him.  It is easier to be content at an older age, especially when you children are entrenched in schools, you are becoming untouchable in your current job and you have spent 4+ decades in the City of Alliance.  Arth - while an alumnus and a Cleveland native - left the area and always seemed to be on the coaching fast track to bigger things.

Also, the money is a lot different now as opposed to then.  When KSU offered him $180K, he was probably making $90-100K at Mount.  Obviously a big raise.  Arth is being paid, we assume, $100K or so.  He is going to a school where the head coach made $250K last year, was offered $325 to stay and took a job within the same league making $375K+.  But I think the main factor financially is not necessarily this job's salary but the potential salary at the next job. 

It is this same reason why I think that VK will eventually start to listen to the offers even if it means being a coordinator in the MAC.  It is not necessarily that the job he takes is better (it may not be) or that the pay is better (it will be) but, rather, it is the fact that he is getting on the "train" with the potential for a really big pay day in 3-7 years if the cards fall right. 

I firmly believe that if he economics had been in the late '90s what they are now, LK would have jumped ship and went to KSU if he could make 4 times his current salary.  I could be wrong but it seems likely.

This.  100% correct.  It's not UT-C, it's the stop after.  I will never blame a guy for betting on himself.  Not when life changing money is potentially on the line if you win.

As for VK, I wouldn't blame him in the least if he took (for example) the DC job at Toledo.  Candle is on the rise.  He's going to get a bigger job sooner rather than later.  If VK is there he would be in a position to 1) go with Candle and make big boy DC $, or 2) potentially be the HC at Toledo ($600k).

I think the world of Tom Arth and did so long before he beat Mount Union and took us to the semifinals. That said, I am blown away by how far up the ladder he went in just one move.  From a D3 job to a D1 job (albeit FCS) and a program that made the playoffs this year is huge.  I just hope he (and the JCU coaches going with him) can adjust to managing scholarships quickly and hire good people with that experience.

I am no expert, and Pat Coleman and the gang can jump in  on this, but I think this is the biggest move up since LL went to Buffalo from Wisc-WW.  In some respects, while Buffalo is FBS and the pay was greater, this may be a better long-term move for Arth than it was for LL.  he is taking over an established program with recent success.

[wally_wabash]

Seriously? Petty would be if I posted it to Tom's Twitter page ('Hey Tom good thing you got outta dodge before you got folded up like a lawnchair....again') or if I had added 'Look Tom getting crushed, just like all his JCU players dreams just did'. Honestly Wally - sometimes a post is just a post and doesn't have any message behind it.

Not sure I'm buying what you're selling behind the whole "hey guys, who's that Raider crushing Tom Arth?" ruse (as if that's a tough thing to figure out), but whatever.  Whether your intent was to take a cheap shot or not, certainly you have to realize how that reads today. 

[HScoach]

While I'm more of a fan of D3 than of D1, and of D1 more than the NFL, I won't ever disparage a coach stepping up for a bigger and better paying opportunity.    I'm happy at my job, work with good people and have a solid future but if someone from a big national firm tripled or quadrupled my salary you better believe I'd consider it.

Good luck to Tom Arth.   He was a great competitor on the field and on the sidelines.   One of the few Mount opponents that I truly liked and respected.   Many fall into one category or the other, some fall into neither, but Arth was the rare breed to be both.

[Desertraider]

Seriously? Petty would be if I posted it to Tom's Twitter page ('Hey Tom good thing you got outta dodge before you got folded up like a lawnchair....again') or if I had added 'Look Tom getting crushed, just like all his JCU players dreams just did'. Honestly Wally - sometimes a post is just a post and doesn't have any message behind it.

Not sure I'm buying what you're selling behind the whole "hey guys, who's that Raider crushing Tom Arth?" ruse (as if that's a tough thing to figure out), but whatever.  Whether your intent was to take a cheap shot or not, certainly you have to realize how that reads today.

If I knew who it was I wouldn't have asked the question. I can't see enough of the numbers to ID. If my intent was to take a cheap shot - I would have taken it. Christ - Lighten up Francis.

[bluestreak66]

It makes total sense for Coach Arth to make the jump. His stock was high right now, and the money isn't even close. We don't know how much Arth made at JCU (since private schools don't have to disclose that), but for a measuring stick, Pat Cerroni up at Oshkosh appeared to make just south of 70K this year. Russ Heusman, Chattanooga's former coach, pulled in about 230K. The money gap between the two divisions is pretty extreme. It would be very hard for anyone with a decent sized family not to jump. I hope Coach Arth has unbounded success at UTC. he was a great coach and better man to play under, and I have a feeling that he is going to end up somewhere higher than UTC.

As for his replacement, I would personally like to see Tommy Zagorski. He's in the same mold as Arth, and worked with him from 2010 to 12, and under him in 14 and 15. I also believe he may have been offered the head coach position at Capital in 2013, but he chose to stay at JCU (during my years, he was the o-line coach. I think he got up to coordinator before he left for Tennessee.) He's currently at Eastern Kentucky, but he might be tempted to return to DIII to be a head coach.

[SaintsFAN]

Coach Dartt from UMU to JCU

I think Dartt is a fabulous candidate.  +K

[D O.C.]

Carroll Rosenbloom?
The guy who swam every day and just happened to drown on an average Miami Beach day.

[JCUStreaks70]

While I'm more of a fan of D3 than of D1, and of D1 more than the NFL, I won't ever disparage a coach stepping up for a bigger and better paying opportunity.    I'm happy at my job, work with good people and have a solid future but if someone from a big national firm tripled or quadrupled my salary you better believe I'd consider it.

Good luck to Tom Arth.   He was a great competitor on the field and on the sidelines.   One of the few Mount opponents that I truly liked and respected.   Many fall into one category or the other, some fall into neither, but Arth was the rare breed to be both.

+K

Believe me, everything about him is Pure Class. He is the kind of coach that makes you strive for perfection on and off the field. He leads by example, and I can tell you that all of us who played under him are better men because of him.

[Desertraider]

Coach Dartt from UMU to JCU

I think Dartt is a fabulous candidate.  +K

He is.....but I would rather he stayed put! Granted IFhe did go who would be his replacement? Burke?

[Blutarsky]

The Arth news reminds me of how fortunate we were that LK was content with staying in Alliance.    That fact is as remarkable as his winning percentage.

Unfortunately I think VK will be more like Arth and less like his old man. Which is fine, but we're spoiled.

I agree with you.  He needs to continue to be selective; but there will be an offer he just wouldn't be able to refuse. 

VK did a helluva job this year.

Let's spin this forward:  Who should be on JCU's shortlist of candidates?  They are going to have some interest.  I know of only one name of a coach who won't be going back there.

Their DC would be a no brainer if he's not going with Arth.  I'd guess that he is though.

I'd think you'd have to throw Debeljak on the list too.  He's a JCU grad and already in Cleveland.

I'm sure he'd say no, but I'd also at least make a call to Chuck Kyle.  He's in his mid 60's, but he's a JCU guy too so I'd at least take a shot at "last chance to try college ball, coach."  Probably not a long-term solution obviously, but I've always wondered how that marriage would work out between JCU and Kyle.  I think he'd be great.

I don't see Coach Kyle going to a place with, potentially, less talent than he coaches at Iggy.......plus, I think he would have less of a recruiting budget/presence.

[SaintsFAN]

Wilmington has a new coach;  Bryan Moore.  I think he could be really good for the Quakers.

[wildcat11]

Been to Wilmington once (worked for Airborne Express out of college), not a lot happening there.

[Dr. Acula]

Wilmington has a new coach;  Bryan Moore.  I think he could be really good for the Quakers.

That's a pretty good resume IMO.  Kudos to Wilm for getting a successful OC like him to buy in.  That can't be an easy sell.

[HScoach]

Blutarsky,

Good point on the recruiting budget and talent level.  No way Kyle leave Ignatius at his age.

[raiderpa]

I was stunned to see the news of Arth leaving JCU.  I guess I was just spoiled by the example of LK staying for a career at Mount, and thought Arth may do the same at JCU.  I wish him the best.  He did a wonderful job and if he wants to move up the ladder, more power to him.  He is going into a great situation. The coach at UTC left the cupboard stocked by all reports and so the Arth staff won't be starting in the hole.
I cannot see JCU ever hiring a Mount guy.  Just not happening, IMO.  I could see VK going on to Toledo.  Candle was in the news for the Cincinnati job before they hired Fickel.  With Candle as OC and VK as DC they would have a nice pair.
If VK would ever leave, I could see Dartt staying at Mount with his connection to LK, family and the program.
Might be the best thing for Mount that Arth left, he delevloped an attitude that they could not only play with Mount, but beat them.  Perhaps the next coach will not be able to keep that going.