FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[formerd3db]

Small but Slow:

I have no idea what the "h***" those things are (i.e. Boston P, Cleveland S), but even the names sound disgusting!!! (I can't even imagine).

[godeep]

I just want to throw out a congratulations to the rest of the staff of Capital that left for Saginaw Valley State.. I think Coach Ancona and Stepsis will do a great job...

[Spence]

If I was a decision maker at Marietta, I'd be concerned that the Allegheny alum would only be taking the position to pad the resume with some HC experience until something in PA opens up as you eluded to.  I would agree that the previous coaches have helped the program but I would also think that the Marietta administration would be looking for a candidate that doesn't appear to the novice eye to be likely to use this position as other coaches have and look to jump from the ship when another option opens up.  Any program that has gone through the number of HC's Etta has over recent years would likely want a good prospect for stability and a little longevity the next time around.

All that said, he could well be the guy that does give them stability and longevity.  Who knows.

Saintsfan is as reliable a source as there is on TMC guys and if he says Hallett would likely do whatever it takes to keep the guy, then I would think he'll be hard to drag away from the Student Princes. 

I'm not sure that the guy who right now looks at Marietta as his last job exists. The pool of qualified candidates with truly local ties is really low, if not zero. Unless we have an alum coaching (and I don't know when the last time that was), there's always going to be someone out there that you could worry about a guy leaving for if you wanted something to worry about.

Before I say this, I'm going to say that i realize Marietta has not achieved anywhere near the success on its level that these programs I'm about to name have on theirs. But Butler and Xavier basketball have sustained program success through several coaching changes.

I'm trying to think of a football equivalent and finding it more difficult. Texas A&M has been pretty decent through several coaches. Texas Tech has maintained where it is through the change from Dykes to Leach, but not really gotten to the next level. Boston College is never too far down and has gone from Bicknell to Coughlin to O'Brien and now to Jago...though over a longer time than MC has gone from Epley to Mr. X. Those are decent but not great programs.

But stability for its own sake I'm not sure is necessarily helpful either. We had the same coach but went from nearly good enough to win the OAC to absolutely nowhere near it in a 4 year period. I have my theories as to why (and it doesn't begin and end with Dante Brown graduating), but it happened.

The best hope for Marietta in my opinion is to get a guy from the region with recruiting ties to Ohio and PA (and WV maybe, but that's always going to be a tough go with WV kids having the Promise scholarship), and hope the guy does well with the job and falls in love with in my opinion -- and many others from the looks of the town and the license plates in the summertime -- the nicest town in the state.

[SaintsFAN]

Just remember, a year ago, when Heidelberg HC position became available...you could've said the same thing Spence is saying about looking at the job as his last stop.

Thomas More lost a great coach when Coach Hallett left for Tiffin....but he is closer to home and doing a helluva job at a school with that has decided to bring back old glory.

Maybe 'etta will find someone wanting to be closer to home who shares the same vision

[HScoach]

Or maybe Etta will hire another ex-MUC guys so we can be one step closer to an entire conference lead by Raiders

[Spence]

Or maybe Etta will hire another ex-MUC guys so we can be one step closer to an entire conference lead by Raiders

I think the only one under consideration is Zebrowski.

[Spence]

Just remember, a year ago, when Heidelberg HC position became available...you could've said the same thing Spence is saying about looking at the job as his last stop.

Thomas More lost a great coach when Coach Hallett left for Tiffin....but he is closer to home and doing a helluva job at a school with that has decided to bring back old glory.

Maybe 'etta will find someone wanting to be closer to home who shares the same vision

There really isn't anyone from closer to home than Wheeling/Pittsburgh. Dom Capers is not walking through that door. Mike Devol is not a candidate. The list of schools near Marietta that have much in the way of football tradition is very short indeed.

[seventiesraider]

Marietta High School coach will soon need a new position and he has a lot invested in the community. I am totally serious.

[Small but Slow]

It all depends on what MC is looking for.  It's not easy to find ambitious coaches with the energy and charisma to build a program who don't have aspirations of moving on to the next challenge. 

[reality check]

I wasn't advocating or implying that the perfect candidate wouldn't have aspirations of moving on or up.  I just think Marietta could use a guy with that ambition or drive that really wants to have a long-term impact on Marietta before he leaves.  That could be 4 years, 8 years, 15 years.  I would look at a guy like Collins at Capital as an example.  If Marietta could find a guy half as good as Collins was for CAP it would be huge for the Pioneers.  On the other hand, having a guy that looks like a great prospect but leaves in two years for the first position he can find in his home conference or home state would be equally damaging to the overall strength of the program.

[Small but Slow]

RC:  I agree that a college looking to build their program to a top level needs that highly talented coach to do it, but the possibility that he will be there for the long haul (more than five years) is not highly likely.  Take G.A. Mangus at Delaware Valley State, as an example.  He overhauled that program quickly, proved he could succeed and earned an opportunity to advance.  As long as a coach builds the program within the rules and leaves it better than he found it, I see no problem with a coach climbing the ladder.

[seventiesraider]

Clearly, at this time, Marietta is a rung on the ladder, not a destination. The hope is that you find somebody with limited HC experience, but a ton of ambition and energy, who can build a great program and hopefully stick around to see it through.

[Small but Slow]

The fact that every year several OAC schools are on the market for new coaches underscores the value and unique situation MUC has with LK.  MUC has had two head football coaches in the past 40+ years.  Only Penn State and SJU, off hand, have had that sort of stability.  Coach Wable didn't win a title or make the playoffs until his final year, but he ran a solid program and was a builder of character in his athletes.  It takes the right person to stay committed to a small school even when courted by bigger (not necessary better) opportunities.

[Spence]

Filkovski announced on MC's Web site.

"Playing in the OAC was one of the big selling points for me. This is the best Division III football conference in the country," Filkovski said. "I was also impressed with the commitment that has been made by Marietta's administration, the athletic department and the players. Marietta is a perfect example of the type of college I was hoping to get my first opportunity as a head coach."

He officially starts on the job Wednesday.

[SaintsFAN]

wow.

Spence,

as they say....loose lips, sink ships. 

They must have stepped up in the form of compensation.