FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[nccardboy]

CardinalAlum-

I am dreading this decision being made until I see Wienke's name, and yes that what it would turn into a complete circus within the staff.

[Mugsy]

I have to disagree with NCC2008. NCC should be quite alright with the loss of Lester. I cant see them bringing anyone else in besides Wienke to run the defense. Wienke is a great coach and ran NCC's defense during their first playoff appearance as well as their first share of the conference title the following year.  I think their biggest decision will be whether to stick with the 3-3-5 or go back to the 4-3 considering Lester knows how NCC runs the 3-3-5 inside and out. Going back to the 4-3 shouldn't be that big of a transition for NCC either seeing as many of the seniors and juniors played under Wienke's 4-3 (and they have the players to play it this year). Although NCC had a great past year with Lester and the 3-3-5, I think bringing him in as the D-coordinator last year for Wienke caused alot of unnecessary drama as well as pressure on the players, seeing as he left within a year. NCC has made some large coaching changes and has had its share of drama over the past year. Their decision to bring in Lester last year had a significant effect on the defensive side of the coaching staff, which resulted in the cards getting rid (whether it was their own decision or not) of some GREAT coaches on that side of the ball (prentice, gordon, schwiegert were lost last year). Some of the higher ups on the staff *cough cough* at NCC really need to think alot more about these changes before they make these decisions that are not only going to effect the staff but the players as well.

All and all the cards will be solid in 2008, and should be the team to beat in the CCIW.  With camp bringing in players after a long summer of training the cards only have a couple question marks to fill up position wise. Who they pick to fill the D-coordinator spot will be the biggest question mark NCC needs to answer.  The easiest transition in my eyes would be to bring back Wienke who has been there since the beginning of Thorne (but for some odd reason I get a feeling some others might be added into this decision).

ncccardboy,

Well said.  I am hearing some names that I wouldn't be real comfortable with as far as the defensive coordinator position.  Weinke should be the only person they should look at this late in the summer.   This team has a chance to be pretty good and need to avoid a circus within the coaching staff.

Guess that means I shouldn't apply...   

[NCC.2008]

If NCC doesn't go with Wienke, he will be gone as well.

[Comet 14]

Posted by: 79jaybird  Posted on: Yesterday at 04:21:01 pm 
Insert Quote 
My gut feeling is Lester is going to focus on the offense moreso than the defense.  He liked working with Dom Demma/Todd Evans and that offensive group that were putting up some big numbers offensively.
You have Adam leading the offense and Nichols leading the defense, so I don't think Lester has to devote tons of time leading these groups.
I think priority number one is getting his philosophy and system in place, and have the AC's and players adapt to the system pronto.   
Jaybird, You are assuming that Lester will keep the Offensive and Defensive Coordinators as is. While this might be the case I don't think it is a given that he won't bring in someone. Plus coach Nichol's might not want to coach "under" someone who got the job he probably thought he should have gotten.

[NCC.2008]

Lester is bringing (from what I've heard) 3 NCC coaches with to Elmhurst as well.   

[DadofBashWarrior..]

Lester is bringing (from what I've heard) 3 NCC coaches with to Elmhurst as well.   

Pat Coleman.....if the above is true and Thorne has to regroup this late it will affect what we spoke of yesterday and my prediction that North Central will make the top 8 teams.

WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS

[matblake]

Any of the NCC faithful know if Coach Thorne has faced this situation where a number of assistants left?  It seems as if he would have still been in the part of his tenure where he was bringing his types of assistants in.  He certainly has the players to reload, but coaching plays a big part of this game.  Let's not forget the difference in the Wheaton offensive line last year.  It will be a good test for the Cardinals, who have certainly proved they can do it on the field. 

Also, anyone know if it was known when Lester came to North Central whether or not he would be interested in a head coaching position if the right one came up?

[79jaybird]

Why wouldn't NC go to Wienke, who has been instrumental in helping NC get a solid defense for the past few years?  Not taking Wienke would not make sense to me at all.
Comet 14   For this season, I don't see Joe Adam or Todd Nichols going anywhere.  Nichols has been vital in helping to run the off-season conditioning, the strength program(s) (not just football), and I think having 2 people who know the current system for EC, is 2 less things Lester has to throw on his shoulders at the present time.
While I'm sure Nichols wanted the HC job and may/may not be to happy he didn't get the nod,  Coach Nix loves the Bluejays' program and wants to see EC succeed.  IMO, I don't see Nichols going anywhere.

[NCC.2008]

Matblake,
Two of the coaches that he is bringing with him were ones that had just came in this past spring, an O-line and Tight-End coach, so there shouldn't be much of a loss there. The other coach Corey Sanders came in last year with Lester, to help run the 3-3-5, although he is a good coach he is replaceable.

As far as Lester taking a new head coaching position if it came available, I don't think Coach Thorne was under the impression that Lester would make that move. The reason why he originally came to North Central is so that he could be closer to his son who lives in Naperville with his mother. The only way Lester was going to take a Head Coaching job was if something came up near the Naperville area, and Elmhurst is just that. I am sure Lester wasn't looking for jobs as a head coach, but when the opportunity presented itself he couldn't pass it up.

[CardinalAlum]

Lester is bringing (from what I've heard) 3 NCC coaches with to Elmhurst as well.   

1 was a grad assistant and 2 were new coaches from what I understand.  I don't think that is that big of a loss.

[CardinalAlum]

Why wouldn't NC go to Wienke, who has been instrumental in helping NC get a solid defense for the past few years?  Not taking Wienke would not make sense to me at all.

Well...let's just call it a personality clash.  Weinke is a great coach with as much passion as any coach I have ever seen.  His defenses were statistically better than Lesters.  Stay turned for today's episode of...."As the Cardinal Turns"   

[Comet 14]

Let's not forget Jaybird that you were pretty certain that Journell was happy in Elmhurst and was trying to build a program. I like coach Nichol's and hope he stays but none of us saw journell leaving so I think it would be silly of any of us to ASSume that Nichols or any other coach for that matter will be here at the start of the season.

[CardinalAlum]

Let's not forget Jaybird that you were pretty certain that Journell was happy in Elmhurst and was trying to build a program. 

ZING!!    8)

[79jaybird]

I never said that I was 100% accurate    While I'm close to the EC program, I am not there on the spot all the time. hehe  We did a pre game taped interview prior to every EC game, and he always said how he liked his position at EC and his visions for the future.  On that note, people do strange and ironic shuffles all the time. 
Looking at the limbo with EC/NC/NPU just makes me think how fortunate schools like Wheaton, Millikin, and IWU are so fortunate to have a solid coach with a long standing tenure that you know aren't going anywhere.  Whether you like stormin' Normy in B-town, he's a fixture at IWU and you know he will get you more wins than losses each year.

[matblake]

Looking at the limbo with EC/NC/NPU just makes me think how fortunate schools like Wheaton, Millikin, and IWU are so fortunate to have a solid coach with a long standing tenure that you know aren't going anywhere.  Whether you like stormin' Normy in B-town, he's a fixture at IWU and you know he will get you more wins than losses each year.

Don't forget Coach Rucks up in Kenosha.  He's been there for 13 years now.