FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[CardinalAlum]

All is well.  Jeff Thorne not going anywhere.

https://twitter.com/cardocjt/status/820756152199815168

Well, at least it led to a few posts on the board at one of the quietest times in the off-season.

True.  Heard it was seriously under consideration.  Would've been a major loss.   Go Cards!

I'm not that surprised he didn't take the position coach job at a MAC school (although I would think most coaches would make this move).   Lester moved from CCIW HC to D1 position coach originally but it was at a Power 5 school.    Had Lester offered him the OC slot.........

FYI, Jeff WAS offered the Offensive Coordinator position, along with the QB coach position and decided to stay at North Central.   I believe this shows the commitment from both sides that it is a long term deal and not one that will come up every other year.

[USee]

Long term deal? Are you sure?

If I am Jeff Thorne, I have a team that could contend to go deep into the playoffs next year and an AA QB who has 3 years left. NCC will be a top 10 team and likely top 5 next year so he doesn't have to take any offers because they are only going to get better a year from now. We will see what happens when the big dogs come calling.

[Gregory Sager]

We should be careful about assuming Jeff Thorne's motives. Not every D3 coach is looking to move to the scholarship levels. Perhaps Jeff Thorne isn't, either. He may have heard out Lester's sales pitch simply because it's in the best interest of his family and his career to always keep his door open to any possibilities. That is a very different thing altogether than either actively seeking a D1 or D2 job right now or plotting to use a team that could peak at Salem quality within the next couple of years as a springboard to a D1 or D2 job.

[Mugsy]

We should be careful about assuming Jeff Thorne's motives. Not every D3 coach is looking to move to the scholarship levels. Perhaps Jeff Thorne isn't, either. He may have heard out Lester's sales pitch simply because it's in the best interest of his family and his career to always keep his door open to any possibilities. That is a very different thing altogether than either actively seeking a D1 or D2 job right now or plotting to use a team that could peak at Salem quality within the next couple of years as a springboard to a D1 or D2 job.

Very true. But since he has only been in the position for a few years, it is not clear to an outsider where he falls on career aspirations.  Same questions were ask 5-7 years into Coach Swider's tenure.  It quickly became apparent he was committed to long-term career at Wheaton, despite having opportunities "to move up" in other opportunities (including NFL if I'm not mistaken).

Coach Thorne is still relatively young, so it is a valid long term question.  That said I would not be at all surprised if he stayed at NCC for a long time.

[Mugsy]

All is well.  Jeff Thorne not going anywhere.

https://twitter.com/cardocjt/status/820756152199815168

Well, at least it led to a few posts on the board at one of the quietest times in the off-season.

True.  Heard it was seriously under consideration.  Would've been a major loss.   Go Cards!

I'm not that surprised he didn't take the position coach job at a MAC school (although I would think most coaches would make this move).   Lester moved from CCIW HC to D1 position coach originally but it was at a Power 5 school.    Had Lester offered him the OC slot.........

FYI, Jeff WAS offered the Offensive Coordinator position, along with the QB coach position and decided to stay at North Central.   I believe this shows the commitment from both sides that it is a long term deal and not one that will come up every other year.

Thanks for clarifying.  I read the previous posts as it was only the QB coach, which clearly would not be as attractive as an OC position.  Hence my rambling posts on "what would happen if..."

[USee]

We should be careful about assuming Jeff Thorne's motives. Not every D3 coach is looking to move to the scholarship levels. Perhaps Jeff Thorne isn't, either. He may have heard out Lester's sales pitch simply because it's in the best interest of his family and his career to always keep his door open to any possibilities. That is a very different thing altogether than either actively seeking a D1 or D2 job right now or plotting to use a team that could peak at Salem quality within the next couple of years as a springboard to a D1 or D2 job.

I certainly didn't assume he wants to move, merely presented a case for waiting to move. I have no idea what he wants but, like Mugsy, I hope he leaves...hopefully in August.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I wonder whether anyone has hard facts (or at least informed speculation) on whether or not D3 "lifers" are becoming more and more rare.  While the money is obviously potentially much greater in D1, so are the pressures and the threat of losing one's job.  I'm sure the 'quality of life' outweighs the money for some coaches - I just have no clue for how many that is true.  Obviously coaches like John Gagliardi and Larry Kehres had plenty of opportunities to move 'up' and declined. 

At IWU to the best of my knowledge no coach other than Scott Trost (bball) in any sport has EVER chosen to leave, though some (most especially Dennis Bridges) had many suitors.  There are many attractive things about sports at the D3 level - you won't get super-rich, but you will live quite comfortably.  And you will probably develop personal relationships with many fans and alums, rather than receiving hate mail and death threats!

[izzy stradlin]

All is well.  Jeff Thorne not going anywhere.

https://twitter.com/cardocjt/status/820756152199815168

Well, at least it led to a few posts on the board at one of the quietest times in the off-season.

True.  Heard it was seriously under consideration.  Would've been a major loss.   Go Cards!

I'm not that surprised he didn't take the position coach job at a MAC school (although I would think most coaches would make this move).   Lester moved from CCIW HC to D1 position coach originally but it was at a Power 5 school.    Had Lester offered him the OC slot.........

FYI, Jeff WAS offered the Offensive Coordinator position, along with the QB coach position and decided to stay at North Central.   I believe this shows the commitment from both sides that it is a long term deal and not one that will come up every other year.

Wow, if he was offered to OC job, then I completely agree with Cardinalalum-- Jeff Thorne isn't going anywhere any time soon.  The OC job at WMU is a really good job right now. This isn't some downtrodden mid-major where the coaching staffs go to die.  WMU is loaded with talent right now as PJ Fleck brought in 3 consecutive recruiting classes that were ranked the best in MAC history. They are going to win and Thorne would easily be in line for a MAC-type head coaching in just a few years making 500-600k +.

D1 FBS programs simply don't look at D3 coaches in general.  Sure there are very rare exceptions, but usually in places where it is difficult to succeed (see if Lance Leipold is still employed at Buffalo in a year or two).  Jeff Thorne had a close personal connection to Tim Lester from Wheaton South/coaching together at NCC and unless he wins a bunch of national titles, won't be getting offers like this. 

Great new for NCC and I still think it's great news for the CCIW.   Maybe I disagree with other Wheaton fans but Jeff Thorne staying is good for Wheaton.  Competition makes you better--maybe not for the number of CCIW titles Wheaton has won in the last ten years, but if the goal is to be a national title contender-- Wheaton's progam has gotten stronger overall since NCC started going toe-to-toe with them. 

[CardinalAlum]

Long term deal? Are you sure?

If I am Jeff Thorne, I have a team that could contend to go deep into the playoffs next year and an AA QB who has 3 years left. NCC will be a top 10 team and likely top 5 next year so he doesn't have to take any offers because they are only going to get better a year from now. We will see what happens when the big dogs come calling.

I stand by my belief.   History will prove me prophetic or wrong!  LOL 

[Gregory Sager]

At IWU to the best of my knowledge no coach other than Scott Trost (bball) in any sport has EVER chosen to leave, though some (most especially Dennis Bridges) had many suitors.

I'm not going to research your point, but just off of the top of my head I do know that IWU's softball coach left the school voluntarily a couple of years ago.

[emma17]

IWU to host UWW in opener
http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/football/iwu-to-open-football-season-against-division-iii-power/article_7aec3efe-18b6-523d-8ae2-33ea37fe96fb.html

[USee]

Awesome. Better for IWU and the CCIW than a Mexico team. At least they have enough QB's to make it through the game!

[Gregory Sager]

IWU to host UWW in opener
http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/football/iwu-to-open-football-season-against-division-iii-power/article_7aec3efe-18b6-523d-8ae2-33ea37fe96fb.html

No return game in Monterey? ¡Ay caramba!

[Mr. Ypsi]

IWU to host UWW in opener
http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/football/iwu-to-open-football-season-against-division-iii-power/article_7aec3efe-18b6-523d-8ae2-33ea37fe96fb.html

No return game in Monterey? ¡Ay caramba!

And apparently no return game in Whitewater either!

Whatever some posters in here may say about Norm Eash, he's apparently a helluva scheduler!

[badgerwarhawk]

I'm not positive but I believe the WARHAWKS will have their full 2017 schedule filled with D3 teams for the first time in a while.