FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[markerickson]

How did North Central become such a force in the CCIW?  Did a new coaching staff somehow magically transform the environment such that better players suited up and benefitted from better coaching, and then the ball got rolling so higher quality recruits started to take notice?  Has the coaching staff remained intact?  Did NCC increase the football budget to allow for more FT coaches and recruiting visits?

[Mugsy]

How did North Central become such a force in the CCIW?  Did a new coaching staff somehow magically transform the environment such that better players suited up and benefitted from better coaching, and then the ball got rolling so higher quality recruits started to take notice?  Has the coaching staff remained intact?  Did NCC increase the football budget to allow for more FT coaches and recruiting visits?

Obviously I'm not as close to the program as CardinalAlum, FormerCard, etc..., but I'd say all of the above.

It started with the hiring of Coach Thorne.  He is an absolute outstanding coach with a track record of success.  A brillant hire.  He coached at Wheaton Central and then Wheaton Warrenville South (when Central closed) for 20+ years.  He had 4 state championships and more DVC conference championships than I'd like to count (as a Wheaton North alum).  The DVC is one of the toughest conferences in all of Illinois, minus the Catholic leagues with Joliet Catholic, Providence, Mt. Carmel, St. Rita, etc...

Coach Thorne has soooo many tight relationships with high school coaches from all over Illinois from which he can leverage during the recruiting process.  This has been a significant advantage for recruiting.  I also believe the NCC administration has made the commitment to succeed, to give Coach Thorne what he needs.

Coach Thorne brought in a very strong coaching staff.  By-in-large the staff has remained intact, though when you have a strong staff you typically lose coordinators to other head coaching opportunities.  Case in point Coach Lester left his coordinator position at NCC to become the head coach at Elmhurst.

As the NCC program began to succeed more each year, everything snowballed... Recruits are more aware of the program, the administration continues to support what is needed, alumni became much more active in supporting and promoting the program.

Really quite a remarkable turnaround.  IMO it all started with the hiring of Coach Thorne.

[robertgoulet]

How did North Central become such a force in the CCIW?  Did a new coaching staff somehow magically transform the environment such that better players suited up and benefitted from better coaching, and then the ball got rolling so higher quality recruits started to take notice?  Has the coaching staff remained intact?  Did NCC increase the football budget to allow for more FT coaches and recruiting visits?

Obviously I'm not as close to the program as CardinalAlum, FormerCard, etc..., but I'd say all of the above.

It started with the hiring of Coach Thorne.  He is an absolute outstanding coach with a track record of success.  A brillant hire.  He coached at Wheaton Central and then Wheaton Warrenville South (when Central closed) for 20+ years.  He had 4 state championships and more DVC conference championships than I'd like to count (as a Wheaton North alum).  The DVC is one of the toughest conferences in all of Illinois, minus the Catholic leagues with Joliet Catholic, Providence, Mt. Carmel, St. Rita, etc...

Coach Thorne has soooo many tight relationships with high school coaches from all over Illinois from which he can leverage during the recruiting process.  This has been a significant advantage for recruiting.  I also believe the NCC administration has made the commitment to succeed, to give Coach Thorne what he needs.

Coach Thorne brought in a very strong coaching staff.  By-in-large the staff has remained intact, though when you have a strong staff you typically lose coordinators to other head coaching opportunities.  Case in point Coach Lester left his coordinator position at NCC to become the head coach at Elmhurst.

As the NCC program began to succeed more each year, everything snowballed... Recruits are more aware of the program, the administration continues to support what is needed, alumni became much more active in supporting and promoting the program.

Really quite a remarkable turnaround.  IMO it all started with the hiring of Coach Thorne.

Well, luckily my explaination got the "Warning - while you were typing a new reply has been posted. You may wish to review your post" cuz my explaination wasn't articulated nearly as well as Mugsy's. He hit the nail on the head.

[markerickson]

Thanks for the info!

[Mugsy]

How did North Central become such a force in the CCIW?  Did a new coaching staff somehow magically transform the environment such that better players suited up and benefitted from better coaching, and then the ball got rolling so higher quality recruits started to take notice?  Has the coaching staff remained intact?  Did NCC increase the football budget to allow for more FT coaches and recruiting visits?

Obviously I'm not as close to the program as CardinalAlum, FormerCard, etc..., but I'd say all of the above.

It started with the hiring of Coach Thorne.  He is an absolute outstanding coach with a track record of success.  A brillant hire.  He coached at Wheaton Central and then Wheaton Warrenville South (when Central closed) for 20+ years.  He had 4 state championships and more DVC conference championships than I'd like to count (as a Wheaton North alum).  The DVC is one of the toughest conferences in all of Illinois, minus the Catholic leagues with Joliet Catholic, Providence, Mt. Carmel, St. Rita, etc...

Coach Thorne has soooo many tight relationships with high school coaches from all over Illinois from which he can leverage during the recruiting process.  This has been a significant advantage for recruiting.  I also believe the NCC administration has made the commitment to succeed, to give Coach Thorne what he needs.

Coach Thorne brought in a very strong coaching staff.  By-in-large the staff has remained intact, though when you have a strong staff you typically lose coordinators to other head coaching opportunities.  Case in point Coach Lester left his coordinator position at NCC to become the head coach at Elmhurst.

As the NCC program began to succeed more each year, everything snowballed... Recruits are more aware of the program, the administration continues to support what is needed, alumni became much more active in supporting and promoting the program.

Really quite a remarkable turnaround.  IMO it all started with the hiring of Coach Thorne.

As I think about this more, it arguably is the model to follow.  

Wheaton College did virtually the same thing 15 years earlier.  Wheaton hired Coach J.R. Bishop who was a very successful high school coach in Indiana and then at Naperville Central.  So you have coach with a history of success and local connections/relationships with other high school coaches in the area.  You got a College administration that makes a commitment to support athletics, like Wheaton did in the early 80's.  You need an extremely talented coach and an administration to support him.

Once you see signs of success, you generate excitement from the alum, which leads to promoting the recruiting process and... more cash donations to support the program.  This is over simplifying it to be sure.  But as a basic framework to success... 2 elite CCIW football programs have followed this and turned things completely around from years of mediocrity (at best).

[robertgoulet]

How did North Central become such a force in the CCIW?  Did a new coaching staff somehow magically transform the environment such that better players suited up and benefitted from better coaching, and then the ball got rolling so higher quality recruits started to take notice?  Has the coaching staff remained intact?  Did NCC increase the football budget to allow for more FT coaches and recruiting visits?

Obviously I'm not as close to the program as CardinalAlum, FormerCard, etc..., but I'd say all of the above.

It started with the hiring of Coach Thorne.  He is an absolute outstanding coach with a track record of success.  A brillant hire.  He coached at Wheaton Central and then Wheaton Warrenville South (when Central closed) for 20+ years.  He had 4 state championships and more DVC conference championships than I'd like to count (as a Wheaton North alum).  The DVC is one of the toughest conferences in all of Illinois, minus the Catholic leagues with Joliet Catholic, Providence, Mt. Carmel, St. Rita, etc...

Coach Thorne has soooo many tight relationships with high school coaches from all over Illinois from which he can leverage during the recruiting process.  This has been a significant advantage for recruiting.  I also believe the NCC administration has made the commitment to succeed, to give Coach Thorne what he needs.

Coach Thorne brought in a very strong coaching staff.  By-in-large the staff has remained intact, though when you have a strong staff you typically lose coordinators to other head coaching opportunities.  Case in point Coach Lester left his coordinator position at NCC to become the head coach at Elmhurst.

As the NCC program began to succeed more each year, everything snowballed... Recruits are more aware of the program, the administration continues to support what is needed, alumni became much more active in supporting and promoting the program.

Really quite a remarkable turnaround.  IMO it all started with the hiring of Coach Thorne.

As I think about this more, it arguably is the model to follow.  

Wheaton College did virtually the same thing 15 years earlier.  Wheaton hired Coach J.R. Bishop who was a very successful high school coach in Indiana and then at Naperville Central.  So you have coach with a history of success and local connections/relationships with other high school coaches in the area.  You got a College administration that makes a commitment to support athletics, like Wheaton did in the early 80's.  You need an extremely talented coach and an administration to support him.

Once you see signs of success, you generate excitement from the alum, which leads to promoting the recruiting process and... more cash donations to support the program.  This is over simplifying it to be sure.  But as a basic framework to success... 2 elite CCIW football programs have followed this and turned things completely around from years of mediocrity (at best).

I'm thinking about doing the same thing in order to turn myself into an elite CCIW Post Patterns poster. I am going to hire a very successful former poster who had the respect from everyone on this board to post for me and build my post count and reputation. then, once he has generated the excitement from the board alumni, I will take over the reigns. I think this would allow me to give Mugsy a run for his money as the MVP of CCIW Post Patterns.

[Mugsy]

I'm thinking about doing the same thing in order to turn myself into an elite CCIW Post Patterns poster. I am going to hire a very successful former poster who had the respect from everyone on this board to post for me and build my post count and reputation. then, once he has generated the excitement from the board alumni, I will take over the reigns. I think this would allow me to give Mugsy a run for his money as the MVP of CCIW Post Patterns.

lol.  I can think of a few options for you, but by all means do NOT consider CardinalAlum as a candidate.

btw... I'm the MVB (Most Valuable Blatherer) or MVS (Most Valuable Scapegoat) of the CCIW board.

[Son of Tailgater]

I'm thinking about doing the same thing in order to turn myself into an elite CCIW Post Patterns poster. I am going to hire a very successful former poster who had the respect from everyone on this board to post for me and build my post count and reputation. then, once he has generated the excitement from the board alumni, I will take over the reigns. I think this would allow me to give Mugsy a run for his money as the MVP of CCIW Post Patterns.

lol.  I can think of a few options for you, but by all means do NOT consider CardinalAlum as a candidate.

btw... I'm the MVB (Most Valuable Blatherer) or MVS (Most Valuable Scapegoat) of the CCIW board.

haha, just remember that you said it, not us 

[Mr. Flynn]

Ohio Northern's game notes for North Central.
http://www-new.onu.edu/system/files/fbnotes9-5-09.pdf

[CardinalAlum]

I'm thinking about doing the same thing in order to turn myself into an elite CCIW Post Patterns poster. I am going to hire a very successful former poster who had the respect from everyone on this board to post for me and build my post count and reputation. then, once he has generated the excitement from the board alumni, I will take over the reigns. I think this would allow me to give Mugsy a run for his money as the MVP of CCIW Post Patterns.

lol.  I can think of a few options for you, but by all means do NOT consider CardinalAlum as a candidate.

btw... I'm the MVB (Most Valuable Blatherer) or MVS (Most Valuable Scapegoat) of the CCIW board.

Nice shot Mugs!!  +K for firing the first shot of the 2009 season!!  Go Cards!!!

[Mugsy]

Interesting topic in the first ATN article of 2009.  Wheaton rated as the #9 team over the past 10 years.  Not bad...

http://www.d3football.com/columns/around-the-nation/2009-09-02/It%27s+OK+to+play+for+No.+3

[Mugsy]

Studebaker another 4 tackles tonight for the Chiefs.

Ittersagen 2 tackles for the Jaguars.  Since Ittersagen averaged nearly 14 yards a punt return 2 preseason games ago, the other Jaguar punt returners have averaged less than 5 yards a return.  Tonight it was 2 returns for 0 yards for some other returner.  Too bad Pete didn't get the chance to have additional return attempts.

[FormerCard]

Mugsy was correct about the hiring of Thorne and I don't think anyone will deny it.  

I remember the day he spoke after being hired as the head coach, and the things he emphasized.
 
He wanted people to be excited to come watch North Central play, to put a team out there that would excite the people of Naperville and the communities around it.  North Central has consistently gotten better as well as more fun to watch.  This was the background of everything he wanted to do...a passing offense (4 straight CCIW OPOY, all QBs) , an aggressive defense highlighted by a slew of good players and hopefully a few great ones.  

His biggest asset is probably his own flesh and blood...Offensive Coordinator Jeff Thorne.    But you cannot discount the effect that D Coordinator Wienke has had in the offseason conditioning and pure energy he brings.

All in all, it has been fun, and 2009 looks to be maybe the best year yet  (barring injuries, which is always a concern for any good program that doesnt quite have the depth of Mount Union)

[FormerCard]

Studebaker another 4 tackles tonight for the Chiefs.

Ittersagen 2 tackles for the Jaguars.  Since Ittersagen averaged nearly 14 yards a punt return 2 preseason games ago, the other Jaguar punt returners have averaged less and 5 yards a return.  Tonight it was 2 returns for 0 yards.  Too bad Pete didn't get the chance to have additional return attempts.

Solid outing for the Thunder Alum.   They should have gave 40 a few more touches on punt return this week.

[robertgoulet]

Nice article in the Naperville Sun about NCC. Sounds like the pre-season scrimmage vs. Harper was pretty lopsided!


http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/sports/1752772,6_2_NA04_NCCFB_S1-090904.article

I'm really looking forward to the season, hopefully they can take care of business vs. ONU!