BB: WIAC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Just Bill]

I agree Poppa, with one caveat. I'll paraphrase from a good friend who has worked in D-III for years. 

He said, losing games will get the attention of the Athletic Director. And while that's not desireable, it's very rarely the lone cause for a dismissal in Division III. (Like Poppa said, someone with such a long track record of wins is in no danger for a few down seasons.)

However, losing students, when they transfer to another school, affects the school's bottom line.  That gets the attention of the FAR or the Dean or the Chancellor or whoever else is responsible for keeping classrooms full and spreadsheets balanced. Those are issues that higher-ups address.

Again Lechnir has a long history of success and has built up equity so there's no reason to believe he won't coach there as long as he chooses. But in Division III, the latter will get you shown the door faster than the former.

[BoBo]

I think Athletic Directors are becoming less tolerant today to behavior(s) or character traits that are detrimental to the ideals being stressed by our university administrators or mission statements. Unlike 5, 10 or more years ago, most AD's have wised up and are not going to go down with a sinking ship if they can all help it.  It doesn't matter if a coach is an institution at the school or not. An AD is going to show wayward coaches the way to the door if they determine someone doesn't share their same philosophy. Those who condone the behavior usually lose their jobs, too. It seems the new crop of modern day AD's have a lot less patience than those of days gone by. I'm not saying Lechnir should or shouldn't step down, just that I don't think that past success will protect him or anybody if they become too embarrassing to a program to keep onboard. Just my 2 cents.

[Just Bill]

And in case anyone was wondering, the archives for the Academic All-District Team on the CoSIDA web site goes back to 2003.  In that time, UW-Oshkosh has had exactly ONE Academic All-District player and that was all the way back in 2004. By comparison, in that same time frame:

Academic All-District players 2003-2010:
UWW - 7
UWSP - 3
UWL - 2
UW-Stout - 1
UWO - 1

Maybe Tom's kids aren't going to class as much as he thinks.

[neverabenchwarmer]

Just keep doing it the way you're doing it, Tom.  Don't change a single thing.

Sure, you would like that - because UWO will continue not to be competitive with Whitewater or Stevens Point.   Because anyone with any sense and respect for themselves won't tolerate the emotional and physical abuse from Tom and they will leave too. 

[pickleshiner]

Are any of the guys who left Oshkosh this season planning on playing next year?  I'm curious if Ben Sebesta or Andrew Eichstadt are going to play?  I don't know what to think about Oshkosh I know a few guys that played 4 years there and they have nothing but great things to say about Lechnir. 

[BigPoppa]

Lechnir is very well-respected by other coaches.

[neverabenchwarmer]

Are any of the guys who left Oshkosh this season planning on playing next year?  I'm curious if Ben Sebesta or Andrew Eichstadt are going to play?  I don't know what to think about Oshkosh I know a few guys that played 4 years there and they have nothing but great things to say about Lechnir. 

I think you either love Lechnir or hate him - there is no in between.  I am curious to how long ago those guys you know played for him.  I also think it was different a few years ago when he had assistant coaches that were not former players.

[pickleshiner]

Anywhere from last year to 12 years ago.  Not every guy I know loved Lechnir but the majority did.  I agree with you that it can be a problem having assistant coaches that were former players.  It's worked out really good for Point over the years but generally the former players only coach 1 year and their gone. 

[badgerwarhawk]

I had a high school football coach who was an abusive SOB.  He once struck me with his  fraternity paddle so hard it drove my head into a locker and I had a large welt on my butt.  He would get so mad at us in practice that his face would turn red and the veins in his neck would pop out.  Swearing and calling us names were simply par for the course.  On one occassion he got into a fist fight with a parent on the sideline during a practice.  At the time I respected him and didn't think anything of it.  I probably deserved getting smacked with his fraternity paddle.  After all I did sack the quarterback in a scrimmage.  It was only after I'd grown some that I came to realize how abusive and what a SOB he really was.  Coaches and athletes have a different sort of relationship.

[janesvilleflash]

you really have to hit a guy hard in the head to leave a welt on his butt.

[BoBo]

you really have to hit a guy hard in the head to leave a welt on his butt.

 

[badgerwarhawk]

Congrats to Jeff Donovan.  Donovan was the only WIAC player to make D3baseball.com's All American teams.  Interestingly, and similar to the All Conference team selections,  Jeff made the All American second team at two positions, utility position player and utility pitcher.

[BoBo]

Congrats to Jeff Donovan.  Donovan was the only WIAC player to make D3baseball.com's All American teams.  Interestingly, and similar to the All Conference team selections,  Jeff made the All American second team at two positions, utility position player and utility pitcher.

Are you or anyone surprised that this All-American team couldn't find a place for Riley Tincher, the owner of a 13-1 record with over 100 innings pitched, plus on a pretty good team in a pretty good conference?

[BigPoppa]

Congrats to Jeff Donovan.  Donovan was the only WIAC player to make D3baseball.com's All American teams.  Interestingly, and similar to the All Conference team selections,  Jeff made the All American second team at two positions, utility position player and utility pitcher.

Are you or anyone surprised that this All-American team couldn't find a place for Riley Tincher, the owner of a 13-1 record with over 100 innings pitched, plus on a pretty good team in a pretty good conference?

Hey, don't look at me. I voted him as a first teamer and listed him as my second choice for National Pitcher of the Year.

[pickleshiner]

Take a look at what Stevens Point did to St. Scholastica ace Jeff Adams.  Not saying Adams isn't really good but who did he pitch against this year?  I think one could argue Tincher should've been selected over Adams even though Adams was unbeaten during the regular season with an ERA under 1.