MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Dennis_Prikkel]

Anyone have any info on the NPU search?

One hat that may be thrown into the ring is that of NCC ass't coach Todd Kelly. Kelly, who just returned from vacation in the Valley of the Sun, is thought to be pondering the possibilities. Kelly was a strong candidate prior to Howard being hired.
On the other hand, its doubtful we'll see former NPU ass't Steve Schafer, now head man at Fontbonne, submit his name for consideration. NPU also had a chance to hire Schafer previously. I think it would take a call from the NPU AD virtually assuring Schafer of the position to get him to even consider initiating the application process.

*It will be nice to see Greg Sager return from his recent hiatus. As is usual with NPU, he may very well be able to provide the most detailed insight as far as how things may shake out  on this question.

The silence from North Park is deafening.  Its not just GS that is in a hiatus mode.  No one who works at/with the school that I've talked to is willing to say anything - about anything.

[AndOne]

Anyone have any info on the NPU search?

One hat that may be thrown into the ring is that of NCC ass't coach Todd Kelly. Kelly, who just returned from vacation in the Valley of the Sun, is thought to be pondering the possibilities. Kelly was a strong candidate prior to Howard being hired.
On the other hand, its doubtful we'll see former NPU ass't Steve Schafer, now head man at Fontbonne, submit his name for consideration. NPU also had a chance to hire Schafer previously. I think it would take a call from the NPU AD virtually assuring Schafer of the position to get him to even consider initiating the application process.

*It will be nice to see Greg Sager return from his recent hiatus. As is usual with NPU, he may very well be able to provide the most detailed insight as far as how things may shake out  on this question.

The silence from North Park is deafening.  Its not just GS that is in a hiatus mode.  No one who works at/with the school that I've talked to is willing to say anything - about anything.

With that revelation you just said a mouthful, Dennis.
Don't ask, don't tell?   

[newCCIWfan]

Updated Recruiting List (and Stats):

AUGUSTANA RECRUITS
Jake Gylten---6-6, 220, Iowa City, IA (West HS)...8.2ppg
Hunter Hill---5-9, 165, Byron, IL (Byron HS)...10.5 ppg, 4.9 apg, 2.9 spg
Nic Hoepfner---6-6, 230, F (United Township/Parkland College, IL)...16.6ppg, 8.4rpg
Tayvian Johnson---6-5, 190, East Moline, IL (United Township HS)...17.3ppg
Brandon Motzel---6-6, 200, Buffalo Grove, IL (Carmel HS)...14.0 ppg, 9 rpg, 3 bpg,
Jake Norcia---6-0, 170, Highland Park, IL (Highland Park HS)...14.5 ppg, 2.5 apg, 2.9 spg
Griffin Pils---6-4, 195, Libertyville, IL (Libertyville HS)...17 ppg, 4 rpg, 6.2 apg, 2 spg
Ben Ryan---6-5, 205, Washington, IL (Washington HS)...17.3ppg

CARTHAGE RECRUITS
Sean Valentine---6-3, G (Prairie Ridge, IL)

ELMHURST RECRUITS
Bryant Ackerman---6-2, PG (Loogootee HS, IN)
Erik Crittenden---6-5, G/F (Marian Catholic H.S.)
Ken Payonk--- 6-6, F (Sandburg H.S.)
Tyler Thurston---6-4, PG (Chatham Glenwood, IL)...6.8ppg (14.2ppg as a Jr)
Kyle Wuest---6-2, G (Edinburgh, IN)
Peyton Wyatt---6-2/180, 2G (Newton, IL)

IWU RECRUITS
Ryan Coyle---6-6 G/F, Lisle, Ill. (Wheaton St. Francis HS)...16 ppg, 8 rpg
Bryce Dolan---6-0 SG, Washington, Mo. (St. Francis Borgia HS)...17.3 ppg, 3.0 apg, 98 3-pointers
Conor Hart---5-11 G, Des Plaines, Ill. (Maine West HS)...19.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.2 rpg
Robert Mahlke---6-7 PF, Downers Grove, Ill. (Downers Grove North HS)...15 ppg, 7 rpg
Mike Marietti---6-7 F/C, Frankfort, Ill. (Providence Catholic HS)
Brian Nelms---5-10 PG, Arlington Heights, Ill. (Rolling Meadows HS)...14 ppg, 6 rpg
Joel Pennington---5-9 PG, Ballwin, Mo. (Lafayette HS)...14.1 ppg, 5.1 apg
Pat Sodemann---6-3, PG/SG, Chesterfield, Mo.,(Parkway West HS), transfer from D2 Truman State...14.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg (2009-10 season)

MILLIKIN RECRUITS
David Babb---6-1, G (Pontiac, IL)...11.7ppg, 7.4apg
Tives Gardner---5-10, PG (Springfield (Southeast), IL)...12.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, .406 fg%, 38 3's, .809 ft%
Deavis Johnson---6-5, W/F (East St. Louis, IL)...3.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 61 blocks
Elijah Kinmon---6-5, W/F (O'Fallon, IL)...8.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, .327 fg%, .264 3p%, .602 ft%
Jaylon Owens---6-5, F (Belleville West, IL)...13.3ppg, 8.0rpg
Tommy Pilackas---6-4, G/W (Lebanon, IL)...19.3ppg, 34% 3fg, 9.1rpg, 2.5apg, 2.3spg (IBCA 2nd Team All-State)
Chase Robbins---6-2, G (Normal Community HS, Normal IL)...13.4ppg
Mitchell Wilfer---6-8, F (Wentzville Holt, MO)...9.4ppg, 7.0rpg, 2.2bpg
Trent Windemuller---6-2, G/W (Holland, MI)...16.7ppg, 3.7rpg, 4.2apg, 42 3fg%,

NCC RECRUITS
D.J. Morris---5-10, PG (St. Viator HS. Arlington Heights, IL)...9.5 ppg, 4.9 apg, 3 to 1 assist/TO ratio
Ben Heide---6-3, SG (Minnoka, IL HS)...10 ppg
Kevin Honn---6-6, F (Downers Grove South, IL)...11.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg
Adam Reynolds---6-5, 225, PF (Minooka, IL HS)...11 ppg, 7 rpg
Christian Spandiary---6-3, SG (Schaumburg, IL HS)...16.0 ppg, 5 rpg, FG% of 57%
Tyler Sutton---6-2. SG (Nequa Valley HS, Naperville, IL)...16.5 ppg, 40%+ from 3

NORTH PARK RECRUITS
No information yet

WHEATON RECRUITS
Michael Berg---6-6, F (Midwest Central, IL)...27.9ppg, 12.8rpg, 2.4bpg
Nathan Berntsen---6-2, G (Chatham, NJ)...17.2ppg
Luis Miller---6-3, G (Miami, Fla.)... 21.0ppg, 5rpg, 2spg.
Joel Smith---6-6, F (Heritage Christian, IN)...18.1ppg, 5.8rpg
Riley Teuscher---6-1, G (Rockford Christian, IL)...11.5ppg, 3.7rpg
Brayden Teuscher---(Rockford Christian, IL/WashU)...7.9ppg, 2.rpg, 17.4min pg
Drew Wikelius---6-6, F (Westlake HS, TX)...12.4ppg, 8rpg

[newCCIWfan]

As you can see above, I was able to confirm with a contact in Michigan that Millikin has landed 6'2 Guard/Wing Trent Windemuller.     He was a Michigan Class A (Large School) all state player. 2 Time Conference 1st team player.     Stats: 16.7ppg, 3.7rpg, 4.2apg, 3spg, 45% FG%, 42% 3ptFG%

[markerickson]

The recruits do not hail from IL.

I knew the timing was off with his son and all, but I had hoped Raridon would accept the challenge in the post-Brenegan era to raise North Park to prominence.  One can wish, right?  He was a winner at Nebraska Wesleyan and he has certainly elevated North Central's program!  I'm sure he is very, very comfortable at NCC right now.

[iwu70]

Is NP descending to the MU level, just as the Big Blue find some footing with, apparently, some pretty good recruits? 

Looks like the IWU recruiting class is, as some of us expected, heavy on perimeter players -- PGs and 2s.  Hope they make an impression, press Zimmer and Overstreet and Molinari to be better . . .

IWU70

[old baseliner]

It has been made official on the IWU web page that Coach Steinbrueck has resigned.  Coach Stein has been a significant part of the IWU program for decades.  He always had a smile and a handshake for us bothersome fans.  My favorite memories of Titan basketball will include Coach Stein's many JV teams.  Often more entertaining than the varsity game.  Thanks for everything Coach, and we hope to see you soon.

[Titan Q]

It has been made official on the IWU web page that Coach Steinbrueck has resigned.  Coach Stein has been a significant part of the IWU program for decades.  He always had a smile and a handshake for us bothersome fans.  My favorite memories of Titan basketball will include Coach Stein's many JV teams.  Often more entertaining than the varsity game.  Thanks for everything Coach, and we hope to see you soon.

http://www.iwusports.com/news/2012/5/23/MBB_0523124210.aspx


Coach Stein called me late yesterday afternoon to let me know he was hanging it up.  While I'm extremely happy for him, it was also sad to know he'll no longer be on the Titan sideline. 

Very quietly, Coach Stein has kind of been the heart and soul of the program for many years in subtle ways.  He's been there through Dennie and Scott and now Ron.  He's played the good cop, he's played the bad cop...he's been a confidant and counselor to new coaches...he's talked yahoo fans (OK, me) with unreasonable expectations off the ledge many a time...he's mentored the kids who have had to first learn to play at 5:15pm, before they get their shot at 7:30...he's the first guy you want to have a beer with after the game.

I'll compile IWU's record, CCIW titles, and trips to Salem during the David Steinbrueck Era.  It's no coincidence the Titans have been so successful in that span - every kid who has played for IWU during that time will tell you how important Coach Stein was.

Something Stein said yesterday on the phone stuck with me:  "Knowing I coached my last game in Salem...how good is that?"

Stein didn't go to Illinois Wesleyan, but I've never known a truer and more loyal Titan.  Thank you, 99...we will miss you on the sideline.

[AndOne]

Might Coach Stein's replacement be any recent IWU player/grad who entertains thoughts of entering the coaching profession?

[Gregory Sager]

I've been keeping my powder dry until I had the chance to talk to the people at NPU who are in the know regarding the Dylan Howard situation and what is going on with the program at the moment. I understand that gossip is gossip, and that speculation about this or that aspect of Howard's departure would be rife in this room until somebody who actually knew something about the situation spoke up. Oh, well ... can't be helped.

This part of the speculation was correct: The hiring of Sean Woods at Morehead State was what precipitated Howard's resignation. Howard had coached under Woods at MVSU, and as soon as Woods got the Morehead State job he called Dylan and asked him to be his chief assistant. Dylan immediately informed NPU athletic director Jack Surridge of the offer, and told Jack that he was considering it. Jack gave Dylan a day or two to think about it, but told him that he had to make the decision quickly so as to not allow this to hang over North Park's head. Dylan made his decision a week ago yesterday, and within 24 hours the NPU job opening was posted on the NCAA website.

There was no animosity involved here. I don't think anyone in the administration or the athletic department had a problem with Dylan, or vice-versa. And, from all indications, he was not looking to leave. His decision seemed to come down to three factors: 1) His wife did not like Chicago at all. She was unable to find a job here, and, with no friends or family located in the Chicago area, I think that she felt isolated and disaffected. If you're a coach, it's not just about the job itself. It's about your family, too -- and your wife in particular. 2) Given the cost of living here, and the fact that his wife wasn't working, and what a coach at NPU typically makes, the economics of leaving Chicago to take a second-chair job at a solid D1 program in a good D1 league were probably pretty favorable. 3) Sean Woods is a long-time trusted friend and former colleague, and this promises to be a good working situation for Dylan.

The Vikings struggled mightily in his first and only season here, but my read is that that's not what led him to leave. He knew coming in that NPU was in a difficult spot, even with Mark Holmes joining the fold, and the loss of D.A. Robinson four days prior to the opener at Eureka was catastrophic. Given what he went through when he took the Hardin-Simmons job, and the fact that he stepped into a difficult situation at North Park with his eyes wide open, I don't think that discouragement and disillusionment were motivating factors in his desire to leave. He just doesn't strike me as the cut-and-run type. I think that he simply was presented with an ideal situation for his family and his career, and he took it. He was certainly torn enough about the decision to ask for a couple of days to think it over first.

NPU is back to where it was thirteen months ago -- a struggling program in search of a head coach. The one advantage here is that the applicant pool will likely be much the same, and Jack Surridge isn't having to start from scratch in terms of interviews and resume assessments. I expect a much, much shorter interval than the two months it took last year between the firing of Paul Brenegan and the hiring of Dylan Howard. In fact, I expect the interval to be measured in weeks rather than months. Meanwhile, Bob is right ... this is going to further damage a North Park basketball program that was already in bad shape. Unless he's got his own set of leads and can bring in some players along with him (in sort of the same way that Dylan Howard brought Mark Holmes with him), the new coach is in for a very, very rough ride his first season at Foster & Kedzie.

Not to disparage NPU in any way because I think it would be applicable to the vast majority of D3 schools, but I'm always a little leary when a D1 coach takes a D3 position, even if its a head coaching post. Every individual of course has his own reasons, and some may legitimately desire a less frenetic pace than is likely usually required in a D1 position. However, even at the D3 level a head coach doesn't just work during the actual season and then basically take the rest of the year off. Recruiting is a required year round task, coupled with ongoing administrative work.
In many if not most cases, its very understandable that, having sampled life in the "big time" of coaching, a coach who for whatever reason took a dip in the D3 pool would harbor a desire to return to that "big time" arena. Accordingly, its not surprising to me at all to see Coach Howard leave after only 1 season. The NPU AD shouldn't be surprised either, as should no D3 AD who hires someone from the D1 ranks. If a D3 AD, for whatever reason, doesn't want to keep it in his particular school's family, I think there is some merit in keeping things within the D3 "family" or looking to a successful HS coach, when a head coaching job comes open. Good examples of the latter include NCC football coach John Thorne, and IWU basketball coach Ron Rose.

This is pointless and inaccurate speculation, Mark. Pointless because Dylan Howard left for reasons that have nothing to do with pace, work schedule, or a "a desire to return to that 'big time' arena" (and I wouldn't exactly consider Mississippi Valley State to be "big time", anyway). Your argument may have some truth to it in a generic, theoretical sense, but it doesn't apply to Dylan Howard's particular situation. As for the inaccuracy, you've characterized Howard as "a D1 coach", which is misleading. He was a D3 head coach at Hardin-Simmons before he was a D1 assistant at MVSU -- and he was at HSU a lot longer than he was at MVSU.

One theme that has emerged in any discussions I've heard about North Park is the fact that they were rarely seen out on the recruiting trail this past season, at least not in many areas of the suburbs.

I don't know which suburbs you consider your "beat", Mark, or which coaches you talk to -- but NPU was in a whole lotta different places in the 'burbs all season long. Again, this seems like half-baked speculation on your part. The insinuation that the North Park coaching staff just wasn't working all that hard is dead wrong.

Perhaps much of their 2011-2012 recruiting efforts were focused on the city, a traditional NPU stronghold as far as basketball recruiting goes. One suburban kid they were known to be on was Griffin Pils, who ended up a Mississippi River Viking.

The Vikings coaches worked the city, they worked the suburbs. They didn't confine themselves to any particular socioeconomic or geographic venue. They never do.

They did work very hard on Griffin Pils, as you mentioned. They lost out on him to Augie, which is a big disappointment but not a huge surprise. Well, the fact that he's going to Augie is somewhat of a surprise (Hope, which recruited him hard as well, seemed to be the bigger competitor for Pils). But the fact that NPU lost out on him isn't a surprise. There was an Augie coach at one Libertyville game this past season to watch Pils. There was a North Park coach at every Libertyville game, or close to it, to watch Pils. But Augustana is a winning program, and North Park isn't. Therefore, Pils goes to Augie. That's the way it works, folks. Above all else, kids want to go where they can be a part of a winning program. That's why it's so hard to work your way up from the bottom in a league like the CCIW. And it's why NPU is losing out on kids it's recruited hard, like Griffin Pils of Libertyville, and Jake Norcia of Highland Park, and Sean Valentine of Prairie Ridge ... although losing your best big-man prospect to a D1 volleyball scholarship is what you might call an unexpected setback.

Also, you have to wonder if a kid who was being recruited by Coach Howard is still interested in NPU after seeing Howard abandon ship after a short one year voyage. Same with any kids who were primarily being worked on by any of the assistant coaches. This is due to the fact that any new coach brought in from the outside, is likely to clean house and bring in his own assistants.

"Likely"? Hardly, Mark. Dylan Howard kept Chris Edquist on when he was hired last year. Mike Schauer kept on Bill Harris's staff when he was hired. There's no "likely" to your speculation here at all. In fact, it strikes me as more likely that the assistant coaches at NPU will be asked to stay on by the new hire for at least a year, given the late-in-the-cycle timing of the job change.

You're right, though, that Dylan's particular prospects aren't going to end up at NPU. As for the ones being worked on by the other assistants, NPU's still in the mix with some of them and not in the mix with others. NPU does have five commitments thus far that have remained commitments in spite of the coaching change, and I'll be posting those names here shortly.

One hat that may be thrown into the ring is that of NCC ass't coach Todd Kelly. Kelly, who just returned from vacation in the Valley of the Sun, is thought to be pondering the possibilities. Kelly was a strong candidate prior to Howard being hired.

For crying out loud, Mark, how many times do we have to have this conversation? Todd was not a strong candidate last year for the NPU job. He lacked the qualifications spelled out in the job prospectus; namely, he did not have college head-coaching experience and five years of college coaching experience. As you yourself pointed out, that situation has changed this year:

http://www.northpark.edu/About/Prospective-Faculty-and-Staff/~/media/Files/PDF/Faculty%20and%20Staff/Human%20Resources/M%20Basketball%202012.ashx

It is interesting to note that the requirements for the position indicate 5 years of successful collegiate coaching experience, NOT 5 years of HEAD coaching experience.

If Todd does apply again, this time around he would be a much more viable candidate, since he meets the experience requirements.

On the other hand, its doubtful we'll see former NPU ass't Steve Schafer, now head man at Fontbonne, submit his name for consideration. NPU also had a chance to hire Schafer previously. I think it would take a call from the NPU AD virtually assuring Schafer of the position to get him to even consider initiating the application process.

I agree that it's highly unlikely that Steve Schafer will apply for the job, given that he's only been at Fontbonne for one (extremely unsuccessful) season. He's in a great position there. The program was a mess before he showed up, so he gets a mulligan for the 4-20 campaign through which the Griffins suffered last year. St. Louis is a solid basketball town, and Fontbonne is an attractive fit for St. Louisans and the small-school downstate Illinois kids who have thrived there in the past under Lee McKinney. And the SLIAC is a league where a good young coach can succeed and thus burnish his resume. And, no, Jack Surridge will not be calling Schafer to beg him to apply for the NPU job.

[Gregory Sager]

I just received another email from Coach Howard approx 10 days ago.  We'd been chatting about recruits, and he advised per NCAA rules he could not initiate contact with a certain family.

Mark, if you had only asked me I could've saved you the trouble of sending Dylan an e-mail by informing you that you're going to have to go to the Twin Cities and stalk the Noreens all by yourself.

Todd Raridon, North Park beckons!! 

Is NP descending to the MU level, just as the Big Blue find some footing with, apparently, some pretty good recruits?

No, iwu70, NPU is not "descending to the MU level". You need to get some historical perspective here. Millikin has not only set a new league record for consecutive losses, it's obliterated the old record. North Central lost 26 CCIW games in a row from 1979-81. Millikin has lost its last 36, and counting. NPU is in bad shape right now, no two ways about it. But the Vikings are not going to lose 37 CCIW basketball games in a row.

And how do you know how good Millikin's recruits are?

[Dennis_Prikkel]

GS thanks for two excellent posts = its nice to get the real skinny and put the gossip to rest.

dgp

I am hoping that Chris Edquist sticks around.

[Gregory Sager]

GS thanks for two excellent posts = its nice to get the real skinny and put the gossip to rest.

dgp

I am hoping that Chris Edquist sticks around.

Me, too. Chris's been through so many trials and tribulations the past couple of years that he's become the Job of assistant basketball coaches. Fortunately, he has yet to start dressing in sackcloth and ashes.

[Pat Coleman]

Not to disparage NPU in any way because I think it would be applicable to the vast majority of D3 schools, but I'm always a little leary when a D1 coach takes a D3 position, even if its a head coaching post. Every individual of course has his own reasons, and some may legitimately desire a less frenetic pace than is likely usually required in a D1 position. However, even at the D3 level a head coach doesn't just work during the actual season and then basically take the rest of the year off. Recruiting is a required year round task, coupled with ongoing administrative work.

... As for the inaccuracy, you've characterized Howard as "a D1 coach", which is misleading. He was a D3 head coach at Hardin-Simmons before he was a D1 assistant at MVSU -- and he was at HSU a lot longer than he was at MVSU.

I laughed out loud when I read this in the original post. Clearly someone making an assumption despite not having followed anything but his little corner of D-III.

Kinda Cabonney-like.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Not to disparage NPU in any way because I think it would be applicable to the vast majority of D3 schools, but I'm always a little leary when a D1 coach takes a D3 position, even if its a head coaching post. Every individual of course has his own reasons, and some may legitimately desire a less frenetic pace than is likely usually required in a D1 position. However, even at the D3 level a head coach doesn't just work during the actual season and then basically take the rest of the year off. Recruiting is a required year round task, coupled with ongoing administrative work.

... As for the inaccuracy, you've characterized Howard as "a D1 coach", which is misleading. He was a D3 head coach at Hardin-Simmons before he was a D1 assistant at MVSU -- and he was at HSU a lot longer than he was at MVSU.

I laughed out loud when I read this in the original post. Clearly someone making an assumption despite not having followed anything but his little corner of D-III.

Kinda Cabonney-like.

WOW!  Hold a grudge, much?!

I have NO clue what this would be referring to.  (Cabonney could be quite an asshat, but Mr. Ypsi doesn't recall ever being quite that provincial.  Perhaps there are benefits to senility! )