Commentary: Incoming Coach to Face Challenges

CrossCyed · 11-24-2006, 07:31 PM

The following is a post from my blog, CrossCyed. This is a typical blog style post, so it is not intended to be news, but more of a personal commentary. Thanks.

With the coaching search at Iowa State dragging on into its fourth week, we've seen the possible field of coaching candidates change in a fluid style. Steve Loney and Paul Rhoads were among the hot names as Dan McCarney stepped down from his post on top of the Iowa State football program. Next up, names such as Jim Harbaugh and Jay Norvell had, according to various sources, their proverbial foot in the door. Now, we see Brian Kelly and Mike Price atop the heap of names. However, as the names change, the challenges facing the incoming coach stay the same.

The first, and possibly the primary goal of the future head coach will be to endear himself to the Cyclone fan base, as well as boosters. One of Dan McCarney's biggest assets was, despite up-and-down seasons, his standing in both the Ames and Iowa State community as both a good person and a tireless worker and motivator who put his all into the Cyclone football program. His replacement must be prepared to show that he will not only assume the title of head football coach at Iowa State University, but he will also be active in the Iowa State community. Cyclone fans have patience, but they want to see a winner as well. They'll have a lot more patience with a coach that reaches out to the fans, as well as embracing the notion of a Cyclone family.

The goals of player retention and recruiting also be huge issues for the next head coach. While many may argue that defections from a last place team may not hurt, losing players with both experience and familiarity with the program, even if with a new coach, will ultimately hurt the team as it tries to transition. Despite star player Todd Blythe giving indications that he plans to stay in Ames, the next head coach will need to work to secure both start players like Blythe, as well as any and all players that will aid the team.

Recruiting will be among the biggest challenges for the next head man. With a recruiting class that was already seen as rather thin by many services, a new head coach will need to work to secure commitments that have already been made while trying to sell the school to players that may still be undecided at this late stage. With top recruit Phillip Bates reconsidering his commitment, and a total of only six commits according to the Rivals service, the 2007 recruiting class is already in deep trouble before anything happens. If the next head coach does not fit with the style or plans of any individual recruit, things could get worse.

In conjunction with recruiting and player development, the ability to retain the coaches and staff that remain at Iowa State as well as being able to hire suitable assistants will be an issue for the next head coach. Matt McGettigan, the current strength and conditioning coach, appears to be staying in Ames. The winner of the 2001 National Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year award will be a source of continuity for Cyclone players. Any assistants that are brought in will also need to quickly acclimate to Ames while at the same time trying to sell a place to a recruit that they have likely never been to more than a few times in their life.

Cyclone fans are a special breed. Suffering through the worst of times while celebrating some of the sweeter moments in recent history have fans anxious to hire a coach that will not only work to maintain the now-respected Cyclone football program, but will also have Iowa State contending for a division title in the next few years.

The next coach, must, above all, realize that while Iowa State may be referred to as a "coaching graveyard," the program means so much more to Cyclone fans. Cyclone fans may be the bitterest of all those in the Big 12, seeing their football program climb the ladder only to slip. The fans are also among the most loyal in the conference, sticking through their team in thick and thin. Coach McCarney learned that he was in a special place throughout his 12 years in Ames. If the next coach realizes this fact as well, he'll find that while the first few years may be tough, if he does things the right way and shows determination to get the football program back up to the top of the Big 12 North, the head coaching job in Ames can be a dream job.

The burden is on Jamie Pollard. Find us a coach that realizes that Ames is a special place, and not a stepping stone or a coaching graveyard. Find us a coach that will work as hard as the people who come to watch Cyclone football. Find us a coach that realizes what it means to be a Cyclone, and, I guarantee you, we'll be happy with that decision.

kgreeny · 11-24-2006, 07:43 PM

Good article...but I'm not opposed to someone use us as a stepping stone. I think everyone would agree that Uath is better off after Urbam Meyer then before. If he can do for us what Meyer did for Uath, the next coach we bring in would be looking at the job as a big time offer and a final stop. We would be in alot better position too. The other thing about a "short timer" is, he could fall in love with ISU. Get to Ames, have some success, and love all we have to offer. Could happen, so just find the best guy we can get! Go state

Bobber · 11-24-2006, 08:14 PM

Great article. I thought it was pretty balanced and pointed out the positives and negatives of coming to Ames to coach.

J.P. is certainly considering all these issues. I wish a lot of our fans would quit speculating on who it will be and just wait for the hire, but gossip is what sells.

guitarchitect7 · 11-24-2006, 09:05 PM

This was a good read. Hopefully in the future we can get more stuff like this going.

pulse · 11-24-2006, 09:20 PM

Although I appreciate all the time and effort you took to compose this, I'll give a short and sweet reply. All the blah-de-blah some peope talk about 'understanding the Cyclone family' 'being a leader of Cyclone Athletics' etc, etc.. Yeah that sounds all nice but it is entirely secondary. The next coach has to WIN those final games of the year against average teams that will give us the outright North Championship. He has to make good game day decisions, and not eek out wins against mediocre teams. All the extraneous psychological stuff about the fanbase is meaningless. The fanbase just wants the next coach to WIN those games Mac couldn't. Winning consistently takes care of everything. All the feel-good stuff only really matters if you're losing. I'm just trying to bring this down to its lowest common denominator, which is winning consistenly.

CrossCyed · 11-24-2006, 09:28 PM

This was about challenges that the next head coach will face immediately. If the next coach can win more than a couple of games next year, and people need to understand this, he's done more than we could have hoped.

CyCy · 11-24-2006, 09:32 PM

The fans may be among the most loyal in the conference, but unfortunately there aren't enough of them. We draw 54,000 one game, then can't get 40,000 the next.
We have the lowest athletic budget in the conference and the second lowest football ticket price.
That brings up the Iowa State Catch-22. Fans won't show up unless we win, and we can't win unless we spend like the rest of the conference.

CyBobby · 11-25-2006, 07:26 AM

Originally Posted by pulse

Although I appreciate all the time and effort you took to compose this, I'll give a short and sweet reply. All the blah-de-blah some peope talk about 'understanding the Cyclone family' 'being a leader of Cyclone Athletics' etc, etc.. Yeah that sounds all nice but it is entirely secondary. The next coach has to WIN those final games of the year against average teams that will give us the outright North Championship. He has to make good game day decisions, and not eek out wins against mediocre teams. All the extraneous psychological stuff about the fanbase is meaningless. The fanbase just wants the next coach to WIN those games Mac couldn't. Winning consistently takes care of everything. All the feel-good stuff only really matters if you're losing. I'm just trying to bring this down to its lowest common denominator, which is winning consistenly.

BEST Post of this Group!!

Bobber · 11-25-2006, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by pulse

Although I appreciate all the time and effort you took to compose this, I'll give a short and sweet reply. All the blah-de-blah some peope talk about 'understanding the Cyclone family' 'being a leader of Cyclone Athletics' etc, etc.. Yeah that sounds all nice but it is entirely secondary. The next coach has to WIN those final games of the year against average teams that will give us the outright North Championship. He has to make good game day decisions, and not eek out wins against mediocre teams. All the extraneous psychological stuff about the fanbase is meaningless. The fanbase just wants the next coach to WIN those games Mac couldn't. Winning consistently takes care of everything. All the feel-good stuff only really matters if you're losing. I'm just trying to bring this down to its lowest common denominator, which is winning consistenly.

Well Duhhhhh.

That's an easy answer to a hard question. Getting there is the problem however and that's what the article address.

pulse · 11-25-2006, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by Bobber

Well Duhhhhh.

That's an easy answer to a hard question. Getting there is the problem however and that's what the article address.

Uhhhh, no its an easy answer to an easy question. The commentary doesn't address it, it addresses psycho-babble of fans. It is really simple, if we win more games, fans will come. The up and down we've experienced is why there aren't a consistent # of fans at the games, not because we're divided or some other nonsense. The "division" was just the people who wanted to keep Mac, and those who knew it was time for a change. Nothing more, nothing less.

isucy86 · 11-25-2006, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by CyCy

That brings up the Iowa State Catch-22. Fans won't show up unless we win, and we can't win unless we spend like the rest of the conference.

This isn't a chicken or egg type of thing. Fans don't come out in droves to support losing football programs. Look at the programs that are traditionally near the bottom of their conference standings and you don't see 65k+ fans attending their games and you don't see attendance growing 5-7% a year.

ISU can be a school that draws 65k fans to home games, but the product on the field has to be better. A team going 0-8, 4-4, 4-4 and 1-7 in conference play isn't going to energize the peripheral Cyclone fan to go out and buy season tickets. The next coach needs to put a consistent product on the field, they need to be exciting on offense, solid on defense and fundamentally sound.

The mercurial product that was ISU FB during the McCarney era is a marketers nightmare.