Best ISU Coach of All Time?

Palmer · 08-08-2008, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by PGreen ISU '92

Here’s my Top 5: Harold Nichols #1, Bill Fennelly #2, Johnny Orr #3, Johnny Majors #4, Tim Floyd #5.

looks spot-on to me.

yCy · 08-08-2008, 05:52 PM

No doubt about it, Harold Nichols.

DavClone · 08-08-2008, 05:53 PM

You would have to put Larry E up there for the amount of success he had in a short period of time. Too bad it had to end the way it did.

Bill Bergan put Iowa State on the track and field map. 25 Big 8 titles and two national championships. Pretty impressive for a school in the upper Midwest.

SuperCy · 08-08-2008, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by DavClone

You would have to put Larry E up there for the amount of success he had in a short period of time. Too bad it had to end the way it did.

Here we go again.

Dryburn · 08-08-2008, 06:00 PM

As far as major sports, I would have to go with Harold Nichols. Second choice would probably be Johnny Orr.

In minor sports, even though it is not there any more, one of our best-known and most successful coaches was Ed Gagnier in Men's Gymnastics. His teams were pretty dominant back then. 8 Big Eight Titles, 3 national titles, 53 All-Americans. Not bad.

kurecabinboy · 08-08-2008, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by DavClone

You would have to put Larry E up there for the amount of success he had in a short period of time. Too bad it had to end the way it did.

Bill Bergan put Iowa State on the track and field map. 25 Big 8 titles and two national championships. Pretty impressive for a school in the upper Midwest.

I was thinking about my first post to this thread as being "Wait for it..." Well, here it is.

ISUKyro · 08-08-2008, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by DavClone

You would have to put Larry E up there for the amount of success he had in a short period of time. Too bad it had to end the way it did.

Agreed 100%

LindenCy · 08-08-2008, 06:16 PM

I think we also have to consider Clyde Williams and Pop Warner. The former for what he did here, the latter for being a legend.

woodie · 08-08-2008, 06:44 PM

harold nichols,hugo otalpaulik(isu' first wrestling coach-1933-1953),jim meyers(coached only one year,but recruited one o our better recruiting classes that became to be known as THE DIRTY 30;clay stapelton took over in 1958 to coach the DIRTY 30.
johnny majors and earl bruce were successful at iowa state and both successful coaches.earl went on to ohio state and was their winningnest coach ever at ohio state,but got fired because he could not beat michigan.

woodie · 08-08-2008, 06:45 PM

capp timm in baseball

Aclone · 08-08-2008, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by cstrunk

Who do you think is the best coach that Iowa State has ever had, in any sport?

In any sport? Which begs the question of, "why is this in football?" then.

Dr. Harold Nichols. it's not even close.

Best football coach, you'd have to argue between Clay Stapleton, Earle Bruce and Johnny Majors. So far.

Best hoops coach? Johnny had great personality, and certainly established the program, but i'm not sure I can call him the best coach. Not to waffle, but Floyd and Eustachy would be in there too.

Shoop · 08-08-2008, 06:56 PM

I definitely agree with almost everyone that Nichols is 1st, not only because of the notoriety & championships he brought to the program, but it's also insane he finished runner-up at the national championships 11 times. I'd probably give BF 2nd place, since he's also been able to bring some wonderful positive notoriety to the program as of late (OT victory over K State being chief among it) and his past successes / being the longest tenured Big XII women's basketball coach.

Clones85' · 08-08-2008, 06:57 PM

How do some of you have Tim Floyd over Bill Fennely? Go look at their resumes and than come back to me.

Look at the program that Floyd took over and compare it to the one Fennely took over and Fennely widens the lead.

I just don't get us Cyclone fans love affair for Tim Floyd. Is it b/c he became an NBA coach? He hasn't done anything in his career to garner all this love.

1. Gymnastics coach
2 Nichols
3. Fennelly
4. Eustachy
5. Earl Bruce

cyfanatic · 08-08-2008, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by Todd

Harold Nichols...and its not even close.

DITTO!!!

theshadow · 08-08-2008, 07:11 PM

1. Harold Nichols (6 NCAA titles, 7 Big Eight titles, 11 NCAA runner-up, 8 NCAA 3rd place)
2. Bill Bergan (2 NCAA XC titles, 25 Big Eight titles [T&F/XC combined])
3. Ed Gagnier (3 NCAA titles in four years, 10 Big Eight titles)
4. Bill Fennelly (9 NCAA bids in 13 years)
5. Johnny Orr (6 NCAA bids in 14 years)
6. Jack McGuire (11 conference titles -- 9 swimming, 2 golf)