Major Props for Fennelly

**BenEClone** · 01-23-2009, 08:04 AM

This is high praise from a very successful coach. I'm not aware that Curt Miller, WBB coach at BGSU ever worked for Fennelly.

"He is still a mentor of mine," Miller said of Fennelly, now the head coach at Iowa State. "I believe he is one of the best coaches in the country and anytime I am mentioned in the same breath as Bill Fennelly, it means a lot to me."

toledoblade.com --

**mred** · 01-23-2009, 08:29 AM

After looking at Miller's bio, I'm confident they've never actually coached together, which really makes this high praise.

**fccy** · 01-23-2009, 08:56 AM

BGSU was here for the WBB Xmas Tournament last year. I would suspect that they know each other from coaching conventions, etc.

That was nice of Miller to say, though.

**jdoggivjc** · 01-23-2009, 08:58 AM

That's awesome.

Now if Geno Auriema (since we beat UConn in the NCAA Tourney) or Pat Summit (since we've given Tennessee all they can handle in the past) say such things, that would be outstanding.

**CyCy** · 01-23-2009, 09:00 AM

I read somewhere that Fennelly has a good chance to become the all-time winningest coach at ISU by the time his contract is up. I think only Harold Nichols and Cap Timm are ahead of him.

**ISUFan22** · 01-23-2009, 09:02 AM

The guy is the epitomize of what it is to be a coach, a great human being and a Cyclone.

It may be "just" WBB, but I'm damn proud to have him on our side. And while it's nice to have people outside the state say nice things about him, I certainly don't need 'em to do so - in order to confirm what I already know.

Couldn't care less what Auriema or Summit would have to say. I care about what his current/former players think and the fans. :)

**mred** · 01-23-2009, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by CyCy

I read somewhere that Fennelly has a good chance to become the all-time winningest coach at ISU by the time his contract is up. I think only Harold Nichols and Cap Timm are ahead of him.

Quick googling of records:

Bill Fennelly 280-132 (prior to this season)
Cap Timm 340-373-5
Harold Nichols 456-75-11

Obviously it's a bit silly to compare records from different sports, but interesting regardless.

At the current rate, Fennelly would be up around Nichols in 8 or 9 seasons (including this one).

**wartknight** · 01-23-2009, 09:12 AM

Long ways to go to catch Nichols.

**fccy** · 01-23-2009, 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by wartknight

Long ways to go to catch Nichols.

But fits in with the time left on Bill's contract, which has something like the 8 or 9 years left that mred suggests he needs to get there.

**4cyt** · 01-23-2009, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by mred

After looking at Miller's bio, I'm confident they've never actually coached together, which really makes this high praise.

They began the relationship when Miller was an assistant at Kent State. Kent State Head Coach Bob Lindsay and Coach F are good friend and the staffs there spent a lot of time together.