Is Kevin Jackson a better coach than Cael Sandeson?

**enisthemenace** · 01-29-2010, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by Ficklone02

Is that how Cael won all his matches? I'm curious, I never really paid attention to wrestling back then.

No. Cael beat the **** out of people, and embarrassed them while doing so, but that isn't really the point. His coaching style didn't really translate all that well, because IMO he was trying to teach his kids how to wrestle like him. Some things are intangible, and Cael had more intangibles than any athlete in maybe any sport. He was, and still is, a freak.

Right now, KJ is the better coach, but this honestly can't be answered fairly for a couple more years.

**bosco** · 01-29-2010, 04:59 PM

Don't know if this translates into being a better coach but I noticed in KJ's remarks after a match he gets very specific in analyzing technique and strategy while Cael seemed more vague and general.

**CydeOut** · 01-29-2010, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by Ficklone02

Is that how Cael won all his matches? I'm curious, I never really paid attention to wrestling back then.

Originally Posted by enisthemenace

No. Cael beat the **** out of people, and embarrassed them while doing so, but that isn't really the point. His coaching style didn't really translate all that well, because IMO he was trying to teach his kids how to wrestle like him. Some things are intangible, and Cael had more intangibles than any athlete in maybe any sport. He was, and still is, a freak.

Right now, KJ is the better coach, but this honestly can't be answered fairly for a couple more years.

Cael did beat people pretty badly, but it was by being an absolute technician, he didn't do it Brands-style where he physically abused the opponent. He had an ankle pick that was completely unstoppable and from there he knew how to work angles and keep pressure on the opponent. Plus he was flat-out better and mentally stronger than anyone that stepped on the mat with him in college.

**CydeOut** · 01-29-2010, 05:20 PM

In terms of the better coach, I'm a much bigger fan of the style that Jackson has brought as compared to what Sanderson installed. It's showing that the athletes are taking to Jackson's style as well, which is a huge positive.

It's hard to say who the better coach is, but put it this way...you don't win the national title without scoring bonus points. We are winning way more matches by bonus point victories under KJ than we ever did under Sanderson and anyone who has followed this season and any of Cael's seasons can vouch for that. We won under Sanderson, we're winning convincingly under KJ. Time will tell who the better coach is, but KJ has a great start going.

With Sanderson, you're buying the name, not an excellent coach. You're going to get elite talent to wrestle for him, but great players, or in this case the best college wrestler ever, does not necessarily mean he will be a great coach. We shall see.

**Tazzels** · 01-29-2010, 05:27 PM

A friend of mine wrestled under Douglas at ISU at the same weight that Cael did. When asked how to describe Cael's wrestling style, he said "Cael is just slick". I don't know what that means exactly, but it sounded good.

**Dryburn** · 01-29-2010, 05:34 PM

It's too early to tell, but it is obvious that he believes in a more aggressive style, which is good I think.

How well he will be able to recruit remains to be seen, but I would also think that a more aggressive style would be popular with most top recruits.

I think the other thing to watch is how the wrestlers develop from one season to the next, or even from the start of the season to the end of it. That will be very telling as well.

**jaretac** · 01-29-2010, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by chuckd4735

Speaking of Cael, who do you cheer for tonight? Penn State or Iowa?

Penn State. It would likely move us to #1 and really, who cares about Penn St. Cael can do whatever he wishes there as long as we beat them in the NCAA.

Now if Cael ever goes to Iowa I would feel differently. Gable at least didn't have a choice, Iowa was what was open at the time.

**anticyclonic** · 01-30-2010, 01:50 PM

Iowa fans were rough on him but if he had a dual at ISU fans would have thrown stuff at him

**singsing** · 01-30-2010, 07:16 PM

No doubt about it. Recruiting shouldn't be a problem with the staff he put together and I already see his wrestlers competing at much higher levels than when Cael was here. Only time will tell though, but I'm feeling pretty optimistic in the direction KJ is heading.

**cc1091** · 02-06-2010, 05:00 PM

Q: Is Kevin Jackson a better coach than Cael Sandeson

A: Yes

**swammi** · 02-06-2010, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by Tazzels

I talked to an ex-collegiate wrestler and a current HS wrestling coach and that was their opinion.

Does a 10 lb bag of flour make a REALLY big biscuit?

**geburgess** · 02-06-2010, 05:12 PM

I would take KJ 10 times outta 10 over Cael. While Cael was a good self motivator, he lacked as a motivator for our team, therefore we came out cautious, while KJ takes the more aggressive approach that will benefit the team and the program in the long run.

**TexasCy** · 02-06-2010, 06:10 PM

I like KJ but he is wrestling with Cael's guys. Who's to say that these guys wouldn't be wrestling this well under Cael if he had stayed here. Losing him hurt. I'm hoping KJ can recruit and be successful for the Clones.

**cyclone1306** · 02-07-2010, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by TexasCy

I like KJ but he is wrestling with Cael's guys. Who's to say that these guys wouldn't be wrestling this well under Cael if he had stayed here. Losing him hurt. I'm hoping KJ can recruit and be successful for the Clones.

133,149,Hwt could be considered Bobby Douglas's guys. 197 probably came here because of cael but the rest came including Gallick with the intention of wrestling for Douglas. Bono helped recruit most of those guys. Cael was recruiting as well but the guys I mentioned were happy with Bono returning.

**jaretac** · 02-07-2010, 11:26 AM

I guess the way I view it like this:

If Cael was still here, we would still have the same record and we would still be ranked #2 in the country. However, I've seen a lot more fight out of our guys and more "style points" as a result this season than I did in any of the previous seasons. That I like because that is important for us come tourney time.