Next coach?

[lionnusmb]

If I'm a betting man, one of the paulsons will be our next coach. Pollard will take the easy way out here and give it to one of them. It shows Pollard has no interest in wrestling like we have all known. I get losing recruits will suck, especially a nice recruiting class like this, but if we don't do this right, we'll be sitting in this same spot a few years down the road.

The thing that ticks me off about Pollard is about the track and cross country stuff, that sport will never generate any money hardly for the university and yet we build a new complex and hire a top 5 coach, we know where Pollards allegiance is at.

I hope he puts some money into this project too. He has to if he really wants to cement a legacy at ISU. Regardless of what the previous ISU AD did (hiring DMac, Floyd, Eustachy, keeping Cael around), he will always be remembered for killing baseball. Like it or not, JP's legacy will not be determined by the buildings he built and the money he brought into the athletic department if he sinks the wrestling program.

All that being said, I may not like it, but I think he has earned his pet-project while advancing the interests of ISU. He has earned the opportunity to advance his agenda in track and xc, especially for his own son. Like I said, I might not like it but I accept it.

 

[Die4Cy]

ISU has a committed donor base but it isn't large or possessing very deep pockets. It is easy to say spend the money and win, but we have an athletics department that needs to borrow significantly for even modest facilities improvements.

I think there is truth to the notion that Pollard is not the biggest backer of the sport, but most of it lies in the fact that wrestling is dying out as a D-I sport in the United States. A previous AD made the choice to keep ISU's legacy sport and drop baseball when most other schools went the other direction. Pollard has tried to balance ISU's history in the sport and this fact and has not done a very good job of being clear that ISU needs to be dominant in wrestling as long as the NCAA supports it--it is part of ISU's athletics identity.

He can change that perception but doing so really does mean he has to raise the public profile of ISU wrestling, which puts pressure on him, the program, and whomever comes in to do the job as coach. But it is the right thing to do at ISU.

 

[cstrunk]

The thing that ticks me off about Pollard is about the track and cross country stuff, that sport will never generate any money hardly for the university and yet we build a new complex and hire a top 5 coach, we know where Pollards allegiance is at.

Track and cross country stuff is more popular nationwide than wrestling, IMO. Heck, having a great track program can even help bring in elite speed that occasionally crosses over into football (maybe basketball, but I don't remember hearing about that much) with recruiting.

I wish we were really good at wrestling as well, but support for the sport is dying and Pollard is keeping the overall health of the athletic department in mind. Just my two cents.

 

[Judoka]

but most of it lies in the fact that wrestling is dying out as a D-I sport in the United States.

I wish we were really good at wrestling as well, but support for the sport is dying .

That's simply not true and has been refuted again and again. The Title IX decimation is in the past and in the past decade are or so more and more schools have committed themselves to success in wrestling (to ISU's detriment).

 

[CyGold]

If I'm a betting man, one of the paulsons will be our next coach. Pollard will take the easy way out here and give it to one of them. It shows Pollard has no interest in wrestling like we have all known. I get losing recruits will suck, especially a nice recruiting class like this, but if we don't do this right, we'll be sitting in this same spot a few years down the road.

The thing that ticks me off about Pollard is about the track and cross country stuff, that sport will never generate any money hardly for the university and yet we build a new complex and hire a top 5 coach, we know where Pollards allegiance is at.

I'm an optimist but I'm still giving JP the benefit of the doubt. My reasoning is because KJ had done just enough to warrant his 8 year shot. JP has also been busy finding coaches for FB and MBB which is a higher priority. In the meantime he has upgraded the wrestling facility. I don't buy into the argument that our facilities suck. Who really cares if they are in a separate "stand alone building"?... I don't. JP has a chance to turn this program into a contender and taking the lazy way out would be a waisted opportunity to build upon his legacy at ISU.

I think whoever he hires will be met with a lot of disappointment by several posters on this board. I'd rather get the best available coache even if it means losing all of the recruits (which I don't think will happen).

Personally I would love to see a coach who has a high level of detail and organizationa skills. Someone who runs a tight ship and is focused on developing every kid in the room and not just the starters. Some of the best coaches in sports didn't achieve the highest honors as a competitor but they can sure motivate, teach and develop players.

My list of who I would call to gauge interest and interview
1. Cael- don't think it would happen but LaBron James did it. $$$$$$$$$$
2. Cody and or Casey C - they would probably keep our current assistants
3. Burroughs- don't think he's done competing. Can he coach and run a program?
4. Dresser - home run hire
5. Pop - same as Dresser
6. Bono- a couple have said they don't like him but no one has said why. I like what he's done at SDSU
7. Mitchell @ GV
8. Christiansen @ SEP Can he recruit? He can sure develop HS guys and run a program. Worked well for VT.
Others - Reader, Perry, Pritzlaf, Guerrero

 

[ca4cy]

I'm an optimist but I'm still giving JP the benefit of the doubt. My reasoning is because KJ had done just enough to warrant his 8 year shot. JP has also been busy finding coaches for FB and MBB which is a higher priority. In the meantime he has upgraded the wrestling facility. I don't buy into the argument that our facilities suck. Who really cares if they are in a separate "stand alone building"?... I don't. JP has a chance to turn this program into a contender and taking the lazy way out would be a waisted opportunity to build upon his legacy at ISU.

I think whoever he hires will be met with a lot of disappointment by several posters on this board. I'd rather get the best available coache even if it means losing all of the recruits (which I don't think will happen).

Personally I would love to see a coach who has a high level of detail and organizationa skills. Someone who runs a tight ship and is focused on developing every kid in the room and not just the starters. Some of the best coaches in sports didn't achieve the highest honors as a competitor but they can sure motivate, teach and develop players.

My list of who I would call to gauge interest and interview
1. Cael- don't think it would happen but LaBron James did it. $$$$$$$$$$
2. Cody and or Casey C - they would probably keep our current assistants
3. Burroughs- don't think he's done competing. Can he coach and run a program?
4. Dresser - home run hire
5. Pop - same as Dresser
6. Bono- a couple have said they don't like him but no one has said why. I like what he's done at SDSU
7. Mitchell @ GV
8. Christiansen @ SEP Can he recruit? He can sure develop HS guys and run a program. Worked well for VT.
Others - Reader, Perry, Pritzlaf, Guerrero

I've cut and pasted my post from another thread a few days ago that was in response to a question as to why people didn't like Bono and why he wasn't hired when KJ got the job. As I state, this isn't gospel but I have heard a lot of these things in ISU wrestling circles over the years, including multiple people hearing the same things as I posted with regard to the exchange with Askren. Take it for what it's worth.


I don't have ANY inside info so I can only speak to what I heard from other fans over a couple beers now and then. A lot of Bono's problems weren't what he was, but what he wasn't. He wasn't a flashy wrestler. He was obviously very sound and it served him well, but he wasn't a high flyer and when people had Heskett and Sanderson on the brain he didn't carry the entertainment value. Whatever his role on Douglas' staff, he wasn't Cael. Cael was always the golden boy and Bono was in his shadow, so when it came time to replace Cael, the guy that was in his shadow didn't make enough of a splash. Finally, he wasn't head coach at a big time program and the whole co-coach with Terry Brands at UTC was confusing. I remember people discussing that they didn't think he had enough recruiting ties or a big enough name to recruit to the level we needed.

There was also the rumor/story that when Bono was talking to the Paulsons at some tournament about their official visit during their recruitment, Ben Askren (who some said really wanted to come to ISU) came up and asked when he could make a visit and Bono basically told him he wasn't good enough to warrant one. Again, that was a story that went around and I don't know if there is a lick of truth to it or not, but it was still held against Bono by plenty of people.

Again, consider the source and take it fwiw, but fair or not, these are all things that I've seen/heard brought up with regard to Bono. At the end of the day, he was a solid candidate to replace Cael, but Pollard and most of the fan base wanted something more than solid.

 

[csteve]

Who do you think is the main recruiters for Storr, Parker, Allar, Verkleeren, Vega and Leisure?

Main recruiter couldn't secure Allar...

 

[buf87]

Allar was going to Minnesota until the Drug scandal happened. Getting Allar was a total surprise and I knew from day 1 he was going to be a tough one to keep.

Granted that they have asked for their release, but doesn't mean they were given the release YET

 

[Judoka]

Allar was going to Minnesota until the Drug scandal happened. Getting Allar was a total surprise and I knew from day 1 he was going to be a tough one to keep.

Granted that they have asked for their release, but doesn't mean they were given the release YET

My hope is that Pollard asks everybody to wait until after the season and announces the new hire quickly after NCAAs. That gives all recruits and current team members a chance to meet the new coach before they make any lasting decisions.

 

[enisthemenace]

Well, if David Taylor was on your list, scratch him off.

 

[CyGuy4Life]

Doug Schwabb for the win!!!

 

[ca4cy]

Well, if David Taylor was on your list, scratch him off.

Why, what happened or what did he say?

 

[Judoka]

Why, what happened or what did he say?

Somebody tweeted at him and he replied that he was still focused on competing.

 

[enisthemenace]

Why, what happened or what did he say?

Someone straight asked him about the opening, and he said "Not interested...focus is solely on training at this point."

 

[ca4cy]

Not surprised. He hasn't even hit his peak as far as international competition. Safe to assume Dake will have a similar story.

 

[csteve]

My hope is that Pollard asks everybody to wait until after the season and announces the new hire quickly after NCAAs. That gives all recruits and current team members a chance to meet the new coach before they make any lasting decisions.

If Pollard makes a hire outside the program, then I agree with you. If he is going to promote Travis, then I think the best thing to do would be to release KJ immediately and promote Travis to interim HC. This will give the opportunity to see how the team as well as recruits respond in the coming 6-8 weeks.

 

[enisthemenace]

Not surprised. He hasn't even hit his peak as far as international competition. Safe to assume Dake will have a similar story.

Agree. I would sign on for a Taylor, Dake or Burroughs, but those guys aren't there in their careers at this time. Burroughs may never be.

 

[Judoka]

If Pollard makes a hire outside the program, then I agree with you. If he is going to promote Travis, then I think the best thing to do would be to release KJ immediately and promote Travis to interim HC. This will give the opportunity to see how the team as well as recruits respond in the coming 6-8 weeks.

Meh, we've got two duals we should win (even in the context of this season) coming up, then minnesota, then the part of the season Jackson is good at. If it is the Paulson's you probably quietly let the recruits and team know, but no reason not to let him finish the season unless the locker room is in revolt (which, for all we know it could be and that's why the announcement was made now).

 

[buf87]

If Pollard makes a hire outside the program, then I agree with you. If he is going to promote Travis, then I think the best thing to do would be to release KJ immediately and promote Travis to interim HC. This will give the opportunity to see how the team as well as recruits respond in the coming 6-8 weeks.

I think this is respect for a big redshirt senior class. I think Lelund, Quean, Earl and John for sure have a lot of respect for KJ and they get to finish their careers with KJ in their corner.

 

[Die4Cy]

That's simply not true and has been refuted again and again. The Title IX decimation is in the past and in the past decade are or so more and more schools have committed themselves to success in wrestling (to ISU's detriment).

Title IX still weighs heavily on the calculus at D-I schools with scholarship football. Wrestling is actually growing at the D-2 and D-3 levels where balancing out football numbers with women's athletics is not as big an issue. According to Forbes, there are only 76 D-1 shools sponsoring the sport, a drop of 41 since Title IX took its toll.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristi...stling-isnt-at-division-i-level/#723ad4f2fcc0

I am not aware of any D-1 schools that dropped wrestling some time ago and later brought it back. I know there were some schools that rallied money to keep programs from being dropped.

I agree ISU should be competitive in this sport regardless of how many schools participate, based on its legacy alone. As far as I am concerned, if you have the program you should be fully committed to it. I am just willing to admit that none of this happened in a vacuum.