I think that ISU should stay away from young coaches on the rise and look at coaches who have HC experience that might stay at ISU even if offered by a school with more tradition.
I currently live in Raleigh, NC. When Duke hired their HC they knew who they were and owned it. Cutcliffe was a great hire and has turned the program around. I think most people would consider Duke football a worse job than ISU (especially before Cutcliffe). When Tennessee approached him about their HC opportunity he choose to stay at Duke. I believe that his experience at Ole Miss was the reason he stayed at Duke. He guided Ole Miss to a 10 win season in 2003 and the following year he had his first losing season in 7 years as the Ole Miss HC. He was fired. He knows what expectations are at Duke and what they are at Tennessee. He also understands what it takes to win and be the HC in a major conference.
Nothing is guaranteed. Duke didn't know Cutcliffe would turn down the Tennessee job (I think it was a very difficult decision for Cutcliffe). But the point is that they knew they would have a better chance keeping a guy like Cutcliffe than they would trying to hold onto a young up-and-coming HC that has never had his chance. At this point there's a good chance Cutcliffe stays at Duke the rest of his carreer and could have a winning record there when he retires.
Side note: When Tennessee approached him he had not yet had a winning season at Duke. So, just as we saw with Chizik, when the next opportunity comes up it doesn't mean they have had a number (or even one) successful season in their current job.
Take a look at what he's done at Duke. ISU's schedule will never be as easy as the ones Cutcliffe has at Duke. But he led them to a 10 win season in 2013. Prior to his arrival, Duke had 10 wins in the previous 8 seasons combined.
I currently live in Raleigh, NC. When Duke hired their HC they knew who they were and owned it. Cutcliffe was a great hire and has turned the program around. I think most people would consider Duke football a worse job than ISU (especially before Cutcliffe). When Tennessee approached him about their HC opportunity he choose to stay at Duke. I believe that his experience at Ole Miss was the reason he stayed at Duke. He guided Ole Miss to a 10 win season in 2003 and the following year he had his first losing season in 7 years as the Ole Miss HC. He was fired. He knows what expectations are at Duke and what they are at Tennessee. He also understands what it takes to win and be the HC in a major conference.
Nothing is guaranteed. Duke didn't know Cutcliffe would turn down the Tennessee job (I think it was a very difficult decision for Cutcliffe). But the point is that they knew they would have a better chance keeping a guy like Cutcliffe than they would trying to hold onto a young up-and-coming HC that has never had his chance. At this point there's a good chance Cutcliffe stays at Duke the rest of his carreer and could have a winning record there when he retires.
Side note: When Tennessee approached him he had not yet had a winning season at Duke. So, just as we saw with Chizik, when the next opportunity comes up it doesn't mean they have had a number (or even one) successful season in their current job.
Take a look at what he's done at Duke. ISU's schedule will never be as easy as the ones Cutcliffe has at Duke. But he led them to a 10 win season in 2013. Prior to his arrival, Duke had 10 wins in the previous 8 seasons combined.
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