How good of a job is Iowa?



hawkeyebob62 said:
I think it takes a certain type to "want" to coach Iowa. I couldn't see a Meyer/Saban/Tressel type at all. Bielema and Stoops both played here, so they know the landscape.

Look at Raveling and Lute leaving the way(s) they did. They didn't like the "fish bowl", and Raveling wanted more of a "big city" atmosphere.

The population base is small. Chicago is a tough nut to recruit without some connections. Pretty much any "hotbed" for recruiting has several "home" schools in the area. We have, over the years, had to really work very hard for the best recruiting years, and let's face it, any high-end recruits that verbal are sitting ducks for the higher-profile programs to pick off late in the game, if not earlier.

Hayden was successful, in part, because of a Texas "connection", and Kirk's best classes haven't exactly been dominated by "locals", though our best home-grown recruits have been crucial. We've pulled from all over--and had to--whereas lots of coaches could probably recruit without a plane in their arsenal.

It isn't a daunting task to find the next "good coach", maybe, but I would disagree with those who think there are proven, high-profile coaches just waiting for the job to open up, save Stoops or Bielema. Stoops, IMO, is probably not that interested, and Bielema may be a tight window depending on how things shake out at Arkansas.

I also wonder how the big money would feel about a loudmouth, innovator type.

Let's not forget, D'Antonio cited Iowa as the type of program he wanted to shoot for at MSU. Bielema routinely went after our commits. But I can't remember the last time we "stole" a Michigan or O$U recruit, unless James Daniels counts. We did get Weinke, I guess, when Michigan hired RichRod.

Iowa is a good job, for sure. But any one of us could rattle off 30 schools with just as much draw, coach-wise.
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I agree with a lot of what you wrote. It most certainly takes the "right" fit. And no job is right for everyone. So the best way I can sum it up would be that even though Iowa is a great job it just isn't a great job for the flashy big name guys. Due to it not being in a big city, it's not a blue blood top 10 in name recognition hence the lack of national media attention. To say Iowa is a step down from the OSUs Bama etc would be more then fair.

We all know some of the guys on the fans wish list. Heck if I know if any of them be it Stoops or Bret B would be interested. In Brets case timing may have a lot to do with it as if he's just getting AR going he may not even consider leaving but who knows... What I do know is that'll be a fascinating time when that ball starts rolling.
 


AIRHAWK said:
Next Iowa AD is Kirk Ferentz. Mark it down, you heard it here first
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I don't know if KF even aspires to that type of gig.... I don't think he has that type of personality. But even if he does I don't think Iowa will go that route. Iowa is way too liberal of a school and I don't know this for sure but KF seems to not fall in line with the PC crap that would be apart of being a yes man directly under a President of the school.
 


NCHawker said:
I was with you for awhile and then I just started laughing. I noticed that nearly every "paragraph" had a word in quotes". I imagined you sitting in your living room using air quotes as you shared your "opinion".



[video=youtube;s_cAS-mvV20]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_cAS-mvV20[/video]
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I use quotes cuz I can't figure out to BOLD on my laptop (which I use when at home).
 






Hawknick said:
The University of Iowa is the best place to be a student athlete, employee or coach. As far as the current coach goes he actually has a contract through 2020. So I would not be so worried about him leaving before that time, that would mean that he will be there when the last class graduates. We can all enjoy the coaching stability that few programs can. The current recruits need not worry either. He has had offers from the NFL, but he has showed loyalty to the Iowa program. He is not exactly an old man yet so I would not rule out the possibility that he will coach past 2020 too. So the strong 2017 class should be secure too.
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You mean let KF finish out his contract and go lame duck, Tom Davis style? Lord, I hope not. I think KF either retires/gets fired before 2020, or you have to extend him sometime in the next 2-3 years. One or the other. If KF doesn't retire, then our AD has a decision to make. KF certainly is not guaranteed to be here until 2020 just because that's what his contract says.

As for the Iowa job.. I know we all think Iowa is "the greatest place to be" but there are certainly more appealing jobs with more allure. But the UofI pays well, has a good fan base, low expectations, good facilities & revenue, decent (not great) tradition and also is in the Big Ten.

It's a good job, even if it's not the OSU's and Michigan's of college football, but it's not Indiana football, either. Or Iowa State.

Iowa would probably have a hard time luring a proven coach who is already coaching a decent program - it would be a lateral move. But Iowa should be able to be competitive for the up & coming young coaches who haven't already landed a big gig. A coach like Urban Meyer - he was Utah's coach before UF hired him. It also comes down to "fit". Not every coach finds small-town Iowa life appealing. Some do.

I don't buy the weather thing. Let's face it, all northern states have crap winter weather. The only time I think the weather would play into it is if you're deciding between Iowa and some job in a conference like the SEC or something like that, where they have much nicer winter weather. I don't think the weather would be an issue for a "midwest guy".

Just my 2 cents.
 
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I would not say that it would be a lame duck situation. However I would anticipate him coaching at least through 2020. Since he is not that old he could easily get an extension. He likes it here, all though several NFL teams have been interested in him. I don't think he would break the contract to go back to the NFL, but after the contract he may consider it. We will see through, in the end he may well just get an extension through 2025.
 


Hawknick said:
I would not say that it would be a lame duck situation. However I would anticipate him coaching at least through 2020. Since he is not that old he could easily get an extension. He likes it here, all though several NFL teams have been interested in him. I don't think he would break the contract to go back to the NFL, but after the contract he may consider it. We will see through, in the end he may well just get an extension through 2025.
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If you think an NFL head coaching gig is even remotely possible for him now or 5 years from now your off your rocker.... He hasn't had any serious interest from the NFL for well over 5 years closer to ten. I don't see Kirk being here in 2020.... I just don't. If if if he is, then we will be in for some really good seasons.
 




guffus said:
i can think of a couple good candidates that may be ready to take over in 2018

Bobby Diaco - former Iowa player and current head coach at Uconn, just got done with his first year, so its too soon to tell if he is a good head coach but 2017 will be his 4th year at UConn and by then he will either be fired if he is bad, or ready to move up if he turns Uconn around.

Tom Herman -former OC at Iowa St and Ohio St. and brand new head coach at Houston. same deal as Diaco. we should know by end of 2017 if he is any good and he knows what its like to coach in the state of Iowa, also in the BigTen and also on a national championship team.
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Tom Herman was just under Bielema on my wish list. He already signed a 5* DL at Houston too. He did a really good job preparing the offense when each of the QB's went down for Ohio State.
 




MiniMoeHawk said:
Tom Herman was just under Bielema on my wish list. He already signed a 5* DL at Houston too. He did a really good job preparing the offense when each of the QB's went down for Ohio State.
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I actually hadn't heard people throw Tom Herman's name around as possible replacements for KF but he sounds like possibly a great option. If he sees some success at Houston his stock should definitely rise. He's only 40 years old and was the offensive coordinator of a national championship team. Also, the dude can obviously recruit because he has a 5 star DT with a 98 rating and a 4 star DT with a 96 rating and some 3 star guys already. Why else would they go to Houston unless he's put a lot of work in. Bret Bielema is the guy I'm hoping for but if he says no I don't even want Bob Stoops. With Stoops I think you get more of the same as we have. The Oklahoma fans are tired of a boring coach. Sound familiar? I think I Herman would probably be my second choice behind Bielema so hopefully the AD will consider him. Iowa would definitely be a step up from Houston so I would think he would be interested.
 


I don't think Stoops would work at Iowa at his stage in the game I don't think he has ten years left in him and he won't want to start a rebuilding project either.. So I don't think either party would be crazy about it. 5 years ago or so I'd have said heck yes though..
 


Herman sounds like an interesting possibility. He seems to have moved around a lot (2 years here, 2 years there) but has moved "up" every step.

Being an offensive-minded guy, he'd be a refreshing change. At 40 he's an ideal age, experienced but with plenty of years ahead. AND he can recruit (though it's a lot easier to convince a 5* to attend tOSU). He could be another 10+ year guy if things played out well.
 


hawkdrummer1 said:
Herman sounds like an interesting possibility. He seems to have moved around a lot (2 years here, 2 years there) but has moved "up" every step.

Being an offensive-minded guy, he'd be a refreshing change. At 40 he's an ideal age, experienced but with plenty of years ahead. AND he can recruit (though it's a lot easier to convince a 5* to attend tOSU). He could be another 10+ year guy if things played out well.
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Granted it is easier to keep TX 5 star athletes in the state but he was still the first coach to sign a 5* player to a non power 5 school. Color me impressed.
 


I would say Iowa is the 6th best coaching job in the Big 10.

Facilities are now great and we benefit from having the funds available to overpay our coaches. With that said, recruiting will always be the challenge because it's the Midwest and the state of Iowa.
 


ibahawkeye said:
I would say Iowa is the 6th best coaching job in the Big 10.

Facilities are now great and we benefit from having the funds available to overpay our coaches. With that said, recruiting will always be the challenge because it's the Midwest and the state of Iowa.
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there is definitely 5+ teams in the big ten that will fire you for going 6-6 or 7-5 every year too.
 


I'd say it's a good to great job. Good facilities to start. Unlike Columbus, Ann Arbor, or Lincoln there's not these nonstop expectations of a national title. 9-3 would not get you fired but a contract extension. Sure it's tough to recruit the blue-chps here but it's not something unexpected. Coaches know this fact going in. That's why you need a unique individual at the HC position. And to top it all with a moderate level of success Iowa has the finances to pay you well.
 


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