GhostofBTT
Banned
I think it is very important to hire a coach who has, at one point, lived, worked, or coached in Iowa. I don't think it is the most important aspect by any measure, but it is very important. I believe part of our success in football the last 30 years hasn't been the coaching continuity, but because the coaches we have understand the community and the fans, and in turn are embraced by them.
When you look at the last 30 years of Hawkeye basketball, however, the exact opposite is true. Lute Olson had success here, but he never embraced the community. He was uncomfortable in Iowa City, and he left for another school. George Raveling didn't fit in well either, despite his relative success, and he left on his own after 3 seasons.
Tom Davis, on the other hand, fully embraced the community, and was in turn worshipped. Although he never won a conference title, and made the sweet 16 3 times in 13 years, he is still revered in Iowa, and even more telling, people are still bitter he is gone.
Then comes Alford and Lickliter, who were Indiana guys. Neither one of them seemed to embrace the state, and in turn, the state pretty much hated them right back.
I don't know how to explain it, but to be the man at Iowa, you need a certain je nes sais quoi to connect with the people here, and I hope that the next coach has it. One way to be sure is to get a guy who has experience in Iowa in the past, and knows how the people behave.
When you look at the last 30 years of Hawkeye basketball, however, the exact opposite is true. Lute Olson had success here, but he never embraced the community. He was uncomfortable in Iowa City, and he left for another school. George Raveling didn't fit in well either, despite his relative success, and he left on his own after 3 seasons.
Tom Davis, on the other hand, fully embraced the community, and was in turn worshipped. Although he never won a conference title, and made the sweet 16 3 times in 13 years, he is still revered in Iowa, and even more telling, people are still bitter he is gone.
Then comes Alford and Lickliter, who were Indiana guys. Neither one of them seemed to embrace the state, and in turn, the state pretty much hated them right back.
I don't know how to explain it, but to be the man at Iowa, you need a certain je nes sais quoi to connect with the people here, and I hope that the next coach has it. One way to be sure is to get a guy who has experience in Iowa in the past, and knows how the people behave.
