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Tom Arth is a good person who was in way, way over his head. Guthrie did him a favor. Arth and all his coaches knew they weren't succeeding and were not capable of success. The coaches are the first to know there is a problem, but they are wired to try to the very end. Now they can all go to positions where they can be successful and happy. I wish them all the best. A good manager recognizes the lack of talent and makes changes. He does not dwell on excuses. He does not hope the program leader can improve when there is no evidence over three years that the basic leadership skills are there. Guthrie is a good manager and he acted. He also has a new coach in mind. I love Tim Tyrell, but he is not on Guthrie's radar. Charles is thinking bigger. He also wants someone with significant D1 experience. This change is good news for all Zips. The bleeding will stop. We can, and should, win big. The process has started. Welcome KangarooJake. This site is so important to Zip fans. Your opinion is welcome and don't be afraid to be different. I'm glad you are here. Thanks to the mods who made this site a reality.

I swear if we just failed having a D3 college coach and then turn around and hire a D2 high school coach for the job I'm seriously done with Akron football forever. We need someone who knows how to run practices, recruit, and game plan at an FBS level. If they want to bring Tyrell on the staff then that's fine make him a positions coach.

Does this mean the Bowden talk will end now? Asking for a friend

Hey everyone! New member here… I’m glad I found this forum, I’m a UA alum 2021, and back the Zips first and foremost. I actually played club lacrosse here as well. Go Zips!

stop with the negativity Arth was 3-24 Jared has taken the team to 3 college cups and lost in the finals of 2018 there is one soccer coach to be fired and her name is Noreen Herlihy She has been there 6 years lady zips were 3-15-1 this year and 1-9-1 in the MAC

I never thought I would see part of a high school coach’s resume to get an FBS job be the attendance for an annual neutral site game between rivals, but here we are. 2021 is strange.

Tyrrell is a fantastic HS coach. As a Hoban alumni, I am very impressed with what he has been able to accomplish there. However, I don't agree with putting a HS coach directly into a Div 1 HC job. He would probably be a fantastic coordinator, an NCAA D2 coach, or an FCS coach for a couple of years. Once he shows what he can do at the collegiate level, be the first in line to hire him for the HC job.

Congratulations. The previous record for the farthest anyone has made it into an Arth/Thomas post-game presser was 6:57.

Just really difficult to deal with no more Zips soccer this year, I know Covid and injuries last several years have husrt. but??????????????????. What has happened is that we are just not as tough at home as before. I mean W. Mich is just not a GOOD SOCCER TEAM THEY REALLY ARE NOT

So many people who either very casually or don’t watch any Akron football have been throwing this name around at me since this morning, but I don’t see it. I understand the guy could very well be a damn good head coach at this level some day, but since moving on from D3, is his resume what we’re looking for? Toledo is not good right now. That’s a popular name in the northeast Ohio media circles. Arth was too, to a lesser extent. People like Sam recognize a flashy NeO name like that and say BINGO! In reality, people who follow this program and conference on a daily basis are far more skeptical. Akron could very well end up hiring Kehres and he’s amazing. Then I’d happily, very happily, admit to being wrong. But I don’t see it, not yet.

When Arth decided to build his program predominately with Freshmen, he had to know the beatings would come early and often. He also had to know in today's FBS world that AD's and fans don't wait 5-6 years for a winning record. I think he grossly underestimated either the talent required to win in the MAC, or his ability to recruit enough impactful Freshman. His outdated Freshman-first recruiting approach cost him. The chips were stacked against him from the start, with a late hire. But he could have overcome that with some aggressive recruiting of JUCO and P5 Transfer talent on the OL and DL. I disagree that the Zips are now going to turn around and go backwards. We are 3-24 during Arth's tenure. That's already rock bottom. By comparison, Terry Bowden took over a winless L-M football program and has won 4 games this year. Arth is a good person, and he'll land on his feet. But he proved he didn't know how to win at Akron. His approach netted 3 wins in 27 games. We need a coach that knows how to win at Akron. And for those who think it isn't possible, look at Kent. They have been worse than the Zips most of the past 20+ years. Until they somehow found a coach that could win at Kent. I'm sure the kids presently in the Zips program are hungry to win. Hopefully the good ones stick around and see some quick success with the new coach.

I get the argument of riding out Arth. The trajectory is probably trending upward. To me, there have been far too many games in 3 season that tell me this just wasn't meant to be. Good Average Competent Bad football teams don't lose to 2019 UMass, especially by that margin. They don't get outgained by 600 yards against Ohio. They don't give up 69 points to Kent. They don't look like a high school team against 2020 Miami. They don't look like the Zips did against Temple, Bryant, Ohio, and Buffalo did this year. There were moments, of course. If you took someone who had never watched a second of Akron football and shown them the last 3 quarters against BG or the 4th quarter against Ball State, they'd be putting Arth's name into the pool in Baton Rouge. But reality is, through 27 games, which is ample time COVID or not, Akron has played in 3, maybe 4 games that I have left feeling okay with what I saw. That is not going to cut it. I've said it before, but look at NIU. That roster is unrecognizable from the 2018 season and they went 0-6 last year, but they opened 2021 with a win at GaTech and were undefeated in the MAC until their run-first QB threw for 500+ yards in a shootout loss to Kent last night. And don't even get me started on Kent. That s*** makes me sick. Akron could and should be so much better than it has been since Brookhart's prime. Akron was as well respected as any program in the MAC back then, and its been a doormat for nearly the entire league for over a decade. Yes, that includes the coach that went 1-6 against both BG and Ohio.

Use the balance of the season as player auditions for next year. While doing so, make a pitch for them staying so we don't have to start all over. I still think the timing is odd, but if it is going to happen I prefer it to be too early than too late like it was last time leaving the Zips with limited options. Also, spare me the cost of a search firm. I get why they do it (CYA), but just go find your guy.

It’s a moot point now but I don’t know that I agree. I feel like it takes different coaches different amounts of time. Akron isn’t going to get great recruits off the bat. A culture needs to be built. This isn’t like Harbaugh taking over at Michigan and having losing seasons. My sticking point is that a huge chunk of the team seems to be freshmen now. That means we are looking to build from the ground floor up. I don’t think you should turn and walk the other way just as you are approaching the staircase or elevator doors. We have started to see growth as this season has gone on and now we are going to turn around and go backwards again. I would be all for the change if this was a veteran team getting these results

I liked Arth and I do not think he was given enough opportunity to turn things around given that he was hired late in 2019 with suboptimal recruiting opportunities, and then had to endure a significant disruption with the COVID pandemic in 2020. So, for me the only real normal year he had in his 3 seasons was this year and I do think things were headed in the right direction even thought the record did not indicate it. On top of all that, Arth did bring in guys of high character as evidenced by the team GPA improvements which fit with Akron trying to rebrand itself in the STEM and business programs. Now all of that is water under the bridge and I guarantee a ton of players, especially the ones that are talented, will leave and we will have to start from scratch with the cupboard bare just like what happened when Arth took the job in 2019. As far as the timing being odd, I could not disagree more. If you are going to make the change, better to do it when the new head coach still has a chance to recruit for next year as all of Arth's recruits will probably not come here without an opportunity to speak with the new coaches or the offers will be rescinded altogether by the new coaching staff. My hope is that the AD had planned this all along and already has a new HC in the works. In addition, this give our current players an opportunity to enter the transfer portal and potentially find a home for the Spring semester if they choose to do so. If they were going to fire Arth, now is better than later for the new HC and for our current players.

Completely agree. Didn't say I was happy with result. I will just support us no matter how bad we are. With that being said, I think getting rid of Arth was the right decision, and moving forward would like to see us win more games.

+1

Needless to say this isn't the worst thing Arth has been through lol.

The timing is odd, and it only can be that Guthrie was waiting to see if bowl eligibility could be salvaged. That was cruelly taken away with that ending vs. Testicle Tech (not that we're beating WMU, Toledo, or Kent, probably). That being said, I wish Coach Arth best of luck. The results between he and the Ianello regime are similar, but the difference is that Tom is a likable guy that you want to see succeed. And I hope he does. I have looked into absolutely zero candidates at this point, but can we PLEASE get someone with a longer track record of success at a lower level? No high school coaches, please.

I have discussed this name before, I believe I can help in the media to get it done. I had heard rumors about Arth being let go, and have been clear that the best name for the job in my opinion is Matt Brock, assistant at Mississippi State. Up until this year, has been a leader nationally everywhere he has been as a Special Teams Coordinator. He was a special teams coordinator at BG and is what jump started his career. Apparently he is the right hand man to Zach Arnett, and Mississippi State has been dang good on defense this year, so good that Arnett is getting mentioned for big time DC and head coaching jobs. If not At Akron, he is destined to be a head coach in the near future. Might as well be here. Young, fiery, hard working, up and comer that can recruit, and has experience recruiting locally and nationally. I don’t like the idea of hiring another FCS head coach like Arth. Someone with P5 experience can get us back and going to bowl games every year. I posted this a while ago, but would love some help in pushing his name. Thank you, and as always Go Zips!

I don't have a problem with axing him but I don't quite get the timing.

I actually really liked Arth, but don't think he was the right person to get us on track. Need to focus on making a great hire now! I firmly believe this place can win and go to a bowl game consistently.

Good points. Here is another item. I know you kids will sometimes say things in heat of a competition or afterwards, even adults do. BUT , after we beta BG 5-1, I stuck around for the 'I believe' chant. Before it was said , one of the Zips players s yelled " (blank) B.G." Their players were still near their bench . Well guess what : They are going to the MAC tournament, we are not. They have a chance to go the NCAA'S , we do not.

I bought a nice A-Roo flag to fly from my front porch. I think the year was 2003, but not sure. Every year, the flag goes up once I attend a Zips practice, which usually occurs in July. The flag comes down the day the Zips are eliminated. This flag has never been put away this early in the year. Never. Never. Hell, High School Soccer is still playing. This is beyond unacceptable. Should I really hold out hope for an NCAA at-large bid? Seriously? Three years outside of the NCAA post season means the mystique is gone. Dead. It is part of the past. I will not tolerate anyone talking about the Akron Way, or We Are Akron, or any of that pitiful shite. DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!!!!!!!!!! Soccer Kings? My Hairy Ass! Jared, Ger, and Mikey, et al had better ask some really hard questions of themselves and of each other. Are you guys still up to the challenge?!? We can no longer say that we need to do the things we have always done, but just do them better. NO! Root Cause Corrective Action DEMANDS that new action be taken. We need a paradigm shift. What are the new ideas? What will you do differently? Not better, differently!

ALL EYES TURN TO GROCE. after the abysmal soccer and football seasons, Groce is all we have left.

Zips still tried too many air balls , though they were better in 2nd half. They wore down. Seemed to get frustrated at times on the ground game. When western played BG last week , the Falcons played a man down for approx 30 minutes, and western still could not win(1-1) tie, READ IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WESTERN IS NOT GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What makes it worse for me is that it is not like we were never ranked in the top 25. I posted in an earlier thread that Georgia state loss at home could cause us pain later. IT DID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GEORGIA STATE IS NOT GOOD EITHER.

if Akron ties....and Georgia State ties Southern...Akron also gets in

Thank you.

3-3 with 15min remaining.

The first thing I would do with a candidate is put him in a room with 2 or 3 of the most noncommunicative kids on the team and watch how he interacts with the kids. If he can't communicate with kids he won't be able to recruit or motivate them. You need a guy who can sit in a kid's living room with the kid and his mom and convince them the kid should come to Akron, Ohio

Western just plays physical. The Zips are going to have a difficult time winning header balls. Have confidence in short and intermediate range ground passes and tire them out.

I think November 4th is "Dre Christmas."

If you can't get Rich Rod, I guess you get O Rod.

https://twitter.com/CoachRGarrett/status/1452117667159187458 @CoachRGarrett: Nobody’s having more fun than @CoachTBowden and the Warhawks! Another great win tonight! #TheBestIsOnTheBayou https://t.co/vetDXwZDfB https://t.co/Wc0a29iqXy

I want a coach with Character I want a coach with Swag You my Boi Terry! #ThrowbackThursday

Your source is a good one.

Im just the Messenger No comparison to Groce

I wouldn't have wanted Kehres two years ago for the same reason I wouldn't want Tyrell now. The jump to FBS from HS is too much I think. Kehres has been at a MAC program for two years now and has seemed to do fine, whether his performance merits a HC gig I'm not sure of, but he's recruited and coached at a good MAC school for two years now and knows what it takes. I wouldn't hate it. He clearly knows Xs and Os

With Marshall and ODU along with JMU joining the Sun Belt. Marshall's coach Chris Grassie was on the radio yesterday and said that Kentucky, South Carolina, WVU and UCF (B12 dorsn't sponsor soccer, reason for WVU) had all been sent invites to the Sun Belt. If the MAC loses its auto bid I would hope the Sun Belt would offer Akron a spot as a soccer only member. The thing is Grassie said nothing about FIU. Don't know if their ADIM have already said No since they are most likely one of three schools caught in the crossfire of realignment. If all of CUSA affiliates join that would take the SB to 9 members, if both UCF and FIU were to join that would be 11 and if the MAC were to lose their auto bid and invited Akron that could get the SB to 12 and it look something like this: SUN BELT NORTH Akron Kentucky Marshall ODU WVU JMU SUN BELT SOUTH South Carolina Coastal Carolina UCF FIU GA State GA Southern I seriously think that conference could give the ACC a run for its money.

I don't want the following... 1. Recruiting Coordinator for a school that recruits itself 2. Non-DI college coach 3. Anyone Peyton Manning endorses I want to be a stepping stone for the next coach, because right now we are hardly that. Coaches leaving Akron are going to lateral schools/positions because of their lack of success at Akron. I want to be paying attention to a P5 school in 5 years because our coach was hired AWAY from Akron after having head-turning success here. If I'm Guthrie, that's my pitch. Come to Akron, give us 3-4 years of high-level G5 success, and go collect a massive payday from a P5 school. Help me, help you, help me, help you.

Ed Orgeron is probably on his way to Akron right now. Lol

No doubt this contributed to Guthrie not waiting till the end of the season to relieve Arth.

well-said. you are spot on with this.

Unless Guthrie has a guy he is 110% certain to turn this program around on consistent basis into the future, firing Arth this season isn’t a good move for him IMO. Giving Arth the chance to make real progress in the year he had the highest chance to all along is like having a free bet. If it doesn’t work, he fires him and hires his guy. If it does work, well he gets credit for patience. Why not give yourself two chances to have success rather than one (which is all he would get if/once he fires Arth)?

I like the second option better. It would be sort of a North/South split somewhat. Also, I am mainly looking forward to the possible addition primarily for basketball and because it will give us new matchups. I'm honestly sick of watching us play some of the current members over and over. Hopefully this will make some of those games less frequent.

While that may be the reputation, the reality is different. It's "the graveyard of coaches'.

We need a coach that can recruit. Period. Irons is a player. He can almost singlehandedly win football games. Dollard was a player. He could almost singlehandedly will football games. Mathison, while not at their level, is a player. After that...all our present players are essentially interchangeable. There's no other Arth-recruited talent on our roster that ANY other MAC program would want, let alone a P5 program. Yeah, you can see flashes of potential here and there from a DB or WR...but we are flat-out woefully short on talent. The proof: 0-4 MAC teams that lost to Duquesne curb-stomp us on our home field. You want linemen that are big, strong and agile. Our lines are small, slow and unathletic. Ditto the linebackers. It isn't will, or scheme, or conditioning that gets us pushed around the field. We're just smaller and less talented than all our opponents. Arth made the decision to build the program predominately with youth. It has hurt. Bowden had the same choice when he arrived, and liberally supplemented his classes with transfers. He once said (paraphrased) - "If we only recruit freshmen, we'll get killed and I'll just be recruiting the next coach's kids. AD's don't wait 5 years for you to win now-a-days." Can't argue with that. Transfers like Williams, Marcus, Davis, Coe and Natson were the types of impact P5 transfers we needed to start winning games at Akron. However, he also recruited NFL talent like Gilbert, Kyron Brown and Jatavis Brown out of high school. Maybe Council lands in the NFL too? I predicted 1 win when this season began. Irons' play made me hopeful we could possibly see two...but it's not going to happen. Lee Owens was a marginal coach (see him sitting at 2-2 at Ashland right now). But with a decaying off campus stadium and zero facilities he recruited the likes of Frye, Hixon, Blackburn, Payne, Hendry, Dwight Smith, Matt Cherry and many other solid, fun-to-watch players. Several landed in the NFL. Bowden once said - "We need to find a way to win at Akron." He also said - "Sometimes the local HS programs know you too well. Kids from Florida don't know Akron from Kent or BG, so that's where we need to recruit until we get better." It's true. I see zero value in making local recruiting a major emphasis right now. Of all the players I listed above as NFL caliber...how many were from Akron? Hendry was from North Canton. That's it. There is a way to win at Akron. It starts with identifying and recruiting talent. Period. Then lather, rinse, and repeat. There's no other option.

Vince Kehres