Coaching Stability

[GP1]

TMQ ArticleThis is a good article about why it is important to stick with coaches long term. It's been a long time since Tennessee has gone to the Super Bowl and they have stuck with Fisher. He continues to do a good job with that team.My favorite team is the Steelers. They have had three coaches in my lifetime resulting in five Super Bowl wins and one loss. They have participated in roughly 15% of Super Bowls and many more playoff seasons. There were many times when fans wanted various coaches fired and the organization stuck with the coach. Jumping from coach to coach only proves that an organization really does not know what it is doing. During this week off, let's hear some thoughts on why, when the Zips seem to be moving in the right direction, there is clamoring for removal of the coach when organizational stability is the key. Remember, JD has won one MAC Championship and we have a history of coaches who don't win MAC Championships.

[ZachTheZip]

I think the reason there is a call for JD's head is because we stuck with the last two coaches for longer than many feel we should have. They don't want to make the same mistake again. I think JD has taken the program to a level beyond what Lee Owens had, the question is whether he can continue to improve or if has he reached a ceiling.

[Zips fan]

The program is stronger now than during the LO era, but JD has a fantastic fieldhouse, first class weightroom and an on campus practice facility. Has the program moved forward because of the coaching or the investment in the program? I think we should stick with JD but the expectations should be high. I believe that Akron should be a consistent winner within the MAC. I think it is unrealistic to expect a football dynasty but I think we should be in the discussion for the MAC title at the start of each year and finishing above .500 during conference play.

[Buckzip]

I think the reason there is a call for JD's head is because we stuck with the last two coaches for longer than many feel we should have. They don't want to make the same mistake again. I think JD has taken the program to a level beyond what Lee Owens had, the question is whether he can continue to improve or if has he reached a ceiling.

The reason there is a call for JD is because the team is not very good and doesn't seem to improve.Here at Akron an 8-4 record would be a fantastic season and we would all be elated about it.At other schools, too many 8-4 seasons and you will be fired. It's all about expectations and having a winning mentality instead of a losing mentality.If we were 8-4 consistently and had the occasional 6- 6 record, we would most likely be happy. However, right now we are happy to finish 6-6. That is because we are used to losing.

[johnnyzip84]

I think there are two other factors to assess, and these are "trends" and "special considerations". For instance, if JD had come out in 2008 with say a 3-9 record, that could easlity be viewed as a trend in the wrong direction (linear even) coming off 5 and 4 win seasons in 2006 and 2007 respectively. I believe the move to the new stadium warrants "special consideration". With the projected revenues being necessary to pay off the financing, it is vital that the product on the field lives up to reasonable expectations. I, for one, have said all along that a 6-6 record should secure JD another year in 2009, and a 5-7 mark is borderline (4-8 or less should be cause to at least consider letting him go). Of course now that we're already 4-4, I won't be too pleased with anything less than 7-5 But I'll still stick with my original criteria.BTW, has anyone else noticed that the MAC in general seems to be fairly stable in terms of head coaches lately? Parity (or mediocrity, take your pick) tends to help in that regard I suppose.

[GoZips]

Interesting question.While I often feel the frustration of JD's questionable judgement, I can see that gradually he is growing as a head coach. In the beginning he was totally overmatched. Now JD is performing about where the expectations were in the beginning. That is, an occasional win over weaker BCS schools, mid level in the MAC.Now its time to move up in the MAC. It is time to begin winning above 5-3 or 4-4. It is time to be aconstant threat to win the division. Thus far, it has not happened.What scares me is the continuation of the 3-3-5 non defense. It can not stop the run. Nor will itstop passing unless the ball is thrown deep. Basically, it a fool's defense. It is hurting the Zips.A quality coach scraps such foolishness quickly.I was always appalled at Lee Owens refusal to utilize a pass rush. He managed to lose a number ofgames by not rushing the passer. Owens, like Brookhart was unwilling to change quarterbacks whenthe whole stadium could see the need. We never would have discovered Charlie Frye had NickySparks not suffered turf toe.In my opinion, if JD goes 1-3 or 0-4 for the remainder of the season, he should be fired. Otherwise,go with JD another season. I do not like firing coaches. Nor do I like under achieving coaches.

[Zips fan]

I think the reason there is a call for JD's head is because we stuck with the last two coaches for longer than many feel we should have. They don't want to make the same mistake again. I think JD has taken the program to a level beyond what Lee Owens had, the question is whether he can continue to improve or if has he reached a ceiling.

The reason there is a call for JD is because the team is not very good and doesn't seem to improve.Here at Akron an 8-4 record would be a fantastic season and we would all be elated about it.At other schools, too many 8-4 seasons and you will be fired. It's all about expectations and having a winning mentality instead of a losing mentality.If we were 8-4 consistently and had the occasional 6- 6 record, we would most likely be happy. However, right now we are happy to finish 6-6. That is because we are used to losing.

I don't think any MAC school is going to fire an 8-4 coach. Most MAC schools struggle with out of conference games because we play most of them on the road. A BCS school, like PSU, basically pays for four schools to come in an get overmatched, while moving to 4-0. They need to go 4-4 during conference play to be 8-4, hence they would be an average school in their conference. Most decent MAC schools start the season out 1-3 or 2-2, if they go 4-4 in their conference they are looking at 5-7 or 6-6, while being relative equal to the rest of the conference. Unless we start buying wins(ie: Cal Poly, Howard, etc..), I am going to judge JD by the MAC as the standard. He needs to be above .500 in conference. If we need the money, go and take the paycheck games against top ranked opponents but that loss is on our lack of finances, not JD.

[Dr Z]

Good topic. I'll play along.First off, I don't feel that comparing an NFL coaching situation to an Akron college coaching situation is fair.Many reasons, but money being the biggest. Somebody (CK maybe) made the Ball St coaching analogy.That is probably more fitting. But your point is a good one, and is valid.That being said, your asking me to tell you why I want the coach removed, I don't. I think JD is the right kind of leader for the Zips, and I agree with youthat changing the coach would only be a set back at this point.Buuuuuut, if I had to give you one reason why we should change, you know this is coming...it's the 3-3-5. Period.Once JD admits his mistake and says "you know, when I first got in this league I thought the 3-3-5 was the proper way to go, I now realize that I can succeed with (insert new defense here). I have been giventhe proper tools to recruit at a higher level now and I am able to put the right athlete in the right position."That would excite me about Akron football. I'll be living off the high of the new stadium next year, but if our defenseis playing the same way come 2010, I'm putting a donation site together until I reach my goal of buying a billboard in Akron that has simple text across the billboard that says "changeyourdefensejd.com"

[zen]

I don't know how you can discuss coaching stability and only focus on the head coach.It seems to me that every year, during the off season, we hear about one or two of our coaches being lured away to other programs, and most of the time, you hear nothing but praise for them and how difficult it can be to find someone with their qualities and qualifications.So, I'm not suggesting that the people that we have had to bring in for the various coaching positions during the JD era have been any less than those whom they have replaced, but of course, that's not the topic, is it? The question is, how much would coaching stability bring to the program? Even if JD is still here for a certain amount of time, how much of a step back is it to have a constant transition from the coaches who have specialized responsibilities?

[tbozeglav]

Changing head coaches is far more dramatic than changing coordinators/assistants.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I don't know how you can discuss coaching stability and only focus on the head coach.It seems to me that every year, during the off season, we hear about one or two of our coaches being lured away to other programs, and most of the time, you hear nothing but praise for them and how difficult it can be to find someone with their qualities and qualifications.So, I'm not suggesting that the people that we have had to bring in for the various coaching positions during the JD era have been any less than those whom they have replaced, but of course, that's not the topic, is it? The question is, how much would coaching stability bring to the program? Even if JD is still here for a certain amount of time, how much of a step back is it to have a constant transition from the coaches who have specialized responsibilities?

For the most part, JD's staff has remained intact. Ferri, Moorhead, Bleil, Flemming...all are pretty tenured @ UA. Pry left for Illinois. Nori left for the 49'ers. Wally left to be a head coach at a lower division. If you can appreciate a coach's desire to advance their career, those are all pretty acceptable "losses." It isn't like they left for equivalent positions @ K.e.n.t or Toledo.I don't think our staff turnover is any better or worse than anyone else over the past 4 1/2 years. It seems about average.

[GP1]

I don't know how you can discuss coaching stability and only focus on the head coach.It seems to me that every year, during the off season, we hear about one or two of our coaches being lured away to other programs, and most of the time, you hear nothing but praise for them and how difficult it can be to find someone with their qualities and qualifications.

You may be on to something here. UofA did not lose a coach after last year and the performance seems to be better this season.

[ZachTheZip]

I don't think any of our coordinatirs or JD is going anywhere after this season. Not sure about the position coaches, though.

[a-zip]

I have not read all the posts but I love this topic. When you have a great coach...........do what you have to do to keep him! The MAC has the reputation as being the "cradle of coaches" F that!Good coaches are the key and have been the foundation to every successful program you see on T.V. today. - Penn St was nothing before Paterno, Fla State was nothing before Bowden, Greg Schiano is making it happen at Rutgers (until JoePa retires) - in basketball it is exponential.I was hoping J.D. was the hot young coach to move us up and was ready to campaign to keep him at all cost but I have to say the new stadium is a nice line in the sand to make a change if we do not atleast win the MAC east.Unrelated to Zip FBall..........we have K.D. and I hope we do everything we can to match ANY offer he might get.

[Lee Adams]

as someone stated here the record against the MAC is what Brookhart(darn it) MUST be held accountable for...nobody cares when he gets thumped by wisky,psu,osu etc etc etc etc...BUT he hasn't been able to run with the big dogs in the MAC...YET...he has a chance to get over .500 in the MAC this year...but he is not yet...judge him on the only games that count...the ZIPS fate is literally in their own hands...if they do the 'carpe diem' thing and win the East, Brookhart gets a locker at the Info...if not..well Lou Tepper is waiting at IUP...GO ZIPS

[johnnyzip84]

as someone stated here the record against the MAC is what Brookhart(darn it) MUST be held accountable for...nobody cares when he gets thumped by wisky,psu,osu etc etc etc etc...BUT he hasn't been able to run with the big dogs in the MAC...YET...he has a chance to get over .500 in the MAC this year...but he is not yet...judge him on the only games that count...the ZIPS fate is literally in their own hands...if they do the 'carpe diem' thing and win the East, Brookhart gets a locker at the Info...if not..well Lou Tepper is waiting at IUP...GO ZIPS

I like your restraint here and I nearly agree (except I'm not ready to demand an East crown for JD to keep his job). But LOU TEPPER? What other ex-Big 11 wash-ups do you have in mind? Gary Moeller? John Cooper? Lee Corso? Oh I realize old Lou is still gainfully employed in the coaching ranks as HC of the Crimson Hawks (formerly Big Indians), but he was only 25-31-2 in his tenure at Illinois. Improved records at Edinboro and now at IUP might be of interest to the likes of 'eguins, but I see little difference between these accomplishments and those of LO at Ashland. Unless the Zips fall apart, JD should stay for at least one more year. But if the wheels DO come off, I sure hope we don't go after a re-tread like Tepper.

[GP1]

as someone stated here the record against the MAC is what Brookhart(darn it) MUST be held accountable for...nobody cares when he gets thumped by wisky,psu,osu etc etc etc etc...BUT he hasn't been able to run with the big dogs in the MAC...YET...he has a chance to get over .500 in the MAC this year...but he is not yet...judge him on the only games that count...the ZIPS fate is literally in their own hands...if they do the 'carpe diem' thing and win the East, Brookhart gets a locker at the Info...if not..well Lou Tepper is waiting at IUP...GO ZIPS

Yet? he won a MAC Championship in a year when he beat the best team in the conference twice. Lou Tepper? You can't be serious. What would be the difference between bring Tepper or Faust back?

[Zips fan]

I know that JD's future is a valid discussion at this point, but it is also possible for JD to get Coach of the Year honors within the MAC this season. We were picked to finish dead last and we are in first place in the East. If JD can keep it together for the rest of MAC play, I think he would have a good shot. If the team severly falters down the end, it could be the end for JD. Halfway through the season, it is hard to say weather JD is a great coach who is getting the team together or it time to look for the next great coach.