The fire iCoach NOW thread

[zipsbandman]

I just watched the replay again, prior to halftime...one of our assistants had his play sheet stuffed down the front of his pants, too. I hope this isn't the football coaches' dress code.

I agree, Big Zip...it's pathetic that this is what it's come to...I expected so little that all I can comment on is that we could at least look professional and/or like we know what we're doing on the sideline. Turning around this program begins with the people on the sideline, and they don't even respect it enough to look respectable.

I don't seriously mean this, but if this is the way that football is going to be at The University of Akron, then we should eliminate it. It's unfair to increase the burden on Jodi Kest, Kieth Dambrot, Caleb Porter and all of our other respectable coaching staffs to sell their programs to potential recruits because our football coaching staff makes us look like we're clueless.

True, you look at what basketball, soccer, and even track and field has accomplished and then your most visible team goes out there every week and just humiliates the University. ICoach takes a lot of heat, but TW is the guy who needs to be held accountable for this mess. This was his most important hire, and he obviously did not do his homework.

[Zipmeister]

I just watched the replay again, prior to halftime...one of our assistants had his play sheet stuffed down the front of his pants, too. I hope this isn't the football coaches' dress code.

I agree, Big Zip...it's pathetic that this is what it's come to...I expected so little that all I can comment on is that we could at least look professional and/or like we know what we're doing on the sideline. Turning around this program begins with the people on the sideline, and they don't even respect it enough to look respectable.

I don't seriously mean this, but if this is the way that football is going to be at The University of Akron, then we should eliminate it. It's unfair to increase the burden on Jodi Kest, Kieth Dambrot, Caleb Porter and all of our other respectable coaching staffs to sell their programs to potential recruits because our football coaching staff makes us look like we're clueless.

True, you look at what basketball, soccer, and even track and field has accomplished and then your most visible team goes out there every week and just humiliates the University. ICoach takes a lot of heat, but TW is the guy who needs to be held accountable for this mess. This was his most important hire, and he obviously did not do his homework.

On a positive note, we are probably saving a small fortune by not purchasing clipboards.

[MaxZIP]

I just watched the replay again, prior to halftime...one of our assistants had his play sheet stuffed down the front of his pants, too. I hope this isn't the football coaches' dress code.

I agree, Big Zip...it's pathetic that this is what it's come to...I expected so little that all I can comment on is that we could at least look professional and/or like we know what we're doing on the sideline. Turning around this program begins with the people on the sideline, and they don't even respect it enough to look respectable.

I don't seriously mean this, but if this is the way that football is going to be at The University of Akron, then we should eliminate it. It's unfair to increase the burden on Jodi Kest, Kieth Dambrot, Caleb Porter and all of our other respectable coaching staffs to sell their programs to potential recruits because our football coaching staff makes us look like we're clueless.

True, you look at what basketball, soccer, and even track and field has accomplished and then your most visible team goes out there every week and just humiliates the University. ICoach takes a lot of heat, but TW is the guy who needs to be held accountable for this mess. This was his most important hire, and he obviously did not do his homework.

All of those coaches were here prior to TW. What makes you think he would select a winner next time.

[GP1]

ICoach takes a lot of heat, but TW is the guy who needs to be held accountable for this mess. This was his most important hire, and he obviously did not do his homework.

I agree. Coach I does what he does in that he runs a pro style offense in an era when everyone who wants to get good runs some sort of spread with a quick footed QB. I'm sure he made no bones about what he wanted to do when he came to Akron. I have no personal animosity towards Coach I, and I really don't care what he looks like. When you hire the guy, you get the style. It is the fault of the AD who hires the guy who brings the style. TW has not been good for Akron football since the day he walked in the door and destroyed any hope for the first year of The Big Dialer. He hasn't gotten any better and at the end of this season, we MAY be in a position where the program is in worse shape than when TW took over. Everyone think about that..... Especially you Dr. Proenza....you build the stadium and give us this? Fix it!!!!

[ZachTheZip]

Just disgraceful.

[GoZips]

ICoach takes a lot of heat, but TW is the guy who needs to be held accountable for this mess. This was his most important hire, and he obviously did not do his homework.

I agree. Coach I does what he does in that he runs a pro style offense in an era when everyone who wants to get good runs some sort of spread with a quick footed QB. I'm sure he made no bones about what he wanted to do when he came to Akron. I have no personal animosity towards Coach I, and I really don't care what he looks like. When you hire the guy, you get the style. It is the fault of the AD who hires the guy who brings the style. TW has not been good for Akron football since the day he walked in the door and destroyed any hope for the first year of The Big Dialer. He hasn't gotten any better and at the end of this season, we MAY be in a position where the program is in worse shape than when TW took over. Everyone think about that..... Especially you Dr. Proenza....you build the stadium and give us this? Fix it!!!!

GP1, writes the truth.

TW is responsible. Looks like he took the coward's way out by hiring his buddy from the past.

Any well grounded football coach could have told TW that Ianello is not head coach material.

His resume is worse than Brookhart's was. Speaking of Brookhart we can recall that it took him

four years to get his sea legs. Forget the 2005 run, that was done with Lee Owens kids.

For the icoach supporters: he is no great recruiter. That blue satchel with the gold letters "ND" is.

Can Akron afford four more years of disaster? Not likely.

Firing Ianello needs to coupled with firing Uncle Tom.

I for one, desperately want an Akron man as my AD.

[Doug Snyder]

ICoach takes a lot of heat, but TW is the guy who needs to be held accountable for this mess. This was his most important hire, and he obviously did not do his homework.

I agree. Coach I does what he does in that he runs a pro style offense in an era when everyone who wants to get good runs some sort of spread with a quick footed QB. I'm sure he made no bones about what he wanted to do when he came to Akron. I have no personal animosity towards Coach I, and I really don't care what he looks like. When you hire the guy, you get the style. It is the fault of the AD who hires the guy who brings the style. TW has not been good for Akron football since the day he walked in the door and destroyed any hope for the first year of The Big Dialer. He hasn't gotten any better and at the end of this season, we MAY be in a position where the program is in worse shape than when TW took over. Everyone think about that..... Especially you Dr. Proenza....you build the stadium and give us this? Fix it!!!!

GP1, writes the truth.

TW is responsible. Looks like he took the coward's way out by hiring his buddy from the past.

Any well grounded football coach could have told TW that Ianello is not head coach material.

His resume is worse than Brookhart's was. Speaking of Brookhart we can recall that it took him

four years to get his sea legs. Forget the 2005 run, that was done with Lee Owens kids.

For the icoach wonks: he is no great recruiter. That blue satchel with the gold letters "ND" is.

Can Akron afford four more years of disaster? Not likely.

Firing Ianello needs to coupled with firing Uncle Tom.

I for one, desperately want an Akron man as my AD.

You know...I normally enjoy reading your posts...especially in basketball. But why call fellow Zips 'wonks" or "wanks"?? And calling a the AD a"coward" is over the top too. Wish you would refrain from the name calling and keep with your normally solid analysis.

[Dave in Green]

..... For the icoach wonks: he is no great recruiter. That blue satchel with the gold letters "ND" is. .....

Ianello established his recruiting credentials before he went to Notre Dame, not at ND. In fact, that's probably one of the reasons why he was needed at ND, which can no longer draw players to the school name the way they used to.

He may or may not turn out to be a good head coach. But his recruiting abilities as an assistant coach were established over many years at several different schools.

[GP1]

TW is responsible. Looks like he took the coward's way out by hiring his buddy from the past.

Can Akron afford four more years of disaster? Not likely.

I don't know if I would use the word coward. I would use the word "lazy".

I worry about what happens if we have a terrible next couple of years. This downturn couldn't have happened at a worse time. It raises so many possibilities and none of them are good. Things could be bad in a way that they were after Faust's final season.

[ZachTheZip]

..... For the icoach wonks: he is no great recruiter. That blue satchel with the gold letters "ND" is. .....

Ianello established his recruiting credentials before he went to Notre Dame, not at ND. In fact, that's probably one of the reasons why he was needed at ND, which can no longer draw players to the school name the way they used to.

He may or may not turn out to be a good head coach. But his recruiting abilities as an assistant coach were established over many years at several different schools.

Many different nationally recognized schools with nationally recognized coaches. Sounds like an easy career path to take. Latch on to something successful and claim more of the success as your own than is warranted. But when it's time for him to stand on his own merits all of that vanishes.

[Dave in Green]

Right, Zach. So you're saying that every assistant coach in charge of recruiting at every nationally recognized school with a nationally recognized coach is recognized as a great recruiter because great recruits are automatically attracted and the assistant coaches in charge of recruiting don't do diddly but get a great reputation for recruiting just by filling the position? You don't think there's the slightest possibility that Ianello has been recognized as a top recruiting coach for years because he actually did the job better than most other assistant coaches in similar positions?

Really, it's OK to admit that Ianello has done some things right in his career without compromising your position that he's the wrong person for the UA head coaching job. Really, you don't have to demonize every aspect of the man to make your point.

Unless, that is, you are aiming for a career in modern American politics. In that case, trashing every element of an opponent's character will serve you well. It may not serve the American people well. But it will serve you well, because that's what a lot of folks are buying these days.

[ZachTheZip]

Right, Zach. So you're saying that every assistant coach in charge of recruiting at every nationally recognized school with a nationally recognized coach is recognized as a great recruiter because great recruits are automatically attracted and the assistant coaches in charge of recruiting don't do diddly but get a great reputation for recruiting just by filling the position? You don't think there's the slightest possibility that Ianello has been recognized as a top recruiting coach for years because he actually did the job better than most other assistant coaches in similar positions?

Most other assistant coaches aren't journeymen recruiters like Ianello was. It was the only skill he claimed to have, and he made sure to only work for coaches that made his skill look better than it would be if he had to stand on his own.

[Roo]

This thread is a classic example of why it is pretty pointless to even entertain visiting here on a regular basis.

A few ruining the reputation of many with their ignorance.

[GoZips]

ICoach takes a lot of heat, but TW is the guy who needs to be held accountable for this mess. This was his most important hire, and he obviously did not do his homework.

I agree. Coach I does what he does in that he runs a pro style offense in an era when everyone who wants to get good runs some sort of spread with a quick footed QB. I'm sure he made no bones about what he wanted to do when he came to Akron. I have no personal animosity towards Coach I, and I really don't care what he looks like. When you hire the guy, you get the style. It is the fault of the AD who hires the guy who brings the style. TW has not been good for Akron football since the day he walked in the door and destroyed any hope for the first year of The Big Dialer. He hasn't gotten any better and at the end of this season, we MAY be in a position where the program is in worse shape than when TW took over. Everyone think about that..... Especially you Dr. Proenza....you build the stadium and give us this? Fix it!!!!

GP1, writes the truth.

TW is responsible. Looks like he took the coward's way out by hiring his buddy from the past.

Any well grounded football coach could have told TW that Ianello is not head coach material.

His resume is worse than Brookhart's was. Speaking of Brookhart we can recall that it took him

four years to get his sea legs. Forget the 2005 run, that was done with Lee Owens kids.

For the icoach wonks: he is no great recruiter. That blue satchel with the gold letters "ND" is.

Can Akron afford four more years of disaster? Not likely.

Firing Ianello needs to coupled with firing Uncle Tom.

I for one, desperately want an Akron man as my AD.

You know...I normally enjoy reading your posts...especially in basketball. But why call fellow Zips 'wonks" or "wanks"?? And calling a the AD a"coward" is over the top too. Wish you would refrain from the name calling and keep with your normally solid analysis.

Doug, you are right. I changed my post to refer to icoach supporters. After all, it is refreshing

to see that some folks still have faith in his abilities. Sadly, after years of frustration, I do not.

As for calling TW a coward; I did not actually say that. I thought and still think that TW took an easy

path by hiring his friend. Now, that might be okay if the friend was qualified. Ianello is not.

GP1 hit it spot on when he stated "lazy".

TW should have formed a search committee and actually sought out the best available candidate. He

did no such thing. The decision to hire Ianello was not well thought out. It was more like patronage.

The best interests of the University of Akron were not in play.

I stand corrected.

[ZachTheZip]

TW should have formed a search committee and actually sought out the best available candidate. He

did no such thing. The decision to hire Ianello was not well thought out. It was more like patronage.

The best interests of the University of Akron were not in play.

I stand corrected.

There was a search committee. They twice recommended that we hire Luke Fickell out of a pool of some great candidates. And twice, Wistrcill overruled them to bring in a coach that wasn't recommended by anyone and was only approached by one other school who was more desperate than we were.

[Zipmeister]

TW should have formed a search committee and actually sought out the best available candidate. He

did no such thing. The decision to hire Ianello was not well thought out. It was more like patronage.

The best interests of the University of Akron were not in play.

I stand corrected.

There was a search committee. They twice recommended that we hire Luke Fickell out of a pool of some great candidates. And twice, Wistrcill overruled them to bring in a coach that wasn't recommended by anyone and was only approached by one other school who was more desperate than we were.

Ouch! Called out by Zach!

[Doug Snyder]

ICoach takes a lot of heat, but TW is the guy who needs to be held accountable for this mess. This was his most important hire, and he obviously did not do his homework.

I agree. Coach I does what he does in that he runs a pro style offense in an era when everyone who wants to get good runs some sort of spread with a quick footed QB. I'm sure he made no bones about what he wanted to do when he came to Akron. I have no personal animosity towards Coach I, and I really don't care what he looks like. When you hire the guy, you get the style. It is the fault of the AD who hires the guy who brings the style. TW has not been good for Akron football since the day he walked in the door and destroyed any hope for the first year of The Big Dialer. He hasn't gotten any better and at the end of this season, we MAY be in a position where the program is in worse shape than when TW took over. Everyone think about that..... Especially you Dr. Proenza....you build the stadium and give us this? Fix it!!!!

GP1, writes the truth.

TW is responsible. Looks like he took the coward's way out by hiring his buddy from the past.

Any well grounded football coach could have told TW that Ianello is not head coach material.

His resume is worse than Brookhart's was. Speaking of Brookhart we can recall that it took him

four years to get his sea legs. Forget the 2005 run, that was done with Lee Owens kids.

For the icoach wonks: he is no great recruiter. That blue satchel with the gold letters "ND" is.

Can Akron afford four more years of disaster? Not likely.

Firing Ianello needs to coupled with firing Uncle Tom.

I for one, desperately want an Akron man as my AD.

You know...I normally enjoy reading your posts...especially in basketball. But why call fellow Zips 'wonks" or "wanks"?? And calling a the AD a"coward" is over the top too. Wish you would refrain from the name calling and keep with your normally solid analysis.

Doug, you are right. I changed my post to refer to icoach supporters. After all, it is refreshing

to see that some folks still have faith in his abilities. Sadly, after years of frustration, I do not.

As for calling TW a coward; I did not actually say that. I thought and still think that TW took an easy

path by hiring his friend. Now, that might be okay if the friend was qualified. Ianello is not.

GP1 hit it spot on when he stated "lazy".

TW should have formed a search committee and actually sought out the best available candidate. He

did no such thing. The decision to hire Ianello was not well thought out. It was more like patronage.

The best interests of the University of Akron were not in play.

I stand corrected.

Thank you. :-)

[BirdZip]

TW should have formed a search committee and actually sought out the best available candidate. He

did no such thing. The decision to hire Ianello was not well thought out. It was more like patronage.

The best interests of the University of Akron were not in play.

I stand corrected.

There was a search committee. They twice recommended that we hire Luke Fickell out of a pool of some great candidates. And twice, Wistrcill overruled them to bring in a coach that wasn't recommended by anyone and was only approached by one other school who was more desperate than we were.

Source?

[Zip Watcher]

TW is responsible. Looks like he took the coward's way out by hiring his buddy from the past.

Can Akron afford four more years of disaster? Not likely.

I don't know if I would use the word coward. I would use the word "lazy".

I worry about what happens if we have a terrible next couple of years. This downturn couldn't have happened at a worse time. It raises so many possibilities and none of them are good. Things could be bad in a way that they were after Faust's final season.

Lazy? Really? Have you ever met Tom?

Can anyone take a deep breath, back away from your angst about the FB team, and really take an objective look at UA Athletics today?

You're better than this.

B) B)

Go Zips!

[UAZipster0305]

TW is responsible. Looks like he took the coward's way out by hiring his buddy from the past.

Can Akron afford four more years of disaster? Not likely.

I don't know if I would use the word coward. I would use the word "lazy".

I worry about what happens if we have a terrible next couple of years. This downturn couldn't have happened at a worse time. It raises so many possibilities and none of them are good. Things could be bad in a way that they were after Faust's final season.

Lazy? Really? Have you ever met Tom?

Can anyone take a deep breath, back away from your angst about the FB team, and really take an objective look at UA Athletics today?

You're better than this.

B) B)

Go Zips!

+1

I am as outspoken as anyone about not liking iCoach, but the Department of Athletics is in excellent shape. Coaches Porter, Dambrot, and Kest all have long contracts and we have one of the best track coaches in the country. Even after major upgrades the past ten years, the facilities are continuing to be improved. The new woman's golf program seems to be doing well and the woman's soccer is starting to compete at the top of the MAC. Other than the football program, what's not to love?

Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't TW have credit for those long contracts of our great coaches? And as much as we like to make fun of YouTubeTom, hasn't the addition of the YouTube videos been a cheap way of making the coaches and programs more accessible?

[mes102]

TW is responsible. Looks like he took the coward's way out by hiring his buddy from the past.

Can Akron afford four more years of disaster? Not likely.

I don't know if I would use the word coward. I would use the word "lazy".

I worry about what happens if we have a terrible next couple of years. This downturn couldn't have happened at a worse time. It raises so many possibilities and none of them are good. Things could be bad in a way that they were after Faust's final season.

Lazy? Really? Have you ever met Tom?

Can anyone take a deep breath, back away from your angst about the FB team, and really take an objective look at UA Athletics today?

You're better than this.

B) B)

Go Zips!

+1

I am as outspoken as anyone about not liking iCoach, but the Department of Athletics is in excellent shape. Coaches Porter, Dambrot, and Kest all have long contracts and we have one of the best track coaches in the country. Even after major upgrades the past ten years, the facilities are continuing to be improved. The new woman's golf program seems to be doing well and the woman's soccer is starting to compete at the top of the MAC. Other than the football program, what's not to love?

Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't TW have credit for those long contracts of our great coaches? And as much as we like to make fun of YouTubeTom, hasn't the addition of the YouTube videos been a cheap way of making the coaches and programs more accessible?

It's easy to keep them here, when you finally get them here and they have success. It's finding a coach to turn a program around and not make it worse, is a good Athletic Director in my opinion. We can all basically say that this hiring was a favor by Tom Wistrcill to his buddy Rob Ianello. And what Zach said about the search committee suggesting Luke Fickell is true. We know people in the athletic department from previous classes, activites, sporting events, etc. together with those people that are now in the athletic department. Not mentioning any names, but we hear plenty of stuff, especially when that whole interviewing/hiring process was going on.

A word to other students, alumni, or fans that want to get inside. Start telling the people what you're hearing with confidence and if you're lucky, they'll get so mad that they start defending their side of it, that they accidentally leak some information(grad assistants most vulnerable to this )...

[Doug Snyder]

TW is responsible. Looks like he took the coward's way out by hiring his buddy from the past.

Can Akron afford four more years of disaster? Not likely.

I don't know if I would use the word coward. I would use the word "lazy".

I worry about what happens if we have a terrible next couple of years. This downturn couldn't have happened at a worse time. It raises so many possibilities and none of them are good. Things could be bad in a way that they were after Faust's final season.

Lazy? Really? Have you ever met Tom?

Can anyone take a deep breath, back away from your angst about the FB team, and really take an objective look at UA Athletics today?

You're better than this.

B) B)

Go Zips!

+1

I am as outspoken as anyone about not liking iCoach, but the Department of Athletics is in excellent shape. Coaches Porter, Dambrot, and Kest all have long contracts and we have one of the best track coaches in the country. Even after major upgrades the past ten years, the facilities are continuing to be improved. The new woman's golf program seems to be doing well and the woman's soccer is starting to compete at the top of the MAC. Other than the football program, what's not to love?

Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't TW have credit for those long contracts of our great coaches? And as much as we like to make fun of YouTubeTom, hasn't the addition of the YouTube videos been a cheap way of making the coaches and programs more accessible?

We added a respected baseball coach and improved the basketball facilities, upgraded the soccer field and plans for baseball field upgrade. And remember....many thought Porter would leave and he he signed long term because he BELIEVED in the direction of the athletic department and university. Realistically....if in 5 years the gamble TW took in hiring ICoach pays off in top of the MAC status and 25,000 average attendance...TW will be remembered as being a genius. "Remembered" …because he will be gone. The guy I have the utmost confidence in is Proenza.

Count me a ICoach supporter. Until he does something that makes me think he will not succeed...he has my support. There are many things he has done that I like. This year will be important in the development of the program. I don't care about last year. I would rather go 1-11 and have a faster improvement curve than go 3-9 or 4-8 and take a few years more to get where we want to be. So...any talk about the coach before the end of year is silly. It may be entertaining and give some an outlet to vent....but it really is silly.

[zip403]

One GREAT advantage for Having COACH I. He has ruined the program..and there is now such a LOW attendance at games, I get GREAT PARKING, GREAT SEATS, and no line for bathrooms and food. Thank you COACH i

[zipsfan33]

Ok fellas, I have to chime in... I have been attending Akron games for years... (1986) I know a lot of you have already made the decision that Icoach is the worst coach ever... but, lets remember he was not taking over a team rich in talent. We have to give him at least 3 years to see if anything positive happens. I was at the OSU game and while I could see they were playing conservatively, I was not overly disappointed in the team...especially the defense. They were constantly hitting Bauserman and if they weren't on the field for 3/4 of the game could have really made a difference. If anyone thinks had we gone for the 1st down instead of punting it was going to make a difference is crazy. OSU and many other programs ares so much ahead of Akron right now it isn't funny, but I know one thing... I was proud to see the D getting off the ball and pressing. I can tell we are ahead of last year and getting better. Let's see what happens the rest of the way and determine from that. I'm done, thanks!

[GP1]

Lazy? Really? Have you ever met Tom?

Can anyone take a deep breath, back away from your angst about the FB team, and really take an objective look at UA Athletics today?

You're better than this.

Lazy? Yes, I think his hiring of Coach I was a lazy decision. I didn't say he was a lazy guy, just this decision was lazy. Try not jumping to conclusions next time. I know how close you like to get to people within the Athletic Department, so please don't let your relationships with them impede your reading ability.

Have I ever met Tom? No. So what? Save me the nice guy and hard working stuff. People are supposed to be nice and hard working.

Everything good about Akron sports today was in place before TW too over. KD was the basketball coach and the program was rolling. The soccer program was established. Other programs are good as well. We didn't need direction in those programs. We needed direction in football. The AD was responsible for providing that direction and he has failed badly.

Soccer has maxed out. Basketball has shown it will attract the same 2,800 people a game on average and that is about it. Remember the Motor City Bowl and how many people were there? That could be every week, and more, at The Big Dialer. It's not like there is no proof it can be done. The MCB is the proof.