Because we become the launch pad for coaches headed to the supposedly "Power" conferences, we often don't get the luxury of seeing a coach hit his stride. However, it is worth noting that Coach Danny Nee and Coach Larry Hunter had their best years in their 5-6 years, while Coach John Groce had his best year in his final year (his fourth year.)

Coach Nee exited after his sixth year, and it is worth noting he later viewed it as a mistake reflecting that a coach could win a national championship at a non- "Power Conference" school. Unfortunately, it can also become quickly apparent when a coach doesn't have the right temperament to lead a college program as in Coach Billy Hahn. I remember him always being friendly and chatting with anyone and everyone after Mass at Christ the King on Sunday morning, Sadly during the contest itself, he often became so emotional he lost track of the game and certainly any strategic changes necessary to win. He had two future NBA players on his team and still managed to finish at or near the MAC cellar.

In summary coaches need time, but if they aren't cut out to be a head coach everyone usually knows fairly soon, which is why most AD's, even in MAC programs like to hire guys with some head coaching experience.

Are expectations being reset to match actual performance?

Serious accountability starts in year three for our staff. We will have spent 2 million plus in staff salary in
three years. They got to show results.

6 years? In the MAC? Seriously?

The staff needs to step up recruiting. Aside from 2 transfers, who wanted to come here anyway, and 1 other freshman this year, I dont see any bigtime impact players in 3 years of recruiting (including next year).

Nee reached the first of his four consecutive 20+ win seasons in his 3rd season.

Saul has remarked on it a couple times in pressers, but our team right now has a real offensive slant to it. Sure, we need to work team defense overall, but the guys we have are just overall more offensive geared players.

I wonder what this team might looked like with Ryan Taylor on it. I think he was regarded as one of our best (if not the best) wing defender on our team last year. Even Laster seemed good in that department and he hasn't really seen much time this year...

Offensively, I think we are there. Basically. We are scoring. Defense. Nope. Player development is crucial since we have ONE recruit coming in next year.

Coach Nee had a 20 win season before his 4-6 years, but he did not hit his stride until his 5th and 6th years. Snoopy Graham and Dave Jamerson (both future NBA players) were the kind of recruits that Ohio could only have dreamed of a couple of years prior. If Coach Nee had stayed, one can only imagine the pipeline of talent that would have been coming to Athens.

Coach Groce also had a 20 win season before his fourth and final year, but he did not hit his stride until his final year. There is something to be said when a coach hits his stride and exudes the kind of confidence that makes recruits want to come to places like Athens which they might have never considered in years past.

You don't think Jordan Dartis or Gavin Block are impact players? Really? Personally, I think we hit a home run with this class.

Recruiting has changed so much since Née was here, it's like comparing apples to oranges. Recruiting has become such a science that very few players slip through the hands of the high majors any more.

I can't speak for other MAC schools but if/when Saul makes the NCAA's the money to keep him in Athens I'd suspect will be there. Saul is making 4x what TOS was making 8 years ago to coach the Bobcats to start.

+1

The past decade, we've come insanely close to seeing a mid-major win a national championship. I believe a mid-major will win a national championship in my lifetime. I don't think it is possible to guess which mid it'll be, but the recipe seems clear. The true "powers" have a weakness in that the players they have to go after to reload at the level they want to play at are leaving every single year. That gives mid-majors the ability to develop a team chemistry that they cannot develop in one year.

The opportunity is there for the taking. I don't know who it'll be, or when. But it CAN be done. So many have come so close already.

Henry Smith, Dink Whitaker to name two and I believe George Reed. And of course out of NY, Paul Baron.

http://articles.philly.com/1994-08-12/sports/25839805_1_c...

http://articles.philly.com/1986-02-28/sports/26088639_1_w...

Thanks, Alan. Not sure how I forgot your boy Paul Baron. Quite an impressive group of players in a few short years.

Oh how times changed. I looked up the 90 - 91 team, Larry's second year, and 10 of the 13 players were from Ohio. Not one guy was from east of Elmwood City, PA.