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Is Iowa only the 7th-best job for Big Ten football coaches?
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Photo: software-engineer-ranked-best-job-for-2011-11010502
Athlon’s magazine says the best football coaching job in the Big Ten is still Ohio State, scandals be darned.
Ken Thompson of the Lafayette Journal and Courier agrees in this column.
The rest of Athlon’s ratings: 2. Penn State, 3. Michigan, 4. Nebraska, 5. Wisconsin, 6. Michigan State, 7. Iowa, 8. Illinois, 9. Purdue, 10. Minnesota, 11. Northwestern, 12. Indiana.
The first thing I thought of was this: Doesn’t Iowa pay its head coach, Kirk Ferentz, extremely well? This may have changed in the last six weeks, but when last I looked, Ferentz and Arkansas’ Bobby Petrino were the only coaches at public universities making $3 million or more who hadn’t been to a BCS title game.
With the stability of ticket sales and a program that has been on solid ground for three decades (minus a couple of hiccups in that time), Iowa should be side by side with Michigan State at the least. The other five in front of Iowa? I can see the arguments for them. The first four are Old Money and when it comes to college football. Wisconsin has won three Rose Bowls in the last 17 years and played in another just six months ago. So that’s clearly a place you can succeed.
Is Iowa clearly a better job than Illinois? I’d say yes, but we know Illinois is capable of going to Rose Bowls and having a tough program to beat for Illinois prep recruits when the right coach is in place. Illinois fans throw themselves behind a winner, but can be pretty lukewarm when the team steps in potholes.
I’d take Michigan over Penn State. I think the top five when it comes to potential are (not necessarily in this order) Ohio State, Michigan, Texas, Alabama and Florida, though you can make all sorts of arguments for USC, Notre Dame, LSU, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Penn State. And Auburn. And Oregon.
I’d put Minnesota ahead of Purdue. With its new stadium, and a new coach in Jerry Kill who I think will be a great fit who will eventually start leading the Gophers to bowl games on a consistent basis, I see potential there. Purdue has been a very good program all in all over the years, but I think Minnesota has a higher ceiling.
Now it’s your turn. Where do you rank Iowa as a destination for football coaches compared to its Big Ten brothers? How would you rank the top 5?
This is a perfect example of why I have an issue with people that call for Ferentz’s head every year. My main argument: Who would replace him?
I know us Hawkeye fans (myself included) are high on ourselves, but the reality is that Iowa is not a desirable program to most coaches. Iowa will never get the recruits that Michigan, OSU, Penn State, or even Nebraska gets year in and year out and there is not alot of in-state talent to recruit like there is at MSU, OSU, Illinois, Minn, Michigan, and Penn State have.
I challenge any one to name a proven coach in college football that would truly have a desire to coach the Hawkeyes (besides the Stoops brothers).
In my ranking, I would give Michigan the edge over Penn State. I think once JoePa is replaced that could change again, but PSU has struggled with recruits lately(for their terms of course).
Other than that I agree with the rankings except I would flip flop Minnesota with Northwestern.
With all due respect…Athlon’s is a bunch of idiots. Michigan has fallen by the wayside as a premier program and Michigan State and Wisconsin pale in comparison to the tradition at Iowa. Nebraska still has yet to return to the glory of the Osborne years.
All one has to look at is the coaching tree that has run through Iowa since Hayden Fry. Wisconsin has Iowa to thank for Barry Alvarez and Brett Bielema. Nebraska has Iowa to thank for Bo Pelini.
Seven different FBS schools have coaches that came from Iowa. That says to me, that if you’re a football coach, and you want to hone your craft and become a better coach–a stint at Iowa is a pretty darn good place to do it.
Think objectively though. Is that coaching tree a result of coaching at Iowa, or is it a testament of coaching under Hayden Fry?
1. Michigan, 2. Ohio State, 3.Penn State, 4. Nebraska, 5. Wisconsin, 6. Michigan State, 7. Iowa, 8. Illinois, 9. Purdue, 10. Minnesota, 11. Northwestern, 12. Indiana.
How could Nebraska/Michigan/OSU be higher than Iowa. They’re spotlight programs that fire coaches who have relatively good records. Ask yourself this question, how many coaches have each of those schools gone through since Hayden Fry? I omit PSU because Paterno has been coaching longer than I’ve been alive. Its definitely a solid program. Gotta love Wisco, PSU, and Iowa where the head coach is a god in their respective state.
But besides being an Iowan or having Iowa ties, why would anyone WANT to coach at Iowa? Especially when a coach that has a combined 19-7 record in two seasons and a bowl win in each season (one of them BCS) has fans want him fired because the team didn’t live up to expectations.
It isn’t the raw talent in Iowa, not the tradition (which we do have but not when compared to other schools), Its not the national prestige, not for the money (because Iowans think our coach is already overpaid), not for the facilities (which again are good, but not the best).
Then what is it for? Think of something besides the fact that you think the Hawks rule all. Is it the cool logo? Or the Iowa City Ped Mall?
I think you’re selling Iowa short. I’m trying to be somewhat objective because I’ve lived in a number of Midwestern states. Ohio State and Michigan will always be the top jobs (tradition, recruiting, facilities, and money), but if a coach prefers a small city location with solid fan support (no pro teams), Iowa is a great place. The stadium is historic and newly remodeled, solid tradition (except for the 60′s and 70s), and Iowa has a reputation for success going back to the 1980′s. When Hayden took the job, he knew this was a place where you could win.
I essentially agree with your analysis. Michigan definitely jumps Penn State, and I think Nebraska does as well or at least runs neck and neck with Penn State. But Penn State over Michigan is the most ridiculous thing on this list.
Iowa and Wisconsin should really be neck and neck, and no way is Michigan State above Iowa. MSU over Iowa is the second most ridiculous thing on this list.
In fact I think I might put MSU below Iowa, Illinois, Purdue and Minnesota if I was making the list. Their recent success has been fairly mild, and greatly inflated their position…
Part of it comes down to what a coach wants and where he wants to live. Some coaches would hate living in a big city and fighting traffic, etc (like L.A. or Miami). And at some schools, they won’t be happy unless you go undefeated every year. People complained about Lloyd Carr at Michigan and ran Earle Bruce out of town at Ohio State. Larry Coker had a great record at Miami, but he got canned. I think most of us are VERY happy with Kirk (just like with Hayden), even though they have a down year every so often.
I would agree that Michigan State is a bit inflated. Nick Saban wasted no time high-tailing it out of there. You have to go 11-1 to get noticed in that state, and MSU went 11-1 last year. Then it got buried by ‘Bama, and all people are talking about in that state are the Wolverines. Regarding college football, that is.
Yes, and one area that hurt Michigan State for years was conflict between the athletic dept., the administration, and the Board of Trustees. It looks as if Mark Dantonio has overcome that, though. With Brady Hoke taking over at U-M, it’ll be interesting to see who can get the upper hand.
Mike, I love to hear you on WMT-AM-600… But work on your pauses. I love your insight. just not 4-5 second pauses, thanks.
a real list would go.
#1tOSU
#2 Michigan
#3 Neb
#4 PSU
(tied) #5Iowa/Whiskey
#7 MSU
#8 Illinois
#9 NW
# 10 Purdue
# 11 Minny
#12 IU
I think PSU has got to be the worst job to take, but a great school to take it from. kind of like when Floyd took over the Bulls after Phil and Michael left.
I’ll take your advice to heart, Beau. Thanks.
Mike,
the best was your reply to Bob’s question about Hockey! cracked me up. Don’t get me wrong you do a great job. and I find you mindset on many Iowa matters and even nation matters to be very very funny. and well spoken. I take your pauses to be you making sure you fully have completed you own thoughts. Just thought the pauses were a bit long. and It must be tough when the host gives you wrong info in a lead question. Still Love your work on here and on the radio. Keep it up.
I wouldn’t worry about it that much Mike. Yes, dead air in broadcasting is a big no no (I know from working in the industry) but I think some broadcasters would be advised to think more before they speak (looking at you Marty Tirrell).
This is a very interesting discussion. I believe the top 3 will always be the top 3 (Mich, OSU, Penn St.); The next group is whom is hot at the time (NE, WI, IOWA) and then the rest. I think this list changes every year.
I think I agree with MSU being above Iowa. They would pay their coach if necessary (look at Izzo’s salary), its just that Dantonio hasn’t proven himself quite yet. They do have to recruit against Michigan but still have an advantage over Iowa with in-state talent.
As far as the stability in Iowa’s coaching…one only needs to look as far as the basketball program to see that Iowa isn’t above firing a coach early in their tenure. Maybe you get a year longer than you would at Michigan or OSU, but don’t kid yourself, if the next guy doesn’t produce in Iowa City, he’s a goner too.
One thing Iowa has going for it is the National Media scrutiny isn’t quite as big. But it’s a fishbowl nonetheless locally.
First, who cares? Second, for anyone who does, if Iowa is such a poor place to coach football, why has it only had two coaches in the last 32 years, which might approach 40 before Ferentz retires? This, like most things, is highly subjective and of no significant consequence. It might be woth noting that neither Hayden Fry nor Kirk Ferentz were coaching stars until they arrived in Iowa City. It’s all about the match. Period. Ask Mr. RichRod, for one…
Dear Mike:
Frankly, who cares? Born in Iowa, 65 years ago, been a Hawkeye fan since 1956. Graduated from Iowa in 1968. Have heard the school is remote, facilities are lacking, the state population is too small, etc (but Nebraska is a giant). Well, I’ve lived all over the country but never made close to $3 million a year. If offered I’d take it for a lot less, even if is rated at the 120th best coaching position in college football!
Harry — or should I say, Senator Reid? — I found it interesting because a program rated the 7th-best job in the conference is going to bowls (and usually good bowls) consistently and paying its coach mega-megabucks.
Something’s going to have to give in the Big Ten’s New World Order, though. There are a lot of big fish swimming around in the league. Michigan has already suffered significant slippage. Will it claw back? Will another power or powers fall?
Can you tell it’s July, and I’m restless for something a little meatier to sink my teeth into? The Big Ten media days are next week.