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(02-01-2015 01:47 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  All three of those coaches had opportunities to move up because of previous experience and contacts, not because they were on our staff in 2013.

That is true for pretty much every college coach in America. The point still stands. They were taken from our staff by teams that most people would consider an advancement for them. I call that poaching. You can call it whatever you would like.

WMU has a bunch of quality assistants right now whether you want to acknowledge that or not. Say it with me, Fleck has done a real good job of assembling a coaching staff. Come on....it doesn't hurt.

How come none of our coaches got "poached" after this great, wonderful 8-5 season, then?

Maybe they like their current situation and working for Coach Fleck? Maybe the right opportunities did not present themselves this year? How do you know they were not offered other jobs and turned them down?

I have a feeling we'll lose at least one assistant from this past season's staff to someone else before the dust settles.

(02-01-2015 03:31 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  How come none of our coaches got "poached" after this great, wonderful 8-5 season, then?

They still might. Plus as Chuck said, they may just be waiting for their right opportunity.

Don't assume that these guys are just going to jump at every opportunity. For better or worse, Fleck has put these guys in the limelight. A couple years of success on his staff, and they just may have a lot more options. Which for them would be good.

You're a coach yourself. Do you agree or disagree that certain position groups and many individuals on this team saw a vast improvement from year one to year two? I believe you reluctantly admitted at some point that it did look like Fleck and company could coach a little bit. Are the guys that work with these positions not at least partially responsible for their development?

Did Ciarrocca and Pinkham do a good job in your opinion? Both the offense and defense saw substantial improvement.

Did the defensive line and offensive lines not get massively more productive?

Our two corners led the nation in passes defensed, plus had four picks apiece.

Our LB corps was decimated by injury, and led by a walk on and true freshmen who clearly improved throughout the year.

Our 2nd year QB went from a guy that looked completely lost to 2nd team all conference.

We had two WR's in Daniel Braverman and Darius Phillips who came almost out of nowhere to become tremendous weapons.

We have had two consecutive MAC freshmen of the year.

The staff as a whole does a fantastic job recruiting by almost all accounts.

The strength and conditioning staff has shaped and strengthened the players getting them bigger, stronger, and faster. Just my opinion, but they have done it more effectively than any staff I have seen at WMU.

Is there still room for improvement? Yes. But I believe that has basically been stated by coach Fleck over and over again.

I like what I am seeing though.

Why don't you?

I posted more than once during the season (and since) that Fleck and staff proved that they can coach.

I said in this thread it was a good thing we were able to keep the staff together for another year.

Pull your claws in, S--- face.

I've tried reasoning with Major on things like this... impossible.

30 years a successful HS coach, a former WMU player, a loyal fan and donor to the program. I don't think anyone here is in a position to dismiss his opinions.

Half of communication is listening. Actually, probably 80% is listening. I don't listen carefully to everyone, but when the Major speaks up, I listen very carefully. A lot of experience there.

^ Yep, Kimbo too.

(02-01-2015 03:48 PM)ChuckNorris Wrote:  Maybe they like their current situation and working for Coach Fleck? Maybe the right opportunities did not present themselves this year? How do you know they were not offered other jobs and turned them down?

Chuck, stick with your pom poms.

So using your reasoning for those who left maybe they didn't like their current situation (1-11 with the Harlem Shake). Do you know?

Maybe the right opportunity presented itself enabling them to get out of Harlem. 1-11 is shaky at best.

This year?

The coordinators are both long time guys. They have a resume and anyone who is on the look would know what they're getting. Though there has been some past success there has been also the opposite.

The line coach formerly of Penn State too has a resume. Football: very good! But he was a part of a staff that some now question as it pertains to character and the culture that cultivated it. I'm sure many innocent folk have been stained by an association. But that won't stop decision makers at other institutions to question his hiring particularly at a P5 program. I can here them asking, "Do you mean to tell me you cant find an equal talent who doesn't have that (potential) issue?

I credit Coach Fleck for the hire. But at P5's they can afford to be selective. I think Coach Fleck got a steal. It is good for all things WMU football and this coach's family.

But let's hold off on crowning this staff until we get a larger sample size. Trending nicely. We'll see how things pan out after next years challenging schedule and then how they respond to that scenario.