With four games remaining I think one of the more interesting races will be for MAC Coach of the Year. I think there are four names that stand out to me right now:

Saul Phillips - Ohio
Keith Dambrot - Akron
Nate Oats - Buffalo
James Whitford - Ball State

I think all four of these all have a good argument to win the award and this is with apologies to Senderoff and Montgomery who could probably be in the discussion too.

The homer in me wants to give it to Oats as the first year coach who had to deal with his top two scorers leaving and then his wife getting diagnosed with cancer.

I always think that the coaches who just win consistently year in and year out are at a disadvantage for this award and thats not fair as I think Dambrot has done a great job.

Right now I think Saul Phillips gets my vote though and my voting would probably be as I have it up top.

I'm going with Whitford. As bad as Ohio was last year, Ball State was worse. Going from 2-16 one year to winning the division the next is very impressive. Saul gets my second place vote. Just like Oats, he lost his top two scorers (four of top 5) and his wife also was diagnosed with cancer.

I am thinking Whitford as well. I love the job Saul has done this year but Ball State has been a much bigger rebuild.

My thoughts-

Keith Dambrot, Akron: Dambrot reminds me of Solich- he's been so consistent at producing solid teams for over a decade that his success isn't as impressive because it is just expected. Also, both have struggled to win the big one. For Solich that's a MACC, for Dambrot its an NCAA Tournament game. In fact, in spite of all of Dambrot's success in the past 11+ seasons he is just 2-8 in post season tournaments and his last tournament win was in 2008.

Nate Oats, Buffalo: Oats inherited a tricky situation- replacing a coach that had taken the program to new heights and raised expectations, PLUS losing multiple key contributors and recruits. I think he's definitely a top candidate.

James Whitford, Ball St: In his first season Whitford finished 5-25(2-16). In his second season he finished 7-23(2-16). This year, his third, he's already at 18-9(9-5). The knock on Ball State is at the end of non conference play their non con SOS was ranked 349 out of 351 D1 teams and in conference play they are 0-5 against the top 4 teams. They did nab a win over #59 RPI Valpo which helps but overall I think their schedule is too weak. Scheduling easy wins isn't a bad idea for a team struggling to learn how to win, it was a smart move but I think ultimately it hurts his chances of being COY.


Honorable Mention-
Michael Huger, BGSU: Huger took over a BGSU team reeling from the sudden firing of first year head coach Chris Jans last spring. To step in and hold that team together, and then get them off to a 12-5(3-1) start was a COY worthy feat. Unfortunately since then BGSU has lost 9 of the last 10.

Mark Montgomery, NIU: From 2006-2012 NIU's football team won more games than its basketball team. That's nearly impossible to do, but that's how bad NIU's bball team was. In his first 2 season Montgomery went 5-26, 5-25, the next two improved to 15-17 and 14-16, and now in his 5th season he is currently 18-9. Before losing 6 out of the last 8 NIU was 16-3(5-1) and, like Huger, Montgomery looked to be a front runner for COY. But now I think he comes up short.

I'm not sure where to put Saul Phillips. How much credit do you give him for improving over last year when last year was such a disappointment? He had Tony Campbell and Mo N'Dour in the front court and 2 seniors and a strong freshman in the back court. 10-20 was way below their potential. With those 4 players gone and all replaced with freshmen or transfers with very little previous playing time he's been able to get a very young team to buy in and get better every game. Last year the players' attitudes and treatment of each other in the locker room was toxic, this year the team is as tight as there have ever been in Athens, so that makes a difference as well. I think he's certainly worked his way into consideration but at this point I'm not sure I can say for certain who I think it should be.

I don't think an OOC schedule should have much (if anything) to do with the conference coach of the year. Assuming Ball State finishes strong, James Whitford should run away with the award. They were dreadful last year, and weren't expected to be good this year either. Quite an impressive turnaround in Muncie.

Frankly ... if you look at it backwards, the only coaches who have not met/exceeded expectations are the three Michigan's and Miami. And arguments can be made at EMU and WMU that bad fortune was arguably a bigger culprit than coaching for their current records. After that, at some point this season, every other remaining MAC coach could put an argument on the table for COY.

Still wide open ...

What, no Coop?

It should be Whitford though.

(02-21-2016 09:12 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  I don't think an OOC schedule should have much (if anything) to do with the conference coach of the year. Assuming Ball State finishes strong, James Whitford should run away with the award. They were dreadful last year, and weren't expected to be good this year either. Quite an impressive turnaround in Muncie.

The non conference SOS is relevant when looking at the overall record. But if we push that aside and just focus on the conference record here's how Ball St's results pan out-

0-1 v Akron(10-4)
0-2 v Ohio(9-5)
0-1 v Kent St(9-5)
0-1 v Buffalo(8-6)
1-0 v NIU(7-7)
1-0 v Toledo(7-7)
1-0 v CMU(7-7)
1-0 v EMU(6-8)
2-0 v WMU(5-9)
1-0 v BGSU(4-10)
2-0 v Miami(3-10)

Ball St has clearly improved from 2-16 last year and Whitford is certainly in the conversation but I disagree that he "should run away with the reward". There are strong cases to be made for other coaches as well. We'll see.

(02-21-2016 09:46 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  What, no Coop?

It should be Whitford though.

Coop might be in a different thread, and not the one he wants to be in... (if you get my drift, as they used to say).

(02-21-2016 09:57 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  

(02-21-2016 09:12 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  I don't think an OOC schedule should have much (if anything) to do with the conference coach of the year. Assuming Ball State finishes strong, James Whitford should run away with the award. They were dreadful last year, and weren't expected to be good this year either. Quite an impressive turnaround in Muncie.

The non conference SOS is relevant when looking at the overall record. But if we push that aside and just focus on the conference record here's how Ball St's results pan out-

0-1 v Akron(10-4)
0-2 v Ohio(9-5)
0-1 v Kent St(9-5)
0-1 v Buffalo(8-6)
1-0 v NIU(7-7)
1-0 v Toledo(7-7)
1-0 v CMU(7-7)
1-0 v EMU(6-8)
2-0 v WMU(5-9)
1-0 v BGSU(4-10)
2-0 v Miami(3-10)

Ball St has clearly improved from 2-16 last year and Whitford is certainly in the conversation but I disagree that he "should run away with the reward". There are strong cases to be made for other coaches as well. We'll see.

I'm not sure if you are meaning to show that Ball State's wins are against lesser foes but at the end of the day they are 9-5 in conference. So is Ohio. Ohio has a better record against the good teams but conversely they have lost to three teams that Ball State beat. I think what's impressive to me is there turnaround is built on essentially the same team they had last year. But you are correct, it's clearly not a run away.

(02-22-2016 09:47 AM)OUVan Wrote:  

(02-21-2016 09:57 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  

(02-21-2016 09:12 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  I don't think an OOC schedule should have much (if anything) to do with the conference coach of the year. Assuming Ball State finishes strong, James Whitford should run away with the award. They were dreadful last year, and weren't expected to be good this year either. Quite an impressive turnaround in Muncie.

The non conference SOS is relevant when looking at the overall record. But if we push that aside and just focus on the conference record here's how Ball St's results pan out-

0-1 v Akron(10-4)
0-2 v Ohio(9-5)
0-1 v Kent St(9-5)
0-1 v Buffalo(8-6)
1-0 v NIU(7-7)
1-0 v Toledo(7-7)
1-0 v CMU(7-7)
1-0 v EMU(6-8)
2-0 v WMU(5-9)
1-0 v BGSU(4-10)
2-0 v Miami(3-10)

Ball St has clearly improved from 2-16 last year and Whitford is certainly in the conversation but I disagree that he "should run away with the reward". There are strong cases to be made for other coaches as well. We'll see.

I'm not sure if you are meaning to show that Ball State's wins are against lesser foes but at the end of the day they are 9-5 in conference. So is Ohio. Ohio has a better record against the good teams but conversely they have lost to three teams that Ball State beat. I think what's impressive to me is there turnaround is built on essentially the same team they had last year. But you are correct, it's clearly not a run away.

Not quite. The addition of Tyler (ineligible the 2nd semester last year), Weber (transfer sitting out last year), Davis (graduate transfer from Bradley), Moses (a freshman), and Smith (a junior college transfer) have added tremendous depth in both the front court and the back court, offensive punch, defensive intensity, and best of all, greatly improved team chemistry. This year's Ball State roster is vastly different from last year's.

(02-22-2016 10:14 AM)LongtimeFan Wrote:  Not quite. The addition of Tyler (ineligible the 2nd semester last year), Weber (transfer sitting out last year), Davis (graduate transfer from Bradley), Moses (a freshman), and Smith (a junior college transfer) have added tremendous depth in both the front court and the back court, offensive punch, defensive intensity, and best of all, greatly improved team chemistry. This year's Ball State roster is vastly different from last year's.

The depth may be better (and I'm not trying to discount that) but five of the top 6 scorers and 6 of the top 8 minutes played were on the roster last year. Davis was there last year after coming over from UC. Interesting that he and Sellers both saw their minutes greatly diminished from last year. I think you are thinking of Nate Wells who came over from Bradley but he's not really part of the rotation so I didn't include him.

(02-22-2016 10:33 AM)OUVan Wrote:  

(02-22-2016 10:14 AM)LongtimeFan Wrote:  Not quite. The addition of Tyler (ineligible the 2nd semester last year), Weber (transfer sitting out last year), Davis (graduate transfer from Bradley), Moses (a freshman), and Smith (a junior college transfer) have added tremendous depth in both the front court and the back court, offensive punch, defensive intensity, and best of all, greatly improved team chemistry. This year's Ball State roster is vastly different from last year's.

The depth may be better (and I'm not trying to discount that) but five of the top 6 scorers and 6 of the top 8 minutes played were on the roster last year. Davis was there last year after coming over from UC. Interesting that he and Sellers both saw their minutes greatly diminished from last year. I think you are thinking of Nate Wells who came over from Bradley but he's not really part of the rotation so I didn't include him.

Sellers lost playing time to Weber. Weber started the year playing very well and there wasn't anywhere to put Sellers. To me, going from leading the team in points (I think) to coming off the bench hurt the confidence a little. Weber has struggled quite a bit and Sellers has been eating at Weber's playing time.

I don't know what's going on with Jeremiah Davis although I'd like to see him play more than Naiel Smith.

I have been really impressed with Franko House. He's 6'6" playing like he's 6'8" or 6'9".

I will withhold my opinion until after tomorrow's games. School is still out on this award.

(02-22-2016 10:33 AM)OUVan Wrote:  

(02-22-2016 10:14 AM)LongtimeFan Wrote:  Not quite. The addition of Tyler (ineligible the 2nd semester last year), Weber (transfer sitting out last year), Davis (graduate transfer from Bradley), Moses (a freshman), and Smith (a junior college transfer) have added tremendous depth in both the front court and the back court, offensive punch, defensive intensity, and best of all, greatly improved team chemistry. This year's Ball State roster is vastly different from last year's.

The depth may be better (and I'm not trying to discount that) but five of the top 6 scorers and 6 of the top 8 minutes played were on the roster last year. Davis was there last year after coming over from UC. Interesting that he and Sellers both saw their minutes greatly diminished from last year. I think you are thinking of Nate Wells who came over from Bradley but he's not really part of the rotation so I didn't include him.

Only 4 of the top 6 scorers were on the roster last year unless you include Tyler who was ineligible for the entire MAC season.

Phillips's wife also has cancer.

Another point to consider: Ball State at 5-2 in MAC games has the MAC's best road record this season. The Cardinals have won 5 of their past 6 road games.

Ohio is a strange team. The clearly have tremendous talent, but shown some major inconsistencies all season. Bobcats have a reputation to blow big leads in the second half of games. This might be the youth. They go thru periods of absolute panic while blowing those big leads with bad shot selection, turnover, major defensive gaffs. Kaminski is a defensive liability at times. They are a far better defensive team with Block in the lineup. Phillips has played his starters huge minutes. Bobcats have to keep Simmons out of foul trouble. There is a reason he plays 37 plus minutes most games. They have nothing behind him. Dartis can play some point but its impacts the offense a lot once #2 heads to the bench. Bobcats are night and day when Simmons gets into foul trouble. That said Phillips has done a decent job with this team. They are a lot better in February than January. A lot better from where they were in November and December when Arkansas Pine Bluff gave the Bobcats a scare in the Convo.

(02-22-2016 08:53 PM)LongtimeFan Wrote:  Another point to consider: Ball State at 5-2 in MAC games has the MAC's best road record this season. The Cardinals have won 5 of their past 6 road games.

I read your 5-2 road record as meaning you guys are a meager 4-3 at home. There are all kinds of stats that could be used to justify any 1 of these candidates. At the end of the day we have 5 coaches that have 8-6 records or better. The final stretch run should go a long way towards deciding who comes out on top.