I definitely agree with the top 2 MAC coaches listed. Both are great coaches.

https://theathletic.com/2474951/2021/03/...ll-coaches

Quote:4. Lance Leipold, Buffalo (2020 — No. 4)

After winning six Division III national championships in eight years at Wisconsin-Whitewater, Leipold has turned Buffalo into the most consistent winner in the Mid-American Conference. He’s won two division titles in the past three years, and Buffalo’s two bowl wins in the past two years were the first in program history. Leipold’s team this past season started 5-0 and reached the AP top 25 for the first time in school history. On top of all of that, Buffalo has won at least six games in four consecutive seasons for the first time since right after World War II. He’s also found and developed several underrated recruits into NFL players, with the latest expected to be running back Jaret Patterson.

Quote:6. Frank Solich, Ohio (2020 — No. 6)

Solich is the winningest coach in MAC history, and he’s posted 12 consecutive non-losing seasons (11 winning seasons) — even if the 2020 record was just 2-1 due to the pandemic. The Bobcats had 24 losing seasons in the 35 years before he arrived, and Solich has engineered an incredible run of sustained success. He’s the oldest coach in FBS at 76 years old, and he’s still chasing that elusive MAC championship.

Quote:Just missed the cut: Chris Creighton (Eastern Michigan), Jim McElwain (Central Michigan), Sean Lewis (Kent State)

No Sean Lewis huh?

Lester gets a lot of hate from WMU fans, but the only coach in the Conference I'd definitely take over him is Leipold.

(03-27-2021 09:05 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  I definitely agree with the top 2 MAC coaches listed. Both are great coaches.

https://theathletic.com/2474951/2021/03/...ll-coaches

Quote:4. Lance Leipold, Buffalo (2020 — No. 4)

After winning six Division III national championships in eight years at Wisconsin-Whitewater, Leipold has turned Buffalo into the most consistent winner in the Mid-American Conference. He’s won two division titles in the past three years, and Buffalo’s two bowl wins in the past two years were the first in program history. Leipold’s team this past season started 5-0 and reached the AP top 25 for the first time in school history. On top of all of that, Buffalo has won at least six games in four consecutive seasons for the first time since right after World War II. He’s also found and developed several underrated recruits into NFL players, with the latest expected to be running back Jaret Patterson.

Quote:6. Frank Solich, Ohio (2020 — No. 6)

Solich is the winningest coach in MAC history, and he’s posted 12 consecutive non-losing seasons (11 winning seasons) — even if the 2020 record was just 2-1 due to the pandemic. The Bobcats had 24 losing seasons in the 35 years before he arrived, and Solich has engineered an incredible run of sustained success. He’s the oldest coach in FBS at 76 years old, and he’s still chasing that elusive MAC championship.

Quote:Just missed the cut: Chris Creighton (Eastern Michigan), Jim McElwain (Central Michigan), Sean Lewis (Kent State)

Let's turn this into a 'teaching moment.'

The question is: What does the MAC show us about hiring a HC? Is there a pattern in choosing a successful coach or does it appear to a rather random events scenario?

There are two distinct threads I see:

1). The coach moving up from lower levels or moving up at a very young age and proving to be successful at the MAC level. Leipold, Creighton, Lewis, etc. These would be thought to be risky hires.

2). Coaches who had success at the P5 level. Solich and McElwain.

So a case can be made for both.

(03-27-2021 04:16 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  Lester gets a lot of hate from WMU fans, but the only coach in the Conference I'd definitely take over him is Leipold.

Would easily take Creighton or Solich over him. Maybe Lewis too. Though all those had to rebuild programs whereas Lester had to maintain a high level with pretty unrealistic expectations.

(03-27-2021 05:48 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  

(03-27-2021 04:16 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  Lester gets a lot of hate from WMU fans, but the only coach in the Conference I'd definitely take over him is Leipold.

Would easily take Creighton or Solich over him. Maybe Lewis too. Though all those had to rebuild programs whereas Lester had to maintain a high level with pretty unrealistic expectations.

It's not a popular opinion I have. But it's more of I just see many of the other coaches as an even trade. He's not better then the other coaches, but I don't think he's a lot worse.

Lewis, maybe. I'd say maybe Creighton, but not after this season's finish.

Lewis has done a great job of building Kent State program.

But 2 1/3 seasons is small sample size.

Have to see if he can continue to elevate it to at least division championship level.

(03-28-2021 08:49 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Lewis has done a great job of building Kent State program.

But 2 1/3 seasons is small sample size.

Have to see if he can continue to elevate it to at least division championship level.

Changing the culture of the program that has been so poor so long is extremely difficult, especially given the 3 bodybag/payday games they’re saddled with every season. One bowl and another that should’ve occurred this season for a program with only 1 other appearance since 1972 and 3 total priors in 100+ years is no small task.

(03-28-2021 10:25 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(03-28-2021 08:49 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Lewis has done a great job of building Kent State program.

But 2 1/3 seasons is small sample size.

Have to see if he can continue to elevate it to at least division championship level.

Changing the culture of the program that has been so poor so long is extremely difficult, especially given the 3 bodybag/payday games they’re saddled with every season. One bowl and another that should’ve occurred this season for a program with only 1 other appearance since 1972 and 3 total priors in 100+ years is no small task.

As I said Lewis has done a great job thus far.

Darrell Hazell won 16 games his first two (and only) years at KSU. Lewis won nine.

Let's see if he can further elevate or at least maintain the program before you anoint him the second coming of Don James.

(03-28-2021 11:56 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  

(03-28-2021 10:25 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(03-28-2021 08:49 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Lewis has done a great job of building Kent State program.

But 2 1/3 seasons is small sample size.

Have to see if he can continue to elevate it to at least division championship level.

Changing the culture of the program that has been so poor so long is extremely difficult, especially given the 3 bodybag/payday games they’re saddled with every season. One bowl and another that should’ve occurred this season for a program with only 1 other appearance since 1972 and 3 total priors in 100+ years is no small task.

As I said Lewis has done a great job thus far.

Darrell Hazell won 16 games his first two (and only) years at KSU. Lewis won nine.

Let's see if he can further elevate or at least maintain the program before you anoint him the second coming of Don James.

True, but I'd take him over a coach who inherited a Cotton Bowl program and has gone 24-20.

(03-28-2021 12:08 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  

(03-28-2021 11:56 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  

(03-28-2021 10:25 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(03-28-2021 08:49 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Lewis has done a great job of building Kent State program.

But 2 1/3 seasons is small sample size.

Have to see if he can continue to elevate it to at least division championship level.

Changing the culture of the program that has been so poor so long is extremely difficult, especially given the 3 bodybag/payday games they’re saddled with every season. One bowl and another that should’ve occurred this season for a program with only 1 other appearance since 1972 and 3 total priors in 100+ years is no small task.

As I said Lewis has done a great job thus far.

Darrell Hazell won 16 games his first two (and only) years at KSU. Lewis won nine.

Let's see if he can further elevate or at least maintain the program before you anoint him the second coming of Don James.

True, but I'd take him over a coach who inherited a Cotton Bowl program and has gone 24-20.

That coach is 2-0 vs. Martin and Miami.

(03-28-2021 12:13 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  

(03-28-2021 12:08 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  

(03-28-2021 11:56 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  

(03-28-2021 10:25 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(03-28-2021 08:49 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Lewis has done a great job of building Kent State program.

But 2 1/3 seasons is small sample size.

Have to see if he can continue to elevate it to at least division championship level.

Changing the culture of the program that has been so poor so long is extremely difficult, especially given the 3 bodybag/payday games they’re saddled with every season. One bowl and another that should’ve occurred this season for a program with only 1 other appearance since 1972 and 3 total priors in 100+ years is no small task.

As I said Lewis has done a great job thus far.

Darrell Hazell won 16 games his first two (and only) years at KSU. Lewis won nine.

Let's see if he can further elevate or at least maintain the program before you anoint him the second coming of Don James.

True, but I'd take him over a coach who inherited a Cotton Bowl program and has gone 24-20.

That coach is 2-0 vs. Martin and Miami.

Notice I didn't put Martin in my initial post, yet even he has a MAC title and the same number of bowls as Lester (albeit with more seasons).

(03-28-2021 11:56 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  

(03-28-2021 10:25 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(03-28-2021 08:49 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Lewis has done a great job of building Kent State program.

But 2 1/3 seasons is small sample size.

Have to see if he can continue to elevate it to at least division championship level.

Changing the culture of the program that has been so poor so long is extremely difficult, especially given the 3 bodybag/payday games they’re saddled with every season. One bowl and another that should’ve occurred this season for a program with only 1 other appearance since 1972 and 3 total priors in 100+ years is no small task.

As I said Lewis has done a great job thus far.

Darrell Hazell won 16 games his first two (and only) years at KSU. Lewis won nine.

Let's see if he can further elevate or at least maintain the program before you anoint him the second coming of Don James.

The team is already elevated. Lewis took over a team that in the year prior was ranked 127 in ypg at 275.2 and 128 in ppg at 12.8. This past year they were ranked #1 in both categories with 49.8 ppg and 606.5 ypg. That is a crazy turn around in a very short timeframe.

Tom Arth 1-17 .056 win%
Mike Neu 22-34 .393
Scot Loeffler 3-34 .176
Lance Leipold 37-33 .524
Jim McElwain 11-9 .550
Chris Creighton 30-51 .370
Sean Lewis 12-17 .414
Chuck Martin 32-46 .416
Frank Solich 115-82 .584
Jason Candle 38-21 .644
Tim Lester 24-20 .586
Thomas Hammock 5-13 .278

So - Lester has second-best winning percentage of active MAC coaches...

(03-27-2021 06:32 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  

(03-27-2021 05:48 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  

(03-27-2021 04:16 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  Lester gets a lot of hate from WMU fans, but the only coach in the Conference I'd definitely take over him is Leipold.

Would easily take Creighton or Solich over him. Maybe Lewis too. Though all those had to rebuild programs whereas Lester had to maintain a high level with pretty unrealistic expectations.

It's not a popular opinion I have. But it's more of I just see many of the other coaches as an even trade. He's not better then the other coaches, but I don't think he's a lot worse.

Lewis, maybe. I'd say maybe Creighton, but not after this season's finish.

Lester still needs to convince the fan base that he can win "that game" at the end of the season to get us to the MACC. We couldn't do it against a bad NIU team in 2019, and couldn't hold a decent 4th quarter lead at BSU in 2020.

However, at least he's getting us to winning records and playing meaningful late-season games. That's more than our men's basketball, women's basketball and hockey programs have been doing lately.

No Candle love despite the best MAC record, yet no chirping from the Rocket choir. Shows what losing the big one can do to a fan base. Also shows that resources and recruiting can only do so much.

(03-28-2021 07:31 PM)ilovegymnast Wrote:  

(03-28-2021 11:56 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  

(03-28-2021 10:25 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(03-28-2021 08:49 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Lewis has done a great job of building Kent State program.

But 2 1/3 seasons is small sample size.

Have to see if he can continue to elevate it to at least division championship level.

Changing the culture of the program that has been so poor so long is extremely difficult, especially given the 3 bodybag/payday games they’re saddled with every season. One bowl and another that should’ve occurred this season for a program with only 1 other appearance since 1972 and 3 total priors in 100+ years is no small task.

As I said Lewis has done a great job thus far.

Darrell Hazell won 16 games his first two (and only) years at KSU. Lewis won nine.

Let's see if he can further elevate or at least maintain the program before you anoint him the second coming of Don James.

The team is already elevated. Lewis took over a team that in the year prior was ranked 127 in ypg at 275.2 and 128 in ppg at 12.8. This past year they were ranked #1 in both categories with 49.8 ppg and 606.5 ypg. That is a crazy turn around in a very short timeframe.

Hazell and Lewis are apple and oranges. Hazell inherited some talent to work with, where Lewis the cupboard was so bare IMO

I'd put Creighton up there with most in the MAC. They had a team that struggled to even be competitive before he got there. They're not top MAC team, but a tough out now. That is an accomplishment that I don't think a lot of coaches would have pulled off. They aren't there yet but the program IMO is in a better spot than it was.

Leipold reportedly among final 2 for Kansas opening.

http://www2.kusports.com/news/2021/apr/2...all-coach/