http://postgazette.com/pg/11350/1197351-100.stm

Pitt began the process of finding its next coach by interviewing Ohio State defensive coordinator Luke Fickell Thursday afternoon.

He is the first known candidate to be interviewed. Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst is scheduled to be interviewed Saturday.

Several other candidates are also expected to get an interview, including Northern Illinois coach Dave Doeren and Florida Internationals Mario Cristobal.

One name to scratch off the list is Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads, who was near the top of Pitt's wish list, as Rhoads has agreed to a 10-year contract extension with Iowa State according to ABC5 television in Des Moines.

Read more: http://postgazette.com/pg/11350/1197351-...z1gisxt18I

I can understand Doeren's frustration regarding lack of attendance, especially after he went skydiving and jumped through a few hoops in order to attract some attention. Had the Army game been played in better weather, and/or on a Thursday, we might have had a nice turnout and attendance might have been better throughout the year.

Here's the message to get to prospective fans: WE NEVER LOSE AT HOME! Easier to enjoy a game if you are pretty much guaranteed a win.

Already interviewing? Well, that ought to help recruiting.

(12-16-2011 01:20 PM)beachboy Wrote:  I can understand Doeren's frustration regarding lack of attendance, especially after he went skydiving and jumped through a few hoops in order to attract some attention. Had the Army game been played in better weather, and/or on a Thursday, we might have had a nice turnout and attendance might have been better throughout the year.

Here's the message to get to prospective fans: WE NEVER LOSE AT HOME! Easier to enjoy a game if you are pretty much guaranteed a win.

Doeren should have done his homework before he got here. He should understand that we are not a Chicago team and never did - and never will - get much media attention. Did he think that just by him showing up here the press would come running and people would be busting the gates down to get into the stadium?

If he does not like it here, he should leave. Apparently, that's what he is trying to do. I wish him the best of luck in leaving as expeditiously as possible. Bring on the next coach.

(12-16-2011 01:27 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  If he does not like it here, he should leave. Apparently, that's what he is trying to do. I wish him the best of luck in leaving as expeditiously as possible. Bring on the next coach.

(12-16-2011 01:07 PM)cawoo22 Wrote:  

(12-16-2011 01:04 PM)Howl-n-Prowl Wrote:  

(12-16-2011 12:57 PM)7 Wrote:  

(12-16-2011 12:51 PM)Howl-n-Prowl Wrote:  Loyalty?

Hah, I bet the guys crying about loyalty that always throw PJ Fleck's name around would drop PJ like a bad habit if Chandler said that after his playing career he wanted to become a college football coach.

PJ who?



In regards to DD, let the man coach.

No way. Fleck is a different breed of dude. I have no doubts he's going to be a good head coach.

So in the grand scheme of things,

1) PJ Fleck
2) Babies (cute)
3) Chandler Harnish
4) Puppies (cute)
5) Babies (other)

...is that about right?

To 7, yeah, that's about right, but he'd probably rate cute babies and puppies a little lower. Other babies might get dropped off the list to make room for Britt Davis (dual threat QB, version 2004).

In general it'd probably be:

1. Chandler
2. Britt
3. Fleck
4. Babies
5. Melvin

if we're just talking about coaches it would be:

1. Fleck
2. Fleck
7. Fleck

In all seriousness, how can anybody be mad at Doeren if he leaves? He helped win the MAC! By all accounts he's gone about this the right way, unlike HWSNBN. If gets a new job, good for him. Don't be meatheads.

Also, I'm pretty sure after today we go into a dead period without practices for the hollidays. So if he's going to interview, this next week is the time to do it.

(12-16-2011 12:42 PM)blackhawk Wrote:  To me, the most upsetting thing about losing DD would be our general coaching turnover. Hard to upkeep this winning program w/the turnstyle.

That said, I have 0 clue about this guy. Harnish should be thanked by Kill and now perhaps DD. These recruits were not his and the foundation is not his. He came here and didn't f it up. Kudos for that.

I'd love PJ FLECK only b/c he'd likely stay a bit...out of loyalty. But, at the end of the day...Pitt/Tuke and even Fleck will not pass up triple (or double) their salary. Our program has 0 problem attracting great talent in the coaching ranks...we just can't keep em.

Pitt wont hire DD...they too have had a little issue with hiring such a guy who won a MAC championship out of the gate.

plus one on your harnish comment. Harnish turned into doerens and jerry's meal ticket. The way doeren latched onto harnish now really makes me a bit ill in hindsight. Looks like he was thinking of his next letter of recommendation on day one. Applying for other jobs is fine...but after one year? And to have two instances now where you are the one seeking the interest...you only have so many of those bullets to use. I just want the next coach to be one dedicated to niu and wants to move the program forward. I know pj is probably not the most qualified...but he would at least stay for two or three years.

There's no doubt Harnish was both Kill and DD's meal ticket, but don't start ripping on Doeren. First of all, he is still our coach, and by all accounts the players love him. He also did a really good job with the defense.

We're better than this.

(12-16-2011 01:39 PM)7 Wrote:  There's no doubt Harnish was both Kill and DD's meal ticket, but don't start ripping on Doeren. First of all, he is still our coach, and by all accounts the players love him. He also did a really good job with the defense.

We're better than this.

7 you have been saying you wouldn't mind him leaving the entire season! I know you are excited about this possibly opening a fleck door but you have stated your dislike for doeren the entire year

Doeren has aspirations to coach at the highest-level (as should every coach). people need to realize that and not get offended when a coach leaves. the obsession over Kill's departure is creepy. if we want to start retaining our coaches, we have to pay more. it's that simple.

(12-16-2011 01:58 PM)DSniu41 Wrote:  Doeren has aspirations to coach at the highest-level (as should every coach). people need to realize that and not get offended when a coach leaves. the obsession over Kill's departure is creepy. if we want to start retaining our coaches, we have to pay more. it's that simple.

Kansas, or any other B1G or B12 team OK I understand BUT PITT and only after one year???

He has nothing to do with that area of the country that the conference(s) that it is and will be apart of other then Florida.

(12-16-2011 01:58 PM)DSniu41 Wrote:  Doeren has aspirations to coach at the highest-level (as should every coach). people need to realize that and not get offended when a coach leaves. the obsession over Kill's departure is creepy. if we want to start retaining our coaches, we have to pay more. it's that simple.

it is unforgivable what Jerry did to the student athletes...the way he left them out to dry...unforgivable. This case is different...some would say doeren has not even proved he is a legit d1 coach yet. He is actively the one seeking out the interest after one year. That is a very desperate measure and not only hurts his future opportunities but also makes the rest of his time here in the lame duck mode.

(12-16-2011 01:58 PM)DSniu41 Wrote:  Doeren has aspirations to coach at the highest-level (as should every coach). people need to realize that and not get offended when a coach leaves. the obsession over Kill's departure is creepy. if we want to start retaining our coaches, we have to pay more. it's that simple.

I don't blame him, but these schools that are looking at him after one year because he had success at a school that was very good before he got here are stupid. He won the MACC for us, but just to get to that point we were extremely lucky in 4 games (Buffalo, EMU, Toledo, and the MACC). He definitely improved the defense from the beginning of the year to the end. But if I'm a school waiting to put out millions of dollars for a coach, I would want to have him continue the success after his stars that were inherited are gone.

(12-16-2011 02:06 PM)NIU17 Wrote:  

(12-16-2011 01:58 PM)DSniu41 Wrote:  Doeren has aspirations to coach at the highest-level (as should every coach). people need to realize that and not get offended when a coach leaves. the obsession over Kill's departure is creepy. if we want to start retaining our coaches, we have to pay more. it's that simple.

I don't blame him, but these schools that are looking at him after one year because he had success at a school that was very good before he got here are stupid. He won the MACC for us, but just to get to that point we were extremely lucky in 4 games (Buffalo, EMU, Toledo, and the MACC). He definitely improved the defense from the beginning of the year to the end. But if I'm a school waiting to put out millions of dollars for a coach, I would want to have him continue the success after his stars that were inherited are gone.

5, don't forget about Ball St.

(12-16-2011 02:02 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(12-16-2011 01:58 PM)DSniu41 Wrote:  Doeren has aspirations to coach at the highest-level (as should every coach). people need to realize that and not get offended when a coach leaves. the obsession over Kill's departure is creepy. if we want to start retaining our coaches, we have to pay more. it's that simple.

it is unforgivable what Jerry did to the student athletes...the way he left them out to dry...unforgivable. This case is different...some would say doeren has not even proved he is a legit d1 coach yet. He is actively the one seeking out the interest after one year. That is a very desperate measure and not only hurts his future opportunities but also makes the rest of his time here in the lame duck mode.

what are the players thinking for the bowl game? Hurts his recruiting also (edit - if he stays).

(12-16-2011 01:54 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(12-16-2011 01:39 PM)7 Wrote:  There's no doubt Harnish was both Kill and DD's meal ticket, but don't start ripping on Doeren. First of all, he is still our coach, and by all accounts the players love him. He also did a really good job with the defense.

We're better than this.

7 you have been saying you wouldn't mind him leaving the entire season! I know you are excited about this possibly opening a fleck door but you have stated your dislike for doeren the entire year

I don't dislike Doeren at all (anymore). I hope he bombs his interview and stays our head coach, that's how much I like him. There's just no reason to be mad at him here.

(12-16-2011 02:12 PM)7 Wrote:  

(12-16-2011 01:54 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(12-16-2011 01:39 PM)7 Wrote:  There's no doubt Harnish was both Kill and DD's meal ticket, but don't start ripping on Doeren. First of all, he is still our coach, and by all accounts the players love him. He also did a really good job with the defense.

We're better than this.

7 you have been saying you wouldn't mind him leaving the entire season! I know you are excited about this possibly opening a fleck door but you have stated your dislike for doeren the entire year

I don't dislike Doeren at all (anymore). I hope he bombs his interview and stays our head coach, that's how much I like him. There's just no reason to be mad at him here.

well you just made a 180 degree transformation

Wouldn't this negatively affect recruiting? I mean, why would a recruit want to come to NIU if he hears about the same things we are talking about here and realizes a coaching shuffle may soon be in order.