The unofficial online home for fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

I think it comes down to having enough money to be able to hire competent assistants. Here are last years numbers from a few MAC schools. There was a 500k difference between Kent and Western last year. Hard to compete against that.
http://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/salaries.../assistant

base other total bonus assist combined
640 Kent State MAC Don Treadwell $146,676 $0 $146,676 $0 $733,900
790 Kent State MAC Rob Zeitman $96,900 $0 $96,900 $0 $733,900
812 Kent State MAC Ben Needham $92,879 $0 $92,879 $0 $733,900
914 Kent State MAC Dave McMichael $73,564 $0 $73,564 $0 $733,900
920 Kent State MAC Mark Spencer $71,400 $0 $71,400 $0 $733,900
923 Kent State MAC Hank Poteat $70,638 $0 $70,638 $0 $733,900
930 Kent State MAC Jeff Burrow $69,891 $0 $69,891 $0 $733,900
931 Kent State MAC Doc Gamble $68,912 $200 $69,112 $0 $733,900
962 Kent State MAC Colin Ferrell $42,840 $0 $42,840 $0 $733,900

514 Akron MAC Chuck Amato $199,920 $0 $199,920 $39,987 $919,220
648 Akron MAC Todd Stroud $142,400 $0 $142,400 $27,067 $919,220
791 Akron MAC Jeff Bowden $96,900 $0 $96,900 $22,817 $919,220
792 Akron MAC A.J. Milwee $96,800 $0 $96,800 $21,967 $919,220
819 Akron MAC Michael Woodford $91,800 $0 $91,800 $21,967 $919,220
834 Akron MAC Otis Mounds $90,000 $0 $90,000 $20,834 $919,220
921 Akron MAC Trent Boykin $71,400 $0 $71,400 $18,567 $919,220
940 Akron MAC Eric Hickson $65,000 $0 $65,000 $17,500 $919,220
942 Akron MAC Brett Ekkens $65,000 $0 $65,000 $17,501 $919,220

637 Miami (Ohio) MAC George Barnett $147,088 $0 $147,088 $0 $897,288
662 Miami (Ohio) MAC Matt Pawlowski $136,000 $200 $136,200 $0 $897,288
677 Miami (Ohio) MAC Eric Koehler $132,500 $0 $132,500 $0 $897,288
843 Miami (Ohio) MAC Bill Brechin $89,500 $0 $89,500 $0 $897,288
851 Miami (Ohio) MAC Joe Palcic $88,000 $0 $88,000 $0 $897,288
879 Miami (Ohio) MAC John Hauser $80,500 $0 $80,500 $0 $897,288
880 Miami (Ohio) MAC Corey Brown $80,500 $0 $80,500 $0 $897,288
901 Miami (Ohio) MAC Pat Welsh $76,000 $0 $76,000 $0 $897,288
936 Miami (Ohio) MAC Israel Woolfork $67,000 $0 $67,000 $0 $897,288

592 Toledo MAC Brian George $160,000 $0 $160,000 $1,500 $944,000
641 Toledo MAC Brian Wright $146,000 $0 $146,000 $0 $944,000
743 Toledo MAC Mike Ward $107,000 $0 $107,000 $0 $944,000
757 Toledo MAC Marquel Blackwell $102,500 $0 $102,500 $0 $944,000
774 Toledo MAC Mike Hallett $100,000 $0 $100,000 $0 $944,000
850 Toledo MAC Ross Watson $88,000 $0 $88,000 $0 $944,000
854 Toledo MAC Derek Sage $87,500 $0 $87,500 $0 $944,000
869 Toledo MAC Cory Robinson $85,000 $0 $85,000 $0 $944,000
932 Toledo MAC Robby Discher $68,000 $0 $68,000 $0 $944,000

274 Western Michigan MAC Kirk Ciarrocca $315,000 $5,760 $320,760 $7,500 $1,225,320
433 Western Michigan MAC Ed Pinkham $220,000 $5,760 $225,760 $7,500 $1,225,320
753 Western Michigan MAC Rob Wenger $102,000 $1,200 $103,200 $5,000 $1,225,320
761 Western Michigan MAC Brian Callahan $100,000 $1,200 $101,200 $7,500 $1,225,320
766 Western Michigan MAC Jimmy Williams $100,000 $0 $100,000 $5,000 $1,225,320
789 Western Michigan MAC David Duggan $97,000 $0 $97,000 $5,000 $1,225,320
794 Western Michigan MAC Matthew Simon $95,000 $1,200 $96,200 $5,000 $1,225,320
825 Western Michigan MAC Bill Kenney $90,000 $1,200 $91,200 $7,500 $1,225,320
829 Western Michigan MAC Kenni Burns $90,000 $0 $90,000 $5,000 $1,225,320

We are really poor.

I question whether the university should even continue to have a football program. There doesn't seem to be any point to it. Lots of fine universities with fine D I basketball programs don't have football. It would be great to have a decent football program, but there isn't the money or the fan interest, it seems, to make that viable except for a year or two once in a blue moon. I mean, since 1976 they have had only TWO seasons where they won three or more games more than they lost - 1987 and 2012.

It is obvious that the AD does not know what to do with this program. In fact, he has been the overseer of its status for long enough. I am hoping that the President is tired of our FB program being an insult to the rest of a fine university. She has been at enough universities with successful programs to sense when things are not right. Maybe she will apply pressure on the athletic administration to right the ship. That is my hope.

(10-08-2017 07:03 PM)GFlash68 Wrote:  <snip> I am hoping that the President is tired of our FB program being an insult to the rest of a fine university. She has been at enough universities with successful programs to sense when things are not right. Maybe she will apply pressure on the athletic administration to right the ship. That is my hope.

Yes, with her degrees from Alabama and Auburn, I think the trustees expected she could do something to make the football team a priority

A few coaches that should be looked at...

K.C. Keeler 58 - Sam Houston State - 208-83 - $250k/yr
2016 Eddie Robinson FCS Coach of the Year
Currently averaging 537/ypg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K._C._Keeler
http://www.gobearkats.com/ViewArticle.db...=209384109

Bo Pelini 49 - Youngstown State -87-38 - $213k
2016 FCS National Championship appearance
Currently averaging 453/oypg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo_Pelini

John Grass 49 - Jacksonville State - 37-7 - $251k
2015 FCS National Championship appearance
Currently averaging 371/oypg

http://www.jsugamecocksports.com/staff.aspx?staff=122
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Grass..._football)


If we want a coach that is looking to shoot to the top then I would go for this guy.

Mike Houston 45 - James Madison University - 62-20 - $300k/yr
2016 AFCA FCS Coach of the Year
2016 FCS National Champion
Current averaging 517/oypg

http://www.jmusports.com/coaches.aspx?rc...h=football
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Houst..._football)

(10-11-2017 10:25 AM)ilovegymnast Wrote:  A few coaches that should be looked at...

K.C. Keeler 58 - Sam Houston State - 208-83 - $250k/yr
2016 Eddie Robinson FCS Coach of the Year
Currently averaging 537/ypg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K._C._Keeler
http://www.gobearkats.com/ViewArticle.db...=209384109

Bo Pelini 49 - Youngstown State -87-38 - $213k
2016 FCS National Championship appearance
Currently averaging 453/oypg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo_Pelini

John Grass 49 - Jacksonville State - 37-7 - $251k
2015 FCS National Championship appearance
Currently averaging 371/oypg

http://www.jsugamecocksports.com/staff.aspx?staff=122
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Grass..._football)


If we want a coach that is looking to shoot to the top then I would go for this guy.

Mike Houston 45 - James Madison University - 62-20 - $300k/yr
2016 AFCA FCS Coach of the Year
2016 FCS National Champion
Current averaging 517/oypg

http://www.jmusports.com/coaches.aspx?rc...h=football
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Houst..._football)

No offense, but why would any good FCS coach be interested in the Kent State job? It seems like they are better positioned to jump to a better FBS program than Kent.

(10-11-2017 11:33 AM)bopol Wrote:  

(10-11-2017 10:25 AM)ilovegymnast Wrote:  A few coaches that should be looked at...

K.C. Keeler 58 - Sam Houston State - 208-83 - $250k/yr
2016 Eddie Robinson FCS Coach of the Year
Currently averaging 537/ypg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K._C._Keeler
http://www.gobearkats.com/ViewArticle.db...=209384109

Bo Pelini 49 - Youngstown State -87-38 - $213k
2016 FCS National Championship appearance
Currently averaging 453/oypg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo_Pelini

John Grass 49 - Jacksonville State - 37-7 - $251k
2015 FCS National Championship appearance
Currently averaging 371/oypg

http://www.jsugamecocksports.com/staff.aspx?staff=122
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Grass..._football)


If we want a coach that is looking to shoot to the top then I would go for this guy.

Mike Houston 45 - James Madison University - 62-20 - $300k/yr
2016 AFCA FCS Coach of the Year
2016 FCS National Champion
Current averaging 517/oypg

http://www.jmusports.com/coaches.aspx?rc...h=football
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Houst..._football)

No offense, but why would any good FCS coach be interested in the Kent State job? It seems like they are better positioned to jump to a better FBS program than Kent.

Why? MONEY.

(10-11-2017 12:08 PM)Albert Flasher Wrote:  

(10-11-2017 11:33 AM)bopol Wrote:  

(10-11-2017 10:25 AM)ilovegymnast Wrote:  A few coaches that should be looked at...

K.C. Keeler 58 - Sam Houston State - 208-83 - $250k/yr
2016 Eddie Robinson FCS Coach of the Year
Currently averaging 537/ypg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K._C._Keeler
http://www.gobearkats.com/ViewArticle.db...=209384109

Bo Pelini 49 - Youngstown State -87-38 - $213k
2016 FCS National Championship appearance
Currently averaging 453/oypg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo_Pelini

John Grass 49 - Jacksonville State - 37-7 - $251k
2015 FCS National Championship appearance
Currently averaging 371/oypg

http://www.jsugamecocksports.com/staff.aspx?staff=122
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Grass..._football)


If we want a coach that is looking to shoot to the top then I would go for this guy.

Mike Houston 45 - James Madison University - 62-20 - $300k/yr
2016 AFCA FCS Coach of the Year
2016 FCS National Champion
Current averaging 517/oypg

http://www.jmusports.com/coaches.aspx?rc...h=football
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Houst..._football)

No offense, but why would any good FCS coach be interested in the Kent State job? It seems like they are better positioned to jump to a better FBS program than Kent.

Why? MONEY.

What money

(10-11-2017 12:08 PM)Albert Flasher Wrote:  Why? MONEY.

Errr, I don't know. If I were making $250K and in a very good, safe situation, I wouldn't give it up for $500K for a program that's a mess. It seems to me that you could easily Geno Ford your career. I'd wait at 250K until I could get a situation that I feel I would be very likely to be successful at all (and probably pays more too).

(10-08-2017 06:58 PM)Muskrat Wrote:  I question whether the university should even continue to have a football program. There doesn't seem to be any point to it. Lots of fine universities with fine D I basketball programs don't have football. It would be great to have a decent football program, but there isn't the money or the fan interest, it seems, to make that viable except for a year or two once in a blue moon. I mean, since 1976 they have had only TWO seasons where they won three or more games more than they lost - 1987 and 2012.

All the coaches I mentioned are FCS coaches so we would be the stepping stone to a better job. All of them have been at their programs less than 4 years but have turned them into top FCS schools. So they could parlay the $250k to $500k to $2mil+ in a 2-3 year time frame. Worst case they struggle at Kent and go back down to FCS for a couple of years then bump up again at another school. The JMU coach Houston has coached at 3 schools for a short time and each one he has turned into a winner in that short time. So I would gladly have him come in and help us win some games then move on.

Is there a requirement for KSU to be an active football member of MAC to maintain membership in MAC for all other sports? Or is there a A-10 type structure/solution where football is Pioneer Conference and all other sports are better supported with $$ redirected from FBS football?

Would Bo Pelini take the job at KSU?

(10-12-2017 10:19 AM)OhioPlayer_84 Wrote:  Would Bo Pelini take the job at KSU?

If I were Pelini, I would not. I figure at YSU, my future would be:

YSU -> winning seasons -> back to P5

Evaluating Kent State, that turns into:

YSU -> 1 winning season -> Kent State -> 5 losing seasons -> NFL position coach job

I would think Pelini would be the hardest to get. He receives pay from Nebraska through next year and he doesn't seem like he wants to let them off the hook. There are probably a few P5 schools that will offer him a spot once he becomes available. But we can always hope that we have a shot at him.

(10-12-2017 08:43 AM)ilovegymnast Wrote:  All the coaches I mentioned are FCS coaches so we would be the stepping stone to a better job. All of them have been at their programs less than 4 years but have turned them into top FCS schools. So they could parlay the $250k to $500k to $2mil+ in a 2-3 year time frame. Worst case they struggle at Kent and go back down to FCS for a couple of years then bump up again at another school. The JMU coach Houston has coached at 3 schools for a short time and each one he has turned into a winner in that short time. So I would gladly have him come in and help us win some games then move on.

Not football, but Geno Ford.

Does good job at Kent, take Bradley job, butchers it, Stony Brook assistant coach.

(10-12-2017 10:19 AM)OhioPlayer_84 Wrote:  Would Bo Pelini take the job at KSU?

Well here's some food for thought - as I noted a couple of weeks ago - I checked the Akron board and some of their fans were hoping to get Pelini - if they can dump Bowden - two shops adrift



http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/2...fficult-on

I note that Kent State has 3 points at halftime. If I'm figuring correctly, that means that they have failed to score a touchdown in 21 of 22 quarters against FBS opponents. Awful.

(10-14-2017 04:16 PM)Muskrat Wrote:  I note that Kent State has 3 points at halftime. If I'm figuring correctly, that means that they have failed to score a touchdown in 21 of 22 quarters against FBS opponents. Awful.

four pass attempts at half - we must be looking at some kind of new standard for fewest passes in the modern era of college football!