Two seasons ago, I took over a D- prestige D2 team. I believe I have them up to a C after this current season. And at this point my only goal is continually raising that prestige. Should I continue cupcaking my non-conference and getting as many wins a season as I can, or should I focus on playing harder competition and getting low RPIs every year?

Thanks.

You should focus on making the postseason, which requires beating good teams.

If your answer (as it seems to) means "both" then you have not done the OP any help. Is one of the two options he offered more helpful in raising prestige? "Making the postseason" only requires that you win your conference, so do you maintain non-conference scheduling is unimportant?

Well it's tough to bring your prestige up if you have a poor record even if you have a good RPI. Howevever, if you have a very good record, RPI and postseason success are what begin to separate teams prestige-wise IMO. 

There's a happy medium, pallas.  Between wins and post-season success, post-season births will raise prestige quicker but keep in mind wins still play a roll.  The goal is to play and beat the best teams you think you can beat every year.  Scheduling is a very underrated part of this game, in my opinion, and getting good at it takes some time.  

3-4 years ago, I had a debate with seble about wins vs. post-season success.  He feels that the two stats are equally important in determining prestige

Thanks for the responses, guys. I think I have my answer. 

My typical formula (granted I'm only decent at best as a coach) is focus on wins until you bump your prestige up enough to get some better recruiting options. Once you reach that point and start bringing consistently better recruits, work toward a hard schedule/Post season success.

Posted by matt58vt on 7/4/2015 11:00:00 PM (view original):
My typical formula (granted I'm only decent at best as a coach) is focus on wins until you bump your prestige up enough to get some better recruiting options. Once you reach that point and start bringing consistently better recruits, work toward a hard schedule/Post season success.

I agree with this, wins will naturally raise your prestige without post-season success TO A CEILING, but then to get past the ceiling you will have to find post-season success. but naturally getting wins will get you into a position to solidify some decent recruits then when your always making the post-season you can build on that and bring in some real talent and start competing. 

Posted by bagger288 on 7/5/2015 3:03:00 AM (view original):

Posted by matt58vt on 7/4/2015 11:00:00 PM (view original):
My typical formula (granted I'm only decent at best as a coach) is focus on wins until you bump your prestige up enough to get some better recruiting options. Once you reach that point and start bringing consistently better recruits, work toward a hard schedule/Post season success.

I agree with this, wins will naturally raise your prestige without post-season success TO A CEILING, but then to get past the ceiling you will have to find post-season success. but naturally getting wins will get you into a position to solidify some decent recruits then when your always making the post-season you can build on that and bring in some real talent and start competing. 

This is pretty much how I assumed it worked. 

You also need to consider your conference abd your chances of getting to the NT

if you are in a heavily human, strong conference, you will want to schedule weak for wins in out of conference.  In an otherwise all SIM conference, schedule stronger.

you do want to get wins - as discussed - but they goal is to get a good numbers of wins and get to the NT.  Is your team good enough to win the conf tourney?  will you need to get an at large bid?

conference is also relevant in dollar terms.  Are you in a conference that will get you a nice budget or will post season dollars be scarce?

no one one right balance - althouggh in general agree with advice to build some wins, get some improvement in prestige and then work for some trips to NT