how hard is it to build up a D1 program that has a D or D- reputation, and in a bad conference? Is it something that is doable, if you understand how this game operates? Or are you just doomed to failure? I could do a lot more at D2. But I think its kind of boring, and want to move up. Is it really that much better if you start out at D+?

Take a look at my Buffalo team, yea I am not that great, but I have built a pretty decent team, when I took over it was at a D- prestige, and I am now up to C+ and have made the NT the past 2 seasons and just won my first Coach of the Year honors there.

Like I said it isn't great, but if you truly like the game and are willing to stay and build your program you can do it. The MAC wasn't the best conference when I first took over, but slowly it is starting to be good. I believe we had 3 teams in the NT and 1 in the PIT this past season.

It may take a few seasons, but if you know what your doing, and know how to build a program, I'm sure you can do it. Like I said just have to stick with it, and not get frustrated like so many others (I'm guilty of that as well) but thats WIS for ya lol

Good luck if you do.

If the conference isn't that great, it won't be that hard. Just be sure not to overshoot in recruiting, fill your classes w/ good quality players for your level, beat up on the poor competition in conference, collecting lots of wins and postseason apperances. Use the wins and post season apperances to build up the presitige a notch, recruit slightly better players w/ your higher prestige, wash, rinse, repeat.

It likely won't happen overnight, but you can do it in 4 seasons pretty early as long as you clear house quickly of bad players, replace them w/ quality players that you can use and make sure you get enough wins.

Its doable, but you need to know what you are doing. its harder in D1 than in D2.

taz has it exactly correct. It was probably a little easier before potential - you could focus high WE players and turn them into monsters by the time they were seniors. Focus on solid players with good to great potential, you can see prestige rise from D- to D+ simply by winning lots of games. It is a little unseemly to brag, but here is your best case scenario:

29	acn24	33-2	13-0	11-2	9-0	16-0	1	2	B+	Conf Champion CT Champion National Champion
28	acn24	27-3	12-0	12-2	3-1	16-0	15	19	B-	Conf Champion CT Champion NT (1st Round)
27	acn24	23-8	11-2	8-5	4-1	12-4		43	B	CT Champion NT (2nd Round)
26	acn24	27-5	12-1	10-3	5-1	16-0	12	15	B	Conf Champion CT Champion NT (Sweet 16)
25	acn24	28-4	10-1	13-2	5-1	15-1	6	22	B-	Conf Champion CT Champion NT (Sweet 16)
24	acn24	19-11	8-5	9-4	2-2	10-6		57	C-	PI (3rd Round)
23	acn24	10-18	4-9	5-8	1-1	5-11		225	D-
22	acn24	12-16	7-4	4-11	1-1	6-10		204	D-

Quote: Originally posted by taz21 on 5/18/2010If the conference isn't that great, it won't be that hard.  Just be sure not to overshoot in recruiting, fill your classes w/ good quality players for your level, beat up on the poor competition in conference, collecting lots of wins and postseason apperances. Use the wins and post season apperances to build up the presitige a notch, recruit slightly better players w/ your higher prestige, wash, rinse, repeat.It likely won't happen overnight, but you can do it in 4 seasons pretty early as long as you clear house quickly of bad players, replace them w/ quality players that you can use and make sure you get enough wins.

so true... 100% correct

With no knock on shagnew at all, a good coach can do very well on improving a D- school in a near empty conference. In fact it is much quicker than in a fuller conference. Recruit smart, all sim roadies in NC and you have a decent PI-ish RPI in the making. Build on that and in 4 years you should have at least a C. You might not go deep in the tourney if you make it, but the wins and appearances will pull you up quickly from that depth.

Quote: Originally Posted By doomey on 5/19/2010
With no knock on shagnew at all, a good coach can do very well on improving a D- school in a near empty conference. In fact it is much quicker than in a fuller conference. Recruit smart, all sim roadies in NC and you have a decent PI-ish RPI in the making. Build on that and in 4 years you should have at least a C. You might not go deep in the tourney if you make it, but the wins and appearances will pull you up quickly from that depth.

LOL are you knocking me that I am only at a C+ in the 6 years I have been at Buffalo?? LOL

Yea I agree with what Doomey says, just gotta know what your doing and stick with it.