Torn on a D1 job decision; quick advice? Topic

I coach in Phelan, and I've built Jacksonville State into a very solid mid-major program with a C+ prestige. I'm currently listed as "step backwards" to Seton Hall, which is a B-. Obviously, the step-up to a Big 6 school is attractive. However, I'd have eight open scholarship spots if I got that job, and the mid-major I leave behind has a really solid team coming back (not solid on a national scale, per se, but we'd be a pretty safe bet to make the postseason in a conference with 10 Sim AI teams).

From what some of you guys have probably gone through, what should I do?
5/20/2010 11:40 AM
Jacksonville = easier to get wins, make the NT.

Seton Hall = easier to win and NT and get fired.

Kind of a high risk/reward choice.

I always like a challenege, so I my good mid-major roster for a mess at higher prestige Florida last year.
5/20/2010 11:48 AM
Depends totally on what you want to do long term in that world. I just noticed there were alot of Big-6 teams that opened in Phelan last night. If you want to climb to the top of Phelan DI and coach a power team with much better talent... you can't do it from Jacksonville St. beating 10 sims. If you want to amass alot of wins and think your a really good coach being a big fish in a pond... stay there and enjoy yourself.

Some folks have to be in the ocean with the sharks to have a good time... some are fine in the pond with a catfish or two and a small snapping turtle to deal with.

I personally don't care for the pond,,, but I have found alot of fun in the lake (Mid-Major) to each their own.
5/20/2010 11:55 AM
Quote: Originally Posted By mizzou77 on 5/20/2010
Depends totally on what you want to do long term in that world. I just noticed there were alot of Big-6 teams that opened in Phelan last night. If you want to climb to the top of Phelan DI and coach a power team with much better talent... you can't do it from Jacksonville St. beating 10 sims. If you want to amass alot of wins and think your a really good coach being a big fish in a pond... stay there and enjoy yourself.

Some folks have to be in the ocean with the sharks to have a good time... some are fine in the pond with a catfish or two and a small snapping turtle to deal with.

I personally don't care for the pond,,, but I have found alot of fun in the lake (Mid-Major) to each their own.



Wow Mizzou thats some long analogy!!!! lol
5/20/2010 12:02 PM
Move if you want the Seton Hall job, regardless of how Seton Hall is right now. Stay if you want a different Big Six job that you think will open up soon.
5/20/2010 12:03 PM
Quote: Originally Posted By bomberball on 5/20/2010I coach in Phelan, and I've built Jacksonville State into a very solid mid-major program with a C+ prestige. I'm currently listed as "step backwards" to Seton Hall, which is a B-. Obviously, the step-up to a Big 6 school is attractive. However, I'd have eight open scholarship spots if I got that job, and the mid-major I leave behind has a really solid team coming back (not solid on a national scale, per se, but we'd be a pretty safe bet to make the postseason in a conference with 10 Sim AI teams).

From what some of you guys have probably gone through, what should I do


If you are eligible...take over Penn St. the Big 10 is very active and has a ton of friendly coaches...and the prior coach the program in great shape.
5/20/2010 12:04 PM
Penn State is a "keep looking," unfortunately, as is Colorado. The "step backwards" Big 6 schools are Seton Hall, Missouri, Arkansas, and Mississippi State, and Seton Hall is probably the one I'd be most apt to leave J-State for.

Thanks for the advice, guys. Keep it coming, I'm still thinking about the move.
5/20/2010 12:25 PM
for what it's worth, of those Big 6 schools available to you Missouri is the one with the easiest chance to win consistently over the long term. If none of them is your final destination, that's where i'd go...
5/20/2010 12:36 PM
Quote: Originally Posted By cornfused on 5/20/2010Move if you want the Seton Hall job, regardless of how Seton Hall is right now. Stay if you want a different Big Six job that you think will open up soon
Yep, totally agreed with this.
5/20/2010 12:41 PM
I'd wait until I could get a school in a better position to either win or rebuild. With 8 open scholarships you would have an awful team for at least 2 seasons. I'd say stick around 1 more season and get a school that is more balanced and is in a position to at least be competitive from the start.
5/20/2010 12:52 PM
hmm, I would not wait - I would grab the better school now and fill those slots - the average quality of recruits will go down with the new engine, so that big class of old engine recruits could be a strength

get 6 high school players plus if you can a couple of jucos - maybe one juco2 and one juco3....
5/20/2010 2:55 PM
Quote: Originally posted by metsmax on 5/20/2010hmm, I would not wait - I would grab the better school now and fill those slots - the average quality of recruits will go down with the new engine, so that big class of old engine recruits could be a strengthget 6 high school players plus if you can a couple of jucos - maybe one juco2 and one juco3....

I'm waiting for metsmax to get fired so I can take his job. :-)

But, to the point, other spots will open up in the future. If you like your NT chances this coming season, I'd stay where you are.
5/20/2010 3:17 PM
Quote: Originally Posted By cthomas22255 on 5/20/2010
Quote: Originally posted by metsmax on 5/20/2010
hmm, I would not wait - I would grab the better school now and fill those slots - the average quality of recruits will go down with the new engine, so that big class of old engine recruits could be a strength

get 6 high school players plus if you can a couple of jucos - maybe one juco2 and one juco3....

I'm waiting for metsmax to get fired so I can take his job. :-)

But, to the point, other spots will open up in the future. If you like your NT chances this coming season, I'd stay where you are.
It will never happen; apparently UK is satisfied with making the PI every couple of seasons.
5/20/2010 3:18 PM
Two thoughts:

1. You will want to take a Big 6 job at some point in your life because, if you don't, you'll always be wondering if you could have succeeded at the elite level.

2. You don't want to take a Big 6 job where everyone else in the conference is light years ahead of you in prestige and building their programs. If you do, it's going to be real difficult to win often enough to bump your prestige to the point where you can recruit four-and five-star players.
5/20/2010 3:27 PM
Quote: Originally Posted By tribewriter on 5/20/2010

Two thoughts:

1. You will want to take a Big 6 job at some point in your life because, if you don't, you'll always be wondering if you could have succeeded at the elite level.

2. You don't want to take a Big 6 job where everyone else in the conference is light years ahead of you in prestige and building their programs. If you do, it's going to be real difficult to win often enough to bump your prestige to the point where you can recruit four-and five-star players.

This couldnt be more wrong. 1) Most of the time you are taking over a Big 6 school after a previous coach got fired OR a coach quit after the program has fallen apart. It is very rare that you have the chance to take over a Big Six program with an A prestige. Meaning that more often than not youre getting into a position where your school is in the B- to B range anyhow and the recruits you can get are just fine. You just need to be smart about how you recruit. 2) One good season at a Big Six school usually gets the program a HUGE prestige jump anywhere from a full letter grade or higher when you take into account that a big season typically leads to players being drafted the bump is usually higher.

Really, the main drawback to going now is if something opens up the following year that you'd rather have. But sometimes by that point what happens is you dont even care that you missed out. EG...I signed up to play HD with the goal always being end up at UNC. I coached CSU Fullerton in Naismith for over 10 seasons when suddenly Kansas opened up; as Ive never coached an Elite I decided to go for it. Of course two (maybe three) seasons later along with 100+ total HD seasons UNC opened up which was a step backwards for me and mine if I wanted it. After much deliberation, I ended up never submitting an application as I liked what I had put together at Kansas. Point is, if you want to go to a Big 6 conference and have a decent chance, go for it!
5/20/2010 3:40 PM
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