I never heard this term until I started reading the Pac-10 coaches corner chat.  How does it affect recruiting and does it affect jobs.

Every school has a prestige grade that they started with (Duke is an A+, crappy DI schools are D's, etc.) A team's current prestige grade is determined not only by what they've done the last handful of seasons, but also takes into account the baseline prestige (as well as conference strength being factored in). So if Duke and Prairie View had identical results over the last four seasons, you'd expect Duke to still have a higher prestige.

Once recruiting starts, baseline prestige in and of itself doesn't matter. But it does impact recruiting indirectly in that overall prestige obviously effects recruiting, and baseline prestige effects your overall prestige grade.

Sort of a similar concept for jobs ... baseline doesn't really impact the jobs process once it starts. But in helping determine a team's prestige, that obviously impacts what teams will qualify for that opening. (There may also be a slight baseline effect during the process, in that you may be qualifed for -- for example -- a B-level mid-major team, but not qualified for a B-level team with a high baseline prestige. That doesn't always happen, but it's possible.) 

(Note: Baseline prestige only exists at DI.)

Thanks girt I appreciate you taking the time to tell me.  I also read the thread.  I found out my school is a D

Another way of thinking about baseline prestige is that it is the prestige that the team is "shooting for" or "comfortable at".  It is where the team will be if playing "average".

So, the further you are away from that baseline prestige, the more impact it has on moving the team prestige at season roll over.  If you are much higher than the baseline then there will be a downward pressure on prestige at season rollover ... if you are much lower than your baseline, there will be an upward pressure on prestige at season rollover.

If you are at a D Baseline prestige school ... and if you are currently at a C+, then you are playing much better than their Baseline and the "pressure" (or tendency) is for the team to move down to reach equilibrium.  iI the team has one below average season, they could drop to C- fairly easily ... and a second below average season in a row and they can move to D.  Duke can have 10 seasons in a row of 5 wins and they will still be a C-.

Does anyone know what fresno states baseline prestige is?? Along with villanova and mississippi state??

Fresno St. is B-, Villanova is B+ and Miss. St. is B.

Is that posted somewhere where everyone can see it?