After 32 seasons coaching at Eastern Connecticut in D3 Smith, building a solid program but only occasionally sniffing the Sweet 16, I was getting bored and needed a new challenge. Rather than leave the game like others seem to do, I decided to leave ESCU, drive around 25 miles south, and take on a rebuild at Connecticut College in the NESCAC.

What makes this challenge unique? In 122 seasons of Smith, Conn College is one of four D3 schools that have only made 2 NT appearances with zero NT wins.

My goal: win their first ever NT game. Once I do that, I move on to another hapless program, build them up to get their first ever NT win, and move on again. And again. Until this gets boring.

Then maybe I'll settle in somewhere else again for the long run. Back to ECSU? Or maybe to my own alma-mater, Scranton. We'll see when that time comes.

My immediate challenge at Conn College is made somewhat easier in that the NESCAC in Smith is all SIM other than me. There was another coach there last season, but I guess after going 2-25 and then 0-27, he decided enough was enough. So it shouldn't be too hard to win the Conference Tournament and make the NT. But building to the point where I can win an NT game will be the challenge.

I may try to track my progress here when I feel motivated.

RS2 starts on Sunday. I have no seniors. So I'll start by cutting the two worst guys, get some resources for that, and see what I can get to improve. Because RS2 recruiting blows chunks for a new coach, I'm aiming low. I'll be targeting useful transfers, and whatever I can find for D2 pulldowns and D3 recruits. For each signing, I'll cut another guy. The plan is to go into next season with two walk-ons. I'll also have four seniors next season, so I should have full recruiting resources first real and full season of recruiting.

This team needs a lot of work, as I only have what I see as one legitimate player (at least by my standards) on this squad. He was a freshman this year. He may be my foundation as I start this rebuild.

Should be fun.

Sounds like a fun project. But be careful... once you win Connecticut College’s first NT game, the AD might buy you a house, a Lamborghini, and name the gym after you if you’ll stay.

Following this new journey.

RS2 update: an abyssmal failure.

There were no transfers that showed up in my inbox, and the few I was able to find through scouting that were acceptable got signed before I was able to unlock scholarships.

I was able to sign two regular D3 recruits who, while far lesser players than I would normally go after, were marginal upgrades over the bottom half of the roster I inherited. I cut four guys from the current roster, and with the two that I signed, I'll be heading into next season with four rising seniors and two walk-ons. So I'll have full recruiting resources next season.

Do this all the time ( more in HBD). Building a new engine is a mental puzzle. Just putting gas in the car is no puzzle at all. Good luck!

Posted by craigaltonw on 1/15/2021 9:41:00 PM (view original):
Sounds like a fun project. But be careful... once you win Connecticut College’s first NT game, the AD might buy you a house, a Lamborghini, and name the gym after you if you’ll stay.

I would like a Lamborghini!

Conn College is up on a hill in New London, across the street from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Some nice history in that area. For your big rivalry games like versus Williams and Bowdoin, you may want to consider playing at Mohegan Sun. Think about it at least, you know?

Posted by npb7768 on 1/22/2021 12:57:00 AM (view original):
Conn College is up on a hill in New London, across the street from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Some nice history in that area. For your big rivalry games like versus Williams and Bowdoin, you may want to consider playing at Mohegan Sun. Think about it at least, you know?

I'm familiar with that part of the state, I lived near there in the 80's.

Our rivalries will actually be with Trinity (my wife's alma-mater) and Westfield State (where my youngest goes).

Posted by tecwrg on 1/22/2021 12:13:00 PM (view original):

Posted by npb7768 on 1/22/2021 12:57:00 AM (view original):
Conn College is up on a hill in New London, across the street from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Some nice history in that area. For your big rivalry games like versus Williams and Bowdoin, you may want to consider playing at Mohegan Sun. Think about it at least, you know?

I'm familiar with that part of the state, I lived near there in the 80's.

Our rivalries will actually be with Trinity (my wife's alma-mater) and Westfield State (where my youngest goes).

hey tecwrg,
cool, i just saw youre a UConn fan a little older than me (i'm in my early 50's). So youre way more familiar with Connecticut. I'm over the border near Narragansett. Good luck with the Camels!

Update:

Just finishing season 5. This morning, Connecticut College (27-3) won its first ever NT game, so mission accomplished. We'll be moving on to our next school when job changes open up next weekend. This was a fun rebuild, considering CC was 3-24 the season before I took over.

I'm leaving this program on a high note. A 16-0 regular season conference record, followed by its first ever conference tournament title. Currently ranked #16 in D3 Smith, though I expect to lose my second round game tonight to a rival from my former Little East conference, so that will likely drop a few spots unless I can pull off an upset.

I already have my next targeted school picked out. I'll update here once I actually land the job.

Unexpected update:

Connecticut College (28-3) pulls off the upset and wins their second round game, makes it to the sweet 16 and jumps to #13 in the rankings.

However, my senior starting PF suffered a separated shoulder in this mornings game. My trainer is recommending that he sit for a few days, but at 90%, my guy is saying "F**k it, I'm playing!". Who am I to argue?

Awesome @tecwrg! Thanks for the interesting spin

Posted by Stormfury on 9/8/2021 12:23:00 PM (view original):
Awesome @tecwrg! Thanks for the interesting spin

Agree with this!

d1 s16 with only d2 players

Landed at my new school for my next challenge. Penn St., Berks in the Centennial Conference. PSB finished 3-24 last season with a young roster. In it's 127 seasons, only 2 NT berths and zero NT wins. Again, just winning an NT game is my goal. Once I do that, I'm on to the next challenge.

I chose PSB because there are no seniors on the roster. Four juniors, four sophomores and four freshmen. Because RS2 is such a crap show when a coach takes over a team as a new job, I decided to not deal with the frustration. The first season is going to be a disaster anyways with a change over to a new offense and new defense, so why waste a season of development? I'll ride it out and start playing "for real" in my second season.

What I do plan to do is cut two freshmen immediately, so that my first recruiting season I'll have resources for six scholarships. Should I pick up any players at all during RS2 (transfers or anybody else), I'll cut additional holdovers as necessary.