Fling out the Purple and the Gold, We're Marching On.
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Not saying a D2 HC can’t do a great job. Just a bit underwhelming compared to an NFL coach.leatherneckcountry wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 9:13 pm In fairness Nielsen was a D2 coach when we hired him
My one concern with him was that he had never been a coordinator but hes Not the traditional wiu hire I was hoping we would go outside of the box for onceRockydog wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 9:19 pmNot saying a D2 HC can’t do a great job. Just a bit underwhelming compared to an NFL coach.leatherneckcountry wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 9:13 pm In fairness Nielsen was a D2 coach when we hired him
I think both could have very strong things going for them.Rockydog wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 9:19 pmNot saying a D2 HC can’t do a great job. Just a bit underwhelming compared to an NFL coach.leatherneckcountry wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 9:13 pm In fairness Nielsen was a D2 coach when we hired him
I agree. But do want to call out that Massey predictions say 90% of the teams in MIAA would do the same….ST_Lawson wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 10:29 pmI think both could have very strong things going for them.Rockydog wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 9:19 pmNot saying a D2 HC can’t do a great job. Just a bit underwhelming compared to an NFL coach.leatherneckcountry wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 9:13 pm In fairness Nielsen was a D2 coach when we hired him
A NFL coach (in this case, assistant WR coach) has NFL connections/friends and being able to say he was just coaching a guy like Justin Jefferson might be a big draw for some recruits (especially for potential receivers). On the other hand, depending on the path they took, they may not have much in the way of experience actually calling plays or running an entire team (or even just an entire offensive or defensive unit).
A good D2 HC brings experience at the helm of a college team (hopefully a fairly successful one), so they know what all that would entail. They may not have quite the connections of a FBS or NFL guy, but if they're D2, then they do have experience dealing with scholarships and recruiting. Depending on where they're from, they might also be familiar with being from a more "rural" area.
For example, one of the guys I was initially hoping for (but we know went elsewhere and probably wasn't interested, so this is just a hypothetical example) was Brian Wright, who was HC at D2 Pittsburg State (and was hired to be HC at Northern Arizona a couple of days ago). He was 33-8 for a team with a unique nickname at a public former teachers college in the Midwest that has just under 6k students in a town of ~20k that isn't on a major interstate and is ~2 hours from the nearest decent-sized city (KC)...sound similar to somewhere we know?
By the way, the Massey Ratings predictions say that his Pitt State Gorillas would steamroll our Leathernecks, 34-7.
Assistant wr coach. No experience above that, really.Rockydog wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 9:19 pmNot saying a D2 HC can’t do a great job. Just a bit underwhelming compared to an NFL coach.leatherneckcountry wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 9:13 pm In fairness Nielsen was a D2 coach when we hired him
Yes, but at the HIGHEST level of the game. Sorry, I’ll take that over D2 or even FCS ALL DAY LONG.vatusay wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 10:57 pmAssistant wr coach. No experience above that, really.Rockydog wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 9:19 pmNot saying a D2 HC can’t do a great job. Just a bit underwhelming compared to an NFL coach.leatherneckcountry wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 9:13 pm In fairness Nielsen was a D2 coach when we hired him
Especially one that in an interview I watched stated himself “it’s all about who you know”. Yes, has an incredibly impressive connections list. Zero experience running a team or program.Necks90 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 11:28 pm Can someone tell me why several of you are enamored with an assistant wide receivers coach from the NFL? He's not even the wide receivers coach, but the assistant! I'm more interested in FCS/FBS coordinators or a solid D2 guy who has ran his own program!! Go Necks!!