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Should we make a change at Head wrestling Coach?

HGoat

HGoat

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Dec 18, 2014
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I haven't seen as much discussion about this following the NCAA tournament as I thought I would, probably because we exceeded expectations at the National tournament finishing 12th. I am happy that we did much better than I thought we would, and for our 3 AA's, but I also don't think it should take a phenomenal tournament for us to finish 12th.

SeasonCoachRecordConferenceNCAA
1954Dr. Harold Nichols8-02nd
1955Dr. Harold Nichols7-12nd
1956Dr. Harold Nichols8-32nd21st
1957Dr. Harold Nichols9-3-12nd3rd
1958Dr. Harold Nichols10-0-21st2nd
1959Dr. Harold Nichols11-32nd2nd
1960Dr. Harold Nichols12-33rd2nd
1960-61Dr. Harold Nichols13-1-23rd3rd
1962Dr. Harold Nichols12-1-13rd30th
1962-63Dr. Harold Nichols13-13rd2nd
1963-64Dr. Harold Nichols13-0-12nd3rd
1965Dr. Harold Nichols14-12nd1st
1965-66Dr. Harold Nichols13-23rd2nd
1966-67Dr. Harold Nichols12-3-12nd3rd
1967-68Dr. Harold Nichols12-33rd2nd
1968-69Dr. Harold Nichols15-13rd1st
1969-70Dr. Harold Nichols15-21st1st
1970-71Dr. Harold Nichols17-02nd2nd
1971-72Dr. Harold Nichols16-12nd1st
1972-73Dr. Harold Nichols18-12nd1st
1973-74Dr. Harold Nichols13-53rd4th
1974-75Dr. Harold Nichols16-2-23rd4th
1975-76Dr. Harold Nichols19-21st2nd
1976-77Dr. Harold Nichols18-2-11st1st
1977-78Dr. Harold Nichols19-22nd2nd
1978-79Dr. Harold Nichols18-31st2nd
1979-80Dr. Harold Nichols18-41st3rd
1980-81Dr. Harold Nichols19-22nd3rd
1981-82Dr. Harold Nichols17-21st2nd
1982-83Dr. Harold Nichols14-42nd3rd
1983-84Dr. Harold Nichols13-72nd7th
1984-85Dr. Harold Nichols20-73rd3rd
1985-86Jim Gibbons19-12nd4th
1986-87Jim Gibbons14-31st1st
1987-88Jim Gibbons17-42nd3rd
1988-89Jim Gibbons8-9-12nd3rd
1989-90Jim Gibbons14-94th9th
1990-91Jim Gibbons13-32nd5th
1991-92Jim Gibbons13-32nd4th
1992-93Bobby Douglas13-42nd6th
1993-94Bobby Douglas7-74th10th
1994-95Bobby Douglas17-44th14th
1995-96Bobby Douglas12-6-14th2nd
1996-97Bobby Douglas10-7-12nd4th
1997-98Bobby Douglas12-84th6th
1998-99Bobby Douglas20-5-13rd4th
1999-00Bobby Douglas20-22nd2nd
2000-01Bobby Douglas19-43rd6th
2001-02Bobby Douglas17-53rd2nd
2002-03Bobby Douglas8-105th19th
2003-04Bobby Douglas16-43rd6th
2004-05Bobby Douglas16-22nd10th
2005-06Bobby Douglas11-74th13th
2006-07Cael Sanderson13-31st2nd
2007-08Cael Sanderson16-41st5th
2008-09Cael Sanderson15-31st3rd
2009-10Kevin Jackson13-22nd3rd
2010-11Kevin Jackson9-105th20th
2011-12Kevin Jackson4-144th35th
2012-13Kevin Jackson11-52nd11th
2013-14



2014-15



2015-2016		Kevin Jackson



Kevin Jackson



Kevin Jackson		9-7



12-2



10-7		3rd



2nd



3rd		12th



14th



12th


I know that Iowa High School wrestling is not quite as much of recruiting hotbed as it once used to be, and that there has been some talk of lack of AD support, but I still think that this is an elite job. We finish every year in the top 5 or 6 in attendance, we have a rich history including being one of only a handful of schools to win an NCAA title, and we have above average facilities.

I'm not on a witch hunt here and I am open to both sides of the argument. I sure hope this thread doesn't turn into a poo flinging contest like so many others on this topic seem to be. KJ has been here for 7 years now, and I think it is a fair topic for discussion as he's had time to establish the way he wants this program to run.

Personally, I'd prefer a change to be made, but I can see why some may want him to stay with the best recruiting class in several years coming in. I just think that by now we should be finishing in the top 10 every single year. I get the whole "who are we going to get thats better" argument, but I think thats a loser mentality. I'd rather see us make a change, strive to be back as a national power, and take a step backwards than not try at all. Thats all I've got.
 
HitItHard58

HitItHard58

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Nov 3, 2012
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Not sure I really want to be the first to respond here but what the hell. I'm definitely torn to an extent and don't think it's a given one way or the other. Having said that, I lean toward letting him go. I'm hesitant because of the very good to potentially great recruits we have coming but talent and potential will only go so far. We've seen the same issues for too long whether it be gassing late or just not having the aggressive mentality to put the hammer down and finish guys off. Admittedly I have no clue who we would realistically go after but I think we need to try something at this point. If not, I'm sure as hell not going anywhere and will still support the program loud and proud.
 
B

buf87

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Dec 15, 2010
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Iowa
I am good with letting this contract finish and evaluate. I am not a believer in making a change for the sake of change.
But we need to take another step forward soon. I don't think it will be next year, but really like the recruits like Storr and Gomez.
 
Scott34

Scott34

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Mar 16, 2007
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Cedar Rapids
It's time to make a change. As a season ticket holder I'm tired of seeing the same stuff year after tear. And what KJ does with the lineup throughout the year are real head scratchers. I know there is a good recruiting class coming in but the cord needs cut and I'm tired of giving him chances. This year was supposed to be a year that we turned the corner but look where that got us.
 
HGoat

HGoat

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Dec 18, 2014
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Denver, Colorado
HitItHard58 said:
Not sure I really want to be the first to respond here but what the hell. I'm definitely torn to an extent and don't think it's a given one way or the other. Having said that, I lean toward letting him go. I'm hesitant because of the very good to potentially great recruits we have coming but talent and potential will only go so far. We've seen the same issues for too long whether it be gassing late or just not having the aggressive mentality to put the hammer down and finish guys off. Admittedly I have no clue who we would realistically go after but I think we need to try something at this point. If not, I'm sure as hell not going anywhere and will still support the program loud and proud.
Click to expand...

I was hesitant to post for this reason. I don't want my post to come off as disloyalty, I just think that we can do better.
 
JM4CY

JM4CY

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He needs fired. He had his chance. We still suck. After how many years.....
 
cyclonenation5

cyclonenation5

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He's finally recruiting well and we overachieved at nationals again. I agree that we keep underachieving in the season, and I expressed my frustration this year when I didn't understand KJ's coaching moves, but I agree with buf's assertion that the grass isn't always greener simply because of a coaching change.

I know everyone's sick of hearing it, and I am too, but I really think we have to see how next year goes. If we take steps that indicate we could be a contender in the near future then we keep him due to recent recruiting progress.
 
B

BillyClone

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Mar 20, 2006
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I wonder if KJ is starting to better understand how to run a college program.

I feel like, for the first time in a while, we've got some momentum going with our recruiting. Coaching staff has been stable for a few seasons now. We've got 2 (possibly 3) AAs returning. I guess I just like the direction things are going. Because of this, I'm willing to give KJ more time.

However, I expect to see continued improvement each season from here on out. Once things decline for one season, I would be fine with releasing KJ.
 
clonedude

clonedude

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Apr 16, 2006
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cyclonenation5 said:
He's finally recruiting well and we overachieved at nationals again. I agree that we keep underachieving in the season, and I expressed my frustration this year when I didn't understand KJ's coaching moves, but I agree with buf's assertion that the grass isn't always greener simply because of a coaching change.

I know everyone's sick of hearing it, and I am too, but I really think we have to see how next year goes. If we take steps that indicate we could be a contender in the near future then we keep him due to recent recruiting progress.
Click to expand...

It's pretty sad when 12th is overachieving at nationals. 12th used to be terrible for this storied program, but now it is considered overachieving.

I agree Jackson seems to be able to recruit, he just can't coach, that's the problem. Our guys year after year are not in good shape at all and don't seem to get any better the longer they are here. I like the recruits Jackson has coming in, but I'm scared to death that they won't live up to anywhere near their potential under Jackson. And that is sad.
 
cyclonenation5

cyclonenation5

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clonedude said:
It's pretty sad when 12th is overachieving at nationals. 12th used to be terrible for this storied program, but now it is considered overachieving.

I agree Jackson seems to be able to recruit, he just can't coach, that's the problem. Our guys year after year are not in good shape at all and don't seem to get any better the longer they are here. I like the recruits Jackson has coming in, but I'm scared to death that they won't live up to anywhere near their potential under Jackson. And that is sad.
Click to expand...

Totally agree with what you're saying, I just think he saved his job with Downey and Spoon's performances at MSG.
 
JP4CY

JP4CY

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CyForPresident said:
More apt question, should we cut wrestling and add baseball? Yes.
Click to expand...

When people bring up baseball I always ask if they are atleast going to the club games now?
Then they stare blankly.
 
cloneswereall

cloneswereall

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Aug 12, 2010
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BillyClone said:
I wonder if KJ is starting to better understand how to run a college program.

I feel like, for the first time in a while, we've got some momentum going with our recruiting. Coaching staff has been stable for a few seasons now. We've got 2 (possibly 3) AAs returning. I guess I just like the direction things are going. Because of this, I'm willing to give KJ more time.

However, I expect to see continued improvement each season from here on out. Once things decline for one season, I would be fine with releasing KJ.
Click to expand...
I'm pretty much here right now. I don't think he knew what he was doing when he first got here in hindsight (having the Senior Six (well, 5 after Cyler left) still around his first year really masked how bad those first couple years were going to be after that.

That said, I really like what we have coming in, we know that he can take a kid to the title, and recruiting is starting to look really good for the first time in a looong time. I'm also not going anywhere if he gets canned, but I don't know if TnT would stick around through a coaching change if one of them doesn't get it (and there's no telling how they'd fare, either).

I'm also horribly afraid of having another mass exodus on our hands if most of the recruits came to work with KJ and/or TnT only and we get left holding an empty sack for another 7 years.
 
CyCrazy

CyCrazy

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JP4CY said:
When people bring up baseball I always ask if they are atleast going to the club games now?
Then they stare blankly.
Click to expand...

Agree, and I would love to have baseball back. I see the team is building something at Capp Tim field.
 
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