Bill Fennelly

Remember Johnnie Orr?
Also with NIL the change From Johhny Orr to Tim Floyd did not mean the destruction of a veteran team. With NIL, like we found out with football you are most likely starting from scratch. Might work out better in basketball than football but if we do it on the cheap we will have to rebuild once again.
 
Per this very site, she has at least this many offers….

The 5-foot-10 prospect chose Iowa State over offers from Drake, Butler, Belmont, DePaul, Marquette, Bradley, Eastern Illinois, South Dakota, Utah State, Cleveland State and Fairfield.

So yes, I would assume she probably has 14 15 16 offers from various programs
Yeah, thst gal is way above those offers. She looks a high, high major player. Hope I’m right!
 
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Yeah, thst gal is way above those offers. She looks a high, high major player. Hope I’m right!

She may indeed be… I would imagine her height plenty of places still list her at 5–8, not 5-10… And her relative quickness to the competition.

I have no clue as I’ve never seen her play. These young girls get more and more talented all the time and the recruiting services don’t rank them all right.

Plus, how strong is she? I’m literally shocked at the passes some of these women throw anymore. And I’m not talking Caitlin Clark. I watched Taylor Stremlau from Iowa the other day at mid Court in the coffin corner, throw a one-handed fastball 45 foot in the air to Hanna Stuelke for a layup.

And I’m high on Taylor but I’m not prepared to tell you she’s one of the 50 best players in girls basketball. I’m bringing her up because she was definitely a top 80 recruit and there’s a lot to be being a high major basketball player.
 
If we were a perennial Sweet 16 program with fans calling for a new coach to get us to a championship, I'd agree with you. But we're a program with tremendous (nationally elite) fan support who is at a point where we are barely making the tournament and not being competitive when we are.

The status quo is we're a perennial bubble team. We have a player who garnered large national attention this year. That high level of visibility could have taken us to a new level, had we fielded a solid (ahem, well-coached) team. We did not and that opportunity was wasted, in my opinion.

At minimum, we should expect to be a program that is in the top 3 of our below-average conference and winning at least 2 games in the tournament every year. There will be ups and downs, but that should be the average for the level of support our program gets.

I'll close by saying I get the financial challenges in this current environment and we can only invest so much in WBB which breaks even, at best. That doesn't mean we have to settle for a coach who is past his prime and refuses to adjust.

this isn't a tom davis situation anymore this is a team with talent that underachieves.
 
Also with NIL the change From Johhny Orr to Tim Floyd did not mean the destruction of a veteran team. With NIL, like we found out with football you are most likely starting from scratch. Might work out better in basketball than football but if we do it on the cheap we will have to rebuild once again.

Floyd kept Orr's players around for 1 year and then they all either graduated or got asked to leave.....I don't think anyone was sad to see Willoughby, Pratt and Cato replace some of Orr's guys
 
For all the "careful what you ask for, it could be worse" people out there, I've been thinking about a similar coaching transition to illustrate how it can be done successfully:

Harry Perretta is the all-time winningest basketball coach in Villanova University history (men's or women's), retiring in 2020 with a career record of 783–489 over 42 seasons (1978–2020). A legendary figure in women's college basketball, he led the Wildcats to 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, 11 WNIT berths, and numerous Big East accolades.

Key Career Statistics & Highlights
  • Overall Record: 783–489 (.616 winning percentage).
  • Career Length: 42 Seasons (1978–2020).
  • NCAA Appearances: 11.
  • Conference Titles: 3 BIG EAST titles and 3 Big East Tournament titles.
  • Milestones: 20+ season wins on twenty different occasions.
  • Rankings: At the time of his retirement, he was among the top 15 all-time winningest coaches in Division I women's basketball.
Perretta was known for his innovative "motion offense" and for coaching his entire career at Villanova, becoming a staple of the Philadelphia Big 5, where he won 18 titles. Following his retirement, he was inducted into the Villanova University Varsity Club Hall of Fame.

FOLLOWED BY:
Denice Dillon is the head coach of the Villanova Wildcats women's basketball team, entering her sixth season in 2025-26. A former Villanova player (1993–96), she took over in March 2020, leading the team to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, a 2023 Sweet 16, and a 2022 Big East Coach of the Year award.

Key Details About Coach Dillon:
  • Background: She previously served as the head coach at Drexel University for 17 seasons, becoming the school's all-time winningest coach.
  • Villanova Success: She has established a winning culture at her alma mater, achieving a 93-36 record in her first four seasons.
  • Coaching Style: Known for her focus on defensive intensity, fostering a competitive team culture, and adapting to roster changes, including the transfer portal.
  • Milestones: She led Villanova to a school-record for wins in her third season (2022-23) and reached the 2024 WBIT championship game.
Dillon replaced legendary coach Harry Perretta, taking over the program that she played for in the mid-1990s.

My comments: Harry Peretta got the Villanova WBB job as a recent college graduate aged 22, and voluntarily retired at the age of 64. He left his successor a strong team, including future NBA draft selection Maddie Secrist, who managed to beat UCONN a couple times before graduation. While the jury is still out, Denice Dillon has improved the Villanova program.

My "hope" is CBF voluntarily steps down following the upcoming 2026 NCAA Tournament, having convinced Addy, Audi & Jada to stay at ISU and play for incoming Coach Kayla Karius. I know it's a pipe dream, as Bill will want a farewell tour, but I'd really like to see what a young innovative coach could do with our talented players.
 
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She may indeed be… I would imagine her height plenty of places still list her at 5–8, not 5-10… And her relative quickness to the competition.

I have no clue as I’ve never seen her play. These young girls get more and more talented all the time and the recruiting services don’t rank them all right.

Plus, how strong is she? I’m literally shocked at the passes some of these women throw anymore. And I’m not talking Caitlin Clark. I watched Taylor Stremlau from Iowa the other day at mid Court in the coffin corner, throw a one-handed fastball 45 foot in the air to Hanna Stuelke for a layup.

And I’m high on Taylor but I’m not prepared to tell you she’s one of the 50 best players in girls basketball. I’m bringing her up because she was definitely a top 80 recruit and there’s a lot to be being a high major basketball player.
She looks pretty solidly built. I would have guessed bigger than 5’8, but always hard to tell. Just so polished and seems to do it all.
 
Floyd kept Orr's players around for 1 year and then they all either graduated or got asked to leave.....I don't think anyone was sad to see Willoughby, Pratt and Cato replace some of Orr's guys
Orr's guys, Hoiberg, Beechem, Michalek and Meyer were a pretty solid group to keep around. The odds of that happening in today's NIL are slim to none, someone would leave. Any major coaching change today will cause and effect make a roster overhaul. You did not see that in the Orr/Floyd transition with players having to lose a year and not get paid.
 
Orr's guys, Hoiberg, Beechem, Michalek and Meyer were a pretty solid group to keep around. The odds of that happening in today's NIL are slim to none, someone would leave. Any major coaching change today will cause and effect make a roster overhaul. You did not see that in the Orr/Floyd transition with players having to lose a year and not get paid.

I understand that. I was just saying nobody was sad the next year when the guys were replaced. I just think you can't not make a coaching change because you are worried about who you would lose because things move fast these days.

And as much as I loved that group Floyd's players were significant upgrades

And I also remember what a huge deal it was when Floyd kicked so many to the curb because you didn't see that during that time period as well
 
regressed? How?
25-26
28 min, 44% shooting (198 attempts), 36% three (70 attempts), 79% ft, 12.2ppg, 9 boards

24-25
32 min 48% (396), 36% three (127), 76% ft, 15.2 ppg 8 rebounds

23-24
33 min, 47%(346), 38%,l(134), 74%, 13ppg 8 rebounds

Looks like remarkable consistency by the player to me
I would argue that if not for her back injury her minutes played and shooting percentage would have gone up in 25-26
 
For all the "careful what you ask for, it could be worse" people out there, I've been thinking about a similar coaching transition to illustrate how it can be done successfully:

Harry Perretta is the all-time winningest basketball coach in Villanova University history (men's or women's), retiring in 2020 with a career record of 783–489 over 42 seasons (1978–2020). A legendary figure in women's college basketball, he led the Wildcats to 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, 11 WNIT berths, and numerous Big East accolades.

Key Career Statistics & Highlights
  • Overall Record: 783–489 (.616 winning percentage).
  • Career Length: 42 Seasons (1978–2020).
  • NCAA Appearances: 11.
  • Conference Titles: 17 BIG EAST titles.
  • Milestones: 20+ season wins on twenty different occasions.
  • Rankings: At the time of his retirement, he was among the top 15 all-time winningest coaches in Division I women's basketball.
Perretta was known for his innovative "motion offense" and for coaching his entire career at Villanova, becoming a staple of the Philadelphia Big 5, where he won 18 titles. Following his retirement, he was inducted into the Villanova University Varsity Club Hall of Fame.

FOLLOWED BY:
Denice Dillon is the head coach of the Villanova Wildcats women's basketball team, entering her sixth season in 2025-26. A former Villanova player (1993–96), she took over in March 2020, leading the team to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, a 2023 Sweet 16, and a 2022 Big East Coach of the Year award.

Key Details About Coach Dillon:
  • Background: She previously served as the head coach at Drexel University for 17 seasons, becoming the school's all-time winningest coach.
  • Villanova Success: She has established a winning culture at her alma mater, achieving a 93-36 record in her first four seasons.
  • Coaching Style: Known for her focus on defensive intensity, fostering a competitive team culture, and adapting to roster changes, including the transfer portal.
  • Milestones: She led Villanova to a school-record for wins in her third season (2022-23) and reached the 2024 WBIT championship game.
Dillon replaced legendary coach Harry Perretta, taking over the program that she played for in the mid-1990s.

My comments: Harry Peretta got the Villanova WBB job as a recent college graduate aged 22, and voluntarily retired at the age of 64. He left his successor a strong team, including future NBA draft selection Maddie Secrist, who managed to beat UCONN a couple times before graduation. While the jury is still out, Denice Dillon has improved the Villanova program.

My "hope" is CBF voluntarily steps down following the upcoming 2026 NCAA Tournament, having convinced Addy, Audi & Jada to stay at ISU and play for incoming Coach Kayla Karius. I know it's a pipe dream, as Bill will want a farewell tour, but I'd really like to see what a young innovative coach could do with our talented players.
Facts matter, he's does not have 17 Big East titles. I think he had 2 or 3 back before Geno got rolling. He has 17 Big 5 coach of the year, that is Philly based. Villanova, Drexel, Temple, LaSalle and Penn. His resume very much runs to look like Bill's, great coaching over a a long time, built a program. You seem to hate Bill so why use an almost exact type of career coach as your example . The 17 Big East titles was a great add but a very false one.

Your idea to bring in a former player to steady a new ship might be a great idea. We have a few out there, Heather Ezell the most qualified probably, Emily Durr has been a coach at Illinois and Emily Ryan now here, just not sure our list is very big to bring in a past player to take over. You also have Alliso Lacey but I would guess that would not happen. Really curious dies anyone else have a list of past players coaching college ball right now in any way?
 
Didn't Bill say early in the seasons that he handed off responsibility for coaching the defense to his assistants? He was going hands off with it this year and letting them coach?
Yes and our defense is worst it’s been in at least 6 years. It really is a damning result for whoever those assistants are they failed the test.
 
Facts matter, he's does not have 17 Big East titles. I think he had 2 or 3 back before Geno got rolling. He has 17 Big 5 coach of the year, that is Philly based. Villanova, Drexel, Temple, LaSalle and Penn. His resume very much runs to look like Bill's, great coaching over a a long time, built a program. You seem to hate Bill so why use an almost exact type of career coach as your example . The 17 Big East titles was a great add but a very false one.

Your idea to bring in a former player to steady a new ship might be a great idea. We have a few out there, Heather Ezell the most qualified probably, Emily Durr has been a coach at Illinois and Emily Ryan now here, just not sure our list is very big to bring in a past player to take over. You also have Alliso Lacey but I would guess that would not happen. Really curious dies anyone else have a list of past players coaching college ball right now in any way?
Aubrey Jones (same class as Emily Ryan) is coaching at Indiana
 
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Yes and our defense is worst it’s been in at least 6 years. It really is a damning result for whoever those assistants are they failed the test.
Nice to have my memory confirmed. I would say that allows fans some insight into the "quality" of the retained assistant coaches. I remember being excited to see a different defensive scheme this season after that comment.