I would too. Get paid and have absolutely no expectations to get in better shape or play defense...
Bill Fennelly
- Thread starter AltoonaFish
- Start date
Oh my, that is the worst defense I have seen in a long time, that is like saying no coach is going to hold me accountable so I don't care.
TBT, I've been slowly drifting to not caring one way or the other. Will stay updated on any portals we get coming in, cause still curious to some extent.
Still think a lot of her defensive issues could be covered up with better roster construction. Starting three guards 5’9 or shorter doesn’t work.
Man, that season is completly blacked out in my brain.
I know WNBA isn’t life changing money always…but in watching IA/ISU game (only watching I’ve really done outside highlights) it was insane to me to see how little she can do or does on D / rebounding…running the floor.
You’d think she and the staff would be doing more to work on her game and physical fitness/ ability.
But as a buddy said…she’s an absolute testament to how far the ability to make a layup can take you in women’s bb.
She was absolutely made promises about conditioning standards to get her to commit...
I don't see Pollard entertaining that logic to justify an extension at all. Our own athletic department is the most recent and extreme poster child showing that the roster will be 90%+ gone regardless of how a coach departs in the current state of college athletics. Your only chance is to do what Iowa did - hire from within - to try and keep a majority of a roster. Billy would be the way to follow that model, but I don't think that happens anymore.
Attendance is still strong. That strength was built by Bill and, despite what you may read or post on CF, that strength will take a hit if Bill's departure is perceived as anything but his decision. There are a significant number of older fans, the ones paying money to sit in good WBB seats, that are more invested in Bill than almost everyone on this message board.
I think Pollard looks at it purely in terms of risk. The risk of forcing out a coach that did as much to build a program as anyone in the history of college athletics versus the risk of letting him decide when to hang it up, regardless of when that might be. If it were football (Fry) or MBB (Orr), you do it, but you do it as delicately as possible. In Women's basketball, it just isn't that easy. The risk of keeping the status quo is lower than the risk of a new regime.
I’m guessing those promises weren’t
’we’re gonna help get you in peak physical shape and maximize your athletic ability’
If so, we’re falling down on the job.
I agree with much of this and as a long time season ticket holder I would not like to see the AD make major cuts to the program. I also feel it is time for some major changes to our coaching staff. Much has been posted about our players not getting better, is that due to poor coaching or players who have reached their best level of play. In that case we need to better evaluate players we bring into the program. If you hurt the program (with cuts) and it becomes sub par, attendance will suffer and you lose more money.
I think this comes down to Pollard not wanting to spend the money to fire Bill. He would rather not renew his contract after this upcoming season. Yes, the buyout isn't super high, but he also has to pay the old staff and pay the new coaches/staff. He would rather save a little money and let Bill go after next season.
So she was told she didn't have to improve her conditioning? Every college athlete should be encouraged to be in good physical conditioning. No wonder why Bill lost the locker room.
Also, watching Audi play defense, I seriously question her effort on the defensive side. There were multiple instances where she looked like she wasn't giving any effort. There were times where she stood there and did absolutely nothing. At least put your arms up or something.
It comes down to where is the money going to come from. We don't have a donor sitting out there saying I'll take care of the buyout to remove him. Our athletic department budget is already thin, and we don't have piles of cash sitting around to pay out a coach with one year left on his contract who is coming off a disappointing yet winning season.
The buyout (excluding the retention bonus which he's getting either way) is only around 300k. If we hire a cheaper coach, we're saving at least some of that. I don't think the buyout money is an issue.
That seems like a reasonable take, but I would fully expect things would have looked much different if Addy had been healthy the entire year. ISU would have likely been hosting tournament games…
I do think there also has to be some appreciation for the fact that Fennelly is responsible for literally every WBB tournament appearance for ISU. And whether you think they could be reaching a higher ceiling (probably fair)…the floor has been pretty high.
Also, to the person who challenged me on ROI - I was comparing it to other women’s programs. Compared to other women’s programs, I think ISU’s is undeniably successful…
A Comparison - 2024 Kansas WBB had similar expenses and is rumored to have a much better NIL / Rev Share situation. In the 11 year Brandon Schneider has been there they have made TWO NCAA Appearances.
In the last 11 years ISU has been in the tournament 8 time with a sweet 16.
Agree.
Bill's replacement will initially make less than he is currently making but if successful, JP will upgrade the replacement salary accordingly. No different than what has been done with Otz and Jimmy.
I watched her in the IA/ISU game while on the phone with a buddy…I had no idea how ridiculous it was…
Honestly at 55 years of age and in no shape to play competitive sports, I swear I could play better D and out rebound her in a wheel chair.
I just couldn’t believe any coach would let things go on like that.
Just seemed like maybe the first half of the season she was moving pretty well but later on she just stood there on defense and didn't seem to give much effort. It was so obvious and frankly hard to watch.
Every decision like this is run through the President as well. In fact, he is far more involved than Wendy was. He is supportive of Jamie's position on this
