Is it time to start talking about a HC change?

[loyalsons4evertrue]

I think we can all agree that we're thankful for CJL's time in Ames. She has made Iowa State into a consistent top 25 program (although this year might be her worst season at Iowa State).

However, I feel like she's lost her luster a little bit. The late 2000s and early to mid 2010s were when Iowa State volleyball was at its best. Iowa State hasn't made a Sweet 16 since 2012. I think she's hit her ceiling and with volleyball being an increasingly popular sport, I think we can have a really good program with perhaps a change in leadership.

Thoughts?

 

[CascadeClone]

If you have a good olympic sport coach, you don't fire them unless something "bad" happens. Because 90% of the fanbase (maybe more) don't really care about the olympic sports. And they don't drive revenue, quite the opposite. You'd replace her with someone untested (and cheap) in all likelyhood.

As long as the kids like her, and they are not absolutely failing miserably on the court/field, you hang with them. You sit down and have a performance review and ask what they can do different or change to get some better results. Just like with any job. But you don't dump a good coach because they aren't great, not in the olympic sports.

My $0.02.

 

[JP4CY]

She's really well liked by Pollard though, isn't she?
I doubt he wants to upset the apple cart.

 

[SHisubvu]

The team has been dealing with injuries and illnesses all season. The best player barely played and is now dealing with a bad knee injury. CJL has brought in good recruits and transfer additions, but when your All Big 12 players are sidelined it's hard to really gauge where this team is.

 

[NetflixAndClone]

Christy Johnson-Lynch was just extended 5 years before this season. I don't see the Athletic Department moving on right after that. She deserves the chance to right the ship.

 

[BoxsterCy]

If you have a good olympic sport coach, you don't fire them unless something "bad" happens. Because 90% of the fanbase (maybe more) don't really care about the olympic sports. And they don't drive revenue, quite the opposite. You'd replace her with someone untested (and cheap) in all likelyhood.

As long as the kids like her, and they are not absolutely failing miserably on the court/field, you hang with them. You sit down and have a performance review and ask what they can do different or change to get some better results. Just like with any job. But you don't dump a good coach because they aren't great, not in the olympic sports.

My $0.02.

Agree. I am not sure I would have classified us a Top 25 like the OP but we have been decent and actually good some years. We are sitting in the middle of a number of Big Ten powerhouse schools recruiting area. I wish we were doing better but it's not like we are in a Prohm like nosedive.

 

[MuskMisk]

I don’t this it is the time to start looking at that. The team has adjusted after the injuries and the coaching staff has been able to help the team through the changes. Last night at home versus Houston was rough. The bright spot was seeing the device errors dropping massively compared to previous matches. The down side, which has been rough on the team all year after service errors, was the first pass.

With all the injuries, you could have expected a lot of 3 set matches, but the staff and team have usher a lot of 4-5 set matches. A few bad bounces, one less mist or service error and more wins. Like a lot of other sports, the coaching only goes so far, executing the plan is on the players. And last night, the players looked tired and stiff. Hopefully we can pull out a few wins before we bidding good bye to Brooke.

 

[cyclonespiker33]

I'll be the first one to say that I don't think we can get back to the sweet sixteen level we were at previously with CJL in her current form.

However, I don't think it will matter who you bring in with the current amount of funding going into the program. Iowa has some really good youth volleyball talent, but that talent will continue to go to the bigger and better programs nearby that have really good facilities.

 

[snowcraig2.0]

No. CJL is not the problem, facilities are.

 

[nfrine]

I think we can all agree that we're thankful for CJL's time in Ames. She has made Iowa State into a consistent top 25 program (although this year might be her worst season at Iowa State).

However, I feel like she's lost her luster a little bit. The late 2000s and early to mid 2010s were when Iowa State volleyball was at its best. Iowa State hasn't made a Sweet 16 since 2012. I think she's hit her ceiling and with volleyball being an increasingly popular sport, I think we can have a really good program with perhaps a change in leadership.

Thoughts?

Are you saying the "rot" has set in?

The VB team has been hit with numerous injuries to some of the best players. I have enjoyed watching the team try to adjust to this adversity. Getting to see the breadth of skills on the team.

Way too early to start a thread like this.

 

[Cyclonsin]

No. CJL is not the problem, facilities are.

Bingo.

And being nestled near so many B1G teams is going to become a nearly insurmountable challenge once conference financial disparity really starts to kick in.

 

[NWICY]

I think the Olympic sports are going to have to follow wrestling's example, get a collective and get it done yourself. In the new world of college athletics A.D.s just have to decide how much money they are willing to lose then the collective makes up the difference.
At ISU the bell cows are FB and MBB the rest just decide how much your willing to spend per season and live with the results.
Lots of people wanted this mess chasing the almighty dollar, now you've got it live with it.
ISU is luckily in better shape than many.

 

[cykadelic2]

Christy Johnson-Lynch was just extended 5 years before this season. I don't see the Athletic Department moving on right after that. She deserves the chance to right the ship.

Agree, there is no way there will be a HC change given that extension and given the injury/illness issues with Gonzalez, Duckworth and McCune who are the roster's most talented front row players.

Last night, the wheels completely came off in Set 3 after the team was competitive in Sets 1 & 2 and in recent matches at BU and TCU. In Set 3, CJL had to bench DeRonde, AHW and Bobbitt and in doing so, went back to the 5-1 after going to the 6-2 to cover for the OH talent issues after the Gonzalez/Duckworth injuries.

Regarding the overall state of the program, there is no question recruiting has slipped in recent years, especially in-state, and I think there are a couple of reasons for this. One are the departures of Dawn Sullivan /Jen Malcom and the other playing in Hilton while other top programs in the Upper MW play in smaller venues that appeal to recruits and fans (and top in-state recruits going to those programs). The Hilton situation is obviously not going to be fixed anytime soon unless there is a donor or two willing to fund a new facility that could also be used year round for club VB usage and replace the AIA BB void for local businesses, etc. CJL has had significant assistant turnover in recent seasons and there may be more this upcoming off-season if recruiting doesn't pick up.

And another issue that needs to be addressed IMO is off-season conditioning of the athletes which has been brought up in the past. Even before the injuries hit the team, I thought Gonzalez and a couple of other players didn't appear as well conditioned as players on other top teams.

Regarding future funding of the program, lots of questions on that but I do agree that in house payments to VB athletes beyond FCOA under terms of the House Settlement will be minimal if not non-existent. But I do think VB will remain fully funded for FCOA up to 12 athletes.

 

[cykadelic2]

I think the Olympic sports are going to have to follow wrestling's example, get a collective and get it done yourself. In the new world of college athletics A.D.s just have to decide how much money they are willing to lose then the collective makes up the difference.
At ISU the bell cows are FB and MBB the rest just decide how much your willing to spend per season and live with the results.
Lots of people wanted this mess chasing the almighty dollar, now you've got it live with it.
ISU is luckily in better shape than many.

Collectives won't make up the difference. Collective money will move from outside of the AD to in-house management by the AD and/or Learfield. Under terms of the House Settlement, NIL deals outside of the AD are supposed to be true NIL deals (not solely pay for play) with legit 3rd party vendors.

 

[JEFF420]

do not invest in any sports non basketball or football. its losing money.

 

[NWICY]

Collectives won't make up the difference. Collective money will move from outside of the AD to in-house management by the AD and/or Learfield. Under terms of the House Settlement, NIL deals outside of the AD are supposed to be true NIL deals (not solely pay for play) with legit 3rd party vendors.

Then you decide how much money you are willing to lose and call it good.

 

[cykadelic2]

Then you decide how much money you are willing to lose and call it good.

Not sure what you're getting at here but here is how I see things changing for ISU under House:

• All or most of existing and future WWC and Wrestling Collective funding will or should be moved to the AD in some fashion, whether under a new entity under Learfield or something else. I have no idea what the WWC annual funding is currently but my expectation is that all or most will be moved to AD control.
• JP has already admitted that ISU will not be in a position to fully fund NIL up to the $22M House cap (and nor will most other programs)
• If a donor wants to fund NIL for selected athletes, they can do so and the AD/Learfield will mange accordingly.
• I think you will see significant funding cutbacks to sports outside of FB, MBB, WBB, VB and Wrestling in terms of staff, travel & schollie funding. I think T&F funding will be primarily focused on distance runners and XC funding with schollie and staffing support cutbacks to other T&F athletes.
• For FB, I think you will see FCOA and extra AD NIL resources targeted only for the top 50 players, full FCOA for another 30 players, and partial schollies for another 20-25 players.
• For MBB and WBB, will probably see FCOA and AD NIL for up to 12 players each.
• Have no idea how Wrestling might be handled.

 

[CY9008]

Has CJL ever missed the tourney 2 years in a row? I don’t think so and I don’t think her seat is even remotely warm until that happens.

This year is obviously an anomaly, but overall the program has been a success (imo) under her tutelage and it would be a huge risk to bring a new staff in right now.

Reminds me of Pelini - fans sick of 9-3, but they have never recovered.

 

[loyalsons4evertrue]

Agree. I am not sure I would have classified us a Top 25 like the OP but we have been decent and actually good some years. We are sitting in the middle of a number of Big Ten powerhouse schools recruiting area. I wish we were doing better but it's not like we are in a Prohm like nosedive.

maybe not always T25 but she's had us consistently in and around the 20s for most of her tenure....I do know this season has not been ideal due to a bunch of our players being injured.

 

[cydsho]

Yeah, let's just shoot ourselves in the foot.