Do I miss Fred? Sure I do. He was a home grown kid done good story, hell he was a ball boy for our games when he was growing up. I grew up in Ames, and watched him in high school before he came to ISU. I was apprehensive when JP hired him with no coaching experience, but he made the decision look like genius.
Am I happy Prohm is here? Hell yes! He's attracting better prep players, and still keeps his eyes on filling a void with transfers, if needed. A trend Fred didn't start, but turned into an art form. I like Prohm's approach better. We're now attracting blue chip players that previous coaches never pursued. We'll have a one and done once in a while maybe, but the ones that stay for the long haul will leave not just as quality athletes. His players will also leave the program as better people. That benefits the team, the university, the communities they will raise their families in... It shouldn't just be about the sport, and with Prohm and most Cyclones fans, it's not.
Fred's success enabled JP to attract a quality coach, and a quality person to replace him.
I wish Fred all the best in whatever he decides to do, and will miss him, but the Mayor is dead, Long Live the Mayor!!
I know I say this too much, but almost everything we have achieved recently can be directly attributed to JP. He has made so many improvements across the board that ISU athletics coaching positions are destination jobs, rather than a springboard to another place, and when we do lose someone like Fred, I don't worry, 'cause JP will find someone just as good, or better. Because of JP Cyclone athletics are no longer an afterthought to potential recruits and their families... Plus he has garnered us nationwide respect with the media, a fact that is often overlooked.