BB- A-
LS- B+
Let's get some A+ assistant coaches now and some 4-5* players. IMO Lovie was gone last year if he didn't go to a bowl. I was never a fan of Lovie when he was with the Bears. I was a fan when he was with St. Louis though and tried to give him a chance with the Illini. BB seemed like a dick when he was with Wisky. He seems different for some reason. Time will tell.
BB- A-
LS- B+
Let's get some A+ assistant coaches now and some 4-5* players. IMO Lovie was gone last year if he didn't go to a bowl. I was never a fan of Lovie when he was with the Bears. I was a fan when he was with St. Louis though and tried to give him a chance with the Illini. BB seemed like a dick when he was with Wisky. He seems different for some reason. Time will tell.
So, you were grading on a curve.I voted A. Not because he was the best coach available, but because I think he is the best coach we could get. There is no simple remedy to get this program to relevancy. I think the most important thing to do is to ensure that what the Illini do on a day to day basis in training, game prep., and recruiting mirrors successful programs in this region. While he may not have built a program into a winner, he does know what it takes to run a winning program at this level.
Build winning habits, and the wins will follow...eventually. Good luck, coach.
Lovie a B+, give everyone a participation trophy. No way, his biggest recruit is an undersized QB that is a single threat. He Lovie, did not recruit "Football Players", and not a huge fan of BB, but he will get football players in here. They won't be 4 and 5 starts because there are teams like Ohio St, Notre Dame Michigan in the Midwest, not to mention Wis. Iowa and NW. But getting back to Lovie's grade I would say a C- and that is being fair. Numerous issues with assistants leaving, clock management and game planning throughout the years. Teams not coming to play in certain games (Last year NW) . 17-39 for approx. 20 million, that value does not come out to a B+.BB- A-
LS- B+
Let's get some A+ assistant coaches now and some 4-5* players. IMO Lovie was gone last year if he didn't go to a bowl. I was never a fan of Lovie when he was with the Bears. I was a fan when he was with St. Louis though and tried to give him a chance with the Illini. BB seemed like a dick when he was with Wisky. He seems different for some reason. Time will tell.
It's grading the hire, not grading the coaching tenure.17-39 for approx. 20 million, that value does not come out to a B+.
Same here. I would put him at B if I had my choice of anyone, but that simply wasn’t going to happen no matter what JW did.I voted A. Not because he was the best coach available, but because I think he is the best coach we could get. There is no simple remedy to get this program to relevancy. I think the most important thing to do is to ensure that what the Illini do on a day to day basis in training, game prep., and recruiting mirrors successful programs in this region. While he may not have built a program into a winner, he does know what it takes to run a winning program at this level.
Build winning habits, and the wins will follow...eventually. Good luck, coach.
If true -- this is really huge news. Bravo Josh!!Arizona, a program with a lot in common with Illinois, is reportedly down to:
Brent Brennan, HC San Jose State, 15-29 there and this season is their first winning season in his four years. Great recruiting reputation and they do appear to be a very good team, and it was a wasteland when he took over, but I would be very scared of someone's whose resume relied on this weirdo Covid season so heavily.
Jedd Fisch, Patriots QB Coach, been a decent enough OC at Miami, Michigan and UCLA but didn't really set the world on fire at any of them. He's been known to really want a college HC job, he's a perennial candidate.
Kenny Dillingham, OC Florida State, 30 years old and an incredibly light resume, including FSU's disaster this year. I would be shocked if they hired him.
Our reported interviews of Bielema, Leipold and Marcus Freeman is a MUCH stronger process, for me. (Doubly so if Clawson, Monken and Leonhard were willing to be considered)
And the less said about what's going on at Auburn the better.
Bielema - A (ask me again in 4 years.....)I'm gonna own up to the fact that I've been in Milwaukee since 2011 and his ditching the B1G for the SEC, combined with some eh "personal anecdotes" I've heard made me really, really not want to see him hired.
But I'm coming around. He's said the right things in his first few interviews and is making a concerted effort in the state of Illinois. He's the best realistic option that was available.
I just am tired of getting my hopes up. I put a C because in all honesty a C caliber coach should be able to get us to bowl games most years. I thought Lovie was an A. I thought Beckman was a B. Might as well aim low.