Hot Seat

[Stanger86]

My choices (albeit I'm farther removed than the NSIC fans so they have a better perspective):

1. Bigler- Less funding than other programs (not fully funded if I recall correctly), is still in his early 40s, some Regional success (finals and semi-finals appearances), fairly consistent winner (.554 winning percentage)

2. Wieck- Overall .578 winning percentage but .694 at UMD. Late 30s, no real Regional success but who knows this year if Andrews doesn't get hurt. Not a long track record at this point. Another 2- 3 years of sustained success and some Regional noise and he moves up to #1

3. McKowen- As mentioned does more with less. .574 winning percentage but no real noise in the Regionals (a couple first rounds and a semi-final this year)


Obviously, in the short-term you go with Billeter but at 61 you have to wonder how many more years he will be at it if you are looking for a long-term hire.

Winning percentages came from Wikipedia so I apologize in advance if it is inaccurate.

I almost bumped Bigler above Wieck but didn't want to be viewed as a homer.

[MrAugustana]

I almost bumped Bigler above Wieck but didn't want to be viewed as a homer.

One counterpoint (more for discussion than anything) is whether or not it matters to people that Bigler's only college coaching experience is with SMSU. Yes, he's won with a tough budget, etc. and that's impressive, but I'd be curious to know how other people do/don't value a variety of experience.

For example, Wieck has learned from different coaches, been part of different programs, etc. It's possible he's picked up things along the way that have helped him develop and also helped him understand how to work under different athletic departments/administrations, different circumstances, etc.

The counterpoint to this would be, "Look at Ben McCollum." Obviously anyone would be an idiot to argue with his success after having spent most (all?) of his career at NWMSU. At the same time, I've wondered if him not having experience outside of NWMSU has hurt his ability to move up to the D1 level. When I check message boards from programs that he's rumored to be in the running for, that's always the biggest pushback on him: "Sure he won there, but do we have any indication he can win here too?" (Personally I'd say yes, most likely he will, but that's neither here nor there...that's just the question that gets asked.)

I think about a coach like Billeter, and he has previous D2 head coaching experience at NDSU and something like 10+ years as a D1 assistant coach at high-major universities. I've heard him mention stuff on post-game radio interviews like "I learned that from Lute Olson at Arizona..." more than once. I would imagine a lot of that helped him prepare for the job at Augie, which was bringing a program that was basically in the toilet in 2003 and turning it into a national contender.

So yes, Bigler has shown he can have seasons of success at SMSU, but I'm curious about how that would or wouldn't translate to a program like St. Cloud, Moorhead, etc. Maybe he'd come in and be even more successful being better funded and better resourced, but I think it presents an interesting question. In that regard, I think Wieck, Saul Phillips, etc. and their varied experience would push them higher on the list for me than Bigler. Particularly Phillips, as he's proven he can run a program at multiple levels (even if his stint at Ohio didn't go as well as he probably would've liked).

Like I said, just something I've been considering as I've read through this thread.

[Moorhead123]

[NWHoops]

One counterpoint (more for discussion than anything) is whether or not it matters to people that Bigler's only college coaching experience is with SMSU. Yes, he's won with a tough budget, etc. and that's impressive, but I'd be curious to know how other people do/don't value a variety of experience.

For example, Wieck has learned from different coaches, been part of different programs, etc. It's possible he's picked up things along the way that have helped him develop and also helped him understand how to work under different athletic departments/administrations, different circumstances, etc.

The counterpoint to this would be, "Look at Ben McCollum." Obviously anyone would be an idiot to argue with his success after having spent most (all?) of his career at NWMSU. At the same time, I've wondered if him not having experience outside of NWMSU has hurt his ability to move up to the D1 level. When I check message boards from programs that he's rumored to be in the running for, that's always the biggest pushback on him: "Sure he won there, but do we have any indication he can win here too?" (Personally I'd say yes, most likely he will, but that's neither here nor there...that's just the question that gets asked.)

I think about a coach like Billeter, and he has previous D2 head coaching experience at NDSU and something like 10+ years as a D1 assistant coach at high-major universities. I've heard him mention stuff on post-game radio interviews like "I learned that from Lute Olson at Arizona..." more than once. I would imagine a lot of that helped him prepare for the job at Augie, which was bringing a program that was basically in the toilet in 2003 and turning it into a national contender.

So yes, Bigler has shown he can have seasons of success at SMSU, but I'm curious about how that would or wouldn't translate to a program like St. Cloud, Moorhead, etc. Maybe he'd come in and be even more successful being better funded and better resourced, but I think it presents an interesting question. In that regard, I think Wieck, Saul Phillips, etc. and their varied experience would push them higher on the list for me than Bigler. Particularly Phillips, as he's proven he can run a program at multiple levels (even if his stint at Ohio didn't go as well as he probably would've liked).

Like I said, just something I've been considering as I've read through this thread.

Saul is younger than I thought, he's probably right on the border between a long-term and mid-term hire. Personally, I've always been impressed with Bigler- how his teams play, his interviews and perspective, how he runs his program, etc.

Ben does have asst experience at Emporia St for 4 years before coming back to NW. He served under David Moe who had D1 and NBA experience (father was Doug Moe). Anyone who has been to Maryville wouldn't question whether he can win at another place if they saw the town or facilities. Those 2 things aren't really big draws (about 10,000 people in a rural community and a gym that is smaller and not as updated as what some of these guys played in HS).

[voicefromthestands]

Saul is younger than I thought, he's probably right on the border between a long-term and mid-term hire. Personally, I've always been impressed with Bigler- how his teams play, his interviews and perspective, how he runs his program, etc.

Ben does have asst experience at Emporia St for 4 years before coming back to NW. He served under David Moe who had D1 and NBA experience (father was Doug Moe). Anyone who has been to Maryville wouldn't question whether he can win at another place if they saw the town or facilities. Those 2 things aren't really big draws (about 10,000 people in a rural community and a gym that is smaller and not as updated as what some of these guys played in HS).

Iba did it !!!

[debergfan]

Northern State	2020-21	13	1
Northern State	2021-22	13	9
Northern State	2022-23	14	3
Northern State		58	17	75	77%
Duluth	2022-23	12	5
Duluth	2021-22	16	4
Duluth	2020-21	5	7
Duluth	2019-20	15	7
Duluth	2018-19	14	8
Duluth		62	31	93	67%
Mankato	2008-09*	14	6
Mankato	2009-10*	17	3
Mankato	2010-11	19	3
Mankato	2011-12*	6	15
Mankato	2012-13*	18	4
Mankato	2013-14	19	3
Mankato	2014-15*	17	5
Mankato	2015-16*	15	7
Mankato	2016-17*	14	8
Mankato	2017-18	16	6
Mankato	2018-19	14	8
Mankato	2019-20	12	10
Mankato	2020-21	9	5
Mankato	2021-22	9	9
Mankato	2022-23	8	9
Mankato		207	101	308	67%
Augustana	2008-09*	13	7
Augustana	2009-10*	15	5
Augustana	2010-11	15	7
Augustana	2011-12*	14	8
Augustana	2012-13*	15	7
Augustana	2013-14	12	10
Augustana	2014-15*	20	2
Augustana	2015-16*	21	1
Augustana	2016-17*	16	6
Augustana	2017-18	10	12
Augustana	2018-19	14	8
Augustana	2019-20	13	9
Augustana	2020-21	7	6
Augustana	2021-22	17	2
Augustana	2022-23	7	10
Augustana		209	100	309	68%
Upper Iowa	2022-23	10	7
Upper Iowa	2021-22	18	4
Upper Iowa	2020-21	8	4
Upper Iowa	2019-20	15	7
Upper Iowa	2018-19	4	18
Upper Iowa	2017-18	10	12
Upper Iowa	2016-17	16	6
Upper Iowa	2015-16	11	11
Upper Iowa	2014-15	12	10
Upper Iowa	2013-14	13	9
Upper Iowa		117	88	205	57%
winona	2022-23	7	10
winona	2021-22	11	9
winona	2020-21	5	5
winona	2019-20	14	8
winona	2018-19	9	13
winona	2017-18	14	8
winona	2016-17	8	14
winona	2015-16	13	9
winona		74	66	140	53%
SW	2010-11	9	13
SW	2011-12	15	7
SW	2012-13	13	9
SW	2013-14	14	8
SW	2014-15	8	14
SW	2015-16	9	13
SW	2016-17	17	5
SW	2017-18	17	5
SW	2018-19	10	12
SW	2019-20	5	17
SW	2020-21	1	6
SW	2021-22	10	10
SW	2022-23	10	7
SW		138	126	264	52%
USF	2022-23	11	6
USF	2021-22	7	12
USF	2020-21	5	5
USF	2019-20	17	5
USF	2018-19	13	9
USF	2017-18	14	8
USF	2016-17	10	12
USF	2015-16	11	11
USF	2014-15	5	17
USF	2013-14	12	11
USF	2012-13	8	14
USF		113	110	223	51%
Wayne	2022-23	11	6
Wayne	2021-22	11	8
Wayne	2020-21	10	4
Wayne	2019-20	7	15
Wayne	2018-19	14	8
Wayne	2017-18	9	13
Wayne	2016-17	8	14
Wayne		70	68	138	51%
Bemidji State	2012-13	13	9
Bemidji State	2013-14	15	7
Bemidji State	2014-15	4	18
Bemidji State	2015-16	7	15
Bemidji State	2016-17	8	14
Bemidji State	2017-18	9	13
Bemidji State	2018-19	6	16
Bemidji State	2019-20	11	11
Bemidji State	2020-21	6	8
Bemidji State	2021-22	5	16
Bemidji State	2022-23	10	7
Bemidji State		94	134	228	41%
Minot	2012-13	9	13
Minot	2013-14	4	18
Minot	2014-15	9	13
Minot	2015-16	10	12
Minot	2016-17	10	12
Minot	2017-18	13	9
Minot	2018-19	9	13
Minot	2019-20	4	18
Minot	2020-21	6	4
Minot	2021-22	9	9
Minot	2022-23	6	11
Minot		89	132	221	40%
UMary	2021-22	7	10
UMary	2021-22	9	12
UMary		16	22	38	24%
CSP	2022-23	5	12
CSP	2021-22	2	19
CSP	2020-21	0	10
CSP		7	41		15%

[loper legionnaire]

Not sure if this was meant to be an NSIC-only discussion, so apologies if I'm hijacking it. But if we're talking coaches on the hot seat, Kevin Lofton from Nebraska-Kearney has to be on it.

At 5-20 (3-16), the Loper men need to win two of their final three games to avoid finishing with their fewest wins in a season since the 1967-68 team finished with just five wins.

Lofton's teams have been largely mediocre aside from his first two seasons without the co-head coach title with Tom Kropp, including losing records in three straight years and four of the past five.

2015-16 21-12 (14-8); NCAA Central Regional 2nd Round
2016-17 20-10 (12-7)
2017-18 16-14 (11-8)
2018-19 10-18 (5-14)
2019-20 16-13 (10-9)
2020-21 8-14 (8-14)
2021-22 11-17 (7-15)
2022-23 5-20 (3-16) - with 3 games remaining