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Has any former NAIA football coach ever been successful at the D1 level?
Posted on 1/13/24 at 12:12 pm
Posted on 1/13/24 at 12:12 pm
Since Alabama announced the hiring of Deboer, can anyone name another former NAIA coach that has had success at the D1 level? I've tried searching, but I can't find one coach that has made a successful transition from NAIA to a major D1 program, which makes Alabama's hire even more shocking.
His record overall is impressive, but if you break it down, 64% of his wins came as a HC at a NAIA school. His two successful, but short stints as a HC at the D1 level came in the Mountain West and the Pac 12.
As an LSU fan, I'm ecstatic with the hire, but I'm just very surprised Alabama decided to go with a coach with very little D1 coaching experience and zero experience in the SEC.
His record overall is impressive, but if you break it down, 64% of his wins came as a HC at a NAIA school. His two successful, but short stints as a HC at the D1 level came in the Mountain West and the Pac 12.
As an LSU fan, I'm ecstatic with the hire, but I'm just very surprised Alabama decided to go with a coach with very little D1 coaching experience and zero experience in the SEC.
13
Posted on 1/13/24 at 12:13 pm to SwampyWaters
Fran and Rich Rod are two off hand.
Posted on 1/13/24 at 12:13 pm to SwampyWaters
Fran
Posted on 1/13/24 at 12:14 pm to SwampyWaters
Not NAIA, but Lance Leipold was dominant at D3 Wisconsin-Whitewater, went from there to Buffalo and won the MAC, and then went to Kansas and had them ranked and winning 9 games this past season.
Some guys just know how to coach, no matter what level they're at. I think DeBoer is going to be one of those guys. We'll see.
Not the point of the thread, but I just looked up Leipold's record at UWW and holy hell. He was there for 8 years. His record was 109-6. He won 6 D3 national titles and went to another national title game.
Some guys just know how to coach, no matter what level they're at. I think DeBoer is going to be one of those guys. We'll see.
Not the point of the thread, but I just looked up Leipold's record at UWW and holy hell. He was there for 8 years. His record was 109-6. He won 6 D3 national titles and went to another national title game.
This post was edited on 1/13/24 at 12:18 pm
Posted on 1/13/24 at 12:16 pm to SwampyWaters
Posted on 1/13/24 at 12:17 pm to Harry Rex Vonner
Dennis Franchione?
Posted on 1/13/24 at 12:17 pm to SwampyWaters
Jim Tressel at Ohio State
1 National (2002)
4 NCAA Division I-AA (1991, 1993–1994, 1997)
1 OVC (1987)
6 Big Ten (2002, 2005–2009)[1]
Awards
8x National Coach of the Year awards
OVC Coach of the Year (1987)
Paul "Bear" Bryant Award (2002)
Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year (2002)
Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year (2002)
Sporting News Coach of the Year (2002)
Eddie Robinson Award (1994)
1 National (2002)
4 NCAA Division I-AA (1991, 1993–1994, 1997)
1 OVC (1987)
6 Big Ten (2002, 2005–2009)[1]
Awards
8x National Coach of the Year awards
OVC Coach of the Year (1987)
Paul "Bear" Bryant Award (2002)
Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year (2002)
Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year (2002)
Sporting News Coach of the Year (2002)
Eddie Robinson Award (1994)
This post was edited on 1/13/24 at 12:18 pm
Posted on 1/13/24 at 12:18 pm to Harry Rex Vonner
Is that Butterbean with hair?
Posted on 1/13/24 at 12:18 pm to SwampyWaters
Yes
Posted on 1/13/24 at 12:19 pm to SwampyWaters
quote:
Since Alabama announced the hiring of Deboer, can anyone name another former NAIA coach that has had success at the D1 level? I've tried searching, but I can't find one coach that has made a successful transition from NAIA to a major D1 program, which makes Alabama's hire even more shocking.
His record overall is impressive, but if you break it down, 64% of his wins came as a HC at a NAIA school. His two successful, but short stints as a HC at the D1 level came in the Mountain West and the Pac 12.
As an LSU fan, I'm ecstatic with the hire, but I'm just very surprised Alabama decided to go with a coach with very little D1 coaching experience and zero experience in the SEC.
No you're not.
Posted on 1/13/24 at 12:20 pm to SwampyWaters
yep
Posted on 1/13/24 at 12:20 pm to SwampyWaters
quote:
I've tried searching
You wouldn’t have to search if you had the IQ about a potato
Posted on 1/13/24 at 12:20 pm to SwampyWaters
quote:
but I can't find one coach that has made a successful transition from NAIA to a major D1 program
Considering he just made the national title game at fricking Washington id say he had a solid transition
Posted on 1/13/24 at 12:21 pm to CarolinaGamecock99
Hal Mumme at Iowa Wesleyan and by extension the Pirate I guess, who followed him up the ranks
Posted on 1/13/24 at 12:28 pm to BigBro
quote:
Jim Tressel at Ohio State
Don’t think he was ever NAIA. He cut his teeth at Youngstown, a 1AA school.
Posted on 1/13/24 at 12:28 pm to Bigbens42
quote:
Hal Mumme at Iowa Wesleyan and by extension the Pirate I guess, who followed him up the ranks
and Holgerson
Posted on 1/13/24 at 12:28 pm to SwampyWaters
This ridiculous idea that coaching in a lower division or less successful conference is a stupid canard. If a guy is coaching in a lower division, he’s also coaching with lower division players, so he’s on a level playing field with teams in that division. He won like a motherfricker everywhere he’s been. DeBoer will have an SEC roster that is in the top 5 for talent to play SEC teams. He’ll also have Bama’s brand, resources and history to recruit his guys in the future.
Good coaching is good coaching. You folks are in for a rude awakening.
Good coaching is good coaching. You folks are in for a rude awakening.
Posted on 1/13/24 at 12:30 pm to Harry Rex Vonner
quote:
and Holgerson
Played NAIA under them but never coached at that level. He joined the staff at Valdosta.
Posted on 1/13/24 at 12:33 pm to SwampyWaters
There's been alot successful coaches who started at small schools. Jim Harbaugh got his start in DIII.
Posted on 1/13/24 at 12:35 pm to KingOfTheWorld
quote:
his ridiculous idea that coaching in a lower division or less successful conference is a stupid canard. If a guy is coaching in a lower division, he’s also coaching with lower division players, so he’s on a level playing field with teams in that division. He won like a motherfricker everywhere he’s been. DeBoer will have an SEC roster that is in the top 5 for talent to play SEC teams. He’ll also have Bama’s brand, resources and history to recruit his guys in the future
We will see
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