Coaching Staff Next Year

maxpain

All-American
Jul 6, 2006
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wait. you guys think the best candidates will be reluctant b/c of Iowa's 'lack of resources'?

lmfao.

you guys still don't get it. i'm not tryin' to be a pr!ck. and i love it here and your passion. but you refuse to accept reality and correctly identify/blame the actual source that causes your frustration.
It’s seriously bizarre that some on here think we are the little engine that could. It’s absolutely 100% a talking point being pushed by the current regime as an excuse.
 

Trapper85

Senior
Jun 22, 2020
171
614
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I don't think some on here can follow along well. MSU said less money (than PSU/OSU) and tougher compliance hurts Iowa. Willie shot back saying 'are you going to tell prospective new coaches that". MSU said they already know or at least will surely ask those hard questions before taking the job. Willie asked "already know what" because he wasn't following along. MSU explained again, Willie then laughed at the idea Iowa/HWC lacks resources (compared to PSU/OSU), even though our primary donor has stated as much on here. Many on here have said alot of big names won't come to coach unless a ton more money is dumped in to HWC too, and some of the same then laugh at the idea that Iowa lacks resources to compete with the elite. Did I cover everything so far?
 

blcoach80

All-Conference
Feb 24, 2018
301
1,553
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I don't think some on here can follow along well. MSU said less money (than PSU/OSU) and tougher compliance hurts Iowa. Willie shot back saying 'are you going to tell prospective new coaches that". MSU said they already know or at least will surely ask those hard questions before taking the job. Willie asked "already know what" because he wasn't following along. MSU explained again, Willie then laughed at the idea Iowa/HWC lacks resources (compared to PSU/OSU), even though our primary donor has stated as much on here. Many on here have said alot of big names won't come to coach unless a ton more money is dumped in to HWC too, and some of the same then laugh at the idea that Iowa lacks resources to compete with the elite. Did I cover everything so far?
I'm hoping the fire Brands banter will pause for a couple days and people can enjoy NCAAs, but I'm not holding my breath. Every disappointing match, win or lose, involving a Hawk will flare it up again. I'm all for change of some sort as I feel a shot in the arm is needed, but the sky isn't falling either like some are making it out to be. I think an exciting new assistant coach or two can make a big difference and bring a new perspective into the room. That with some great transfers short term, better recruiting long term, and jumps from the current young talent will make a competitive team. Winning puts butts in the seats. Beth is more than capable of laying this out to Tom (who I guarantee already sees is a problem) so I don't buy into the control freak no new assistant will matter stuff. Tom wants Iowa on top as bad as anyone and I honestly believe he is willing to do what he can within the rules to try to get there again.
 

MVPFAN

Senior
Mar 10, 2003
3,254
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On this one you're wrong.

Iowa's lack of success is well talked about in the community. And most importantly, among recruits. And it has been since 2014. When you say fans are "entitled" - well yeah. That's the point. This program has the resources and history to be competing for national titles every year. But that hasn't been the case since 2010.

You're right that most people don't know how hard it is to AA. But that's not the goal at Iowa. As stated by its head coach. And saying it could be worse is an obtuse and unhelpful statement to make. The standard is the standard, and if someone is not meeting it, you move on to the next guy and give him a chance.

Pro-Tom backers will say that we have the "2nd best" program in the country. That the juggernaut of PSU just can't be beat. Well... who's fault is that? Tom refused to actively recruit for 15 years. Then coasted on the PA kids and did it again until just this past season.

Then you couple that with the actual product... We don't score points, we don't scramble well, we don't have an RTC or multiple guys on World teams - and yeah, there's a lot to factually "whine" about. Tom is not doing a good job. And just because you say its hard, everyone else is just supposed to accept it? This is supposed to be Iowa. Tom told us if there was life on other planets we were going win there too.

The standard is competing for championships. Not top 5. That's ridiculous to think that even Tom is thinking differently.

So for me, the biggest problem is this one stat: If PSU doesn't exist - Tom has ONE more championship. That's it. And that's not the standard.
Mic drop
 

Sabula

All-Conference
Oct 24, 2001
1,524
1,617
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I also believe Tom wants Iowa to be on top. Obviously. My concern is your statement that he's willing to do whatever he can within the rules to get Iowa there. The problem is I don't think he knows how/what to do, because he hasn't done it for the last number of years. The things he's tried obviously aren't working. We aren't moving up, we're moving down. So does he really not know what to do, or does he know and he is just incapable of doing it? Given the results last couple of years it's got to be one of those two scenarios.
 

MVPFAN

Senior
Mar 10, 2003
3,254
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Being behind in financial backing is also Tom's doing. For one if he had been doing a lot more winning as a team and getting individual champs he would have a lot more people on the band wagon with their checkbook open. Also if a person doesn't enjoy the rigors of recruiting enough to help his own team be the best they can be he sure as hell isn't going to go through the rigors of recruiting financial donors very well either.
 

Hawx224

All-Conference
Jun 30, 2025
315
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It really all comes down to whether something needs to change in the program or not. Most people agree that it does, even if they disagree on exactly what. Then we have the few who think everything is fine as is and are living in la la land
 

LIV4GOD

All-Conference
Oct 2, 2001
488
1,164
93
Apparently I have succeeded in annoying you so….mission accomplished!
Uh, failed mission. It's merely my interpretation of how many others perceive you. You don't annoy me. I don't engage you enough for your mission's goals.

And I do know you are negative towards those you perceive as negative. But it's a message board. Live and let live.
 
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Trapper85

Senior
Jun 22, 2020
171
614
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i'm not going to say any more on the topic. if you want to think resources are the problem keep lying to yourself.
Not a problem compared to Indiana or MSU. And nobody said it was the ONLY problem for Iowa, it's clearly not IMO. But in relation to PSU and now OSU, it can be considered PART of the recent problem. I mean, if Bob is right and Iowa got no rev share last year, above-board NIL is now quite limited (and Iowa compliance in gray area tighter), and we don't have a billionaire funding the club and high dollar shiny new coach, how can you say it is not PART of the problem or challenge Iowa needs to try and overcome. Why would Ira and Chad kick in big sums if differential money was irrelevant here. Are they just stupid.
 

TheREALSpooner

All-Conference
Dec 16, 2022
781
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Not a problem compared to Indiana or MSU. And nobody said it was the ONLY problem for Iowa, it's clearly not IMO. But in relation to PSU and now OSU, it can be considered PART of the recent problem. I mean, if Bob is right and Iowa got no rev share last year, above-board NIL is now quite limited (and Iowa compliance in gray area tighter), and we don't have a billionaire funding the club and high dollar shiny new coach, how can you say it is not PART of the problem or challenge Iowa needs to try and overcome. Why would Ira and Chad kick in big sums if differential money was irrelevant here. Are they just stupid.

Iowa didn’t recently build a $30M wrestling facility or routinely draw 15K fans to CHA for several years because of one person.

And a bigger issue is that Iowa isn’t even 3rd currently.
 

grasshawk40

All-Conference
Iowa Swarm member
Dec 16, 2022
445
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wait. you guys think the best candidates will be reluctant b/c of Iowa's 'lack of resources'?
lmfao.

you guys still don't get it. i'm not tryin' to be a pr!ck. and i love it here and your passion. but you refuse to accept reality and correctly identify/blame the actual source that causes your frustration.
WHAT IS THE PROBL:EM THEN??? if it isnt the coaching and it isnt the resources then what the **** could it be Big Brain Willie??? I not even trying to be a prick wither. all the "in the know people" love saying we are all wrong but never want to tell us what is right...
 

BroncHawk

All-Conference
Jan 21, 2026
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WHAT IS THE PROBL:EM THEN??? if it isnt the coaching and it isnt the resources then what the **** could it be Big Brain Willie??? I not even trying to be a prick wither. all the "in the know people" love saying we are all wrong but never want to tell us what is right...
I think he pretty clearly spelled out what he thinks the issue is, "a large majority of this board is so fixated on recruiting they forget that you have to ..... coach. and everything else."
 
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TheREALSpooner

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I think he pretty clearly spelled out what he thinks the issue is, "a large majority of this board is so fixated on recruiting they forget that you have to ..... coach. and everything else."

But he doesn't elaborate much beyond that. He criticizes people for finding former wrestlers who fit the profile of the most successful college wrestling coaches of our lifetimes and doesn't specifically say why they are so dumb for having such a stupid thought.

How about..."I've observed JB for many years and I do not think he has the skills required to lead a major college wrestling program because of X, Y, and Z. I know he has the profile of a David Taylor but Taylor is different because of U, V, and W. This is strictly my opinion, and I very well could be wrong." I'd personally put a lot of stock into an actual articulated opinion from a guy in Willie's position.

Instead, we get ambiguity and attitude.
 

grasshawk40

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Dec 16, 2022
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I think he pretty clearly spelled out what he thinks the issue is, "a large majority of this board is so fixated on recruiting they forget that you have to ..... coach. and everything else."
so it is coaching?? Because all that says it that the names we are throwing out wouldnt work at Iowa. He never says who would work at Iowa and Why.
 
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BroncHawk

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Jan 21, 2026
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so it is coaching?? Because all that says it that the names we are throwing out wouldnt work at Iowa. He never says who would work at Iowa and Why.
That’s how I’ve understood it and aligns with how he’s criticized people for throwing out big names with little to no coaching credentials.

But true, he’s not really being helpful to the thread. I think he mostly just wants to fight and argue.
 

maxpain

All-American
Jul 6, 2006
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so it is coaching?? Because all that says it that the names we are throwing out wouldnt work at Iowa. He never says who would work at Iowa and Why.
Willie isn’t going to say names on who would and wouldn’t work. He’s also not going to flat out say Brands should be fired. And rightfully so he would put himself in a bad spot in a community as small as wrestling.

Reading between the lines he thinks there are some recruiting and development issues both.
 

Libertylover

All-Conference
Dec 17, 2020
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OSU and PSU both have Billionaire donors and our biggest donor is nowhere near as rich and will be gone when Tom is. You think coaches won’t be concerned about that when trying to compete with them? Also the fact we got zero in rev share this year.
That may be true, but there is no other programs that spend that much on wrestling. The guy who posted what each big program spends on wrestling each year was interesting. We were still third in spending on wrestling at 4 million. Okyst 5 million. PSU almost 8 million. After us is was surprised Iowa state, V tech, and Nebraska very close to Ohio State in the low 3 million area. Don’t know if V tech number includes what they will be giving Bassett family, but I thought someone said Robie only makes about $218,000 a year. If one of these you future star coaches need the resources and salary that PSU and okyst have, they will have to displace Cael or Taylor as head coach, or wait a long time for the Okyst job to open up when Taylor takes over PSU when Cael retires. Otherwise, it looks like we are the third best job out there.
 

maxpain

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Jul 6, 2006
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Joining Welcome Home GIF
 

WEH8ST8HAWK

Senior
Jan 31, 2004
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Ah come on live a little. We need a 165.
We like our guys. The portal better bail us out at 133, 149, 157 , 165 and maybe 197. 125 also scares me with how much Deluca has been hurt the last 2 years. We have no AA's at any of those weights on the roster.
 

maxpain

All-American
Jul 6, 2006
1,865
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We like our guys. The portal better bail us out at 133, 149, 157 , 165 and maybe 197. 125 also scares me with how much Deluca has been hurt the last 2 years. We have no AA's at any of those weights on the roster.
I am tired of relying on the portal. Honestly I would prefer they only go after a 165 and let the chips fall where they may. Roll with Peterson at 133.
 
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