Saint Viator Lions
- Thread starter ignazio
- Start date
Interesting hire, not sure how D3 coaching in another state translates into recruiting and winning in a high level conference. Don't know who the candidates were, but missed the mark IMO.
Yes, I suppose I can understand what they were getting after with hiring a College Coach, but to have no experience in Illinois is concerning. I am sure they had people with experience in state that know the lay of land, that's all.
Why does experience in the state of Illinois matter? Why does the fact that he hasn't coached in the state of Illinois concern you? If he is a good football coach and works well with kids, it shouldn't matter where he is from.
I never said he wasn't a quality coach or anything of that nature. I just assume that, perhaps, an in- state hire could navigate the recruiting landscape better than him and understand how competitive the conference is.
I think your concerns are much ado about nothing.
Regarding recruiting and the competitiveness of the conference, and short of hiring someone from within the ESCC, I don't think that hiring from anywhere else within Illinois would have made one bit of difference in Viator's W and L columns next year or down the road 2-3 yrs.
Do you recall when Greg Purnell came to St. Francis 8-9 yrs ago after a long career as a public high school coach in Iowa? He coached the Spartans to a 5A title in his second season at the helm and I believe he retired as the winningest coach in St. Francis history.
Maybe so, but this doesn't look like one of them. The guy has a top notch football and Catholic school pedigree.
The Viator people are really happy with their new hire. Seems like a quality guy to me with lots of enthusiasm and a great knowledge of the game.
Brett, I don't agree at all that Viator is all about odd decisions. I spent $40k plus there for my son. He is headed to med school now and he credits what he learned at Viator in and out of the classroom as well as the football field for his success.
Maybe not the educational part but the football decisions have been suspect since Kirkpatrick left. Had a couple of chances to hire a great football guy who is also a die hard alum. Curious at best???
Seems like there was strong interest in the position. 46 applicants is more than I would have guessed. As Quags' article suggests, there is some junior talent returning, and the JV (5-2) and Frosh (6-1) teams fared very well in the ESCC. Looks like the new coach has some talent in the building.
Your article quotes Coach Archibald as saying: "St. Viator is the third-closest Catholic high school to Wisconsin, and that was appealing."
Hmmm, let's see about that assertion...
St. Martin de Porres in Waukegan, Carmel in Mundelein, and Marian Central Catholic in Woodstock are all closer to Wisconsin (and Archibald's hometown of Milwaukee) than is St. Viator. However, de Porres doesn't play football. But, Loyola Academy does, and LA is closer to Milwaukee than Viator. Freeport Aquin and Rockford Boyland are both closer to the WI border than Viator.
Viator in Arlington Heights is closer to Milwaukee than Notre Dame in Niles...by four-tenths of a mile according to Google.
Coach Archibald, who you crappin'?
Quags- I'd assume that most schools are "really happy" with their new hires, after all they choose them. I just hope he can return some stability to the program.