Would you be OK with a few down years if there was a new head coach?

[Jimmy Cinnabon]

I think everyone agrees that IF the Brands were ousted that no replacement coach would be immediately as good as Tom and Terry. Most likely the Hawkeyes would slump for 2-3 years while the new coaching staff installed their philosophy and system.

The question is: would you be OK with 2-3 years of Iowa falling out of the upper echleon (meaning not placing at NCAAs and being the 4th, 5th or 6th best team in the Big 10) if it meant a new coaching staff?

 

[el dub]

I think everyone agrees that IF the Brands were ousted that no replacement coach would be immediately as good as Tom and Terry. Most likely the Hawkeyes would slump for 2-3 years while the new coaching staff installed their philosophy and system.

The question is: would you be OK with 2-3 years of Iowa falling out of the upper echleon (meaning not placing at NCAAs and being the 4th, 5th or 6th best team in the Big 10) if it meant a new coaching staff?

Is that what’s happening in OK? Not placing at NCAA’s? WTF’s wrong with you? Where are we in the conference currently?

 

[Anon1750896976]

I think everyone agrees that IF the Brands were ousted that no replacement coach would be immediately as good as Tom and Terry. Most likely the Hawkeyes would slump for 2-3 years while the new coaching staff installed their philosophy and system.

The question is: would you be OK with 2-3 years of Iowa falling out of the upper echleon (meaning not placing at NCAAs and being the 4th, 5th or 6th best team in the Big 10) if it meant a new coaching staff?

Reference DT okie state

 

[LetsGoHawks83]

Aren't we already in a down year?

 

[Mattski]

If it were the right new head coach and staff that had a vision and plan for rebuilding the program, absolutely. With NIL and the portal there's no reason 2-3 "down" years would even need to happen.
I'd feel confident that with the right staff, in years 1-2 we wouldn't end up any worse than we will this year much less next year. I'm not sure many people realize just how bad next year is shaping up to be.

 

[dtripp26]

I think everyone agrees that IF the Brands were ousted that no replacement coach would be immediately as good as Tom and Terry. Most likely the Hawkeyes would slump for 2-3 years while the new coaching staff installed their philosophy and system.

The question is: would you be OK with 2-3 years of Iowa falling out of the upper echleon (meaning not placing at NCAAs and being the 4th, 5th or 6th best team in the Big 10) if it meant a new coaching staff?

We're already there! New coach will not have much grace period.

 

[heldyhawk606]

We're already being told to wait for 2027/2028 classes, how would this be any different? And will those classes be PSU type come in and compete for titles right away as freshmen, or need 2-3 years to develop?

 

[dtripp26]

We're already being told to wait for 2027/2028 classes, how would this be any different? And will those classes be PSU type come in and compete for titles right away as freshmen, or need 2-3 years to develop?

That's the worry... the best guys in our recruiting classes are generally behind psu (and now osu)

 

[Trakker]

Not sure everyone agrees that if we replaced the staff that they wouldnt immediately be as good as where we are currently

 

[Libertylover]

That's the worry... the best guys in our recruiting classes are generally behind psu (and now osu)

We won’t be getting a name like David Taylor and he won’t have a billionaire happy feed him all the money he wants. To get better recruits then we have lined up in 27 and 28 so far, this new coach would have to steal commits to PSU and OSU from 2026-2027 classes, which isn’t happening. They would have at least secure Mocco, all the 27&28 kids, add a few more 28 studs, and a few quality portal guys, or we could find ourselves finishing 7-10 for a few years, and you guys would really be losing your ****. Could a name like Nolf secure these classes and attract a few good portal rentals to ensure we at least get no worse over 2-3 years? Maybe. If recruits are coming more for TnT than Iowa, then probably not.

 

[dtripp26]

We won’t be getting a name like David Taylor and he won’t have a billionaire happy feed him all the money he wants. To get better recruits then we have lined up in 27 and 28 so far, this new coach would have to steal commits to PSU and OSU from 2026-2027 classes, which isn’t happening. They would have at least secure Mocco, all the 27&28 kids, add a few more 28 studs, and a few quality portal guys, or we could find ourselves finishing 7-10 for a few years, and you guys would really be losing your ****. Could a name like Nolf secure these classes and attract a few good portal rentals to ensure we at least get no worse over 2-3 years? Maybe. If recruits are coming more for TnT than Iowa, then probably not.

Yup, better just say we like our guys and accept that we get what we get.

 

[TheREALSpooner]

We won’t be getting a name like David Taylor and he won’t have a billionaire happy feed him all the money he wants. To get better recruits then we have lined up in 27 and 28 so far, this new coach would have to steal commits to PSU and OSU from 2026-2027 classes, which isn’t happening. They would have at least secure Mocco, all the 27&28 kids, add a few more 28 studs, and a few quality portal guys, or we could find ourselves finishing 7-10 for a few years, and you guys would really be losing your ****. Could a name like Nolf secure these classes and attract a few good portal rentals to ensure we at least get no worse over 2-3 years? Maybe. If recruits are coming more for TnT than Iowa, then probably not.

How in the heck do you know we “won’t get a name like David Taylor”?

A few down years is just fine. It also might not be very likely given the landscape of NIL and revenue sharing. A coach should be able to do some good work with the 9.9 rides + $1M in revenue sharing alone.

(Instead this year we got 3 D1 guys who didn’t AA last year and only have one AA between them, and a D3 guy who was solid to good but then couldn’t keep him on the team. But I digress.)

 

[dtripp26]

How in the heck do you know we “won’t get a name like David Taylor”?

A few down years is just fine. It also might not be very likely given the landscape of NIL and revenue sharing. A coach should be able to do some good work with the 9.9 rides + $1M in revenue sharing alone.

(Instead this year we got 3 D1 guys who didn’t AA last year and only have one AA between them, and a D3 guy who was solid to good but then couldn’t keep him on the team. But I digress.)

Stop making me like your posts!

 

[IowaHawkeyes1989]

If the brands are completely cut from the program I can’t see guys not busting down the doors wanting to come coach Iowa back to the top. At this point tnt have burned so many bridges and rubbed so many wrong that no way would anyone outside the program want to come here to coach.

 

[MissouriHawkeye]

John Smith? Kidding...

 

[Sir Pin Alot]

A big name will be necessary. Not just for fans but recruiting. I'm not convinced Iowa is in a position to 'take a risk' with the job. It has to be a sure bet or something close.

 

[Stick Kitty]

Good god you idiots.

 

[GLC1969]

Idiots? What is the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Iowa fans have been like Pavlov’s dog for to many years expecting a treat. Burn it down now and the rebuild won’t take as long. If Iowa lets TnT at the new recruits it is over.

 

[Nashville_Hawk]

I think everyone agrees that IF the Brands were ousted that no replacement coach would be immediately as good as Tom and Terry. Most likely the Hawkeyes would slump for 2-3 years while the new coaching staff installed their philosophy and system.

The question is: would you be OK with 2-3 years of Iowa falling out of the upper echleon (meaning not placing at NCAAs and being the 4th, 5th or 6th best team in the Big 10) if it meant a new coaching staff?

I think several options would be as good as tnt.

Not sure everyone agrees that if we replaced the staff that they wouldnt immediately be as good as where we are currently

yeah, I’m thinking just the opposite.

 

[Nashville_Hawk]

We won’t be getting a name like David Taylor and he won’t have a billionaire happy feed him all the money he wants. To get better recruits then we have lined up in 27 and 28 so far, this new coach would have to steal commits to PSU and OSU from 2026-2027 classes, which isn’t happening. They would have at least secure Mocco, all the 27&28 kids, add a few more 28 studs, and a few quality portal guys, or we could find ourselves finishing 7-10 for a few years, and you guys would really be losing your ****. Could a name like Nolf secure these classes and attract a few good portal rentals to ensure we at least get no worse over 2-3 years? Maybe. If recruits are coming more for TnT than Iowa, then probably not.

Recruits won’t come if they don’t think they will improve and win…and right now Ludington and the LR duo as well as BK don’t seem to be improving or winning at the level they should be. I’m not worried about losing recruits…and I don’t think it can get much worse than the trend we’re currently on…

 

[Nashville_Hawk]

I think everyone agrees that IF the Brands were ousted that no replacement coach would be immediately as good as Tom and Terry. Most likely the Hawkeyes would slump for 2-3 years while the new coaching staff installed their philosophy and system.

The question is: would you be OK with 2-3 years of Iowa falling out of the upper echleon (meaning not placing at NCAAs and being the 4th, 5th or 6th best team in the Big 10) if it meant a new coaching staff?

I don’t think many agree with your comments. I don’t think we’ll get worse than 6th - 9th if TNT leave tomorrow and we bring in a respectable option. I would love to be in Okie’s shoes right now!!

 

[kingstown]

No outside high level guys are going to want to become assistant coaches to Brands. I don't think it is because everybody dislikes him, but rather they know he is going to control everything if he is in charge. Brands is a doer which is what has both helped and hurt this program. He works as hard as anybody but the system is a relic better left to fade into a memory. The whole program needs a fresh start with a whole new staff full of youth and modern training methods. One PSU guy,one Askren guy, and one former Hawkeye great. Schwab,KOT, and Nick Lee would fit that bill. Sprinkle in Parker Keckeisen as an RTC athletes and add a big guy like Gwiz or Mason Paris. Iowa would have options. This is a job people will want. Rob Koll,Doug Schwab,Brent Metcalf,Jason Nolf,......my first call would be to Casey Cunningham just to make him tell me no. I guess the other option is give Brands a few more years to sink the program to a low enough point that any coach will seem like a great hire. It worked for ISU once KJ had them down to Grand view level. They were very lucky Dresser really knew how to build a program.

 

[HawkeyeGenius]

Bring in Jay Robinson

 

[Anon1750896976]

A big name will be necessary. Not just for fans but recruiting. I'm not convinced Iowa is in a position to 'take a risk' with the job. It has to be a sure bet or something close.

Ive said this for yrs. Love iowa love brands as wrestlers but they have alot of downsides to recruiting with kids parents and HS/club coaches. I would not send my kid to that program under this leadership. Someone nailed it on this feed or another when some X wrestler that rested form said they just get grind into the ground every day. We’ve known that for years they don’t train smart they train hard. Just not a good formula these days.

 

[HawkBeliever]

Recruits won’t come if they don’t think they will improve and win…and right now Ludington and the LR duo as well as BK don’t seem to be improving or winning at the level they should be. I’m not worried about losing recruits…and I don’t think it can get much worse than the trend we’re currently on…

Ayala, Kennedy, Arnold and Kueter were all essentially ranked #1 at their weights and top 10 PFP recruits. Other than Ayala, no one in that group has even been close to an individual natty. The wrestler development is not there.

 

[Nashville_Hawk]

Ayala, Kennedy, Arnold and Kueter were all essentially ranked #1 at their weights and top 10 PFP recruits. Other than Ayala, no one in that group has even been close to an individual natty. The wrestler development is not there.

No argument from me…seems like the longer they’re here the more boring their style becomes with only a couple exceptions.

 

[Sett1997]

Ayala, Kennedy, Arnold and Kueter were all essentially ranked #1 at their weights and top 10 PFP recruits. Other than Ayala, no one in that group has even been close to an individual natty. The wrestler development is not there.

Where did this guy go? Wth happened?

 

[Nashville_Hawk]

Where did this guy go? Wth happened?

He got TnT'd...

 

[Nashville_Hawk]

He got TnT'd...

Or you could blame it on the HWT assitant coach, but I don't know that that's fair...

 

[dtripp26]

Where did this guy go? Wth happened?

He got TnT'd...

Or you could blame it on the HWT assitant coach, but I don't know that that's fair...

It also happened to our previous HWT. Tony declined greatly over his 5 years in IC.

 

[A Fistful of Hawkeyes]

It also happened to our previous HWT. Tony declined greatly over his 5 years in IC.

Cass didn't decline. He toned up and looked fantastic. He did what he thought was best for him, physically. And honestly, who can blame him? People will rant and rave and piss and moan that smaller Cass was the bad version, but he wasn't beating those genetic freaks being a big boy anyway.

People seem to forget how stacked heavyweight was there over a 4-5 year period. Perhaps the best it's ever been in the history of our sport with Steveson, Kerk, Parris, and Hendrickson all overlapping.

Then you have guys like Cass, Schultz, Wood, and Davison that likely win any other year.

 

[heldyhawk606]

Cass didn't decline. He toned up and looked fantastic. He did what he thought was best for him, physically. And honestly, who can blame him? People will rant and rave and piss and moan that smaller Cass was the bad version, but he wasn't beating those genetic freaks being a big boy anyway.

People seem to forget how stacked heavyweight was there over a 4-5 year period. Perhaps the best it's ever been in the history of our sport with Steveson, Kerk, Parris, and Hendrickson all overlapping.

Then you have guys like Cass, Schultz, Wood, and Davison that likely win any other year.

could argue that regardless of size his technique and tactical skills didn't improve over 5 years. How many times did he try to turn a kid with the same move they were all prepared for and just shoulder down knowing he wouldn't ever switch sides or try something else?

 

[A Fistful of Hawkeyes]

could argue that regardless of size his technique and tactical skills didn't improve over 5 years. How many times did he try to turn a kid with the same move they were all prepared for and just shoulder down knowing he wouldn't ever switch sides or try something else?

He went 89-17 at Iowa 15 of those losses (including a medical forfeit) were all to the names I listed above: Steveson, Parris, Hendrickson, Kerk, and one loss to Woods. He had a bonus rate of nearly 54% including 26 falls. It was a far cry from the pin record he said he was going to break, but lets not sit here and even try to argue that he didn't improve.

 

[giveitall]

Where did this guy go? Wth happened?

He's hurt, he's sick, he wrestles Telford, he want to play football, he he he...he's just not that good.

 

[BrianLafevre]

He went 89-17 at Iowa 15 of those losses (including a medical forfeit) were all to the names I listed above: Steveson, Parris, Hendrickson, Kerk, and one loss to Woods. He had a bonus rate of nearly 54% including 26 falls. It was a far cry from the pin record he said he was going to break, but lets not sit here and even try to argue that he didn't improve.

Tony was no slouch but it must be noted he went from majoring Kerkvliet in 2021 to winning by decision and SV in 2022 and then losing to Kerkvliet 5-0 in 2023. He lost ground and was surpassed. This is a prevailing trait for many Iowa wrestlers unfortunately.

 

[dtripp26]

Tony was no slouch but it must be noted he went from majoring Kerkvliet in 2021 to winning by decision and SV in 2022 and then losing to Kerkvliet 5-0 in 2023. He lost ground and was surpassed. This is a prevailing trait for many Iowa wrestlers unfortunately.

3rd seed in 2020, 3rd, 7th, 4th. Tony was a favorite of mine, but he was not the same guy his final two years that he was those first two years.

 

[A Fistful of Hawkeyes]

Tony was no slouch but it must be noted he went from majoring Kerkvliet in 2021 to winning by decision and SV in 2022 and then losing to Kerkvliet 5-0 in 2023. He lost ground and was surpassed. This is a prevailing trait for many Iowa wrestlers unfortunately.

What? Kerk was also recovering from an injury the entire off season before that. He didn't debut his freshman year until late Feb because of that injury.

Im not a Kerk fan by any means, but EVERYBODY knew he was going to turn into a monster.
Cass didn't regress or lose ground, Kerk just finally developed into the wrestler everyone knew he was going to be. And that process was delayed because of said injuries. This isn't hard to understand.

F*cking absurd argument.

 

[BrianLafevre]

What? Kerk was also recovering from an injury the entire off season before that. He didn't debut his freshman year until late Feb because of that injury.

Im not a Kerk fan by any means, but EVERYBODY knew he was going to turn into a monster.
Cass didn't regress or lose ground, Kerk just finally developed into the wrestler everyone knew he was going to be. And that process was delayed because of said injuries. This isn't hard to understand.

F*cking absurd argument.

Are you stupid?

 

[Stick Kitty]

You both can be correct. Kerk was on par with Gable coming out of HS- little bit less but hung with him. But Kerk was oft injured and a bit undersized. Basically BK at this moment - minus the AA . Seemed stuck but talented. Transferred to PSU. Cass took it to him early but between Kerk getting healthy, stronger he seemed to pass him. I would also give PSU a lot of credit for getting him out of the mud and polished up.
Id like to see what BK could do healthy, stronger and with a fresh approach from a new Iowa coaching staff.

 

[chipackhawk]

Idiots? What is the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Iowa fans have been like Pavlov’s dog for to many years expecting a treat. Burn it down now and the rebuild won’t take as long. If Iowa lets TnT at the new recruits it is over.

It's actually not the definition - just a cute catch phrase.