Because most college kids (and anyone else) would rather live in FL (30 minutes from the beach) than in the middle of AL...
Is WSU becoming a stepping stone? I've been told, by a very reliable source, that when one of WSU's successful coaches who left over the "revolving door" period was shopping himself to other schools and got a good offer, the WSU AD made a little effort to retain him. That may account for coaches coming in, doing a good job, and then departing so frequently. Does the WSU administration not care much about women's soccer? Gilmoy, you might have some insight into this even though it's not astrophysics.
I have no idea. I am further out of the loop than you are, despite physical proximity. I come here for news about us The WSU woso page has the announcement: http://www.wsucougars.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=30400&ATCLID=210014488 WSU has shown a big recent investment in all programs, no doubt with the Pac-12.com windfall. WBB(/MBB) has two shiny new practice courts in PEB, with new floors and huge wall art. Maybe new locker rooms. Coach June Daugherty has long tenure of 8.1 years, has lifted the program from ~20 years of doormat into the middle 1/3, and the trend seems to be upward. Attendance is perking up, from ~200 my first few years to ~800 in 2014-15. WVB re-did Bohler Gym in the shiny style, with huge wall banners. Coach Jen Greeny is 3.5 years into an ongoing rebuild. We're still near the bottom of the Pac-12. WS rebuilt Lower Soccer Field with floodlights and landscaping (and gates in the fences, so junior coaches can chase balls over the fence and down the hill). If the Pac-12 were a soccer field, then we're somewhere between circle top and the 6 We've advanced to the NCAA Tournament 4 years in a row, which is (I think) the best current streak in WSU athletics. MFB re-did Martin Stadium, with a new Football Operations Building now forming the W endzone backstop, with huge 3-story wall art inside. Surely they got a bunch of other stuff. The coach is some dude with a sword who throws it a bit ... I don't follow spring sports: tennis, golf, rowing, track & field. So WSU has strong institutional support for the woso program. But I think they feel that the head coach is less of a linchpin, and more replaceable. It could also be simply the realities of market dynamics for a sub-17k student body: we probably just aren't going to match a larger university's offer. Recent woso coaching departures from WSU Pullman (16.8k ug + 3k gr = ~20k): Matt Potter, to U.Oklahoma (20.8k ug + 9.4k gr = ~30k). I suspect both sides perceived a tourney ceiling, and were more willing to move on than cover the offer gap. Keidane McAlpine, to USC (19k ug + 23k(!!!) gr = ~42k). Kind of a unique opportunity. Young ACs should probably not plan their career paths based on an expectation that this pattern will repeat. Steve Nugent, to family (trumps everything), and <clancy>that's that</clancy>. Maybe our AD is juggling many eggs, and can't stretch to match one offer without goofing up an athletics-wide pay scale. Conversely, he's probably earned some confidence in his ability to pick'em. Shulenberger certainly seems like a good pick.
I'm guessing your analysis is right on, in the portions I've underlined. Of course, this makes it very difficult for the players, as has been alluded to previously by others. Do you think this eventually might make it difficult to recruit players?
Unfortunately there is a new opening as of today...Florida Tech head coach Fidgi Haig passed away today. http://www.floridatechsports.com/news/default/211/6847/
Death is difficult enough when expected, but when it comes unexpectedly with someone in their prime it is a shock and so much more difficult to deal with. I am sure the soccer community is together in offering condolences to his family, friends, and players.
Sad days in FL...he was an awesome guy.... http://www.floridatoday.com/videos/sports/college/florida-tech/2015/04/16/25891655/?fb_ref=Default
That is interesting. She has been there a while - twice. Perhaps getting the itch (and offer?) to be a head coach again? Who knows. Being an associate head coach at a good program is a pretty solid gig. Met her once - seemed like a nice and friendly individual.
Dibbini in from Cal Poly-Pomona as HC of Kansas State. http://www.ncaa.com/news/soccer-wom...s-mike-dibbini-first-womens-soccer-head-coach
Greg Sheen is the head coach at UTSA http://www.goutsa.com/ViewArticle.d...90&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=210051799&DB_OEM_ID=13100
Only one opening remains - any insight into Toledo? Any other jobs opening? Open: Toledo Filled: Creighton - Ross Paule (Alum, former MLS player, youth coach) VMI - Chris Bergmann (Lake Forest Head Men's Coach) Tennessee Chattanooga - Gavin McKinney (Cumberland Head Women's Coach) Georgia - Billy Lesesne (Duke Associate Head Coach) Francis Marion - Lindsey Morgan (Appalachian State Asst Coach) Akron - Noreen Herlihy (Slippery Rock Head Coach) Canisius - Todd Clark (Barton College Head Coach) Purdue - Drew Roff (Illinois State Head Coach) Kansas State - Mike Dibbini (Cal Poly Pomona Head Coach) Wisconsin-Green Bay - Kim Brandao (Buffalo Assistant Coach) Wisconsin-Milwaukee - Troy Fabiano (University of Wisconsin-Parkside Head Coach) Princeton - Sean Driscoll (Fairfield Associate Head Coach) Arkansas State - Brian Dooley (Missouri Associate Head Coach) Illinois State - Eric Golz (Maryland Assistant Coach) Bryant - Andrew Biggs (Brown University Associate Head Men's Coach) New Mexico - Heather Dyche (New Mexico Assistant Director of Coaching) Vanderbilt - Darren Ambrose (Penn Head Coach) George Mason - Todd Bramble (Alabama Head Coach) St. Mary's - Travis Clarke (Cal State San Bernardino Head Coach) Penn - Nicole Van Dyke (Stanford Associate Head Coach) Bucknell - Kelly Kuss (Dartmouth Assistant Coach) UTSA - Greg Sheen (UTSA Interim Head Coach) Alabama - Wes Hart (Florida State Assistant Coach) Washington State - Todd Shulenberger (Texas Tech Associate HC)
Saint Mary's HC hires Tina Estrada as Associate Head Coach. Also looks like he kept former assistant on staff. That is a good hire http://m.smcgaels.com/mobile/ViewArticle.dbml?atclid=210040888&DB_OEM_ID=21400&
Toledo - phone interviews this week, on campus interviews next week....hoping to have a coach announced by Memorial Day