Very good hires by Oregon and Auburn in my opinion. MS State move makes sense and I applaud them for doing it quickly, should help minimize a negative impact of that transition. K-State is a little bit of a perplexing hire. Oregon State makes sense after their strong finish. Illinois and Maryland....what are you waiting for. It wouldn't take a month (or nearly 2 in the case of Maryland) to name a coach at those places in virtually any other sport. Very interested to see what UNC does, it feels like that have to go with Nahas but it also feels like clearly they don't want to otherwise they would've done it by now.
Nahas to NC State, Sahaydak to UNC seemed the plan for all schools a month ago and will be in place by next week? Sometimes the obvious is just that. Agree on Illinois and Maryland. How are they not done yet?
absolutely! Also have to figure that Auburn will increase scholarships by more and be better positioned to spend in women’s soccer in the revenue sharing/NIL era than Mississippi state. There’s some SEC schools that aren’t increasing scholarships at all, haven’t heard specifically about MS State but wouldn’t surprise me. Nick has paid his dues, will be curious how many kids stay or follow James.
OPEN: UC Riverside (interim) Loyola Chicago (interim) Cal Poly (retirement 6/9) North Carolina (interim; retirement 8/9) Mississippi Valley State (8/25) Maryland (10/10) Illinois (10/30; retirement) Western Illinois (10/31) Weber State (11/5) VCU (11/7) IU Indianapolis (11/7) NC State (11/8) VMI (11/8) Youngstown State (11/8; retirement) Pacific (11/12) Chicago State (11/14) Duquesne (11/15) Wofford (11/24) North Dakota (11/25) UC Davis (12/2) St. Bonaventure (12/4) FILLED: Duke - Kieran Hall (Duke associate head; filled after Fall 2024 season retirement) San Francisco - Pinder Nijjar (interim; 9/17) Oregon State - Caroline Kelly (OSU interim; 11/13) Wisconsin Green Bay - Matt Kagan (Washington State assistant; 11/4-11/29) Oregon - Tracy Joyner (UC Davis head; 10/29-12/2) Kansas State - Colleen Corbin (SLU associate head; 10/28-12/2) Auburn - James Armstrong (Miss St head; retirement 11/26-12/3) Mississippi State - Nick Zimmerman (Miss St associate head; 12/3-12/3) Niagara - Donny George (St. Bonaventure head - 8/27-12/4)
St. Bonaventure coach did well to grab the Niagara lifeline and jump off the sinking Bonnies ship........5-21-9 (A-10 3-13-4) across his two years at SBU....the more things change the more they stay the same.....
Doesn't have an A License. Not even a B. Doesn't have a winning record at previous stop or recent success of any kind in the hiring announcement. What be does appear to have is proximity, familiarity, and a winning complexion and, meets be honest, a lot of times that's all it apparently takes to get a college head coaching job. Ain't that the truth.
Just because something doesn't guarantee success doesn't mean it has no bearing. Following that logic, we could debate whether one's success at School A is relevant at School B. They're all pieces to the puzzle, not the whole thing. It is pretty funny though to read on a forum that's constantly talking about a coach's qualifications--I've read the phrase 'the most qualified should get the job, period " enough times to make me want to puke--that one's education "has no bearing on success." Let's pick a lane.
A license by itself isn't a guarantee that someone is a good coach. But it is an indicator of effort in that direction. Which is generally a good thing. The larger truth is your actual soccer coaching ability is only a small part of what a person needs to be successful as a college head coach as so much of the job is administration, budgeting, managing people and expectations not only down but also up the department hierarchy. There are more than a few head coaches (even some at large very successful programs) who do very little of the actual coaching, but have assistants who run that piece of things. There are others where the head coach does almost all of the actual coaching and assistants do other things. Most fall somewhere in between. Hard thing to gauge about a program from the outside. To extend the point, soccer coaching ability is almost completely irrelevant in the hiring process itself. Very few athletic directors/search committees have any relevant expertise or ask for any evidence from candidates to judge the actual on field work beyond the wins and losses.
Let me guess, you have no license. College degrees are part of qualification requirements for many jobs. They are required for college coaching jobs. Coaching licenses are also part of minimum qualifications at some universities.
My point exactly. It is definitely one of the numerous qualifications that should be considered. Why others are so hyperfocused on arguing against the straw man they've built is completely beyond me. ...which was addressed. They're lacking. Do you have a point or are you just arguing for the sake of being argumentative again?
Some of the worst D1 and D2 coaches I've ever met in my career were literally the A and B license and Advanced national license coaches. They were teaching garbage methodology In the courses, then I looked at how their college teams were doing, below .500 every year until they got canned. Or were former college coaches that had gotten fired, so became instructors. Having high licenses does not equate to knowledgable or good coaches In college whatsoever. I talked to Anson about this over a decade ago while working his UNC camp, after I had gotten my advanced national diploma to see if I needed to keep going and how high for licenses. He said you're already a successful college coach, that's more important than any license, just keep building your college resume with proven success, that is my advice. I took it, stopped with licenses beyond that. Teams still performing well enough I suppose, have never been canned from jobs. Just my take, but I know plenty of high licensed garbage coaches.
Heard Maryland is down to last 3, all on campus this week. Missouri St, the Interim and someone else. Should find out before next week. Sounds like they didnt get the big time candidates they were hoping for. Anyone hear anything about the top mid major jobs out there? Loyola, VCU are traditionally successful programs that should be coveted.
By the same token I know plenty of no licensed garbage coaches. Taking the time to learn from others is always a positive. Getting their licenses did not make them garbage coaches, and the USSF courses do not teach garbage methodology. As we say to players, go learn from a variety of coaches and take something from everyone. Throw out what does not suit your game. Same with education. I find those who crap on licenses are the lazy coaches who do not want to take the time to do it.
Or pay the extortionate fees for a coaching methodology that most coaches don’t use even the ones with licenses.
It seems a much more productive discussion would be about why there is such a high level of turnover among DI women's college coaches.
How would you know about the methodology if you do not take the courses? Your employer (club or college) would likely pay some or all of it.
College ADs paying for it is minimal especially if you are at a mid major. The power schools yes no problem. They even get their convention attendance paid for.
Just my two cents - I was at mid-majors for a long time, and every convention and any license I pursued while there was paid for by the university. In terms of the conversation about why such a big turnover for D1 W. Soccer coaches, as in most cases, it is never a single issue. I think it can be a mixture of unrealistic expectations from AD's, AD's who want a coach who won't cause any issues or ask any questions, lack of support for the program, career goals or a change in career goals AND the fact that D1 is a mess right now, it has gone from a transformational job to a transactional job - and for many D1 coaches who are making between $50,000-$70,000, it just isn't worth it. I know there are many other variables to consider.
With finals week coming up at a lot of schools next week any hires close? Also, is it too soon for 2025 hot seat to put Kansas state on there?