Great question. Yes, they both play NEC teams, with the Ivy playing the most (by a lot) of the two. But as weak as the NEC is, SWAC is a lot weaker. On average since 2010, the difference between NEC teams' actual winning percentage and expected winning percentage based on the NCAA RPI, in non-conference games, is -1.9%. For SWAC, it is -6.8%. Just for fun, so you can see how all the conferences stack up in terms of non-conference game actual winning percentage compared to expected based on the NCAA RPI, here is how they come out. You can see to some extent how SWAC being in the south "trickles up" in terms of a lot of southern teams being overrated (but not the ACC, SEC, and Big 12 teams). Southwestern -6.8% MetroAtlantic -3.9% Southland -3.8% BigSouth -3.5% Southern -3.5% SunBelt -2.5% AtlanticSun -1.9% Northeast -1.9% AmericaEast -1.8% Ivy -1.5% OhioValley -1.3% Horizon -1.0% WAC -0.7% MissouriValley -0.6% MidAmerican -0.3% Patriot -0.1% ConferenceUSA 0.0% MountainWest 0.0% Summit 0.2% AtlanticTen 0.4% Colonial 0.6% BigSky 0.9% BigEast 1.5% American 2.0% WestCoast 2.5% BigWest 2.5% BigTwelve 2.5% PacTwelve 3.4% SEC 3.7% ACC 4.4% BigTen 4.9%
OPEN: Sacramento State (12/19) Southern Utah (1/??) St. Bonaventure (1/28) Arkansas Pine Bluff (1/??)~ Xavier (2/12) FILLED: Bellarmine - Steve Bornhoffer (Northern Kentucky assistant; ??/??-7/22) Central Arkansas - Derek Nichols (Central Arkansas associate head - 7/28) Long Island - Jim O’Brien (Mitchell College head; 7/11-8/6) Arkansas Pine Bluff - Emanuel Stephens (club coach; ??/??-8/7) UNC Charlotte - Sinead Byrne (INTERIM; April 2025-10/17) Northern Iowa - Alex Place Thomas (UNI interim, former Wartburg assistant and HS coach; INTERIM 6/20-11/10) New Mexico - Karley Nelson (UNM associate head; 11/5-11/12) McNeese State - Alexsis Cable (North Texas assistant; [2025 INTERIM] 6/17-11/20) Texas - Margueritte Bates (UCLA head; 11/24-11/25) Louisiana Tech - Matt Lodge (Murray State head; 11/10-11/25) Ole Miss - Todd Shulenberger (Washington State head; 11/10-12/1) Drexel - Shannon Grogan (Stony Brook associate head; retirement 10/28-12/3) USC Upstate - Sam Odell (Shepherd head; INTERIM 9/30-12/4) Southern Miss - Danny Owens (William Carey head; 11/5-12/5) Florida - Nick Zimmerman (Miss State head; 11/12-12/5) Mississippi State - Kevin O’Brien (Lipscomb head; 12/5-12/7) Texas A&M - Bobby Shuttleworth (Florida State associate head; retirement 10/28-12/9) Central Michigan - James DeCosemo (Western Michigan assistant; 11/3-12/10) UNLV - Kacey Bingham (Western Oregon head; 11/4-12/10) Akron - Maggie Kuhn (Akron assistant; INTERIM-12/11) Troy - Jake Wyman (Montevallo head; 10/30-12/11) UCLA - Gof Boyoko (UCLA associate head; 11/24-12/12) Washington State - Chris Citowicki (Montana head; 12/1-12/12) St. Thomas - Gretta MacDonald (St. Cloud State head; 10/27-12/17) American - Phil Casella (Wagner head; 11/10-12/19) Old Dominion - Will Roberts (Louisiana Monroe head; 12/3-12/22) Nevada - Jeremy Evans (Lake Tahoe CC head; 12/4-12/22) Murray State - Ben Madsen (Auburn assistant; 11/25-12/23) Lipscomb - Dr. Kathleen Paulsen (John Brown head; 12/7-12/23) Fresno State - Gabriel Bolton (Stanislaus State head; 11/18-12/24) Le Moyne - Taylor Van Fleet (Binghamton assistant; 11/17-1/8) Louisiana Monroe - Antony Blackburn (LSU assistant; 12/22-1/17) Michigan - Dave Dilanni (Iowa head; 1/8-1/27) UTRGV - Nataki Stewart (Uni of St. Thomas head; 1/6-2/4) Wagner - Fred King (Penn assistant; 12/18-2/6) Montana - Stuart Gore (former Troy head; 12/12-2/10) Iowa - Dean Ward (Xavier head; 1/27-2/12) ~ I don't usually like to post "unverified" postings, but with the reputation of this program/department, plus additional information, it seems legitimate.
Coach clearly did well at X but was that him or the combanation of his ability and what was left behind by previous staff? Too early to tell probably. But no matter, he got a big advancement because of it.
definitely what was left behind for him. Same as how the Creighton coach rode the coattails of Matt Fannon.
Had success at his two HC positions but both were coaching inherited success and both were short stints. Has never built anything of his own but smart strategy to parlay it to P4....fake it til you make it.
Stuff like this is just silly. Why does Jimmy need to be brought into the discussion? Jimmy has a respectable coaching career with plenty of successes at all his stops. He was able to navigate BGSU through a miserable COVID year while having a minuscule difference in overall winning percentage. Really, isn’t even necessary to discuss this on the coaching move for Dean.
Comments about Dean Ward are unfounded at best. I know a player well that was just at Xavier and really enjoyed her time there. Several good players left as he arrived and he scrambled to keep the quality of that team very high. Cranked up the schedule by adding some P4 away games and then smashed through the Big East Tournament without allowing a goal and won an NCAA Game. Beat Georgetown in the BE Final 2-0 after losing 4-0 a couple weeks earlier. A 6 goal difference against Georgetown in a couple weeks?? They were notably better in year 2 with a tougher schedule. Lets not let any facts get in the way of some crap comments here...
What did I say that is false? Had success at his two HC positions? Coached inherited successful programs? Both HC jobs were short lived? And all this led him to the P4? It's all true and I never said anything about him as a coach. He obviously can coach and I reiterate he won everywhere he's been. But even if he did tweak here/there, that is not building a successful program. It just isn't.
wouldn’t you say he’s walking into a similar situation at Iowa? Not a program in need of building like an Indiana or Maryland, much more inheriting a good situation. I agree with your premise though, in general.
I know this is D1 but I saw this yesterday: Ray Goon has left retirement to go coach D3 Drew University in Madison, NJ.
OPEN: Sacramento State (12/19) Southern Utah (1/??) St. Bonaventure (1/28) Arkansas Pine Bluff (1/??)~ Hampton (2/11) Xavier (2/12) FILLED: Bellarmine - Steve Bornhoffer (Northern Kentucky assistant; ??/??-7/22) Central Arkansas - Derek Nichols (Central Arkansas associate head - 7/28) Long Island - Jim O’Brien (Mitchell College head; 7/11-8/6) Arkansas Pine Bluff - Emanuel Stephens (club coach; ??/??-8/7) UNC Charlotte - Sinead Byrne (INTERIM; April 2025-10/17) Northern Iowa - Alex Place Thomas (UNI interim, former Wartburg assistant and HS coach; INTERIM 6/20-11/10) New Mexico - Karley Nelson (UNM associate head; 11/5-11/12) McNeese State - Alexsis Cable (North Texas assistant; [2025 INTERIM] 6/17-11/20) Texas - Margueritte Bates (UCLA head; 11/24-11/25) Louisiana Tech - Matt Lodge (Murray State head; 11/10-11/25) Ole Miss - Todd Shulenberger (Washington State head; 11/10-12/1) Drexel - Shannon Grogan (Stony Brook associate head; retirement 10/28-12/3) USC Upstate - Sam Odell (Shepherd head; INTERIM 9/30-12/4) Southern Miss - Danny Owens (William Carey head; 11/5-12/5) Florida - Nick Zimmerman (Miss State head; 11/12-12/5) Mississippi State - Kevin O’Brien (Lipscomb head; 12/5-12/7) Texas A&M - Bobby Shuttleworth (Florida State associate head; retirement 10/28-12/9) Central Michigan - James DeCosemo (Western Michigan assistant; 11/3-12/10) UNLV - Kacey Bingham (Western Oregon head; 11/4-12/10) Akron - Maggie Kuhn (Akron assistant; INTERIM-12/11) Troy - Jake Wyman (Montevallo head; 10/30-12/11) UCLA - Gof Boyoko (UCLA associate head; 11/24-12/12) Washington State - Chris Citowicki (Montana head; 12/1-12/12) St. Thomas - Gretta MacDonald (St. Cloud State head; 10/27-12/17) American - Phil Casella (Wagner head; 11/10-12/19) Old Dominion - Will Roberts (Louisiana Monroe head; 12/3-12/22) Nevada - Jeremy Evans (Lake Tahoe CC head; 12/4-12/22) Murray State - Ben Madsen (Auburn assistant; 11/25-12/23) Lipscomb - Dr. Kathleen Paulsen (John Brown head; 12/7-12/23) Fresno State - Gabriel Bolton (Stanislaus State head; 11/18-12/24) Le Moyne - Taylor Van Fleet (Binghamton assistant; 11/17-1/8) Louisiana Monroe - Antony Blackburn (LSU assistant; 12/22-1/17) Michigan - Dave Dilanni (Iowa head; 1/8-1/27) UTRGV - Nataki Stewart (Uni of St. Thomas head; 1/6-2/4) Wagner - Fred King (Penn assistant; 12/18-2/6) Montana - Stuart Gore (former Troy head; 12/12-2/10) Iowa - Dean Ward (Xavier head; 1/27-2/12) ~ I don't usually like to post "unverified" postings, but with the reputation of this program/department, plus additional information, it seems legitimate.
I can see the present KU asst who was at Xavier as well get his chance as a HC at Xavier. He has done well and is a very good coach and recruiter.
St. Bonaventure has had 1 on campus interview a former head coach that would be a solid pick up for the Bonnie's. Other 2 one is female the other a male. RL would do well there.
He has tried for some other football four HC jobs recently without getting them. I would think the in house Associate HC would be a strong candidate. for TS, it’s more complicated because he left.
This would have been the Associate HC at Saint Louis not the HC. Their HC has turned down much interests from football four programs over the years. She isn’t leaving. Their previous Associate HC took a football four HC position. Their also have a strong budget there to go with their success. It’s a much different and better situation than most non football programs.
This doesn’t mean much, but the associate was out recruiting in ECNL this weekend at my grand daughter’s field. New Iowa coach was out by himself as well
Some new head coaches wouldn’t immediately go to a showcase upon getting hired. Not surprised that Dean took advantage of the timing and opportunity to hit the ground running. Dean hasn’t had time yet to announce his staff. So he had to go alone. Which Associate Head Coach? I am assuming you mean Tyler was out recruiting for KU. Tiffany would be a good choice for X. She spent a decade coaching in Ohio after her playing career there. Then she had success at 3 football four schools. Very good recruiter. It’s tricky for a few reasons. Are the relationships good between the KU staff and X? Would connections with Nate help, hurt or be neutral? And would they want to leave the comfort of the resources they have now? How bad do they want to be a head coach? Katy makes the most sense to me because she is already there. She is popular with the team. Experience working with Nate, Dean, and Josh at IU when he was at Ball State. She is essentially a state of Ohio lifer too. She would also be more likely to stay awhile than some others who would likely use it as a springboard in a few years.
With commitments to iowa flipping - 3 to Michigan, 1 to Purdue and 1 to LSU- I would be grinding too. Better not let the level drop at year 1.
Etelman official at X - https://goxavier.com/news/2026/2/17...romoted-to-head-coach-of-xavier-womens-soccer
OPEN: Sacramento State (12/19) Southern Utah (1/??) St. Bonaventure (1/28) Arkansas Pine Bluff (1/??)~ Hampton (2/11) FILLED: Bellarmine - Steve Bornhoffer (Northern Kentucky assistant; ??/??-7/22) Central Arkansas - Derek Nichols (Central Arkansas associate head - 7/28) Long Island - Jim O’Brien (Mitchell College head; 7/11-8/6) Arkansas Pine Bluff - Emanuel Stephens (club coach; ??/??-8/7) UNC Charlotte - Sinead Byrne (INTERIM; April 2025-10/17) Northern Iowa - Alex Place Thomas (UNI interim, former Wartburg assistant and HS coach; INTERIM 6/20-11/10) New Mexico - Karley Nelson (UNM associate head; 11/5-11/12) McNeese State - Alexsis Cable (North Texas assistant; [2025 INTERIM] 6/17-11/20) Texas - Margueritte Bates (UCLA head; 11/24-11/25) Louisiana Tech - Matt Lodge (Murray State head; 11/10-11/25) Ole Miss - Todd Shulenberger (Washington State head; 11/10-12/1) Drexel - Shannon Grogan (Stony Brook associate head; retirement 10/28-12/3) USC Upstate - Sam Odell (Shepherd head; INTERIM 9/30-12/4) Southern Miss - Danny Owens (William Carey head; 11/5-12/5) Florida - Nick Zimmerman (Miss State head; 11/12-12/5) Mississippi State - Kevin O’Brien (Lipscomb head; 12/5-12/7) Texas A&M - Bobby Shuttleworth (Florida State associate head; retirement 10/28-12/9) Central Michigan - James DeCosemo (Western Michigan assistant; 11/3-12/10) UNLV - Kacey Bingham (Western Oregon head; 11/4-12/10) Akron - Maggie Kuhn (Akron assistant; INTERIM-12/11) Troy - Jake Wyman (Montevallo head; 10/30-12/11) UCLA - Gof Boyoko (UCLA associate head; 11/24-12/12) Washington State - Chris Citowicki (Montana head; 12/1-12/12) St. Thomas - Gretta MacDonald (St. Cloud State head; 10/27-12/17) American - Phil Casella (Wagner head; 11/10-12/19) Old Dominion - Will Roberts (Louisiana Monroe head; 12/3-12/22) Nevada - Jeremy Evans (Lake Tahoe CC head; 12/4-12/22) Murray State - Ben Madsen (Auburn assistant; 11/25-12/23) Lipscomb - Dr. Kathleen Paulsen (John Brown head; 12/7-12/23) Fresno State - Gabriel Bolton (Stanislaus State head; 11/18-12/24) Le Moyne - Taylor Van Fleet (Binghamton assistant; 11/17-1/8) Louisiana Monroe - Antony Blackburn (LSU assistant; 12/22-1/17) Michigan - Dave Dilanni (Iowa head; 1/8-1/27) UTRGV - Nataki Stewart (Uni of St. Thomas head; 1/6-2/4) Wagner - Fred King (Penn assistant; 12/18-2/6) Montana - Stuart Gore (former Troy head; 12/12-2/10) Iowa - Dean Ward (Xavier head; 1/27-2/12) Xavier - Katy Etelman (Xavier associate head; 2/12-2/17) ~ I don't usually like to post "unverified" postings, but with the reputation of this program/department, plus additional information, it seems legitimate.