FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[emma17]

I have no doubt Jace is a special coach and for all I know he has a great plan for the offense. That said, LL also wanted to bring Coach Bullis with him. LL wasn’t bringing Jace and Bullis because of their head coaching or offensive coaching prowess, but their roles as assistant defensive coaches.
The concern I have for Jace as head coach is the existing OC. I’d imagine they are friends as well as coaching comrades, putting Jace in a really difficult position to make a change.

Our OC has had one year. He's a good coach. Last year our offense wasn't as productive as any of us would have liked. There were some challenges that we didn't do a good enough job overcoming.  But that doesn't mean we need to change coaches. All three HC candidates know this staff.  Just my opinion, but I don't think any of the candidates would make any staff changes. These guys are really good coaches.

2007. OC was first year. National championship. 31 pts in Stagg.
2010. OC was first year. National championship. 31 pts in Stagg.
2013. OC was first year. National championship. 52 pts in Stagg.

2022. OC first year. Lost first round playoff game. 4th in conference in yards and points scored. UWW QB led WIAC in interceptions. One offensive player on All American 4-deep team.

Yes, this was his first year. However, I can’t think of a single thing he did that looked any different or better than the two previous OC’s hired by Bullis.

[The Third Division]

Three finalists, all with UW-W ties.

Where can one find them?

I don't know. I guess here:

Jace Rindahl
Rob Erickson
Marcus McLin

Let's assume these are the finalists:

Jace Rindahl
https://twitter.com/CoachRindahl
https://uwwsports.com/staff-directory/jace-rindahl/147

Rob Erickson
https://twitter.com/coache_jacks?lang=en
https://gojacks.com/staff-directory/rob-erickson/1383

Marcus McLin
https://twitter.com/CoachMcLin
https://bsubeavers.com/staff-directory/marcus-mclin/393

There was a 4th candidate who withdrew.
Jeff Thorne
https://twitter.com/CoachJeffThorne
https://wmubroncos.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/jeff-thorne/4501

What did he do instead?
https://twitter.com/Go_Rout/status/1618640938565246981
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Things that I took away from everyone's resume

Jace Rindahl:

1. Only finalist on the current UWW coaching staff. (interim head coach).
2. Since graduating from UWW in '08, has spent all but 2 years coaching some team besides UWW.
3. The only finalist with coaching experience under Lance Leipold.


Marcus McLin

1. If selected, he would represent the vast minority of #d3fb coaches who are African-American.
2. He is the youngest of the 3 finalists having last played football in UWW's 2014 championship team.
3. Only one year coordinating a college teams entire offense or defense. Defense in this case.

Rob Erickson

Things to note about Rob Erickson

1. Only finalist who did not play for UW-Whitewater Football.
2. Oldest finalist (last played for UW-Platteville in '99)
3. Was also a finalist for the job after Lance Leipold left.
4. Has most coaching experience (15 years).
---------------------------------------------------------------

What does everyone have in common?

1. Almost exclusively defensive coaching experience
2. Everyone has been involved at UWW.
3. With the exception of Jace Rindahl being a linebacker, the other two were defensive backs.

Something to note. if Rob Erickson was a finalist who wasn't selected for this position 8 years ago, what would have been different if he was selected and what will be different if he is selected? All I know is that we had a different athletic director back then.

Also, many were hoping for an external hire which is what we aren't getting apparently.

[02 Warhawk]

What do we consider an external hire? I mean among those finalist, only one is currently a member of the UWW coaching staff. Since the other two finalists coached for UWW recently they are considered internal candidates?

Lance was an external hire. He spent numerous years coaching for UWW before moving on, just to get hired back 17 years later as head coach.

[bleedpurple]

Looks like Lew is turning some heads!

https://twitter.com/evanlew10/status/1620202641556127744?s=20&t=0unQB5-Ohx8uMVXBZIbIPg

[colinsteinke]

What do we consider an external hire? I mean among those finalist, only one is currently a member of the UWW coaching staff. Since the other two finalists coached for UWW recently they are considered internal candidates?

Lance was an external hire. He spent numerous years coaching for UWW before moving on, just to get hired back 17 years later as head coach.

Good point. We have two external candidates with ties to UWW, which isn't unexpected. A good chunk of UWWs head coaches played at UWW; Erickson's ties are just that he was on Bullis' staff. Knowing the place and having a connection to it is important, especially at the D3 level where you're doing this for more than just money. I was just underwhelmed at that list.

We did have a different AD back when we hired Bullis. I don't know that much would have been different with Erickson instead of Bullis, but maybe.

[emma17]

Pat posted the following on the OAC board regarding Thorne dropping from the UWW prospect pool and taking the sales job, I think his opinion is right on:

It's interesting -- that move read to me as a good way to bide some time for another D-I opportunity. I do agree that Bullis didn't really get paid a ton, but for him there were also benefits to staying in the Wisconsin State system for pension purposes.

[USee]

Pat posted the following on the OAC board regarding Thorne dropping from the UWW prospect pool and taking the sales job, I think his opinion is right on:

It's interesting -- that move read to me as a good way to bide some time for another D-I opportunity. I do agree that Bullis didn't really get paid a ton, but for him there were also benefits to staying in the Wisconsin State system for pension purposes.

I think Thorne has a daughter who has a year left in High School so I suspect he wanted to be around her (after living in Michigan). His son is also the starting QB at Mich State and not coaching will allow him to see him play as well. I agree it's temporary.

[emma17]

Pat posted the following on the OAC board regarding Thorne dropping from the UWW prospect pool and taking the sales job, I think his opinion is right on:

It's interesting -- that move read to me as a good way to bide some time for another D-I opportunity. I do agree that Bullis didn't really get paid a ton, but for him there were also benefits to staying in the Wisconsin State system for pension purposes.

I think Thorne has a daughter who has a year left in High School so I suspect he wanted to be around her (after living in Michigan). His son is also the starting QB at Mich State and not coaching will allow him to see him play as well. I agree it's temporary.

Good for him to take the year off and commit to more time with his children. How exciting 2023 might be for the Thorne family.

[fredfalcon]

Who knows anything about Players coming or leaving through the transfer portal? UWRF lost a good number 2 quarterback. He left For a school in Arizona because he would have been behind Blaha for 2 more years

[badgerwarhawk]

WHITEWATER will announce our football coach on Monday.  I'm told the decision has been made and "we are in good hands." 

[The Third Division]

WHITEWATER will announce our football coach on Monday.  I'm told the decision has been made and "we are in good hands."

Pulling for Jace here. McLin lacks experience and Rob lacks Leopold.

[colinsteinke]

WHITEWATER will announce our football coach on Monday.  I'm told the decision has been made and "we are in good hands."

Pulling for Jace here. McLin lacks experience and Rob lacks Leopold.

Bingo.

[timmyturtle]

I don't think you are going to have to pull too hard...its gotta be Jace at this point. 

[colinsteinke]

I don't think you are going to have to pull too hard...its gotta be Jace at this point.

...if it's not, maybe UWW hired the wrong AD.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

https://footballscoop.com/news/sources-jace-rindahl-is-expected-to-take-over-at-d-iii-power