Coaching Merry Go Round

Most articles that I write, are about rating teams or coaches, but today I just wanted to talk about coaching changes.......Now that Wilkinson is in the recruiting window and all jobs have been filled, it's interesting to see all of the changes in D-2. More importantly I think it's more interesting why a lot of coaching changes happen. Some big name programs in D-2 have new big name coaches. There are also a lot of quality coaches moving up to D-2, as well as coaches from D-1A and D1-AA moving down.

I wanted to bring you the Anatomy of a Coaching Change.

1. Moving up-

The most popular reason for taking a D-2 job is wanting to move up in competition. Not talking down to the competition in D-3 but some coaches want more of a hands-on approach to their team. The only way to do that is to use the advanced coaching settings. A lot of new coaches to GD only play one year at D-3 and move up immediately to D-2 like Mikerich823 at Fayetteville State and Mikeyoyoma at Lock Haven. Some coaches are in D-3 for a few years and have finally decided to move up like bss007 at Clark Atlanta. I didn't mention all of the new coaches to D-2 but good luck to you all.......except if you play me.

2. Exit Stage Left -

Another reason for coaching movement is poaching. My definition of poaching is a coach leaving a good program in D-2 for a better program in D-2. There are several elite schools in D-2 and the rest are trying to break into that level. The problem is the game rewards the best teams with the best recruits which turn into the best players which turn those teams into the best teams.......rinse and repeat. There is a reason St. Joseph's, Humboldt State, and Valdosta State are not available in every world. This off season, I'm guilty of being a poacher. I had a perineal playoff team at Tuskegee but I saw a chance to coach a top program at Henderson State and I didn't hesitate. Another example is PrinceGibson. He left a successful team he built up at Ashland for playoff team Northwood.

3. Safe landing-

One more reason I think some coaches leave is the grind of D-1A and D-1AA jobs is for a safe landing and for less pressure after some tough times in D-1A or D-1AA. More often than not, they're taking good jobs expecting to perform well and are not here to rebuild after coming down to D-2. Coach coejds left Ole Miss for D-2 powerhouse Stonehill College. Coach tv31557 left Clemson University for the comforts of Findlay University. It will be interesting if these coaches will easily make the transition or will the competition bore them.

4. IDK what happened! -

Finally, there are some coaching changes that no one will understand other than the coach and no one will ever know. Last year, when bigpoppa85 took Humboldt State, I thought he was there for the long haul because Humboldt State is one of the premiere recruiting spots in D-2. However, this off season bigpoppa85 took his talents to Ohio.....at Ashland. Starfinder77 left the comforts of a better team at Cheyney which was a lateral move to Kentucky State to play Alphaflight for the right to get washed by Gator06 in the SIAC Conference Title game

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In conclusion, whatever the reason a coach has changed schools, we’re glad to have you here at the D-2 level in Wilkinson.