Men's soccer
Caleb Porter has spent two years continuing to build Akron's soccer program.
The university rewarded him this week with a two-year contract extension that will last until 2011.
During Porter's tenure, Akron has the best winning percentage in the nation. The Zips finished No. 10 in RPI last season. Moreover, the recruiting has been phenomenal.
Mack Rhoades should not have extended Porter's contract. Rather, Rhoades should have found a sturdy pair of shackles to keep Porter tied to Lee Jackson Field.
Women's basketball
Jodi Kest reeled in the nation's 59th best recruiting class, an expert says.
This comes in the aftermath of a large portion of the team being kicked off the roster.
To be honest (and I want to stay as far from Don Imus territory as possible), the women's basketball players who I saw around campus were, categorically, the rowdiest team on campus. Aside from Sarah Tokodi, who seemed nice, Kest probably achieved addition by subtraction.
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The sturdies pair of shackles that Mack can give Caleb is a commitment to the soccer program. Find money to give a nationally ranked team a world class soccer complex. Build a new soccer stadium.
I agree. Problem is, it won't prevent a big school from coming by with an offer that doubles Porter's contract. Here's what Akron does have going for it in keeping Porter: Lolla hasn't been doing so great at Louisville, which might indicate that it's a great program, not a great string of coaches. (I don't believe that, but that fact should instill some skepticism.)
A similar circumstance happened, IMO, with KSU's basketball coaches. Heath and Waters did very little in BCS schools. That made Jim Christian less appealing. It was the program, not the coaches, they probably believed.
As Gonzaga is to college basketball and as Wichita State is to college baseball Akron is becoming to college soccer.
P.s. And KD is turning Akron basketball into the next Gonzaga! It's good to be a Zip!
Don't pull the key to those shackles out yet, Razor. I haven't read that SMU has hired a new coach yet!
Mike,
As far as the WBB program and the players who were "kicked-off", or left under friendly fire — whatever the case may be: Take a look at who recruited most of those players. Coach Kest is the one responsible for the subtraction. She has subtracted my interest from her team.