Football
Coach J.D. Brookhart does not need my support, but I feel it is necessary to explain my opinions to rebut his critics.
To clarify, I am a critic, too. I think the personnel decisions and defensive scheme are major problems. However, here are 10 reasons to keep him for 2009 (in reverse order of importance).
- The list…
10) Fixing problems — When Brookhart identifies a problem, he fixes it. The special teams were atrocious in 2006. Brookhart took over, and it became an asset. Team discipline was embarrassing. Brookhart told several players to leave the program, and it seemed to trigger a culture change. The defense has been a glaring problem, and that is why Rhoades should demand changes. Brookhart has the ability to effect change.
9) Losing recruits — Akron only has a handful of 2009 commitments as of today, but the Zips coaches have put in hours upon hours of visits and phone calls. You axe Brookhart, and that money and time has been wasted. Many of Akron's current verbal commitments will decommit. Those on the fence will lean the opposite direction.
8 ) Transfers — On top of a wealth of recruiting coups, Brookhart has lured a lot of talented transfers. For example, Ryan Bain would have made a big difference this season. Akron might not miss a step next season at running back with Dale Martin from Louisville. Before his injury, Andrew Johnson was a stud. Luke Getsy won the Zips a MAC Championship. The list goes on.
7) The prospects of finding a desirable replacement — Bowling Green and Miami fired their coaches. Tom Amstutz is out at Toledo. Buffalo's Turner Gill will move up soon. There are three hot coaching candidates in the MAC West, who could find themselves at BCS conferences soon, too. That means there are potentially seven coaching vacancies in the MAC alone. Akron would be competing with each. And save the "new stadium" rhetoric for someone who cares. A new coach would mostly care about the dollar figure. At Akron, coaching salaries typically lag behind other MAC teams.
6) The cost of finding a replacement — It costs $150,000 to find a replacement, according to Mack Rhoades. With Northeast Ohio's economy so crummy, can anyone justify that for a team that loses millions of dollars per year — win or lose?
5) The cost of paying the rest of Brookhart's contract — He makes $180,000 a year. He has two years remaining on his contract. Akron would have to swallow an additional $360,000 to hire a new coach.
4) MAC Championship — There are 13 teams in the MAC. Only one wins the conference championship every year. Brookhart did that in 2005 — just three seasons ago. You can say it was a fluke or that he did it with Lee Owens' recruits. Conceding that, it was still further than Akron had ever reached.
3) Recruiting — How quickly we forget that Akron has consistently reeled in recruiting classes at the top of the conference. Sure, the first couple classes had low retention rates, but the recent ones have been superb. For the next two years, you will witness Akron's depth on both lines, in the secondary, at receiver and running back. The Zips will be good. Believe that. Are you willing to rely on another recruiter to achieve that level?
2) New stadium — Next season is extremely important. The Zips must be successful to fully capitalize off InfoCision Stadium and build a fanbase. There are always exceptions to this rule, but generally, new coaches require time for adjustment.
1) Rivalry games — Brookhart has beaten Kent State four out of five times. Enough said.
Men's basketball
Akron lost 69-57 to Eastern Kentucky tonight.
As I expected, the more experienced Colonels took advantage Akron. The Zips lost the rebounding battle, 32-22. They committed 18 turnovers.
The most impressive stat of the night was attendance: 148. Can someone please explain the purpose of participating in this bush league tournament where you play at some neutral floor in New Jersey in front of friends and family?
Men's soccer
Keep in mind, the Zips play at 2 p.m. today.
I have a feeling that a win will bring the action back to Lee Jackson Field. The NCAA heard Zips fans loud and clear.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Some of your arguments for Brookhart are compelling, but some of them could also be reasons to fire him.
10 – It's a constant battle against problems, and despite being on the job for a long time, problems that should have been taken care of long ago, continue to crop up.
9 – That's way too many recruits to lose. Seems to me that a lot of money and hours have already been wasted on guys who will never play for the Zips. That sort of inefficiency kills.
8 – That's great, except that a program shouldn't live on its transfers. Most of the talent should come in the form of recruits out of high school and then nurtured through the system. Transfers should enhance and be used to fill gaps.
7 – It doesn't mean a suitable replacement can't be found, or that a search shouldn't be conducted. That's like saying my wife cheats on me, but I can't find anyone better, so I'll just stick with her.
6 – You're saving dimes and losing dollars. A winning program will make money, especially with the prospect of pulling more fans into the new stadium.
5 – See #6.
4 – Unfortunately, this is a, "what have you done for me lately?" sort of business. How many has he won since 2005? How close has he even been to winning one? What's his overall record been since then?
3 – So, if these recruits are so fantastic, why hasn't the success been there? Sounds to me like the talent's being wasted. That's a matter of coaching. And if it's not that, then is the talent he's recruiting really all that superior? I'd also suggest more emphasis on recruiting local talent. You can only get so excited about a mediocre recruit from NJ or DC.
2 – The new stadium will draw fans at first, but a winning program will keep them there. If Akron continues to play "Brookhart Ball" then you'll see the fan numbers dwindle. You may as well start fresh.
1 – You got me there. It's always a good thing to beat Kent State.
i wouldn't consider beating can't state too big a feather in your cap seeing as how can't has a complete lunatic for a HC
and the year (2005) jd won the mac he did so with a medicore 7-6 record (6-2) in the mac
just not convinced this guys right, his stubborn refusal to play rodgers…his crappy defensive scheme…
i see stupid mistakes and questionable in game decisions as further evidence a change may be needed
Brookhart seems loyal to certain mediocre players….to a FAULT. It's about the team WINNING, not pacifying the feelings of a QB (whether Getsy as a senior, or Jacq this past game).
UA has proven at times this year that it has the talent/ability to compete with the big boys (Cincy, Ball St., Buffalo)…but always comes up short. It's been the same deal for years under J.D. Take away that truly-miracle catch at KSU, and we're 4-8 again.
I really don't know how anyone can defend the Zips' performance since 2005 (and even that year was totally flukey). The case built above is sorta like a house of cards. Did the players quit this year, or is the talent not good. And either way, how is that GOOD for Brookhart?
If Bowling Green can fire Greg Brandon with a 44-30(31-17MAC) record what does that say about the level that program wants to achieve? Recruiting will be hurt more this year and next with Brookhart staying,because prospective recruits know he only has two contract years. And given the last three seasons,recruits also know that it is quite possible Brookhart won't be around when they are ready to play. A new coach may not want them. That causes problems for years to come. Perversely, assuming Brookhart stays,they almost have to extend him.
I'm disappointed in the Zips finish this year and in the football team's record since 2005, but I'd keep JD one more year at least. I hate to switch coaches on the eve of opening the ICS, and the team showed flashes of being good this year. Anything less then 7-5 next year and he should be fired. Hopefully JD will take over the defense and do for it what he did for the special teams this year (up until the last 2 games). Plus eating JD's contract for 1 year is not nearly as bad as having to eat the remaining 2 years.
7-5? Why settle for mediocrity? And why worry about eating his contract. That's just good money after bad, and that doesn't make much sense. Make the break now. Make it clean. Start fresh.
J.D. is a great coach but struggles with trying to recruit to Akron. Really, with all the choices, why would a kid want to go there?
You can't have a winning year all the time. He's got great instincts and has proven that and he's a good recruiter. Getting rid of him would be foolish.
Marybeth….are you serious?
I think the most important point is Rasor's #2. We don't want to be starting over while moving into a new stadium and trying to attract an abundance of new or past "casual" fans.
Also, a lot of the recruited talent is still young and on the offensive side of the ball. The offense was not bad this year at all but is was inconsistent. That can be attributed to things like youth and injuries as much as it can to coaching.
The defense is a different story. If the coaching staff sees any changes it should be on the defensive end of things. Scrapping a lot of the defensive scheme from this year wouldn't be a terrible thing. The players have good talent but are not put in a position to succeed as often as they should be. Their use by the defensive coaches has been questionable in my opinion.
I say keep Brookhart who is a very good offensive and special teams first type of coach but maybe make some adjustments in the coaching staff on the defensive side of the ball. At least, though, if the defense remains to be the team's main problem the games will be entertaining high scoring shootouts which will put more fans in the seats than 14-7 type games do.
This team may or may not win more games next year than they have in quite a while but the potential is there for a successful season. This is only true if you are not "starting over" with a new man in charge.
If there's ever been a good time for a change it is when you're moving into a new stadium. The newness of everything will guarantee fans for at least two seasons, regardless of record. That's a two year grace period for a new coach, if he needs it. It is, however, not true that a new man in charge means a losing season. If the talent is as good as everyone claims, then a better coach will figure out how to get out of them what Brookhart can't seem to fathom.
Yes I'm serious. Overall, he's improved the team, recruited as well as can be expected for Akron. Don't forget all the early season injuries. He's got great instincts and intensity.
JD has something that "stinks"….but I don't think you call that "instincts"
Mark is right. New stadium draws good coaches. Brookhart either can't recruit or can't coach. Since he started playing with most of his own cards and not someone else's he has been a loser. 2005 was last winning season. He still had mostly Owen's kids. We saw what Getsy was all about when Hixon and some of those guys left after 2005. Hixon and Blackburn have a Super Bowl ring. Those were not Brookhart's guys.
I say keep JD and put the $360k that would have been burned on firing him towards better drainage on Lee Jackson field so that we can keep a winning football (soccer) team on campus in November.
Marybeth is obviously a family member of friend.
Like Rasor pointed out though, JD usually does a good job of fixing problems from one year to another. Furthermore, when JD was in charge of the offense it was good, when he was in charge of special teams they were good. He is an excellent recruiter as most of you seem to agree by saying there is a lot of talent in the program.
That tells me some changes may need made but to the assistants. The defensive scheme may need to be rethought but that screams new or reassigned members of the coaching staff as well, not necessarily changing the head guy.
Yes, Marybeth must be a friend or family member. As for making changes, he's had plenty of time to make the necessary changes. The same problems keep cropping up. The fact is, this team plays down to its competition, and rarely is prepared for important, must-win games. It is time for a change, and hopefully a step up in quality.
Wrong, but I can see why you might think that. Just a very long-time Akron fan who thinks this team and coach have potential. Needs more time, needs a team to mature.