Who are the "best" college coaches and how do you figure that out objectively

[PennAlum]

Originally Posted by andfor

I know a guy well who played onr yr for Kreise at Clemson. As a junior he was top 25 nationally. During his freshman yr. at Clemson he barely played 6 and 3 doubles. When he got to Clemson he was an aggressive all-courter with a knack for some serve and volley. Kriese tried to make him into a grinder baseliner. His game and confidence suffered. He was miserable. He transfered his soph. year to a large mid-major, played #1, led them to their first top 75 ranking ever and was as high as top 30 in doubles and had single rankings (can't remember) all 3 of his years there. Just one players story with Kriese. Not sure if that's Kriese's M.O. all the time, he does have a good rep overall from what I know elsewise.

That is Kriese's MO. He wants everyone to play high percentage drinding tennis. He has no room for individual style and creativity and it's his way or the highway. I knew a few players under him who were great juniors but hated him. And yes, one was a S&V'er and Kriese wanted him to stay back and grind which made him miserable.

[Erman]

Originally Posted by PennAlum

That is Kriese's MO. He wants everyone to play high percentage drinding tennis. He has no room for individual style and creativity and it's his way or the highway. I knew a few players under him who were great juniors but hated him. And yes, one was a S&V'er and Kriese wanted him to stay back and grind which made him miserable.

this is great. That's what I wanted to find out and discuss. First, who do you all think are the best and then what do they do to the players or for the players to exhibit the abilities of the coach.

[andfor]

Originally Posted by PennAlum

That is Kriese's MO. He wants everyone to play high percentage drinding tennis. He has no room for individual style and creativity and it's his way or the highway. I knew a few players under him who were great juniors but hated him. And yes, one was a S&V'er and Kriese wanted him to stay back and grind which made him miserable.

I find it interesting to know more about college coaches and how the work and interact with their players. Some are more flexible, some are rigid in their methods. Sounds like in Kriese's case if you are not a high percentage baseliner you may want to look elsewhere. Could you imagine if an Isner or Milanovic played for him?

On another similar front, I also knew a very good golfer who played 2 years at Kansas. Although his scores were varsity level, because of his swing and the coach wanting him to change it, he would not let him in the varsity lineup. He transfered and had an excellent last 2 years.

I know this may not be to the OP's question. My take is that a junior player wanting to play college tennis better make sure he is a fit not just for the school and tennis program, but make sure he and the coach will be the right fit. Common sense rules here but course mistakes happen.

[Clemson_tennis]

Originally Posted by andfor

I know a guy well who played onr yr for Kreise at Clemson. As a junior he was top 25 nationally. During his freshman yr. at Clemson he barely played 6 and 3 doubles. When he got to Clemson he was an aggressive all-courter with a knack for some serve and volley. Kriese tried to make him into a grinder baseliner. His game and confidence suffered. He was miserable. He transfered his soph. year to a large mid-major, played #1, led them to their first top 75 ranking ever and was as high as top 30 in doubles and had single rankings (can't remember) all 3 of his years there. Just one players story with Kriese. Not sure if that's Kriese's M.O. all the time, he does have a good rep overall from what I know elsewise.

Let's not be shy. Name names

Kriese was stubborn in his approach to the game, but you cant argue with his results. A current player(Ill name him if you want) told me that Kriese was his favorite coach and that he was "kinda fired". McCuen was controversial appointed head coach considering several other coaches were interested in the job.

[andfor]

Originally Posted by Clemson_tennis

Let's not be shy. Name names

Kriese was stubborn in his approach to the game, but you cant argue with his results. A current player(Ill name him if you want) told me that Kriese was his favorite coach and that he was "kinda fired". McCuen was controversial appointed head coach considering several other coaches were interested in the job.

I'd rather not be public for a few reasons. If you really want to know you can email me from my profile.

[IlliniSky]

Originally Posted by jaggy

As annoying as he is, I admit that Tucker at an ohio state has done very well.

LOL. And tOSU has never been accused of stacking either. They shuffle their lineup more than a card dealer in Las Vegas.

[NLBwell]

Originally Posted by Erman

I was looking at the rankings on TRN of the recruiting classes for D-1 schools and thought about how these classes ended up in four years or as a four year rolling average. For example say Stanford or florida has the " best" recruiting classs or the top 5-6 for the last 4 years. Where do they place as a team over the next 4-5 years? Which players improve the most over their college career? In other word, which coach actually coaches to get the most out of his players as a team? Which coach improves his player's tennis game?( takes 3,4,5 stars and makes them top 10 players) Which coaches just coast and have the good fortune of working at a university that is popular but doesn't really dominate the way his recruiting rankings say he should.

Just an interesting question and fun to see how our forum comes up with a way to answer these questions. Thanks everybody,

I think digging into this yourself (as someone else proposed) would be a really good idea. It would be something that could be used as a reference by others. You have a basic idea of what to do; see how it comes out. You'd have to make some assumptions and set your own rules, which would get nit-picked, but I think you could have a useful reference.
I'm guessing Patton at Boise St. would do well by that system but, of course, I don't know. (Plus, he recruits American kids.)

[ClarkC]

Originally Posted by Clemson_tennis

Kriese was stubborn in his approach to the game, but you cant argue with his results.

By the time Kriese left, what were his results exactly? It seems that Clemson tennis had become irrelevant in the ACC by the time he left.

[Clemson_tennis]

Originally Posted by ClarkC

By the time Kriese left, what were his results exactly? It seems that Clemson tennis had become irrelevant in the ACC by the time he left.

Well his very last season was horrid. But I don' think he intended that to be his final season as he was "kinda fired" But in 2007 we were literally 2 points away from the NCAA final 16, but Ryan Young dropped a heartbreaker to Wake Forest as we lost 4-3. We were a consistent tournament team in the 2000's. We were ranked in the 30's in 2004 and made a run to the elite 8. That was the team with Nathan Thompson,Jarmaine Jenkins,Clement Reix and the gang.

I wouldn't call that irrelevant.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Erman

Well, I think you'd mention her amazing record of wins as coach of Stanford and maybe some of her other accomplishments.....

How amazing are her wins when she's had pretty much the cream of the recruiting crop each year? Any mug could have done a great job with the players she had; that's not the sign of a good coach.

Bryan Shelton is a much, much better example of a quality coach. He's been able to attract first-rate recruits (Kristy Miller, Irina Falconi, Rebecca Marino; who had signed but opted to go pro) to a school that wasn't one a tennis powerhouse and isn't an easy sell (like Stanford, UCLA, USC, Georgia, etc) and blend them into a championship winning team. Look at the players he had in that team and you'll see that only Miller was a stand-out. Other than her the team consisted of a few freshman and a few senior players without great credentials. He got them to play above their perceived level (Amanda McDowell going on to win the NCAA singles the following year) and that's the halmark of a great coach.

[cmb]

Originally Posted by Clemson_tennis

Well his very last season was horrid. But I don' think he intended that to be his final season as he was "kinda fired" But in 2007 we were literally 2 points away from the NCAA final 16, but Ryan Young dropped a heartbreaker to Wake Forest as we lost 4-3. We were a consistent tournament team in the 2000's. We were ranked in the 30's in 2004 and made a run to the elite 8. That was the team with Nathan Thompson,Jarmaine Jenkins,Clement Reix and the gang.

I wouldn't call that irrelevant.

2005 were ranked in the top 15, and 2006 were ranked as high as #5. 2007 sucked and they have sucked ever since IMO