2018 Coaches Hot Seat and Teams that should be down this year

This will be a mix of power 5 and mid majors. I tend to give a break to mid majors because of funding and facility issues but some of them have had previous major success that are now struggling.

Power 5
1.Miami- Fairly new coach but the team is not very strong, best win is against a very below average Iowa team
2. Clemson- Best win against Cornell which is a good win but sense around the program is that the team is not very good and should continue to struggle
3. Penn State- a team to watch, seems to be down this year but getting a new facility soon.
4. Iowa- This team is not very good and needs a new direction
5. Nebraska- Should battle for the basement of the Big 10 with Iowa and Michigan State. New blood needed.
6.Arizona- Like Miami should be much better, the new coach like Miami was not ready for a high major job.
7. Alabama- Husack has by far his best team but overall body of work is terrible, let's see if there are usual transfers or if the team falls apart by the end of the season.
8. LSU-I know they have a new coach but I just don't get the feeling this is going to go well.
9. Purdue- Not very good, a team to keep an eye on.
10. Washington- Should be way better, might be time for some new blood.
11. Michigan State- Here every year
12. Kentucky a team to keep an eye on
13. Ole Miss- Some people might think this should be on the list but I think the jury is still out
14. Utah- A team to keep an eye on

Mid Major (Most Teams are out west for the obvious reason that location and history they should be good)
1. George Washington- The new coach should be in the Pro's or private coaching. College tennis is not his thing. Team has bottomed out.
2. San Diego State- New direction needed
3. UC Irvine- Used to be good, now is irrelevant.
4. North Florida- I know they have a brand new coach but I thought the hire was terrible. I can't believe they couldn't do better.
5. Davidson- New direction needed
6. Rice- Was on the hot seat a few years ago but had 2 years of solid teams but they are back to being under performing. A team to watch.
7. St. Mary's- Used to have a competitive program, they are pretty bad now
8. Nevada- See St. Mary's
9. Boise State- Greg lost his way with recruiting the past 2 years taking some behavioral issue kids. Could take a while to get back on track.
10. Gonzaga- yes, they are undefeated but it's time for a new direction. Nice new facility and name recognition with basketball but a very weak program.
11. Pacific- Should be a lot better with a new facility
12. Hawaii- Needs new blood, extremely weak

Schools that need to add Men's Tennis (No Excuse not to add a Men's Team)
1. Kansas
2. Missouri
3. Washington State
4. Oregon State needs both M/W
5. Kansas State
6. San Jose State

I expect a lot of blow back but thought I would start the conversation.
 

ClarkC

Hall of Fame
"Teams that should be down this year" and "Coaches hot seat" are two different lists. Some athletic departments don't support the men's tennis team very much and have no intention of firing the coach when the team has a down year, e.g. Michigan State. Mixing these two lists into one list will not add clarity to the topic.
 

LeftyServe

Semi-Pro
This is Arizona's coach's first year with his own recruits. 4 freshman starters. Is it premature to expect big results this year, or do you really think he's not up to the task?
 

xbr

Rookie
This is Arizona's coach's first year with his own recruits. 4 freshman starters. Is it premature to expect big results this year, or do you really think he's not up to the task?
Same thing is with Miami. The coach needs time to get everything in the right place. Recruiting got better. Now he needs to show that his guys can play.
 
Yeah I agree it's a bit too early for Arizona and Miami as well. The positives for those two is that the younger, newly recruited players are the most promising players on each team. It's the old guard holding them back, in each case.
 
This will be a mix of power 5 and mid majors. I tend to give a break to mid majors because of funding and facility issues but some of them have had previous major success that are now struggling.

Power 5
1.Miami- Fairly new coach but the team is not very strong, best win is against a very below average Iowa team
2. Clemson- Best win against Cornell which is a good win but sense around the program is that the team is not very good and should continue to struggle
3. Penn State- a team to watch, seems to be down this year but getting a new facility soon.
4. Iowa- This team is not very good and needs a new direction
5. Nebraska- Should battle for the basement of the Big 10 with Iowa and Michigan State. New blood needed.
6.Arizona- Like Miami should be much better, the new coach like Miami was not ready for a high major job.
7. Alabama- Husack has by far his best team but overall body of work is terrible, let's see if there are usual transfers or if the team falls apart by the end of the season.
8. LSU-I know they have a new coach but I just don't get the feeling this is going to go well.
9. Purdue- Not very good, a team to keep an eye on.
10. Washington- Should be way better, might be time for some new blood.
11. Michigan State- Here every year
12. Kentucky a team to keep an eye on
13. Ole Miss- Some people might think this should be on the list but I think the jury is still out
14. Utah- A team to keep an eye on

Mid Major (Most Teams are out west for the obvious reason that location and history they should be good)
1. George Washington- The new coach should be in the Pro's or private coaching. College tennis is not his thing. Team has bottomed out.
2. San Diego State- New direction needed
3. UC Irvine- Used to be good, now is irrelevant.
4. North Florida- I know they have a brand new coach but I thought the hire was terrible. I can't believe they couldn't do better.
5. Davidson- New direction needed
6. Rice- Was on the hot seat a few years ago but had 2 years of solid teams but they are back to being under performing. A team to watch.
7. St. Mary's- Used to have a competitive program, they are pretty bad now
8. Nevada- See St. Mary's
9. Boise State- Greg lost his way with recruiting the past 2 years taking some behavioral issue kids. Could take a while to get back on track.
10. Gonzaga- yes, they are undefeated but it's time for a new direction. Nice new facility and name recognition with basketball but a very weak program.
11. Pacific- Should be a lot better with a new facility
12. Hawaii- Needs new blood, extremely weak

Schools that need to add Men's Tennis (No Excuse not to add a Men's Team)
1. Kansas
2. Missouri
3. Washington State
4. Oregon State needs both M/W
5. Kansas State
6. San Jose State

I expect a lot of blow back but thought I would start the conversation.

This list is way off. Some new coaches need time to get things going in a meaningful way. Most AD's don't care about college tennis like big revenue sports. Seems that you are just trying to stir up contreversy for some of these programs. Your list is dead on for schools adding tennis men's programs but add Pittsburgh and Colorado to the the list.
 

Rattler

Hall of Fame
Overheard from some current players on their roster yesterday at the Big 12 Championships that Erin Scott is out at UTSA
 
Let's do a 2019 list for Division 1 college coaches who should be on the hot seat for 2019. I'll start with Washington. The team has been on a sharp decline for the past 5 years, but now have reached a new bottom. They are now 5 and 11 and a shocking 0-8 on the road. The wheels have now completely come off. This team used to be in the top 30 every year and used to make the NCAAs every year for something like 20 years in a row. Currently, they will only have 2 NCAA appearances in the past 6 years. And they got in by the "skin of their teeth" both times they got in in recent years.
 
This thread is insane. Do you understand that college tennis coaches get paid pennies compared to other NCAA sports on campus? The idea that they should ever be on the hot seat, except for extreme underachieving or scandal, is absurd.
 
Golden, you are sadly mistaken. Sure tennis coaches are not scrutinized as intensely as football or basketball coaches, but they are fired all the time for merely underperforming. In fact, merely not making the NCAA tournament 3 years in a row at a major program that has a history of making the tournament is usually grounds for an automatic termination. Keep in mind that not renewing the coach's contract is similar to a termination because the coach is out of a job.
 

JW10S

Hall of Fame
Golden, you are sadly mistaken. Sure tennis coaches are not scrutinized as intensely as football or basketball coaches, but they are fired all the time for merely underperforming. In fact, merely not making the NCAA tournament 3 years in a row at a major program that has a history of making the tournament is usually grounds for an automatic termination. Keep in mind that not renewing the coach's contract is similar to a termination because the coach is out of a job.
This is true. I spoke to a coach of a team that is a perennial top 10 team and has won multiple NCAA championships who has been called in more than once to the ADs office to be told their job was in a very tenuous position. The coach said they are aware that any year could be their last despite the prior success of the program. ADs expect successful programs to continue to be successful. Job security is never a given for college tennis coaches. Tennis does not bring in revenue so you better at least be winning. Every head or assistant tennis coach I've spoken to has a plan B ready in case they need it.
 
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Right now we have Clemson on the men's side and Penn State and Auburn on the women's side. It will be interesting once singles and doubles are over to see if any other good jobs open. Could be a slow summer.
 

slchsu

Rookie
I know it’s an old post but just curious why the guy at North Florida was a bad hire. Played at NC State, assistant at Princeton, Wake, USC. Head coach at a ranked D3 program and took a mid-major to NCAAs. Seems like a pretty solid resume for a candidate at a school like North Florida, even before considering a successful 18/19 season.
 
I know it’s an old post but just curious why the guy at North Florida was a bad hire. Played at NC State, assistant at Princeton, Wake, USC. Head coach at a ranked D3 program and took a mid-major to NCAAs. Seems like a pretty solid resume for a candidate at a school like North Florida, even before considering a successful 18/19 season.
I guess if you knew his real track record you would understand. The AD made it clear to several people he needed or wanted someone that previously worked in the area. Matt had the qualifications of running an old ladies inter club near by that got him the job. Take it for what it's worth.
 

Oddyssey

Rookie
Right now we have Clemson on the men's side and Penn State and Auburn on the women's side. It will be interesting once singles and doubles are over to see if any other good jobs open. Could be a slow summer.

Current Power 5/IVY League openings:

Men - Clemson, Yale
Women - Auburn, Penn State, Utah

Twitter: @tennisoddyssey
 
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slchsu

Rookie
I guess if you knew his real track record you would understand. The AD made it clear to several people he needed or wanted someone that previously worked in the area. Matt had the qualifications of running an old ladies inter club near by that got him the job. Take it for what it's worth.
I see. Thanks for the insight.
 
This is true. I spoke to a coach of a team that is a perennial top 10 team and has won multiple NCAA championships who has been called in more than once to the ADs office to be told their job was in a very tenuous position. The coach said they are aware that any year could be their last despite the prior success of the program. ADs expect successful programs to continue to be successful. Job security is never a given for college tennis coaches. Tennis does not bring in revenue so you better at least be winning. Every head or assistant tennis coach I've spoken to has a plan B ready in case they need it.

who would that be? Surely not Peter Smith?
 

SavvyStringer

Professional
I know it’s an old post but just curious why the guy at North Florida was a bad hire. Played at NC State, assistant at Princeton, Wake, USC. Head coach at a ranked D3 program and took a mid-major to NCAAs. Seems like a pretty solid resume for a candidate at a school like North Florida, even before considering a successful 18/19 season.
I guess if you knew his real track record you would understand. The AD made it clear to several people he needed or wanted someone that previously worked in the area. Matt had the qualifications of running an old ladies inter club near by that got him the job. Take it for what it's worth.
Matt's a good dude and a good coach. He's had some problems but he seems to have gotten over them now. He actually got me my job with the university. You'll be hard pressed to find anyone that doesn't like Matt. Also UNF has done pretty well on both sides recently. We have their womens team up in the fall for our tournament because our coaches are friends and we had them back this year for the round of 64 that was a total beat down. They're all good people and do good work.
 
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SavvyStringer

Professional
Arkansas Womens assistant
USC upstate assistant
Washington and Lee mens assistant
Penn state womens head
Harvard womens assistant
West Virginia womens assistant
Utah St. Mens assistant

All open and per NCAA site.
 

JAJ

Rookie
Matt's a good dude and a good coach. He's had some problems but he seems to have gotten over them now. He actually got me my job with the university. You'll be hard pressed to find anyone that doesn't like Matt. Also UNF seems to be ok with just being OK. We have their womens team up in the fall for our tournament because our coaches are friends and we had them back this year for the round of 64 that was a total beat down. They're all good people but they're only going to recruit so well at that school.
I would second your comment on Matt. He may have stepped in it once early on, but he's a good coach, recruiter, and tennis player. Watch him run a practice. UNF is lucky to have him.
 

Oddyssey

Rookie
Current Power 5/IVY League openings:

Men - Clemson, Yale
Women - Auburn, Penn State, Utah, Maryland,
SMU*

*not in power 5/IVY League but worth mentioning

Twitter: @tennisoddyssey
 
I would second your comment on Matt. He may have stepped in it once early on, but he's a good coach, recruiter, and tennis player. Watch him run a practice. UNF is lucky to have him.

I don't know they were pretty average this year and didn't win an awful conference, he'll be there for a long time
 
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