Miles Best Coaching Job in ISU Athletic History?

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SycamoreStateofMind

SycamoreStateofMind

The Odum Level
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He's not really going up against strong competition. For as much as Raetz is respected, he never should have been allowed to stay so long. And McGuire inherited a team with little to no support from the university. You would have to go back prior to them though (prior to 1980) to find a coach with a winning record at ISU. Looking at records alone and what we achieved under his tenure, Huntsman would have pretty strong case against Miles. If Trent stayed and saw us to the playoffs, I'd give him more credit.

This page has the records of all of the coaches on it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_State_Sycamores_football
 
I think that Golden was suggesting best coaching job in ISU "athletic" history not "football" history. No doubt he's done the best job in football history.
 
I missed that. Obviously, I don't necessarily agree that he did the best job in ISU football history. He inherited the worst team, but we had teams that achieved more. If Raetz left at the height of his success, he'd be better remembered for sure. As for all of ISU athletics, no, I disagree with that as well.
 
SycamoreStateofMind said:
http://tribstar.com/sports/x1332345525/FROM-THE-PRESS-BOX-Miles-leaves-Sycamores-with-giant-legacy

Todd Golden didn't really pose it as a question, but what do you think. Given what Miles faced, was this the best coaching job in ISU athletic history?

Obviously it would take a good understanding of ISU athletic history and it would take someone who has been a fan of Indiana State athletics longer than myself.

Anyone else have any insight?
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Tren did one GREAT job. In my time as a fan the job done by Bob King as AD/BBall coach stands out equally too. Mr Golden was not here and is not familiar with the times. ISU basketball was not as bad off as football but it had lost most community support. Coach King (by the way I was opposed to him naming himself coach), within 3 years were playing for the national championship. Sure 33 had a lot, A VERY lot to do with it, but it was King who put it together before he fell ill. He was the one who talked 33 in to coming back to college after he dropped out with no intention of coming back, help nurture him while he was here, got him special tutoring in BBall (Mel Daniels) and fit the pieces together, the proof is in the pudding. Other notable jobs were Chester Sanders/Fran McCann in wrestling, Roger Council in gymnastics, Dick/Jamieson/Dennis Raetz in football, and always John McNichols (arguably the best coach ever at ISU) and maybe some would say the early days of Bob Warn
 
blueblazer said:
Tren did one GREAT job. In my time as a fan the job done by Bob King as AD/BBall coach stands out equally too. Mr Golden was not here and is not familiar with the times. ISU basketball was not as bad off as football but it had lost most community support. Coach King (by the way I was opposed to him naming himself coach), within 3 years were playing for the national championship. Sure 33 had a lot, A VERY lot to do with it, but it was King who put it together before he fell ill. He was the one who talked 33 in to coming back to college after he dropped out with no intention of coming back, help nurture him while he was here, got him special tutoring in BBall (Mel Daniels) and fit the pieces together, the proof is in the pudding. Other notable jobs were Chester Sanders/Fran McCann in wrestling, Roger Council in gymnastics, Dick/Jamieson/Dennis Raetz in football, and always John McNichols (arguably the best coach ever at ISU) and maybe some would say the early days of Bob Warn
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Great post!! Exacty what I was looking for! Going to rep this when I get to my computer!
 

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bent20 said:
He's not really going up against strong competition. For as much as Raetz is respected, he never should have been allowed to stay so long. And McGuire inherited a team with little to no support from the university. You would have to go back prior to them though (prior to 1980) to find a coach with a winning record at ISU. Looking at records alone and what we achieved under his tenure, Huntsman would have pretty strong case against Miles. If Trent stayed and saw us to the playoffs, I'd give him more credit.

This page has the records of all of the coaches on it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_State_Sycamores_football
Click to expand...
J Huntsman was a friend of mine, he often admitted one advantage he had was many more scholarships than the teams he was playing at the time, the same number as the big schools, playing the like of St.Joe, DePauw. etc. (he did beat Orange bowl bound NIU). Raetz had ISU number 1 in the nation when he had the support of the university, after Bob King resigned as AD, other ADs and Presidents began to strip the program of money and support leaving it in pitiful shape. They cited lack of support from the community, they were right! I content there as much apathy if not more in the basketball program. What was the attendance at the last basketball game? Coach was tied in financially to the University, I believe, and could not afford to leave. Promises were made to him to keep him here and keep him from Oregon State. Once his commitment was firm, the university backed away from their support and the program started a slow and steady decline into the longest loosing streak in the U.S. Raetz' last years, he was only to recruit in state players, thus bad teams. Coach Raetz was an excellent coach, respected by his players and peers, one of which was Trent Miles. I see a lot of Dennis Raetz in Trent Miles. If some gets a chance to talk to Coach Miles, ask him if he remembers the “Brew Crew?”
 
blueblazer said:
Tren did one GREAT job. In my time as a fan the job done by Bob King as AD/BBall coach stands out equally too. Mr Golden was not here and is not familiar with the times. ISU basketball was not as bad off as football but it had lost most community support. Coach King (by the way I was opposed to him naming himself coach), within 3 years were playing for the national championship. Sure 33 had a lot, A VERY lot to do with it, but it was King who put it together before he fell ill. He was the one who talked 33 in to coming back to college after he dropped out with no intention of coming back, help nurture him while he was here, got him special tutoring in BBall (Mel Daniels) and fit the pieces together, the proof is in the pudding. Other notable jobs were Chester Sanders/Fran McCann in wrestling, Roger Council in gymnastics, Dick/Jamieson/Dennis Raetz in football, and always John McNichols (arguably the best coach ever at ISU) and maybe some would say the early days of Bob Warn
Click to expand...

Bob King was the Head Coach but BILL HODGES did most/all of the recruiting of Larry Bird. It also helped that we got guys like Brad Miley, Bob Heaton (thanks to Denver dropping Div I ball...) Carl Nicks, et al
 
I think that Coach Miles did an absolutely amazing job with the turnaround in the football program.
But if you look at the achievements of Roger Council, I believe that achievement wise, it's not even close.
Coach Council coached an Olympic team. He also coached Kurt Thomas, who was named to the Olympic team and won GOLD while a student at ISU.
I could go on and on about his achievements but I'll stop here.
 
I put my money on Royce Waltman. 20 year without a winning record and Royce changed it. He took us to back-to-back ncaa's and changed the expectations for many isu fans. Last year was an 18 win disappointment for many fans. Before Royce came to Terre Haute 18 wins would have been a season to remember.
 
There are certainly several coaches who should be considered if there was a hypothetical "best all-time." Trent is certainly in the top five but as other posters are commenting, it is not a slam dunk that he is the man. It would be close for me but my head tells me it is either Roger Council or Royce Waltman. Roger Council ALWAYS had talent and ALWAYS had winners. He kept our gymnastic squad in the ratings year after year and also gave us are only MAJOR college championship. Not only was he respected by our athletes, he was known throughout the country as one of the best by ANYONE who knew the sport well. Royce will likely always be my all-time favorite coach at ISU. He brought respectability back to a program that had been sadly lacking it for decades. His honesty and bluntness was true and earned. It was always quite obvious who his hoop mentor had been and Bob K's personality was blatantly obvious in his speech, his demeanor and his coaching. Those two are about as close to a toss up as they can get but for his overall accomplishments, I give the edge to Coach Council. Trent most likely would be right there at 3rd best.
 

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While Trent did a good job I think if you are goingto compare coaches and the job they did then you have to look at their overall success. I would lean towards the 2 coaches of the Cross Country and track teams Gartland and McNichols . They consistantly bring winning to the school So I would say their overall longevity of greatness has to rank them over Miles . Also have to look at the success Bob Warn brought to school for a long time and say what he acomplished would put him above Trent as well.
 
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