Take the Challenge: Rank Hoke v. other Big Ten Coaches

Submitted by Swayze Howell Sheen on

OK, we've got Hoke. If you'd like, create two lists.

  • List the first: Those coaches in the Big Ten that you think Hoke is better than.
  • List the second: Those coaches in the Big Ten that you think are better than Hoke.
  • A third optional list: Toss up.

For your ease, here is the list of coaches in the Big Ten:

  1. Jim Tressel (OSU)
  2. Bret Bielema (Wisconsin)
  3. Joe Paterno (Penn St.)
  4. Kirk Ferentz (Iowa)
  5. Pat Fitzgerald (NW)
  6. Mark Dantonio (MSU)
  7. Bo Pelini (Nebraska) [edit: Thanks great slight hope]
  8. Kevin Wilson (Indiana)
  9. Jerry Kill (Minnesota)
  10. Ron Zook (Illinois)
  11. Danny Hope (Purdue)

I was going to do this differently, by asking 'which coaches would you trade Hoke for', but realize that some would say 'no one because they are not Michigan Men' or some such, and hence the current phrasing of the question.

Enjoy! Or skip. Just curious to hear everyone's opinion.

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Brady Hoke

ChasingRabbits

January 12th, 2011 at 8:13 AM ^

We KNOW he is worse than the first six, we HOPE he is better than the others.  Nothing about his resume says success.  One good year out of 5 in the MAC.  Something that can be acheived by stumbling on a player like Davis, Rothlesberger, LaFevre who all other schools passed on.  And one decent year at SDSU where he was close to some big boys, but only beat the military schools and the some schools ranked100+.   Zook and Hope have at least coahed against and beat some big ten teams.

I am hopeful, but right now..  9th? 10th when Pelini comes in...

Joined: 01/19/2010

MGoPoints: 1473

mjm2k1

January 12th, 2011 at 9:06 AM ^

can we stop pretending he's actually the coach of that team?? no way Hoke is a worse coach than Paterno at age 85. is he below Tom Bradley? maybe.

sadly, no matter how you slice it, Hoke is probably no better than 5th on that list today. i'm not saying BH can't grow into the role, but it's hard to make the argument that you wouldn't take the Vest, Bielema, Pelini, Fitzgerald or Ferentz (under-rated) over BH in today's world.

Joined: 09/30/2009

MGoPoints: 121

AMazinBlue

January 12th, 2011 at 8:14 AM ^

but in terms of accomplishments and "star" power, of the list you provde Hoke fits in right where Michigan is now in that list, 7th or 8th.  Won't help recruiting from that standpoint.  The appointment of top level coordinator and assistants can move him up.  Plus, getting recruits that are better than middle-ish 3-star and the occasional 4-star will be paramount.

Joined: 10/12/2008

MGoPoints: 7197

Ed Shuttlesworth

January 12th, 2011 at 8:15 AM ^

He could be the best, he could be lower than the best.  There's no reason at all to think Tressel, Bielema, and Ferentz (or anyone else) are necessarily better.

That's why they play the games.

Joined: 11/09/2009

MGoPoints: 169

Derek

January 12th, 2011 at 8:23 AM ^

 

I think Dantonio has gotten lucky at MSU, but he has more of a track record than Hoke at this point. I think Hoke has the potential to leapfrog him and Ferentz, but that's probably it. So, here are my lists. I would trade Hoke for:
  1. Jim Tressel (OSU)
  2. Bo Pelini (Nebraska)
  3. Bret Bielema (Wisconsin)
  4. Pat Fitzgerald (NW)

I wouldn't trade him for:

  1. Kirk Ferentz (Iowa)
  2. Mark Dantonio (MSU)
  3. Joe Paterno (Penn St.)
  4. Jerry Kill (Minnesota)
  5. Ron Zook (Illinois)
  6. Kevin Wilson (Indiana)
  7. Danny Hope (Purdue)

Of course, this doesn't reflect my personal feelings about these other coaches in that I would never want Bielema as our coach. I just think he's better than Hoke.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 24373

J.Swift

January 12th, 2011 at 9:46 AM ^

How about we wait until he's coached one season?  or two?  or three?  Prejudging Hoke because the doesn't "measure up" to Big 10 coaches smacks of the old guard dismissing Rodriguez befoe he arrived on campus. 

Let me suggest another poll.  Where would you rank Rich Rodriguez against the same Big 10 coaches, based on his actual conference record over three years?  Maybe ahead of Indiana? 

Would that be fair?  After all, it doesn't take into account his rebuilding the team, the dyanmic offense, or any of the other positive contributions he made.  Maybe it's not fair to judge Rich by his conference record alone.  Still, he does not measure up, based on his record, to most of the conference coaches. 

No one knows if Hoke will improve on Rodriguez' record.  No one.  Continuing to prejudge him as a likely failure just seems stupid and unfair.  I'm going to judge his success based on his success or failure within the conference.

Joined: 10/31/2009

MGoPoints: 629

swarwick33

January 12th, 2011 at 8:54 AM ^

I would slot him in 5th behind Tressel, Dantonio, Bielema, and Fitzgerald.  I am not a huge believer in Pelini and Ferentz is a mess in Iowa with all of their discipline problems.  This could change quickly though for either the good or the bad.

Joined: 08/18/2009

MGoPoints: 205

cargo

January 12th, 2011 at 8:58 AM ^

  1. Jim Tressel (OSU)
  2. Bret Bielema (Wisconsin)
  3. Joe Paterno (Penn St.)
  4. Kirk Ferentz (Iowa)
  5. Pat Fitzgerald (NW)
  6. Mark Dantonio (MSU)
  7. Bo Pelini (Nebraska)
  8. Hoke
  9. Kevin Wilson (Indiana)
  10. Jerry Kill (Minnesota)
  11. Ron Zook (Illinois)
  12. Danny Hope (Purdue)

top 7 are not in order

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 1228

M-Wolverine

January 12th, 2011 at 10:04 AM ^

I'd take Paterno over him....50 years ago. And Dantonio has done more, but I wouldn't trade for a douchebag. Pelini might have, but after the way his team crashed towards the end, I'm not sure I would rank him more than equal. Unproven too.

Joined: 10/04/2009

MGoPoints: 42190

kb

January 12th, 2011 at 10:08 AM ^

Tressel, Bielema, Dantonio, and Pelini.  FItzgerald has done nothing. Paterno doesn't even coach anymore - he's a figurehead on the sideline.  Ferentz hasn't won much either, and his program is in shambles right now with drug charges on everyone but the ball boy.

Joined: 10/31/2009

MGoPoints: 7151