Originally Posted by Anonymous
Success or lack there of is on the coach. We are not talking about winning or losing individual games we are talking about "The Program" and body of work over the coaches tenure. Now, there are Division I programs that are not going to be able to compete with the top programs. These are the programs that are not "fully funded", have subpar facilities, have limited or no help with admissions, have very small budgets, have very little support from the school, are lesser know schools, schools that are not desirable to many players from "hot bed areas". Many of these school may actually be very successful in their own right but they are not going to be competing with the top programs in the country (and that is okay).

Some of The Coaches is responsibilities include:

* Identifying Athletes.
* Determining which of those Athletes will help their program.
* Recruiting "selling".
* Committing / signing / landing (convincing players to attend their school).
* Teaching / Coaching / Training.
* Developing Team Culture.
* Setting Team Goals.
* Leading.
* Inspiring.
* Game Planning.
* In game coaching.
* Deciding who plays in games and who sits.
* Selecting assistant coaches.
* etc...

If the coach does not recruit top talent who is to blame?
If the coach can not utilize, develop or inspire the talent they have who is to blame?
If the strategies, schemes, tactics and plays are unsuccessful who is to blame?
If the assistant coaches are ineffective who is to blame?

This is a Team Sport and players must be coached and set up to succeed. Simply having great players is not enough. Those players must be utilized correctly and all all players must work together as a team. The coach must paint the big picture and set the overall tone. The coach must implement strategies for all facets of the game (Draw, Transition Offense & Defense, Settled Offense, Settled Defense, Redefending, Clearing, extra-man, man-down, etc..). Offensive and defensive concepts, schemes, sets and plays are all on the coach and the players must know their roles and responsibilities at all times. Any coach who allows an individual player to "do her own thing" will ultimately be undermined by that player and it will hurt the team.

Notre Dame has everything in place to be more successful: Quality Academics, University Support, Excellent Facilities, Budget, Fully Funded, Academic Support for Student Athletes etc..

Notice I said "more successful". Notre Dame is one of the Top 10 - 15 programs in the country. Some believe that with all the school has to offer they should be better. Some want to blame the coach, some of the haters want to blame the players.

IMHO the coach is okay, not great but I don't think terrible.


When was the last time ND finished the season ranked top 15 or better?