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Next head coach after Bill Fennelly?

gocy444

gocy444

Well-Known Member
Dec 15, 2008
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Ames, IA
As a very casual fan of the women’s team, I didn’t realize Bill was 62. Anyone have an idea if someone already on staff is set to step into his shoes or will they look outside?

His staff has been incredibly loyal over the years so it’ll be interesting to see who’s next.

Will also be interested to see what gets named after him when he does decide to retire.
 
I'm sure he is holding out for Billy to get it. That type of move rarely seems to work, but might as well give him a chance.
 
gocy444 said:
As a very casual fan of the women’s team, I didn’t realize Bill was 62. Anyone have an idea if someone already on staff is set to step into his shoes or will they look outside?

His staff has been incredibly loyal over the years so it’ll be interesting to see who’s next.

Will also be interested to see what gets named after him when he does decide to retire.
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He’s taking this Freshman class to a Final Four, so we have a few years
 
Steyer and Schaben have been part of ISU WBB just as long as Bill Fennelly has. It’s easy to assume Billy is the heir apparent but I think it makes more sense for Steyer to step in (she’s currently associate head coach) and have Billy promoted to Associate Head Coach. A lot would have to go wrong for it to be an outside hire.
 
Bill should get to coach as long as he likes (which I am usually against).
We should hire the best qualified coach to replace him and we should interview outside of Bill's staff before settling.

Jennie is not leaving Drake for ISU or Iowa. Her salary is endowed and is better than most would believe. She is facilitates a leadership initiative for women in Des Moines and has a great job. (Jan Jensen will be next Iowa coach anyway).
 
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3GenClone said:
Steyer and Schaben have been part of ISU WBB just as long as Bill Fennelly has. It’s easy to assume Billy is the heir apparent but I think it makes more sense for Steyer to step in (she’s currently associate head coach) and have Billy promoted to Associate Head Coach. A lot would have to go wrong for it to be an outside hire.
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Maybe just me but none of the current coaches excite me. Steyer and Schaben should have IMO had head coaching offers (maybe they turned them down) Billy would be the same issue that we make fun of Brian Ferentz. Honestly without knowing their talent levels I’d rather have Steven as he’s been outside of the program.
 
3GenClone said:
Steyer and Schaben have been part of ISU WBB just as long as Bill Fennelly has. It’s easy to assume Billy is the heir apparent but I think it makes more sense for Steyer to step in (she’s currently associate head coach) and have Billy promoted to Associate Head Coach. A lot would have to go wrong for it to be an outside hire.
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I'm fine with nepotism, Campbell gotta have 35 years before his kid is ready to take over. I'll be in my late 80s so it won't be high on my priority list.
 
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It'll be Billy and it won't be anything like what we saw with Snyder at KSU. Unless someone perfect drops from the sky why switch up a perennial top 25 team, and top 3 fanbase? Someone who knows how to recruit to ISU specifically should get the job.
 
mtowncyclone13 said:
It'll be Billy and it won't be anything like what we saw with Snyder at KSU. Unless someone perfect drops from the sky why switch up a perennial top 25 team, and top 3 fanbase? Someone who knows how to recruit to ISU specifically should get the job.
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One shared conference title in 25 years does not automatically justify Billy as the replacement. Now if Bill gets a couple of conference titles before he retires, maybe Billy can be justified as his replacement.

And if there are MBB and WBB HC openings within the next 5 year window, both of the coaches at Drake should get the first call for each opening.
 
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acoustimac said:
My favorite would be former assistant and Uber coach Brenda Frese. I could see Billy being considered after the outstanding recruiting he has been doing. Also agree that Steyer would be a consideration.
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I have said it here many times that even if it is a complete long shot the first call needs to be Brenda Freese. You owe it to the program to at least reach out and see if she has any interest at all as she has ISU ties and would be the best candidate for this job if she wanted it. I doubt she would leave what she has going at Maryland but no one imagined that Johnny Orr would leave Michigan to come to ISU back in the days either so never say never.

After that I have been growing more impressed with Jennie Baranczyk too although I think it is much more likely she would leave Drake to take the Iowa job when Bluder retires than she would taking the ISU job but again just like Freese you have to make that call regardless.

I have nothing against Billy, he could be a good head coach some day but I kind of wish he'd get his feet wet as a head coach at another program for awhile before we just hand the reigns over to him at ISU. We should view ISU as one of the better jobs in the country and have the ability to hire a proven head coach with power 5 HC experience after all that Bill has built this program into over the years. There's that saying shoot for the moon because even if you miss you'll land amongst the stars and that's kind of how I feel about this job once Bill retires is that we shouldn't just settle and assume there will be a seamless transition to Billy without exploring some other options first.
 
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riceville98 said:
She would also be my first choice. If you go in-house, you have to go with Jodi S. Bill wants Billy of course, but, that would be a disaster and hopefully the powers that be realize that
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My understanding is Steyer has had multiple opportunities to leave for Head Coaching positions but I think due to family reasons and that she loves ISU and Ames she has not pursued them. Kind of reminds me of Chris Dailey at UConn.
 
I’ll echo others, even if it’s next to no chance, you reach out to Frese and Baranczyk. We’re not a UConn/Baylor/Tenn/Stanford/ND etc level job, but ISU WBB is a great job.

I’m okay with Billy as long as we’ve done a full search and he’s the best person for the job who wants it. I hope I’m wrong, but I can’t shake the feeling that Jamie would be fine just handing the job to Billy.

I don’t have anything against Billy, but in general it seems like these nepotism hires don’t work out. Maybe JP is willing to accept that risk, but I don’t want to see that happen to Billy after what Bill has built.
 
As long as JP is our AD I feel he will hire the best person possible for the job. He will look outside the program and also at members of the existing staff and IMHO he will get the best person for ISU.
 
gocy444 said:
As a very casual fan of the women’s team, I didn’t realize Bill was 62. Anyone have an idea if someone already on staff is set to step into his shoes or will they look outside?

His staff has been incredibly loyal over the years so it’ll be interesting to see who’s next.

Will also be interested to see what gets named after him when he does decide to retire.
Click to expand...
I'm fine with Billy. Since he has settled in our recruitment has been great! If he leaves to get more experience there's a risk recruiting drops and the team struggles in Bill's last years. Keep Billy at home and give him a shot. As mentioned, Schaben & Steyer have been with Bill all the way and recruiting has not always been at the level it is now. Billy is the change that seems to have resulted in the improvement. If he can keep the other 2 he'll have X & O people to help, or he can recruit behind those easier than great recruiters.
Regardless, I'll trust Jamie!
 
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