Marv had 2 NFL coaches and a HOF college coach as references. Nestor had 2 NFL coaches and a not quite HOF college coach as references according to Blame. KF not qualifying for the HOF yet is that big of a difference?
Coaching Openings
- Thread starter Hwkfn1
- Start date
Marv came from a small town, and understands what that means.
John Nestor came from Chicago, and WB is his 9th coaching gig in 12 years (first as HC).
Not sure ‘from a small town’ takes precedent over actually coaching on most resumes.
Marv obviously was a home run hire and an outstanding person and leader. He wasn’t a unanimous choice by any means when hired. There was a pretty vocal group that wanted a coach from the previous staff promoted rather than bringing in an outsider with a limited coaching background. The in house candidate ended up coaching about 8 miles east of Iowa City after not getting the head job.
Whether Nestor ends up being the right choice remains to be seen, his resume with references and actual coaching experience probably impressed the people who made the choice. And as they say, you don’t want to be the coach who follows the legend, you want to be the coach after that.
You may not have to deal with it long, 9 jobs in 12 years doesn’t paint a picture of longevity. Might even have his feelers out already. Hopefully there is someone from inside the community ready to step up when the opportunity opens again. Getting an outside candidate to step in there with the legacy that Butch established will be a challenge.
Sounds like the townies want to call all the shots. Including who is on the staff and how they think the coach should operate.
That's going to be a tough place to get a good candidate if they run Nestor off because he didn't include enough of the entitled old guard.
That's going to be a tough place to get a good candidate if they run Nestor off because he didn't include enough of the entitled old guard.
Blame as your close to the program. How did shutting down the West Branch Football website come to be ? As alum, I loved to follow the page and listen to the bearcast. Lots of great information on the history of WB football from all time W/Ls to opponents, stats and stories. What’s about the SID, is he gone too?
Also blame what are you hearing from the kids in the program?
With all due respect, discussing what is going on "inside the program" in detail -- on Iowa Preps cesspool message board -- is not something I will choose to do. I will give a few opinions, but what happens on the field or in the locker room is a bit too sacred.
The SID is probably taking a break, I can say that. His role within the program will be very limited. Loyalty is a big deal to Blame, from what I know of him. The new coach kind of handcuffed the Bearcast guys a bit last year. He was unwilling to do interviews in-season for many weeks.
As for the information/videos, the WB Football YouTube page will still be around. Also, Rich Stout has cataloged and posted nearly every game from 1988 through 2003 on his YouTube page. We are pretty lucky to have guys like Rich and Matt in our community. I am sure there are other stories like those in other programs.
Trust me when I tell you, the support from OUTSIDE the program for the coaches who were fired/resigned has been beyond incredible.
Every corner of Iowa and beyond.
I, personally, have had (2) D1 head coaches text or email me to check in.
You're right: nobody can every replace Butch. But, to truly want to distance yourself from everything WB accomplished while Coach Pedersen was here is a rather insensible approach to take. And THAT is exactly what is happening.
Best wishes to the Regals this season. They should be VERY competitive in 1A. I think WB may be moving up to 2A for a couple of seasons.
Thanks. I wasn’t asking for inside the program dirt. More wanted to know about the website and SID. I know of him and always felt he represented West Branch and West Branch Football well. Always loved the bearcast too! I knew all those guys and it was fun listening to them and their stories. In an age where social media dominates. WB Bearcast and football page was imo the model for schools to follow. You don’t see that kind of coverage at 4A or 5A schools. Hell not even in Texas as!
Only thing I was wondering was what the kids in the program mental state was with all the change. I understand if you can’t/won’t talk about it. But there the ones who are really affected by all this. Hope they band together and have a great season!!
Thanks again for the insight!
They are in a bit of disarray right now. The seniors are very connected to the outgoing coaching staff. Thats tough on any 16 yr old, losing a coach. Let alone 8-9 of them.
The smoke will clear and they will get to work. With WB probably moving up to 2A this year, it will be an interesting change. They'll drop back down on next cycle as enrollment numbers are smaller from 8th grade and down.
Ultimately it is the kids that suffer. How you just abandon what made the program great doesn’t make sense. What a great building block of hardworking kids. Will be interesting
Proximity to Iowa City may help, but I wonder where the coach at West Branch will find 8-9 quality candidates to build a whole new staff. I know where I'm at (southeast Iowa) filling 1-2 spots in an offseason can be a challenge due to lack of candidates.
Agreed, I kinda of thought the same thing. I do think the proximity to Iowa City will help along with his ties to the Iowa Football program (his son is a CB)
What's the story here? Haddy seems to get just about any job that he wants, but never keeps them.
IF you look up what coaching positions are open in the area its not hard to see where he is going.
Solid take. I was going with the ‘this is how we do things here coach’ but you go with racial.
Well, his take wasn't an uneducated one. Race and racial divide is prevalent through a majority of the film.
As for WB, darkness will come to light. The Bears will rise again with the sun. It may take a year or two, but normalcy - whatever that is for the new regime - will settle in.
Hope so, you have built an amazing tradition and it should continue.
I should have picked a better example so race wasn’t an option to introduce. My guess is this guy knows football but 9 jobs in 12 years doesn’t project a lengthy stay.
Who is in the pipeline to take over? Someone still working with the youth program?
I can't like a post much more than this. Well stated.
Oh, I'm sure someone would step up in a few years. We have guys who are graduating from college programs that have expressed interest in returning.
Youth may reign Supreme. For now, we trudge on and give the KIDS all the support we have.
He quit.
My son is on the team, and he told them today.
Sounds like it is getting corrected. Hearing some positive things this evening.
lol, the old timers at West Branch ran off their coach because he wasn't going to include them?
Good luck to the next coach...you'd better understand that you aren't actually in charge if you take that job.
I'm guessing it won't be someone from a big city program. That's a safe bet.
I'll let the AD take care of it. He's handled this all with class.
Feel free to enlighten everyone how much you know. Seems like you're the expert.
I'll need 31 subpoints.
Well, it sounds like Nestor wanted to make some changes and have his own staff. Instead of the local townies that have been hanging around the program since they graduated decades ago. But, when he made the change, all the old guys threw a fit. They quit, shut down the website, complained loudly in the community and to the AD.
Loud and long enough that it appears Nestor said forget it, and may now be quitting.
So, now the boosters can pick one of their own and they can keep slapping each other on the back at Herb and Lou's.
But, we'll see what happens. Letting those old guys run off a coach in one year, because they wanted to do things their own way, should be a huge red flag to any quality candidate.
Loud and long enough that it appears Nestor said forget it, and may now be quitting.
So, now the boosters can pick one of their own and they can keep slapping each other on the back at Herb and Lou's.
But, we'll see what happens. Letting those old guys run off a coach in one year, because they wanted to do things their own way, should be a huge red flag to any quality candidate.
Similar threads
