State of the Program

[fightsd]

I can see both sides of this one. It's not like Nielsen's teams have been consistently super successful. And just a year ago a lot of people, myself included, were concerned with how we were going to get out of his current deal after that spring season nightmare.

But if we are losing recruits, that's a big deal. Not sure what the right answer is I guess.

[sdyotefan]

I can't believe so much time has been spent on this topic iniated by a dubious one time poster. The real FCS world covered by Hero Sports has named the USD v Montana game as the week 2 game of the week!
I'm excited for the 22-23 Coyote team to take the field and build on last year's playoff run!!

[easmus]

Jun 8, 2022 6:57:43 GMT -6 fightsd said:

I can see both sides of this one. It's not like Nielsen's teams have been consistently super successful. And just a year ago a lot of people, myself included, were concerned with how we were going to get out of his current deal after that spring season nightmare.

But if we are losing recruits, that's a big deal. Not sure what the right answer is I guess.

It’s almost like we’re half pregnant. Maybe DH doesn’t want to create a precedent that every time there’s a winning season you get a new contract. But that’s also kinda how the game is played. Bob has had a hand in all the renovations and finally has a chance to show them off during in person recruiting post covid restrictions following his best season with all his own recruits. But then we didn’t give him the final tool in the box that is security to recruit with. It makes you wonder if the issue is possibly higher up than DH. I think we’ve all heard that the Lee firing was initiated from the highest office on campus. Maybe there’s an edict not to extend anyone before they’re in their final season? Maybe Prez wants a different direction? Without an extension, speculation takes over as to why. Bob has wanted it and has not gotten it. Why?

[elcoyote]

I'm more than a little iffy with the president micromanaging everything in the athletic department.

[usdguy99]

Nothing personal against DH, but do we know that isn't the issue? There is supposedly a report floating around sanctioned by Gestring that is not very flattering of our current AD. I really hope the person that conducted the "study" or "interviews" had a background in college athletic administration and/or is not affiliated with the university. An unbiased look at the department is probably what is needed.

[fightsd]

Jun 8, 2022 22:48:06 GMT -6 usdguy99 said:

Nothing personal against DH, but do we know that isn't the issue? There is supposedly a report floating around sanctioned by Gestring that is not very flattering of our current AD. I really hope the person that conducted the "study" or "interviews" had a background in college athletic administration and/or is not affiliated with the university. An unbiased look at the department is probably what is needed.

If that's the case and we're forced to pick sides here, I'm firmly in DH's corner. He's done an excellent job managing that department as far as I'm concerned. As a person, I've never heard anyone say anything negative about the man and he's always been an ambassador for the athletes. If Gestring is going to be calling all the shots in the dome, we have a lot bigger problems than Bob's contract.

[usdguy99]

Jun 9, 2022 6:40:35 GMT -6 fightsd said:

Jun 8, 2022 22:48:06 GMT -6 usdguy99 said:

Nothing personal against DH, but do we know that isn't the issue? There is supposedly a report floating around sanctioned by Gestring that is not very flattering of our current AD. I really hope the person that conducted the "study" or "interviews" had a background in college athletic administration and/or is not affiliated with the university. An unbiased look at the department is probably what is needed.

If that's the case and we're forced to pick sides here, I'm firmly in DH's corner. He's done an excellent job managing that department as far as I'm concerned. As a person, I've never heard anyone say anything negative about the man and he's always been an ambassador for the athletes. If Gestring is going to be calling all the shots in the dome, we have a lot bigger problems than Bob's contract.

So does anybody know if this report exists or the contents of the report?

[Yote 53]

Gossip. You should all tune in to the daytime soaps.

[usdguy99]

Jun 9, 2022 8:15:54 GMT -6 Yote 53 said:

Gossip. You should all tune in to the daytime soaps.

Going to have push back on your gossip statement. Multiple coaches and athletic staff members have indicated that there were interviews/meetings conducted to talk about the department. I'm just asking if there was a formal report generated and who conducted the interviews and their expertise.

[bobo]

Probably best not to gaslight this issue and just focus on the 2022 season.  Believe me, no one is losing recruits because Coach Nielsen doesn't have a contract past 2023.  This isn't Alabama or the SEC, heck NDSU has changed coaches more than anyone and they keep rolling (you'd think someone would use it against them). In my opinion, the 1 coach that needed to go is gone and the others made business decisions that were best for their careers.  They still have an excellent group of men in the building to develop and nurture the boys. 


The early schedule is a gauntlet, but any competitor should be excited to go toe to toe with some big dawgs early.  It's going to be about managing egos and the team if there are a few losses early.  Understand the reality of the situation and have strong enough leadership in place in the locker room so the cry babies don't pollute it if it goes a little sideways. If we come out of the first 5 games 3-2 or
2-3, I would feel ok with the next 6 games (even though the gauntlet doesn't get any easier w/ ISU, SIU, YSU, MSU, UND, UNI).  Who the hell put that schedule together?    Good thing there are some very talented and seasoned players returning, cuz it should be a fun year!

[fightsd]

Jun 9, 2022 14:59:25 GMT -6 bobo said:

Probably best not to gaslight this issue and just focus on the 2022 season.  Believe me, no one is losing recruits because Coach Nielsen doesn't have a contract past 2023.  This isn't Alabama or the SEC, heck NDSU has changed coaches more than anyone and they keep rolling (you'd think someone would use it against them). In my opinion, the 1 coach that needed to go is gone and the others made business decisions that were best for their careers.  They still have an excellent group of men in the building to develop and nurture the boys. 


The early schedule is a gauntlet, but any competitor should be excited to go toe to toe with some big dawgs early.  It's going to be about managing egos and the team if there are a few losses early.  Understand the reality of the situation and have strong enough leadership in place in the locker room so the cry babies don't pollute it if it goes a little sideways. If we come out of the first 5 games 3-2 or
2-3, I would feel ok with the next 6 games (even though the gauntlet doesn't get any easier w/ ISU, SIU, YSU, MSU, UND, UNI).  Who the hell put that schedule together?    Good thing there are some very talented and seasoned players returning, cuz it should be a fun year!

I actually don't hate the way the season ends. I'm looking forward to not having the xDSUs at the end of the year

[coffeedrinker11]

Jun 9, 2022 9:02:47 GMT -6 usdguy99 said:

Jun 9, 2022 8:15:54 GMT -6 Yote 53 said:

Gossip. You should all tune in to the daytime soaps.

Going to have push back on your gossip statement. Multiple coaches and athletic staff members have indicated that there were interviews/meetings conducted to talk about the department. I'm just asking if there was a formal report generated and who conducted the interviews and their expertise.

I have zero knowledge about the Athletic Department interviews/meetings that were held.  That being said what I do have experience with is working with organizations to find out what the climate/morale is within the organization.  The majority of organizations with over 100 employees do organizational climate assessments at least every two years.  Those assessments I'm familiar with include written surveys, individual meetings, and focus groups.  You tailor the assessment to the type of organization and can include other types of information gathering.  The results are normally put to use in some type of improvement plan that normally has a time associated with it.  A five year plan is what many educational organizations use.  Again I don't know anything about this survey, but don't see it as a bad thing, in fact just the opposite, an organization that want to assess where they are and wants data to help decide how to get to where they want to be.  

[Yote 53]

We get surveyed/interviewed annually by my employer. They're constantly doing internal reviews to gauge employee satisfaction, morale, etc. So the University doing an internal review is no big deal. That's why I said gossip. Making more of it than it probably is.

[Deleted]

Late to the party here, and I realize this is only my second post so you're going to take this with a grain of salt, but everything that yoteforlife84 noted is unfortunately accurate per my sources in the athletic department.

[elcoyote]

Jun 16, 2022 12:56:10 GMT -6 @mryote62 said:

Late to the party here, and I realize this is only my second post so you're going to take this with a grain of salt, but everything that yoteforlife84 noted is unfortunately accurate per my sources in the athletic department.

Interesting...I talked to some people I know who work there and all I got was quizzical looks and questioning where or who I had heard this from. Guess it depends on who you talk to. Probably always be someone who's disgruntled.