Job Security: Several Dozen DI Coaches Are Looking Over Their Shoulders
November 24th, 2012 - 19:07
Amid a struggling economy, a significant number of folks are going from one suicide watch (after presidential election) to another (possibility of no Twinkies and Ding Dongs stemming from Hostess' demise). The pressure is also on numerous NCAA Division I coaches striving to turn around their programs.
Mike Brown, dismissed by the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers in the early going, isn't the only coach who will face an early pink slip. An average of nearly 50 DI schools, a half dozen or so by mid-season, annually made head coaching changes since the mid-1990s. The majority of the dominoes normally start to fall during postseason conference tournaments. Following is an alphabetical list of more than 40 active coaches who probably are looking over their shoulders:
| Coach | School | Reason on Shaky Ground |
|---|---|---|
| Frankie Allen | Maryland-Eastern Shore | Could be fifth time in as many seasons with more than 20 defeats. |
| Bobby Braswell | Cal State Northridge | Needs to avoid fourth consecutive season with at least 18 defeats. |
| Ben Braun | Rice | Appears as if headed for fifth season in as many years with at least 16 defeats. |
| Matt Brown | Missouri-Kansas City | Averaged 20 defeats annually over first five seasons with the Kangaroos. |
| Mitch Buonaguro | Siena | Could spell doom if lose as many as 17 games for third time in as many seasons. |
| Robert Burke | Mount St. Mary's | Difficult to see much longevity if suffer more than 20 defeats for third time in as many seasons. |
| Jeff Bzdelik | Wake Forest | Deacons haven't lost as many as 18 games three straight seasons since the late 1960s. |
| Scott Cherry | High Point | Needs to notch first winning record in four seasons. |
| Paul Cormier | Dartmouth | Prospects aren't good if lose more than 20 games for third consecutive campaign. |
| Ron Cottrell | Houston Baptist | Could be bound for fifth straight 20-loss season. |
| Doug Davalos | Texas State | Incurred at least 16 defeats each of first six seasons. |
| Johnny Dawkins | Stanford | Needs to reach NCAA playoffs for first time in fifth season. |
| Tracy Dildy | Chicago State | Can't lose more than 25 games for third time in as many years. |
| Chuck Driesell | The Citadel | Can't lose more than 20 games for third time in as many seasons. |
| John Dunne | Saint Peter's | Can't lose 24 or more games for fourth time in seven seasons. |
| Lennox Forrester | SIU-Edwardsville | Averaged 20 defeats annually over previous four seasons. |
| John Gallagher | Hartford | Can't reach 20-loss plateau for third time in as many seasons. |
| Mike Gillian | Longwood | Only one winning record in first nine seasons. |
| James Green | Jacksonville State | Fifth losing record in as many seasons likely will spell doom. |
| Bill Grier | San Diego | Averaged 20 defeats annually over previous three seasons. |
| Bill Herrion | New Hampshire | Could be headed for seventh losing record in as many seasons. |
| Brad Huse | Montana State | Only one winning record in first six seasons. |
| George Ivory | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | Averaged 20 defeats annually his first four seasons. |
| Jason James | Tennessee-Martin | More than 20 defeats in each of first three seasons. |
| Brian Katz | Cal State Sacramento | Could be bound for fifth season in as many years with at least 18 defeats. |
| Ryan Marks | Texas-Pan American | More than 20 defeats each of first three seasons with the Broncs. |
| Chuck Martin | Marist | Averaged nearly 25 defeats annually over first four seasons. |
| Fang Mitchell | Coppin State | Trouble looms if he has losing MEAC record over last seven seasons. |
| Howard Moore | Illinois-Chicago | Shaky footing if lose at least 22 games for third time in as many years. |
| George Nessman | San Jose State | Averaged 20 defeats annually over first seven seasons. |
| Dickey Nutt | Southeast Missouri State | Averaged 20 defeats annually over his first three years. |
| Kevin O'Neill | Southern California | Only one winning league record in his last 10 DI seasons. |
| Louis Orr | Bowling Green | Only one winning MAC mark in his first five seasons. |
| Tim O'Shea | Bryant | Averaged nearly 25 defeats in first four seasons. |
| Mark Phelps | Drake | Four non-winning records in MVC competition in as many seasons. |
| J.P. Piper | Nicholls State | Only one winning record in first eight seasons. |
| Keith Richard | Louisiana-Monroe | Can't afford to lose as many as 24 games for third time in as many seasons. |
| Craig Robinson | Oregon State | Can't finish with losing league record for fifth time in as many years. |
| Herb Sendek | Arizona State | Can't keep losing close contests and finish at least six games below .500 in league play for third year in a row. |
| Zach Spiker | Army | Doesn't want fourth losing record in as many seasons. |
| Greg Vetrone | Fairleigh Dickinson | Could be bound for fourth season with more than 20 defeats in as many years. |
| Ted Woodward | Maine | Only one winning record in first eight seasons. |
| Jim Wooldridge | UC Riverside | No winning Big West Conference mark in first five seasons. |