Turnaround: How do you Turn an Ailing Program Around?

When you inherit an ailing program, one coming off a series of poor recruiting classes, one that’s subsisting on a steady diet of one or two wins a year, what’s a coach to do? Prospective recruits don’t want to play for a loser, especially if your campus lacks glamour. Alumni and community businesses don’t want to show financial support. It’s harder to find talented assistants, and the administration and the student body will be hard to placate. What often happens is that a new coach walks into this situation and is overwhelmed by myriad of small fires and several conflagrations. It’s obvious what many fledgling coaches would look for in such a situation, an “old hand” who knows what it’s like to have to face angry administrators. Someone who could help the team get better in class and off the field. Someone to help develop pride and camaraderie and win a few games and