Todd Stepsis has left Drake to become the Head Coach at Northern Iowa. Stetson’s Head Coach, Brian Young, just stepped down as well.
Valpo will have to compete with a few more PFL teams to fill the Head Coach vacancy, though I suspect Drake will likely promote someone from within the current regime.
Ball State just signed Butler's coach
With Butler’s coach leaving for Ball State, that brings the total up to 5 PFL Head Coach openings (Valpo, Davidson, Stetson, Drake, Butler).
The Butler opening is extremely interesting. If they don’t promote from within, then we will likely be fighting over a lot of the same potential candidates.
With the three promotions, its possible that PFL programs may be looked further into by candidates as stepping stones into a higher level. So it may work out for all programs seeking new coaches.
So I wouldn't prepare the KICK ME! sign to wear just yet.
Paul mentioned somewhere that he thinks a hiring is imminent.
@jd24 Paul said he sensed it. He might have some inside info on some of the candidates, but it doesn’t appear to be a “fer sure” — YET.
So far…. not that impressed with a vision about a “bold change” on Valpo FB.
Overall a loosing D3 record. Took him several years to turn their program into a consistent winner. His DNA is defense, not creative O. Just recently, had two good years, the rest, meh.
Granted, he has HC “experience” and from what I’ve heard the others in the mix were young, lightly experienced OCs.
So……this was the result of a “national” search?
I will reserve judgment. I hope he can rise to the challenges of DI PFL football in less than 6 years. It took him that long in DIII.
So far…. not that impressed with a vision about a “bold change” on Valpo FB.
Overall a loosing D3 record. Took him several years to turn their program into a consistent winner. His DNA is defense, not creative O. Just recently, had two good years, the rest, meh.
Granted, he has HC “experience” and from what I’ve heard the others in the mix were young, lightly experienced OCs.
So……this was the result of a “national” search?
I will reserve judgment. I hope he can rise to the challenges of DI PFL football in less than 6 years. It took him that long in DIII.
Do you really believe that there's such a huge difference in the level of play between D3 and PFL?
This might garner criticism, but the PFL, in my eyes. Is D1 "in name only". The PFL exists to get around NCAA bylaws that have basketball as your standard division with no exceptions given for "playing down". All of the PFL members are NCAA D1 basketball schools who are mostly small, local, Christian, colleges who otherwise would not sponsor football at all without the existence of the PFL. The PFL is a handshake agreement between a large variety of schools to play America's Game.
Including this here, since he would have been recruited by Fox a few years back. Interesting to see where this Atkins TE ended up (NW Missouri State), and where he is now transferring (Colorado). Valpo gets a mention as having offered out of HS.
To answer the D3/PFL comp difference. The top 4/5 teams in division 3 could play in PFL and some perform very well.
I always look back to two games. 1) Valparaiso beat Indiana Wesleyan who has not lost a game in NAIA in two seasons (Valpo finished 4-8), 2) Butler beat Wabash by four scores when Wabash went 8-1 and Butler went 1-11.
Rule of thumb is the PFL is a higher level of competition than D3/NAIA. Like everything, there are exceptions
Sidebar: Waddle is having a zoom with alum in an hour
Well, let us know how that goes then
Good for him in getting a step up after Valpo to FCS scholarship.
