Coaches that turned it around in year 4?

#1

northknoxvol

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#1
Good question by a caller today.....can anyone name any coaches who turned it around and started winning in year 4 that did not have any success in the first 3 years?
 
#2
#2
Coach K at Duke. I know it's basketball...


Duke Blue Devils (Atlantic Coast Conference) (1980–present)
1980–81 Duke 17–13 6–8 T–5th NIT Third Round
1981–82 Duke 10–17 4–10 T–6th
1982–83 Duke 11–17 3–11 7th
1983–84 Duke 24–10 7–7 T–3rd NCAA Round of 32
 
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#3
#3
Good question by a caller today.....can anyone name any coaches who turned it around and started winning in year 4 that did not have any success in the first 3 years?

There has been only one SEC Championship Game winning coach that didn't have one 10 win season in his first three years on the job. That was Tuberville at AU with a high of "only" a 9 win season in one of his first three seasons. So, if SEC titles are how you measure success, then no to your question.
 
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#4
#4
4 head coaches in 6 years results in poor recruiting. Poor recruiting results in poor on the field performance. Not enough jrs and srs making plays right now. Can't build an sec roster with only 2 recruiting classes.
 
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#5
#5
Butch Jones turned it around in 2015, going 11-3 with an SEC and bowl Championship. It all starts tomorrow at 3:30EST.
 
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#6
#6
Barry Alvarez

Wisconsin Badgers (Big Ten Conference) (1990–2005)
1990 Wisconsin 1–10 0–8 10th
1991 Wisconsin 5–6 2–6 T–8th
1992 Wisconsin 5–6 3–5 T–6th
1993 Wisconsin 10–1–1 6–1–1 T–1st W Rose 5
 
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#7
#7
Tennessee is in a unique situation and it's very hard to compare with other coaches. 3 coaching changes in 5 years, Huge roster turnover, Toughest conference in College football.
 
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#8
#8
4 head coaches in 6 years results in poor recruiting. Poor recruiting results in poor on the field performance. Not enough jrs and srs making plays right now. Can't build an sec roster with only 2 recruiting classes.

From 2000-2006, Alabama had Dubose, Franchione, Price*, Shula, and Kines* and they had a 4 win season and NCAA sanctions. I truly thought they'd never dig their way back out of that mess. But they did when they dump trucked millions on Saban's lawn.
 
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#9
#9
Depends on what you classify as "any success", but Jim Harbaugh at Stanford:

2007: 4-8
2008: 5-7
2009: 8-5
2010: 12-1

In my opinion I've always viewed Jones' rebuilding challenge at TN similar to the one that Harbaugh undertook at Stanford.

Imagine if their fanbase grew too impatient with him in yr 3 after losing to Wake Forest in their 2nd game that year. They later came back that year with wins over Oregon (7) and USC (11). BTW, that team that lost to Wake Forest in their second game had the following players: Andrew Luck, Richard Sherman, Doug Baldwin, Toby Gerhart, Colby Fleener, and 3 future NFL O-linemen. Young talent that hadn't yet learned to win.

V,B
 
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#10
#10
Tennessee is in a unique situation and it's very hard to compare with other coaches. 3 coaching changes in 5 years, Huge roster turnover, Toughest conference in College football.
Don't compare it to other schools then, this is to see if other coaches have made such a big turnaround after year 3. And the answer is yes but it doesn't happen often.
 
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#11
#11
There has been only one SEC Championship Game winning coach that didn't have one 10 win season in his first three years on the job. That was Tuberville at AU with a high of "only" a 9 win season in one of his first three seasons. So, if SEC titles are how you measure success, then no to your question.

He won a SEC title tho...AND had an undefeated season.
 
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#12
#12
Butch Jones turned it around in 2015, going 11-3 with an SEC and bowl Championship. It all starts tomorrow at 3:30EST.

I like your enthusiasm, and hope like h3!! that happens, but at this point, I'm not setting myself up for more disappointment.
 
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#14
#14
Depends on what you classify as "any success", but Jim Harbaugh at Stanford:

2007: 4-8
2008: 5-7
2009: 8-5
2010: 12-1

In my opinion I've always viewed Jones' rebuilding challenge at TN similar to the one that Harbaugh undertook at Stanford.

Imagine if their fanbase grew too impatient with him in yr 3 after losing to Wake Forest in their 2nd game that year. They later came back that year with wins over Oregon (7) and USC (11). BTW, that team that lost to Wake Forest in their second game had the following players: Andrew Luck, Richard Sherman, Doug Baldwin, Toby Gerhart, Colby Fleener, and 3 future NFL O-linemen. Young talent that hadn't yet learned to win.

V,B

If Butch wins OU (Oregon) and UF (USC), but loses to an inferior team (talent) like WF (Kentucky and Mizzou) that'd be comparable. Instead, he has already lost the three winnable ones, will very likely lose the next two games, and still may lose to our Wake Forests. 8-5 is a pipe dream at this point, unless the team shows resiliency after a 4 game losing streak they're about to be on.
 
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#16
#16
From 2000-2006, Alabama had Dubose, Franchione, Price*, Shula, and Kines* and they had a 4 win season and NCAA sanctions. I truly thought they'd never dig their way back out of that mess. But they did when they dump trucked millions on Saban's lawn.

This guy wins
 
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#17
#17
He won a SEC title tho...AND had an undefeated season.

I know, in 2004. I was there, unfortunately... But that's what I meant, only one coach (Tuberville) has won fewer than 10 games within their first 3 seasons, so unless Butch beats UGA and Bama, historical trends aren't on his side.
 
#18
#18
4 head coaches in 6 years results in poor recruiting. Poor recruiting results in poor on the field performance. Not enough jrs and srs making plays right now. Can't build an sec roster with only 2 recruiting classes.

He's had 3 recruiting classes to date....his QB, his best cornerback, his best linebacker, one of his starting DTs, his starting nickle back, his starting right tackle, his starting right guard and the guy who was supposed to be his best WR all came from the 2013 class....his first class.
 
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#19
#19
If Butch wins OU (Oregon) and UF (USC), but loses to an inferior team (talent) like WF (Kentucky and Mizzou) that'd be comparable. Instead, he has already lost the two winnable ones, will very likely lose the next two games, and still may lose to our Wake Forests. 8-5 is a pipe dream at this point, unless the team shows resiliency after a 4 game losing streak they're about to be on.

I would view UGA/Bama as the comparison to Oregon/USC. We poach one of those and who knows? I'm unhappy as the next guy with some of our coaching decisions so far but as i saw another poster say, Team 119 would wipe the floor with Team 117/118 which to me is progress no matter how you look at it.
 
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#24
#24
Tennessee is in a unique situation and it's very hard to compare with other coaches. 3 coaching changes in 5 years, Huge roster turnover, Toughest conference in College football.

Yes. But, we've got Smokey Gray helmets now! :yes:

And I like em'.
 

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