Head Coach Todd Stepsis

[Born-a-Panther]

I completely understand some of the worry and negative comments here. However, in reading a LOT of comments and reaction online yesterday, those that have played and or/worked with Stepsis LOVE him. He apparently knows how to reach kids, reach the locker room, motivate, develop, etc. We definitely need emotion back on our sidelines. Also, it's not just about what we can pay a head coach. It's what is our budget for recruiting and other things? There are real challenges there now at our level so hiring for an FCS position is not as easy as some want to make it out to be. We haven't had to do this in over 20 years, and times have changed a lot. I'm excited to see what he can do, excited for a fresh start, excited for the Dome remodel, and excited to be a Panther. Let's give him our full support because he won't be able to succeed without it. No one can.

[achrist70]

Here are my 2 cents

First off, I understand some of the frustration with the hire. I think we were all maybe hoping for a splashier hire, to bring some excitement to the program, but I'm not sure how realistic that is. I don't think FCS jobs are really that sought after especially one where resources appear to be limited. Look at Matt Entz, he went from being the head coach at the FCS program with the most resources to be a linebackers coach at a P4 school. Now I also think that seat was starting to get warm because he isn't that wonderful of a coach, but the point still stands. We aren't at this point going to bring in a big name, and I'm not sure any FCS school could.

Secondly, I understand the "another Drake hire" mentality. But like mentioned earlier former Drake head coaches have tended to fair well at their next jobs so I hope that continues. I also understand the nervousness about hiring a guy who has never coached at the scholarship level, and his scores against MVFC schools hasn't been that great but if we are being honest if you look at the 3 common opponents this year, Valpo, St. Thomas and South Dakota all of our scores are similar to Drakes, and we are giving scholarships.

Finally, the reason I do have some excitement is because to me him taking this job is him betting on himself. He seems to be wanting to work his way up the coaching ladder, hopefully way higher than Head Coach at UNI. I for one like that, I would be ok with a new head coach every 3-5 years if it means that they keep moving on to bigger and better jobs. The biggest thing I hope he does it bring some energy back to the program. In my eyes UNI football began getting stale 10-12 years ago and it stayed afloat for a while because I do think Mark Farley was still able to sell UNI and UNI football up until David Harris sleep walked into town. Now, I think it is time for a fresh start and hopefully Coach Stepsis brings that.

[Blue42]

For the record...I'm a tad frustrated here as well.

But I'm trying to gather info and judge it as objectively as possible.

In my experience...getting the right person in the right seat has much more to do with judging human capability than judging someone's past employer, past titles and 3 letter credentials.

We'll see how this plays out.

[UNIpanther99]

When is the press conference?

[edgecat]

When is the press conference?

Monday at 2

[BCPanther]

Assuming they'll introduce him at the basketball game on Saturday night as well.

[UNIAlum95]

I can see this going one of two ways. I didn't listen to the interview FYI. I think you can still focus on development out of HS and still work the portal. I don't think it's an either or kind of thing. But you cannot exclusively focus on kids out of HS. Too much talent out there. Lots to still be determined I'd imagine.

Let's hope the approach isn't - This is how we did it at Drake so we are going to do it here. There has to be a different approach for MVFC football and while emphasizing high school kids is great we are going to have to replenish the roster annually and that is going to require us to get portal kids looking to wrap up an FBS career with additional minutes at an FCS program.

[Panther AC]

Assuming they'll introduce him at the basketball game on Saturday night as well.

Hoping he gets introduced to several hundred boosters at the PSC holiday party Friday evening first.

[MVCBeat]

FYI,

Montana State hired Rob Ash directly from Drake almost 20 years ago, and he did perfectly well there, several 10 win seasons and playoff appearances.

Additionally, Eastern Michigan hired Chris Creighton directly from Drake 10 years ago and he is still doing just fine there as well, at a place that was essentially a football graveyard when he arrived.

So, there is precedent for scholarship programs hiring coaches from Drake level programs and having success. If you can coach ball, you can coach ball. That's all there is to it.

Rob Ash had coached at Drake for 18 years, won two-thirds of his games, and four league titles. He had also been a successful head coach at the D3 level for several years before being hired at Drake.

Chris Creighton never had a losing season at Drake and won two thirds of his games. He also had head coaching experience at two other schools going 32-9 over four years at an NAIA school and 63-15 over seven years at a D3 school.

Coming from a lower level, in itself, isn't a bad thing at all. I am a firm believer that winning travels. But typically when you hire someone from a lower level, they've had more success (and typically more experience) than he has had. Woodley from Grand View is 68-5. That would be a monster jump from NAIA to the MVFC, but winning travels. Drake's new basketball coach is a great example. He coached at D2 for 15 years in D2, won 80% of his games and 4 titles. Schertz at Indiana State and now Saint Louis had a crazy winning percentage in D2. Stepsis has coached six years and has a below .500 record. It sort of feels like if Jake retired in a few years and we hired the coach that just started at Wartburg.

Stepsis could end up being a great coach for UNI. There is just not much in his resume that shows he will be (or wont be). He is very unproven. If he is, we sort of got lucky because we don't really have any data on the resume that shows whether he should or shouldn't be. We are relying a lot on intangibles right now.

[BCPanther]

Hoping he gets introduced to several hundred boosters at the PSC holiday party Friday evening first.

Absolutely.

He's got a couple of gatherings and press conferences to win in the next few days.

[Newsbreaker]

I completely understand some of the worry and negative comments here. However, in reading a LOT of comments and reaction online yesterday, those that have played and or/worked with Stepsis LOVE him. He apparently knows how to reach kids, reach the locker room, motivate, develop, etc. We definitely need emotion back on our sidelines. Also, it's not just about what we can pay a head coach. It's what is our budget for recruiting and other things? There are real challenges there now at our level so hiring for an FCS position is not as easy as some want to make it out to be. We haven't had to do this in over 20 years, and times have changed a lot. I'm excited to see what he can do, excited for a fresh start, excited for the Dome remodel, and excited to be a Panther. Let's give him our full support because he won't be able to succeed without it. No one can.

We don't have a choice but to support and hope for the best, but none of this particularly answers any of our concerns, I don't think. Matt Eberflus is very well-liked as well, but was totally out-matched by a job that was above his skill level, and now he's unemployed.

He's being asked to do a job with pressures and obstacle he has no history clearing, or even navigating. We are, unfortunately, in a bit of an either/or proposition.

Either our new AD had access to an extremely good coaching talent from her last employer, and has substantial personal insight into what type of coach is needed at a program like UNI...

or


We're in big trouble. I suppose that's true whomever she hired, but we're way out on a limb, here. All we can do is hope.

[06panther10]

I guess I don't really understand the angst considering the candidate pool. Did I like some other guys on paper? Yeah, but it was just paper. And if it comes down to $ negotiation, we don't have much leverage. It is what it is.

Ultimately, we were always going to hire a guy from a lower level to come up, or a youngish assistant FCS coach with no head coaching experience. We don't have the money to throw around (basically nobody does at this level) to go out and just get a guy that everyone wants. It was always going to be somewhat of a crap shoot that you hope works out perfectly.

People were begging for new blood in the AD and Football program, and that is exactly what we got. We have no choice but trust them to do their jobs until they prove us otherwise.

[kochrab]

I guess I don't really understand the angst considering the candidate pool. Did I like some other guys on paper? Yeah, but it was just paper. And if it comes down to $ negotiation, we don't have much leverage. It is what it is.

Ultimately, we were always going to hire a guy from a lower level to come up, or a youngish assistant FCS coach with no head coaching experience. We don't have the money to throw around (basically nobody does at this level) to go out and just get a guy that everyone wants. It was always going to be somewhat of a crap shoot that you hope works out perfectly.

People were begging for new blood in the AD and Football program, and that is exactly what we got. We have no choice but trust them to do their jobs until they prove us otherwise.

I fully agree. And Dr. Franklin has assembled a team that I think most of us have seen and she and her whole team have proved themselves to be extremely competent and following through on lots of things that need taking care of.

[BCPanther]

Realistic expectations for the next couple of years are going to be key. It's not going to look great next year but we just need to see that there's a plan and that he can manage a roster and basic game situations. He's got a hole to dig out of especially after the coming portal exodus.

Schedule is MUCH lighter next year so 3 or 4 wins is a realistic goal.

[MVCBeat]

Realistic expectations for the next couple of years are going to be key. It's not going to look great next year but we just need to see that there's a plan and that he can manage a roster and basic game situations. He's got a hole to dig out of especially after the coming portal exodus.

Schedule is MUCH lighter next year so 3 or 4 wins is a realistic goal.

A portal exodus for a 3-9 team might not be the worst thing. If there is enthusiasm and he is a good recruiter, there will certainly be an opportunity for a portal influx as well.