IOWA

[hexumhawk]

Where you can go and have a 10+ year career for being a .500 coach. I just don't understand why our fanbase is alright with this. We will never be better if you dont try.

Iowa Hawkeyes (Big Ten Conference) (2010–present)​
2010–11	Iowa	11–20	4–14	10th
2011–12	Iowa	18–17	8–10	T–7th	NIT Second Round
2012–13	Iowa	25–13	9–9	6th	NIT Runner-up
2013–14	Iowa	20–13	9–9	6th	NCAA Division I First Four
2014–15	Iowa	22–12	12–6	T–3rd	NCAA Division I Round of 32
2015–16	Iowa	22–11	12–6	T–3rd	NCAA Division I Round of 32
2016–17	Iowa	19–15	10–8	T–5th	NIT Second Round
2017–18	Iowa	14–19	4–14	T–11th
2018–19	Iowa	23–12	10–10	6th	NCAA Division I Round of 32
2019–20	Iowa	20–11	11–9	T–5th	NCAA Division I Canceled
2020–21	Iowa	22–9	14–6	3rd	NCAA Division I Round of 32
Iowa:	216–152 (.587)	103–101 (.505)

 

[Rustys Dad]

Yep

 

[CalmHawk]

So you are mad at the .500 coach because he has a guy choosing to leave? Have you looked at any other school this year when it comes to the portal?

I get it, but I am willing to wait and see what he does with this next crop of guys. It certainly will be a different style of play than what we have seen.

Ulis, Perkins, Toussaint will put pressure on opposing guards

Kris, Keegan, and Patrick will be tweeners that are athletic and can play defense.

Sandfort is a straight up shooter and looks to be in the mold of Weiskamp

Ogundele is a force down low and seems to be improving from what I can see

Mulvey is a wild card and will probably need some time to develop.

Then you have Connor as a glue guy. Not great in offense, but knows they system and how to get the ball to guys.

Bohannon and Weiskamp coming back would not hurt my feelings at all. We could use at least 1 of those guys.

I would certainly like to see Most of the younger guys get the minutes. We could also land some sort of transfer. There are a ton out there and we have spots open for them to come in and play, which was lacking.

 

[Eburghawk]

it takes at least 12 years to turn a program around

 

[markfromj]

How do you know the fan base is okay with it?

 

[CalmHawk]

How do you know the fan base is okay with it?

How does the fan base change what is happening? Simple answer is we cant unless we stop going to games. Which would be pretty stupid considering how much different we are right now as compared to the latter part of those Lick years when that happened.

Transition is hard for people, but I am willing to wait and see with Fran at the moment. He deserves at least 2 more years. If we start to suck and we have a losing record in these next 2 years then yeah, it is time for a change. Right now I just do not see it.

 

[BlackNGoldBleeder]

Where you can go and have a 10+ year career for being a .500 coach. I just don't understand why our fanbase is alright with this. We will never be better if you dont try.

Iowa Hawkeyes (Big Ten Conference) (2010–present)​
2010–11	Iowa	11–20	4–14	10th
2011–12	Iowa	18–17	8–10	T–7th	NIT Second Round
2012–13	Iowa	25–13	9–9	6th	NIT Runner-up
2013–14	Iowa	20–13	9–9	6th	NCAA Division I First Four
2014–15	Iowa	22–12	12–6	T–3rd	NCAA Division I Round of 32
2015–16	Iowa	22–11	12–6	T–3rd	NCAA Division I Round of 32
2016–17	Iowa	19–15	10–8	T–5th	NIT Second Round
2017–18	Iowa	14–19	4–14	T–11th
2018–19	Iowa	23–12	10–10	6th	NCAA Division I Round of 32
2019–20	Iowa	20–11	11–9	T–5th	NCAA Division I Canceled
2020–21	Iowa	22–9	14–6	3rd	NCAA Division I Round of 32
Iowa:	216–152 (.587)	103–101 (.505)

100% agree.

To put things in perspective, Fran will be entering season twelve at Iowa. He got an extension. When Tom Davis entered season twelve, he was told his contract would not be renewed.

Times have changed.

 

[ChiPackHawk]

So you are mad at the .500 coach because he has a guy choosing to leave? Have you looked at any other school this year when it comes to the portal?

I get it, but I am willing to wait and see what he does with this next crop of guys. It certainly will be a different style of play than what we have seen.

Ulis, Perkins, Toussaint will put pressure on opposing guards

Kris, Keegan, and Patrick will be tweeners that are athletic and can play defense.

Sandfort is a straight up shooter and looks to be in the mold of Weiskamp

Ogundele is a force down low and seems to be improving from what I can see

Mulvey is a wild card and will probably need some time to develop.

Then you have Connor as a glue guy. Not great in offense, but knows they system and how to get the ball to guys.

Bohannon and Weiskamp coming back would not hurt my feelings at all. We could use at least 1 of those guys.

I would certainly like to see Most of the younger guys get the minutes. We could also land some sort of transfer. There are a ton out there and we have spots open for them to come in and play, which was lacking.

They are mad at a coach for a kid leaving that 90% of the people on this Board claimed was a reach at best and a waste of a scholarship.

 

[BlackNGoldBleeder]

So you are mad at the .500 coach because he has a guy choosing to leave? Have you looked at any other school this year when it comes to the portal?

I get it, but I am willing to wait and see what he does with this next crop of guys. It certainly will be a different style of play than what we have seen.

Ulis, Perkins, Toussaint will put pressure on opposing guards

Kris, Keegan, and Patrick will be tweeners that are athletic and can play defense.

Sandfort is a straight up shooter and looks to be in the mold of Weiskamp

Ogundele is a force down low and seems to be improving from what I can see

Mulvey is a wild card and will probably need some time to develop.

Then you have Connor as a glue guy. Not great in offense, but knows they system and how to get the ball to guys.

Bohannon and Weiskamp coming back would not hurt my feelings at all. We could use at least 1 of those guys.

I would certainly like to see Most of the younger guys get the minutes. We could also land some sort of transfer. There are a ton out there and we have spots open for them to come in and play, which was lacking.

Lol. This is bigger than CJ. If you think Hex is talking about one player leaving, you're part of the fan base that doesn't get it.

 

[BlackNGoldBleeder]

How does the fan base change what is happening? Simple answer is we cant unless we stop going to games. Which would be pretty stupid considering how much different we are right now as compared to the latter part of those Lick years when that happened.

Transition is hard for people, but I am willing to wait and see with Fran at the moment. He deserves at least 2 more years. If we start to suck and we have a losing record in these next 2 years then yeah, it is time for a change. Right now I just do not see it.

The next fan who mentions Todd Lickliter should munch on a heaping platter of feces.

 

[fezzador]

Lol. This is bigger than CJ. If you think Hex is talking about one player leaving, you're part of the fan base that doesn't get it.

What's sad is that Iowa's best acquisition might be JBo returning for one last year.

 

[DodgerHawki]

Where you can go and have a 10+ year career for being a .500 coach. I just don't understand why our fanbase is alright with this. We will never be better if you dont try.

Iowa Hawkeyes (Big Ten Conference) (2010–present)​
2010–11	Iowa	11–20	4–14	10th
2011–12	Iowa	18–17	8–10	T–7th	NIT Second Round
2012–13	Iowa	25–13	9–9	6th	NIT Runner-up
2013–14	Iowa	20–13	9–9	6th	NCAA Division I First Four
2014–15	Iowa	22–12	12–6	T–3rd	NCAA Division I Round of 32
2015–16	Iowa	22–11	12–6	T–3rd	NCAA Division I Round of 32
2016–17	Iowa	19–15	10–8	T–5th	NIT Second Round
2017–18	Iowa	14–19	4–14	T–11th
2018–19	Iowa	23–12	10–10	6th	NCAA Division I Round of 32
2019–20	Iowa	20–11	11–9	T–5th	NCAA Division I Canceled
2020–21	Iowa	22–9	14–6	3rd	NCAA Division I Round of 32
Iowa:	216–152 (.587)	103–101 (.505)

Being .500 in conference at Iowa isn't a terrible performance. I would guess at least half the teams teams in the Big 10 are at .500 or below in conference over the past decade.

The issue is that there isn't a conference title, conference tournament title or Sweet 16 run in that time period. Fans will live with the peaks and valleys, but if you don't have the really big highs to cling to it makes it harder to live with the valleys.

If we were to compare Fran with Ferentz, the differences are that KF is higher above .500 (KF is 103-77 in Big 10 games) and KF has had the trophies/titles that make people exercise patience. 2 conference titles, another division title, two other Top 10 finishes. A win in one of the great bowl games (Orange) and two appearances in the big bowl games (Rose and Orange).

Fran has overall done a good job at Iowa. It doesn't appear that there will be more than that coming. Fran had the best player in the conference the last 2 seasons which resulted in a 11-9 conference record and a good (14-6) conference record but no threat to win the league.

 

[iahawks10]

Where you can go and have a 10+ year career for being a .500 coach. I just don't understand why our fanbase is alright with this. We will never be better if you dont try.

Iowa Hawkeyes (Big Ten Conference) (2010–present)​
2010–11	Iowa	11–20	4–14	10th
2011–12	Iowa	18–17	8–10	T–7th	NIT Second Round
2012–13	Iowa	25–13	9–9	6th	NIT Runner-up
2013–14	Iowa	20–13	9–9	6th	NCAA Division I First Four
2014–15	Iowa	22–12	12–6	T–3rd	NCAA Division I Round of 32
2015–16	Iowa	22–11	12–6	T–3rd	NCAA Division I Round of 32
2016–17	Iowa	19–15	10–8	T–5th	NIT Second Round
2017–18	Iowa	14–19	4–14	T–11th
2018–19	Iowa	23–12	10–10	6th	NCAA Division I Round of 32
2019–20	Iowa	20–11	11–9	T–5th	NCAA Division I Canceled
2020–21	Iowa	22–9	14–6	3rd	NCAA Division I Round of 32
Iowa:	216–152 (.587)	103–101 (.505)

Maybe try looking at it like this....... These are where Iowa ranked in the B1G amongst fellow B1G coaches view points.

History/tradition = 9th
Media exposure = 10th
Game atmosphere = 11th 😂
BUDGET/RESOURCES = 13th
Recruiting Base = Dead last
Facilities = 12th
Selling Pros = 10th
Admission requirements = 1st

Overall = 11th


Start with just a few of these concerns like Exposure, Facilities, Budget, Recruiting...... Then look where Iowa finishes in B1G. Year after year, well above where they should finish according to other B1G coaches ranking.

Look at the football team. KF can name his retirement date here. KF is 59% win rate in the B1G in the last ten years. Fran’s is 53%. Not much difference except basketball doesn’t have the luxury of the B1G West division to play consistently.

 

[BlackNGoldBleeder]

Being .500 in conference at Iowa isn't a terrible performance. I would guess at least half the teams teams in the Big 10 are at .500 or below in conference over the past decade.

The issue is that there isn't a conference title, conference tournament title or Sweet 16 run in that time period. Fans will live with the peaks and valleys, but if you don't have the really big highs to cling to it makes it harder to live with the valleys.

If we were to compare Fran with Ferentz, the differences are that KF is higher above .500 (KF is 103-77 in Big 10 games) and KF has had the trophies/titles that make people exercise patience. 2 conference titles, another division title, two other Top 10 finishes. A win in one of the great bowl games (Orange) and two appearances in the big bowl games (Rose and Orange).

Fran has overall done a good job at Iowa. It doesn't appear that there will be more than that coming. Fran had the best player in the conference the last 2 seasons which resulted in a 11-9 conference record and a good (14-6) conference record but no threat to win the league.

You hit the nail on the head. Even programs like Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas have mediocre years. At Iowa, you'll get plenty of those seasons.

The problem is the program has plateaued under Fran. There is no recruiting momentum and no real confidence anyone on the current roster can step in and keep Iowa competitive.

 

[LarryMullenJr.]

It's good to see Genius Gary has made the right move with the extension.

Weathermen are the only people who can be this wrong this often and keep their jobs....and they may perform statistically better than Gary does.

 

[Legs94]

You hit the nail on the head. Even programs like Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas have mediocre years. At Iowa, you'll get plenty of those seasons.

The problem is the program has plateaued under Fran. There is no recruiting momentum and no real confidence anyone on the current roster can step in and keep Iowa competitive.

In addition to all of this, Fran has proven he can't overcome his flaws. We will never be a good defensive team, and that's what it takes to win in March. We had the National Player of the Year, and a few great shooters and our greatest accomplishment was finishing 3rd in a somewhat overrated league. Didn't make the Big 10 championship game, didn't make it out of the first weekend. At some point you just have to admit that this is as good as it's going to get under Fran and it appears we are going to go the other way very quickly.

 

[perryhawk]

Where you can go and have a 10+ year career for being a .500 coach. I just don't understand why our fanbase is alright with this. We will never be better if you dont try.

Iowa Hawkeyes (Big Ten Conference) (2010–present)​
2010–11	Iowa	11–20	4–14	10th
2011–12	Iowa	18–17	8–10	T–7th	NIT Second Round
2012–13	Iowa	25–13	9–9	6th	NIT Runner-up
2013–14	Iowa	20–13	9–9	6th	NCAA Division I First Four
2014–15	Iowa	22–12	12–6	T–3rd	NCAA Division I Round of 32
2015–16	Iowa	22–11	12–6	T–3rd	NCAA Division I Round of 32
2016–17	Iowa	19–15	10–8	T–5th	NIT Second Round
2017–18	Iowa	14–19	4–14	T–11th
2018–19	Iowa	23–12	10–10	6th	NCAA Division I Round of 32
2019–20	Iowa	20–11	11–9	T–5th	NCAA Division I Canceled
2020–21	Iowa	22–9	14–6	3rd	NCAA Division I Round of 32
Iowa:	216–152 (.587)	103–101 (.505)

Fist off....clearly the entire fanbase isn't okay with the record. Trying to simplify things by putting everyone into one category seems like just trying to start an argument.

I think there are a number of Hawkeye fans who understand that the coaching and success at Iowa is more complex and a narrow, or surface/summary, view doesn't really do justice.

I think all Hawkeye fans want to win at a high level consistently.......like every other fanbase in the country.

A fan could easily look at this last year and the 14-6 record in the B10.....the best in Fran's tenure, and try to make the argument that he continues to improve.....or they can have a negative view of the overall record.....and reality is probably somewhere in between.

 

[BlackNGoldBleeder]

In addition to all of this, Fran has proven he can't overcome his flaws. We will never be a good defensive team, and that's what it takes to win in March. We had the National Player of the Year, and a few great shooters and our greatest accomplishment was finishing 3rd in a somewhat overrated league. Didn't make the Big 10 championship game, didn't make it out of the first weekend. At some point you just have to admit that this is as good as it's going to get under Fran and it appears we are going to go the other way very quickly.

Iowa was 1-1 in the BTT and 1-1 in the NCAA tournament.

When you have the NPOTY to go with a veteran-laden team, that is the definition of futility and mediocrity.

 

[BlackNGoldBleeder]

Fist off....clearly the entire fanbase isn't okay with the record. Trying to simplify things by putting everyone into one category seems like just trying to start an argument.

I think there are a number of Hawkeye fans who understand that the coaching and success at Iowa is more complex and a narrow, or surface/summary, view doesn't really do justice.

I think all Hawkeye fans want to win at a high level consistently.......like every other fanbase in the country.

A fan could easily look at this last year and the 14-6 record in the B10.....the best in Fran's tenure, and try to make the argument that he continues to improve.....or they can have a negative view of the overall record.....and reality is probably somewhere in between.

The problem with your theory of nuance and context is we have had over a decade of Fran to draw some fairly obvious conclusions from.

1) Iowa will always play garbage defense under Fran.

2) Recruiting will always be crap under Fran.

3) A third-place finish in an overrated conference with a veteran club and the NPOTY is as good as it will get under Fran.

4) A first weekend exit in the tournament is as good as it will get under Fran.

If you're okay with that, then I would argue you have a low opinion of Iowa basketball. I don't give a shit about Todd Lickliter.

 

[MepoDawg#]

Lol. This is bigger than CJ. If you think Hex is talking about one player leaving, you're part of the fan base that doesn't get it.

Please elaborate.

 

[Lumas Etima]

I'll be honest: if Fran retired today, and Iowa had a chance to hire a coach with the record above -- at a P5 school not known for having tremendous natural advantages -- I would be optimisic about the hire.

That said, I would be a little concerned about the lack of Sweet 16s.

 

[Hendy hawk]

100% agree.

To put things in perspective, Fran will be entering season twelve at Iowa. He got an extension. When Tom Davis entered season twelve, he was told his contract would not be renewed.

Times have changed.

Times HAVE changed.
The former AD(Bowlsby) was trying to make a name for himself by bringing in a big time player/coach that failed to pan out. He left for greener pastures after failing and Barta hired Licklihter which was an epic failure.
Lets give Fran and his new recruits a chance and see how it goes. In 2 yrs we will all know if he should be fired or not.

 

[TampaHawkfan]

I'll be honest: if Fran retired today, and Iowa had a chance to hire a coach with the record above -- at a P5 school not known for having tremendous natural advantages -- I would be optimisic about the hire.

That said, I would be a little concerned about the lack of Sweet 16s.

I basically agree with this.

I'll sum up my feelings simply: I think Fran is a good coach, just not a great coach.

Fran has what it takes to make us competitive, but that's about it. It's basically "Dr. Tom with his own recruits" type success. If message boards are any indication, the fans attitude towards Fran seems pretty similar to how it was towards Davis by the end of his tenure, too. Some are growing restless with the "2nd round NCAA" ceiling.

Are we reliving history?

 

[BlackNGoldBleeder]

Times HAVE changed.
The former AD(Bowlsby) was trying to make a name for himself by bringing in a big time player/coach that failed to pan out. He left for greener pastures after failing and Barta hired Licklihter which was an epic failure.
Lets give Fran and his new recruits a chance and see how it goes. In 2 yrs we will all know if he should be fired or not.

We don't need to wait to see how it will go.

 

[TampaHawkfan]

Times HAVE changed.
The former AD(Bowlsby) was trying to make a name for himself by bringing in a big time player/coach that failed to pan out. He left for greener pastures after failing and Barta hired Licklihter which was an epic failure.
Lets give Fran and his new recruits a chance and see how it goes. In 2 yrs we will all know if he should be fired or not.

Fran has been here over a decade. We know who he is by now. It's only a question of whether we (as fans) are satisfied with the results or not.

I think Fran has done enough to keep his job, but it also doesn't look good for next year. I don't want to even speculate about 2-3 years out. Things are very fluid anymore with roster changes.

 

[perryhawk]

The problem with your theory of nuance and context is we have had over a decade of Fran to draw some fairly obvious conclusions from.

1) Iowa will always play garbage defense under Fran.

2) Recruiting will always be crap under Fran.

3) A third-place finish in an overrated conference with a veteran club and the NPOTY is as good as it will get under Fran.

4) A first weekend exit in the tournament is as good as it will get under Fran.

If you're okay with that, then I would argue you have a low opinion of Iowa basketball. I don't give a shit about Todd Lickliter.

So #1 garbage defense-that's often been true with this graduating group...but not always true under Fran.

#2...NPOTY and recruiting will always be crap.....hmm

#3 That's a lot of assumption......

#4 Another assumption....certainly he's gotten to the second game on the first weekend and come within an eyelash of getting to the Sweet 16 so I wouldn't say it won't happen.

This is kind of like people wanting to Fire Kirk the year before 2015....he's been pretty good since then.

 

[CalmHawk]

You hit the nail on the head. Even programs like Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas have mediocre years. At Iowa, you'll get plenty of those seasons.

The problem is the program has plateaued under Fran. There is no recruiting momentum and no real confidence anyone on the current roster can step in and keep Iowa competitive.

I agree with you, but we as fans can do nothing but whine about it at this point, so I am choosing a wait and see approach is all.

 

[Bearhawk0505]

Basketball is not a numbers game. Land a few studs and you are in business. There are plenty of good, hungry, younger coaches out there. I do not understand the fear of changing basketball coaches. Fran did a decent job with his rebuild here, but it does not appear to be a program that is rising if you look at our recruiting. I would love fresh blood as the basketball coach.....and I have been saying this for a handful of years now.

 

[BlackNGoldBleeder]

So #1 garbage defense-that's often been true with this graduating group...but not always true under Fran.

#2...NPOTY and recruiting will always be crap.....hmm

#3 That's a lot of assumption......

#4 Another assumption....certainly he's gotten to the second game on the first weekend and come within an eyelash of getting to the Sweet 16 so I wouldn't say it won't happen.

This is kind of like people wanting to Fire Kirk the year before 2015....he's been pretty good since then.

Please provide evidence of when Iowa has been good defensively under Fran.

Luka put in the work and developed into the player he has become. It's not like Fran beat out a bunch of bluebloods for Luka.

We've seen over a decade of Fran's teams. They're both pretty good assumptions.

Comparing Fran to Kirk is apples and broccoli. Kirk has won COTY, shares of conference championships, big bowl games, and has finished in the Top 10 numerous times. Lol. Please.

 

[Bearhawk0505]

So #1 garbage defense-that's often been true with this graduating group...but not always true under Fran.

#2...NPOTY and recruiting will always be crap.....hmm

#3 That's a lot of assumption......

#4 Another assumption....certainly he's gotten to the second game on the first weekend and come within an eyelash of getting to the Sweet 16 so I wouldn't say it won't happen.

This is kind of like people wanting to Fire Kirk the year before 2015....he's been pretty good since then.

Putting Kirk in the same sentence as Fran is not fair to Kirk. He had results like a conference championship, BCS bowl victory, and multiple top ten finishes. And in my opinion, football is far more difficult to be successful in the Midwest as it is much more of a numbers game.

 

[Bearhawk0505]

I obviously did not read Blackngold’s post as I essentially wrote the same thing...lol

 

[Slim45]

While I don’t disagree we’ve had some pretty disappointing endings to seasons under Fran, I don’t necessarily think we have plateaued under him either. Look at Lisa Bluders career, it took her a looooong time to have any success in the NCAA tourney, and once she broke through she has had a bunch of success the last 5-7? seasons.

 

[perryhawk]

Please provide evidence of when Iowa has been good defensively under Fran.

Luka put in the work and developed into the player he has become. It's not like Fran beat out a bunch of bluebloods for Luka.

We've seen over a decade of Fran's teams. They're both pretty good assumptions.

Comparing Fran to Kirk is apples and broccoli. Kirk has won COTY, shares of conference championships, big bowl games, and has finished in the Top 10 numerous times. Lol. Please.

From Kenpom

2016 – 30th, 69.3 ppg

2015 – 34th, 62.3 ppg

With over 300 D1 BB schools those would be pretty decent.

So the statement that "Iowa will always play garbage defense under Fran".....is factually false. I'm not saying he's some great defensive coach...I just think that some level of reality is important.

Admitting that they are assumptions is a good step.

I was comparing the drama queen fans that were ready to fire Kirk...to the emotional exaggerations here because of the bad news we've had lately.

I was a fan at the end of the Lute era...Raveling, and then everyone that thought firing TD to get to the next level was a good idea......so I am just not ready to dump the reasonably successful coach that we have in order to hire who? What guarantees are there that we will hire someone better?

 

[dekhawk]

Fran is an average coach, Iowa has settled. I’m not supposed to bring up the great years because those are apparently unachievable anymore.

 

[Frosty7130]

Firing a coach after the year we had and 3 straight NCAA tournament appearances (and 6 of the last 8) is Nebraska-fan level idiocy. You'd think we were Duke with the arrogance some of our fans have.

I'm not even a Fran guy but some of you are just ****ing stupid.

 

[iahawks10]

From Kenpom

2016 – 30th, 69.3 ppg

2015 – 34th, 62.3 ppg

With over 300 D1 BB schools those would be pretty decent.

So the statement that "Iowa will always play garbage defense under Fran".....is factually false. I'm not saying he's some great defensive coach...I just think that some level of reality is important.

Admitting that they are assumptions is a good step.

I was comparing the drama queen fans that were ready to fire Kirk...to the emotional exaggerations here because of the bad news we've had lately.

I was a fan at the end of the Lute era...Raveling, and then everyone that thought firing TD to get to the next level was a good idea......so I am just not ready to dump the reasonably successful coach that we have in order to hire who? What guarantees are there that we will hire someone better?

2013 - 24th

 

[DodgerHawki]

Firing a coach after the year we had and 3 straight NCAA tournament appearances (and 6 of the last 8) is Nebraska-fan level idiocy. You'd think we were Duke with the arrogance some of our fans have.

I'm not even a Fran guy but some of you are just ****ing stupid.

I would 100% agree that talk of firing is dumb. As you pointed out, Iowa would be silly to do that. But there is a difference between firing and handing out another extension for no apparent reason other than Barta really doesn't like hiring coaches.

 

[Frosty7130]

I would 100% agree that talk of firing is dumb. As you pointed out, Iowa would be silly to do that. But there is a difference between firing and handing out another extension for no apparent reason other than Barta really doesn't like hiring coaches.

That's how you keep a coach. Match his competitors. If you don't, you risk losing him to people willing to pay the money (Notre Dame has sniffed around Fran supposedly).

Just like in 2016 when people complained about KF's contract extension that put him in like the top 5 coaching salries. Today he sits at the 19th highest salary.

In 2 years, Fran's contract will be peanuts compared to his peers.

 

[morley10]

Indiana’s 63 year old coach walks in and recruits a 4 star recruit out of Texas. Fran swings and misses too many times.

 

[iahawks10]

Indiana’s 63 year old coach walks in and recruits a 4 star recruit out of Texas. Fran swings and misses too many times.

Yet Woodson makes almost a million dollars more a year than Fran and has never coached a college game in his life.