[Husker] Today's WSJ on ex-pro coaches in college

[Theodore Heise]

Another contributor could just be experience gained with a new
system.  For example, what was the trend (if any) among new coaches
who had *not* come from the pros?

Ted

> I don't subscribe and so cannot view the article, but I note that
> the number of games used to compute the winning percentage decreases
> each year.  One reason that there are fewer games figured in year
> 4 than year 1 might be that unsuccessful coaches did not last to
> year 4.  If that is the case, it would seem that ascribing the
> increasing winning percentage with each successive year to
> improvements made by the incoming coaches may be an incorrect
> conconclusion.  It might be that the records didn't improve, but
> the less successful coaches did not continue while the successful
> coaches did continue.
>
> > Allen St. John compares the records of coaches with professional
> > experience who have transitioned to college football head coaching,
> > beginning with Pete Carroll at U$C in 2001.    Based on what he found,
> > first- and second-year angst is not uncommon among schools who have
> > chosen pro coaches.
> >
> > Here's his summary quote:
> >
> > > The bottom line: Instituting a pro-style system takes time, requiring a
> > > smart scheme, plus the players to execute it. But when things take
> > > hold, look out.