Rating Jobs; Hawaiian Field Set

#1 posting 5.14.2006

COACHING JOBS
Here is my take on the coaching jobs available in Minnesota. These positions are open as far as I know, if they are filled let me know.

The numbers indicate that certain schools have better success at basketball. Those schools, in girls basketball at least, are the schools that have lower free & reduced lunch (FRL) students. This makes sense in that those schools probably have parents willing to shell out the bucks in the off season for private lessons, camps, leagues, AAU, and what not. In the 2004-05 year, the schools with 0-9% FRL had a winning % of .538, 10 points better than the 10-19% range. They were the tops in ppg with 48, tops in margin with 2.04, and best in Quality wins at .275.

I think jobs in certain sections are more attractive than others. That is because there is no one dominate team dynasty as a road block. It would be easier to establish a dynasty at those schools.

I also like single district schools as opposed to multiple schools. This negates the "I'm going to school xxxx because it is newer, or my friends go there, or I don't like the coach at school yyyy." With open enrollment every school is in your district so to speak (and I don't think that is healthy)

Also the strength of opposition throughout the year and that gets back to conferences. You want a conference that is going to have playoff atmosphere every game to be strong for the post season.

Also history, tradition, and who is back make for attractive jobs. At least in the short run.

The way the new coach can get everyone (administration, other coaches, players, parents) on board with their program will go a long way to determine their future success. I did not and do not know the administrators at these schools. They are a big part of success. Will they help or hinder?

AAAA
For immediate impact Champlin Park has to be the best job out there. They have a strong group back, play in the competitive NW Suburban, are in a section that is up for grabs. Their FRL is 13% A+
Andover is a tasty long range job with decent games in the Northwest Suburban, a region that is fairly wide open, and a low free & reduced lunch rate (FRL). A
White Bear Lake is probably one of the top jobs out there because they are in a strong conference, but their section appears to be an open one. Roseville has been tough the last few years, but WBL made it to the finals this year with a 6-22 team. Nothing but upside at this job. Suburban East conference good--FRL very good---single district---A
Apple Valley has some talent back, is in the tough Lake Conference, has a good FRL #, but their section also has teams like Eastview, Mpls South, and Kennedy. Of the three openings in this section AV is the best of the bunch, and I think may have good long term potential. B+
Eden Prairie is a plum job except for one factor--the section is brutal with state power Hopkins and a strong Edina team. Chaska will be strong as well the next few years. Post season succes will be hard to come by. May have filled position B+
Farmington has the LFRL, but their conference is primarily AAA teams which hurts in the post season. They have not had a history of success in gbb, and girls hockey seems to be the primary sport in the winter. C
Bemidji---the flaw here is no conference forcing them to play decent teams in AA, and AAA, but they are still a class below. Travel is a killer with time and distance. C
Richfield---their problems: conference has smattering of AAA teams; FRL #30% which is not great; facing too many schools that are stronger in the post season. C-
Mpls Southwest---The Minneapolis conference has gotten better the past few years, but there are still some dogs in the league. They are in the strong 6 section. FRL #s 39% 9 points higher than Richfield. Access to gyms in the city mired in redtape. C-/D+
St. Paul Como Park---Rumor has it their best player is headed to Central. FRL #s 49. D-
AAA
Orono has the LFRL in the state according to the Education Department with only a 2% rate. They are in a very competitive section with Benilde-St. Margaret's and Mpls North. Whoever comes out of 5 is pretty tough. They are moving into the Wright County, and that conference has not produced a state tournament entrant for six years. A-
Spring Lake Park---North Suburban a decent league for AAA. FRL #s 12%--very good numbers, great upside here. Section 6 has been between North Branch and Rogers, but, in general has been wide open. Right amount of elbow grease could get the job done. B+
Mankato East---used to be a power, now only a shell of former glory. Middle of pack in Big 9 at best the past few years. Looking up at Marshall in sections. FRL #s 30% which is a bit high. C
Sauk Rapids--made the state a few years ago, but slipped in the past two years. Central Lakes is good for AAA teams. FRL #s 23, which are ok. C
Minneapolis Washburn---if, and it is a big humongous if, they had the same roster as they had this year the position becomes more attractive. If the players scatter to the wind like the rumors that are swirling about, then it is not attractive. If players stay B, If not D+
AA
DGF--advantages of being close to a metro area (Fargo/Moorhead), decent AA conference in the Heart O'Lakes. Tradition of winning. Crookston is in the way in the section for two years. B+
St. Cloud Cathedral---a private school with good upside. West Central North a decent league at the top, with dogs below. B
Two Harbors---section 7 produces different champs almost every year. Plays AAA teams, and that is an advantage. FRL #s a good 17. Huge advantage, good upside B
BOLD---FRL #s 32. West Central South not as strong as North, Section 5 is usually New London-Spicer country. C-
A
Nevis---good players back. Northwoods conference has not produced a tournament entrant other than Cass Lake-Bena. Isolation--no major paper covers team. Looking up at Ada-Borup for the next few years. B-

Here are the latest job openings
http://gbbrecruit.blogspot.com/2006/05/coaching-openings.html

HAWAIIAN PLAYOFFS
BIG ISLAND
Honokaa snapped Konawaena's four year title run with a 41-33 in the D1 Big Island championship game. Both teams will advance to the state tournament. Story from the Hawaii Tribune Herald
MAUI
Molokai beat St. Anthony 34-28 to advance to the state tournament. It was Molokai's fourth game in four days. More from the Maui News

HAWAIIAN STATE TOURNAMENT
The tournament begins on Tuesday and runs through Friday in Honolulu. This is obviously a great opportunity to do some recruiting in paradise. The D1 tournament will be at the University of Hawaii, while the D2 tournament is at McKinley HS.
Here are the teams and their respective conferences. I will get the brackets up when the HHSAA puts it up
D1
BIIF: Honokaa and Konawaena.
MIL: Maui High and Lahainaluna.
ILH: Punahou and Kamehameha.
OIA: Roosevelt, Kalaheo, Kahuku, Radford, Moanalua and Mililani.
D2
BIIF: Kamehameha and Hawaii Prep.
MIL: Seabury Hall and Molokai.
KIF: Kapaa.
OIA: Kalani, Aiea and Castle.
ILH: La Pietra, St. Francis, Word of Life, Hawaii Baptist.

COACHING NEWS
COL/IA
Linda Lappe, a grad from Winfield-Mt. Union, IA ('96) and Colorado (2000), has resigned her assistant position at Drake and accepted an assistant position at Colorado State. Four Minnesota players will be at Colorado State this next year: Kelly Mullaney and Emily Neal, Breck, Lindsay Laur, Cretin-Derham Hall, and a third Breckster Kelly Finley, by way of Northwestern IL. The Lappe story is from the Burlington Hawkeye

COLLEGE NEWS
MN
Could MN Crookston drop down to D3? Here is what the Grand Forks Herald says about the task forces and recommendations.

CONFERENCE NEWS
WI
The Coulee Conference is undergoing a shake up due to the fact that LaCrescent, MN is leaving to join the Hiawatha Valley. This puts the Coulee at seven teams, and they are looking for an 8th. Article from the LaCrosse Tribune. Onalaska Luther also has their views from the Onalaska Community Life.

SUMMER LEAGUE
There is a summer college league for women at macalester college this year. unlike other leagues this one is NCAA certified so that area division I players that come home for the summer can have a place to play. coach geer of whatshoopin is the league director and you can find more information at his website

Next up: tonight close to 9 pm with the South of the River vs Rochester Shock game from Saturday afternoon. I will postpone my take on the differences between AAU & HS ball for another day. This posting got to be pretty large.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY