FCS Coach of the Year: Barnum at PSU

[IdaGriz01]

http://www.fcs.football/cfb/story.asp?i=20151207134731951876504

... It took less than half of the 2015 season for Barnum to shake that pesky interim tag from his title, overseeing such an instantaneous program-turning job at Portland State that in mid-October the university rewarded him with a five-year extension. Two months later, that decision looks like a pretty good investment, as Barnum won a national media vote Monday for pulling off the FCS' most impressive coaching effort this season. ...

Even though they got thumped in their one playoff game, I think this is well deserved. He took a program that has not been to the playoffs in over a decade (if ever, I did not check), had averaged a 4-7 record over that time ... and this year they won bunch of games, including two over FBS opponents (one of which was actually a pretty good team).

Will it last? Who know. But it's still a damned impressive turn-around.

 

[UMGriz75]

Even though they got thumped in their one playoff game, I think this is well deserved. He took a program that has not been to the playoffs in over a decade (if ever, I did not check), had averaged a 4-7 record over that time ... and this year they won bunch of games, including two over FBS opponents (one of which was actually a pretty good team).

Will it last? Who know. But it's still a damned impressive turn-around.

The idea of PSU being a permanent conference doormat was pretty well ingrained. Even at PSU.

The turnaround is remarkable. If the selection of Barnum is "wargamed," would he have attracted any attention at Montana, MSU or Eastern based on his asst coach record, which I understand was also at PSU? Illuminates the ongoing fact that "coaching" is still a lot of "intangible," and "records" are sometimes misleading, and that the strength of "programs" compared to just finding a really good coach can be over-rated as well, e.g. Don Read.

I also understand that Barnum is immensely personally popular with the players. Very well-liked. They want to play for him. When his contract appointment was announced to the team, mid-season, those guys were so happy for him. Be a good Sports Illustrated story.