Who would UND hire?

[NoDakAlum]

3 hours ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

#7 Brent Bolte

Only been at Bemidji St really, to be honest, and he’s had no real consistent playoff success until this season. He’s been a winning head coach, but no signifiant championship seasons. He has potential but not as much as more proven HC winners like Baldwin and Hoffner, and I don’t see him as innovative and connected as Schleusner and Schmidt.

Bolte has brought Bemidji State to the National Playoffs the past 4 years and has them on the cusp of the Final Four......no disrespect, but ..... we're talking about BEMIDJI STATE....!!!  Tell me the inherent advantages that he has going for him in Bemidji.... recruiting hot bed? (no); Max Scholarship money? (no); Fantastic Facilities?  (have you seen there 1920's stadium).  Given that Bemidji State's All-Time winning percentage is below .500 it's even more telling how good of a job he is doing.  Bolte continues to do more with less then any other coach in the COUNTRY for D2.  North Dakota would be lucky to get him.

[Longtime fan]

After sifting through some of the possibilities for the next coach ….really like Caruso.  Has proven track record as head coach.  At 50 …he knows how to relate to players yet experienced enough for in game decision making.  If he can turn und into a fcs power he still has time to move onto something better or simply ride it out to retirement if he chooses.  Plus I like the idea he and Freuchte have a relationship.  Keep the OC here. Keeps some familiarity with the players that has very little bubba influence.  Its a win win imo 

 

163-46 (78%) overall.  Played in two championship games (That era in D3 was owned by Mount union and Wisconsin whitewater). 
 

Has 6 national coach of the year awards.  He’s a winner !  He turned st Thomas around in his first year.  They were 2-8 the year before he got there.  His first year 7-3.  

yearly record at st Thomas 

7-3

11-2

12-1

13–1

14-1

8-3

14-1

12-1

11-2

8-2

8-2

7-3  (moved to D1)

10-1

8-3

6-6    157-34   82% 

 

From the cities area.  Huge recruiting area for und so having the ties to that area are a huge advantage.  

Can’t say he a defensive minded guy but had Brandon Staley as a D line coach who is the assistant head coach for SF 49ers.  Ex head coach for the chargers.  
 

 

 

 

[Ron Mexico]

If not Schmidt, Fruechte!!!

[Dustin]

4 minutes ago, NoDakAlum said:

Bolte has brought Bemidji State to the National Playoffs the past 4 years and has them on the cusp of the Final Four......no disrespect, but ..... we're talking about BEMIDJI STATE....!!!  Tell me the inherent advantages that he has going for him in Bemidji.... recruiting hot bed? (no); Max Scholarship money? (no); Fantastic Facilities?  (have you seen there 1920's stadium).  Given that Bemidji State's All-Time winning percentage is below .500 it's even more telling how good of a job he is doing.  Bolte continues to do more with less then any other coach in the COUNTRY for D2.  North Dakota would be lucky to get him.

Not saying other candidates aren’t good choices, but these reasons make him my #1. 

[sioux24/7]

3 minutes ago, Longtime fan said:

After sifting through some of the possibilities for the next coach ….really like Caruso.  Has proven track record as head coach.  At 50 …he knows how to relate to players yet experienced enough for in game decision making.  If he can turn und into a fcs power he still has time to move onto something better or simply ride it out to retirement if he chooses.  Plus I like the idea he and Freuchte have a relationship.  Keep the OC here. Keeps some familiarity with the players that has very little bubba influence.  Its a win win imo 

 

163-46 (78%) overall.  Played in two championship games (That era in D3 was owned by Mount union and Wisconsin whitewater). 
 

Has 6 national coach of the year awards.  He’s a winner !  He turned st Thomas around in his first year.  They were 2-8 the year before he got there.  His first year 7-3.  

yearly record at st Thomas 

7-3

11-2

12-1

13–1

14-1

8-3

14-1

12-1

11-2

8-2

8-2

7-3  (moved to D1)

10-1

8-3

6-6    157-34   82% 

 

From the cities area.  Huge recruiting area for und so having the ties to that area are a huge advantage.  

Can’t say he a defensive minded guy but had Brandon Staley as a D line coach who is the assistant head coach for SF 49ers.  Ex head coach for the chargers.  
 

 

 

 

Can’t win da big one!  @gfhockey

[sioux24/7]

If Fruechte is ultimately named, are we really confident he won’t retain much of the staff, including defense? I like him, I really do but I don’t know, he’s probably not my top choice. He’s my top choice to be OC next year though unless of course Danny is hired but I just don’t see it. 

[gfhockey]

5 minutes ago, sioux24/7 said:

Can’t win da big one!  @gfhockey

That’s what we want. The big one! 
and not get jobbed 

[lets eat]

15 minutes ago, sioux24/7 said:

Can’t win da big one!  @gfhockey

No looses!!

[UND92,96]

32 minutes ago, Longtime fan said:

After sifting through some of the possibilities for the next coach ….really like Caruso.  Has proven track record as head coach.  At 50 …he knows how to relate to players yet experienced enough for in game decision making.  If he can turn und into a fcs power he still has time to move onto something better or simply ride it out to retirement if he chooses.  Plus I like the idea he and Freuchte have a relationship.  Keep the OC here. Keeps some familiarity with the players that has very little bubba influence.  Its a win win imo 

 

163-46 (78%) overall.  Played in two championship games (That era in D3 was owned by Mount union and Wisconsin whitewater). 
 

Has 6 national coach of the year awards.  He’s a winner !  He turned st Thomas around in his first year.  They were 2-8 the year before he got there.  His first year 7-3.  

yearly record at st Thomas 

7-3

11-2

12-1

13–1

14-1

8-3

14-1

12-1

11-2

8-2

8-2

7-3  (moved to D1)

10-1

8-3

6-6    157-34   82% 

 

From the cities area.  Huge recruiting area for und so having the ties to that area are a huge advantage.  

Can’t say he a defensive minded guy but had Brandon Staley as a D line coach who is the assistant head coach for SF 49ers.  Ex head coach for the chargers.  
 

 

 

 

His bio is pretty interesting. I never realized he had no previous connections to Minnesota/the Dakota's (he's from Greenwich, CT) until he was hired at NDSU by Bob Babich 27 years ago. He's never really left the region since.

[ND-fan]

I believe one biggest requirements is coach here that has contacts and ability to recruit kids out of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and North Dakota This program doesn’t reach next level unless we start winning the recruiting battles against NDSU, SDSU, and USD because how good your coaches are we need raw talent for them to succeed.  Bubba was never able to overcome this and especially on defense side of the ball we had defense could have been top in division II or in Big Sky average defense but not in the Valley. This showed up in playoffs and also in the valley where our undersized defense wore down as season went along to where they couldn’t stop teams consistently and at same time kept our offense off the field keeping the strength of team being factor in the game.

[Siouxperman8]

28 minutes ago, ND-fan said:

I believe one biggest requirements is coach here that has contacts and ability to recruit kids out of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and North Dakota This program doesn’t reach next level unless we start winning the recruiting battles against NDSU, SDSU, and USD because how good your coaches are we need raw talent for them to succeed.  Bubba was never able to overcome this and especially on defense side of the ball we had defense could have been top in division II or in Big Sky average defense but not in the Valley. This showed up in playoffs and also in the valley where our undersized defense wore down as season went along to where they couldn’t stop teams consistently and at same time kept our offense off the field keeping the strength of team being factor in the game.

RT had this same philosophy about winning recruiting battles (against NDSU back then).  One of his assistants told me the story about a big recruit RB or QB that almost flipped last minute to UND.  In the end he stayed with SU and had a good career there but in the next few years they were able to out recruit NDSU for a number of players.  That is what got the ball rolling for their success at UND.

[iramurphy]

2 hours ago, bincitysioux said:

I don't know if that's a given.  I am trying to remember the last time UND had a really GOOD defense.

2007 maybe?  15+ years of average at best, but often atrocious defenses.  The one constant has been relying on variations of the Thomas-Lennon-Schwiegert defensive philosophy that was installed over 30 years ago.

Schmidt seems to be high on the list of contenders.  We know what his scheme will be.  He was certainly our most successful DC of the DI era. Also have to remember his time here coincided with Big Sky membership, which most here like to claim is a "soft" brand of football compared to the MVFC. 

I'm actually really concerned that Freund or Schluesner would simply leave the current defensive staff mostly in tact...........

I don’t believe Big Sky is “soft” but MVFC is a better conference top to bottom. 

We don’t know what Schmidt would do. He has been gone for some time. I doubt  the new HC will leave coaching staff intact regardless of who we hire. 
Whomever we hire better be able to adjust schemes based on personnel rather than putting players into schemes they may not be suited to. They will also need to try players at other positions if they aren’t contributing.  

We need an upgrade on both sides of the ball if we want to compete for a National Championship. 
 

I would also echo the praise for this coaching staff to get all 23 guys signed. Now let’s see if we can minimize portal loses and maximize portal gains. 

[Shawn-O]

Pretty quiet in the GFK skies today, I think we’ve got our guy! 

[Shawn-O]

On 11/30/2024 at 5:40 PM, Shawn-O said:

Matt Entz 

Entz to Fresno State, head coach. 

[Dustin]

6 minutes ago, Shawn-O said:

Pretty quiet in the GFK skies today, I think we’ve got our guy! 

Flights grounded due to weather??

[Oxbow6]

7 minutes ago, Shawn-O said:

Pretty quiet in the GFK skies today, I think we’ve got our guy! 

 

[UND-FB-FAN]

2 hours ago, bincitysioux said:

Schmidt seems to be high on the list of contenders.  We know what his scheme will be.  He was certainly our most successful DC of the DI era. Also have to remember his time here coincided with Big Sky membership, which most here like to claim is a "soft" brand of football compared to the MVFC. 

I'm actually really concerned that Freund or Schluesner would simply leave the current defensive staff mostly in tact...........

Schmidt defenses have been average to bad. Schleusner has made a ton of connections to a good defense at SDSU, I would guess the defense would get a makeover with him. Freund I would be concerned about.
 

I think Schleusner is the best candidate of the 3 with Schmidt being 2nd.

[UND-FB-FAN]

2 hours ago, sioux24/7 said:

If Fruechte is ultimately named, are we really confident he won’t retain much of the staff, including defense? I like him, I really do but I don’t know, he’s probably not my top choice. He’s my top choice to be OC next year though unless of course Danny is hired but I just don’t see it. 

He’s not in my top 10. He was a part of the 2024 debacle. And I understand it’s a limited sample size, but same could be said as to why it’s too risky to commit to him. His teams at Winona State weren’t good either. 

[UND-FB-FAN]

2 hours ago, NoDakAlum said:

Bolte has brought Bemidji State to the National Playoffs the past 4 years and has them on the cusp of the Final Four......no disrespect, but ..... we're talking about BEMIDJI STATE....!!!  Tell me the inherent advantages that he has going for him in Bemidji.... recruiting hot bed? (no); Max Scholarship money? (no); Fantastic Facilities?  (have you seen there 1920's stadium).  Given that Bemidji State's All-Time winning percentage is below .500 it's even more telling how good of a job he is doing.  Bolte continues to do more with less then any other coach in the COUNTRY for D2.  North Dakota would be lucky to get him.

I think there’s better candidates who’ve also accomplished quite a bit. 

[UND-FB-FAN]

2 hours ago, gundy1124 said:

He would bring a 4-2-5.  Is that what you meant?

 

2 hours ago, bincitysioux said:

I meant he played and coached for Lennon & Bubba, and their defensive philosophies are likely ingrained in him.

And I am not saying I feel Schmidt would fail, or that I am rooting for him not to get the job (if he is interested).

Just saying a good part of me feels that a clean break from the Roger Thomas coaching tree, could be a good thing.

Scheme don’t matter if the scheme don’t work. Schmidt’s defense in 2024 at San Diego State and at UND from 2014-2019 were below average. 

[UND-FB-FAN]

6 hours ago, sioux24/7 said:

Could also be because we didn’t have any sort of defense. Last two playoff Ls have been 35-42 and 31-38. 

And what would tell you or convince you that Fruechte, with his limited coaching experience, would have the connections to fix the defense?
 

I’m concerned and don’t think he should be a top candidate despite how nice he is and how new he is to UND football. 

[Hawkster]

22 minutes ago, Shawn-O said:

Entz to Fresno State, head coach. 

It's funny how Entz was run out of Fargo last year and now he's already promoted to HC in an FBS program.   Anyone think Bubba gets an FBS HC gig next year?    j/k

[Shawn-O]

14 minutes ago, Hawkster said:

It's funny how Entz was run out of Fargo last year and now he's already promoted to HC in an FBS program.   Anyone think Bubba gets an FBS HC gig next year?    j/k

I wonder if Vigen passed on it? 

[MNHawk]

I like Caruso, but he has really struggled with poor QB play in the D1 era. Hasn’t yet had 2,000 yards passing in four years. For context, Romfo got over 2,000 this year. 

[HoopsFan03]

53 minutes ago, Oxbow6 said:

 

I don’t think any flights were needed for him