TLDR Warning. Just my opinions …
For most new staffs, season three or four is where the verdict on potential for success begins to come in. With the crazy Covid season, this is more like year number three we are entering. Football program rebuilds are a daunting challenge. It is like building, training and mobilizing a small army. No small task. Adding to that, early success on the field is critical to recruiting, which is critical to sustained program success and improvement.
In most cases outside of blue blood programs or well managed retirements, most staffs are coming in facing a serious challenge due to prior declining program performance. Often the roster has issues, the level of athlete in the program has declined, and recruiting is in decline due to on field results and pending changes/uncertainty. Probably fair to say that is exactly what Klieman and his staff inherited.
There is an expression called “Landing the Plane”. It emphasizes a sharp focus on the highest priorities, getting it safely on the ground anyway you can and live to see another day. I think that expression applies quite nicely to the view that newly assembled football staffs should have in phase 1 of a rebuild.
I think Klieman nailed this one. You could argue that he played it a bit safe in the earliest stages of this program build, sticking with the familiar (Mess, offensive and defensive approaches). But in other instances, he took chances in areas like player character (Alexander?). Either way, he learned, adapted, and changed course for the better with results to show for it. He clearly is a “fixer”.
Klieman has methodically put together two 8 win seasons while fixing the program problems and rebuilding the roster on the fly. That is an amazing achievement. What I really like is the steady workmanlike approach. His work and sustained success will likely be durable because he appears to be doing it the right way. I mostly like his style and demeanor, especially in contrast to flashy guys like PJ Fleck. Those types seem to have the shelf life of a boy band.
I think he has fully realized what it is going to take to compete in the Big 12 and eventually be in the national spot light and CFP talk. He has been willing to make staffing changes. He has changed the offense and the defense. He appears to be on the cusp of turning the corner on improved recruiting.
What maybe impresses me the most is how he has managed priorities and change in what appears to be the most logical order. He seems to be able to address critical things as they arise (departures/roster holes/portal), while chipping away at longer term challenges like improved recruiting and recruiting inroads.
Just curious to see where Klieman takes us from here. There no doubt will be challenging seasons (2023), but it feels like it is headed in the right direction. I think the biggest questions on the hiring of Klieman have been answered and he has burned down some of the biggest program risks we faced during the early stages of a transition. Can he continue to improve the program and sustain that success? Who knows?
Either way it feels like he has “landed the plane”.
For most new staffs, season three or four is where the verdict on potential for success begins to come in. With the crazy Covid season, this is more like year number three we are entering. Football program rebuilds are a daunting challenge. It is like building, training and mobilizing a small army. No small task. Adding to that, early success on the field is critical to recruiting, which is critical to sustained program success and improvement.
In most cases outside of blue blood programs or well managed retirements, most staffs are coming in facing a serious challenge due to prior declining program performance. Often the roster has issues, the level of athlete in the program has declined, and recruiting is in decline due to on field results and pending changes/uncertainty. Probably fair to say that is exactly what Klieman and his staff inherited.
There is an expression called “Landing the Plane”. It emphasizes a sharp focus on the highest priorities, getting it safely on the ground anyway you can and live to see another day. I think that expression applies quite nicely to the view that newly assembled football staffs should have in phase 1 of a rebuild.
I think Klieman nailed this one. You could argue that he played it a bit safe in the earliest stages of this program build, sticking with the familiar (Mess, offensive and defensive approaches). But in other instances, he took chances in areas like player character (Alexander?). Either way, he learned, adapted, and changed course for the better with results to show for it. He clearly is a “fixer”.
Klieman has methodically put together two 8 win seasons while fixing the program problems and rebuilding the roster on the fly. That is an amazing achievement. What I really like is the steady workmanlike approach. His work and sustained success will likely be durable because he appears to be doing it the right way. I mostly like his style and demeanor, especially in contrast to flashy guys like PJ Fleck. Those types seem to have the shelf life of a boy band.
I think he has fully realized what it is going to take to compete in the Big 12 and eventually be in the national spot light and CFP talk. He has been willing to make staffing changes. He has changed the offense and the defense. He appears to be on the cusp of turning the corner on improved recruiting.
What maybe impresses me the most is how he has managed priorities and change in what appears to be the most logical order. He seems to be able to address critical things as they arise (departures/roster holes/portal), while chipping away at longer term challenges like improved recruiting and recruiting inroads.
Just curious to see where Klieman takes us from here. There no doubt will be challenging seasons (2023), but it feels like it is headed in the right direction. I think the biggest questions on the hiring of Klieman have been answered and he has burned down some of the biggest program risks we faced during the early stages of a transition. Can he continue to improve the program and sustain that success? Who knows?
Either way it feels like he has “landed the plane”.
