Honest coaching question:

[chrispy]

One of my kids graduated ftom IU last year. I've watched the Hoosiers make a huge transformation in 2 seasons.

Has Mike Macdonald or Curt Cignetti done more in their first 2 seasons?

It seems like I waffle back and forth week to week/ day to day. Both brought in new QBs. The leagues are different. The portal changed NCAA. IUs undefeated and ranked 1. Seahawks have tougher competition weekly. Smaller details matter more in the NFL. I'm curious what people here think....

 

[SocialParasite]

What Cignetti has done is more impressive, IMO. He turned a bottom dwelling Big 10 team into a back-to-back playoff team capable of beating a #1 ranked Ohio St. He turned that program around immediately, that's hard to do in the NFL, even harder in college. Don't think I've seen a coach do more with less, than Cignetti has. Indiana absolutely nailed it hiring him.

Macdonald has the benefit of coaching a pro team, where the roster turnover isn't like it is in college, and he doesn't have to worry about recruiting talent. He's still done an impressive job, the transition from Pete to Mike didn't result in any regression, in fact, he got them 1 win better than Pete's last 2 years. And in year 2, we have clearly seen his vision for the team take shape. There's been plenty of times we've seen coordinators look good somewhere, get hired as a HC for another team, sell that team the moon & the stars, only for them to flounder and go back to being a coordinator in 2 seasons. But MM has delivered on his vision for the team, you can't help but be impressed by that.

 

[sutz]

Not to shade Mikemac, but it's not like he walked into a dumpster fire when he took over the 'Hawks.

Sure, we needed some pieces, but it's not like John S had to make 200 roster moves his first year like Pete did. Our problems were more in coaching than personnel. Sure, we added some critical players since Mike took over, but IMO the most important changes were in coaching and basic philosophy that Mike brought with him.

Still, the turnaround has been impressive to be sure. This year's playoffs will be a solid test of how far we've come in these two short seasons.