Jim Steen's Legacy

[Colbybr]

On the eve of the Kenyon Invite (full disclosure: I'm coaching at the meet and bored in my hotel room) I found this article on Kenyon's athletic website: http://www.kenyon.edu/x21645.xml

The article suggests that Steen is a prolific coach that you can compare to, among others, Red Auerbach, John Wooden and Vince Lombardi. It then goes on to say that you really can't compare him to these coaches because he was won more titles than all of them combined. What do people think? Is Steen the greatest coach in all of sport or is this a bit of hyperbole?

[silentp]

On the eve of the Kenyon Invite (full disclosure: I'm coaching at the meet and bored in my hotel room) I found this article on Kenyon's athletic website: http://www.kenyon.edu/x21645.xml

The article suggests that Steen is a prolific coach that you can compare to, among others, Red Auerbach, John Wooden and Vince Lombardi. It then goes on to say that you really can't compare him to these coaches because he was won more titles than all of them combined. What do people think? Is Steen the greatest coach in all of sport or is this a bit of hyperbole?

We'll never know because he never coached against the great coaches of swimming. There are some amazing coaches in D3, but the coaches in D1 are better, on average, no doubt about it. If he was coaching against Eddie Reese and David Marsh year in and year out, then I'd agree. How many titles have the coaches of Indian River won in a row? What about that NAIA team? Too tough to compare, especially to those.

My question is this quote from the article, " an eye for swimmers who are trending up". Isn't this D3? Don't you go after everyone possible? Is he really saying no to swimmers who aren't trending up? Seems weird to me.

[Mac of the MIAC]

My only comment, because the article is way too ridiculous and arrogant to comment on, is that it looks like Steens whispy mustache is covering up some sort of cleft lip repair.

On the eve of the Kenyon Invite (full disclosure: I'm coaching at the meet and bored in my hotel room) I found this article on Kenyon's athletic website: http://www.kenyon.edu/x21645.xml

The article suggests that Steen is a prolific coach that you can compare to, among others, Red Auerbach, John Wooden and Vince Lombardi. It then goes on to say that you really can't compare him to these coaches because he was won more titles than all of them combined. What do people think? Is Steen the greatest coach in all of sport or is this a bit of hyperbole?

[Father]

your reply is clearly more ridiculous and arrogant than the article.

funny boy.

[Chapel Partner]

Besides ridiculous, the article is also inaccurate in saying Steen's "trophy case holds more championship hardware than all of them combined."

The combined championships of the guys named: 39
Wooden - 10
Stenegel - 7
Red - 9
Blake - 8
Lombardi - 5 (includes Super Bowls and NFL championships before they had a Super Bowl)

Steen has won what, 28 titles? Yes, that is a lot. But not 39. And outside of this forum and maybe his high school guidance counselor, nobodies heard of him.

I know being heard of does not constitute being great at what you coach. But unless you are coaching at the top level in your sport, you can't really be considered the greatest in my mind.

It would be like the JV coach saying he's better than the varsity coach because he has a better record.

[silentp]

Besides ridiculous, the article is also inaccurate in saying Steen's "trophy case holds more championship hardware than all of them combined."

The combined championships of the guys named: 39
Wooden - 10
Stenegel - 7
Red - 9
Blake - 8
Lombardi - 5 (includes Super Bowls and NFL championships before they had a Super Bowl)

Steen has won what, 28 titles? Yes, that is a lot. But not 39. And outside of this forum and maybe his high school guidance counselor, nobodies heard of him.

I know being heard of does not constitute being great at what you coach. But unless you are coaching at the top level in your sport, you can't really be considered the greatest in my mind.

It would be like the JV coach saying he's better than the varsity coach because he has a better record.

28 is just the men's count...

[babwik]

Steen has been more dominant at his level than anyone else, but if you want to be in the discussion for greatest coach ever, I think you need to be at the highest level.

Steen is the king Alpha-Dog at D3 for years, building a great D3 program with D1 resources. His teams are unbelieveable and always impress. He is a d3 legend, but not in the discussion for greatest coach ever.

[Chapel Partner]

Besides ridiculous, the article is also inaccurate in saying Steen's "trophy case holds more championship hardware than all of them combined."

The combined championships of the guys named: 39
Wooden - 10
Stenegel - 7
Red - 9
Blake - 8
Lombardi - 5 (includes Super Bowls and NFL championships before they had a Super Bowl)

Steen has won what, 28 titles? Yes, that is a lot. But not 39. And outside of this forum and maybe his high school guidance counselor, nobodies heard of him.

I know being heard of does not constitute being great at what you coach. But unless you are coaching at the top level in your sport, you can't really be considered the greatest in my mind.

It would be like the JV coach saying he's better than the varsity coach because he has a better record.

28 is just the men's count...

Too bad Red didn't have the chance to coach a WNBA team too.

[Colbybr]

I can actually report that Jim has shaved the mustache. I saw him today without it. Also, wouldn't you say that all college coaches are looking for swimmers that are "trending up"? I dont think there are any coaches looking for burn outs.

[The Treat]

Besides ridiculous, the article is also inaccurate in saying Steen's "trophy case holds more championship hardware than all of them combined."

The combined championships of the guys named: 39
Wooden - 10
Stenegel - 7
Red - 9
Blake - 8
Lombardi - 5 (includes Super Bowls and NFL championships before they had a Super Bowl)

Steen has won what, 28 titles? Yes, that is a lot. But not 39. And outside of this forum and maybe his high school guidance counselor, nobodies heard of him.

I know being heard of does not constitute being great at what you coach. But unless you are coaching at the top level in your sport, you can't really be considered the greatest in my mind.

It would be like the JV coach saying he's better than the varsity coach because he has a better record.

28 is just the men's count...

Too bad Red didn't have the chance to coach a WNBA team too.

if he really wanted to prevent steen from breaking his record, he should have taken up coaching the bruins and patriots as well... what a slacker.

[Mac of the MIAC]

your reply is clearly more ridiculous and arrogant than the article.

funny boy.

Funny boy? Don't egg me on. I've got a whole tinted window van routine I've redied for the next hurdy gurdy whispy mustache man who spouts off to Mac of the MIAC.

But since I did call something ridiculous without evidence, I will back my statement up.

Swimming should never be compaired to a team sport. Especially a team sport that involves strategy to the level that basketball and football do. Vince Lombardi, or even Vince Vaughn could coach Kenyon to a victory this year at nationals. Mr. Steen would coach the New England Patriots to a 1-15 record if he were lucky.

Mr. Steen is a d3 coach. If he wants to be considered a top swimming coach, he needs to compete in d1. This is pretty obvious to everyone except Mr. Steen and the dolt who wrote the article (hopefully a journalism student, but most likely, Mr. Steen himself).

Don't compare a d3 swimming title to winning the super bowl. It costs 1 million dollars for a 30 socond commercial spot in the super bowl. d3 nationals will never be televised.

It would take a sample of 1 million people in America before you found 1 who knew who Mr. Steen is. It would take a sample of 2 people to find a person who knows who Vince Lombardi is.

Had enough? I could go on forever. Should we talk about how much money Mr. Steen probably takes home for being the greatest coach in the world... ever? I bet it's closer to the poverty rate than it is to a d1 football coach.

[wonderboy33]

It would be like the JV coach saying he's better than the varsity coach because he has a better record.

Or, it would be like saying that a D3 Title swim is more important than a 20th place finish at the Olympic Trials.

[wonderboy33]

Mac and Chapel are 100% correct.

[Mac of the MIAC]

It would be like the JV coach saying he's better than the varsity coach because he has a better record.

Perfectly stated. I will now only refer to Jim Steen as JV Steen.

[DonCheadle]

Marc Courtney Brooks is the greatest college swimmer of all time, tied with (I think) Nicole Haislet with 20 national titles.

MAC: please tell me that you are joking and that you don't really think Steen wrote the article himself.