Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, October 7, 2015
There have been some impressive coaching jobs thus far in the Big Ten. Michigan?s Jim Harbaugh, Iowa?s Kirk Ferentz and Northwestern?s Pat Fitzgerald all have coached lights out through five weeks.
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Kudos to Illinois? Bill Cubit and Indiana?s Kevin Wilson, too. But, who gets the nod?
I asked some esteemed members of the media corps for their pick for Big Ten Coach of the Year to this point in the season.
Matt Hayes, Sporting News: Fitzy. They're 5-0 and they've got one of the best wins of the season. There are different definitions of pretty. And nothing is as beautiful as a W.
Mike Carmin, Lafayette Journal & Courier: Ferentz, Iowa: Made the right QB choice and the Hawkeyes have delivered, so far, in a crucial season for the program.
Braden Gall, Athlon: Pat Fitzgerald. It was close between Fitz, Jim Harbaugh and Kirk Ferentz. Michigan is the best team in the group but also has the most talent. The Cats might have the best current resume of any Big Ten team to date and a huge month ahead to prove their start is legit.
Scott Dochterman, Cedar Rapids Gazette: Ferentz didn't reinvent the wheel, but he did change the tires. Ferentz's decisiveness at QB brought a new level of accountability to the program at every level, and the team has improved in every area in which it was deficient last year. That all comes back to coaching.
Tom Shatel, Omaha World-Herald: I think it?s between Kirk Ferentz and Pat Fitzgerald. Fitz?s Wildcats have the better wins, over Stanford and Minnesota, but I?m going with Ferentz because of New Kirk. That?s a big part of coaching: adjusting. Admitting and accepting there?s another way is the hardest thing a stubborn coach can do. And they?re all stubborn.
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