Kindred discusses Donewald era

[ISU FAN 1]

Coming back for self-imposed exile for this thread only, then back offline again . . . That said, let's look at the facts:

Donewald - 11 years, 3 NCAAs, 3 NITs, 1 Valley Title, 1 Valley Tourney title,
overall 208-121 (.632) - final four seasons 65-47 (.580), final season 13-17

Stallings - 6 years, 2 NCAAs, 2 NITs, 2 Valley Titles, 2 Valley Tourney titles
overall 123-63 (.661) - final four seasons 87-39 (.750), final season 16-15

Which coach was more successful? Forgive me, but based on what seems the consensus of the board, we’re reaching for the success of the wrong coach.

I would put Bender’s NCAA trip in Donewald’s column. It was stolen from him. And, he built RA. But loved both Stallings and Donewald.

 

[WoodlandWarrior]

Agree with ISU FAn 1. The Bender NCAA appearance was fueled by Donewald recruits Jarrod Colean and Ricky Jackson.

 

[Hamdonger]

I would put Bender’s NCAA trip in Donewald’s column. It was stolen from him. And, he built RA. But loved both Stallings and Donewald.

But the very same team in '88-'89, virtually, reversed it's record the next year under Bender - took the defending national champions to...the...wire - and every guy, to a man, enjoyed the change of scenery (although they couldn't punt basketballs in practice anymore). Taking nothing from Donewald. Donewald holds the ISU coaching title for basketball notoriety on a national scale (you can argue Smithson as well).
But sorry, '89-'90 belongs to Bender and always will. Bender supercharged the morale in the entire department.

Funny how things work, too. Donewald was an assistant on the undefeated '76 Indiana team. Bender was a freshman on that squad. Donewald probably enjoyed that kick to the tenders.

BTW I met Donewald in '87 at a McDonald's after a high school track meet somewhere - and the man couldn't have been more cordial and shoot, even cheery with a big smile. He shot his own foot, though. No two ways around it. That said, HE is the guy that should always get the credit for spearheading and driving the RA project His success combined with Redbird Arena cherry on top should make him a SHOO-IN for the Percy Hall of Fame.

Question though. Would the man accept? Perhaps age has added a deeper perspective. I hope so. ISU should continually reach out, let bygones be bygones, and welcome him back. At least for a day!

 

[Hamdonger]

Kindred is a good dude. Nice story, but they just don't give sportswriters the column space anymore to write a really in-depth, compelling article. There's SO much more of a story here ON ALL SIDES. Wish someone would interview the compelling parties individually and put the story back together. Yeah, all parties consenting to interviews is very unlikely, even after 30 yrs. But it sure would be a nice gift to the older regime of the Redbird faithful and I'm telling ya, it's cloak and dagger stuff! Stay tuned!

 

[Hamdonger]

I would put Bender’s NCAA trip in Donewald’s column. It was stolen from him. And, he built RA. But loved both Stallings and Donewald.

But the very same team in '88-'89, virtually, reversed it's record the next year under Bender - took the defending national champions to...the...wire - and every guy, to a man, enjoyed the change of scenery (although they couldn't punt basketballs in practice anymore). Taking nothing from Donewald. Donewald holds the ISU coaching title for basketball notoriety on a national scale (you can argue Smithson as well).
But sorry, '89-'90 belongs to Bender and always will. Bender supercharged the morale in the entire department.

Funny how things work, too. Donewald was an assistant on the undefeated '76 Indiana team. Bender was a freshman on that squad. Donewald probably enjoyed that kick to the tenders.

BTW I met Donewald in '87 at a McDonald's after a high school track meet somewhere - and the man couldn't have been more cordial and shoot, even cheery with a big smile. He shot his own foot, though. No two ways around it. That said, HE is the guy that should always get the credit for spearheading and driving the RA project His success combined with Redbird Arena cherry on top should make him a SHOO-IN for the Percy Hall of Fame.

Question though. Would the man accept? Perhaps age has added a deeper perspective. I hope so. ISU should continually reach out, let bygones be bygones, and welcome him back. At least for a day!

 

[Birdswin]

Yes, those Donewald years in the early to mid-80's were fun - no question. I wish he would have had been given a year or two with Redbird Arena to see what would have happened.

Ron Wellman will forever be a Jackass in my book and Tom Wallace will forever be a Supreme Prick - not only was he a part of getting Donewald fired, he tried to shrink the University and hated - I mean hated Sports. Those two - to this day would be someone who I would just punch right in the nose if I were to meet them.

 

[Red Rocker]

Donewald was a superb coach. He was super tough to play for but his players got better almost every game. His teams were so fundamentally sound and so fun to watch from the perspective that it wasn’t sloppy street ball. He never blew big leads. He almost never lost more than 2 games in a row. His record when he had at least 2 days to prepare for a game was phenomenal. He made great in game adjustments.

Yea Wellman was all ego. He did nothing for ISU.

As for Stallings or Donewald, yea I would take either but the Valley was much tougher in the Donewald days. Fewer bids in those days as was said earlier. ISU got to 9th in the Sports Illustrated poll in 83 and was top 20 at points in both 84 and 85. Bob had some great recruiting assistants and when they left, it hurt him in the later years. When Stallings won the 2 titles the MVC was coming off some of its worse years and it was just a 2 team league with ISU and MSU playing for the title. Stallings was good though and I would have loved to had more years of him. I just wish Dan had a better game coaching ability.

I have said it numerous times, and top PG can make a coach look great. Donewald has McKinney and Stallings had Smiley. When Dan has Lee he looked better, but he has a ways to go to be in the same breath as Donewald or Stallings.

Efforts have been made to patch up the Donewald debacle. It was over stupid stuff, I think ISU owed him $10k for a b ball camp or some absurd low dollar gig. I think Bowman tried to reach out to him to extend an invitation but it was a bitter end for Donewald and he did not accept. I don’t think the $10k was in the invitation.

Coaches get fired all the time these days but back then ISU got a lot of real bad press for firing him. He was tough but damn good at coaching a game. Much like he needed someone to help on the recruiting in the final few years, Dan could use some help with Xs and Os.

Dan should hire Donewald as a consultant, pay him the $10k+ and learn from one of the best in game coaches to ever coach the game.

While we haven’t been totally jinxed since Donewald left, rose days were different. We just knew we were going to win most all games and if we didn’t, it wasnt Because of the coaching.

Great Article Randy. Someday, I hope we are that good and fun to watch again.

 

[Metamoron]

Crap. Of course my free articles on pantagraph ran out today before I got a chance to read this......

 

[SgtHulka]

Donewald was a superb coach. He was super tough to play for but his players got better almost every game. His teams were so fundamentally sound and so fun to watch from the perspective that it wasn’t sloppy street ball. He never blew big leads. He almost never lost more than 2 games in a row. His record when he had at least 2 days to prepare for a game was phenomenal. He made great in game adjustments.

Yea Wellman was all ego. He did nothing for ISU.

As for Stallings or Donewald, yea I would take either but the Valley was much tougher in the Donewald days. Fewer bids in those days as was said earlier. ISU got to 9th in the Sports Illustrated poll in 83 and was top 20 at points in both 84 and 85. Bob had some great recruiting assistants and when they left, it hurt him in the later years. When Stallings won the 2 titles the MVC was coming off some of its worse years and it was just a 2 team league with ISU and MSU playing for the title. Stallings was good though and I would have loved to had more years of him. I just wish Dan had a better game coaching ability.

I have said it numerous times, and top PG can make a coach look great. Donewald has McKinney and Stallings had Smiley. When Dan has Lee he looked better, but he has a ways to go to be in the same breath as Donewald or Stallings.

Efforts have been made to patch up the Donewald debacle. It was over stupid stuff, I think ISU owed him $10k for a b ball camp or some absurd low dollar gig. I think Bowman tried to reach out to him to extend an invitation but it was a bitter end for Donewald and he did not accept. I don’t think the $10k was in the invitation.

Coaches get fired all the time these days but back then ISU got a lot of real bad press for firing him. He was tough but damn good at coaching a game. Much like he needed someone to help on the recruiting in the final few years, Dan could use some help with Xs and Os.

Dan should hire Donewald as a consultant, pay him the $10k+ and learn from one of the best in game coaches to ever coach the game.

While we haven’t been totally jinxed since Donewald left, rose days were different. We just knew we were going to win most all games and if we didn’t, it wasnt Because of the coaching.

Great Article Randy. Someday, I hope we are that good and fun to watch again.

:clap: :clap:

 

[SgtHulka]

Crap. Of course my free articles on pantagraph ran out today before I got a chance to read this......

If only there were a way to beat the system

 

[RBFANTOO]

Donewald was a superb coach. He was super tough to play for but his players got better almost every game. His teams were so fundamentally sound and so fun to watch from the perspective that it wasn’t sloppy street ball. He never blew big leads. He almost never lost more than 2 games in a row. His record when he had at least 2 days to prepare for a game was phenomenal. He made great in game adjustments.

Dan should hire Donewald as a consultant, pay him the $10k+ and learn from one of the best in game coaches to ever coach the game.

Great points. Donnewald's expertise was obviously defense. Even today that is a valuable commodity. It is always reliable for tournament games and unlike offense it doesn't come and go. Donnewald lacked some social skills but was a very admirable person. Some may not agree but I thought his success was a result of preparing his teams in practice but wasn't that good at making changes during the games. He did build Redbird Arena. I remember telling my wife that someday it would be renamed "Donnewald Arena". About 1 month after I said that he got fired.

 

[ISU FAN 1]

I would put Bender’s NCAA trip in Donewald’s column. It was stolen from him. And, he built RA. But loved both Stallings and Donewald.

But the very same team in '88-'89, virtually, reversed it's record the next year under Bender - took the defending national champions to...the...wire - and every guy, to a man, enjoyed the change of scenery (although they couldn't punt basketballs in practice anymore). Taking nothing from Donewald. Donewald holds the ISU coaching title for basketball notoriety on a national scale (you can argue Smithson as well).
But sorry, '89-'90 belongs to Bender and always will. Bender supercharged the morale in the entire department.

Funny how things work, too. Donewald was an assistant on the undefeated '76 Indiana team. Bender was a freshman on that squad. Donewald probably enjoyed that kick to the tenders.

BTW I met Donewald in '87 at a McDonald's after a high school track meet somewhere - and the man couldn't have been more cordial and shoot, even cheery with a big smile. He shot his own foot, though. No two ways around it. That said, HE is the guy that should always get the credit for spearheading and driving the RA project His success combined with Redbird Arena cherry on top should make him a SHOO-IN for the Percy Hall of Fame.

Question though. Would the man accept? Perhaps age has added a deeper perspective. I hope so. ISU should continually reach out, let bygones be bygones, and welcome him back. At least for a day!

I think Donewald would have made that season more successful and look even easier than Bender did. But, I always thought Bender was a boob. Based on you’re argument, maybe ISU should have brought in a new coach for this year’s “ready made favorite” to energize to higher levels. That said, maybe Donewald would have underachieved with that group. We’ll never know, but I’m fine with agreeing to disagree.

 

[CaliRdBrd]

Donewald was a superb coach. He was super tough to play for but his players got better almost every game. His teams were so fundamentally sound and so fun to watch from the perspective that it wasn’t sloppy street ball. He never blew big leads. He almost never lost more than 2 games in a row. His record when he had at least 2 days to prepare for a game was phenomenal. He made great in game adjustments.

Yea Wellman was all ego. He did nothing for ISU.

As for Stallings or Donewald, yea I would take either but the Valley was much tougher in the Donewald days. Fewer bids in those days as was said earlier. ISU got to 9th in the Sports Illustrated poll in 83 and was top 20 at points in both 84 and 85. Bob had some great recruiting assistants and when they left, it hurt him in the later years. When Stallings won the 2 titles the MVC was coming off some of its worse years and it was just a 2 team league with ISU and MSU playing for the title. Stallings was good though and I would have loved to had more years of him. I just wish Dan had a better game coaching ability.

I have said it numerous times, and top PG can make a coach look great. Donewald has McKinney and Stallings had Smiley. When Dan has Lee he looked better, but he has a ways to go to be in the same breath as Donewald or Stallings.

Efforts have been made to patch up the Donewald debacle. It was over stupid stuff, I think ISU owed him $10k for a b ball camp or some absurd low dollar gig. I think Bowman tried to reach out to him to extend an invitation but it was a bitter end for Donewald and he did not accept. I don’t think the $10k was in the invitation.

Coaches get fired all the time these days but back then ISU got a lot of real bad press for firing him. He was tough but damn good at coaching a game. Much like he needed someone to help on the recruiting in the final few years, Dan could use some help with Xs and Os.

Dan should hire Donewald as a consultant, pay him the $10k+ and learn from one of the best in game coaches to ever coach the game.

While we haven’t been totally jinxed since Donewald left, rose days were different. We just knew we were going to win most all games and if we didn’t, it wasnt Because of the coaching.

Great Article Randy. Someday, I hope we are that good and fun to watch again.

Best comment I’ve read on here in a looooong time.

 

[Denali2x]

Whether you were for or against Donewald, or don’t even know his name, there is an inescapable truth: Three decades later, ISU is still chasing his level of success.

Sums it up really well.

Damn, Rico we agree on something! . No question Donewald was a great coach in MOST ways. Prickly you bet! But Xs and Os he knew his job. I talked to him one on one several times and he was fine. But I also think he lost his recruiting edge. Kids didn’t necessarily want to come her to work their asses off on defense and avg 12 points a game. But he probably would have adjusted as he wasn’t stupid. The thing with WJBC was probably the last straw. But I sure loved the Bruise brothers. Lamb, Cornley, Malaine Et all. WSU came in with all
Those studs that ended up in the NBA and the Bruise brothers beat the crap out of them. Fun times

I wrote him a letter shortly after he was let go - I was a season ticket holder at the time - and told him how sorry I was, hated to see him go, etc. and he answered with a very warm personal letter. So he had some people skills. We had moved to Madison, and this was pre-Interstate 39, so I let my season tickets go I was so PO'd at the way he was treated. Just didn't feel like making the effort anymore. I'm glad to be "back in the family" now, but still think he was done dirt.

I was also driving three hours each way with season tickets during Donewald's years. Also dropped donations when ISU (Wellman) canned him. I wrote to him at Western Michigan to congratulate him on each of his first two years of NCAA tourney appearance up there, and received very nice notes back each time. He also got RA built … went around to the dorms to get student support ... and I agree that the Bender NCAA year should be in the Donewald column. Just my opinions, but loved the way those teams played. Never forget the Ricky Johnson slide into midcourt after our first MVC Championship.

 

[Birdswin]

Rico mentioned he thought it was more difficult to get into the NCAA tournament back in the early 80's - I think do not necessarily agree. Yes, there were fewer teams in the Tournament - no question about it. ESPN was still new and the only Sports Network around and did not have the commentary like they do today. The talk of the Tournament was limited to late February and March. There was definitely not the conference bias in the Selection Committee as there is today. Just think - ISU winning the conference tournament and getting a 6 seed - does anybody really think that would happen in today's world?

There were a LOT of schools that did not put an emphasis on their basketball programs like they do today - Wisconsin as a prime example. Also, a lot of the East Coast schools were not nationally known or recruited nationally like they do today.

 

[CaliRdBrd]

Reminiscing about past success...what Redbird fans do best....

 

[ricohill]

Reminiscing about past success...what Redbird fans do best....

A 20 to soon be 21 year NCAA Tournament drought will do that to a fanbase.

 

[CaliRdBrd]

Did anyone read the article on ESPN regarding the University of Houston’s climb back to the top?
Basically you can point to the extremely strong support of their current president (along with a hefty donation), but the point being...it’s possible, if you have the right group. We clearly don’t

 

[ricohill]

Did anyone read the article on ESPN regarding the University of Houston’s climb back to the top?
Basically you can point to the extremely strong support of their current president (along with a hefty donation), but the point being...it’s possible, if you have the right group. We clearly don’t

Do you have a link? I would like to read that.

 

[birdlife]

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26105398/how-houston-launched-college-basketball-renaissance