Holtz (5 times), Belichek (5-11), Paterno (5-5, 1966), Jimmy Johnson, Pete CarrolIt's common for a good coach to go 4-8, 5-7 or 6 6 in their first year only to go like 10-2 in their second year. Pete Carroll and Nick Saban have done it, there are a few others but I'll have to look them up
Does the exact record of the first year matter?A decent few really good coaches went around .500 in their first season and then had a huge year two.
But I can't think of any coach ever who has done it from 4-8.
And results from the NFL and the 60's don't qualify, sorry.
I don't think anyone would be disappointed with a 9-win season, as long as we reach the CCG.
Especially since our coach has already done it once. 6-7 one year then 13-0 the next year. So a 7 game turn around.Does the exact record of the first year matter?
the point is, there have been a number of good coaches have a bad first year and bounce back to have a pretty good year the next.
I dont see a reason why that cant happen at nebraska this year.
So 11-1 going into the CCG with a chance for a spot in the playoff? I'm on board! :thumbsEspecially since our coach has already done it once. 6-7 one year then 13-0 the next year. So a 7 game turn around.
Does the exact record of the first year matter?
Well, no, not exactly. But it might inform expectations a little bit if there's no record of anybody doing it from our particular record :dunno
Not common, but TCU went from 4-8 in 2013 to 12-1 in 2014. I haven't found a list specific to 4 win teams, but seems like a team goes from 0-4 wins to 9+ about every year- most aren't in major conferences though. TCU was in the Big 12 at that point though, so they're the recent P5 example - 12-13 Auburn (3-9 to 12-2) and 04-05 Penn State (4-7 to 11-1) are other encouraging examples.
Which probably comes into play more often with a new coaching staff coming in and changing the culture, the playbook etc etc.It’s less the case of actually improving by a lot of games, and more the case that a team wasn’t actually as bad as the record showed.
3 recent teams, 4 wins or worse to 11-12 wins. So it can be done, but not super likely.