Likely to be 6-9 or5-10 after this weekends trip to Minny..Prob would be gone already if not for the Hawks unlikely run to the B1G title game a couple of years ago. With no other D1 programs left in the state there's no reason Iowa can't field a competitive team... Heller seems like the most logical choice.

Iowa CAN field a good team. Dahm gets good recruiting classes in. Iowa's weekend pitching this year is good enough to make us a top three or four BIG team. Iowa just has no offense and for the life of me I do not know why?

Iowa's offense has been terrible the past two years...this year is no different

As lackluster as the season has been so far, we can still make the B10 tournament and hope to get hot like two years ago. But things will get interesting if we miss the tournament, I think.

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Originally posted by Row55:
As lackluster as the season has been so far, we can still make the B10 tournament and hope to get hot like two years ago. But things will get interesting if we miss the tournament, I think.

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Things should 'get interesting' regardless. He has had more than enough time to correct the issues left over from Broghamer's regime. He simply hasn't produced a consistent winner. The experiment has failed. Time to give another person a shot at making something out of this program.

Dahm is sort of the Wayne Fontes of college baseball.

Who would be a good person to get in as replacement?

Mark Machtolf, Gonzaga
What Machtolf has accomplished at Gonzaga in six seasons with the program is impressive to say the least. Machtolf guided the Bulldogs to back-to-back 30-win seasons for the first time since the early 1980s in 2007 and 2008. Last season, though, the Bulldogs took a huge step forward with a WCC title, an NCAA regional appearance and a 36-18 record. Machtolf won a national title as a player at Stanford, so perhaps the Cardinal will eye him when coach Mark Marquess eventually retires. If not, another big program will come in and try to swipe him away.

Chris Finwood, Western Kentucky

Why to watch. Finwood is one of few mid-major coaches to watch in the near future. What an outstanding job he has done with the Hilltoppers. Finwood has spent four seasons with WKU and guided the program to its first 40-win season in 21 years last season. The Hilltoppers finished the campaign with an NCAA regional appearance and an impressive 42-20 record. Previously, Finwood led the Hilltoppers to a solid turnaround in ’08 with an overall record of 33-27 and an NCAA regional berth. Finwood has some experience as an assistant coach at Auburn, so keep an eye on him. He’s a good one.

Scott Stricklin, Kent State

Why to watch. It would be interesting to see what Stricklin could accomplish at a big-time program in a bigger conference. He has done an impressive job in five seasons. Stricklin has compiled an impressive 183-103 record in his five seasons with the Golden Flashes. But even more impressive, he has guided the program to regional appearances two of the last three seasons. The Flashes won 43 games last season and captured 36 and 33 victories, respectively, the previous two seasons. He’s an outstanding coach

Jim Foster, Rhode Island

Why to watch. If you’re looking for a coach that accomplishes a lot with not much in terms of resources, look no further than Foster. Foster guided the Rams to a 34-16 record in his first season with the program back in ’06. He also led the Rams to 31 wins in ’08 before taking a huge step forward last season with a 37-20 record. URI also should’ve made an NCAA regional last season after recording a few marquee wins. Foster isn’t dealing with a full 11.7 scholarships, but still is finding ways to win. That’s impressive.

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Originally posted by meandmyshadow:
Who would be a good person to get in as replacement?

Mark Machtolf, Gonzaga
What Machtolf has accomplished at Gonzaga in six seasons with the program is impressive to say the least. Machtolf guided the Bulldogs to back-to-back 30-win seasons for the first time since the early 1980s in 2007 and 2008. Last season, though, the Bulldogs took a huge step forward with a WCC title, an NCAA regional appearance and a 36-18 record. Machtolf won a national title as a player at Stanford, so perhaps the Cardinal will eye him when coach Mark Marquess eventually retires. If not, another big program will come in and try to swipe him away.

Chris Finwood, Western Kentucky

Why to watch. Finwood is one of few mid-major coaches to watch in the near future. What an outstanding job he has done with the Hilltoppers. Finwood has spent four seasons with WKU and guided the program to its first 40-win season in 21 years last season. The Hilltoppers finished the campaign with an NCAA regional appearance and an impressive 42-20 record. Previously, Finwood led the Hilltoppers to a solid turnaround in ’08 with an overall record of 33-27 and an NCAA regional berth. Finwood has some experience as an assistant coach at Auburn, so keep an eye on him. He’s a good one.

Scott Stricklin, Kent State

Why to watch. It would be interesting to see what Stricklin could accomplish at a big-time program in a bigger conference. He has done an impressive job in five seasons. Stricklin has compiled an impressive 183-103 record in his five seasons with the Golden Flashes. But even more impressive, he has guided the program to regional appearances two of the last three seasons. The Flashes won 43 games last season and captured 36 and 33 victories, respectively, the previous two seasons. He’s an outstanding coach

Jim Foster, Rhode Island

Why to watch. If you’re looking for a coach that accomplishes a lot with not much in terms of resources, look no further than Foster. Foster guided the Rams to a 34-16 record in his first season with the program back in ’06. He also led the Rams to 31 wins in ’08 before taking a huge step forward last season with a 37-20 record. URI also should’ve made an NCAA regional last season after recording a few marquee wins. Foster isn’t dealing with a full 11.7 scholarships, but still is finding ways to win. That’s impressive.

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Yes to any of them. The status quo isn't working. Maybe a change won't do anything to lift the program to a higher level....but unfortunately the writing seems to be on the wall in terms of the level Iowa Baseball is likely to REMAIN at if we do NOT make a change.

Gonzaga and Western Kentucky are better baseball programs than most in the Big Ten and they are in better situations to make post season play. While I think Indiana State and the MVC are also in the same situation Heller may be our best option to get somebody that I think can win.

Wasn't Rick Matthews from the Colorado Rockies practically begging for the job when Dahm got it? My only concern with him is age as you'd have to almost have a coach in waiting. Matthews is approaching 70 years of age.

I basically agree. I flipped the channel to the BTN over the weekend and heard that somebody threw a no-hitter. I knew right away it was against Iowa, and I'm tired of the no-offense Hawks. I saw a lot of Iowa baseball in the Banks days when we knocked the ball all over the place (but usually couldn't pitch).

But if the Hawks can squeak out a 5th place finish and get into the B10 tournament, Dahm could argue that his program is in the top half of the B10, and for a sport with no more fan interest than baseball I doubt Barta would pull the plug. Also, rumor is that Dahm is a good fundraiser (playing surface replaced last year, lights a few years ago) and if so that's another reason Barta could use to leave him in place.

If Dahm is retained, it will basically confirm what we already knew: that Barta (and the UI) could not care less if Iowa fields a competitve baseball team within the conference, so long as the program doesn't lose too much money.

We already know that Iowa won't invest any money in baseball whatsoever and that Banks Field is little more than a glorified city park sandlot, but is it really too much to ask that the university not award lifetime contracts to coaches in the non-revenue sports simply by virtue of the fact that they manage to stay upright and breathing? I've heard of rebuilding projects, but at the rate Dahm is going, Iowa baseball should win a conference title right around the same time that the hover craft emerges as the new vehicle of choice.

Well, Barta has pulled the plug on VB coach Cindy Fredricks, whose program was going nowhere (and still going nowhere under coach Dingman), and long-time SB coach Gayle Blevins seems to have been encouraged to retire following some player discontent (and missing the NCAA tournament).

That's true and a good point, Row. Unfortunately, one of the few times Barta decided to get involved was to poorly handle a situation involving one of the most legendary coaches in softball and school history. The whole thing was tremendously unfair to Blevins, the spoiled players/parents involved should be ashamed, and of course spineless Barta chose political correctness over doing what was right (imagine, if you will, Bump Elliot taking the side of Dan McGuire's parents over Hayden Fry if they had chose to confront the coach on the field over their son's lack of playing time). Now softball is just like all of our other non-revenue sports--lousy!

Ironically the assistant rumored to be at the heart of the softball problems, Diane Stephenson, got a job at Purdue right away. Purdue lead the B10 at one point this season and has 29 wins presently.

This team does appear to have pitching talent..Dahm's earlier squads from before 3 years ago were pretty good at scoring runs. He had a team 4 years ago that won 13 straight B10 games, mostly because of their offense. Don't think we've made the B10 in 2 consecutive seasons since he's been here.

Iowa has not made the B10 Trny consecutive years. Dahm will have years like this for 2-3 seasons, people get mad and say it's time for a change. Then Iowa wins 30-32 games and finishes 2nd and 3rd in the B10 and everything is fine. It's like a cycle it seems....

You can always say "be careful what you wish for". However, it may be time for a change.

For those wanting Heller, IT AIN'T HAPPENING. (see Heller thread)

If Iowa wants to win, there needs to be a bigger commitment as some have discussed. Dahm is a good guy and a good coach but......

At some point, it's time to cut bait.

Iowa is currently getting rocked 7-0 by Michigan who has lost 8/9 of their last Big Ten games. I am not sure if Roger Clemens is pitching for Michigan or if it's Brandon Sinnery like their roster says...many people regarded Michigan as the worst team in the Big Ten this year...maybe not?

Apparently, Dahm subscribes to the "Rome wasn't built in a day" example of rebuilding projects. Problem is, it actually took several thousand years to build Rome, and yet, the contractors for that project would likely still outpace Dahm and have a dozen or more colliseums built before Iowa even sniffs a BIG title.

A lot of people point to a few years ago when Iowa went 30-28 and finished 2nd and darn near won the BTT. However, I'd say about halfway through the Big Ten season Iowa was left for dead before they won 7/8 their last Big Ten games to make the tournament. Dahms only really successful year IMO was when Jason White and Travis Sweet were on the field. That Iowa team did amazing things offensively, I cringe to think what they would've done had they had solid pitching...they went 31-23.

Iowa's offense this year and well for the last two years has been putrid. It's sad when Michigan has a guy in Coley Crank that I am pretty sure has more homeruns this year than Iowa's whole team. We need some power and we need it in the worst way. A guy like Sean Flanagan is a threat to go yard, but he only hits like .210 which does not cut it.

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Originally posted by IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life:
A lot of people point to a few years ago when Iowa went 30-28 and finished 2nd and darn near won the BTT. However, I'd say about halfway through the Big Ten season Iowa was left for dead before they won 7/8 their last Big Ten games to make the tournament. Dahms only really successful year IMO was when Jason White and Travis Sweet were on the field. That Iowa team did amazing things offensively, I cringe to think what they would've done had they had solid pitching...they went 31-23.

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That was a great year. I rememember thinking that they were maybe a starter away from possibly being significant. I always thought that Conroy kid from Mt. Vernon had the tools to really make an impact on the mound, but he just never put it together.

Conroy's fastball was not overpowering enough plain and simple.

Kuebel has the potential to be one of the better pitchers in Iowa baseball in quite awhile. Next year's offense could be really bad though.

Kuebel can straight up deal from the plate. He is 5-0 on the year and arguably should be a whole LOT better record wise. Iowa was up 3-1 over Virginia Tech headed to the 9th, Iowa lost. Iowa was up 8-4 over Nebraska when Kuebel was pulled in the 7th and we know how that went.

Speaking of Iowa's offense, I am not sure how they could get much worse. Iowa has lost seven games this year where we scored ZERO or one run. In the majority of those games the teams Iowa lost to scored one, two, or three runs.

They lose their two best hitters: McQuillan and Keppler. I think the catcher recruit from Illinois will be a stud if he doesn't get drafted

Iowa also loses Jarred Hippen, Matt Dermody, and the only real power threats we have in Chett Zeise and Sean Flanagan. Granted they only have three homeruns a piece I believe but thats as much of a power threat as it gets at Iowa.

What happened to the stellar recruiting classes we had the past two seasons?

Iowa has had above average to stellar recruiting classes for the last four years according to baseball america as far as Big Ten standards go.

Dahm = Ron Zook?

I know this guy has no coaching experience, but I think he knows what he's talking about and doing. I wonder if a guy like Cal Eldred would have any interest in the Iowa job?