Huskers Now Searching, Will The Hawks Be Doing The Same?

Story By: Michael J. Malone
               HuskerHawkeye Contributor

Will Nebraska be the only Big Ten baseball team looking for a new coach this summer?

Jack Dahm

Former Creighton coach Jack Dahm just completed his eighth season at Iowa. The Hawkeyes finished 20-32 overall, 9-15 in the Big Ten, ninth in the 10-team standings (Wisconsin does not have baseball). The Hawkeyes have had only two winning seasons under Dahm. He is 190-248 since arriving in Iowa City to replace Scott Broghammer after the 2003 season.

Iowa entered the 2011 season with a veteran team and high hopes. The Hawkeyes had seven seniors and had the momentum of a strong 2010 finish that saw them win 11 of their last 14 and finish 30-28, tied for third in the Big Ten.

But the success didn't carry over. Iowa never won more than three straight at any point in the 2011 season and limped home, losing their final four league games with a spot in the Big Ten Tournament on the line. Dahm was brought in to lift the program and it hasn't happened. His winning percentage (.403) is no better than what Broghammer (123-183-1, .401) accomplished in his six seasons.

Ironically, Dahm, like Broghammer, is an outstanding individual. He does great work in the community and his players are generally good students and fine representatives of the university. The only thing missing is wins on the field.

Baseball at Iowa doesn't push the meter anywhere near as much as it does in Nebraska. Duane Banks Field is a nice facility, but, as is the case with most Big Ten facilities, is far below Haymarket Park in Lincoln. Baseball matters to fans in Nebraska. The College World Series and the commitment shown by building the new TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha is evidence of that.

At Iowa, baseball is something for the students to go out an watch if the weather is nice. That's just the way it has been. There have been no calls, or even an article to raise the issue, for Dahm's job. If baseball success is truly a priority at Iowa, then Dahm should be in hot water. He hasn't been able to re-create the magic at Iowa he had at Creighton and there is nothing to indicate that will change next season.

Mike Anderson had far better results in his tenure at Nebraska and he is unemployed. The numbers say Dahm should also be unemployed soon.

But this is Iowa, not Nebraska so Dahm will probably be back for a ninth season in 2012. Baseball in the Hawkeye state is an activity. It is a passion west of the Missouri.