By: Ryan Moreland (@ryanmoreland)
This was a pretty calm season in terms of coaching changes, but there still are some notable moves. Two brand new ADs joined the rank and a few ADs are moving to new schools. Let’s take a look at how this changed the coaching trees.
Total Win Percentage: .553 (299-242)
National Championships: 5
Conference Championships: 10
The Frosty Tree is still the largest, most successful tree in the CFSL. Along with a lot of wins, this tree also became the first to reach double-digit Conference Championships thanks to DanielGunn and his Tar Heels. This tree still has the most Nationals Championships, most Conference Titles, and most wins.
While this tree didn’t grow this season, the future still looks great. There are still six active branches on this tree to grow out of. That is the second most of any tree in the CFSL. And the tree grew early last season with the addition of Babineau. The past is great and the future is promising. However, there is a tree that is starting to make up some ground on The Frosty Tree.
The Grin Tree
Total Win Percentage: .533 (187-164)
National Championships: 1
Conference Championships: 6
The Grin Tree became the second-largest CFSL coaching tree this offseason. Both brand-new ADs come from this tree. MucciMane (via SemiRage) and Wetzellogan (via BeardonBlast) will start their coaching careers this offseason and carry on the legacy of the Grin Tree. This continues to be the healthiest tree in the league. There are eight active ADs, which is by far the most of any tree. The future looks promising for this tree.
Not only was this tree successful in growing, it was also successful on the field. Both Auburn and Michigan won their conference in Season 20, bringing the tree’s total to 6 (third best). With a combined record of 20-3, both teams did their part in raising the win percentage of the tree to .533 (also third best).
The Clutch Tree
Total Win Percentage: .530 (223-198)
National Championships: 3
Conference Championships: 8
The Clutch Tree lost the title of the second-biggest coaching tree in the league this offseason. There was no growth this season and the tree lost one active branch as Stephens stepped down from Illinois. There are still three active members, but the health of this tree hasn’t looked this poor in a long time. However, it still has the third most active branches of any tree.
The play on the field was even worse this past season. This tree had a combined 8-25 record in Season 20. Stephens, the one AD that left, had the most wins on the tree with 3. Perhaps the change within the tree with result in more success. Dthall left Notre Dame to go back to bring Oklahoma back to the CFSL. Silentninja left Syracuse to take the spot dthall had left open. Also, Drake heading into his second season can’t hurt either.
The Houston Tree
Total Win Percentage: .555 (111-89)
National Championships: 2
Conference Championships: 6
The Houston Tree is still home to the best win percentage of any tree in the CFSL. They also picked up a 6th conference title thanks to New AD RyanMoreland and his Texas Longhorns. They did have some shake-up with ThatGuy leaving Oklahoma State to head for Florida.
The future of this tree is in the hands of its only active members (unless someone comes back). Only two active branches is not great health to be sure. However, ThatGuy has proven he can produce ADs. Perhaps this tree will grow again in the coming seasons.
The Mears Tree
Total Win Percentage: .462(48-56)
National Championships: 0
Conference Championships: 1
The Mears Tree is a one-man band these days. However, the band is still carrying an impressive tune. Smittytj led the Nittany Lions to a 7-4 record and another trip in the postseason. They are still looking for their second-ever Conference Championship and first National Championship. Perhaps it won’t be long until they get those.
The future of this tree lies in the hands of a single person. That is always cause for concern. However, those hands have proven themselves. It would not be shocking to see this tree grow as soon as next season.
The Konvict Tree
Total Win Percentage: .459 (28-33)
National Championships: 0
Conference Championships: 2
The Konvict Tree (aka the Oregon Tree) is another that relies on the success of one man. However, much like the Mears Tree, that one man seems up for the task. Triipz was thrown into the fray and has been coming up with upset wins ever since. The Ducks went 6-4 this season, clinching an automatic playoff spot.
The future of this tree depends on Triipz ability to grow future ADs, which is something he has not done before. That is some cause for concern. However, successful coaches often generate the best future ADs and Triipz has been impressive so far in his young career.
The Murph Tree
Total Win Percentage: .424 (39-53)
National Championships: 1
Conference Championships: 0
The Muprh Tree is still very young, but it had its first National Championship last season thanks to Jacobb02 and his Trojans! Oddly enough, this tree is still looking for its first conference title. Both ADs saw their teams finish second in their respective conferences last season. No tree had a better season in terms of win percentage than this one, which had a combined record of 16-5.
The future of this tree seems okay. While there are only two active members, it’s the only tree made of entirely active members. Also, Murph is now a proven coach developer and Jacobb02 has been successful on the field. Both are good indicators of future growth.
Treeless
There are a few in the league that truly don’t belong on any tree and have yet to start their own. The only active treeless member now in the league is Skyballr of Colorado. If he is able to add a coach to the AD ranks, he will start a new tree of his own.
