When does Zeke leave ASU?

[wrestle87]

I just did a speed run of the ASU/Oklahoma match.  Good lord, ASU is a shell of it's former self.

It is really starting to feel like the whole program is going down the drain.  Just dead in the water, no momentum, and it feels like something bigger than a head coaching issue.

How long do we think before we find Zeke heading up a program with more institutional support?  He's never been one to stick around a stagnant or unsupportive institution.  And now that his only athlete of any real reputation has jumped ship, it feels like it's time for some turnover.

[Jimmy Cinnabon]

I mean Iowa is picking them clean of all of their top talent (Parco and Teemer)...surprised they didn't get Figueroa too.

Edited Tuesday at 12:29 AM by Jimmy Cinnabon

[MPhillips]

 

[wrestle87]

3 hours ago, MPhillips said:

 

Adding onto that, what's happening with the Larkin brothers?

They're both super funky (no surprise obviously), and the younger is a hell of a videographer as well.  

[gromit]

6 minutes ago, wrestle87 said:

Adding onto that, what's happening with the Larkin brothers?

They're both super funky (no surprise obviously), and the younger is a hell of a videographer as well.  

 

[666]

13 hours ago, Jimmy Cinnabon said:

I mean Iowa is picking them clean of all of their top talent (Parco and Teemer)...surprised they didn't get Figueroa too.

Not to mention David Taylor poaching Zahid as a coach at their RTC. 

The Hawkeye NIL check to Figs hasn't cleared yet, you'll probably see him in black and gold next year

[666]

13 hours ago, wrestle87 said:

I just did a speed run of the ASU/Oklahoma match.  Good lord, ASU is a shell of it's former self.

It is really starting to feel like the whole program is going down the drain.  Just dead in the water, no momentum, and it feels like something bigger than a head coaching issue.

How long do we think before we find Zeke heading up a program with more institutional support?  He's never been one to stick around a stagnant or unsupportive institution.  And now that his only athlete of any real reputation has jumped ship, it feels like it's time for some turnover.

Yeah, ASU is terrible. OU is pretty mediocre this year, bordering on bad, and they absolutely smoked ASU. They'll score some points at NCAAs thanks to Figs and Schultz, plus there will be a few points from other qualifiers. But they are an awful dual team, and they don't have much room for improvement. 

 

 

[Spencerlee]

Honest question, what better program than ASU would want him?

[666]

6 minutes ago, Spencerlee said:

Honest question, what better program than ASU would want him?

I can't imagine an upward trajectory for Zeke at this point as HC. 

[Greenwave]

Who would they replace him with?

[666]

33 minutes ago, Greenwave said:

Who would they replace him with?

Zahid Valencia. 

[BruceyB]

1 hour ago, 666 said:

Zahid Valencia. 

You realize Zahid is trying to win the 2028 Olympics, no?

[BruceyB]

4 hours ago, Spencerlee said:

Honest question, what better program than ASU would want him?

Zeke has done an incredible job at ASU. They were probably the best team on the west coast in the last 20 years before the Sunkist money went away and Iowa poached their top 2 wrestlers. If Figs, Parco, Teemer, and Schultz were still on that roster, this conversation wouldn't be happening. Not to mention Larkin. IMO the biggest concern is the amount of injuries that occur under his watch. It could be coincidence, but ASU has been ravaged by injuries for several years now.

[666]

5 minutes ago, BruceyB said:

You realize Zahid is trying to win the 2028 Olympics, no?

He can multitask. 

[CHROMEBIRD]

19 hours ago, wrestle87 said:

I just did a speed run of the ASU/Oklahoma match.  Good lord, ASU is a shell of it's former self.

It is really starting to feel like the whole program is going down the drain.  Just dead in the water, no momentum, and it feels like something bigger than a head coaching issue.

How long do we think before we find Zeke heading up a program with more institutional support?  He's never been one to stick around a stagnant or unsupportive institution.  And now that his only athlete of any real reputation has jumped ship, it feels like it's time for some turnover.

Is that true? My impression is that ASU's AD is a supporter of wrestling. I know he's a baseball guy and is very hands-on with basketball, but he seems pretty happy with Zeke as long as he brings back conference hardware and finishes with some AAs. ASU Wrestling won't get the attention or funding that a program like Iowa does, but I don't think there's an expectation to win Nationals either. 

It probably comes down to how Zeke is feeling. He's well-respected at Arizona State and seems to be pretty comfy where he's at, esp given the current stage of his career. OTOH, I wouldn't be surprised if he's getting tired of all the NIL and portal BS, new NCAA rules, constantly fundraising, and the other overhead that comes with coaching these days.

[1032004]

9 hours ago, 666 said:

Yeah, ASU is terrible. OU is pretty mediocre this year, bordering on bad, and they absolutely smoked ASU. They'll score some points at NCAAs thanks to Figs and Schultz, plus there will be a few points from other qualifiers. But they are an awful dual team, and they don't have much room for improvement. 

 

 

How do they not have much room for improvement?  They lose Schultz, but still have another year of Figueroa if he doesn’t join his former teammates at Iowa.  The 2 Larkins are studs also if they stay as well.  Manville was a pretty big recruit.  Vazquez may have another year too if 2022 was a medical. 

[666]

1 minute ago, 1032004 said:

How do they not have much room for improvement?  They lose Schultz, but still have another year of Figueroa if he doesn’t join his former teammates at Iowa.  The 2 Larkins are studs also if they stay as well.  Manville was a pretty big recruit.  Vazquez may have another year too if 2022 was a medical. 

I probably phrased that wrong, I should've said they have room for improvement, but  I can't imagine ASU recruiting well enough to be a real contender in the foreseeable future. 

[pokemonster]

Arizona state has too many hot chicks to seriously be good at wrestling. They'll distract the wrestlers. It's why all the blue chippers this year went to institutions where the average is about a 4 or 5 out of 10. 

[666]

22 minutes ago, pokemonster said:

Arizona state has too many hot chicks to seriously be good at wrestling. They'll distract the wrestlers. It's why all the blue chippers this year went to institutions where the average is about a 4 or 5 out of 10. 

As long as nobody brings out the sexbomb pictured below my team will be just fine. 

 

 

[SunDevil]

1 hour ago, 666 said:

I probably phrased that wrong, I should've said they have room for improvement, but  I can't imagine ASU recruiting well enough to be a real contender in the foreseeable future. 

ASU obviously had a tough year losing wrestlers and recruits. However, the 2026 class has started out solid. If they can keep what they have now, do some extra heavy lifting on the 2026 recruiting class, they will be solid. Need to add a transfer or 2 to make up for 2025 recruiting. 

[666]

36 minutes ago, SunDevil said:

ASU obviously had a tough year losing wrestlers and recruits. However, the 2026 class has started out solid. If they can keep what they have now, do some extra heavy lifting on the 2026 recruiting class, they will be solid. Need to add a transfer or 2 to make up for 2025 recruiting. 

I like the Sun Devils and want them to do well. It's going to be tough, but if they are willing to put in the work and improve then who knows? 

[AgaveMaria]

On 2/18/2025 at 10:32 AM, Greenwave said:

Who would they replace him with?

Mark Schultz?

[ionel]

1 minute ago, AgaveMaria said:

Mark Schultz?

why?

[Idaho]

On 2/18/2025 at 9:32 AM, Greenwave said:

Who would they replace him with?

Larkin

 

[SunDevil]

On 2/18/2025 at 9:32 AM, Greenwave said:

Who would they replace him with?

Chris Pendleton.   Pritts is a stud and will be here forever hopefully.