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November 16, 2009 at 2:28 PM

So where does UW's improvement this year rank?

One question asked here lately is how does the job Steve Sarkisian has done in his first season at UW rank with other first-year coaches in the country.

I was hoping to do that research this week when I found that the Iowa State University sports information department has already done it --- the check is in the mail --- as part of their efforts to pump new coach Paul Rhodes.

They compiled two lists, first of first-year coaches who have upped the win-loss totals of their teams, and ratings of teams that have improved the most in terms of wins and losses from last season. UW ranks pretty well in both.

First, a look at first-year coaches:
School 2009 2008 Win improvement
Paul Rhoads, Iowa State, 6-5, 2-10, +4
Steve Sarkisian, Washington, 3-7, 0-12, +3
Gene Chizik, Auburn, 7-4, 5-7, +2
Brady Hoke, San Diego State, 4-6, 2-10, +2
Dave Christensen, Wyoming, 5-5, 4-8, +1
Rich Ellerson, Army, 4-6, 3-9, +1
Bill Snyder, Kansas State, 6-5, 5-7, +1
Tim Beckman, Toledo, 4-6, 3-9, +1

Next, the most improved NCAA Football Teams Nationally in Wins:

Team 09 record 08 record diff.
Idaho, 7-4, 2-10, +5
SMU, 6-4, 1-11, +5
Iowa State, 6-5, 2-10, +4
Temple, 8-2, 5-7, +3
Ohio, 7-3, 4-8, +3
Washington, 3-7, 0-12, +3
MTSU, 7-3, 5-7, +2
Stanford, 7-3, 5-7, +2
Auburn, 7-4, 5-7, +2
Central Florida, 6-4, 4-8, +2
UL-Monroe, 6-4, 4-8, +2
Michigan, 5-6, 3-9, +2
San Diego St., 4-6, 2-10, +2

Obviously, Sarkisian and UW has more room for improvement than anyone else in the country, bringing to mind Bill Murray's famous line from Stripes as his girlfiend kicks him out of their apartment --- "talk about massive potential for growth.'' So it can obviously be well-debated if UW's three-game improvement to date is really better than Stanford's two-game move. But on a rainy Monday with 12 days until the next game, it's something.

Husky Football Blog

So where does UW's improvement this year rank?

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