With the midway point of “The Ultimate Fighter – Season 3” upon us, it would seem like the logical time to take a look back on the series.

But this is not a glimpse at the fighters or who’s won and lost. It’s a review of the coaches – who has done well and who hasn’t made the grade.

Earning an A has to be Season 3 tutor Tito Ortiz. I’ve never been much of a fan of Ortiz. Talent aside, I haven’t been big on his antics especially his taunting and ridicule of the Lion’s Den. But I’ll give to Ortiz in a big way for the way he’s gone about running his team.

He’s taunted Ken Shamrock and it has worked to perfection. Team Shamrock seems totally out of rhythm as both Canadian Kaleb Starnes and Tait Fletcher have both openly questioned their coach’s strategy. Ortiz has gathered his team, rallied them around the “Team Punishment” philosophy and has taken a super hands-on approach to their training.

On the other hand, Shamrock has been a borderline failure. His tactics seem completely outdated at least to the breed of fighters wanting their break from reality TV. I can’t imagine enrollment at the Lion’s Den taking a gigantic upswing when this series concludes. Shamrock missed the boat by not bringing in any capable assistants and opting instead for a nutritionist (Why?). There is next to no cohesion on Team Green and the future doesn’t look good which means Shamrock is a D at best.

Season 2 bosses Matt Hughes and Rich Franklin both score a C. Both cared about their students and both had some interesting moments along the way, but they were too few and far between. The best moment of their time on the series was Hughes coming down hard on Franklin fighter Rashaad Evans for his showboating in the octagon.

My guess is both would be far better in one-on-one situations or in a seminar setting but this is a reality show – entertainment – and neither brought much to the table in that area. Ortiz does in a big way and even Shamrock earns a point or two here mainly for falling into the mental traps laid down by Ortiz. Hughes and Shamrock were just too stiff.

Light heavyweight champ Chuck Liddell and Hall of Famer Randy Couture ran Season 1 and both score a B. The show’s premise was certainly a gamble when it first aired but it took off and never looked back. The basic approach by both coaches worked well off the top. It would be very interesting to see both get another crack at it with some consideration thrown in there to boost the entertainment angle and lighten up on the tactical approaches. Plus if Liddell returns, maybe he’ll bring Willa Ford along.

So assuming there are Seasons 4, 5 and 6 in the works, who should be handed the coaching responsibilities for the future?

Obviously much depends on who becomes champion along the way, but here are few ideas:

Tim Sylvia – The new heavyweight champ either knows how to be taught a game plan together or make one up for himself when he told me before his rematch with then champ Andrei Arlovski, “I think he’s only got one weapon (right hand). I know what I have to do to overcome that. I think he’s shown that he’s got a weak jaw.” Was he bang on or what?

Georges St. Pierre – One of the most charismatic fighters in the UFC and he has rapidly gained popularity in the U.S. It will be interesting to see how he does during a seminar in the Maximum Fighting Championship. That should show if he’s got a teacher inside him.

B.J. Penn – Exciting, colourful and has an attitude – all a perfect mix for reality TV.

Chris Leben – OK, he’s got lots of work ahead of him as a fighter, but wouldn’t Leben be fun in an instructor’s role? His protégés would definitely learn how to beat the crap out of a door. Forest Griffin – Won the war of Season 1’s finale and has a quirky sense of humour and wit that would make him very watchable.