2010 Potential College Football Coaching Candidates - the long list
by GopherNation on Oct 16, 2010 11:13 PM CDT
in Gopher Football
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PrintAnd boom goes the dynamite!
The interwebs is swirling with rumors that Tim Brewster has been informed he will not be back in 2011 (1500ESPN, GopherIllustrated, and Reusse says I told you so).
The inevitable end of the Tim Brewster means the beginning of the *insert new coach's name* Era. Who will be your next Golden Gopher head coach? Nobody really knows. Just when you think you have a pretty solid list of potential candidates then the University goes out and hires an NFL Tight Ends coach we've never heard of. Or on the other end of the scale maybe they go out and sign an former national championship winner who leaves a premier program to coach the Gophers (I'm referring to Tubby).
The fact is we have no idea who the University is targeting or who they will hire. This is pure speculation based on the scuttlebutt around Gopher Nation and scouring the football world for guys that might make some sense. There are pros and cons to everybody being mentioned as a potential candidate. I'm no expert but I'd like to profile as many potential candidates as I can get to in the coming days/weeks until a new coach is announced.
Here is just some of the criteria I've been using to filter the extensive list of potential candidates to be your next Golden Gopher head coach.
- Experience - preferably as a head coach but quality experience as a coordinator is sufficient. Coaching at the collegiate level is also preferred.
- Proven winner - hiring a coach who has shown he can do more with less is ideal.
- Ties to Minnesota or Big Ten - something that makes me believe this coach isn't going to leave for the first opening in another part of the country. I realize this is not a destination job and we may eventually lose whoever we hire, but some guys are more likely to stick around than others.
- Recruiting - this is still vitally important to a collegiate program. Someone with demonstrated ability to bring in talent is important. Winning helps recruiting a lot but you then still have to bring in more talent.
Looking up at that list it looks like back in 2007 Maturi started at the bottom of the list and worked his way up. All are important but I'm going to try and stick with my list above in that specific order.
With that said I've been compiling a massive list of possible replacements, the fluid list is currently sitting at 34 names. I've broken it down into groups like current assistants, currently in NFL, currently not coaching and Mountain West coaches. The list has names that are completely unrealistic and guys that will probably be interviewed. Once again I should point out that back in 2007 the list would have looked something like Charlie Strong, Lane Kiffin, Gary Patterson and a few others who all would have been usurped by a certain Bronco's Tight Ends coach. So my list of 34 names probably has a 505/50 shot at having the right guy on there somewhere.
So no more teasing the list is after the jump...
Keep in mind this is just a list. A lot of the guys on this list are extreme long shots and guys who probably won't even be contacted about the job. I'm planning to profile a lot of this list but certainly not everyone. For instance Kyle Whittingham is on the list even though there is a less than 1% chance that he'd even be interested. I should probably take him off but I'll leave him for now. The coaches with an asterisk are ones I am planning to profile.
The Unemployment Group (4)
- * Mike Leach - (former HC at Texas Tech) - popular among fans, might be too edgy for administration
- Mark Richt - (assuming he gets fired as HC at Georgia) - has a great win% in SEC
- Phil Fulmer - (former HC at Tennessee) - won a national championship, might want another shot to prove he can coach
- Tony Dungy - (former HC for Indianapolis) - I don't know why I put him here, there's a better chance I'd get the job than there is that he'd accept it.
The Mountain West Group (5)
- * Troy Calhoun - (HC at Air Force) - has done a lot with huge challenges at UAF
- * Brady Hoke - (HC at San Diego State) - former Michigan ast, turned around Ball State
- Chris Peterson - (HC at Boise State) - highly unlikely but we are a BCS school
- Kyle Whititngham - (HC at Utah) - even less likely since Utah is moving to Pac10
- Gary Patterson - (HC at TCU) - not likely supposedly turned us down in 2007
- Bronco Mendenhall - (HC at BYU) - successful, has beat BCS programs
Other Head Coaches (10)
- * Jim Harbaugh - (HC at Stanford) - not likely but might want to get back to Big Ten
- * Kevin Sumlin - (HC at Houston) - former Gopher coach, offensive guy
- * Al Golden - (HC at Temple) - Big Ten guy, turned around Temple, might be waiting for Penn St job
- * Dale Lennon (HC at Southern Illinois) - has been very successful at FCS, from North Dakota
- Norries Wilson - (HC at Columbia) - former Gopher, former OC at UConn, not likely
- Larry Fedora - (HC at Sothern Miss) - great coach and recruiter, formerly OC at Florida and OK State
- Randy Edsall - (HC at UConn)
- DeWayne Walker - (HC at New Mexico St) - former Gopher, former DC at UCLA
- Mike Stoops - (HC at Arizona) - former Iowa player, might like a move back to Big Ten, not likely
The Assistants Group (10)
- Brian Harsin - (OC at Boise St) - another bright offensive guy, an "up and comer"
- Major Applewhite - (OC at Oklahoma) - young and successful
- * Dan McCarney - (Ast at Florida, former ISU HC)
- Jim McElwain - (OC at Alabama) - formerly coached at Michigan St
- Brent Venables - (DC at Oklahoma) - successful defensive guy
- Kirby Smart - (DC at Alabama) - a Georgia guy who may get Georgia job, not likely a B10 candidate
- Teryl Austin - (DC at Florida) - former Mich and PSU assistant, from Pennsylvania
- Calvin McGee - (OC at Michigan) - bright offensive guy who might like a chance at a HC
- Shane Beamer - (Defensive Ast and recruiting coordinator at South Carolina) - Frank Beamer's son, good recruiter, not enough experience
- Todd Grantham - (DC at Georgia) - Big Ten ties coaching at Michigan State
The NFL Group (5)
- * Casey Bradley - (DC at Seattle) - Minnesota native, coached under Monte Kiffin at Tampa, was DC at NDSU for several years.
- * Marc Trestman (HC in CFL) - Minnesota native, former Gopher QB, extensive college and pro coaching experience
- Mike Singletary (HC at San Francisco) - on the hot-seat in SanFran
- Darrel Bevel (OC at Minnesota) - knows Joel Maturi, has coached in Big Ten
- Leslie Frasier (DC at Minnesota) - desperately wants (and deserves) a shot at HC position, would get recommendation from Dungy and if Dungy is involved in the hiring process he'll get a look
I will add to this list as other names pop up and look forward to more detail profiling of the *starred* candidates. I've identified 9 guys on this list that I'll start profiling. Mostly I picked these guys based on the consensus of all five TDG writers and then a few others who are strong and viable candidates. 8 of the 9 are currently head coaches and I think this is going to be reflective of the actual coaching search. The likelihood that we hire an assistant is slim, though not out of the realm of possibility.
So there you have it. The List. It is incomplete and fluid and flawed. I'll make changes as necessary.
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How?
How can this list not include Mangino? No fire with that smoke?
"Bama Hawkeye, you know, the Iowa blogger who actually uses reason and analysis." - Patrick Vint
http://www.offtackleempire.com
Alas
Yes, he has to be on the list. Syracuse mascot jokes would ensue.
Also, since we’re spitballing:
Butch Davis (unemployed, future sense)
Todd Graham (Tulsa)
Ken Niumatololo (Navy)
Ken O’Keefe (Iowa OC)
John Stiegelmeier (Go Jacks)
I guess the list really could be endless. Nice post, GN. You typed this up fast. Looking forward to the updates.
by Minnesota Fats on Oct 16, 2010 11:49 PM CDT up reply actions
Butch?
Are you honestly suggesting the coach who let his assistant get paid by agents to steer players? And who has an academic scandal involving a tutor he had paid to teach his own son previously? You’ve got to be joking…
Yes
The list has names that are completely unrealistic
by Minnesota Fats on Oct 17, 2010 2:10 AM CDT up reply actions
I didn't typ it up fast
I had it written about 4 weeks ago and I’ve been adding/subtracting as we go
what you say here can, and will, be used against you The Daily Gopher
by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2010 9:16 PM CDT up reply actions
I can't see Petersen leaving Boise State for any Big Ten school
Patterson might be waiting for the Kansas State job.
Sumlin is the interesting choice. Has had great success in his short time in Houston, familiar with Minnesota, and a fantastic offensive mind.
"Call me Snake"
Patterson not going anywhere
Patterson has not formally turned down anyone, his agent normally just tells people he is not interested. K-State has come calling twice. Only job that he would leave for supposedly is Oklahoma. Met his wife in Fort Worth, two kids in school there, getting a new stadium and a lifetime job where his system is installed and working pretty darn well. Also makes 2.5 to 3 million with incentives, schools would really have to pony up the cash to get him. Talking Saban, Meyer money in my opinion.
Patterson is my top choice
but as you said, he’s NOT coming here. If he turned us down in 2007, why would he want to come here now when the program is in worse shape AND he we probably can’t even match his current salary at TCU?
Points in our favor in 2010 vs 2007:
- MWC is now on life support, and I can’t imagine the Big East thing actually happening
- Stadium is actually here
- Short-term expectations are probably even lower than after Mason
That said, I completely agree that it’s massively unlikely.
MWC really not on life support
Boise vs Utah is a wash and by the way BYU looks, Fresno and Nevada are upgrades. Our new stadium will be done before 2012 season begins. Big East thing is pretty much done from what I am hearing, but I don’t think we go until 2012 when the Big East TV contract is up and renegotiated. Stadium opens, new conference, OU comes in, should be an interesting 2012. 34 donors didn’t give $110 million to stay in the Mountain West long term. Leach would be a good choice.
I dont understand why so many Gopher fans love Sumlin
He is one of the last guys on that list I would want. He coaches a Conf USA team and has had limited success. If you want a guy that runs that style offense Leach is head and shoulders above Sumlin. Yes he is contraversial but he wont get us on probation like a Kiffen or Davis might have.
We are looking to win
Childress might be better suited to coach pop warner
Frasier is extremely to likely to get an NFL job in the very near future. No chance he goes to the U.
Got interviewed by Buffalo last year, and should either be the Vikes head coach or another NFL team’s by the end of next season
"Brian Cardinal left Purdue being the only Boilermaker to receive both the "Mr. Hustle" Award and the "Courage" Award four years in a row"
No Wisconsin Assistants
I thought every coach, and many players, in Minnesota come from Wisconsin.
Mark 8:36
Maturi's all the BADger we need,thank you.
We’re BADgered-out. If the other coaches are anything like Coach Bulimia,they can stay in Madtown. I’m still of the opinion that Maturi’s a mole,sent to us by the devious cheesers to guarantee Gopher gridiron wretchedness.
I know I keep beating the drum for Dave Doeren, BUT...
How can folks not love this guy? I would hardly call him a true “Badger Guy.” The Badgers’ OC Paul Chryst (Madison native, UW Alum) definitely is. But Dave Doeren clearly is not.
Yes, he’s been there the last five years as the DC and Recruiting Coordinator (not exactly a TE coach…), but this guy is from KC and played college football at Drake… hardly a Badger through and through.
Before Madison, he was the DC and recruiting coordinator at Kansas with great success. He’s also got DC and/or recruiting coordinator experience at Montana & Drake (DC in 1997). He was a GA at USC.
When I look at GopherNation’s initial list criteria, here is what I see with Doeren:
1. Experience – CHECK. (DC at three schools – two BCS programs)
2. Proven Winner – CHECK. (Speaks for itself)
3. Ties to Minnesota or Big Ten – CHECK. (Everything but USC and Montana has been in Midwest.)
4. Recruiting – CHECK. (Ethical, dynamic personality/leader with Recruiting Coordinator experience at three schools).
For a recruiting guy, he’s got deep Xs and Os/coordinator experience and he’s only in his Mid-30s. How is this guy not No. 1 on the list of REALISTIC Candidates?
Read up on him if you don’t know him…
http://www.uwbadgers.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/doeren_dave00.html
Agree – and I think part of there’s plenty of candidates that look like good fits – we just have to find the right one.
by Minnesota Fats on Oct 17, 2010 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm Sorry
I’m sorry I said anything. After all those things you said it made me realize that I don’t want him to leave!
Mark 8:36
I don't know about lonebadger, but...
I’m a Gopher fan who just happens to pay attention to the top, young assistants out there who would probably embrace the Gopher Job. Doeren is No. 1 in my book if we can’t get any of the Pie-in-the-Sky types (Dungy, etc.).
That said, I’m very interested in Leslie Frazier. But I think he’s long over-due for an NFL HC job and think it’s bananas that he hasn’t gotten one yet. With the openings that are expected to be out there in The NFL, my only fear is that he’ll want to go through the NFL interview process first, which means we’d only likely get him if it was February or March… and I’d like to get a new HC before that.
Because
It is good to know one’s adversary, wouldn’t you agree?
Mark 8:36
Chucky???????
How about Jon Gruden ???? he took Tampa B ay on to win a super bowl…gives us a fired up kinda guy that should be able to recruit with his nfl ties…
____________________________
Todd Thomas
my knowledge of this stuff is limited but
to my mind Richt would be a dream. I don’t know how dissatisfied Georgia fans are with him, but looking at their schedule, I’d say they’re likely to finish right around .500 – you have to think that’s not going to get it done in Georgia.
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
Georgia could still win the SEC
I don’t understand why we talk about Richt so much. The Bulldogs are 0.5 games out of first place in the SEC East. I don’t think he is going anywhere (yes, I know, the entire SEC East is down).
more like 1.5 games out of 1st,
since South Car. has tiebreaker.
if there’s talk about Richt on here, I think it’s because 1. there’s talk there of firing him – I don’t keep up with Georgia sports so I don’t know how serious it is, 2. people are hoping for a repeat of Tubby – successful SEC coach, not successful enough for a rabid fan base.
Personally, if they’re crazy enough to fire him, I’d be happy to take advantage of their mistake.
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Oct 17, 2010 5:32 PM CDT up reply actions
Not questioning his resume
I just question the fact that Georgia is ready to fire him. I don’t think it is all that realistic at this point. He is already a head coach at a better program. I don’t think this is at all analogous to Tubby—he was despised by much of the fan base for years.
I would like to keep the discussion to realistic options at this point.
It's an interesting situation
So Richt’s record is still pretty sparkling, but he has underachieved for 3 years in a row now (2008 was the year Georgia was supposed to challenge for the national title with Moreno and Stafford, 2009 was an 8-5 year that was basically only salvaged by beating Tech and this year (3-4) has been the worst season of the three)
His winning percentage is similar to Fulmer at Tennessee or Solich at Nebraska when they were fired, so it’s not outside of the realm of possibility that he could get canned.
That being said, I think the recent history of replacing coaches at marquee institutions (Nebraska, Tennessee, Miami, Alabama (until Saban)) should make Georgia cautious to replace Richt unless they have a complete slam dunk to replace him…which I don’t see anyone that fits that bill.
Georgia really wanted to bring Kirby Smart in last year to run the defense and Will Muschamp (Texas’s coach in waiting) is a UGA alum but considering their locations, it’s unlikely (smart’s case) to complete pipe dream (muschamp) if either would come into Athens.
Throw in back to back wins and a relatively favorable schedule (depends which Kentucky, Florida and Tech teams show up), figure in the cost of buying out a coach making 2.8 million a year and i’d be shocked if Richt doesn’t get one more season to turn the ship around.
(also, even if UGA lets go of Richt, i’m completely unsure as to why he would come to Minnesota…not enough ties, not enough money, but I would have said the same thing about Tubby, so yaneverknow)
not commenting on whether it's realistic or not
like I said above, it’s probably highly unlikely – though I wouldn’t know too much as I don’t follow Georgia football. who cares? My point was that on the very slim chance that he becomes available, it would be great.
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Oct 17, 2010 6:36 PM CDT up reply actions
If Richt is fired...
He’ll go to TV. He’s got a great name and won’t jump to a second-tier BCS program like ours.
Mike Grant?
I know he is only a HS head coach, but he has in-state credibility and his football connections through his dad and the Vikings organization will allow him to build a staff. Although he may have to take a pay cut and run a smaller budget than Eden Prairie
Um.....Don Treadwell??
I’d rather no one took him, but he deserves a look.
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/17129/michigan-state-grows-up-in-huge-win
Mark Stoops?
Iowa guy…maybe interested in coming back to Big Ten? Football needs another Stoops brother as head coach. I don’t know much about him but his bio seems good. I really want to see a DEFENSIVE minded coach…I think we have tried too many gimmicky offensive coaches
http://www.seminoles.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/stoops_mark00.html
Bob Nielson
Has anyone considered Bob Nielson at UMD? All the guy does is win and he obviously knows how to put an effective gameplan together. I know it is DII, but remember Jim Tressel was promoted from a low tier DI school (with prevous ties to OSU, I realize). Leach intrigues me as well, because we know he knows the X’s and O’s. I am just so damn sick of watching a squad ill-prepared to fight.
I think Chryst is good, but...
Do you really need an innovative offensive mind to run that offense? Give me the other Wisconsin DC – Doeren!
Mike Leach
Mike Leach had a 4-2 record against Nebraska during his tenure at TT including a 70-10 victory in 2004. He can make the annual Neb and Minn game interesting.
WOW,I'll bet Nebraska's DC never got a job in D1 football after that fiasco.
I mean,what school would be dumb enough to employ anybody that incompetent?
by mahogma66 on Oct 17, 2010 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
Wouldn't that be Cosgrove? Current DC at Minnesota.
He was Callahan’s DC when he was coach at Nebraska during their darkest days. Correct me if I’m wrong.
Other names
I like the idea of Doeren and Treadwell. Leach would be interesting. Around the internet I’ve seen people mention Mark Whipple, Shawn Watson, Leslie Frazier, and Jim Zorn, too and I think there’s a guy on the staff at Ole Miss from Minnesota.
A football Tubby Smith??
Well, let’s get Tom Izzo.
by StegerWithSwagg on Oct 17, 2010 1:12 PM CDT reply actions
An outside perspective
AS a Wolverine fan, I feel your pain, but let me give you a non-gopher perspective on your coaching list:
- I really think your top 3 are Richt, Leach, and Golden in that order. Richt is going to get canned, but he’s an above average coach who can win with the big boys but might not be a “next level” guy.. think, wait for it, Glen Mason. Leach would be a great hire for you all, but like you said, your admin may balk at his baggage. Golden would be good as well, and he actually may be the most available, especially if JoePa doesn’t leave after this year.
- Forget all the mountain west guys, even Calhoun. He’s a AF guy through and through, and I’d expect him to be there as long as DeBarry if they let him (especially now since they’re poised to take back the service academy top dog mantle from a slipping Navy)
- Outside of the above mentioned guys, you all may really need to go to D I AA route. Isn’t one of the Dakotas coaches relatively successful (I thought I remember seeing one of those team constantly in the D IAA playoff semis)? Local guy who will recruit the local area, probably has a system they’re comfortable with, and be able to establish winning credibility fast.
- Harbaugh is a no go— think Steve Alford syndrome. Magee is stuck to RichRod (R still calls most of the plays and comes up with the game plans each week… Magee is his sounding board more than play caller).
- Out of the pro guys, Trestman is the most intriguing. I would think with his CFL experience and West Coast experience in the NFL, you’d be looking at a Andy Reid type of pass happy WC offense.
by Wolverine In Exile on Oct 17, 2010 2:53 PM CDT reply actions
Don't hire Richt
He’ll probably pull a Gene Chizik. Once the next high profile SEC job opens he’s gone.
What do you guys feel about hiring Ted Roof back?
He was a successful coordinator while he was here. Probably the only personnel decision Brewster got right.
Roof
6-45 at Duke.
I get that it’s recruiting for Duke….but that kind of ineptitude is a no-go for me at the HC level.
Roof is good.
In fact, when he was here, I advocated his promotion and firing Brewster then. He’s an excellent coach.
good coordinator?
Roof has had success as a coordinator, but his head coaching tenure was an abysmal failure by any measure.
Spurrier (20-13 at Duke) is probably the best case scenario for the level of success you could get at that program…that being said the minute that Roof left as HC, cutcliffe has gotten them to at least not completely embarrassing (4-8, 5-7)
And yes, 2 wins in three seasons is completely embarrassing, even for Duke.
No to Roof
As a Duke alum/MN native, I’ll say a couple things in Roof’s defense as a head coach, and then finish with the conclusion that I’ve seen him as a head coach once already and don’t need a second experience at it.
Duke’s slowly returning to respectability under Cutcliffe, but it’s come about only with a significant institutional investment in football for the first time in generations. And Cutcliffe had a name coming in and has been able to use it, whereas the previous Duke coaches since Spurrier did not.
You all think Minnesota’s hit rock bottom? Y’all can’t even see the bottom from where you are, comparatively. For decades, Duke had treated football as something not worth the huge investment it took to be good at, since it’s a cash cow even for losing programs and Duke has basketball to boost the school’s visibility and marketing. And there was no history, beyond a short flowering in the 1940’s, to fall back on. In some ways the program’s fall to total ineptitude was inevitable and irreversible until the administration had finally heard enough from alums who were embarrassed by it. That just didn’t happen until Roof rode it to the bottom. But he was no worse than his predecessors. It was a hopeless situation. It was impossible to woo talent there, and Jim Tressel wouldn’t be coaching up the talent that was there to be a whole lot better than 1-9 most years. They’re improving now, but having a very rough year this year, and many of the strides that have been taken have been based on the weakness of the ACC in recent vintages. Not to mention that Duke’s been so bad for so long, people are fine giving Cutcliffe a full 5-6 years before they start demanding much in terms of impact, so he’s been allowed to stockpile some talent and no one’s caring all that much that they’re playing like a very young team.
So, judging Roof’s head coaching abilities simply on W-L record is misleading. That said, while I think he could come in and do an admirable job at a stable program that has a foundation (he definitely knows his x’s and o’s and could rely on others for recruiting sizzle to the extent needed), he’s not the guy to engineer a turnaround for a hungry fan base. He doesn’t have the personality to change an entire program’s culture and rebuild from the start.
Casey Bradley
I vote Casey Bradley. From Zumbrota, Minnesota, young, considered an up and coming coach. The only thing he would leave for is the NFL. Definitely could sell the program and brings youthful ability to get the program going in the right direction.
he's my dark horse candidate
I’m really intrigued by him
what you say here can, and will, be used against you The Daily Gopher
by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2010 9:19 PM CDT up reply actions
Hmm... Casey Bradley.
I just looked him up and he seems like a good fit. I’d still put him a ways down my personal wish list, but I’d be very satisfied if he was the guy. If we go the NFL DC route, I still think I’d prefer Leslie Frazier though.
Similar list
I just started blogging today, and have a (smaller) similar list.
http://rationalmnfan.blogspot.com/
St. Cloud Gopher
Major Applewhite coaches running backs at Texas, not the offense at 0U. He was formerly OC at Rice and Alabama, but Texas’ streak of no 1,000 yard rushers matches up with Major’s employment.
Gus Malzahn?
Head coaching experience (1992-2005 in High School) with 5 years (Arkansas, Tulsa, Auburn) of college as an offensive coordinator?
He’s still young (44), his results have been good, he’s got a fun system to watch and I think he can recruit.
Worth a call.
That was supposed to be...
Air Force is not known as “UAF.” It’s the United States Air Force Academy, or USAFA.
Leslie Frazier
I know that the U might be a little skittish going with the NFL route after Brewster, but Frazier seems to be a viable option for the gophs.
He’s young enough (51)
He’s been a head coach (9 years NAIA football)
He’s been a coordinator (5 years NFL)
He’s clearly comfortable living in the Twin Cities.
He’s got 2 superbowl rings both as a player (85 bears) and as a coach (06 colts)
http://thevikingage.com/2010/10/17/frazier-interested-in-gophers-head-coaching-position/
No guarantees he can recruit, but I think he’d be an excellent fit.
Why is Craig T. Nelson on this list?
He deserves a second run…
I don’t think Luther and Dauber are doing anything either.
If I were Minnesota, I take a hard look at Leach, but if the baggage is too much to pull the trigger on I think my call is to Dana Holgorsen, the OC of Oklahoma State. He’s been to the school of the Air Raid, but is also not averse to running the ball (Kendall Hunter may be the top RBs in the Big 12). The offense is appealing to recruits, he was born and educated in Iowa and he’s just about to “be a man, I’m 40”.
Minnesota needs to run a different offense than the Iowas and Wisconsins of the world if they’re going to outrecruit teams with consistent success over the past decade. Dana is your man.
Herm Edwards
I know we can’t get Dungy, but how about one of his proteges like Herm Edwards? The guy is inspiring and would do a great job recruiting. What kid wouldn’t want a philosophy as simple as “You Play To Win the Game”? He’s great on TV but unlikely to get another NFL head job, however I think he would be excellent with college kids. At least worth a phone call.
Herm Edwards spent two or three years of his career in college. When he left permanently for the NFL, Weber was still in diapers. How can you wave your hands and declare him from afar a great coordinator?!
I will light myself ablaze if this comes to pass. No crappy NFL retreads plz. I’d rather hire a coach fresh out of D2.
Brady Hoke
The more I read about the guy, the more I like him. Heading coaching experience at two schools in two different parts of the country. I know he’s not flashy or a Tubby Smith-like hire, but the man can coach.
Hoke would be an excellent choice but you'd be a fool not to go after Golden
Took BSU to 12-0 regular season, now turning around SDSU..
Take it from someone in the conference the way he has rebuilt that program from top to bottom is scary:
Forget Bradley...Forget Hoke
But Skip Holtz makes a lot of sense. He’s probably lookin at the USF situation and realizes that he can’t get to a BCS bowl while he’s there. But maybe if he follows in his old man’s footsteps, there’s an opportunity for bigger and better things….
Terry Bowden.
Dominating people at UNA right now, has won in the past, and has shown he does what is needed to put together a winning team.
The Dungy Effect
I can guaruntee you that with the counsel of Tony Dungy, Maturi will make a sound, long term decision. Yes this is a win now culture, but I feel that Dungy has the mental clarity to advise very wisely as to whom will fill the void. Will it be a big name? Maybe. Will it be a person with a combination of High Ethical standards, connections to the Midwest Region, and the ability to turn boys into men? With Dungy’s guidance, you can bet on it!
With that said, my top 5, Realistic Candidates are:
1. Kevin Sumlin
2. Dale Lennon (My personal Favorite)
3. Leslie Frazier
4. Mike Leach (Ethics in question though)
5. Dan McCarney
Big Name ONLY
Face it: this is Minnesota. The names mentioned here like Sumlin, Lennon, etc. are not going to have an immediate impact. We could be in the same position in another 3-4 years. We need a big name coach who will attract attention & recruits starting RIGHT NOW. Leslie Frazier would be great, but I suspect he will want an NFL job in the near future. So, I will throw out a name that may get some negative responses…Denny Green. He was an excellent college coach at both Northwestern and Stanford. He is well known, and I doubt if he’ll ever entertain NFL ambitions again. Wouldn’t hurt to hire an African-American coach, either. We need someone to keep the Michael Floyd’s & Seantrel Henderson’s in Minny. We also need a new Athletic Director…Maturi is a joke. From hiring con man Brewster to the Jimmy Willimas fiasco, he has been a failure. Don’t let him make another mistake.
Pete Carroll and more
If nothing else, he is worth a call. It is obvious that he took Seattle as he wanted to get out of Dodge quickly. People say that he is an NFL guy which I get, but you know that he was disappointed leaving a college football legend status. Worth making a phone call none the less if you can get over the stigma / bad PR . . .
In terms of guys, we have a shot at and should be calling . . .
1) Jack Del Rio (likely to be canned at the end of the year as fans want his head but it is hard winning in the toughest division in the NFL where you have legacy Coaches, Hall of Fame QBs, and really good front offices. Finally, USC wanted him last year – enough said)
2) Marc Trestman – just read the bio and be impressed
3) Casey Bradley (Monte Kiffin said this about him: "". . . listen to me. I have got a guy here in Tampa that is one of, if not, the finest football coaches I have ever worked with. He’s an A-plus. He’s a once-in-a-lifetime coach. You need to talk to him.")
4) Al Golden – but then again, I actually enjoy the MAC
5) Kevin Sumlin – just concerned about coaches that come from the south were athletes and football players are plentiful. If they get him, I would like to see him paired with a guy like Jim Leavitt to act as consiliere / DC.
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