“I couldn’t want it more than anything in my life besides my family".

[Colt house75]

This is my second choice (after TJ), this could work if Narduzzi and TJ were agreeable to it, but that might be difficult.

If Warde and Burton's money could thread the Narduzzi and Weist needle we will be set to take off.

Would like to see the Narduzzi and Weist needle threaded as mentioned above. Program in right direction, bleeding stopped and chance to put something spectaculiar together.
Incredible job, (agreed it was against 3 softer teams) but other programs and coaches would've mailed it in...kudos to Casey for hanging in while he waited and waited and waited...
big kudos for Geremy for being an inspiration to the younger guys...

 

[Chin Diesel]

It's a nice, sentimental line. Should not factor into the decision though. He is not a realistic candidate for any other FBS coaching job, so of course he would feel that way. What's he making now 350k? Imagine going from that to 1.5 million overnight????

What I will say is if we strike out on Lembo, Clawson, and Narduzzi, and were looking at the likes of Jeff Quinn, then well I'd be okay with TJ. If we have a shot at the aforementioned three or the Herman guy, how could we pass up making a splashy hire to re energize the fanbase?

I have to disagree with you.

Echoing what others have said AD's and football people know how difficult of a position he was put into mid-season and they know the difficulty of turning things around.

He has gained a ton of respect within his profession.

 

[noeynox]

I have to disagree with you.

Echoing what others have said AD's and football people know how difficult of a position he was put into mid-season and they know the difficulty of turning things around.

He has gained a ton of respect within his profession.

I agree with the bolded statement but what job would he be a candidate to be HC at besides UConn? Maybe he gets one of the MAC jobs, but he wasn't even coordinator at Cincy last year. He showed a lot, I don't think anyone will make him an FBS coach next year based on what he did here, but I could be wrong.

 

[Colt house75]

Hey, lets not forget he took over a total train and a system that he had to methodically rebuild. He did it with no spring or summer camps on the fly. He took a pathetic offense at the bottom of the FBS and improved it week over week. The team today is light years better than the one in week 5. This guy can coach and win. He earned the right to be a top consideration.

Agree Blue dog,
He had to overcome 3 years of a GDL system, fight off the HCPP stigma, coordinate Foley back into mainstream, revitalize a demoralized very young group of players into believing in themselves that they were still the "stars"
they were in high school, fight negative press, be interim HC 2 coaches " down" in the system, also be the O.C, get MAX and young guys on the field......and generate enthusiasm for commits/recruits coming to Storrs next year...and the toughest thing of all...keep all of us interested and
watching when the season tickets go on sale next year!!! Awesome ...deserves to be in the mix and retained at whatever position/cost if not the HC.

 

[J187Money]

Come on guys - get the narrative straight:

PP and GDL ruined the program, to the point where it could NEVER recover. But it took TJ longer than 2 weeks to right the ship, so he isn't good enough.

 

[SubbaBub]

If I'm Warde, take what you've seen from TJ off the field as his "resume" and give him the same interview you give everyone else. If you think he is the best coach for UConn in this (impossible to understate) critical moment in UConn Athletics (note I didn't say FB), then give him the job.

If you are using the results of these last three games for anything then you have no business being anywhere close to this decision making process. And don't take the emotional response from the current players after said 3 wins into account either. After losing the first nine, they would support whoever was in charge. Heck, if PP were still coaching some of you here would probably fall back in line.

If the mentioned outside candidates don't show the necessary passion for UConn or are looking for a payday, or want to rely on unrealistic recruiting aspirations, or are clearly favoring other jobs, then don't hire them either.

TJ has some advantages in this process, but I wouldn't hand him a thing other than this. Once I hired someone else, I'd ask the new coach to interview the talk to TJ, Day, and Foley. That's it.

Now, what would you ask TJ or any other candidate?

 

[J187Money]

If I'm Warde, take what you've seen from TJ off the field as his "resume" and give him the same interview you give everyone else. If you think he is the best coach for UConn in this (impossible to understate) critical moment in UConn Athletics (note I didn't say FB), then give him the job.

If you are using the results of these last three games for anything then you have no business being anywhere close to this decision making process. And don't take the emotional response from the current players after said 3 wins into account either. After losing the first nine, they would support whoever was in charge. Heck, if PP were still coaching some of you here would probably fall back in line.

If the mentioned outside candidates don't show the necessary passion for UConn or are looking for a payday, or want to rely on unrealistic recruiting aspirations, or are clearly favoring other jobs, then don't hire them either.

TJ has some advantages in this process, but I wouldn't hand him a thing other than this. Once I hired someone else, I'd ask the new coach to interview the talk to TJ, Day, and Foley. That's it.

Now, what would you ask TJ or any other candidate?

The only thing I would say is that if you ignore TJ's last 3 games you should also ignore the last 3 games of the rest of the candidates? You always take in all available information. TJ has an edge (or is harmed by - as we don't see everything) because WM has been able to see him work up close and personal. But he never would have been on the map at all other than for the fact he was the interim HC here. So we will see how it turns out. To me, the last 3 games mean that he hasn't disqualified himself from an interview. Because 3 weeks ago he wasn't even going to be considered.

 

[RMoore1999]

I guess I can clarify for you:

A: The comeback at Temple was a nice win - and everyone deserves kudos for it.

B: Beating Rutgers and Memphis is nice and all but those teams are
compete garbage so settle down

C: I like Weist - seems like a solid guy. The University of Connecticut can do better at the position of head football coach than TJ Weist.

THIS x 1000.

Honestly, if virtually anyone else on this board had posted this, it would gain traction as the most rationale, if not, majority view once the buzz of defeating 3 pathetic college football programs burns off a bit.

But because you play the role of arse-hole so well as you alluded to in another thread, the sentimental and shortsighted amongst us will have some fun mocking it...

 

[rich1122]

I said in another post it's about image. If it comes to Lembo or Crawford then I take TJ. Our image is the same. If we can get Mullen or Narduzzi then maybe we have to go that way. Man I will say this. When most of gave op thought of giving up HE DID NOT. He never quit and did not let ht kids quit. It will go a long way what the kids in the locker room think and the recruits think.

 

[noeynox]

THIS x 1000.

Honestly, if virtually anyone else on this board had posted this, it would gain traction as the most rationale, if not, majority view once the buzz of defeating 3 pathetic college football programs burns off a bit.

But because you play the role of arse-hole so well as you alluded to in another thread, the sentimental and shortsighted amongst us will have some fun mocking it...

I feel dirty arguing against Weist in some of my posts. It's not so much that I'm arguing against TJ, as I am arguing for Warde to go through the process thoroughly, and find the right guy.

 

[ZooCougar]

Also what doesn't hurt? Playing Memphis, Rutgers and Temple.

Ignore that at your own peril Warde.

Randy lost to Temple a lot.

 

[Northbound]

Why are folks dismissing the first five games, interim coaches do come in and win right away, just look to USC this year. That was a s#it show with Kiffin, Ed O got wins right away. I'm not suggesting the talent on this teams is like the talent in that team, but to ignore the similarities of the situations would be foolish.

I have no idea if TJ is the right man for the job, I do know that falling in love after three wins isn't the best thing to do. Interview him, see his vision for the program and see what is plan is for achieving his vision and do a comparative to the other candidates.

 

[RMoore1999]

I feel dirty arguing against Weist in some of my posts. It's not so much that I'm arguing against TJ, as I am arguing for Warde to go through the process thoroughly, and find the right guy.

You've done a good job promoting that view, especially in the other thread. Calling for a professional and thorough search to identify the best person for the job doesn't equate to calling TJ incompetent, as some seem to conclude.

Where you and I diverge is I'm skeptical as to whether the rock star's competent to make the right choice here.

 

[UConnJim]

TJW probably saved UConn football from going into a deep, dark hole which might have taken a few years to recover. TJW, thank you for all that you have done for UConn! (I think we also have to thank Warde for pulling the plug on PP/GDL when he did as he admitted he had made a mistake for bringing them back for year 3.)

Based on his body of work, we can see that he can motivate and unite a team and he was able to develop an offense using inexperienced QBs. And, he seems to be a decent and honorable man. But, there are many roles that a college HC must fill.

Can he recruit? Can he deal with boosters, academics, administrators, media types? Can he energize the fan base? Can he hire and fire assistant coaches? Is he capable of taking UConn to compete on a high level? What is his plan and blueprint for UConn football?

Hopefully, Warde will not let the emotions of the last 3 games cloud his judgement. This is probably the 2nd most important coaching hire after Jim Calhoun that UConn has ever made and we need to get it right.

 

[rich1122]

I hired many people. If you have the chance take the guy who wants to come. Never take the guy who thinks that he is too good for you or the job is beneath him. That's the problem that I see with Mullen.

 

[CTMike]

Basing a decision like this isn't as simple as looking at a record, whether his first 5, or his last 3! I know what Warde said, that TJ has to win. We all have different definitions of what that means, and I don't know Warde's. I really like TJ, I think he has the stuff to be an excellent head coach, but I wouldn't hand him anything based off the last 3 games. I would look at it as : he inherited about as a situation as possible and made it a lot less . That's not easy, and that deserves credit and consideration despite folks knocking the opponents he won against. But then you need everything else that goes in to his qualificaitons as a coach, and there's a ton more than just 3-5. About all 3-5 tells me is that he didn't go 0-8 and totally exclude himself.

 

[jostar1]

It's not so much that I'm arguing against TJ, as I am arguing for Warde to go through the process thoroughly, and find the right guy.

I believe that is what Warde is going to do.

 

[Dooley]

I said in another post it's about image. If it comes to Lembo or Crawford then I take TJ. Our image is the same. If we can get Mullen or Narduzzi then maybe we have to go that way. Man I will say this. When most of gave op thought of giving up HE DID NOT. He never quit and did not let ht kids quit. It will go a long way what the kids in the locker room think and the recruits think.

I agree with your premise. Narduzzi and Mullen types would make a statement that UCONN invests in football. For those who think this isn't a big deal, just search UCONN stuff on social media and other message boards from across the country. The majority of people out there think the UCONN job is well beneath Narduzzi and that he could/should get a better job or just stay at Michigan State. It's the same for Lembo, Clawson, and most other names that are floating out there. If UCONN hired Narduzzi or Mullen, it would go a LOOOONG way in immediately turning around the negative perception that surrounds our program.

 

[SubbaBub]

The only thing I would say is that if you ignore TJ's last 3 games you should also ignore the last 3 games of the rest of the candidates? You always take in all available information. TJ has an edge (or is harmed by - as we don't see everything) because WM has been able to see him work up close and personal. But he never would have been on the map at all other than for the fact he was the interim HC here. So we will see how it turns out. To me, the last 3 games mean that he hasn't disqualified himself from an interview. Because 3 weeks ago he wasn't even going to be considered.

I can't shake my head hard enough at this. Let me try to explain again. Any coach we would bother considering, would have won these last three games. They were bottom quartile teams. Two of them were at home. They had a combined 5 -19 conference record. It is such low hanging fruit that it is resting on the ground. So from an on-the-field viewpoint, it is worth zero.

Now, off the field, he was able to motivate this team (after the horrible first half vs. Temple) and get them to play much better the last 4 games (I'll throw SMU in there) He presumably has been well organized, managed a staff that was surely keeping one eye on an exit strategy, and shown an ability to develop game plans and make adjustments. All this gets him into the discussion and an interview, but no more.

So, some questions for TJ, How the heck did we look so bad in the first half against Temple, why were we so uncompetative against UCF, UL and Cincy where other teams (USF, SMU) played them a lot closer? What are your plans to improve the running game, pass coverage, pass rush, LB play, and special teams? Who would you have on your staff next season? What do you expect our record to be next year? What will be your recruiting focus? When you where first named HC, what was your thinking in starting Boyle over Cochrane, you were the OC? What is your plan for the position next year? What is your off season focus, how will we get better?

Dwelling on beating RU, Temple, and Memphis (three of the worst programs of all time) is a recipe for disaster.

 

[gars44]

Come on guys - get the narrative straight:

PP and GDL ruined the program, to the point where it could NEVER recover. But it took TJ longer than 2 weeks to right the ship, so he isn't good enough.

GDL especially demoralized a lot of the kids. PP was more or less neutral, kind of a cipher. I'm right behind the Uconn bench, and for the last two years it has been very obvious that the body language and facial expression was just plain bad. Shoulder language slumped. No bounce. Just bad. From the moment TJW took over you could see an evolution take place, a weight lifted. It was palpable.

 

[rich1122]

I thought that we gradually got better as time went on in all phases. Was finding Cochran this late in e season just a stroke of luck or mismanagement. Reminds me of Edsall and Marcus Easely. Where he heck has he been? Maybe the kid is going to transfer to an FSC school and suddenly he is light out. I would want to know the answer to that. Certainly TJ wants to be here and was able to right the ship, that really looked bad after the Buffalo game.

 

[huskysupporter]

So, some questions for TJ, How the heck did we look so bad in the first half against Temple, why were we so uncompetative against UCF, UL and Cincy where other teams (USF, SMU) played them a lot closer? What are your plans to improve the running game, pass coverage, pass rush, LB play, and special teams? Who would you have on your staff next season? What do you expect our record to be next year? What will be your recruiting focus? When you where first named HC, what was your thinking in starting Boyle over Cochrane, you were the OC? What is your plan for the position next year? What is your off season focus, how will we get better?

Dwelling on beating RU, Temple, and Memphis (three of the worst programs of all time) is a recipe for disaster.

I don't think any competent AD is going to look at the last 3 victories in a vacuum.

The questions that need to be asked of all coaches:

1. What is your recruiting philosophy? I want to know where the coach is going to focus on recruiting. I want to know why he is focusing on those areas, and why he believes he will be successful recruiting in those areas. This is a huge area for me. I expect the coach the explain his complete process for recruiting, how he identifies targets, and how he recruits them. I want him to mention staff here. What does the coach look for? For this program, recruiting is absolutely huge. And not recruiting in the sense of "stars". Recruiting in the sense that the staff can identify solid BCS players that can be coached into great BCS players. Recruiting at UCONN will be tough. But not impossible at all, if the right coach is hired. Not a used car salesman coach, a coach who can identify (and whose staff can identify) talent.

2. How do you plan on constructing your staff? Here is where I want to know his offensive and defensive philosophy, and how he is going to assemble and structure his coaching staff. This is also huge for me. I want him to mention how he plans on scouting opponents, how a practice will be structured, and how the offseason will be structured. I really want a thorough, organized coach.

3. Academics: What structure will there be to ensure that the student athletes succeed?
The new coach needs to have a vision, and an action plan to see the plan to fruition. If that is TJ Weist, awesome. If it is Narduzzi, awesome. If it is some coach who currently leads a little known Division II school, awesome. I don't care. I want a passionate leader who is going to get this program back to an upward trajectory.

 

[gars44]

THIS x 1000.

Honestly, if virtually anyone else on this board had posted this, it would gain traction as the most rationale, if not, majority view once the buzz of defeating 3 pathetic college football programs burns off a bit.

But because you play the role of arse-hole so well as you alluded to in another thread, the sentimental and shortsighted amongst us will have some fun mocking it...

It's not that we defeated 3 pathetic college football programs. It's not that at all. It is that our own program was beneath those three pathetic programs and trending in the wrong direction. What I was watching under PP/GDL gave me every reason to believe that we would not win a game in 2013. I watched the Buffalo game on ESPN3. It was absolutely unbelievable the way the team just bailed out on PP/GDL. They quit. And I hoped against hope that Warde would do something right then and there - even emailed him - but my belief system told me that WM was too much of a gentleman to perform the unseemly task of firing a head coach mid season. And when he did it, I was shocked.

So, this is not about beating 3 pathetic teams. This has been a complete organizational metamorphosis. We remember that this team, for the past couple of years, seemed less and less capable of getting a first down. It got worse and worse as time went on to the point where this year, we couldn't even move the ball against Towson and the Buffs. With any type of offense at all we would have beat Michigan - the way they shot themselves in the foot that night. But we couldn't move the ball. Interview away, but I would be thrilled if TJW got the job.

 

[CL82]

I don't think any competent AD is going to look at the last 3 victories in a vacuum.

The questions that need to be asked of all coaches:

1. What is your recruiting philosophy? I want to know where the coach is going to focus on recruiting. I want to know why he is focusing on those areas, and why he believes he will be successful recruiting in those areas. This is a huge area for me. I expect the coach the explain his complete process for recruiting, how he identifies targets, and how he recruits them. I want him to mention staff here. What does the coach look for? For this program, recruiting is absolutely huge. And not recruiting in the sense of "stars". Recruiting in the sense that the staff can identify solid BCS players that can be coached into great BCS players. Recruiting at UCONN will be tough. But not impossible at all, if the right coach is hired. Not a used car salesman coach, a coach who can identify (and whose staff can identify) talent.

2. How do you plan on constructing your staff? Here is where I want to know his offensive and defensive philosophy, and how he is going to assemble and structure his coaching staff. This is also huge for me. I want him to mention how he plans on scouting opponents, how a practice will be structured, and how the offseason will be structured. I really want a thorough, organized coach.

3. Academics: What structure will there be to ensure that the student athletes succeed?
The new coach needs to have a vision, and an action plan to see the plan to fruition. If that is TJ Weist, awesome. If it is Narduzzi, awesome. If it is some coach who currently leads a little known Division II school, awesome. I don't care. I want a passionate leader who is going to get this program back to an upward trajectory.

I agree with everything except the highlighted statement. As others have noted, this is a huge hire. At this point, I like TJ vs. taking a flier on a Div. II coach.

 

[SubbaBub]

Basing a decision like this isn't as simple as looking at a record, whether his first 5, or his last 3! I know what Warde said, that TJ has to win. We all have different definitions of what that means, and I don't know Warde's. I really like TJ, I think he has the stuff to be an excellent head coach, but I wouldn't hand him anything based off the last 3 games. I would look at it as : he inherited about as a situation as possible and made it a lot less . That's not easy, and that deserves credit and consideration despite folks knocking the opponents he won against. But then you need everything else that goes in to his qualificaitons as a coach, and there's a ton more than just 3-5. About all 3-5 tells me is that he didn't go 0-8 and totally exclude himself.

In the back of my mind, I suspect WM hired TJ with a view that he might be a potential replacement for PP at the end of his contract/tenure. From what I've heard from WM this season I believe his intention was to give PP every opportunity and respect his long term process. PP/GDL's suckitude torpedoed that idea and TJ is interviewing for this job 2-3 years too soon, likely to his detriment.

 

[rich1122]

It's not that we defeated 3 pathetic college football programs. It's not that at all. It is that our own program was beneath those three pathetic programs and trending in the wrong direction. What I was watching under PP/GDL gave me every reason to believe that we would not win a game in 2013. I watched the Buffalo game on ESPN3. It was absolutely unbelievable the way the team just bailed out on PP/GDL. They quit. And I hoped against hope that Warde would do something right then and there - even emailed him - but my belief system told me that WM was too much of a gentleman to perform the unseemly task of firing a head coach mid season. And when he did it, I was shocked.

So, this is not about beating 3 pathetic teams. This has been a complete organizational metamorphosis. We remember that this team, for the past couple of years, seemed less and less capable of getting a first down. It got worse and worse as time went on to the point where this year, we couldn't even move the ball against Towson and the Buffs. With any type of offense at all we would have beat Michigan - the way they shot themselves in the foot that night. But we couldn't move the ball. Interview away, but I would be thrilled if TJW got the job.

We were not even close against either Buffalo or Towson. It depends on whether he wants to pick a good coach or wants to pick a good coach AND change the image of UCONN football. IMHO recruiting breaks all ties

 

[Adios]

Isn't that what all coaches say? This is a high paying job. Do you want it more than any other school?

 

[gars44]

Why are folks dismissing the first five games, interim coaches do come in and win right away, just look to USC this year. That was a s#it show with Kiffin, Ed O got wins right away. I'm not suggesting the talent on this teams is like the talent in that team, but to ignore the similarities of the situations would be foolish.

I have no idea if TJ is the right man for the job, I do know that falling in love after three wins isn't the best thing to do. Interview him, see his vision for the program and see what is plan is for achieving his vision and do a comparative to the other candidates.

I like USC and the job Ed O did as well. Like you say, there's a huge talent gap between us and the Trojans, but the point is well taken. Orgeron did a great job. That being said, USC had a very weak schedule going forward after Kiff was fired. They lost to their two biggest rivals, ND and UCLA. Except for Stanford, which was a huge upset win, the rest of the teams they beat all had sub .500 conference records and are teams that USC is absolutely expected to beat, no matter what: AZ 4-5; UT 2-7; OSU 4-5; CAL 0-9, CO 1-8. I mean, this was a very easy schedule for a program like USC. TJW had a much more difficult task in UCF, LV, and CINN. I think comparable performances by both coaches (although it got Orgeron canned).

 

[J187Money]

I can't shake my head hard enough at this. Let me try to explain again. Any coach we would bother considering, would have won these last three games. They were bottom quartile teams. Two of them were at home. They had a combined 5 -19 conference record. It is such low hanging fruit that it is resting on the ground. So from an on-the-field viewpoint, it is worth zero.

Now, off the field, he was able to motivate this team (after the horrible first half vs. Temple) and get them to play much better the last 4 games (I'll throw SMU in there) He presumably has been well organized, managed a staff that was surely keeping one eye on an exit strategy, and shown an ability to develop game plans and make adjustments. All this gets him into the discussion and an interview, but no more.

So, some questions for TJ, How the heck did we look so bad in the first half against Temple, why were we so uncompetative against UCF, UL and Cincy where other teams (USF, SMU) played them a lot closer? What are your plans to improve the running game, pass coverage, pass rush, LB play, and special teams? Who would you have on your staff next season? What do you expect our record to be next year? What will be your recruiting focus? When you where first named HC, what was your thinking in starting Boyle over Cochrane, you were the OC? What is your plan for the position next year? What is your off season focus, how will we get better?

Dwelling on beating RU, Temple, and Memphis (three of the worst programs of all time) is a recipe for disaster.

So Lembo beat Central Michigan (6-6) and Miami (OH) (0-12) and got killed by NI in his last 3 games. And he is the second coming of Christ?

Find out where I said that TJW should be handed this job. I said that the last 3 games earned the right for him to be considered. And you are shaking your head. And then you say he should be interviewed. Not sure how we aren't saying the same thing, other than that you THINK that had any of these guys taken over at 0-4 they would have done better than TJW. But you will never know. And I'm pretty sure that most people think that PP/GDL would have lost these three games, so TJW should get some credit. My point was that WM has probably already had a lot of these conversations with TJW - meaning why it didn't get fixed earlier, how we came back at Temple, etc. You don't think WM talks to TJW after every game? So something in the process of the team coming together had to impress WM to get an interview, otherwise he would have taken your approach - that any village idiot could have coached the team to 3 meaningless wins so let's pretend they didn't happen.

I freely admit that I have no idea if any of these MAC coaches are any good or not. I'm certain that 80% of the people that are touting these guys couldn't name the school colors of the teams they coach and haven't seen more than 2 MAC games on TV in their lives if UCONN wasn't involved. People like to read what other people write and then repeat it to look smart. Could be that the only difference between Lembo and TJW is opportunity and circumstances. At this stage, the only thing I can criticize TJW for in retrospect is that Cochran should have been playing from the outset, and maybe if he had been we would have been 5-3 at least 4-4. I never expected him to beat the top 3 teams in the conference. He should have beat USF (and would have if the receivers didn't choke). SMU was mostly on Hughes IMO.

Again - I'm not saying he should get the job, but for every Brian Kelly there are guys that jump up and aren't Brian Kelly. People love shiny new objects, and for people to say emphatically that TJW couldn't be better than Lembo or his equivalent, great - but it is just an opinion. Narduzzi might be great also, but he might be only as good as Don Brown and could end up being a terrible HC (or like Edsall and hamstring an offense). I trust WM to make the right decision. Most of the bluster I hear here is just that...bluster.

 

[gars44]

And I'm pretty sure that most people think that PP/GDL would have lost these three games . . .

I sure do. If PGDL were coaching those games you can put 3 more Ws in the loss column. Because the team quit on them. Walked out. The OLine was hopelessly confused. Do people remember what our Oline was like? Last year? The year before? Against Towson? Against everyone? The ball would get hiked and the D would just come crashing through? Did this team look anything like that under TJW? I'm bullish on TJW, a buyer.