Any word on a new HC @ UConn yet?

[How Sway?!]

Chesney, lolz. Nick Saban came from Toledo, Matt Campbell who just crushed it at Iowa State and got the Penn State job came from Toledo. Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, Paul Brown, and Ara Parseghian all coached in the MAC.

The MAC blows away the Patriot League.

Nick Saban spent a year in Toledo and then went to the NFL, c'mon lmaoo

Matt Campell is a valid shout but he was only there for 4 years before he was picked up, Candle is in year 10, is that not a red flag?

If you have to go back to 1950s and 60s to get other good examples, I think it proves my point.

 

[psilotic]

The Eugene F Kranz Toledo Express is comical

I would have guessed Jamie Farr for that honor

 

[Travelman6]

This along with the recruiting class makes it clear he is able to get a lot of talent. The issue, at least for me, is that even with all that talent, he was only able to win 2 conference titles in 10 years and only had a double digit win season once in an atrocious MAC.

They occasionally have some teams that make some noise, there was a double digit western Michigan team that finished in the top 25 one year, I think with a p4 win and that conferences top teams occasionally knock off p4 teams.

 

[AllHusky]

It’s a balance.
If a coach is successful at a lower level, it’s not a guarantee they will be successful at a higher level, but it’s a great indicator.

The trick with an established coach is really what motivates them. Are they just looking to cash in on their name (belichik), or are they looking to build something and are they willing to put forth the energy to do that.
I’m sure if you ask, they will say what you want to hear. But that’s where Benedict will hopefully figure out the best fit.

I think a balance of HC experience, career on upward trajectory, success in running a program, can build off of what we have, and wants to be in CT/Northeast.

If I follow that, I suppose Mora wouldn’t have been a candidate in my book. But I think Mora was the exception, not the norm. And that’s why I give credit to Benedict. I think he’s open, can read a person, and can flex to find the best fit available.

I really just hope it’s not Moorhead or some other retread coming off failure as opposed to someone using their success to climb up to UConn.

Yes, it seems like some would prefer to be like the other BE teams with no football but I think the vast majority of UConn basketball fans (and I mean >80-90%) would welcome an invite from the B10 or the B12 or the ACC (so long as Dook and UNC remain there). But, the barrier to those invites that we have been told (most recently by the B12) is the lack of football tradition combined with the weakness of the football program since that Fiesta Bowl game (and, I guess for the B10, also not having AAU membership). I mean are we ever going to find a P4 conference commissioner as bullish about us as Brett Yormark? And even that was not enough. Would that change coming off the last two seasons of FB success? Personally, I don't think so.

So we are faced with four unenviable options: (1) continue to try and go along as an independent for FB and try to combat the above feelings about our FB program which seems to be an impossible task (unless we get a splashy hire and show deep pockets to support the program and even then we are on the outside looking in); or (2) hang on as an independent, stay on this upswing and see how the next wave of conference realignment shakes out? Or, (3) look to join a G5 conference for football only or possibly all sports? Or, (4) abandon FBS football (say in favor of FCS football), and stay in the Big East.

Think there is really only 1 option there, 1&2 are close enough to be really all but the same thing.

 

[AllHusky]

"sexual predators" - that is cold!!!! 🤣

Dogs are mans best friend. That is incorrect.

Somehow don’t think Bulls, Bison, Buffalo or Longhorns are Predators. Don’t want them to run you over, but they are grazers.

 

[Rich]

If we manage to hire Candle....that would be like going to the local gas station and buying a scratch lottery ticket that wins you $1,000, ripping it up and saying 'I can do better', and then going back to the same gas station the next day, buying another ticket and winning $100,000.

 

[JohnFSilver]

It's not that people are scared, its just next to impossible to do here.

It is very difficult to do. But, it is very clear that the doo

And what is not mentioned often, but clearly pointed out by others, probably half of the recent successes are due to the fact that AD David Benedict was able to significantly dumb down the schedule.

i would say he rightsized it.

 

[JohnFSilver]

South Florida getting a highly respected coach so quick is not a great sign for UConn for lots of reasons.

Why?

 

[superjohn]

Nick Saban spent a year in Toledo and then went to the NFL, c'mon lmaoo

Matt Campell is a valid shout but he was only there for 4 years before he was picked up, Candle is in year 10, is that not a red flag?

If you have to go back to 1950s and 60s to get other good examples, I think it proves my point.

You had no point, you said the MAC is atrocious and then advocated for a guy who has one year of coaching in the Patriot league which is a way worse league than the MAC.

You threw out Bob Chesney as your example for guys who have coached in the Patriot League so I threw out the best coaches who have ever coached in college football.

Being a successful head coach for 10 years is a green flag.

 

[Hogoff]

"sexual predators" - that is cold!!!! 🤣

Dogs are mans best friend. That is incorrect.

I missed that until this post. 🤣

 

[Kolumbo]

 

[MilliniumPrince]

It seems to, you lived life, like a Candle in the wind.....

 

[JwittersPAC]

Chesney, lolz. Nick Saban came from Toledo, Matt Campbell who just crushed it at Iowa State and got the Penn State job came from Toledo. Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, Paul Brown, and Ara Parseghian all coached in the MAC.

The MAC blows away the Patriot League.

That is why good chance if Penn State hires away Iowa State coach they will go after Candle.

 

[How Sway?!]

You had no point, you said the MAC is atrocious and then advocated for a guy who has one year of coaching in the Patriot league which is a way worse league than the MAC.

You threw out Bob Chesney as your example for guys who have coached in the Patriot League so I threw out the best coaches who have ever coached in college football.

Being a successful head coach for 10 years is a green flag.

1) I used an example of someone who was coaching in the Patriot League less than 5 years ago. You used an example of someone who coached in the MAC for 1 year in the 90s and others from the Eisenhower administration. I wonder which ones are more apt in today's day and age? 🤔

2) the most recent examples of MAC coaches successfully moving up have been Matt Campbell and PJ Fleck. Yet they both were only in the league for 4 years before someone came in and poached them. Candle has been at Toledo for 10. You don't think he has ever tried to get a P4 job before? The fact that he has gone through multiple interview processed and always been the bridesmaid is a red flag to me.

3) From the Iowa State board : "Candle has lost 13 times since 2020 as a favorite by a touchdown or more."

I am not trashing the MAC or saying the Patriot League is better. I am saying most MAC coaches who go on to be successful at a higher level don't spend 10 years in the league and have much more success than Candle.

 

[AllHusky]

Sammis' appearance gives me Parcells vibes.
If only.......
Don't think I've ever heard him talk except the brief video someone posted about the dinner the other night. The players seemed interested and engaged so that may be a sign he has their respect.
He's also succeeded in progressively more challenging jobs.
Running a program is a big jump though so my guess is DB needs to be convinced GS can make the next jump. Hiring the right people is the biggest challenge any manager has today........but it's crucial DB gets it right as the long term implications for UConn hang in the balance.

Posted about Gordon early in the seaso when people were pissing on him as the OC. He will be a Head Coach. Is this his time and place I don’t know. I doubt he will be out worked or outcompeted. He comes off as intelligent and analytical, and learns from his mistakes. I think he will be a good manager of staff, and would work well with David. David is not afraid to be involved with the program, but doesn’t appear to be overbearing or a micromanager. Can he be a lightning rod Head Coach, attracting coaches, recruits and fans? Are we willing to make that bet? He wouldn’t be a bad bet, just no splash.

 

[Hondo 77]

I'm inclined to go the other way on this. The addition of competent management might help Rutgers who are merely "mostly dead." BC on the other hand is "completely dead."

 

[JwittersPAC]

I think this is the true root cause of the anti-football UConn contingent. They're used to pro sports where they expect their NY or new england team to win the Superbowl/world series/NBA championship etc every single season and it's a disappointment if they don't. They know we can't win the CFB playoff given our circumstances so they don't even want to play the sport. It's like they get second hand embarrassment from it or something

The issue is not many college football teams have a real chance at a FBS championship probably 20 or less teams. In all likelihood UConn will be always be one of the non-elite FBS teams. Not saying they cannot have good seasons but having seasons like the basketball teams are not likely.

 

[ZooCougar]

Good news.

 

[noeynox]

 

[ScottVib]

Cahill. He built up a 2-9 program to 12-0 while being limited in not being able to offer scholarships.

The Patriot League has offered scholarships since 2013... Georgetown is the only program in the league that still does not offer the full allotment

 

[maple]

Interesting choice.

I don't know enough about him as a HC, but a quick look through his time at Toledo shows a lot of winning seasons.

 

[HartfordHank]

To be fair, he came into a program that was already going extremely well. Cignetti had them set up pretty well. UCLA will be a different kettle of fish. He’ll be asked to rebuild a program that is absolutely #2 in its market to Southern Cal.

Yes, JMU had been going extremely well. However, when Cignetti left for IU he took a lot of JMU's talent with him. Chesney did a very good job of keeping the program headed in the right direction.

 

[ScottVib]

8 bowls in 9 seasons (3-5)... 81-44 at Toledo and still only 46. Certainly some reason for optimism

 

[snoopy]

Still cannot find any other source confirming this online, unfortunately (as of 8:25pm ET).

Edit: I was just looking for a second source as confirmation, that’s all. Nothing against Joe Zone!

 

[Hoophound]

Still cannot find any other source confirming this online, unfortunately (as of 8:25pm ET).

What constitutes a source? Joe Zone is a pretty good source.