Coaching Search Tweets & More

[BNich]

Gone are the days a college coach brings a program to national prominence and stays for 15+ years. Such a shame. There's coaching musical chairs it seems way too often.

 

[TDog9]

I hope we are not last to hire. Make your best offer to Narduzzi, give him a deadline and if he doesn't take it move on. He is not the end all be all, he is an assistant who has never been a head coach.

As a Recruiter, I can tell you this: IF Uconn/WM have decided that Nard-Dog is THE guy, then the Search Firm in ATL should be giving them the following advice: Make as strong an offer as possible and put a timetable on it. He'll accept the bird-in-hand offer of ~$2M (a 400% raise) or he doesn't want to be at UCONN. Either way, it's a win/win for UCONN, we get the guy, or we know he doesn't want us.

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

Was Petersen a splash hire when Boise hired him? Give me the right hire over the splash hire 6 times a week and twice on Saturday.

If you could find a systemic way to figure out who the "right hire" is 6 times a week, you are up for a massive pay raise.

 

[MarbleheadHusky]

If saban leaves for texas the most likely move for Alabama is to promote Kirby Smart. The Texas thing is hardly going to affect us.

I am not so sure. How is the Will Muschamp hire working out at Florida? If you will recall, he was the next upcoming can't miss coordinator who Texas tried to keep and gave the "Coach in Waiting" tag to. I think if you are kicking Mack Brown to the curb the way they are, they better be hiring Saban. If not Saban, I would think it would have to be a proven Coach from another program. Just my opinion...

 

[UConn Dan]

Was Petersen a splash hire when Boise hired him? Give me the right hire over the splash hire 6 times a week and twice on Saturday.

Then why are you so anti-TJ hire? He's a good coach, player's coach, motivated, wants to be here... hmm.

 

[06029]

I think Lembo is a better pick up then Clawson. I think Narduzzi is bigger NAME than both of them combined (yet to be proven if he can be a HC). And I think it's going to be Narduzzi or Lembo. Either of them will give us instead credibility. Wake will continue to be mediocre ate best.

Boise St. went with the safe pick and picked up their old OC. They will probably keep winning, but it's not a splash hire.

What does salary/compensation have to do with being a better hire?

I saw Clawson as the best available proven head coach that would move. Higher than Lembo in my book. I just have an aversion to a career coordinator having their first HC gig with a school that needs a big change. Too risky. I prefer a guy with success and a track record of success at every level where he recruited and built. Clawson had everything I wanted and Uconn was not even given a sniff. Lembo is the next best option on my list. From there, the risk shoots up significantly.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Then why are you so anti-TJ hire? He's a good coach, player's coach, motivated, wants to be here... hmm.

I don't know why some can't grasp the position people are taking on TJ. I'm not "anti-TJ", whatever that means. I'm just not sure he is the right hire. I think there are other guys who have a better proven track record. If we hire him it's likely because we whiffed on at least 3 or 4 candidates. That's the bottom line in all of this.

 

[BlueDogs]

All I know is this. We got left holding the bag with the BE due to wait and see inaction, and we better not rinse and repeat in this case. Get something done before we are left with another crap sandwich.

 

[Husky25]

Was Petersen a splash hire when Boise hired him? Give me the right hire over the splash hire 6 times a week and twice on Saturday.

I think any one of Narduzzi, Lembo, or Diaco will be both.

 

[UConn Dan]

I don't know why some can't grasp the position people are taking on TJ. I'm not "anti-TJ", whatever that means. I'm just not sure he is the right hire. I think there are other guys who have a better proven track record. If we hire him it's likely because we whiffed on at least 3 or 4 candidates. That's the bottom line in all of this.

I agree if we hire him it's because Warde whiffed on his top picks, but he's less of a black-box than any other candidate.

 

[UConn07]

I don't know why some can't grasp the position people are taking on TJ. I'm not "anti-TJ", whatever that means. I'm just not sure he is the right hire. I think there are other guys who have a better proven track record. If we hire him it's likely because we whiffed on at least 3 or 4 candidates. That's the bottom line in all of this.

Lembo is a proven track record? I'd say mediocre to ok. Ball State lost to North Texas this year and he hasn't won his conference since 2004 at Lehigh nor has he won a postseason game in 4 attempts.

2001Lehigh11–17–01stL NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal5
2002Lehigh8–44–34th
2003Lehigh8–36–12nd23
2004Lehigh9–35–1T–1stL NCAA Division I-AA First Round15
2005Lehigh8–34–23rd
Lehigh:44–1426–7
Elon Phoenix (Southern Conference) (2006–2010)
2006Elon5–62–5T–5th
2007Elon7–44–3T–3rd23
2008Elon8–46–23rd17
2009Elon9–37–12ndL NCAA Division I First Round9
2010Elon6–55–3T–3rd
Elon:35–2224–14
Ball State Cardinals (Mid-American Conference) (2011–present)
2011Ball State6–64–4T–4th (West)
2012Ball State9–46–2T–2nd (West)L Beef 'O' Brady's
2013Ball State10–27–12nd (West)

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Lembo is a proven track record? I'd say mediocre to ok. Ball State lost to North Texas this year and he hasn't won his conference since 2004 at Lehigh nor has he won a postseason game in 4 attempts.

2001Lehigh11–17–01stL NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal5
2002Lehigh8–44–34th
2003Lehigh8–36–12nd23
2004Lehigh9–35–1T–1stL NCAA Division I-AA First Round15
2005Lehigh8–34–23rd
Lehigh:44–1426–7
Elon Phoenix (Southern Conference) (2006–2010)
2006Elon5–62–5T–5th
2007Elon7–44–3T–3rd23
2008Elon8–46–23rd17
2009Elon9–37–12ndL NCAA Division I First Round9
2010Elon6–55–3T–3rd
Elon:35–2224–14
Ball State Cardinals (Mid-American Conference) (2011–present)
2011Ball State6–64–4T–4th (West)
2012Ball State9–46–2T–2nd (West)L Beef 'O' Brady's
2013Ball State10–27–12nd (West)

In what alternative universe is that NOT a proven track record? Mediocre to ok? OK, whatever you say.....

 

[Rumrunner]

Dear Lord. That reads like the WVU board crossed with Art Bell and a dash of the illuminati.

RR - Speaking of conspiracy theories, did you see this wingnut post from late last night? (it's now like 5 pages back):

>>Spartan787 620 posts
I read where the AD at Connecticut ...

 

[noeynox]

I am not so sure. How is the Will Muschamp hire working out at Florida? If you will recall, he was the next upcoming can't miss coordinator who Texas tried to keep and gave the "Coach in Waiting" tag to. I think if you are kicking Mack Brown to the curb the way they are, they better be hiring Saban. If not Saban, I would think it would have to be a proven Coach from another program. Just my opinion...

Muschamp was 12-1, or something like that and in the sugar bowl last year. That they were terrible this year is in no small part due to a staggering number of injuries. He shoots from the hip too much and had angered peolple down there.

 

[UConn Dan]

Lembo is a proven track record? I'd say mediocre to ok. Ball State lost to North Texas this year and he hasn't won his conference since 2004 at Lehigh nor has he won a postseason game in 4 attempts.

Didn't they also destroy Virginia (at VA) this year?

 

[ZooCougar]

Was Petersen a splash hire when Boise hired him? Give me the right hire over the splash hire 6 times a week and twice on Saturday.

I think he was a promotion.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

I think he was a promotion.

Yeah he was their OC under Hawkins.

 

[06029]

Didn't they also destroy Virginia (at VA) this year?

UVA , the poster child for hiring the "hot" lower level guy that did not work out. London is a fantastic recruiter but is one awful coach.

 

[noeynox]

In what alternative universe is that NOT a proven track record? Mediocre to ok? OK, whatever you say.....

Thats no proven track record compared to three straight wins to end a season. Seriously, lets just try and let this playout. You could poke holes in anyones candidacy if you try hard enough.

 

[UConn07]

Didn't they also destroy Virginia (at VA) this year?

It was 24-24 with 2 min left in the 3rd. Final score not indicative and Virginia was bad this year. i"m just saying his career does not blow me away.

I want a successful championship caliber coach who's won at all levels if we are not going with Weist (i.e. Tressel). You want to go with a MAC level, well Tressel won championships at the lower level. Youngstown State took their conference crown in year 2 after going 2-9 his first season and then went 4 straight years to the title game.

Lembo on the other hand has spent 5 years in the Southern Conference and didn't win his conference. He's been in the MAC 3 years now and is 0 for 3. Sounds like we are settling to me if Lembo is the pick.

 

[noeynox]

UConn 07, i want a guy who wants to make his mark and is hungry. We already tried an old guy set for life looking to make some extras millions before he retired.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

It was 24-24 with 2 min left in the 3rd. Final score not indicative and Virginia was bad this year. i"m just saying his career does not blow me away.

I want a successful championship caliber coach who's won at all levels if we are not going with Weist (i.e. Tressel). You want to go with a MAC level, well Tressel won championships at the lower level. Youngstown State took their conference crown in year 2 after going 2-9 his first season and then went 4 straight years to the title game.

Lembo on the other hand has spent 5 years in the Southern Conference and didn't win his conference. He's been in the MAC 3 years now and is 0 for 3. Sounds like we are settling to me if Lembo is the pick.

You and I could not possibly see things more differently than we do on this.

 

[thatguyed]

USA Today lead story is Saban to UT.

 

[UConn07]

You and I could not possibly see things more differently than we do on this.

I agree lol. I'm trying to understand your side, but I don't see why Lembo is such a high commodity right now. Is there a reason you believe he will come and win conference championships (which we desperately need) here when he hasn't at his last 2 schools dating back 8 years?

 

[UConn07]

UConn 07, i want a guy who wants to make his mark and is hungry. We already tried an old guy set for life looking to make some extras millions before he retired.

Same - and I believe Weist is just that. Weist is who I want. He wants it and wants to make his mark.

The Tressel example (which was one of the guys on my list and still is should we not go with Weist) was to show the type of up and coming coach that this program should look at that has a track record of winning their conference everywhere they go, not one that has failed to accomplish their preseason goal for the last 8 seasons.

 

[sportsart]

I am not so sure. How is the Will Muschamp hire working out at Florida? If you will recall, he was the next upcoming can't miss coordinator who Texas tried to keep and gave the "Coach in Waiting" tag to. I think if you are kicking Mack Brown to the curb the way they are, they better be hiring Saban. If not Saban, I would think it would have to be a proven Coach from another program. Just my opinion...

Also keep in mind a good coach has a better chance at succeeding in the AAC than he does in the SEC. If Narduzzi is a fail in the AAC then he's been fooling everybody so far.

Narduzzi will get recruits attention and he will get assistant coaches attention. Good players and good coaches usually produce winners.

At the very least our defense would be good. That has proven to be effective for us.

 

[UConn Dan]

Same - and I believe Weist is just that. Weist is who I want. He wants it and wants to make his mark.

The Tressel example (which was one of the guys on my list and still is should we not go with Weist) was to show the type of up and coming coach that this program should look at that has a track record of winning their conference everywhere they go, not one that has failed to accomplish their preseason goal for the last 8 seasons.

We can't hire Tressel - well we can, but there's an NCAA show-clause on him that won't expire for a few more years. You can put that name aside.

 

[ihatepants]

We can't hire Tressel - well we can, but there's an NCAA show-clause on him that won't expire for a few more years. You can put that name aside.

Yeah, his show-clause doesn't end until after 2016.

 

[The Viking]

It's Narduzzi and then it's everyone else.
I get that Lembo has had a nice career and all at these cute little places, but there is no one on Narduzzi's level at this moment. We may have finally discovered a horseshoe right up our ass for the first time since getting into the Fiesta and we can't blow this chance. and Herbst's comments about preferring a coach from a top 25 program is telling to me. Not good for Lembo.

Narduzzi is the top assistant in the country
The guy is the top D-Coordinator in the country (Right in our wheelhouse)
His team is #4
He just beat #2 and scumbag Meyer and their offense.
He's from the B1G.
Jim Delany will take notice (No it doesn't mean he'll necessarily invite us because of this but it's another feather in UConn's cap).
He has New England ties. Hell he was born in our state.
He gave one hell of a speech the other day while accepting his award. If you're asking me if a kid is going through a wall for Lembo or go through a wall for Narduzzi, then I'm asking you why the hell you have to ask me. If you're asking me if a kid is going to come to UConn because Lembo is here compared to if the kid is going to come to UConn because Narduzzi is here, again I'm asking you why the hell you have to ask me.

If the negotations get us past the number Warde wanted, he needs to step away from the table and remind himself what this hire means. Maybe place another call to Burton if he has too.
Down the road this hire has the potential to mean hundreds of millions more in our athletic departments coffers, and I'm sorry, I don't see Lembo as being an equal to Narduzzi right now. I don't see it close.
Lets just hope the guy really wants the job and some crazy Texas domino doesn't cause a bigger opening to happen. The sooner Warde irons this out the better.

I want Suzie, Warde and Burton to walk into Narduzzi's hotel room, lock the door and saying no one leaves until we sign this deal. If he starts to turtle in the corner and cry out for mommy we know we have the wrong man.

Get it done.

 

[sdhusky]

You and I could not possibly see things more differently than we do on this.

Its simple.

If you beat teams of the quality of Rutgers, Memphis and Temple at UCONN its not impressive. If you beat teams a bit worse than them but not at UCONN, its very impressive.

Is that what you meant to say?