HC Candidates

[FfldCntyFan]

A few years back Shanahan may have been a possibility at some school (not necessarily here). I believe that his father has a Lou Holtz agreement with the Skins however that he is basically grooming his lid to take over on a few years.

Beyond the numerous candidates (both quality and questionable) that we've mentioned, there has to be at least an equal number of quality candidates that we haven't mentioned (likely due to not having enough inside information on collegiate football coaching) who may well end up on the short list.

The more time goes by the more angry I get with the fact the JH saw P & Whip as the entire talent pool when Edsall left.

 

[uconNYC]

I want a snake oil salesman who makes me feel like we're on the verge of a national title even when we suck bigtime (e.g. Greg Schiano type)

 

[hungry husky]

My point exactly... He wouldn't.

There is a distinct difference between a wish list and viable candidates.

Let's add the Bear and Nick Saban to our wish list.

 

[Excalibur]

I would like Gene Chizik. The guy won a National Championship as HC and was DC for another undefeated team. He has name recognition and is disliked enough down south that we might be able to hold on to him for awhile if he has success.

That being said, I will take anyone who can bring a high octane offense to UCONN and can stop the decrease in the number of my friends who are season ticket holders (down to me, wifey, and one other friend from a peak of 8 a few years ago).

No, no, no and no. If he doesn't find someone to shell out $100 grand to Cecil Newton, his record as a head coach is approximately 10 wins and 50 million losses.

 

[tduconn]

Tough call.

It would be GREAT if UConn was as lucky as Cincinatti to land a recognizable and respected name like Tuberville.......but don't see it happening. The Bearcats had a couple of things going for them that UConn doesn't.......a highly recognizeable, successful and respected football program, and they were still in a BCS league at the time of Tuberville's hiring.

I don't think we'll entice any up and coming coach (at any level) in a major Power 5 program to "step down" to a poor BCS program (UConn), in an environment with the "second worse" college football fanbase (UConn per USA Today) in a league (AAC) that really enhanced its national image last weekend.

I agree with some posters who have suggested it would most likely be an "east coast" guy that already has name recognition and relationships in the recruiting area. Hopefully it could be someone from an ACC school with east coast ties from Maine to Florida, but even that may be a stretch.

It will be a really tough "get" for Ward Manual and maybe he surprises us all and pulls off a gem. But I won't blame him if he doesn't......UConn FB is a tough sell for top recruits......even harder for top coaches.

If it was an internal hire, and wouldn't be surprised if this was the outcome of a search........I'd give Weist the first opportunity based on his history of successes at previous stops. It would be great to have a Weist-Brown team on board......But.........

I'm afraid our reaction after a new coach is named will be "Who ????!!!!!"

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Take a page from NC State. They brought in a dinosaur who underperformed.

They didn't go out and find another reject. They went out and hired the best coach in the MAC and their fans are fired up and the program has more energy since Philip Rivers graduated.

I tend to agree with your line of thinking on this.....but the only retread name that intrigues me is Belotti. I'd have to look into some things with him that I have no desire to do the research without him being a candidate, but I wouldn't summarily dismiss him from the pool like you have. Fulmer.....yeah, no thank you.

The pool of candidates will come from head coaches in the MAC, Sun Belt, FCS or hot coordinator at a mid tier BCS program. People are dreaming if they think Petrino or some hot shot coordinator like Chad Morris making about $2 million a year are going to take this job.

 

[Excalibur]

Were you saying the same thing about "someone with a bigger paycheck" when Cincinnati got Tuberville from Texas Tech??? Tuberville gets the same amount at Cincy that Kingsbury gets at TT (2.3mil.). By the way, Tuberville is only 4 years younger than Fulmer or Bellotti. HOWEVER, Cincy looks like the smartest school on the block after making that move. They destroyed Purdue, and they look like they are headed to the top of the conference again (and perhaps a bigger conference).

So age...other school's money...these aren't reasons for me to turn down highly skilled, highly respected people for the head job...

Tuberville was a very unique situation. He was really unhappy at Tech and hated the administration there. He fell in Cincy's lap, and reached out to them -- not the other way around.

 

[Excalibur]

I believe it was a rhetorical question. When UMass won Whip was HC. Brown was promoted from DC to HC after Whip left.

No, he left for Northeastern, and managed to win 10 games there before heading back to UMass to become head coach. They went to the 1-AA finals under Brown in 2006.

 

[Excalibur]

Every time I hear a FCS coach mentioned here I think of former MD coach Mark Duffner..a star in the making at Holy Cross (back when they had a legit 1AA team) who came crashing down to earth in a heap at MD.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Duffner

Stop cherry picking. You did this when we were hiring after Edsall left as well.

 

[NorwalkHusky]

I would love to be able to get Coach Eric Taylor, I don't know if we'll be able to get him to leave East Dillon though....

 

[NorwalkHusky]

No seriously, though I've always been real interested in former Bucs Head Coach Raheem Morris. I know he didn't have the best record in his 3 years at Tampa, but I always felt he was building something there and never got the chance to see it out. Hes a Jersey Guy, hopefully help us recruit some of the 4 star recruits down there, and was a pretty decent D coordinator at K -State under Snyder. Plus right now hes a DB coach for the Redskins. Not sure if he wants to leave the NFL, but I feel HC Job would be a step up from where he is now?

 

[FDNY99]

Stop cherry picking. You did this when we were hiring after Edsall left as well.

Cherry picking? I was on a plane from Phoenix and the Fiesta Bowl that had just landed at JFK when I found out Edsall had left. I knew if we wanted to continue on that level of success we needed to hire someone who needed to compete at that level. KC Keeler, Pasqualoni, and Whipple were NOT those guys! I am on record here in many places as wanting Tom Bradley or Garrick McGee as our next coach. That isn't cherry picking. FCS coaches are a crap shoot...for every guy like Tressel (I really don't even put him in the FCS model because he was an Asst at OSU for years before taking the job at Youngstown State). Yes the same can be said about OC/DC's from P5 conference teams...but the difference is a OC/DC from a P5 team who gets a h job at a school like UCONN knows what it takes to win at that high level. Enough damage has been done by P and company these past 3 seasons...we don't have the luxury to bet on the wild card..we need to make the safe bet here. It's time for UCONN to put up or shut up...are we going all in like Cincinnati did...or do we need to take an honest assesment of where we are going with this program when we replace P after this season. I have had season tickets for 10 seasons (not including the 6 years I had season tkts when we were 1AA) been to every bowl game and at least 1 away game every season, if we are going to play football at the BCS level then let's do it the right way, not just look for a participation trophy and pat on the back (ie: a P5 conference invite) because we showed up! Rentschler Field and Burton/Schenkman facility weren't done halfa_s_s_ed why should hiring a head coach and his staff be like that.

 

[Exit 4]

I think Rob Ambrose should get a serious look.

Me too. He's 43 years old. He could be a hot ticket by the end of this season. Chip Kelly spent 7 years at UNH as OC, right under our noses. I'm not saying Ambrose is the next Chip Kelly, but my point remains - you want the program builders from the FCS schools rather than the retreads. The retreads are often 55+ in age and sometimes lack the energy necessary to elevate a program....In short, they arent hungry enough and furthermore, they may already had their one great moment.

 

[freescooter]

I would love to be able to get Coach Eric Taylor, I don't know if we'll be able to get him to leave East Dillon though....

He's coaching in Philly now, didn't you know that? His wife is director of admissions at some small school there.

 

[freescooter]

this pick will define Manuel's tenure more than anything he has done. or mostly failed to do, since he got here.

 

[huskymedic]

Tuberville was a very unique situation. He was really unhappy at Tech and hated the administration there. He fell in Cincy's lap, and reached out to them -- not the other way around.

Actually from reports - Babcock called Tuberville based on a previous relationship from Auburn.

>>Tuberville was Babcock's immediate call in early December. The two have known each other since Babcock's five-year run as an associate AD at Auburn, and stayed in touch over the years. "It was a pretty quick conversation. I said 'Hey coach, I think the world of you, but I really only have one day to work on this. If you're not interested, I'll move on quickly.'"

But I agree that the toxic relationship w/ Tech and Tuberville's wife being from Ohio helped quite a bit.

 

[JayRU09]

Find an OC of a Northeast BCS school that runs an up tempo spread offense or a FCS head coach that does the same.

You'll probably need to get away from pro-style offenses if you want to compete moving forward.

 

[Husky25]

I'd extend an invitation and look long and hard at Peter Rossomando

 

[UCONNFANTX]

PP is awful - did not watch the game but this guy has done nothing positive for the program. Edsall has this program going in the right direction - PP has reversed the train back. Get a big time coordinator from Big 10 or SEC to come in and bring the experience of that program to UConn.

 

[UCONNFANTX]

We need someone who will bring excitement to the program, someone who will get people to come and stay for games. Look up what PJ Fleck has done for Western Michigan so far, 20+ recruits, him and his staff put out a harlem shake video etc. I would love to see a hot young coach get his first job here and put his stamp on the program. Brian Johnson (OC Utah) Major Applewhite (OC TEX) are a couple names, or a mid major coach like Hudspeth. But we can all agree that PP does nothing to add excitement to our program.

Major Applewhite - no thanks bro - he sucks

 

[Husky25]

PP is awful - did not watch the game but this guy has done nothing positive for the program. Edsall has this program going in the right direction - PP has reversed the train back. Get a big time coordinator from Big 10 or SEC to come in and bring the experience of that program to UConn.

Major Applewhite - no thanks bro - he sucks

You also did not add anything to the conversation. Who would you pick? How much will it cost? How does UConn come up with the cash?

Don't be one of those guys who just shoots down the ideas of others without coming up with some of your own.

 

[UCONNFANTX]

You also did not add anything to the conversation. Who would you pick? How much will it cost? How does UConn come up with the cash?

Don't be one of those guys who just shoots down the ideas of others without coming up with some of your own.

Brent Venables - Clemson that's my pick

Somebody that has East Coast ties but has big time experience. Nobody from the Big 12 or from BC (because they suck)

 

[Husky25]

Does anyone know if Coach Meyer pays his coaches more than his players?

Another name I'd throw out there is Tom Herman from OSU.

 

[FDNY99]

Something to think about on Ambrose, and why I am out on him. This is from a article in the Courant from Feb 28, 2010:

Marinan weighed in with his frustration.

"When I brought film of Amari Spievey up to UConn, I had to physically grab [former offensive coordinator] Rob Ambrose's hand to put the film in it before he would take it. Then they said they didn't recruit him because he did not come to their camp. UConn needs to reach out and show interest in in-state players. I am not going to say I have a player that can play for UConn if I don't, and it would be nice to at least be asked if I had any prospects."

Spievey ended up at Iowa, had academic problems, and went to Iowa Central Community College before returning to Iowa. He is foregoing his senior season and has declared for the NFL draft. The defensive back is expected to be drafted.


Here is the full article link:
http://articles.courant.com/2010-02...y-edsall-division-i-coaching-staff-penn-state

 

[FDNY99]

Here is a complete list of "1A" football team HC's, OC's and DC's

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_NCAA_Division_I_FBS_football_coaches

 

[Husky25]

Something to think about on Ambrose, and why I am out on him. This is from a article in the Courant from Feb 28, 2010:

Marinan weighed in with his frustration.

"When I brought film of Amari Spievey up to UConn, I had to physically grab [former offensive coordinator] Rob Ambrose's hand to put the film in it before he would take it. Then they said they didn't recruit him because he did not come to their camp. UConn needs to reach out and show interest in in-state players. I am not going to say I have a player that can play for UConn if I don't, and it would be nice to at least be asked if I had any prospects."

Spievey ended up at Iowa, had academic problems, and went to Iowa Central Community College before returning to Iowa. He is foregoing his senior season and has declared for the NFL draft. The defensive back is expected to be drafted.


Here is the full article link:
http://articles.courant.com/2010-02-28/sports/hc-edsall-high-school-coaches-0.artfeb28_1_football-coach-randy-edsall-division-i-coaching-staff-penn-state.

That is why Rossomando would be a good candidate. He's has a winning track record, he's relatively young, he has a nice offense, and he has a roster full of CT players plus guys from N.J. FLA, NY, and Mass.

 

[UCONNFANTX]

Something to think about on Ambrose, and why I am out on him. This is from a article in the Courant from Feb 28, 2010:

Marinan weighed in with his frustration.

"When I brought film of Amari Spievey up to UConn, I had to physically grab [former offensive coordinator] Rob Ambrose's hand to put the film in it before he would take it. Then they said they didn't recruit him because he did not come to their camp. UConn needs to reach out and show interest in in-state players. I am not going to say I have a player that can play for UConn if I don't, and it would be nice to at least be asked if I had any prospects."

Spievey ended up at Iowa, had academic problems, and went to Iowa Central Community College before returning to Iowa. He is foregoing his senior season and has declared for the NFL draft. The defensive back is expected to be drafted.


Here is the full article link:
http://articles.courant.com/2010-02...y-edsall-division-i-coaching-staff-penn-state

UConn has ALWAYS been very poor in recruiting in-state players. I'm sure there a various reasons (from coach to coach, year to year). I do agree that our coaches have spent a lot of time searching the SE and MW.

Aaron Hernandez (jokes aside)
Dwight Freeney
Kory Sheets

I'm sure there are more.

 

[IMind]

Every time I hear a FCS coach mentioned here I think of former MD coach Mark Duffner..a star in the making at Holy Cross (back when they had a legit 1AA team) who came crashing down to earth in a heap at MD.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Duffner

Yeah that Chip Kelly... he didn't work out at all at Oregon.

 

[FDNY99]

UConn has ALWAYS been very poor in recruiting in-state players. I'm sure there a various reasons (from coach to coach, year to year). I do agree that our coaches have spent a lot of time searching the SE and MW.

Aaron Hernandez (jokes aside)
Dwight Freeney
Kory Sheets

I'm sure there are more.

It has been better under P..but I hoped it would be after the Ct HS Assoc. petitioned for him to get the job. I'm just saying that For those of you that want to see Ambrose get the job the days of seeing the best CT HS kids choose UCONN may be over..especially with a guy like Addazio at BC.

 

[FDNY99]

Yeah that Chip Kelly... he didn't work out at all at Oregon.

Chip Kelly doesn't count..Bellotti hired him as OC...he worked at Oregon as an Asst before he became HC there. Being an Asst coach recruiting at New Hampshire and preparing each week for CAA competition is a LOT different than doing the same thing at Oregon and the PAC-12!