FWIW: FBS Head Coach Hiring and Experience (AP Top 25)

[Shelby65]

Minor adjustments will occur after bowl season but FWIW among top 25 ranked teams today (incl 2 G5 Navy and WMU).

10 of the 25 teams (incl the above two G5) have head coaches who were never HCs prior to current job.

20 HCs have Offense backgrounds. 4 Have Defense backgrounds (Stoops, Orgeron, MacIntyre, Narduzzi) and Riley at Nebraska has coordinator experience on both sides and had also been an NFL head coach...Saban being the only other with an NFL HC job

 

[Abro1975]

The 3 best HCs (IMO ) Saban, Meyer, Harbaugh all had extensive previous HC experience.

IMO, hiring someone w previous HC experience, w some success, is probably the best chance at a good hire.

 

[brgRC90]

Just whip out your checkbook and write a check for $7 million or $9 million per year and you can have guys like that!

 

[Abro1975]

Just whip out your checkbook and write a check for $7 million or $9 million per year and you can have guys like that!

Those guys didn't get anywhere near that money when they went from G5 teams as succesful HCs to bigger P5 programs.
Harbaugh got HC experience at U San Diego first, Urban Meyer got HC experience at Bowling Green , and Dantonio at Cinn before MSU, Saban was also in the MAC, but maybe as a position coach.

 

[rutgersguy1]

I think the better way to look at it is just see the coaches over history and what their background was prior to their first P5 job. The 3 very good ones mentioned all had HC experience beforehand. But there have been plenty without who have done well too. Fisher won a national championship. Chip Kelly was very capable as well and would be a top name. That's my thing, I don't really see a pattern and clear distinction between having some prior HC experience and not. If I did I would have a preference but I don't see it.

Just within one candidate you can find the dilemma. Prior to Louisville Strong was a coordinator and he did well then on to Texas with his HC experience and we know how that turned out. Or Bielema did a nice job from coordinator to Wisconsin with 3 straight Rose Bowls at Arkansas not bad but not "rosy" either.

So that's why I think just going after whomever you think fits your situation best is what you go after regardless of which "bucket" he may be in. Don't limit yourself when there's a fresh new slate of candidates every year.

 

[RU#1fan]

Minor adjustments will occur after bowl season but FWIW among top 25 ranked teams today (incl 2 G5 Navy and WMU).

10 of the 25 teams (incl the above two G5) have head coaches who were never HCs prior to current job.

20 HCs have Offense backgrounds. 4 Have Defense backgrounds (Stoops, Orgeron, MacIntyre, Narduzzi) and Riley at Nebraska has coordinator experience on both sides and had also been an NFL head coach...Saban being the only other with an NFL HC job

Of those 10 Teams, how many hired Coordinators who absolutely no experience in those roles ?
My guess would be few or none.

 

[LotusAggressor]

Those guys didn't get anywhere near that money when they went from G5 teams as succesful HCs to bigger P5 programs.
Harbaugh got HC experience at U San Diego first, Urban Meyer got HC experience at Bowling Green , and Dantonio at Cinn before MSU, Saban was also in the MAC, but maybe as a position coach.

Saban was the head coach at Toledo for 1 season before going to Michigan State. He was a position coach at Kent in the '70s.

 

[rutgersguy1]

I just quickly went through the CFP top 25. Excluding G5 coaches because where are you suppose to get your HC experience if not the G5 or lower. But taken from last week's rankings this is the list of coaches who first got a P5 job without previous HC experience.

Dabo Swinney, Paul Chryst, James Franklin, Bob Stoops, Mike Gundy, Bobby Petrino, Clay Helton, Gus Malzahn, Jimbo Fisher, Dana Holgorsen, Kyel Whittingham, Mike Leach, David Shaw.

So that's 13 coaches who's first HC job was in the P5 and had no prior experience.

 

[JQRU91]

Here's an example from the pros. The Pittsburgh Steelers have only had three head coaches (Noll, Cowher, Tomlin) in the past 47 years. Each of them has taken the team to multiple Super Bowls, each winning at least once. None of them had been a head coach at any level before coming to the Steelers. Head coaching experience is not always necessary if you find the right guy and he's ready.

 

[rutgersguy1]

Here's an example from the pros. The Pittsburgh Steelers have only had three head coaches (Noll, Cowher, Tomlin) in the past 47 years. Each of them has taken the team to multiple Super Bowls, each winning at least once. None of them had been a head coach at any level before coming to the Steelers. Head coaching experience is not always necessary if you find the right guy and he's ready.

I agree and it's not like a fluke occurrence either. You can find many examples. So cast a wide net IMO when you do a search.

 

[JQRU91]

Head coaching experience is not always necessary, but then you may need to hire a veteran staff.

Take a look at Tomlin and Cowher's staff and you'll see how deep and experienced they were. Many had beeen coaching for 15-25 years.

I would tend to agree; which is why I liked RU#1fan's post above.

 

[Panthergrowl13]

I just quickly went through the CFP top 25. Excluding G5 coaches because where are you suppose to get your HC experience if not the G5 or lower. But taken from last week's rankings this is the list of coaches who first got a P5 job without previous HC experience.

Dabo Swinney, Paul Chryst, James Franklin, Bob Stoops, Mike Gundy, Bobby Petrino, Clay Helton, Gus Malzahn, Jimbo Fisher, Dana Holgorsen, Kyel Whittingham, Mike Leach, David Shaw.

So that's 13 coaches who's first HC job was in the P5 and had no prior experience.

Guy I would agree with your comments regarding the fact that many successful head coaches in a P5 program have come from the ranks of coordinators from other P5 programs without HC experience.

I also strongly agree with the comments of the other posters saying that these newbie head coaches should (as much as possible) assemble a veteran staff with significant coaching experience.

As I have stated in the past, aside from the HC the next two most important positions to fill are the OC and DC. Most successful head coaches have assembled great coaching staffs with terrific coordinators.

As an example look at the 5 finalists this year for the Broyles Award, given annually to the Top Assistant Coach in College Football.

Jeremy Pruitt (Alabama)
Brent Venables (Clemson)
Jim Leavitt (Colorado)
Don Brown (Michigan)
Matt Canada (Pittsburgh)

Narduzzi lost our OC Chaney (significant coaching experience) to Georgia and replaced him with an even better OC.

As an aside Pat Narduzzi won the Broyles Award in 2013 as the DC at Michigan State.

Even James (dominate the state) Franklin recognized the deficiencies in his coaching staff and replaced both his OC and DC and the net result was profound.

Although some of coach Ash's assistant coaches are lacking (IMO) on significant P5 experience (particularly on offensive side of the ball) that is not to say they will not be a success.

In the off season I am curious to see if he will be making any coaching staff changes.

HAIL TO PITT!!!!

 

[sherrane]

Here's an example from the pros. The Pittsburgh Steelers have only had three head coaches (Noll, Cowher, Tomlin) in the past 47 years. Each of them has taken the team to multiple Super Bowls, each winning at least once. None of them had been a head coach at any level before coming to the Steelers. Head coaching experience is not always necessary if you find the right guy and he's ready.

The NFL is a different animal than college because the coaching staff rarely calls the shots on who gets brought into the organization. They may have input, but usually don't "run the show" as they do in college. Larry Coker won a BCS Championship in his first season in Miami after Butch Davis left him a stacked team as he departed to Cleveland. 5 years later Coker is fired for going 7-6 at Miami. He resurfaces at UTSA and goes 26-32 until he resigned after last season. His team peaked at 8-4 in the final season of the WAC followed by 7-5, 4-8, and 3-9 in C-USA. While the Steelers may have hired some excellent coaches, their record since the merger is likely a better reflection of the organization in its entirety rather than the coaching staffs.

 

[rutgersguy1]

Guy I would agree with your comments regarding the fact that many successful head coaches in a P5 program have come from the ranks of coordinators from other P5 programs without HC experience.

I also strongly agree with the comments of the other posters saying that these newbie head coaches should (as much as possible) assemble a veteran staff with significant coaching experience.

As I have stated in the past, aside from the HC the next two most important positions to fill are the OC and DC. Most successful head coaches have assembled great coaching staffs with terrific coordinators.

As an example look at the 5 finalists this year for the Broyles Award, given annually to the Top Assistant Coach in College Football.

Jeremy Pruitt (Alabama)
Brent Venables (Clemson)
Jim Leavitt (Colorado)
Don Brown (Michigan)
Matt Canada (Pittsburgh)

Narduzzi lost our OC Chaney (significant coaching experience) to Georgia and replaced him with an even better OC.

As an aside Pat Narduzzi won the Broyles Award in 2013 as the DC at Michigan State.

Even James (dominate the state) Franklin recognized the deficiencies in his coaching staff and replaced both his OC and DC and the net result was profound.

Although some of coach Ash's assistant coaches are lacking (IMO) on significant P5 experience (particularly on offensive side of the ball) that is not to say they will not be a success.

In the off season I am curious to see if he will be making any coaching staff changes.

HAIL TO PITT!!!!

I don't think Franklin got rid of the DC Bob Shoop, he just left for Tenn. He was doing a very good job at PSU. Donovan the OC, yes he changed but point taken.

It's logical thinking to want someone with experience. Forget about coaching, but for any job it's perfectly sensible to want someone with experience in the line of work. However, when you look at in practice for first time P5 HCs you really don't see much difference in results between the 2 categories so why narrow the scope.

 

[Panthergrowl13]

I don't think Franklin got rid of the DC Bob Shoop, he just left for Tenn. He was doing a very good job at PSU. Donovan the OC, yes he changed but point taken.

It's logical thinking to want someone with experience. Forget about coaching, but for any job it's perfectly sensible to want someone with experience in the line of work. However, when you look at in practice for first time P5 HCs you really don't see much difference in results between the 2 categories so why narrow the scope.

Funny thread on our board now about how will Narduzzi keep Matt Canada.

My reply is to maybe promote him to assistant HC/OC and pay him.

I commented to the Pitt whiners (Pitt fans on our board who want the administration to spend maybe $400 million for a new stadium) that it is better to remain at Heinz (significantly low rental and maintenance fees) and save the $400 million which you can put toward retaining a successful HC and staff for years.

With our new Chancellor and AD in place who are committed to improving the Pitt Football Program I think this will happen.

Now waiting to see what transpires.

Being too cheap on coaching salaries usually produce bad outcomes (penny wise pound foolish).

HAIL TO PITT!!!!

 

[Extra Point]

Graber's resume looked good. Was a hot DC at Michigan Tech, Eastern Michigan, Ball State and then Wisconsin, became HC for Montana State, then picked up by the NFL to be a defensive coach for the Kansas City Chiefs and then Tampa bay, and then HC at Rutgers. After Rutgers he had some success in the European league as HC.

 

[RUBigFrank]

Comparison to the NFL is not fair - as the NFL is built for parity via schedule and draft. College football is the least measure of parity for any sport. Recruiting is nothing like the draft, poll bias and tradition our tough obstacles to overcome. A great x's and o's NFL coach may lack the recruiting skills to be successful in the college game. Blue blood programs like Notre Dame have a significant advantage over many programs regardless of who is the coach.

 

[RU31trap]

It always comes down to money and how much you're willing to pay. We need a University President and BOG/BOT who are committed to really winning. No one is suggesting 7 million per year, but 3 to 4 million sounds acceptable. How about 1 million for Coordinators? Also, if we could put the reputation requirements to rest it would also help.

 

[Panthergrowl13]

It always comes down to money and how much you're willing to pay. We need a University President and BOG/BOT who are committed to really winning. No one is suggesting 7 million per year, but 3 to 4 million sounds acceptable. How about 1 million for Coordinators? Also, if we could put the reputation requirements to restbthst would also help.

I agree with you on this for any program.

Pony up an additional $300 K to attract or retain a good OC or DC seems simple enough but often times is not done.

Don't really know why.

HAIL TO PITT!!!!