I agree. The number one objective of a coach is to lead players to achieve excellence that they may not have been able to achieve on their own. Being a good guy, having a respectable NFL career, and being loyal to RU are nice add-ons, but shouldn't get you an asst coaching job.
Please offer the RB job to Brian Leonard
- Thread starter ScarletStateofNJ
- Start date
No unless they have 4-star sons who are clones of their fathers.
I agree with that. The opposite is also true. But if I were a running back I think I would be interested in what a Brian Leonard type has to say. Anyway, my point was really against the idea of hiring him as a GA. If we were to hire him, then respecting his background, do so as a fully paid coach.
do people just throw stuff out there without thinking. You have to experience in COACHING to get jobs. I see this all the time on this board and it makes me wonder about our fanbase. Mike Teel for QB coach. Ray Lucas for head coach, Kevin McConnell for AD, now Leonard for running backs coach. Just because these guys played here and some of them successfully does not mean they have the chops to coach at the Division 1 big boy level. I truly think we need to rid ourselves of the mom and pop attitude here
You keep trying to make this point, but it is exactly this notion that is the most wrong part of what you're trying to argue. Former players (or not) do not get hired as a fully paid asst. coach, it's just not going to happen. The GA approach is one route, or one can possibly climb up coaching ranks from lower levels.
And none of this even addresses a more germane point which is whether Brian Leonard even has any desire whatsoever to coach. Why do folks insist on projecting something onto others without any real basis?
Nope... see it entirely differently ----
first - harsh reality - but - Brian Leonard may be Rutgers royalty - but he was not such an NFL "all time great " that he would just automatically get to jump into a full "coach" position - he was a journeyman - a delight to watch for every RU fan - but not an all-Pro ...not the leading running back on any NFL team that he played on... he made himself valuable through guts and determination and a massive will to succeed - great raw materials for a coach - and might be a great fit with Ash - but coaching credibility has to be earned.
second - if my reading of the Brian Leonard persona is accurate he would not want to be given a "fast-track" treatment - he would want to earn his stripes - he is a lunch-bucket kind of guy who would decline special treatment - and he is insightful & smart - he is fully aware of the ultra-high priority that has been placed on "alignment" in this organization. If Leonard wants to pursue a coaching career, his greatest need is to build a base of coaching experience - he does not immediately / desperately need the compensation ... he does not need the status - - he needs to get the buzz going in the college coaching world that says "wow - he is inspiring & a phenomenal teacher - & is going to be really really good"
Aaron Henry was substitute teaching three years ago. You can take Rutgers royalty with recent NFL experience. Northeast guy on this staff of Midwesterners would be a good thing.
