Rank The Hirability of these HC Candidates

[Knight Shift]

You are a power 5 AD (not Rutgers) or AD at Temple, Houston, Cincy or USF. You have the following choices. Assume money is no object. This is based on the coach's perceived ability to win, run a clean program and not embarrass the University.

1. Major Applewhite, OC at Houston. Scandal at UT. Yeah, he is hired already, but kind of surprised he got the job.
2. Charlie Strong. Fired at UT after disaster. Decent record at Louisville.
3. Les Miles- Fired at LSU. His record speaks for itself. 63 years old
4. PJ Fleck. Goes from 1-11 to 13-0 at WMU. 35 years old and rows the boat.
5. Bo Pelini. Never lost more than 9 games at Nebraska. Hothead. Brings YSU to FCS quarterfinals in year 2.
6. Greg Schiano. Took RU from obscurity to relevance. Disaster at Tampa Bay. DC at tOSU.

EDIT. 7. Lane Kiffin-- fired as USC. Been OC at Alabama for 2-3 years
Kind of surprised that Charlie Strong appears to be in lead for USF job. And does Les Miles not want to be hired? Rumor is he going to ESPN. Assume he still wants to coach. Wonder if Bo Pelini gets another shot or if he burned his bridges with his hotheaded behavior.

This would be my preference in order:
1. Les Miles
2. Greg Schiano
3. PJ Fleck
4. Bo Pelini
5. Lane Kiffin
6. Charlie Strong
7. Major Applewhite

 

[lighty]

"Disaster at Tampa Bay. DC at tOSU."

Yeah, no bias showing here LOL.

While Schiano did not have success at Tampa Bay, IMO it's hard to call a coach a disaster when he goes 11-21 and is followed by an experienced NFL head coach (Lovie Smith) who does even worse (8-24) -- kinda makes me wonder if it was more the team than the coach. Especially since the guy that preceded Schiano didn't do much better (17-31). But hey, these are just numbers....

I think Bo Pelini gets a bad rap. I would have him and Miles as my 1a / 1b -- If you want a long-term solution, Pelini would be ahead imo because of his age. If you're close to contending and just want to take a shot, go with Miles.

My list would be:
1 Pelini / Miles (tie)
2 Schiano
3 Fleck
4 Strong
5 Applewhite

 

[bac2therac]

I think you also have to balance things like what is your goal ceiling or do you think the guy will stay more than 3 years.

1. Miles
2. Strong
3. Fleck
4. Schiano
5. Pellini
6. Applewhite

 

[huskersalways]

"Disaster at Tampa Bay. DC at tOSU."

Yeah, no bias showing here LOL.

While Schiano did not have success at Tampa Bay, IMO it's hard to call a coach a disaster when he goes 11-21 and is followed by an experienced NFL head coach (Lovie Smith) who does even worse (8-24) -- kinda makes me wonder if it was more the team than the coach. Especially since the guy that preceded Schiano didn't do much better (17-31). But hey, these are just numbers....

I think Bo Pelini gets a bad rap. I would have him and Miles as my 1a / 1b -- If you want a long-term solution, Pelini would be ahead imo because of his age. If you're close to contending and just want to take a shot, go with Miles.

My list would be:
1 Pelini / Miles (tie)
2 Schiano
3 Fleck
4 Strong
5 Applewhite

I guess if you are talking strictly football Pelini might be Ok, but if you take into account everything else he would be 25th on a list of 6. Remember Bo wasn't fired for "only winning 9 games a year", he was fired for the rest of his issues. He covered up and allowed players to play who had drug issues(see Randy Gregory as one). He got the Lincoln police to hide the fact that one of his coaches was beating his wife on a regular basis. He covered up the fact that NU had lost the use of private jets for recruiting because there was drug paraphernalia left in the planes after recruiting trips. He covered up that the private planes were picking up hookers and friends and taking coaches to places that had nothing to do with football but to party for a couple of days. He covered up a coach had a fling with a high school girl(he did fire the coach though).

From a players prospective he had made the team have the bunker mentality to where they thought the fans were against them and the coaches. His profanity laced temper tantrums at practice were finally getting to the players and when he would go off on them for the tenth time on something that was not even their fault they would just quit playing and didn't care what would happen.

Pelini's antics had gotten to the point that donations had gone down around $25mil a year the last 3 years. NU doesn't make the total dollar amounts of donations public but they had let it out how down they were and that people would return to writing checks if he was let go. I also think they let it leak how much donations were off so the public wouldn't be apposed to the firing.What they didn't know was how bad nearly everyone wanted him gone.

So I guess if that's what you want in a program leader, then by all means, go for it.


My order
1. Miles
2.Strong
3.Fleck
4. Applewhite
5. Schiano
6. Pelini

 

[CJ1987]

Just a suggestion, throw Lane Kiffin into the mix too, not a fan but he's on a lot of lists now too

 

[Knight Shift]

"Disaster at Tampa Bay. DC at tOSU."

Yeah, no bias showing here LOL.

While Schiano did not have success at Tampa Bay, IMO it's hard to call a coach a disaster when he goes 11-21 and is followed by an experienced NFL head coach (Lovie Smith) who does even worse (8-24) -- kinda makes me wonder if it was more the team than the coach. Especially since the guy that preceded Schiano didn't do much better (17-31). But hey, these are just numbers....

I think Bo Pelini gets a bad rap. I would have him and Miles as my 1a / 1b -- If you want a long-term solution, Pelini would be ahead imo because of his age. If you're close to contending and just want to take a shot, go with Miles.

My list would be:
1 Pelini / Miles (tie)
2 Schiano
3 Fleck
4 Strong
5 Applewhite

Bias? I ranked him #2. Do you want me to find all of the Tampa Bay news stories calling him a disaster at Tampa Bay and the images of all of the billboards calling to fire him. Anything short of saying he was bad at Tampa Bay is pure homerism. Did you see I ranked him at #2? Did you see that?

 

[Knight Shift]

Just a suggestion, throw Lane Kiffin into the mix too, not a fan but he's on a lot of lists now too

Good point. I'll add him in.

 

[theRU]

IMO college ball is a young man's game now. I would stay away from Les Miles...just chasing past glory there.

Schiano i might consider if my team was coming off controversy and needed a strong hand to clean up and stabilize, or institute a strong D mentality. I'd be looking at the flecks and kiffin's of the world.

 

[mikemarc1]

1. Miles by a mile - proven winner
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2. Fleck - up and Comer that proves he can win
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3. Applewhite - up and Comer that's had success as an assistant.
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4. Schiano
5. Strong
-Both have had some success..both have had failure. I'd stay clear.
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6. Pellini- off field disaster. not worth it.

 

[Knight Shift]

I guess if you are talking strictly football Pelini might be Ok, but if you take into account everything else he would be 25th on a list of 6. Remember Bo wasn't fired for "only winning 9 games a year", he was fired for the rest of his issues. He covered up and allowed players to play who had drug issues(see Randy Gregory as one). He got the Lincoln police to hide the fact that one of his coaches was beating his wife on a regular basis. He covered up the fact that NU had lost the use of private jets for recruiting because there was drug paraphernalia left in the planes after recruiting trips. He covered up that the private planes were picking up hookers and friends and taking coaches to places that had nothing to do with football but to party for a couple of days. He covered up a coach had a fling with a high school girl(he did fire the coach though).

From a players prospective he had made the team have the bunker mentality to where they thought the fans were against them and the coaches. His profanity laced temper tantrums at practice were finally getting to the players and when he would go off on them for the tenth time on something that was not even their fault they would just quit playing and didn't care what would happen.

Pelini's antics had gotten to the point that donations had gone down around $25mil a year the last 3 years. NU doesn't make the total dollar amounts of donations public but they had let it out how down they were and that people would return to writing checks if he was let go. I also think they let it leak how much donations were off so the public wouldn't be apposed to the firing.What they didn't know was how bad nearly everyone wanted him gone.

So I guess if that's what you want in a program leader, then by all means, go for it.


My order
1. Miles
2.Strong
3.Fleck
4. Applewhite
5. Schiano
6. Pelini

Wow. That's worse than what's on his Wikipedia page. Was all of that stuff in the local press or was it swept under the carpet. Kyle Flood looks like boy scout in comparison to Bo. Maybe he should have had some hookers and blow on his helicopter and he would have reeled in some more 4 and 5 star recruits.

 

[huskersalways]

 

[RUMBA-JK]

Two more thoughts -

(1.) there are a few others who would rank above this list - but they are currently in excellent assistant slots & and are going to continue to refine their resume & hold off on making any moves until the right spot opens up.

(2.) there are some "gee you should look at this guy" names that were being mentioned last year - that have slipped out of discussion this year (some because they were not really viable choices -even last year ... some because this year was not so hot)

 

[Knight Shift]

Two more thoughts -

(1.) there are a few others who would rank above this list - but they are currently in excellent assistant slots & and are going to continue to refine their resume & hold off on making any moves until the right spot opens up.

(2.) there are some "gee you should look at this guy" names that were being mentioned last year - that have slipped out of discussion this year (some because they were not really viable choices -even last year ... some because this year was not so hot)

Yeah, the list could have been longer, but I was just going from those names that were brought up for the various recent openings, leaving Rhule and Hermann off the list since they were hired. Was curious why Applewhite was chosen over proven coaches, but maybe he is ready.

 

[drewbagel423]

Bias? I ranked him #2. Do you want me to find all of the Tampa Bay news stories calling him a disaster at Tampa Bay and the images of all of the billboards calling to fire him. Anything short of saying he was bad at Tampa Bay is pure homerism. Did you see I ranked him at #2? Did you see that?

Regardless of the records of the coaches before and after him, he was an absolute disaster. Players hated him, and he pulled that kneel down stunt like he used to do here and got absolutely blasted for it. I still have no idea how BB got him that job.

 

[huskersalways]

Speaking of Miles, he isn't interviewing this weekend anywhere(if there is anywhere too interview). He is in Lincoln on an official visit with his son(Ben) who is a fullback commit to NU.

 

[Knight Shift]

Speaking of Miles, he isn't interviewing this weekend anywhere(if there is anywhere too interview). He is in Lincoln on an official visit with his son(Ben) who is a fullback commit to NU.

Do you think his son will go to LSU? [roll]

 

[huskersalways]

Do you think his son will go to LSU? [roll]

Ha, I'm doubting it. He did have an offer from them and it came down to NU and LSU. He committed before his dad got fired. Les has let him do all the choosing on his own. He went on unofficial visits to Michigan St. Boston College, Purdue, Nebraska, and LSU(betting that wasn't his first trip to campus). There are some people who think Les won't take a job so he can watch his son play in college. Next season the Nebraska sideline will have Rick Spielman(Minnesota Vikings GM), Les Miles, Robert Porcher(former Detroit Lion)and Keyshawn Johnson roaming the sidelines to watch their kids. Ha