The Growing Legend of Urban Meyer's Coaching Tree

[KingHigh]

There is a certain measuring stick among coaches that is unique to the game of football. Unlike most other sports games, football is heavily driven by ideology. It is for this reason fans, writers, and probably the coaches themselves like to think about where a coach fits onto a coaching tree. Of course for those few elite coaches in each generation, who are ultra competitive by nature, winning additional national championships may not be enough for them. When we compare the accomplishments of football coaches, we often consider the success level of their offshoots.

For example, when we evaluate the coaching career of Bill Parcells, we appreciate the two Superbowl wins, the three appearances and several other on field successes. When BP looks back on the mark he made in the game, he would probably tell you the careers of his former assistants Bill Belichick, Tom Coughlin and Sean Peyton are every bit the source of pride for him as his rings.

Coaches consider this a feather in their cap. With this in mind, let's look at the coaching tree of Urban Meyer:

Steve Addazio, Boston College (Florida OL/OC under Meyer)
Gary Andersen, Wisconsin (Utah DL under Meyer)
Tim Beckman, Illinois (DC at Bowling Green under Meyer)
Gregg Brandon, Bowling Green, now OC at New Mexico State (OC at Bowling Green under Meyer)
Doc Holliday, Marshall (Safeties coach at Florida under Meyer)
Dan McCarney*, North Texas (DL at Florida under Meyer)
Dan Mullen, Mississippi State (OC at Florida under Meyer)
Mike Sanford, UNLV, now HC at Indiana State (OC at Utah under Meyer)
Charlie Strong, Texas (DC at Florida under Meyer)
Kyle Whittingham, Utah (DC at Utah under Meyer)
Everett Withers, James Madison (DC at Ohio State under Meyer)
Jay Hill, Weber State (GA at Utah under Meyer)

From the above linked article written over a year ago:

"One of the most important things for a manager to do in any organization is make the right hires. Meyer's track record over the last decade should assuage any fears about Ohio State's ability to replace quality coaches (or in Meyer's judgement, in hiring Chris Ash). Working for Meyer is the equivalent of an elite graduate school for football minds. There should be no shortage of quality applicants should an opening or two pop up this offseason."​

Chris Ash came to Ohio State and Urban Meyer with the very clear intention of using the opportunity to further prime him for a future head coaching opportunity. On this basis, Urban Meyer, presumably conscious of his own interest in growing his coaching tree, brought him aboard, even if a fairly short stint was inevitable. All Ash did was perform - he materially contributed to another national championship for Meyer, and he was able to win a head coaching job in the B1G, yet another feather in Meyer's cap.

At a minimum, Meyer has a proven ability for mentoring wildly successful future head coaching careers. I've heard rumors about how the Rutgers decision makers came away so impressed with Ash, they would not pass him up, even in favor of splashier names who were also attainable. Meyer was rewarded for taking a chance on Ash. I expect we will be as well.

 

[KingHigh]

On the other hand, look at Greg Schiano's "tree" which consists of Kyle Flood.

Let's imagine if Flood were able to continue a positive trajectory for the program, seating Rutgers as a hot team going into year 3 in the B1G for which Schiano would continue to get much of the credit. Would Schiano's own future job prospects be more favorable right now? I would imagine so.

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

Meyer is becoming the Parcells of CFB with his massive, ever growing coaching tree.

 

[HeyStadium...O-H-I-O]

You can add Tom Herman to the above list as well. And obviously Ash..

 

[_dave_]

On the other hand, look at Greg Schiano's "tree" which consists of Kyle Flood.

Bill Cubit and PJ Fleck have done well for themselves. Many others still coaching, including half of Fleck's staff.

 

[czxqa]

On the other hand, look at Greg Schiano's "tree" which consists of Kyle Flood.
.

This isn't exactly fair nor is it accurate. Leaving aside the massive budget differences between Florida/OSU and Rutgers (which makes hiring top assistants exponentially easier), as well as the fact that not even the most rabid Schiano supporter here would compare him to Urban Meyer, Schano's coaching tree does not begin and end with Flood.

Craig Ver Steeg- with Baltimore Ravens since 2008
John McNulty- Five years with the Cardinals, now with Tennessee Titans
PJ Fleck- 3rd year HC Western Mich
Robb Smith- DC at Arkansas (Ash's replacement)
Frank Cignetti- OC at St Louis Rams
Jeff Hafley, Brian Angelichio- Cleveland Browns
Brian Jenkins- Bethune Cookman/Alabama State HC

just off the top of my head. And yes, the argument can be reasonably made that Cigs/Angel/Hafley are more from the Wannstedt coaching tree, but then again, so is Schiano

 

[Goo]

is it possible that the best coaches end up along side Meyers, because schools like OSU simply have a lot to offer (Salary, facilities, players, history, etc). It's not like Meyers found Ash and groomed him from the very beginning. In other words OSU is Harvard.

 

[KingHigh]

This isn't exactly fair nor is it accurate. Leaving aside the massive budget differences between Florida/OSU and Rutgers (which makes hiring top assistants exponentially easier), as well as the fact that not even the most rabid Schiano supporter here would compare him to Urban Meyer, Schano's coaching tree does not begin and end with Flood.

Craig Ver Steeg- with Baltimore Ravens since 2008
John McNulty- Five years with the Cardinals, now with Tennessee Titans
PJ Fleck- 3rd year HC Western Mich
Robb Smith- DC at Arkansas (Ash's replacement)
Frank Cignetti- OC at St Louis Rams
Jeff Hafley, Brian Angelichio- Cleveland Browns
Brian Jenkins- Bethune Cookman/Alabama State HC

just off the top of my head. And yes, the argument can be reasonably made that Cigs/Angel/Hafley are more from the Wannstedt coaching tree, but then again, so is Schiano

I was really focusing more on head coaches not assistants because the point is to measure how prominent a mark a coach has on the game by looking at how many of his assistants are then recruited to be head coaches some place else. I admit Fleck slipped my mind and to be honest I do not recall Brian Jenkins at all. I still wonder if Schiano would have a nice gig right now if Flood had been very successful building upon the foundation installed by GS.

As for Ash, yes, Florida and OSU does have the budget. And Meyer does attract the best candidates, and he picked Ash. And Ash, I presume, took full advantage of the opportunity to learn from one of the very best coaches in a generation. This all seems so positive to me. His background is awesome. Many others have come across this guy and left more than impressed. We all see something different in him by watching these interview videos. It adds up, folks. Great hire.

 

[czxqa]

I was really focusing more on head coaches not assistants because the point is to measure how prominent a mark a coach has on the game by looking at how many of his assistants are then recruited to be head coaches some place else. I admit Fleck slipped my mind and to be honest I do not recall Brian Jenkins at all. I still wonder if Schiano would have a nice gig right now if Flood had been very successful building upon the foundation installed by GS.

That's a very interesting question. Honestly, I think the biggest knock on Schiano is his legendary ego and micromanaging style. I think that, more than anything, is what's really keeping him sidelined. Sometimes, though, I wonder if just maybe part of Schiano was gratified that Flood failed, as it makes his accomplishments here seem even better by comparison.

As for Ash, yes, Florida and OSU does have the budget. And Meyer does attract the best candidates, and he picked Ash. And Ash, I presume, took full advantage of the opportunity to learn from one of the very best coaches in a generation. This all seems so positive to me. His background is awesome. Many others have come across this guy and left more than impressed. We all see something different in him by watching these interview videos. It adds up, folks. Great hire.

100% agree. I am more and more excited by this hire with each passing day.

 

[50 yd line RR]

There is a certain measuring stick among coaches that is unique to the game of football. Unlike most other sports games, football is heavily driven by ideology. It is for this reason fans, writers, and probably the coaches themselves like to think about where a coach fits onto a coaching tree. Of course for those few elite coaches in each generation, who are ultra competitive by nature, winning additional national championships may not be enough for them. When we compare the accomplishments of football coaches, we often consider the success level of their offshoots.

For example, when we evaluate the coaching career of Bill Parcells, we appreciate the two Superbowl wins, the three appearances and several other on field successes. When BP looks back on the mark he made in the game, he would probably tell you the careers of his former assistants Bill Belichick, Tom Coughlin and Sean Peyton are every bit the source of pride for him as his rings.

Coaches consider this a feather in their cap. With this in mind, let's look at the coaching tree of Urban Meyer:

Steve Addazio, Boston College (Florida OL/OC under Meyer)
Gary Andersen, Wisconsin (Utah DL under Meyer)
Tim Beckman, Illinois (DC at Bowling Green under Meyer)
Gregg Brandon, Bowling Green, now OC at New Mexico State (OC at Bowling Green under Meyer)
Doc Holliday, Marshall (Safeties coach at Florida under Meyer)
Dan McCarney*, North Texas (DL at Florida under Meyer)
Dan Mullen, Mississippi State (OC at Florida under Meyer)
Mike Sanford, UNLV, now HC at Indiana State (OC at Utah under Meyer)
Charlie Strong, Texas (DC at Florida under Meyer)
Kyle Whittingham, Utah (DC at Utah under Meyer)
Everett Withers, James Madison (DC at Ohio State under Meyer)
Jay Hill, Weber State (GA at Utah under Meyer)

From the above linked article written over a year ago:

"One of the most important things for a manager to do in any organization is make the right hires. Meyer's track record over the last decade should assuage any fears about Ohio State's ability to replace quality coaches (or in Meyer's judgement, in hiring Chris Ash). Working for Meyer is the equivalent of an elite graduate school for football minds. There should be no shortage of quality applicants should an opening or two pop up this offseason."​

Chris Ash came to Ohio State and Urban Meyer with the very clear intention of using the opportunity to further prime him for a future head coaching opportunity. On this basis, Urban Meyer, presumably conscious of his own interest in growing his coaching tree, brought him aboard, even if a fairly short stint was inevitable. All Ash did was perform - he materially contributed to another national championship for Meyer, and he was able to win a head coaching job in the B1G, yet another feather in Meyer's cap.

At a minimum, Meyer has a proven ability for mentoring wildly successful future head coaching careers. I've heard rumors about how the Rutgers decision makers came away so impressed with Ash, they would not pass him up, even in favor of splashier names who were also attainable. Meyer was rewarded for taking a chance on Ash. I expect we will be as well.

I liked your original post. Interesting. I'm anxious to see what Ash can do. Don't know why you took a shot at Schiano though,
I really don't know why guys on this board don't let it die. He did a great job for us,he didn't want to come back.End of story.
Like CZ noted he had a very good coaching staff here,with a bigger budget he might have been able to keep them here. Daryl Hazel (Purdue) and Joe Susan (Bucknell) are two more.Not bad for a coach who took over one of,if not thee worst programs in the country.
The bottom line is the best coaches work there asses off.Meyer ,Sayben, Harbaugh,and yes Schiano.
How many coaches held extra camps out of state to help there recruiting? One.
The NCAA even put the" Rutgers Rule" in to end it.

 

[KingHigh]

I liked your original post. Interesting. I'm anxious to see what Ash can do. Don't know why you took a shot at Schiano though,
I really don't know why guys on this board don't let it die. He did a great job for us,he didn't want to come back.End of story.
Like CZ noted he had a very good coaching staff here,with a bigger budget he might have been able to keep them here. Daryl Hazel (Purdue) and Joe Susan (Bucknell) are two more.Not bad for a coach who took over one of,if not thee worst programs in the country.
The bottom line is the best coaches work there asses off.Meyer ,Sayben, Harbaugh,and yes Schiano.
How many coaches held extra camps out of state to help there recruiting? One.
The NCAA even put the" Rutgers Rule" in to end it.

I'm not taking a shot at Schiano at all. I'm inferring that Flood's failure to maintain or build upon the momentum that GS established might be a reason why it has been easy for ADs to pass him over this time around.

 

[anvilofstars]

You guys can't be serious. For most of his tenure, Schiano was paying his OC and DC 200k a year (275k his last year). I would think the lowest paid assistant on Urban's staff was paid more.

Urban is clearly the better coach but this is not a fair comparison.

 

[RUfaninMIA]

It's not a fair comparison-- they are not in the same league, think you can compare a 2-9 BG program to RU but obviously debatable-- Schiano/Rutgers vs Meyer/ Bowling Green is the only point I thank you could reasonably compare the two because that is when each was given their big chance to be a HC --- Meyer earned the right to lead blue blood programs by having Instantaneous seismic impacts on the early HC opportunities he was given, what he did at Bowling Green was immediate and phenomenal, resulting in Utah -- those Alex Smith teams were Ridiculous! What Schiano did at RU was good, very good for very brief moments in time. Meyer has obviously been in legacy building mode for a couple of years now, it is what often happens to the ultra successful in any industry as they start eyeing retirement

 

[50 yd line RR]

I'm not taking a shot at Schiano at all. I'm inferring that Flood's failure to maintain or build upon the momentum that GS established might be a reason why it has been easy for ADs to pass him over this time around.

When Schiano left I was hoping the staff would be retained and they were.When Schiano couldn't get the guys he wanted, McNulty Rizzi etc.He raided Rutgers, Kyle Flood was doomed from the start.

 

[RUfaninMIA]

I think the lack of coaching acumen is what doomed Flood, he could have survived this season with better decision making. Don't really think Schiano had a coaching tree as much as he just had a lot of coaches he ran through