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2022 Coaching Carousel


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2 minutes ago, Toe said:

@BigRedBuster "If." Like I said, let's not get ahead of ourselves.

I'm not, that's why i put the word "if" in.  I've followed recruiting way too long to assume all those guys are going to sign.

 

My point was, that we have the potential to greatly improve the class ranking.  And...to dismiss this myth that I keep seeing claiming that Rhule is only going after 0 star kids.  (not claiming you said that)

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13 hours ago, Toe said:

USA Today grades this season's head coaching hires.

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2022/12/15/college-football-grades-new-2023-fbs-head-coaches/10879649002/

 

 

They only gave out one other A... which went to another team in our division.

 

 

And for perspective, here's the Athlon rating from our last coaching cycle:

 

Grading College Football's Head Coach Hires for 2018

Grading College Football's Head Coach Hires for 2018

1. Scott Frost, Nebraska

Previous Job: UCF Head Coach

Career Record: 19-7 (2016-17 UCF Head Coach)

In terms of fit and need as it relates to the 2017-18 college football coaching carousel, it doesn’t get much more perfect than Frost at Nebraska. The Nebraska native and former Cornhusker quarterback returns to his home state after a successful two-year stint at UCF. After a winless 2015 season, the Knights improved to 6-7 in Frost’s first year. And Frost capped his UCF tenure with a perfect 13-0 season, a Peach Bowl victory over Auburn and a No. 6 ranking in the final Associated Press poll. Prior to his two-year stint in Orlando, Frost worked as Oregon’s offensive coordinator from 2013-15, calling the plays for one of college football’s top offenses. And he also worked with the Ducks from 2009-12 as a wide receivers coach and had a stint at Northern Iowa (2007-08). Considering Frost’s ties to the program as a former player, he knows what it takes to succeed in Lincoln. Nebraska needed to make a big move in order to become a Big Ten power and close the gap on Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State and Wisconsin. Frost’s arrival will certainly do that in his return to Lincoln.

 

Final Grade: A+

 

2. Dan Mullen, Florida

Previous Job: Mississippi State Head Coach

Career Record: 69-46 (2009-17 Mississippi State)

Athletic director Scott Stricklin is leaning on a familiar face to get Florida’s football program back in the mix for national championships. Mullen and Stricklin worked together at Mississippi State, and Mullen had previous experience at Florida (2005-08) under Urban Meyer, so this is a natural fit for both parties. In addition to Mullen’s familiarity with the job, he also brings a needed background on offense to Gainesville. The Gators have struggled on this side of the ball in recent years and have finished eighth or worse in the SEC in scoring every year since 2010. At Mississippi State – the toughest job in the SEC West – Mullen went 69-46 and guided the program to eight consecutive bowl games. For comparison, the Bulldogs had just 12 previous postseason bids before Mullen’s arrival. Also, Mississippi State has nine seasons of nine or more wins in program history. Four of those, including a 10-win campaign in 2014 came under Mullen’s watch. Now based in better recruiting territory and with more resources at his disposal, Mullen should thrive in his return to Gainesville – and get Florida back in the mix to be a top 10-15 team on an annual basis.

 

Final Grade: A

 

3. Chip Kelly, UCLA

Previous Job: ESPN Analyst

Career Record: 46-7 (2009-12 Oregon), 28-35 (2013-15 Eagles, 2016 49ers)

Kelly is back on the sidelines in college for the first time since leaving Oregon after the 2012 season. The New Hampshire native was one of the offseason’s most sought-after coaches, and UCLA wasted no time making a move for Kelly following Jim Mora’s departure. During his stint at Oregon from 2009-12, the Ducks finished 46-7, played for the national championship in 2010 and finished inside of the top five in the final Associated Press poll in three out of the four seasons. Additionally, Oregon’s innovative offense ranked among the nation’s best under Kelly’s watch and led the Pac-12 in scoring every year from 2009-12. Kelly left Eugene for an opportunity to coach in the NFL and he had some success in Philadelphia. The Eagles posted back-to-back 10-win seasons and finished 26-21 overall before his dismissal during the 2015 season. Kelly also spent one year (2-14) with the 49ers and joined ESPN as a college football analyst for the 2017 season. It’s no secret what Kelly brings to the table. He runs a high-scoring, up-tempo, spread attack on offense and is one of the game’s best at X’s and O’s. It’s likely the rest of college football has adapted to defend Kelly’s offense since his tenure at Oregon, but he’s at one of the Pac-12’s top jobs and should have no trouble reeling in talent on the recruiting trail. While Kelly may not win 46 games in four years at UCLA, this hire should still work out in a big way for the Bruins.

 

Final Grade: A

 

4. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M

Previous Job: Florida State Head Coach

Career Record: 83-23 (2010-17 Florida State)

The 2017-18 coaching carousel only amplified how serious Texas A&M is in becoming a contender in the SEC West. Thanks to a 10-year, $75 million deal, the Aggies lured Fisher away from Florida State. That’s just one cog in the football program’s commitment, which includes a renovated stadium and plenty of money for Fisher to build his staff and off-field analysts. Fisher had the tough assignment of following Bobby Bowden at Florida State but rebuilt the program into a national power once again. The Seminoles went 83-23 under his direction, won the 2013 BCS title and won at least 10 games in six out of his eight seasons in Tallahassee. Fisher is no stranger to life in the SEC, as he coached at LSU from 2000-06 as offensive coordinator before joining Bowden’s staff at Florida State in '07 in the same capacity. Fisher also has stops on his resume from stints at Samford, Auburn and Cincinnati. The West Virginia native developed three quarterbacks during his tenure in Tallahassee who went on to become first-round NFL draft picks and the 2013 offense averaged 51.6 points a game. Fisher’s pro-style attack thrived in Tallahassee but it will be interesting to see if he adapts to more spread or tempo principles in College Station. As a proven winner, excellent recruiter and with a track record of developing talent, Fisher is a standout hire for Texas A&M.

 

Final Grade: A-

 

5. Willie Taggart, Florida State

Previous Job: Oregon Head Coach

Career Record: 47-50 (2010-12 WKU, 2013-16 USF, 2017 Oregon)

As a lifelong Florida State fan, Taggart finds himself in his dream job. Taggart has extensive ties to the Sunshine State, starting with his high school career as a quarterback at Bradenton Manatee, which led to a collegiate career at WKU. After his playing career with the Hilltoppers ended in 1998, Taggart was hired as an assistant coach with the program in '99. He left Bowling Green following the 2006 season to coach under Jim Harbaugh at Stanford. Taggart directed the running backs for three seasons on the Farm, before returning to WKU as the program’s head coach in 2010. The Hilltoppers had transitioned to the FBS level in 2009 but won just two games from 2008-09. After a 2-10 mark in Taggart’s first year, WKU showed marked improvement. The Hilltoppers went on to post back-to-back seven-win seasons, prompting USF to hire Taggart prior to the 2013 campaign. The Bulls started 6-18 under his watch, but a switch in offensive style and tempo to the “Gulf Coast Offense” helped them go 18-7 over the next two regular seasons. As a result of that success, Taggart left Tampa for Eugene and spent one year as Oregon’s head coach. The Ducks improved by three games from 2016 to ’17 under his direction. Taggart is regarded as a strong recruiter and should have no trouble attracting talent to play in his high-powered offense.

 

 

 

Final Grade: A-

 

6. Joe Moorhead, Mississippi State

Previous Job: Penn State Offensive Coordinator

Career Record: 38-13 (2012-15 Fordham)

Mississippi State landed one of college football’s top offensive-minded coaches when Moorhead was picked to replace Dan Mullen in Starkville. Moorhead spent the last two seasons revitalizing Penn State’s offense as the team’s coordinator. After the Nittany Lions averaged only 23.2 points a game in 2015, Moorhead helped this unit average 37.6 per contest in ’16 and 41.1 this past season. Additionally, Penn State’s offense averaged 6.5 yards per play in both seasons under Moorhead and generated 45 plays of 40 yards or more during that span. Prior to calling the plays in Happy Valley, Moorhead posted four winning seasons (38-13) at Fordham and led the program to three FCS Playoff appearances. He also has stops on his resume from stints at Akron and UConn. Considering Mississippi State is the toughest job in the SEC West, hiring a coach with a background on offense and a strong reputation for innovative schemes and play designs is a home run. With Moorhead’s offense in place, the Bulldogs will provide a tough matchup each week in SEC play. And the Pittsburgh native is already off to a strong start, hiring a standout staff and putting the finishing touches on a good recruiting class. With several key pieces returning from a team that won nine games in 2017, Moorhead has an opportunity to start fast in his Mississippi State debut.

 

Final Grade: B+

 

7. Chad Morris, Arkansas

Previous Job: SMU Head Coach

Career Record: 14-22 (2015-17 SMU)

Arkansas checked off two important boxes by hiring Morris. The first: Ties to the state of Texas. In order for the Razorbacks to make gains in the SEC West, this program has to recruit the Lone Star State and win some of the battles against its conference counterparts. Morris’ hire should help in that regard, as he worked as head coach at five different high schools in Texas from 1994-99. The Edgewood native (about 60 miles east of Dallas) has extensive ties throughout the state, which should help on the recruiting trail and to attract talent to Fayetteville. And the second box: Doing something different. The SEC West is one of college football’s toughest divisions, headlined by defending national champion Alabama. Trying to outmuscle Alabama or LSU isn’t a smart strategy for the Razorbacks. Instead, Morris’ up-tempo and spread principles should help Arkansas (see Auburn) and will make for a team that’s difficult to prepare for on a week-to-week basis. Morris comes to Fayetteville after a successful three-year run at SMU. He inherited a team that won just one game in 2014 and improved to 5-7 by his second year. In 2017, the Mustangs finished 7-5 in the regular season and went to a bowl game for the time since '12.

 

Final Grade: B+

 

8. Kevin Sumlin, Arizona

Previous Job: Texas A&M Head Coach

Career Record: 86-43 (2008-11 Houston, 2012-17 Texas A&M)

Arizona was the last FBS program to fill its head coach vacancy in the 2017-18 carousel, but the program ended up with a solid fit with Sumlin. The former Texas A&M coach has an opposite personality to former coach Rich Rodriguez and is likely to benefit from a fresh start. Sumlin went 51-26 in six years in the brutal SEC West but was never able to recapture the momentum from an 11-2 debut in 2012. The Aggies never had a losing season under Sumlin and finished at least .500 or better in conference play in five out of six years. Prior to Texas A&M, Sumlin went 35-17 at Houston (2008-11) and worked under Bob Stoops at Oklahoma from 2003-07 as an assistant on the offensive side of the ball. The Alabama native played his college ball at Purdue and later had stops as an assistant with the Boilermakers, Wyoming, Minnesota and Texas A&M. Sumlin is regarded as a good recruiter and has previous experience within the state of Arizona in luring Christian Kirk and Kyle Allen to College Station. Additionally, Sumlin’s background on offense should fit in well with the Pac-12. With USC in transition, and new coaches at UCLA and Arizona State, Sumlin has a chance to contend for the Pac-12 South title in his first year on the job.

 

Final Grade: B

 

9. Jeremy Pruitt, Tennessee

Previous Job: Alabama Defensive Coordinator

Career Record: First Year

Tennessee’s coaching search certainly wasn’t without its share of drama. However, after an extended search (and some help from freshly appointed athletic director Phillip Fulmer), the Volunteers settled on Pruitt to guide the program in 2018 and beyond. The Alabama native has no previous head coaching experience at any level but is well-prepared for this job. Pruitt started his career by working his way through the high school ranks as an assistant, eventually landing an off-field role at Alabama in 2007. Nick Saban promoted Pruitt to defensive backs coach in 2010, which lasted three years before the Alabama native took over as Florida State’s defensive coordinator. In Pruitt’s only year as the play-caller, the Seminoles won the national championship and allowed only 12.1 points a game. Pruitt was hired by Mark Richt at Georgia in 2014 and stayed in Athens for two seasons. After Richt was dismissed, Pruitt returned to Alabama to coordinate the defense. The Crimson Tide led the SEC in back-to-back years in fewest points allowed, limiting opponents to just 11.9 points a game in 2017. Pruitt is a relentless recruiter, has worked for the nation’s best coach (Saban) and has proven he can build a defense at other stops outside of Alabama. Running a program as a first-time head coach in the SEC isn’t easy, but Pruitt can lean on a solid staff and Fulmer to guide his transition into this role. Landing talent wasn’t Tennessee’s problem under Butch Jones. However, the Volunteers struggled to fully develop some those recruiting classes that averaged a 13.2 finish nationally from 2013-17. If Pruitt can continue to reel in top talent and do a better job in development, Tennessee should take a big step forward over the next three seasons.

 

Final Grade: B

 

10. Steve Campbell, South Alabama

Previous Job: Central Arkansas Head Coach

Career Record: 59-23 (Delta State 1999-01, Central Arkansas 2014-17)

South Alabama is still a relative newcomer to college football, as this program is entering its seventh year of FBS play. Joey Jones guided the Jaguars to two bowl trips since 2014, but the program is hoping to take the next step and compete for Sun Belt titles. Athletic director Joel Erdmann tapped Campbell as just the second coach in South Alabama history after a successful run at Central Arkansas. Under Campbell’s watch, UCA went 33-15 in four years and made the FCS Playoffs in both 2016 and '17. Campbell’s experience extends throughout the Southeast. He spent time as a graduate assistant at Auburn (1988-89), was an assistant at Delta State (1990-92) and Nicholls State (1993-95), and spent a year at Southwest Mississippi Junior College (1996) before becoming the program’s head coach in 1997. He stayed in that role for two years before Delta State hired him in the same capacity. During a three-year stint, Campbell went 27-8 at Delta State. He left the Division II ranks for assistant opportunities at Middle Tennessee (2002) and Mississippi State (2003). After one year with the Bulldogs, Campbell left Starkville to become the head coach at Mississippi Gulf Coast JC. Campbell never had a losing season at MGCCC and finished his tenure with an 87-22 record. While Campbell isn’t as big of a name as some of the others on this list, he’s a standout hire for South Alabama. As a proven winner with ties to the Southeast, Campbell should help this program move forward in the Sun Belt over the next couple of years.

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@Guy Chamberlin Yep, and here's a snippet of USA Today's grade article from that year:

 

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The thing about coaching hires is, well, you never know how they’re going to pan out. The no-doubt rock star can crater. The underwhelming hire made after four other guys said no can turn out to be the guy who wins championships. Fit matters a lot. And luck, too. Even the surest thing is a risk.

 

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3 minutes ago, lo country said:

It's crazy to think that Rhule has the potential to be a much better fit than Frost.

 

Rhule is so much more organized. Scott and his crew were in over their heads from the start. I think that we're going to see that Matt and his staff do very well here. 

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1 hour ago, M.A. said:

 

Rhule is so much more organized. Scott and his crew were in over their heads from the start. I think that we're going to see that Matt and his staff do very well here. 

I agree.  Dude seems to get how to recruit, (to a scheme/system), develop and instill (flip) a culture.  I'm optimistic that we go bowling next year.  I thought (and think) we have the players. They have simply been a rudderless ship in a hurricane for too many years under Frost and Co.  

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4 hours ago, lo country said:

It's crazy to think that Rhule has the potential to be a much better fit than Frost.

I think in large part that's based on who Matt Rhule is. He comes across as a people person while SF seemed like he alienated people.  Matt Rhule wants to be part of the community while SF didn't.  Yes he was out there but it didn't seem like he was ever comfortable coming back here even if he wanted to take on that challenge.  Kids started to lose faith in SF bc the team wasn't getting any better and with certain choices he put the team in.  Just got to wait and see how Matt Rhule will do but he is a developer in college and has NFL experience to show to kids.

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15 hours ago, Toe said:

@Guy Chamberlin Yep, and here's a snippet of USA Today's grade article from that year:

 

 

 

Similar to 2014 and the coaching cycle that brought us Mike Riley. 8 years later about half of those guys are no longer head coaches anywhere. 

 

Really inexact science, but gut feeling says Trev got the right man, and we're lucky Rhule found Nebraska a great fit for him. Don't know many people who wouldn't take the same money to sit around for a year or two, relax and case the landscape. 

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On 12/17/2022 at 11:07 AM, Guy Chamberlin said:

 

Similar to 2014 and the coaching cycle that brought us Mike Riley. 8 years later about half of those guys are no longer head coaches anywhere. 

 

Really inexact science, but gut feeling says Trev got the right man, and we're lucky Rhule found Nebraska a great fit for him. Don't know many people who wouldn't take the same money to sit around for a year or two, relax and case the landscape. 

I agree with this statement.  I've read some of the comments recruits have made recently.  Words they use are trust, authentic, real, etc.  I don't remember any recruit from the Frost era that spoke glowingly about Frost.  It was usually some comment about knowing where they fit in the offense/defense, liking their position coach, immediate playing time.  

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Shortside Option - Grading the Head Coaching Hires

 

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Post #1 of our 5 part series for the holiday week is going to go over the Nebraska hire compared to Wisconsin, Colorado, Auburn, and Arizona State. This will hopefully set the stage for a deeper dive into Matt Rhule and his staff tomorrow when we go over Nebraska’s hires and our expectations.

 

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