ADC: Update from Football Scoop
FootballScoop.com has an article up about the latest rumblings on the Michigan AD search. Some points, which might help calm people's fears:
- Hackett wants the search done before the OSU game.
- Hackett is willing to fire/hire a coach, but would prefer the new AD does it
- Many current AD's have already expressed interest, including the usual suspects (Manuel, Bates, Castiglione)
- Castiglione would probably take the job if offered
Read the whole article here. Hopefully it helps calm some of the recent panic about this search.
November 4th, 2014 at 1:37 PM ^
He'd just taken the Badgers to 3 straight Rose Bowls. The last Big Ten coach to do that was Bo in the late 70's. Bielema isn't on the same level as Meyer, Saban, etc. but for Arkansas, historically a middle of the pack SEC school at best, this hire was a total steal.
November 4th, 2014 at 1:41 PM ^
This too. Wisconsin and Arkansas are parallel jobs. That kind of hire is really rare.
In fact, the best comparison that comes to mind is Mike Anderson being hired away from Missouri to coach basketball at...Arkansas.
November 4th, 2014 at 1:45 PM ^
No, Anderson worked as an assistant at Arkansas under Nolan Richardson for 17 years, his hiring was the obvious choice.
November 4th, 2014 at 2:07 PM ^
Do you think Arkansas is traditionally a better program than Mizzou? Arkansas won a title in '94, but besides that, I would argue Missouri is the better job. Better conference with big rivals in KU and out-of-conference with Illinois. Furthermore, Missouri is a basketball school, traditionally, Arky a football school. Just because Anderson had close connections to Arkansas doesn't mean it's the more preferable job.
November 4th, 2014 at 2:25 PM ^
of hiring a coach whose dream job is somewhere else, particularly if it's a school at a similar level.
November 4th, 2014 at 2:33 PM ^
I guess it could. I'd think it would only be a worry if a Blue Blood is hiring a coach who is an alumna of another Blue Blood. I don't know the details but doubt Anderson saw the Mizzou job as a detour on the road to the Arkansas job. Frank Haith, his replacement, left Miami (FL). So I think Mizzou is a pretty respected job in the business. There had to be some persuading.
November 4th, 2014 at 5:56 PM ^
LOL come on man. I can't disprove that it "took some persuading" to get Anderson to Arkansas. What I can prove is that Anderson left a 23-11 Missouri team that got knocked out in the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament to take over an Arkansas team in a lesser basketball conference that was 18-13 in an extremely weak SEC West division. He clearly wanted to be at Arkansas. You contend he left a better job to take a worse job, thus Long did a great sell job. I contend Long didn't have to do a great sell job because no coach is making the move from Mizzou to Arkansas under those circumstances unless he wants to be there, regardless of what the AD is selling him.
November 4th, 2014 at 2:26 PM ^
Not only this, but NOBODY EVEN KNEW that Bielema was open to leaving. That's the best part... if there is a Bielema or a RichRod out there that nobody knows is available, Long is the best placed guy to identify him.
November 4th, 2014 at 1:27 PM ^
I don't know how you can call Bielema an uninspired hire. Name another AD who has managed to pull a coach with anything even close to his resume out of a Power 5 school and into another one that could only be considered a lateral move, at best. It just doesn't happen.
November 4th, 2014 at 1:32 PM ^
The Bielema hire was beyond inspired. He poached a coach that had a wildly successful track record, regularly in the Top 20 from a program in the "other" big money conference. (Calling the B1G a power conference doesn't feel right at this moment in college football history -- but there is no question about the money the B1G has rolling in.)
I'm not sure what other boxes on the coaching hire checklist he was supposed to check. I guess if awesome hair was a requirement, he missed on that one.
November 4th, 2014 at 1:08 PM ^
Petrino was a decent coach. He took a bottom of the SEC Arkansas team, and turned them into a team that, while not a powerhouse, established a string of decent records, and decent bowl invitations. He got fired for off-the-field stupidity.
John L Smith was an assistant at Arkansas the previous year, who was hired in April as an interim coach, because they fired Petrino, and they needed someone who was available fast. He was an interim hire, and it was understood that he would not be the permanent coach.
As for Bielma, well, the jury's still out. He's been in some close games, but hasn't managed to pull any of them out at the end. (Just last week, they were 1 endzone interception away and an extra point away from taking the #1 team in the nation to OT). If they can learn to finish, they'll be a pretty decent team.
(For those of you wondering, Mrs. SyracuseWolvrine is an Arkansas alum, so I hear way more about their team than I care to admit)
November 4th, 2014 at 1:51 PM ^
Agree the jury still out on him. Year two you'd expect a bit more progress but being in the SEC West right now isn't helping his cause. They have been competitive in their conference games against top ranked teams so there have been noticable improvements, just not in the win column.
November 4th, 2014 at 2:29 PM ^
Who amongst the AD candidates we've heard of has a better football hiring track record? Sure as hell not Brad Bates.
November 4th, 2014 at 3:55 PM ^
I don't know why people give Long shit for hiring John L Smith. Your options for hiring someone midseason are slim to non exisitent. What was Long really supposed to do after firing Petrino? The season was shot, and if you don't have any qualified assistants on staff, you need to bring in someone from the outside. Smith was about the only option available.
November 4th, 2014 at 12:58 PM ^
As long as Bielma doesn't come with him. I like Long too (and I guess being on the CFB playoff committee can't hurt?). Also, he understands the big coach need having seen it first hand in the SEC. Would definitely be a driving force behind paying as much as needed for a certain someone.
November 4th, 2014 at 1:04 PM ^
Long is best friends with Brady Hoke from childhood...so there is that.
On the hearsay level, some poster here at Mgoblog who doesnt post frequently posted some dirt on Long from when he was an associate AD at Michigan. Supposedly he is devisive and easy to hate.
November 4th, 2014 at 1:16 PM ^
Jeff Long and Brady Hoke went to the same high school and played on the same baseball team. Long is two years younger than Hoke. To say that they are best friends from childhood is a real reach.
November 4th, 2014 at 2:30 PM ^
shhh... it's fun to play telephone
November 4th, 2014 at 3:30 PM ^
Hoke was also Long's center on their hs football team.
November 4th, 2014 at 5:41 PM ^
MY LIST
1. Jeremy Foley --- not coming (no reason, arguably the best in the business)
2. Tom Jurich --- probably not coming (too well respected and loved where he is)
3. Oliver Luck --- probably not coming (too well respected where he is)
4. Greg Byrne --- 75% lock (not a great fit on paper, but an excellent "out of the box" fit if that's what we're looking for)
5. Warde Manuel --- 100% lock
I don't put Manuel on the list because he's the first lock or he's a Michigan guy. I honestly think he's the 5th best candidate and happens to be a Michigan guy. Go get turned down by the top 3 and then decide between Byrne and Manuel. One excellent "Michigan guy" and one excellent "non-Michigan guy." Honestly, bring those two in and pick your favorite.
...for me that's end of list. End of discussion. Drop off after that, but if I had to continue...
6. Dave Heeke --- 100% lock
7. Brad Bates --- 100% lock
8. Ross Bjork --- probably not coming (wrong climate/fit/atmosphere)
9. Jeff Long --- 80% lock
10. Lee Reed --- not a good fit other than personality and academic standards at Georgetown
Miechelle Willis should also be mentioned as she's extremely good at what she does.
November 4th, 2014 at 12:45 PM ^
November 4th, 2014 at 12:48 PM ^
if we qualify for a bowl game. In that case, you pretend to "evaluate" Hoke till he finishes out he bowl and hand him the pink slip on the 50 yard line after the clock hits 0:00.
November 4th, 2014 at 12:49 PM ^
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November 4th, 2014 at 12:50 PM ^
Or you just fire him then and hire an interim for the bowl.
November 4th, 2014 at 12:55 PM ^
The guy who stands behind him with the headset could tap him on the shoulder and hand it to him as the clock runs out. After all, he's the guy who always tells Hoke what's going on.
November 4th, 2014 at 12:59 PM ^
and tell confused reporters that "he was aware but not fully aware" of his firing.
November 4th, 2014 at 1:03 PM ^
That is more cold-blooded than the way Kiffin got fired.
November 4th, 2014 at 1:44 PM ^
November 4th, 2014 at 1:53 PM ^
That would be dumb to keep Hoke for the bowl. Even if we win out, we'd be going to a lame bowl game, and Nussmeier or someone else could handle being the interim HC for a month. That way, we can be actively looking for a new coach during that time.
November 4th, 2014 at 12:50 PM ^
You have Hackett finalize the search, give Hoke the Earle Bruce(?) treatment where the OSU game is his last, then introduce the new AD following the OSU game. Then Hackett does the dirty work of removing Hoke, and the new guy gets a lot of positive momentum coming in and doesn't have to deal with the backlash from the remaining Hoke lovers
November 4th, 2014 at 12:45 PM ^
Why would any big time coach sign on with an intermin boss and then wait to see if they hire a decent guy?
Just put the word out that the guy who gets JH's signature gets the job. Profit!
November 4th, 2014 at 2:29 PM ^
the word out that you are seeking to have an AD search evailuation done by the end of November, it would make more sense for Hackett to fire Hoke and then have the new AD hire the next coach. I can see Hackett's reluctance to both fire and hire, but again this whole process will be dictated by the process timeline the search for AD takes and whether Michigan is able to attract its primary coaching choice.
November 4th, 2014 at 12:45 PM ^
November 4th, 2014 at 12:45 PM ^
Very interesting. Confirms what many of us have been saying/hoping: Michigan's athletic director position is one of a very small number of truly elite AD jobs. It's encouraging to see that some of our targets have apparently 'expressed interest'
November 4th, 2014 at 12:46 PM ^
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November 4th, 2014 at 12:47 PM ^
With this timeline, if true, I can't see how they don't hire a guy with Michigan ties. No way you have a new AD waltz in during Ohio State week, fire Hoke the following Monday, and be simultaneously learning an entirely new environment and university culture while doing a high-profile coaching search. You need a guy who at least knows the lay of the land if you're going to give him a razor-thin timeline.
November 4th, 2014 at 12:55 PM ^
Eh, probably depends on the non-UM connected AD. If it's a guy like the OU AD, he has experience with an extremely high profile football program who expects conference championships every year like UM, at least wants, to do. Plus, it will be more than just firing him after the OSU game, especially as all the high profile coaches will most likey be still coaching into January. And UM still might make a bowl as well.
November 4th, 2014 at 1:10 PM ^
in some capacity for those possible time periods that freaked people out.
November 4th, 2014 at 12:47 PM ^
Not only is it a useful article, but it trolls Brandon by using the non-conforming block M, and does so taking up about a quarter of the article's page. Well done.
November 4th, 2014 at 12:54 PM ^
I think the sooner the better, for AD and coaching positions. I think the longer the two processes goes on the more recruits will be lost, the more probablility of players transferring. I think the quicker the two positions are filled the less collateral damage is done to the roster.
November 4th, 2014 at 12:55 PM ^
The article linked in the article, about Long, turns on the theory that if you take Long, you get "dark beer" too (former Wiscy coach whose name I can't remember how to spell so I won't bother looking it up).
I don't understand that logic. Why would he "bring along" his Arkansas coach? Especially if you have the ability to get an NFL guy who went to the superbowl and whose first name starts with a "J." (I'm talking, of course, about Jon Gruden.) I don't see Long as being the same as "Long plus dark beer."
November 4th, 2014 at 1:32 PM ^
I read it as well and it made it seem like Long would be amenable to bringing Bielema almost for Bret's own sake, and really it is hard to say that he would leave or necessarily be in trouble if Arkansas ended up looking for a new AD, although Bielema - by most accounts - definitely is an acquired taste. Still, it doesn't seem like a particularly likely scenario that Long necessarily means Bielema.
November 4th, 2014 at 12:57 PM ^
To be clear the article says that Michigan fans are clamoring for Bates but does not include Bates as one of the ADs who has expressed interest.
November 4th, 2014 at 12:58 PM ^
Best case scenario, Michigan allows Hackett to fire Hoke directly after the OSU game, which will allow him to take any blowback from Hoke supporters right away, as well as if the team struggles the following year (merntioned above). Hire an AD ASAP after the Hoke firing. The new AD locks down a new coach before the new year. Game, set, match.
I disagree with the opinion above that you have to hire an AD with Michigan ties if you're going to give him a short timeline to hire a football coach. As long as Michigan hires an AD who knows what he's doing, he's going to know he's walking into that timeline and have a list of candidates already created. If he doesn't, he's not the right AD for the job.
November 4th, 2014 at 1:08 PM ^
Agree have Hackett fire Hoke the day before you announce the new athletic director then have him bring in the new coach. That has to be a big selling point to potential AD candidates that you get to choose your football coach.
November 4th, 2014 at 1:48 PM ^
As long as by "you get to choose your football coach" you really mean, "you get to choose where to build a big bathroom for Jim Harbaugh."
November 4th, 2014 at 1:59 PM ^
If Harbaugh truly is an option, then yes, it wouldn't be "you get to choose your football coach" but really "you get credit for choosing Harbaugh." Because even if the new AD had absolutely no part in bringing Harbaugh here, if JH does well, that AD will always be the guy who got hired, found the A+ HC and saved everything.
November 4th, 2014 at 1:49 PM ^
November 4th, 2014 at 1:04 PM ^
I liked everything in the article except the part where it mentioned that if Michigan hires OU's AD, he probably wouldnt bring Stoops with him. I would love it if Michigan hired Stoops. He'd be my #2 choice behind Jim.