Coaching Search: It has begun
January 5th, 2011 at 1:25 PM ^
This means we need to break out the flight tracker again doesn't it.
<br>My thoughts: harbaugh probably going to the niners. Hole probably the top candidate which ugh...wishlist includes Patterson, malzahn, or I'll go in to left field and say leach, Meyer and tuberville.
January 5th, 2011 at 1:32 PM ^
Is headed to Lubbock. Very telling.
January 6th, 2011 at 3:03 PM ^
If that's for Tuberville, I'd be interested. Great record at Auburn, including that magical 2004 team. But ... he's completely a southern guy. I don't know of any midwest recruiting ties. One thing he has going for him, though, is his record vs. Bama. He knows how to get his team up big to play a rival. He went 7-3 vs Bama in his 10 years. Sure, only two of those were with Nick Saban at Alabama, but still that's impressive.
As far as I know, he's completely clean off the field and ran the Auburn program squeaky clean. I know of no violations at Auburn. He only left Auburn because he had one bad year - a year he was retooling the offense. And the next year, the first year under Chizik, after one year of transitioning from pro-style to spread, Auburn set all kinds of offensive records, and the year after that is this current one. In other words, Tuberville laid the foundation for the current Auburn national championship game team. But he had nothing to do with Cam Newton or any of the baggage that comes with the guy.
I'd be happy with hiring Tuberville. Very happy. Far happier than with Hoke, Miles, or Patterson. Not sure if he'd be interested in Michigan, though. Definitely worth a call.
January 5th, 2011 at 1:32 PM ^
Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't there some sort of coaching summit or conference that is held during the national championship week? Does anyone (Tom or Brian) know what the turn out at those things are like?
January 5th, 2011 at 1:36 PM ^
I think we need to have a little more faith in DB. He is not Martin. He is a former player and is very well connected. Since the day he took over he has had people contacting him about the head coaching job. He knows who is interested and who is not. I refuse to freak out just because he has not informed the internets who has contacted him over the last year.
January 5th, 2011 at 1:41 PM ^
Just because he said he he made this decision last night doesn't mean he hasn't been doing his homework on potential coaches for months.
January 5th, 2011 at 11:38 PM ^
You must be DB's secretary, transferring calls from all the coaches contacting him about the Michigan job.
January 5th, 2011 at 1:37 PM ^
to remove my name as a candidate for HC at the University of Michigan? b/c there's about to be a shitload more. That's the embarrassing part
<br>That said, getting the right coach is MUCH more important than the recruiting class or some humble pie
<br>My guess is he wanted JH but couldn't close him. Now every alum in the world us going swarm on Harbaugh. Still a chance. And short of that we can pick up the right guy.
January 5th, 2011 at 1:44 PM ^
Didn't DB basically say, or imply, that he'd be hiring someone with a link to Michigan?
January 5th, 2011 at 6:08 PM ^
Our greatest coaches had no link to Michigan before they came here. If this is to appease the down in front crowd I'm expecting a disaster.
On WTKA, I heard that Sam was getting negative feedback on RR the first day because he wasn't one of us, he talked funny, he was a redneck. If true, maybe my opinion of my university needs to change.
January 5th, 2011 at 1:47 PM ^
Vince Lombardi once coached high school basketball after reading a book. At this point I'll even buy coach k the book myself. Desperate times...
January 5th, 2011 at 1:56 PM ^
People who keep asking why someone like Patterson would even consider jumping to Michigan should take note that a coaching change at TCU would never get anywhere near the national attention that ours has. The sports world follows this situation as if it's the Vatican getting a new Pope. M's team is down. But M remains a special place.
January 5th, 2011 at 1:59 PM ^
Dave Brandon should be relieved of HIS duties. After the senseless wait and everyone trusting in the "pimp hand," I can't imagine how anyone could fuck up this situation any worse.
January 5th, 2011 at 2:31 PM ^
The thing that gets me is not having someone on deck. Our recruiting class = Fu:&3d
January 5th, 2011 at 5:04 PM ^
But I'd almost rather have Hoke tomorrow if it means we can have a coach during this last month of recruiting. This could not bring good things for the next few years if we don't have a staff right now and miss out on closing the recruiting class.
January 5th, 2011 at 2:19 PM ^
In no particular order and assuming JH won't come and DB won't consider BH (please)
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<br>The already mentioned Patterson and Peterson plus Mike Bellotti and Kyle Wittingham.
January 5th, 2011 at 2:26 PM ^
Assuming he can't get Patterson, Mike Belotti would be my choice and i've heard he's been itching to get back in the game
January 5th, 2011 at 4:38 PM ^
"Bellotti, 59, moved from Oregon coach to UO athletic director after the 2008 season, then left the AD job last winter to become an ESPN commentator.
He said he gave up coaching in part for family reasons. But the ESPN job has kept him away from all of his son's high school football games. Sean Bellotti is a junior at Sheldon High School of Eugene.
Mike Bellotti said he planned to see Sean's basketball and baseball games in the coming months.
"Taking another football job might not be the best thing," he said. "The reality is that I probably would live apart from my family for a year while my son finished up high school and lived with my wife. That's a huge issue."
But Bellotti, 116-55 in 14 seasons at Oregon, misses the competitive part of leading a football program.
"In this profession, as an announcer, you rarely lose unless you screw up a name or make an outrageous statement," he said. "But you never win either."
So, Bellotti has listened to a preliminary overture from a Colorado representative, and probably will listen to others.
"It would have to be the right fit," he said. "I don't have a total blueprint for what that would be."
January 5th, 2011 at 4:56 PM ^
Thanks for posting this. I think Belotti is a very interesting hire. Although, he had some questionable characters that he recruited (Blount, James, Masoli) and allowed some questionable antics (e.g. Blount (?) dropping the sledgehammer on the Michigan turf in 2007). Not saying that would happen if he was in Ann Arbor. Just saying.
January 5th, 2011 at 5:11 PM ^
January 5th, 2011 at 5:19 PM ^
Good call though.
January 5th, 2011 at 4:59 PM ^
Given the inherent risk with any new coach, you want one that will be around for a while if it works.
He might be a good fit though.
January 5th, 2011 at 2:20 PM ^
I vote for Andy Dunkle
January 5th, 2011 at 2:29 PM ^
I just hope that it's not a stupid decision. Hoke isn't a viable option if you ask me.
January 5th, 2011 at 2:51 PM ^
@LaMarrWoodley-Breaking News: Michigan Just announce LaMarr Woodley as head coach
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January 5th, 2011 at 4:08 PM ^
seriously. There is your tradition restored. Sure the coaching resume isn't the best. He does the best with what he can work with. Ball State and San Diego St, turned into winners. Who is to say the guy can't bring back a UM defense to respectability. UM has not had a defense since 97. I don't see why he can not coach a D Rob or DG into being successful QB's. All im getting at, is look what he can do with terrible colleges. Get off of JH, he doesn't bleed blue. He bleeds green. He will be the niners coach. DB could only offer a contract of 4 to 5 mill for 10 years to possibly keep him. IMO SF will offer a 5 yr deal worth anywhere from 25-30 mill.
January 5th, 2011 at 4:14 PM ^
That is the D that I remember.
January 5th, 2011 at 4:23 PM ^
That gave up 26 points to Ball State, 42 points to OSU and 32 points to USC?????
I remember the 1997 defense! Now there was a defense to remember!!!!!
January 5th, 2011 at 4:33 PM ^
The 97 team only gave up more than 16 points once (24 to Iowa) and I think their was a punt return for a TD in that game (tim dwight?).
Total points given up over 12 games was 114.
January 5th, 2011 at 4:52 PM ^
Yes, Tim Dwight. What a nerve-wracking game.
January 5th, 2011 at 4:28 PM ^
His record at Ball State:
2003 4-8
2004 2-9
2005 4-7
2006 5-7
2007 7-6
2008 12-1
While his record at SDSU is better the sample size is smaller.
2009 4-8
2010 9-4
In his 8 years as a head coach he has had two winning seasons. If that trend were to continue at Michigan we will be looking for a new coach again.
Source:rivals.com
January 5th, 2011 at 5:04 PM ^
Former reporter for Ann Arbor news as well as Ball State grad: "Brady Hoke is an excellent football coach" for what that is worth.
January 5th, 2011 at 10:38 PM ^
Former reporter for Ann Arbor news as well as Ball State grad: "Brady Hoke is an excellent football coach" for what that is worth.
it's worth everything you paid for it.
January 5th, 2011 at 4:17 PM ^
2006 was a reasonable defense.
January 5th, 2011 at 4:22 PM ^
January 5th, 2011 at 4:44 PM ^
he beat Michigan. 3 years later and Im still in shock we lost to Toledo...
January 5th, 2011 at 6:24 PM ^
January 5th, 2011 at 4:25 PM ^
Remember how much we were loathing the fact that it might be Feretz, well given DB wants Midwest recruiting ties, Head Coaching experience and is willing to pay a lot.....could he be setting up for Feretz? I am surprised not to see his name pop up more often
January 5th, 2011 at 4:50 PM ^
Hmm Feretz would be interesting. I think he would be a little too weasle like for the Michigan job though.
January 5th, 2011 at 4:32 PM ^
January 5th, 2011 at 4:46 PM ^
I second this. Think of all the cool intros we could have. Heavy metal playing in the background and Leach enters on his pirate ship, Denard wearing an eye patch, fighting back a smile.
His character aside, still not sure what/who to believe with regard to shed gate, he was damn impressive with his motley crew of UT, A&M, and OU leftovers at TTU.
I just really hope the whole "Michigan Man" blah blah doesn't force DB to hire Hoke. If Hoke can't stand with other candidates on his own merits, then I think it's a mistake to hire him.
edit: semi sarcasm, but I like Leach
January 5th, 2011 at 4:54 PM ^
January 5th, 2011 at 5:17 PM ^
Haha, shed time, "T-mart, you're in time out!" If you get the Chappelle's Show reference. Part of me isn't completely convinced that DB will follow a necessarily predictable path to hiring his coach because he doesn't seem like the kind of guy who likes being told what he has to do, etc. However, you're right, Leach would not exactly be the "defensive minded coach... with midwestern ties" he seems to be looking for. The only reason I think DB might not hire Hoke is because he is looking for a higher profile guy. Miles doesn't seem plausible for contracutal reasons, age, "integrity" if you want to call it that, etc. Harbaugh's out, Peterson, and more upsettingly, Patterson, both seem to be happy where they are. Utah's Wittingham is intriguing, however, I do not know about Utah's defense and even if he'd want to leave. The continuation of the spread offense, or at least some bastard child of it is the only thing, in my opinion, that can save next season, which, given the easy schedule, might not be the let down it appears it will be today. Cowher certainly screams defense, probably quite loud in reality, but any NFL names at this point are more than conjecture because the UM coaching job seems like a whole different animal when compared to an NFL coaching job. So unless Brandon strays from his criteria and Harbaugh can't be coerced, then it looks like DB will disappointingly, even to DB himself perhaps, hire Brady Hoke.
January 5th, 2011 at 4:29 PM ^
Think maybe Mullen was running up the score (who hasn't against our D) to get his name in the picture for the U of M job....he'd be a strong candidate....can recruit the south, Denard fits his system... just one of thousands of hypotheticals we'll be hearing this next week...have to go bang my head against the wall again.
January 5th, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^
Mullen's DC whiz Manny Diaz just took the Texas DC job. Does anybody really want Mullen sans Diaz?
January 5th, 2011 at 4:33 PM ^
How can we even consider Dan Mullen. He was already offered a contract extension and wasnt Hoke also offered an extension at SDSU??? How can we hire him??
January 5th, 2011 at 4:50 PM ^
What are you serious? It's all (mostly) about the $.
January 5th, 2011 at 4:42 PM ^
until Mike Hart retires from the NFL, and then hire him as our head coach!
January 5th, 2011 at 4:44 PM ^
I understand he could have fired RR earlier (if it was, despite his assurances otherwise, preordained), but would he legally have been able to announce a coach today? I thought the law in Michigan was a minimum 7 day job posting before a public/government job could be filled.
I guess I get the dissapointment that either he fired RR at all or waited until now to do it (depending on your thoughts on Rodriguez), but it seems like his hands are tied on the timetable to introduce a new coach. Unless that rule doesn't apply, in which case rabble rabble.
I will not add anything to who should be come coach because I was convinced we should have had Ron English follow Lloyd, and that doesn't seem like it would have worked out so well.