Randy Edsell as next potential ND coach?

Submitted by samsoccer7 on

Joe Schad is reporting that ND and Randy Edsall have mutual interest. What interests me is that this is coming out as Kelly to ND was apparently a "done deal." Maybe not so done after all. I don't know much about Edsall but he seems like a good coach given what he's done with UConn. It'll make our games with UConn and ND interesting this coming season if he takes the job.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4728474

Dan Man

December 9th, 2009 at 6:20 PM ^

I agree - I think Kelly is a better coach.

I can't help but suspect that there is something about Kelly that is bothering ND. He just seems like the best fit and the best available coach. I wouldn't think his personal politics or his long ago controversial comment on race while he was at Central would be enough to sour ND on him. Also, I never understood why we didn't even consider him when we hired RichRod.

ThWard

December 9th, 2009 at 4:34 PM ^

Hurts one of our opponents next year, and helps the other less so (in my opinion, obviously) than the alternative.

Although Edsall does seem like a solid coach and good guy - don't mean to diminish him, I just think Kelly would be a better hire.

DoubleMs

December 9th, 2009 at 4:38 PM ^

I think Kelly wants to get his contract DONE so that ND is forced to buy him out... ND's gotta want it.

As such, Edsall's the better economic choice. Hands down.

VAWolverine

December 9th, 2009 at 4:39 PM ^

"it's never over until it's over."

I believe there is at least one board of regent at ND that does not want Kelly to be the most publicized face of the university. As a result it is no surprise that they are now giving attention to a coach with a more squeaky, clean gentlemanly image- Edsell.

My informal survey of ND fans flocking east on the Ohio and PA turnpikes the Sunday after their Navy loss (and our Purdue debacle) resulted in a new name being tossed about as their next head coach- Skip Holtz. Do you think Dr. Lou is not campaigning hard for his boy?

michelin

December 9th, 2009 at 6:17 PM ^

Remember that Ga Tech guy they hired for a day? Maybe ND needs to know more about skeletons in the closet.

If Kelly's players were accused or suspected of a murder and Kelly was criticized for telling them not to talk, I would sure want to know all the details before hiring him. A poster on this board said that Kelly oddly made some racially insensitive remarks about "blacks not talking," Given NDs problems with similar alumni statements after the Willingham firing, that could be a big issue.

I may have this story wrong, since I am just relaying what I recall. So if anyone knows the details and resolution of the Kelly incident, please tell me.

Zonereadstretch

December 9th, 2009 at 9:16 PM ^

“Steve in PA;” posted a day or two ago he was betting on Edsall, which I agreed…thus feeling this has more substance to the search that just forcing Kelly’s hand. Granted ND’s toiled in mediocrity for the last decade, but I feel they’ve realized through the smug and arrogant Weis that “image,” is just as important as winning; and I think in comparing both Edsall and Kelly, that all would agree Kelly would more than likely win more and win sooner than Edsall, but that Edsall would present a better image and spokesperson for the University as well as build a solid foundation for continued success in regards to the University and not just the Football team. IME Kelly; with some of his baggage is 1 dimension, but Edsall, while maybe not the stronger X & O’s choice is multi-dimensional.

Steve in PA

December 10th, 2009 at 11:27 AM ^

Thanks

I've spoken to a few ND fans, a few which are minor donors, and they aren't thrilled about Kelly. Their knock on him is defense, which is the same problem that the team had under the previous coach.

They like Skip and Edsell's name came up unsolicited. I still think the $$ will push the decision to Edsell.

Fitzgerald was also a name that surprised me but does make sense.

Bando Calrissian

December 9th, 2009 at 5:10 PM ^

Oh, the deafening roar of impending discontent and realization of prolonged mediocrity coming from the not-so-distant west...

Edsell is just about as bad of a pick as the other non-Kelly oft-rumored Kirk Ferentz.

PhillipFulmersPants

December 9th, 2009 at 6:06 PM ^

I don't see how Edsall or Ferentz would a "bad" pick. I realize Kelly's record is pretty stellar, but Edsall has
made UCONN, frickin' UCONN, a respectable program. I can see how people may think Ferentz is overrated and overpaid, but both of these guys have proven and respectable track records as head coaches, and one of them in a major BCS conference over a 10 year period. There's a reason their names are being tossed around and it ain't because they're "bad" picks.

A "bad" choice would be someone like John L. Smith, Marty Morningweg (sp?), or Paul Hackett, or any number of head coaches who have spit the bit. This list is long.

You're right that a lot Dame fans would probably grumble if Edsall is hired. And perhaps Kelly might be more successful, but it's not a given.

EDIT: Maybe you mean bad choice for ND in terms of expectations, fan reaction, PR, etc., not necessarily for the future of the program, W&L's ... anyhooz.

jmblue

December 9th, 2009 at 6:05 PM ^

Why? Because just anyone could take a school (UConn) with literally no history in I-A and not much of a recruiting base and make it a competitive program?

I think Edsall's a good coach. He hasn't gone 12-0 like Kelly, but I think he has a bright future.

As for Ferentz, hey, I'd say a 10-2 record and BCS bowl appearance at Iowa is a pretty darn good job. He's boring, but certainly gets results.

Zonereadstretch

December 9th, 2009 at 9:26 PM ^

In regards to Ferentz; as "jmblue" stated results are results, and with his focus on building solid D-lines and O-lines that anyone and their brother could run behind coupled with the skilled players ND always garners interest from he'd should be a candidate for ND to further explore.

Robbie Moore

December 9th, 2009 at 5:35 PM ^

I suppose Brian Kelly, bob Stoops and Urban Meyer are more than celebrity coaches. They have superb resumes. But the idea that a coach like Ferentz or Edsall, who have done quite well in places that are not football hotbeds, will make for mediocre coaches as ND is wrong. I remain of the opinion that Pat Fitzgerald would be a great choice but the Irish could do worse than Ferentz or Edsall. They are proven collegiate coaches who I think would likely win an average of 9 games a year in South Bend. With fairly regular trips to BCS bowls.

Right now that would look pretty good in Ann Arbor, no?

Bando Calrissian

December 9th, 2009 at 5:41 PM ^

The thing about Ferentz is that he's perpetually on the verge of it being "the year," but his Iowa teams always come up just short. Look at his overall record. A couple Big 10 championships, but a lot of near-misses and mediocrity in between. Iowa is a place completely capable of succeeding, and to say that it isn't a "football hotbed" is a bit of a stretch.

He's a guy who always gets thrown into the equation when a big job opens up, but at the end of the day, he's Kirk Ferentz. Great coach, mixed bag of yield. That's not exactly what ND is looking for. Or is it?

Time to fire up Flight Tracker.

Needs

December 9th, 2009 at 6:04 PM ^

to say that it isn't a "football hotbed" is a bit of a stretch.

Really? How many 3-5 star prospects come out of Iowa in any one year? I'll bet it's less than 10. Having Iowa in a place where they're consistently competitive with UM and PSU (they haven't been with OSU) means that Ferentz is doing a pretty impressive job developing players. His teams may be boring to watch but they rarely underperform.

jmblue

December 9th, 2009 at 6:13 PM ^

Iowa is not only located in a small (pop. 3 million), largely talent-bereft state, it has to share that meager recruiting territory with Iowa State (and Nebraska can easily swoop in and poach what talent it does produce). Based on its recruiting base, Iowa shouldn't be expected to be more than a middle-of-the-pack Big Ten program, if even that. They've happened to have had two outstanding coaches (Hayden Fry and Ferentz) who have gotten them to overperform. Give them a merely average coach and they'd be down where they were before Fry took over.

chitownblue2

December 9th, 2009 at 9:03 PM ^

he's perpetually on the verge of it being "the year," but his Iowa teams always come up just short. Look at his overall record. A couple Big 10 championships, but a lot of near-misses and mediocrity in between.

I swear to god this sounds really familiar. There's this team...we're all pretty familiar with them...cant...quite...name it.

BiSB

December 9th, 2009 at 5:43 PM ^

if the mindset of your fanbase is "we should be in contention for a National Title every year, because we're Notre Dame."

9-3 and an occasional BCS game is step up for ND... but around here they think that accepting a 9-3 record is "settling."

It's like that ugly, broke, epic tool of a guy you know who's inexplicably dating the hot chick... but breaks up with her because there are hotter girls in the world.

Engin77

December 9th, 2009 at 6:23 PM ^

in your analogy, Davie, Willingham and Weis are the "hot chicks" whom ND has dumped? Hmmmmmmmm.

I see Notre Dame as that guy in his late 20s whose grandfather used to own the auto dealership on the edge of town, whose last name is on the local park and the ballfield at the high school. Then the dad, who had several jobs at the dealership before it collapsed, gambled and drank up what money remained after his last three marriages didn't work out. Yeah, the 28 year old guy acts like the family still has prestige, lots of people know him and say "hi", but when you get right down to it, things will never be as good as they were back in 1988.

Steve in PA

December 10th, 2009 at 11:41 AM ^

Actually his father was a ND alum ('65) and lawyer that bought a Chevy dealership in my town. Ran it quite successfully for about 20 years before he "sold" it to his son and retire.

Within a decade the son ran it into the ground and it was gobbled up by another dealer for pennies on the dollar. Other son also went to ND and is a Judge in Kalamazoo.

Blue_Bull_Run

December 9th, 2009 at 7:11 PM ^

Last 8 years:

Ferentz: 42-22 in the Big Ten (.656)

Carr: 50-14 in the Big Ten (.781)

Getting closer, kind of, I guess...

Carr had some rough OOC games, so I'll bet you could get even closer if you factored those in...though I feel like the best measure would be against equal competition.

Jeffro

December 9th, 2009 at 5:49 PM ^

Nothing against Edsall but seriously how many coaches is Notre Dame considering? It might be all media speculation but it seems like an awful lot compared to the Michigan coaching search a few years ago. At this rate they're going to be considering D2 coaches soon.

Irish

December 9th, 2009 at 5:50 PM ^

I don't know, I think it might be nothing more than an attempt to keep the upper hand by ND, to show Kelly that he is not the only option available to them.

Engin77

December 9th, 2009 at 6:29 PM ^

But he has a relatively low profile outside of the Big East. If Edsall is the name ND's using to prod Brian Kelly, then Kelly's in a much better bargaining position than I ever imagined. The candidate list must not be very long, nor impressive.

MGoObes

December 9th, 2009 at 6:18 PM ^

ND was still a, if not THE, premier program in CFB. then they decided they didn't want lou holtz to get the all-time ND wins record and they fired him. haven't been the same since. time for the arrogance to take a back seat if they wanna get back to where they were.