Updated best hires in the off-season so far?
What do you all think?
My top 5 would be:
1. Chad Morris SMU
2. Will Muschamp Auburn
3. Pat Narduzzi Pitt
4. Gary Andersen Oregon State
5. David Beaty Kansas
Paul Chryst seems very Hokish to me for Wisconsin, so I left him off for now. I really believe Nebraska could have done better than Riley. Chad Morris saved Dabo's career at Clemson and is young enough to resurrect SMU football at the perfect time if the B12 is looking to expand again. Muschamp's defense with that Auburn offense? Yeah, that sounds terrifying. Narduzzi should help that Pitt defense out big time in the weaker ACC Coastal division. Oregon State getting Andersen is a coup, and Beaty did work with wide receivers at A&M. I'm skeptical of McElwain to Florida b/c I believe a lot of his success at CSU this year was predicated on transfers like Dee Hart. Before them he's meh not to mention the $5 million eventual buy-out.
Edit: Completely forgot about Herman at Houston. I would put him at 3 with Narduzzi b/c you don't know whether it's all him or Meyer at OSU like how you don't know whether it's Narduzzi or Dantonio at MSU.
Edit 2: Forgot about Leipold also, but he's going to Buffalo from a D3 team so there he's got work to do to get on the radar of P5 teams. Pelini at YSU just seems like a stop gap and Stitt at Montana parallels Leipold imo except from a D2 school.
December 25th, 2014 at 6:26 AM ^
Harbaugh
December 25th, 2014 at 6:31 AM ^
Jim to be exact.
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December 25th, 2014 at 6:34 AM ^
Obviously Harbaugh would be the #1 hire of the off-season if it happens. Hence the "so far." Trying to at least have 1 non-Harbaugh thread on MGoBlog without people acting like:
December 25th, 2014 at 6:37 AM ^
Oregon State getting Gary Andersen was so shocking, I thought it was an Onion headline I didn't understand.
The others didn't carry the same 'geek with prom queen' gut-reaction.
Special mention need be given to Chad Morris, though SMU is forever tarnished by the gruesome and shameful legacy of Craig James.
December 25th, 2014 at 6:41 AM ^
#CJK5H never forget, remember the five.
December 25th, 2014 at 8:55 AM ^
Allegedly...
December 25th, 2014 at 11:09 AM ^
Tom Herman at Houston, Morris at SMU, Andersen at Oregon St, Narduzzi at Pitt and Muschamp as DC for Auburn
But Harbaugh and four of his assistants will comprise this list in less than a week. ;) *knock on wood*
December 25th, 2014 at 7:12 AM ^
1) Harbaugh
2) Jim Harbaugh
3) Jim MF HARBAUGH
4) Jimmy come home Harbaugh
5) Pelini to YSU where he can conspire with Sith Lord Tressel
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December 25th, 2014 at 7:14 AM ^
I agree with Herman at 3 but, not to undercut your list, I think Brian has shown Herman to be more as advertised than Narduzzi (Meyer's offense tanked under Addazio). Whether Herman's acumen in designing and running an offense translates to success as a head coach, particularly without Ohio State's resources and talent, remains to be seen.
Also, the Chryst is Hoke suggestion is apt in that the comparison feels right but I really hope Im wrong. I would like to see a much stronger/deeper conference.
December 25th, 2014 at 7:39 AM ^
I thought Herman hire was great one for Houston. For some reason I am not sold on idea that Narduzzi will be successfulas HC but time will tell.
December 25th, 2014 at 7:38 AM ^
I am curious to see how Lance Leopold will do. Dude seems like a winner.
December 25th, 2014 at 7:41 AM ^
At least in my opinion, if we're going to measure this in terms of state of program versus upside of potential hire, then I think I might give a slight edge to Chad Morris at SMU. You have there the potential to take an offense that would have to go for it on 4th downs because it was either turn it over on downs or face the prospect of using your special teams, an offense that would need to improve to be derelict (I know, we're familiar...) and giving them a guy with a great scheme that could, in a year or two, make SMU a much better team on paper. That's best case scenario perhaps, but if Morris can successfully install his offense, SMU can do much better than 1-11.
December 25th, 2014 at 7:44 AM ^
Merry Christmas everyone
My top 5
1. Muschamp to Auburn. AU now has a top 5 offensive and defensive mind in CFB
2. Chad Morris to SMU
OP did a nice job explaining this one
3. Herman to UH
I think he can recruit there, they're set up to succeed offensively, and his offense is evil
4. Pelini to YSU
Bo Pelini is not a bad coach at all. He should make YSU a power in whatever conference they're in in no time
5. Bob Stitt to Montana
Some may think that none of us would ever have heard of Bob Stitt if it weren't for Brian. He's been featured on Fox Sports 1, shouted out on national TV... This man knows how to coach offense at any level.
(6 Narduzzi, thanks pitt)
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December 25th, 2014 at 7:56 AM ^
-- see post above
December 25th, 2014 at 7:52 AM ^
1. RESERVED FOR JIM HARBAUGH
2. Chad Morris--SMU
3. Tom Narduzzi-Pittsburgh
4. Gary Andersen-Oregon St.
5. Mike Riley-Nebraska
My list only includes Head Coaching hires. I was surprised Mike Riley is on my list too. I just think that he's a really good coach who has never had an opportunity quite this good before.
December 25th, 2014 at 7:55 AM ^
Bo Pelini Youngstown State
December 25th, 2014 at 8:14 AM ^
Wow, yeah that's an unbelievable hire for a program of that size. The guy was literally in consideration for programs like Wisconsin before YSU.
December 25th, 2014 at 8:25 AM ^
Hopefully Jim Harbaugh will be number 1!
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December 25th, 2014 at 8:25 AM ^
Merry Christmas
December 25th, 2014 at 8:26 AM ^
Surprised nobody mentioned McElwain to UF. The guy won 2 NCs with 2 different 1st time starters at QB and I remember that offense absolutely crushing the vaunted UF defense in the SEC Championship.
December 25th, 2014 at 8:30 AM ^
I thought of McElwain but forgot to write in why I didn't put him on there. Thanks for remind me!
December 25th, 2014 at 8:40 AM ^
But his record at CSU is just OK until he got some transfers from big time programs so his talent was high above the normal for his league, I believe.
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December 25th, 2014 at 8:45 AM ^
But his track record as a HC is still TBD. He had a lot of talent for CSU. IIRC they had Dee Hart plus a pretty solid QB & WR. I'm a bit skeptical he'll do well at Florida
December 25th, 2014 at 4:07 PM ^
I think McElwain is probably a fine coach, but remember this is Florida we are talking about. As one of the top 15 coaching jobs in the country, you expect them to be in play for a decent coach every time. YSU grabbing a former 10 win per year coach from a Big Ten power is a much bigger "get" than Florida grabbing someone like McElwain from CSU.
December 25th, 2014 at 5:19 PM ^
It's Nick Saban's Alabama, they didn't really need a QB to win those championships. Just run it up the middle for 5 yards with that NFL line and those NFL RBs every play and don't let them score with your #1 ranked defense.
December 25th, 2014 at 8:52 AM ^
hired Pelini, thats a major upgrade.
December 25th, 2014 at 9:05 AM ^
In other words, I don't think Herman to a big-time program would be the same as hiring him at Houston given his lack of HC experience.
1. Herman -- Houston -- Perfect match for the 3 years he'll be there
2. Pelini -- Youngstwon State -- Talking about outkicking your coverage
3. Andersen -- Oregon State -- 2nd year in a row that a NW team upgrades
4. Morris -- SMU -- Not as high on him as others
5. Muschamp -- Auburn (D-Coord)
McElwain, Chryst, meh. Narduzzi, maybe. Kind of a large step given no HC experience. Bobo, I dunno, I suppose.
December 25th, 2014 at 9:39 AM ^
Another good hire is Tulsa hiring Phillip Montgomery, the OC for Baylor. He's the one who has been calling the plays, not Briles. Knows Texas very well and has good talent base in Oklahoma High School football.
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December 25th, 2014 at 9:51 AM ^
Yes that 1 was overlooked - we'll know better in a few years who among Herman, Montgomery, Narduzzi, Morris was the right hire by what "next step" job they get offered in 3 years. The are all unknown quantities as HCs. Of those 4 only Morris did NOT come from the side of the ball their HC is known as being a specialist for. (Dabo's record before Morris arrived was mediocre)
December 25th, 2014 at 11:39 AM ^
This is what I was going to say. Tulsa, much like Houston, is a great program for an up-and-comer to prove himself. I think Montgomery will be able to win a lot of games and move on to a power 5 program in 3 years.
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December 25th, 2014 at 9:47 AM ^
In terms of value relative to position i.e. "overqualifed or supremely qualified for that level of position/program" 3 clear standouts
- Bo to YSU - a very succesful Big 10 coach to DII
- Muschamp to Auburn DC - a very successful DC that could have gone anywhere
- Andersen to OSU - a very successful Big 10 coach in 1 of the top 5 programs in that conf goes to one of the bottom 3 programs in the Pac 12
Everyone else is a guess - it is like rating the NFL draft the day after it happens. Muschamp looked like a home run hire 4 years ago as HC while Andersen elicited a big yawn 2 years ago.
I think Chryst is being undervalued at Pitt a bit. His offense is loaded and young - they have a 250 lb RB who is a SO who just ut up 1600 yards. Can you name the last RB who had 1600 yards? He has a 5 star WR who put up 1000 yards... as a SO. I don't know that we've had a SO WR ever put up 1000 yards. The QB is also a SO. He did his job on the side of the ball he is an expert. Fits like a glove for Wisconsin especially since Aranda is remaining as DC there. I know that defense got blown to bits vs OSU but Wiscy had to replace 8 defenders to graduation and doesnt get elite athletes like UM or OSU.
December 25th, 2014 at 10:10 AM ^
YSU isn't DII. It's FCS...DI. Huge difference. Colorado Mines is DII.
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December 25th, 2014 at 1:09 PM ^
oops, thanks - FCS. Thanks for the correction.
December 25th, 2014 at 9:48 AM ^
Is Narduzzi coaching the bowl game? I saw something about a press conference on Friday.
December 25th, 2014 at 9:56 AM ^
Oregon St was in a tough spot, suddenly losing their coach, and snagged arguably the best of the proven HCs to date.
Morris and Herman also look like really good gets. Narduzzi would be a good gamble for a mid-major. For Pitt, I don't know, maybe a bit of a reach.
Wisconsin did as well as they could have. Florida and especially Nebraska surprised me, apparently valuing speed in filling the job highly.
No one has hired Schiano, so none of the moves smack of desperation. That's not a jab at him. He was immediately available and plausible for some places. We know he's not holding out for our job.
December 25th, 2014 at 9:56 AM ^
I think you are wrong about Chryst. He is the original architect of the Wisconsin offense that has been consistently churning out eye popping rushing numbers for years. He's a proven commodity in Madison and that's why Alvarez named him almost immediately.
December 25th, 2014 at 10:13 AM ^
Auburn is certainly swinging for the fences but I'll be surprised if their defense will be as good as we've seen recently from Muschamp. Any time an offense is that spread-oriented, the defense seems to suffer.
December 25th, 2014 at 5:36 PM ^
That's a myth. Oregon and Baylor had top 10 defenses last year.
December 25th, 2014 at 10:27 AM ^
It seems universities or at least AD's are starting to wise up about not hiring the hot coaches of the year. To say Dan Mullen would not be hired by any of the big name openings is a big surprise. Most hires seem to have been done with either due dilegence being paid or with economics in mind. The only questionable one was McElwain due to the very large buyout. that said my list...
1. Harbaugh, even though not hired yet publicly I place him #1 due to impact
2. Anderson, no one saw that coming...at....all
3. Herman, I think this was a great hire by Houston enjoy him while you can
4. Morris, I personally think this was a good hire and he's back to his roots in Texas
5. Chryst, for me its between him and Narduzzi, due to talent level I think Chryst will have quicker impact than Narduzzi as it'll likely take him 3-4 years to get that defense up to snuff
December 25th, 2014 at 10:50 AM ^
I think it's because you have a better chance of having a HR hire by hiring up and coming coordinator who is hungry to be the HC
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December 25th, 2014 at 10:48 AM ^
I haven't really been enthralled with most of the hires thusfar.
December 25th, 2014 at 10:50 AM ^
I know this hire isn't nearly as flashy and prestigious as all of the names above, but I give UNLV a lot of credit for hiring who they believe to be one of the best high school football coaches in the nation. He went something like 85-5 in his past 8 years. It will be interesting how it pans out. I think it was only the 5th or 6th time this has happened where a D1 school hired a high school coach.
GO BLUE! Get Harbaugh!!
December 25th, 2014 at 11:10 AM ^
UNLV will be our 3rd game in 2015. Let's hope Tony Sanchez is still figuring out the college game at that point. Otherwise, wish him the best of luck for the rest of UNLV's schedule.
December 25th, 2014 at 11:10 AM ^
Wait UNLV pulled a Notre Dame and hired a high school coach?
Well damn.
December 25th, 2014 at 11:05 AM ^
I'll roll with McElwain on this one. I mean who really cares if the guy had transfer players on his team or not. They still have to produce results on the field and all were unproven commodities before coming to Fort Collins. I'll put a large chunk of their success on McElwain and assistants. Although Dee Hart was one of the top RBs in high school as UM fans know, he was pretty much buried on the depth chart at Alabama with injuries and 5*s in front of him. McElwain saw the talent, probably recruited him the first time around and gave the kid a chance to play off the national stage in the non-Power 5 MWC. I think their QB and WR also broke records for CSU.
They also got their asses kicked 45-10 by Utah right after he left this bowl season. I have to think that would have been closer if he stayed. He's just not a big name coach yet so the "wow" factor, especially for a school like Florida, is harder to attain.
December 25th, 2014 at 11:18 AM ^
As a Michigan fan...
1. Pat Narduzzi to Pitt (don't have to deal with anymore.)
2. Tom Herman to Houston (See Above)
3. Gary Andersen to Oregon St. (Again Above)
4. Mike Riley to Nebraska (Self explanatory)
5. Will Muschamp to Auburn (Set's up DJ to follow Jim to AA)
December 25th, 2014 at 11:28 AM ^
List without maize colored glasses on...
1. Will Muschamp (Locks Auburn into the top of SEC with Bama. Creating an annual shot at the playoff.)
2. Tom Herman (My favorite non Harbaugh candidate for UofM job.)
3. Pat Narduzzi (Respect born of hate, anger and frustration over the past 5 seasons.)
4. Gary Andersen (Not super confident about including him, because maybe it's just the Wisconsin program and culture.)
5. Bo Pellini (Undervalued, should succeed and get another FBS job sooner rather than later.)
December 25th, 2014 at 12:15 PM ^
I'm not really sure about Chad Morris. Could be a really great hire, but I was never sold on his offenses. Seemed really inconsistent a lot.
I think McElwain will be a solid hire. Not a game changer, but he'll challenge for divisional titles and he's got a lot to sell recruits on with some of those Alabama offenses a few years ago.
People seem to be huge on Riley for Nebraska. I don't get it. He was average at best at Oregon State. Maybe he'll do better with access to better resources at Nebraska, but I doubt he'll be challenging for conference titles anytime soon.
Most hires out there are solid ones, but no slam dunk, home run hires. That could change by next Tuesday, however.
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December 25th, 2014 at 12:16 PM ^
Don't see how Herman is such a better hire, Morris is a stud too. Guess they'll play it out every year now.