There's a lot of names being thrown out there for a possible replacement for Stoops, but some aren't the best possible choices. Here are some things (in no particular order) that should be considered when choosing a HC.
1. Pedigree - Often, the better coaches come from the better trees. Kirby Smart had been under Saban for so long that he's in a good position to succeed at UGA. He has learned from one of the best. Also, it makes it easier to recruit if you have pedigree.
2. Experience - Sure, this is a no brainer, but be cautious not to be look superficially. Scott Satterfield has done well as a HC at App St, but he's never coached in a power 5 conference. NFL coach "X" may good NFL experience, but does he have collegiate experience?
3. Recruiting - Has an NFL coach ever recruited? Satterfield can recruit 2-3* recruits well, but can he get good enough talent to compete wk in/out in the SEC? What areas to they recruit? Can a California born, California player, California coach, recruit well in the South?
4. Connections - It's not a stretch to say that the SEC has been coaches in general than the Sunbelt. So, imagine if UK selected Satterfield. Could he assemble a SEC caliber staff? What if he lose a staff member in a yr or two, what resources does he have to replace the loss? Someone like Kiffin (who has a name pedigree, worked at USC, UT, Bama) would likely have quite a bit of connections.
5. Development - Can a coach develop players? Take Dantonio at Michigan St. He and his staff aren't all-world recruiters, but my goodness can he develop players.
6. Public relations - Petrino has been a public relations nightmare many times through his career. Someone like Harbaugh is querky, weird, and always in the media......but he's not overly crazy scandilous. Kiffin has had has share of f-ups. Even Leach has too. Every program has to decide what measure of public relations they want to deal with.
7. Fit - I believe the current roster is a 6-7 win roster this yr.....under the right coaching. "On paper" the next coach is going to be left with the best roster UK has had in recent times. The fit is very important. Let's consider Les Miles. Miles has proven to be very stubborn with his offenses. He wants to only run a smashmouth offense and won't accept anything else. The problem is that we don't have a smashmouth roster. The initial fit of Miles to our offensive roster would not be good.....and it may cost us some games initially.
8. Leadership - This is no brainer, but needs some discussion. Kiffin really alienated members of his own staff at USC and UT.....even throwing a few members under the bus a time or two. Can he lead at the head coach level?
9. Coaching prowess - The Sunbelt is different from the SEC. College is different from the NFL. A coordinator position is different from a head coach. This must be considered.
10. Past history - Mark Hudspeth tore it up at North Alabama, but has a losing record at ULL. But not just look at the coach.....look at the program. Central Michigan had Brian Kelly......who left for Cincy.....then to ND. Butch Jones was right behind him......starting at CMU, then Cincy, then on to UT. Right now CMU has John Bonamago....who went 7-6 in his first season and is now 2-0 in his 2nd season after beating ranked Oklahoma St. (clearly the jury still is out on Bonamago's coaching ability, but it is worth watching). Tuberville has won almost everywhere he's been and now is right up the road.
-So, run down through some of the names mentioned recently in various threads. Of course, no prospect is going to meet every criteria completely, but who meets a good number of them?
-What other criteria did I miss?
-Who can we rule out fairly quickly?
1. Pedigree - Often, the better coaches come from the better trees. Kirby Smart had been under Saban for so long that he's in a good position to succeed at UGA. He has learned from one of the best. Also, it makes it easier to recruit if you have pedigree.
2. Experience - Sure, this is a no brainer, but be cautious not to be look superficially. Scott Satterfield has done well as a HC at App St, but he's never coached in a power 5 conference. NFL coach "X" may good NFL experience, but does he have collegiate experience?
3. Recruiting - Has an NFL coach ever recruited? Satterfield can recruit 2-3* recruits well, but can he get good enough talent to compete wk in/out in the SEC? What areas to they recruit? Can a California born, California player, California coach, recruit well in the South?
4. Connections - It's not a stretch to say that the SEC has been coaches in general than the Sunbelt. So, imagine if UK selected Satterfield. Could he assemble a SEC caliber staff? What if he lose a staff member in a yr or two, what resources does he have to replace the loss? Someone like Kiffin (who has a name pedigree, worked at USC, UT, Bama) would likely have quite a bit of connections.
5. Development - Can a coach develop players? Take Dantonio at Michigan St. He and his staff aren't all-world recruiters, but my goodness can he develop players.
6. Public relations - Petrino has been a public relations nightmare many times through his career. Someone like Harbaugh is querky, weird, and always in the media......but he's not overly crazy scandilous. Kiffin has had has share of f-ups. Even Leach has too. Every program has to decide what measure of public relations they want to deal with.
7. Fit - I believe the current roster is a 6-7 win roster this yr.....under the right coaching. "On paper" the next coach is going to be left with the best roster UK has had in recent times. The fit is very important. Let's consider Les Miles. Miles has proven to be very stubborn with his offenses. He wants to only run a smashmouth offense and won't accept anything else. The problem is that we don't have a smashmouth roster. The initial fit of Miles to our offensive roster would not be good.....and it may cost us some games initially.
8. Leadership - This is no brainer, but needs some discussion. Kiffin really alienated members of his own staff at USC and UT.....even throwing a few members under the bus a time or two. Can he lead at the head coach level?
9. Coaching prowess - The Sunbelt is different from the SEC. College is different from the NFL. A coordinator position is different from a head coach. This must be considered.
10. Past history - Mark Hudspeth tore it up at North Alabama, but has a losing record at ULL. But not just look at the coach.....look at the program. Central Michigan had Brian Kelly......who left for Cincy.....then to ND. Butch Jones was right behind him......starting at CMU, then Cincy, then on to UT. Right now CMU has John Bonamago....who went 7-6 in his first season and is now 2-0 in his 2nd season after beating ranked Oklahoma St. (clearly the jury still is out on Bonamago's coaching ability, but it is worth watching). Tuberville has won almost everywhere he's been and now is right up the road.
-So, run down through some of the names mentioned recently in various threads. Of course, no prospect is going to meet every criteria completely, but who meets a good number of them?
-What other criteria did I miss?
-Who can we rule out fairly quickly?
