List of (realistic) coaches to replace Stoops.

[JimBR_rivals319758]

Sarkisian would be a great hire for next season. Lets be patient and allow him to clear his name @ Bama for the remainder of this yr. All the while, Stoops continues to dive bomb and finishes with 3 total wins. At that point a change could be made.
But lets face facts....we are stuck with Stoops regardless of everything until 2018. However, the premature extension may cost Mitch his job.

Our FB program would get him off the wagon quickly...

 

[UK90]

As is typical of Barnhart, he made the idiotic decision to feel the need to act like one of the legit programs in the country and name a "coach in waiting". In his brilliance, he ignored the fact that other coaches in waiting were actually being courted as head coaches at other programs.

FWIW, I remember when the Joker/coach in waiting thing happened, virtually everyone on these boards was fully behind it and thought it was a wonderful idea. As I recall, the prevailing view was how great it was that we were finally gonna have a coach who was true blue UK guy and a born and bred Kentuckian.

It was funny watching how fast many of those same people changed their tune, pretended they'd never said that other stuff, and acted like they knew Joker was a terrible idea all along. It's sure easy for you to call it an "idiotic decision" now, but I'd bet anything you never said that back then. We've got a lot of Captain Hindsights on this board.

 

[The_Godfather_rivals]

FWIW, I remember when the Joker/coach in waiting thing happened, virtually everyone on these boards was fully behind it and thought it was a wonderful idea. As I recall, the prevailing view was how great it was that we were finally gonna have a coach who was true blue UK guy and a born and bred Kentuckian.

It was funny watching how fast many of those same people changed their tune, pretended they'd never said that other stuff, and acted like they knew Joker was a terrible idea all along. It's sure easy for you to call it an "idiotic decision" now, but I'd bet anything you never said that back then. We've got a lot of Captain Hindsights on this board.

I and anyone else with sense had little to no real insight into the need for it to happen. Considering that Brooks had things rolling at the time, it's asinine to have expected UK fans to call it a stupid decision back then because we didn't know any better.

This is especially so when you remember that Joe average fan isn't paid 6-7 figures in order to recognize who might or might not be head coaching material. That is a unique and incredibly important part of being an AD.

Regardless of the utter failure on his part to recognize that Joker wasn't ready to run an SEC program, I would have forgiven him for this mistake if he would have had the stones to fire him after his second season. Nobody with half a brain expected him to survive to year 4, yet MB allowed him to drag the program another full year deeper into the abyss

 

[Bill@ModernThirst]

This isn't true. Not in the slightest. How often do you see a coach go from a school like WKU to a school like Florida? The fact of the matter is that schools that are "superior" to UK are going to have much more attractive/reliable options than Brohm who at the end of the day is still unproven at the P5 level.

A coach like Brohm rarely goes from WKU to Florida. The more logical progression is WKU to UK to Florida. Schools like Florida, LSU, etc are going to have their pick of the litter and much more reliable options than Brohm. They'll be able to choose from a plethora of coaches that have proven they can win at the P5 level. A school that is "superior" to UK would be taking wayyy too big of a risk in hiring a coach from Western Kentucky and it's a risk that they don't have to take when you consider the other options that will be available to them. Just like UK basketball wouldn't hire a promising coach from WKU, these schools that are superior to UK football aren't going to hire a coach from WKU no matter how promising they may appear to be. At the end of the day they're going to have better options to choose from P5 coaches and/or the NFL.

When was the last time a good program hired our coach?
Gus Malzahn
Kirk Ferentz
Steve Addazio
Dave Doran
Darrel Hazell
Sonny Dykes
Mike Macintyre
Gary Pinkel
Dave Clawson

All say Hi. All coach (or recently coached, in Pinkel's case) a P5 program coming from a small conference school.

 

[Shavers48]

f

When was the last time a good program hired our coach?
Gus Malzahn
Kirk Ferentz
Steve Addazio
Dave Doran
Darrel Hazell
Sonny Dykes
Mike Macintyre
Gary Pinkel
Dave Clawson

All say Hi. All coach (or recently coached, in Pinkel's case) a P5 program coming from a small conference school.

florida hired joker

 

[bthaunert]

This isn't true. Not in the slightest. How often do you see a coach go from a school like WKU to a school like Florida? The fact of the matter is that schools that are "superior" to UK are going to have much more attractive/reliable options than Brohm who at the end of the day is still unproven at the P5 level.

A coach like Brohm rarely goes from WKU to Florida. The more logical progression is WKU to UK to Florida. Schools like Florida, LSU, etc are going to have their pick of the litter and much more reliable options than Brohm. They'll be able to choose from a plethora of coaches that have proven they can win at the P5 level. A school that is "superior" to UK would be taking wayyy too big of a risk in hiring a coach from Western Kentucky and it's a risk that they don't have to take when you consider the other options that will be available to them. Just like UK basketball wouldn't hire a promising coach from WKU, these schools that are superior to UK football aren't going to hire a coach from WKU no matter how promising they may appear to be. At the end of the day they're going to have better options to choose from P5 coaches and/or the NFL.

It does happen, but it's not too often as you say. There are plenty of examples of guys who have gone from the MAC, Sun Belt, etc. to a school in the Mountain West, Conference USA, etc.and then on to a big time job. The most common are guys like Urban Meyer (Bowling Green - Utah - Florida), Brian Kelly (GVSU - Central Michigan - Cincinnati - Notre Dame) and Butch Jones (Central Michigan - Cincinnati - Tennessee). But there are guys like Hugh Freeze (Arkansas State - Ole Miss), Kevin Sumlin (Houston - Texas A&M) and Al Golden (Temple - Miami) who went from smaller conferences straight to a legitimate program. You will also see a guy as a Coordinator at a big school, gets a job at a smaller school and then returns as the head coach (Gus Malzhan for example).

 

[Bill@ModernThirst]

f
florida hired joker

Not as a head coach.

 

[bthaunert]

When was the last time a good program hired our coach?
Gus Malzahn
Kirk Ferentz
Steve Addazio
Dave Doran
Darrel Hazell
Sonny Dykes
Mike Macintyre
Gary Pinkel
Dave Clawson

All say Hi. All coach (or recently coached, in Pinkel's case) a P5 program coming from a small conference school.

Some of these are reaches.

Malzahn was a the OC on their natioanl Championship team, left for a year to Arkansas State and came right back.
Kirk Farentz was in the NFL for 5 years right before he took over at Iowa.
Steve Addazio is the head coach at BC...a bottom feeder in Power 5 football
Darrel Hazell went to Purdue...a bottom feeder in Power 5 football
Sonny Dykes went to Cal...decent job, but hardly a top of the line Power 5 job.
Mike MacIntyre went to Colorado....a bottom feeder in Power 5 football
Gary Pinkel went to Mizzou...a bottom feeder at the time (15 out of 17 seasons before he arrived were losing seasons)
Dave Clawson went to Wake Forest...a bottom feeder in Power 5 football

The post you were replying to was talking about a head coach from a small conference going to a school like Florida, or a school far superior to UK. A guy like Brohm is much more likely to end up at a lesser tier Power 5 school like UK than a school like Florida.

 

[louisvillechip]

I've never thought brohm would be an option. the name brohm is synonymous with ul football. can't see him at uk.
I read on another site that he already turned down bama oc job -- don't know if that's true.

Brohm turned down the Bama OC job when he was the OC at UofL under Krapthorpe.

 

[Shavers48]

Not as a head coach.

really???

 

[ADcat]

How about Mike Sherman? A lot worse choices out there. In his early 60's like Coach Brooks was when he was hired. Lots of experience both in the NFL and college, including a 4 year run at A&M. He may very well have something left to prove to those that ousted him prematurely at College Station.

 

[jb1010]

Whoever we go after next (whenever that is) ... It needs to be someone with head coaching experience. These coordinator/assistants are not working.

 

[Ukbrassowtipin]

Houston coach is the only option...thats the short and long list

I've not read all 6 pages so I'm assuming someone has already replied. What upgrade does the Houston coach have coming to UK? "Yeah hey guys I'm coaching at a school that won the peach bowl last year and is ranked 6th in the country...think I'll leave and go to a school that's never won their division" Houston is a better job than UK. If anything he goes to a school that is an actual football elite, not a step down.

That would be like Clemson thinking they would hire Calipari away from Memphis over a big school like UK because they play in the ACC. Not to mention Memphis is a better school in that sport than Clemson.

 

[kybballcrazy_rivals]

I love this guy. Hire him the second Stoops is canned.

Agree 100 hundred percent..

 

[cat_in_the_hat]

I and anyone else with sense had little to no real insight into the need for it to happen. Considering that Brooks had things rolling at the time, it's asinine to have expected UK fans to call it a stupid decision back then because we didn't know any better.

This is especially so when you remember that Joe average fan isn't paid 6-7 figures in order to recognize who might or might not be head coaching material. That is a unique and incredibly important part of being an AD.

Regardless of the utter failure on his part to recognize that Joker wasn't ready to run an SEC program, I would have forgiven him for this mistake if he would have had the stones to fire him after his second season. Nobody with half a brain expected him to survive to year 4, yet MB allowed him to drag the program another full year deeper into the abyss

So basically what you are saying is that fan opinion on who should be the coach and who shouldn't are pretty much worthless drivel because they have no real insight into the situation and these types of decisions are better left to people who are paid to make them. I think I agree with you..

 

[WonderBraa]

1.) LOL @ anyone who thinks Tom Herman would come here. The man is going to be the HC at a top 15 program after this season, especially after their huge win over Oklahoma and the prospect that they could conceivably go 12-0 this year now that they've beaten OU and play UL in their home arena.

2.) Now I've been a huge Mark Stoops supporter since he was announced as the new hire, but it has taken until now for me to realize that it is going to take someone else to right this ship. For me, the only choice of proven head coaches that would at least listen to Mitch would be Mike Leach. I wanted Leach over Joker back when Coach Brooks retired. Leach has proven that he can win in a power conference at a middle-of-the-pack school with less than top tier talent. Leach is from the west coast, but has repeatedly stated how much he loved living in Lexington and his desire to return. The stars are aligning for Leach's return to UK. He wasn't a realistic option for UK back in 2013 because he was coming off his first (and worst) season at Washington State and Mitch isn't going to try and pluck a first year coach away from any program, but he is at the end of a 5 year rollover contract at the end of this season and is in prime position for a program change.

I think the addition of Coach Leach would bring back a lot of the fans who have lost faith in the program. He was 47-33 in the Big 12 and is currently 13-23 in the Pac-12. So he is 60-56 for his career at two middle/lower-tier power 5 schools. He's 6-5 in bowl games (he did not coach TTU in their 2009 Alamo Bowl win over Michigan State, but it was his team with his philosophy and he would've won that game regardless so he technically should be 7-5). He has a career 105-74 record at two power conference schools. He's orchestrated some huge wins in his career going back to UK's win over #20 Alabama in 1997. He helped develop Tim Couch (still the most famous former football Wildcat imo, just ahead of Randall Cobb) into a #1 NFL Draft Pick. The man has a history of success that spans 3 different decades and the man would at least listen to UK.

3.) For everyone (Matt Jones included) who think that Coach Stoops couldn't be fired after this season because of the $12 million buyout are fooling themselves. If Coach Stoops team stinks it up this year and goes 3-9 or 4-8 then I can virtually guarantee that the school will weigh its options because of the potential loss of dollars involved with a fan base jumping ship and refusing to buy tickets or attend games. The same thing happened at the end of Jokers tenure. The school has put far too much money into the program and facilities upgrades for the team to lose the faith of the fan base.

Bottom line is despite what people like to say, Rich Brooks has dispelled the myth that you can't win at UK, proving that you can win here consistently. It's not Coach Stoops fault though. He didn't know what he was getting himself into here. He had a great plan of attack, but the follow through on that plan has lacked. He didn't know how truly hard it was going to be to come into the program and try to recruit against schools like Alabama, Florida, Auburn, Tennessee, Georgia, etc., etc., etc. He didn't know how difficult it was going to be to come in and coach against teams who were stacked at ever position and had 2nd and 3rd stringers who could compete with our 1st stringers. What we need is a coach who has been in the trenches already and knows how to win with less. Mike Leach is that man. He won 66% of his games at Texas Tech winning huge games over the likes of Oklahoma, Texas, Clemson, Baylor, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, California, Nebraska, and Kansas State. Then he goes to Washington State where he scores big wins against USC, California, Washington, Arizona, Oregon, and Miami U. Yes he has had his fair share of down games, but he has had enough upset wins over historically powerful programs to quell that for me, plus he's been to a bowl game in 11 of his 14 years as a HC (12 if you count the 2009 TTU Alamo bowl). The man knows how to win - period, and if you don't think that UK should be considered on the same tier as Texas Tech or Washington State then you're crazy.

At this point in the programs history, I do not think we can risk another Coordinator hire. We are at a point where we've become a laughing stock again and it has become increasingly harder and harder to come into work on Mondays after these terrible games and listen to the taunts of the UL fans each and every week. We as fans have invested farr too much time, money, and energy intot his program to be where we are at right now.

I agree with this entire post

 

[quest4#9]

Les Miles, Greg Schiano or Steve Spurrier

 

[Eurocat]

Greg Schiano

Butch Davis

Mario Cristobal

Willie Fritz

 

[BlueRaider22]

I think you raid a group of 5 team. Get someone who already has HC experience and done well.

Brown at Troy
Brohm at WKU....if hes still there in another yr
Holliday at Marshall
Bonemago at CMU....have to watch though since he's only been there a yr. though CMU has been a pipeline for good HCs lately.

 

[The_Godfather_rivals]

So basically what you are saying is that fan opinion on who should be the coach and who shouldn't are pretty much worthless drivel because they have no real insight into the situation and these types of decisions are better left to people who are paid to make them. I think I agree with you..

Nope.

It doesn't take any talent to recognize a failure. Just because I've never directed a movie doesn't mean I can't recognize a terrible movie.

It means that it takes a special talent to be able to recognize who can be a competent coach. That is a talent that warrants a big salary. MB has failed to provide any evidence that tells us that he is capable of recognizing this despite of his mandate as an AD to do so.

 

[WonderBraa]

Nope.

It doesn't take any talent to recognize a failure. Just because I've never directed a movie doesn't mean I can't recognize a terrible movie.

It means that it takes a special talent to be able to recognize who can be a competent coach. That is a talent that warrants a big salary. MB has failed to provide any evidence that tells us that he is capable of recognizing this despite of his mandate as an AD to do so.

I get what you're saying. And you're right. MB is paid to make those decisions. And I think most of us weren't too upset when stoops was hired. It's MB's job to see what we can't. We don't get to interview the coaches, we don't get to see resumés, and we don't get to listen to their plan to get us turned around. MB gets everything and it's up to him to make the right choice. He's made the wrong choice back to back times and it's set us back about 8 years.

 

[The_Godfather_rivals]

I get what you're saying. And you're right. MB is paid to make those decisions. And I think most of us weren't too upset when stoops was hired. It's MB's job to see what we can't. We don't get to interview the coaches, we don't get to see resumés, and we don't get to listen to their plan to get us turned around. MB gets everything and it's up to him to make the right choice. He's made the wrong choice back to back times and it's set us back about 8 years.

Exactly.

There's a reason why I don't get overly caught up in who gets hired and I'll always give a new coach a chance. I nor any common fan have the expertise to recognize the qualities needed in order to be a successful head coach at UK (unless UK hits a home run and can get someone who has already proven this)

There are professionals who are asked to have this expertise and the good ones separate themselves from the Barnharts by not booting this job responsibility as often as he has.

 

[rabidcatfan]

So, why is he 0-2 at WSU this year and has lost his last two vs lower division teams?

His season isn't over yet. His team lost by 3pts back-to-back to Eastern Washington and Boise State. Unlike Stoops, Leach has the chance to get that team to 8 or 9 wins.
His team was 9-4 last year and should win at least 6 this year.

 

[Beatle Bum]

His season isn't over yet. His team lost by 3pts back-to-back to Eastern Washington and Boise State. Unlike Stoops, Leach has the chance to get that team to 8 or 9 wins.
His team was 9-4 last year and should win at least 6 this year.

Looking at his schedule, are you predicting an 8 win season for WSU?

 

[doogie503]

List who you think they are and why.

I think they have to be an offensive coach, and again as I've said a billion times someone who calls his own plays (so we don't have to replace our OC every successful season.

1. Mike Leach. Not the sexiest hire, but imo the best one we could make considering his offensive prowess, ability to do more with less and his coaching experience. And yes.... I realize he's 0-2 this year. I will counter your argument by saying if you don't think Leach is a MASSIVE upgrade to Stoops your an idiot.

2. Dana Holgorsen. Another air raid guru. He's had a good run at WVU but apparently has been looking to leave since they joined the big 12. Too hard to lure texas kids across the country to wv, so you end up playing with Carolina and Virginia hs talent against Texas hs talent....not good. Still he's done extremely well considering all the moving parts he's had to deal with imo.

3. Dino Babers. Former Briles assist and has done extremely well everywhere he's been (eastern ill, bowling green and now Syracuse) his old QB at Eastern Ill just beat the Cardinals tonight and his other former assist Sterlin Gilbert is now tearing it up at texas as OC.

4. Phillip Montgomery. Baylors playcaller from 08-14. In his second year as HC at Tulsa. Nuff said.

The only way Holgorsen would leave WVU football for UK football is if we fire him, which is very possible if we don't win 9 games or more this year. If that happens, he's all yours.

And our roster is loaded with kids from FL, OH, MD, PA, GA... not so much VA or Carolinas. We barely even try to recruit Texas.

 

[cat_in_the_hat]

Nope.

It doesn't take any talent to recognize a failure. Just because I've never directed a movie doesn't mean I can't recognize a terrible movie.

It means that it takes a special talent to be able to recognize who can be a competent coach. That is a talent that warrants a big salary. MB has failed to provide any evidence that tells us that he is capable of recognizing this despite of his mandate as an AD to do so.

Your reply doesn't address what you said and implied about a fans ability to make those judgements. I said nothing about our AD and his ability to make those decisions. Your comments certainly implied, if not out right stated, that fans have no clue about those decisions. I agree that they don't, and yet many believe they would have us winning in no time if they hired the coaches.

 

[Crootin]

http://www.campusrush.com/college-f...el-herman-briles-fedora-rhule-1993202814.html

 

[Robcatt24]

If it's not one of the big names then I would take a real hard look at Georgia Southerns Head coach and run option football here. Control the clock, a system that makes up for undersized linemen, and nobody else in the SEC runs it. GSU ran for over 300yds against 2011 champs Alabama.

It can work here with the type of talent we consistently get. We can be the Georgia Tech of the SEC. 7-8 win team with the occasional 9-10 win season.

 

[Bill@ModernThirst]

Some of these are reaches.

Malzahn was a the OC on their natioanl Championship team, left for a year to Arkansas State and came right back.
Kirk Farentz was in the NFL for 5 years right before he took over at Iowa.
Steve Addazio is the head coach at BC...a bottom feeder in Power 5 football
Darrel Hazell went to Purdue...a bottom feeder in Power 5 football
Sonny Dykes went to Cal...decent job, but hardly a top of the line Power 5 job.
Mike MacIntyre went to Colorado....a bottom feeder in Power 5 football
Gary Pinkel went to Mizzou...a bottom feeder at the time (15 out of 17 seasons before he arrived were losing seasons)
Dave Clawson went to Wake Forest...a bottom feeder in Power 5 football

The post you were replying to was talking about a head coach from a small conference going to a school like Florida, or a school far superior to UK. A guy like Brohm is much more likely to end up at a lesser tier Power 5 school like UK than a school like Florida.

The post I was replying to was a reply to my earlier post saying Brohm would have more attractive P5 offers than us) and said things like:
the more logical progression is WKU to UK to Florida.

May be tough to swallow, but we are a bottom feeder.

 

[Catswin9]

Houston coach is the only option...thats the short and long list

I agree, he would be a great option, but he is waiting for a much bigger job than UK.

 

[poonfan2]

We should pray Neal Brown has a great year or two and bring him home.

 

[kentucky_wildcat_#1]

If we hired Brohm and he turned our football program into a winner, i don't think the dude would leave the first time the UL job was offered. Turning Kentucky football into a winner is something that has not been done in a very long time. If you're the coach to do this, you will have friggin statues built of you. If Brohm is here and winning football games, he's a legend in Kentucky and can name his salary. While it's true the dude is a UL football fan, money and turning the program around might just keep the man coaching in lexington, ky. I don't think he leaves Kentucky for any coaching job since the dude is from Kentucky and knows Kentucky. I still want to give Stoops another year at Kentucky, but if the job does open up, i wouldn't be so against a guy like Brohm to take over and start winning some games on the field. Brohm knows football and just might have what it takes to turn this trainwreck into something more enjoyable to watch.

 

[sluggercatfan]

The post I was replying to was a reply to my earlier post saying Brohm would have more attractive P5 offers than us) and said things like:
the more logical progression is WKU to UK to Florida.

May
be tough to swallow, but we are a bottom feeder.

The post I was replying to was a reply to my earlier post saying Brohm would have more attractive P5 offers than us) and said things like:
the more logical progression is WKU to UK to Florida.

May be tough to swallow, but we are a bottom feeder.

We don't have to be anymore!!! Except for a coaching staff that is competent"THE University of Kentucky" has everything in place to no longer have to carry that mantle!!! All it takes is some leadership from the administration starting with the President himself...please let's not waste all the time, money and fan support this university has in going forward. WE can do this.

 

[Eurocat]

Mike Singletary.

 

[buckkiller]

GOOD NIGHT!

 

[ulismyman]

How profound

 

[Free_Salato_Blue]

Not seen anyone mention Willie Taggart.
WKU was a 0-12 team when he took it over, could Brohm turned them around in 3 years?
South Florida was a 3 win team now they are 3-0 with a win over Syracuse.
They play a sure to be pissed off Seminoles this weekend.

 

[How Blue Can You Get?]

Not happening so stop dreaming that Tom Herman would be our next coach.

Pretty sad that the coach of Houston is unatainable at an SEC school. Sorta says how bad barnhart has screwed rhis whole thing up!

 

[ukalum1988]

Mike Singletary.

Great player but not so great a coach IMO. Pass.

 

[dreadpirate_rivals241225]

Should 'of'?