Mike Bohn knows what he wants in the next USC head coach
As for what he's looking for in this search, Bohn said, "Leadership, high integrity, character, the ability to connect with young men."
Mike Bohn knows what he wants in the next USC head coach
- Thread starter ErikMcKinney
- Start date
It’s going to be interesting. But everyone needs to fasten there seatbelts. USC is going to get a lot of current coaches some nice extensions lol.
“No question, it’s leadership, high integrity, character, the ability to connect with young men,” Bohn said. “As you all know, our vision is to be the most student-athlete-centered program in the country. So we want somebody that understands the [connection] with young men that are part of this program. And the ability to recruit and bring high-quality character people to USC. And again, to pursue championships.”
“There’s no replacement for head coach experience,” Bohn said. “But again, I think it’s about leadership, character, integrity, fit, and a fit in somebody that embraces the high expectations here to compete for national championships. That’s something that we want them to really talk openly and proudly about.”
Thanks Erik, timely article and can't say I disagree with Bohn's criteria for USC's next head coach. Good luck to Bohn, Sonsa and the entire Athletics staff, USC is counting on you!
“There’s no replacement for head coach experience,” Bohn said. “But again, I think it’s about leadership, character, integrity, fit, and a fit in somebody that embraces the high expectations here to compete for national championships. That’s something that we want them to really talk openly and proudly about.”
Thanks Erik, timely article and can't say I disagree with Bohn's criteria for USC's next head coach. Good luck to Bohn, Sonsa and the entire Athletics staff, USC is counting on you!
this national search etc is smokescreen he has already talked to agents etc and has a short list of 3
So it sounds like it will be a rather short list. Why form a search committee then? Why hire a firm for millions to recruit another Sark?
As for Urban renewal, here is what I read between the lines from Bohn's criteria;
high expectations / national championships - obviously check!
leadership, check
fit, and understands / supports student athletes - probably OK
character, perhaps - probably OK
integrity, oops
So, since he made specific mention of that it offers a fig leaf for not even talking to Urban.
Probability meter just went significantly below the 50% mark, but if the trade is between championships and integrity it could come back to 50/50 if they can find enough platitudes to explain why they don't think any of the Me2 stuff was Urban's fault. Then again, this is just urinating in the wind if the BoT is micromanaging the budget.
As for Urban renewal, here is what I read between the lines from Bohn's criteria;
high expectations / national championships - obviously check!
leadership, check
fit, and understands / supports student athletes - probably OK
character, perhaps - probably OK
integrity, oops
So, since he made specific mention of that it offers a fig leaf for not even talking to Urban.
Probability meter just went significantly below the 50% mark, but if the trade is between championships and integrity it could come back to 50/50 if they can find enough platitudes to explain why they don't think any of the Me2 stuff was Urban's fault. Then again, this is just urinating in the wind if the BoT is micromanaging the budget.
Whoa...okay. The usual suspects or a coach no one is mentioning? Care to drop any hints
Bohn has to take his time and be sure when he makes the decision.
But he will not do it alone as he has advisors.
It is better to make no decision than a bad decision.
It is not an easy job
But he will not do it alone as he has advisors.
It is better to make no decision than a bad decision.
It is not an easy job
I'm nearly there with you. I'd have a "check" next to fit, and understands/supports student athletes (he'll back his players until they reflect poorly on him), and an "oops" on character as well as integrity. At the end of the day, I'm not convinced Urban makes the cut. He was basically signaling his interest in the job when he was doing the Fox shows and SC passed. I just don't think the admin is going there.
Pretty simple here. NONE of you guys know what he is going to do. What his potential list is, how many candidates he is considering, who he has or hasn't called or will call. Stop with your speculations, because you have no freakin clue. For all the sheet you guys have thrown his way, I think he's done a pretty damn good job upgrading in the spots we needed. I trust him and his crew to take their time, follow their plan, and get us the right guy. FIGHT ON
Mike Bohn will be tied to this decision. If he makes the wrong call it could cost him his job. Remember how the fans and media went after Pat Haden and Lynn Swann for the Helton hire and extension?
His statement on the next coaching hire scares me. He says experience is important but implied it is not mandatory? You would think with 3 straight misses on non experience hires and 3 straight mid or early season firings he would say experience is mandatory. If he goes with a learning on the job guy and the guy has ups and downs for several years the fan base and media are going to roast him. Especially with all that history right in front of him. Watching Jimmy Lake implode in Washington. The Willie Taggert fiasco. Dave Aranda at Baylor. I hope he’s smarter than that. He can’t make a decision based on the results of this weak schedule. Todd Orlando could win 9 games over the next few weeks.
His statement on the next coaching hire scares me. He says experience is important but implied it is not mandatory? You would think with 3 straight misses on non experience hires and 3 straight mid or early season firings he would say experience is mandatory. If he goes with a learning on the job guy and the guy has ups and downs for several years the fan base and media are going to roast him. Especially with all that history right in front of him. Watching Jimmy Lake implode in Washington. The Willie Taggert fiasco. Dave Aranda at Baylor. I hope he’s smarter than that. He can’t make a decision based on the results of this weak schedule. Todd Orlando could win 9 games over the next few weeks.
Last edited:
I don't agree that head coaching experience is a requirement as long as the individual selected shows tremendous leadership, relationship and culture building traits. Most of us have witnessed how successful McVay and even Staley have been in their first HC stints. I would take a similar wunderkind coaching prodigy over a tired old retread who doesn't have the same passion they used to and can easily run to a cushy retirement/exit strategy at the first sign of adversity. You want someone who's still hungry to build a new legacy, not just get paid for what they've already accomplished elsewhere.
Common for every Sean Mcvey there are hundreds of guys who were hired and fired across the country at all levels. The Dabo Sweeney’s are rare. Do you think this fan base has the stomach for another gamble? You just described Clay Helton. Why not just hire him back
like I said over the last 15 years USC gambled 3 times and lost on players coaches with no experience. Lane Kiffin, Steve Sarkisian, Clay Helton that’s a 100%! Failure rate. Only a fool would keep going in that direction.
You gave me names of successful guys I’ll give you names of busts. Jimmy Lake Washington and Dave Aranda Baylor and Clay Helton.
Last edited:
Paul Hackett had head coaching experience as did Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian. Checking boxes doesn't work. Bohn has to do his job.
Are you seriously comparing Helton to McVay/Staley? Sorry, I must have missed when Helton was ever mistaken as a X's & O's genius or savant. Think OSU or OU regret handing the reins to coaches without HC experience?
Wrong. He had that in gomer. The one and only thing he should look for is a coach with a winning track record and a few national titles under his belt. The other stuff would automatically be a part of such a candidate.Mike Bohn knows what he wants in the next USC head coach
As for what he's looking for in this search, Bohn said, "Leadership, high integrity, character, the ability to connect with young men."www.on3.com
Say if he wants a choir boy recruit the local church. Football is for men, tuff men, men who swear and get in fights, and yes sometines screw up. But this choir boy list of virtues us a joke . Why doesn't he add to the requirements a coach that is committed to diversity and the recycling of garbage. Oops sc already is commited to the garbage part.
His statement was about head coaching experience. A candidate like Eric Bienemy would be a great head coach, but just doesnt have that experience- yet. I would much prefer an incredibly talented offensive or defensive coordinator than a mediocre head coach. The really great head coaches - Saban, Sweeney, Riley are not going to leave to come to USC.
I like Brent Venables, but not sure he even wants a head coach job. Venables produces a top defense year after year after year. He doesnt have down years. With a solid defense to lean on, you have the ability to win through periods where your offense struggles. Aranda might also emerge as a candidate if he wins at Baylor this year. Aranda is a really smart guy.
Let's get the guy with the most upside potential, to match what Saban has done at Alabama, not just aim for ticking off a box with head coaching experience next to it.
Bohn handled this interview well. Finally some good communications strategy being used here. I think it helps that he doesnt have to lie about Clay anymore. He just isnt a good liar.
I like Bret Venables too. He’s an elite DC with NC Playoff history. He’s one of those rare guys that would be worth taking a gamble on. I value 2 things.
1. He has a history of consecutive seasons of elite defenses
2. He’s been in a system that challenges for NC every year. A lot like being in a Alabama system.
Kirby Smart was Alabama’s DC. Venables has the same attributes and upside.
Last edited:
Have to laugh at an AD that continues to go to the old “SC family” crap as if he had no idea who the university president is and what she’s done to dismantle the “family”.
Love venables but i disagree on the big three not coming.. For money they will come.. especially Meyer who if he resigns wont have a job
He is a polished politician. You will get a lot of answers that are not particularly revealing.
...and he will also give very insightful answers to some questions...you just need to pay attention to those to realize he knows what he is doing.
Too bad Bohn doesn't have head caching experience. I bought in to him.
i see these Vegas gambling odds often, my impression is they are rarely right. anyone have an opinion on that? Also, i would think Donte would be on this list
- The head football coach at USC must have proven, successful head coaching experience. Promoting an offensive or defensive coordinator to this important decision is a major mistake. It is like hiring an AD who has no management experience in running an athletics department and we have seen two major mistakes like that at SC which almost destroyed the program and resulted in the situation we have now. Currently there is a pool of viable, qualified candidates that have successful head coaching experience. If we want to have a sold-out Coliseum, enthusiastic support from the “Trojan Family”, lucrative TV contracts, and money pouring into the program from our alumni and donors, then we must have a qualified, competitive, successful, and energetic football head coach. USC is a traditional college football powerhouse, and the program should stay like that. When I was studying in the East Cost in the early 1970s, I had a SC sticker in the back of my car. People who saw the sticker complimented me for being an alumnus of “the Great Western Football Factory.”
- If my calculations are correct, Urban Meyer has a winning percentage of 85% and Bob Stoops, Nick Saban, Dabo Sweeney, and Chris Petersen each have a winning percentage of 80%. It seems Bob Stoops and Chris Petersen might be available and although Urban Meyer is a long shot, the search committee has four possible desirable candidates in Meyer, Stoops, Petersen, and Luke Fickell. It is so imperative that the previous mistakes in hiring the football head coaches not be repeated.
Id vomit if it were franklin. It would turn me off sc football completely
Sadly in an organization there is a way of doing things and thats why in bad organizations mistakes get repeated. So if sc blunders again it would not surprise me. Disappoint me yes, but not surprise me
USC and Mike Bohn should place a huge bet on Sarkisian, hire him, collect their winnings, fire him, and spend the money on a good but pricey coach.
Fickell looks like a bad hombre I would want on my side in an alley fight.
Man has intensity in his demeanor.
Man has intensity in his demeanor.
I noticed that, and was surprised to see odds on Sark. I think there’s a better chance of my local high school HC getting the job than Sark under the circumstances.
