UK football can't be a training ground for new coaches.

Robcatt24

Heisman
Sep 17, 2005
17,932
16,767
113
Mark Stoops - first job as a head coach.

D.J. Eliot - first time as a DC.

Shannon Dawson - first time as an OC at the power 5 level.

The SEC is just too brutal to allow first time coaches the luxury of getting seasoned.
 

mkasten25

Junior
Mar 27, 2009
6,028
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I disagree on the HC issue - stoops had great coordinator experience and had been at top levels - he knew what it took to get there. Better than a OVC/MEAC type coach who had done well but never played big games/top level teams. I think he's perfect for the job and doing a really good one.
 

kyboy1998_rivals34276

All-American
Mar 20, 2006
9,326
8,754
61
Id like to see him ink a really good class and get offered another job he doesn't deserve and take it.

We could hand over a better roster than we have been able to for any other of our previous hires.

We couldn't get any big name, but a guy like Jeff Brohm could win with what we'd have on roster.
 

4UK

All-Conference
Sep 26, 2005
30,388
4,433
0
Mark Stoops - first job as a head coach.

D.J. Eliot - first time as a DC.

Shannon Dawson - first time as an OC at the power 5 level.

The SEC is just too brutal to allow first time coaches the luxury of getting seasoned.

I agree that the inexperience of this coaching staff has killed this team all year. But, like it or not, we are the bottom of the barrel when it comes to major conference programs. We're only going to get guys trying to work their way up the ladder who can't get a head job elsewhere, or those who are already on their way down the ladder. Look at the list of coaches. It's a career-killing job.
 

akaukswoosh

Hall of Famer
Jan 14, 2006
78,717
119,956
93
Id like to see him ink a really good class and get offered another job he doesn't deserve and take it.

We could hand over a better roster than we have been able to for any other of our previous hires.

We couldn't get any big name, but a guy like Jeff Brohm could win with what we'd have on roster.[/QUOTE
So is Brohm now going to replace Mike Leach as the magician who turns UK around instantly?
 
Feb 21, 2006
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I think Stoops has the desire and passion...he has a good resume and pedigree as well...

but his staff has been less than impressive thus far...

I really wish he would have tried to get Randy Shannon on board...
 
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Cawood86_rivals

Heisman
Feb 20, 2005
36,711
64,713
0
It's the Jimmies and joes too. We ain't got enough good ones. Looking like another flop to the season after a good start.
 

Robcatt24

Heisman
Sep 17, 2005
17,932
16,767
113
No.

I just threw out a random name and I never was a Leach guy.

Personally I'd rather be more run oriented and work the clock, but our fanbase couldn't stomach a traditional offense.


I get what you're saying.

But I'm not sure UK can win with a traditional offense.
 

ok-cats-computer

All-Conference
Oct 5, 2005
5,654
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I don't necessarily mind getting a new coach that has to do some learning on the job, but it bothers me that we are paying Stoops like a proven veteran coach. The massive raise Barnhart gave to Stoops last season was unnecessary in my opinion. We're paying well above the market rate for an unproven staff that is still learning. Hopefully, the game management catches up soon and it becomes a nonissue.
 

K_TIME

Heisman
Jan 2, 2003
18,086
24,917
113
Mullen went right back out and got Manny Diaz as DC. Stoops needs better assistants than what he has in about 3 or more spots.

- DJ Elliott is really poor d-mind
- Schlarman hasn't put a good unit on the field yet..adn Summers was here when Stoops got the job
- Brumbaugh - weird technique he coaches...especially in pass rush
 

KopiKat

All-Conference
Nov 2, 2006
14,018
4,757
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I'm not sure how citing the Wikipedia page for MSU is relevant to this conversation.

I'm totally drunk and I know how it's relevant. The page is for the 2009 Miss St. team. Mullen's first season in Starkville - his first year as a head coach - get it now???
 

KopiKat

All-Conference
Nov 2, 2006
14,018
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I'm not sure how citing the Wikipedia page for MSU is relevant to this conversation.

I'm totally drunk and I know how it's relevant. The page is for the 2009 Miss St. team. Mullen's first season in Starkville - his first year as a head coach - get it now???
 
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Sep 2, 2012
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I'm totally drunk and I know how it's relevant. The page is for the 2009 Miss St. team. Mullen's first season in Starkville - his first year as a head coach - get it now???

Yeah, but they went 5-7 that year. Les Koenning had been coaching as an assistant since 1981 and an OC since 2003. Carl Torbush since 75 as a Graduate Assistant at Baylor...and as we all know, Dan Mullen was under Urban Meyer not only at Florida, but Utah and Bowling Green... That is plenty of football experience compared to our young coaching staff.. FOR THE RECORD, I also believe we don't need learning on the job, but I still hold hope in my heart that it will trun back around this year, unlike last year.
 

sluggercatfan

Heisman
Aug 17, 2004
35,953
29,630
0
Mark Stoops - first job as a head coach.

D.J. Eliot - first time as a DC.

Shannon Dawson - first time as an OC at the power 5 level.

The SEC is just too brutal to allow first time coaches the luxury of getting seasoned.
This^^^^^^^...not a good OJT ground...
 

sluggercatfan

Heisman
Aug 17, 2004
35,953
29,630
0
I disagree on the HC issue - stoops had great coordinator experience and had been at top levels - he knew what it took to get there. Better than a OVC/MEAC type coach who had done well but never played big games/top level teams. I think he's perfect for the job and doing a really good one.
MS is a defensive coach who has no clue or idea of what he wants his oc to do
 
Mar 13, 2004
14,745
12,925
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You're totally right. We should have hired somebody who had a history of winning in a major conference. There were plenty to pick from. We didn't have to pick an up and comer with no high level experience or a veteran who'd failed. We just passed up all those proven winners who wanted the Kentucky job.
 

sluggercatfan

Heisman
Aug 17, 2004
35,953
29,630
0
No.

I just threw out a random name and I never was a Leach guy.

Personally I'd rather be more run oriented and work the clock, but our fanbase couldn't stomach a traditional offense.
I think you and MS are very much oh the same page, BUT this is not Ala and never will. Be...
 

crazyqx83_rivals88013

All-Conference
May 2, 2004
167,872
4,311
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Mark Stoops - first job as a head coach.

D.J. Eliot - first time as a DC.

Shannon Dawson - first time as an OC at the power 5 level.

The SEC is just too brutal to allow first time coaches the luxury of getting seasoned.
Dawson was a coordinator in the big 12. So much for our fan base knowing anything about football.
 

LowCountryCat

Heisman
Apr 17, 2010
117,188
22,769
0
You're totally right. We should have hired somebody who had a history of winning in a major conference. There were plenty to pick from. We didn't have to pick an up and comer with no high level experience or a veteran who'd failed. We just passed up all those proven winners who wanted the Kentucky job.
Sarcasm is the last bastion of the loser who has no solution to the problem.
 

Saguaro Cat

All-American
Apr 27, 2008
15,689
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DM is in his seventh yr. At MSU and this will be their sixth straight bowl year..
And someday Stoops will be in his seventh year and taken us to five straight bowls.

Mullen went right back out and got Manny Diaz as DC. Stoops needs better assistants than what he has in about 3 or more spots.

- DJ Elliott is really poor d-mind
- Schlarman hasn't put a good unit on the field yet..adn Summers was here when Stoops got the job
- Brumbaugh - weird technique he coaches...especially in pass rush

Oh my god. He hired Many Diaz? A coordinator with no P5 experience? Didn't you read the OP? You can't do that in the SEC!
 
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Deeeefense

Heisman
Staff member
Aug 22, 2001
43,876
50,269
113
Mark Stoops - first job as a head coach.

D.J. Eliot - first time as a DC.

Shannon Dawson - first time as an OC at the power 5 level.

The SEC is just too brutal to allow first time coaches the luxury of getting seasoned.

What experienced coaches do you think we could have hired that are better?
 

UK till Death

All-American
Dec 21, 2012
10,529
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I disagree on the HC issue - stoops had great coordinator experience and had been at top levels - he knew what it took to get there. Better than a OVC/MEAC type coach who had done well but never played big games/top level teams. I think he's perfect for the job and doing a really good one.
Stoops is doing a terrible job of every aspect of coaching outside recruiting.

His ranting and raving clearly discombobulates the entire team.

Adjustments? Poor.
Game management? Poor.
Clock management? Poor.
Sideline demeanor? Poor.
 

sistersville

All-Conference
Mar 17, 2007
54,087
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********,,coaching has not helped us the last 3 games. after halftime we get took to the woodshed.
 

LowCountryCat

Heisman
Apr 17, 2010
117,188
22,769
0
Stoops is doing a terrible job of every aspect of coaching outside recruiting.

His ranting and raving clearly discombobulates the entire team.

Adjustments? Poor.
Game management? Poor.
Clock management? Poor.
Sideline demeanor? Poor.
His recruiting isn't any better. We're near the bottom in the SEC every year.
 

LowCountryCat

Heisman
Apr 17, 2010
117,188
22,769
0
Recruiting has demonstrably improved. A top 25 class will still be in the lower third of the SEC.

The real question is whether this staff is capable of coaching them up once they get on campus.
But you've conceded the argument most people are making, which is that Stoops needs more time to get his players in here, and more depth.
 

K_TIME

Heisman
Jan 2, 2003
18,086
24,917
113
What experienced coaches do you think we could have hired that are better?
1. Jeff Brohm is doing a bang up job at WKU. Stoops problem is he has this "air raid" only mindset in system he wants to run but UK isn't likely to run the ball worth a flip in this formation with a passing QB that isn't a run threat. It's down right weird the system we run, recruit a bunch of RB, QBs that are throwers only/not run threats but yet we are in shotgun the entire game. It isn't going to go very much better down the road.
2. As mentioned Manny Diaz was out there as DC, Mike Summers was here as OL coach, etc...

To stick with Schlarman and DJ Elliott (who he'll never fire) is really not trying to improve on the coaching side of the ball for sure. These guys have done nothing spectacular since they've been here (save Mizzou game was a really good defensive game by Elliott I though)
 

Robcatt24

Heisman
Sep 17, 2005
17,932
16,767
113
What experienced coaches do you think we could have hired that are better?

The 2 coaches I wanted were Mark Hudspeth and Sonny Dykes.

Hudspeth has several years under his belt as a head coach. He did 7 years at North Alabama, and has been the head man at UL Lafayette since 2011. He has intimate knowledge of the Deep South. Love his offense.

Sonny Dykes doesn't have the number of years as head coach as Hudspeth But he is an offensive minded coach, and I think that is the type of coach UK needs to win with.

And so far, he is doing well at California.

Yeah, I know. The head coaching experience these guys have is at non power 5 schools. But I think that experience is invaluable. Knowing how to be the guy in charge, running the program, making all the decisions. Very different world than being a coordinator. I think that would have benefitted Joker greatly, if he could have done some time as a head coach at somewhere like an OVC school.

Look, I know UK football doesn't have proven head coaches with winning records at the power 5 level beating down their door. And Stoops does have a great football pedigree. And Stoops may very well turn out to be a great head coach. Hope he does.

But you're seeing the result of his growing pains, on and off the field.

What is so deflating, is that with the level of excitement that Stoops' improved recruiting and the upgrade in the facilities has brought, losses like this one become even more of a gut punch.

I'm in no way advocating for Stoops to be fired. But I'm very interested in seeing if Stoops will act like more of a head coach after this season. By that I mean, shaking up his staff. I'm looking at Eliot and Schlaraman. The defense and OL have been putrid. And unlike most fans, I think there is more talent there than the performance has shown.

I'll say this. Losing close games to Florida and Auburn, while gut wrenching, is one thing. Looking like we did in Starkville. Like we don't even belong in the SEC. That will kill the support from this fanbase quicker than anything.