Who did Shane Lyons pass over to get to Brown??
- Thread starter EERs 3:16
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Luke Fickell would have probably been a better hire he is more local to the region and has a system I think would be better suited for wvu. People seem to forget that Holgorsen left right around New Years which is late in the hiring process. Its not like Lyons had the advantages of other schools in vetting the top candidates. He was left with leftovers.
Yes. It was down to Neal Brown, Tony Gibson, and Luke Fickell. All 3 interviewed and it was supposedly between Brown or Fickell in the end. I believe Gee wanted Fickell and Lyons wanted Brown.
Ok. Fair enough. I only go by what was reported at the time. Secondly, at the time, both Brown and Fickell were considered no brainer hires. There was really no way of predicting the outcome.
Jobs turned down by Fickell
USC
LSU
Florida
Oklahoma
Notre Dame
Auburn
Michigan State
WVU
Luke Fickell listens to his own career advice. It has served him well so far. And it has made Cincinnati the biggest winner of the hiring cycle, the part of the sport where it historically loses.
Where do you think Ohio State coach Ryan Day is going? Day is 43 Fickell is 49. If Ohio State was going to hire Fickell they would have kept him after his amazing 6-7 record in 2011.
Lol. No way. He was already there once. And he couldn’t lead them to a winning record, even though everything was already in place for him.
Yep. Passed over Gibby too. Decision to hire Neal was made before and interview.
Ok. Help me out then.
1. Your sources that he turned it down were ____________?
2. If he turned it down, why did he interview? Did he get additional pay/incentives at UC and was using the interview for that reason?
I don't know why a person would interview for a job, with no intentions of taking it, unless they got something from their current employer to stay.
Fickell speaking with West Virginia about its recently vacated head coaching position, confirmed by The Athletic Cincinnati. A source also told The Athletic Cincinnati that Fickell did give serious consideration to the Mountaineers’ interest and that the job was essentially his if he wanted it, but he ultimately elected to stay with the Bearcats.
WVU president E. Gordon Gee, under whom Fickell worked during Gee’s stint as president of Ohio State from 2007-13. Gee, a big fan of Fickell’s, reportedly led the Mountaineers’ charge to hire him and also was the main reason Fickell entertained the position after having recently declined similar interest from Louisville and Maryland.
Sources said that though Fickell kept his discussions with West Virginia relatively private, he did inform Cincinnati athletic director Mike Bohn and remained in constant contact with him. It also was a quick process. Fickell met with WVU athletic director Shane Lyons on Thursday near Cincinnati, which was followed by a meeting that night with Bohn and UC president Neville Pinto during which Fickell expressed his intention to stay.
The Bearcat Journal and Cincinnati Inquirer reported that Fickell didn’t use the meeting or West Virginia’s interest to leverage any sort of raise or contract extension, which a source also confirmed to The Athletic Cincinnati. That may seem somewhat surprising, given the situation and position Fickell is in on the heels of an incredible turnaround from Year 1 to Year 2 of his Bearcats’ tenure, but a source suggested that type of bargaining just isn’t in the coach’s nature. Fickell instead used the meeting to reaffirm UC’s commitment to him and his staff, along with a dedication to continue improving and enhancing the program. Gee’s position at WVU and fondness for Fickell likely offered him a certain degree of job security in Morgantown, so it’s reasonable he wanted to ensure the same in his current job.
Sources confirmed these discussions and negotiations started well before the bowl game or any interest Fickell received from West Virginia, and are still ongoing.
Fickell turning down the Mountaineers should not be taken as a sign that he plans to remain the Bearcats’ head football coach indefinitely or has any type of predetermined plan or schedule in mind. Recent history has proved that success at UC breeds other opportunities, and Fickell’s willingness to at least consider the West Virginia opening is evidence that when an intriguing offer comes along, he’ll listen, the same way any smart, competitive coach would. But at least in this one instance, Fickell showed the consideration and sincerity he puts behind his words, which is not always a given in his line of work, as well as the promise he sees in a Bearcats program trending firmly in the right direction.
Other sources well known within the Blue Lot that you have no idea about and I am not at liberty to say.
Passing over Gibby was the smartest move. Which NC State didn't mind because Gibby's contract was due him if he didn't get a job. By taking a position with NC State, West Virginia only owed Gibson the difference between 900k and whatever his new salary was, if it is lower than $900,000.
It's was rumored he worked for free that year to garner the entire $900,000.00, I do not believe this rumor.
Fickell was offered. He's a devout Catholic and wanted Catholic schools available for his kids. WVU could have freaking build one, hire administrators and teachers and named it after him for a million bucks.
Hated that we missed out on him then and hate it 10x more now.
Hated that we missed out on him then and hate it 10x more now.
Can you blame him? Have you seen all the chromeless trailer hitches at her house?
Unnamed sources......ok. I thought on the OT board you blast such ridiculousness?
So he's a devout Catholic, but isn't smart enough to research Morgantown schools BEFORE the interview to find out there are no Catholic high school in the region? Sorry, not buying it.
Right on cue you want to not believe. That's fine, but you would be wrong. Whatever makes you feel better about a coaching hire gone bad.
My sources were named in the two articles. The other 2 are not for me to say and discuss.
You heard wrong that he withdrew his name before any offer came.
You don't like truth I get it.
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He didn’t exactly impress Ohio State when he coached them for one year after Sweater Vest was fired.