850TheBuzz: Coaching Search Winners and Losers

General NCS Basketball NCS Football72

A nice entry from 850TheBuzz.

Replacing coaches in college sports in this area is equal to a presidential election. It warrants front page attention and constant chatter on the radio because who gets hired determines the direction of a program like no other event. It’s time to look back on the searches and the coverage, wrapping up the story so we can move on to actual football in 2007. So who emerged from the aftermath looking like the smartest guy in the room, and who took a few hits? Find out after the jump.

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General NCS Basketball NCS Football

72 Responses to 850TheBuzz: Coaching Search Winners and Losers

  1. choppack1 12/12/2006 at 9:29 AM #

    Sorry TOB=Herb – Getting a coach who has led a private school to 9 wins in 4 of the last 4 seasons and 8 consecutive bowl games in a BCS conference is a Home Run. Think of if this way, if he had done this at Stanford, Northwestern, Baylor, Vandy, Wake Forest, Duke or Rutgers – he would be the hottest comodity in coaching.

    However, his style is a little vanilla and he hasn’t won “the big game.” That doesn’t change the fact that he was BC’s most successful coach.

    It was a nice entry. Since Jimbo may need to relocate, I wonder if he lands here, FSU or (gulp) Chapel Hill as OC. My $$ would be on FSU – he can position himself nicely as the candidate over there if he can improve the offense in Tally – and w/ all those tools – it shouldn’t be too hard.

  2. RickJ 12/12/2006 at 9:32 AM #

    The firing of Amato is a good example of a coach being fired at the right time. There is no way he should have been fired before this year and it was a clear decision after the 3-9 record. Amato was never in a position where recruiting was difficult as happened to Sendek at least twice. TOB gets to come in with what should be a better team, seven home games with anything better than 3-9 being an improvement.

    It doesn’t matter who you hire there is always some risk involved. It is the termination of a school’s relationship with a coach that is the most important decision an AD has to make. Obviously it is a very difficult task when you work with someone for years hoping they will be successful.

  3. DIXIE Wolf 12/12/2006 at 9:41 AM #

    TOB=Herb/Jimbo=PJ-Norm+Cowher/BoPelini>PeteCarroll =

    Coach Tom O’Brien along with a quality bowl game and or BCS game for years & years to come.

    We have so much to look forward to!

  4. choppack1 12/12/2006 at 9:49 AM #

    RickJ – That’s an excellent point. At NC State, we have a very bad recent history of allowing half-decent – but not good enough coaches to stay too long. The end-result has been some vicious infighting and a fractured fan-base.

    Les Robinson, MOC and Herb could have been let go earlier in their tenure – and things wouldn’t have gotten as ugly as they did in all of those situations – and we would have been justified in letting him go. Instead, in the case of Les – he submarined our b’ball program to a place where it became a regional joke. In the case of MOC and Herb – you had some good times, but ultimately, the situation became ugly.

    Make no mistake about it – next year would have been ugly for Amato. The stress would have probably taken years off his life. Now, he can leave, head held high – a nice overall record, 5 bowl games in 7 years, and several players in the NFL, leaving a ton of talented players for TOB.

    For a change, State got a coaching dismissal right. It’s worth noting that evidently, it was a change our AD didn’t want to make. However, this search was 10 times better than the last one – so I’ll give him credit for that.

  5. Buddygreen 12/12/2006 at 10:32 AM #

    The more I read and learn about TOB the more I like the hire. He wins and graduates players. Going to be hard to outrecruit that in my humble opinion. Winning and graduating players is a rare commodity amoung Southern football schools. We will need to have a TOB recruiting given the higher acedemic entrance standards the UNC system has imposed upon our schools that puts them at a recruiting disadvantage. I think that gives TOB a very big advantage over Davis at UNX. Plus I think this talk that he can’t win the big one is absurb. They said the same thing about Bowden, Brown and others for years and both have rings now. ALL programs that build go years of 7 and 8 wins and minor bowls before getting into the big dance. Plus outside of 8 schools who has won a national championship in recent years. Mostly same schools competing year in and year out, we need consistency first then keep upgrading till we get to major bowl potential. I thought TOB did a great job rebuilding BC after all the mess up there. Bowen and Beamer both have shown how to gradually build a program to a natioanl level. I think TOB is on that type of level. I think it is great that he thinks State is a step up and feels he can do more here than he did at BC. Wow, looking to improve on six bowls in a row. Now that is something. I think parents or recruits are going to love this guy. I don’t see parents lining up to send kids to play for Davis at UNX. He a win at all costs Miami guy. I see nothing about him that reeks of anything educational. Just like watching him hiring assistants, he still full of same ego that was his undoing in Cleveland. Kudos to Fowler on this hire, it is one I can be proud of. We got a man full of substance and high moral fiber. That will attract quality man that want to play football and get a degree at NCSU. Best hire we could have made after Cowher. I am excited about this hire!!! I predict over the long haul TOB will dominate instate recruiting, head coaches, couselors, and parents can relate to him. Look at the choice, if you want to play instate and stay near home you can play for showboat Davis and his coscky UM attitude, or you can play for TOB learn discipline some great life success skills and get a degree from NCSU. Where would you send your kid? Cause both produced NFL players so they equal in those terms. Great hire Fowler and everyone else!

  6. Dan 12/12/2006 at 10:35 AM #

    “Getting a coach who has led a private school to 9 wins in 4 of the last 4 seasons and 8 consecutive bowl games in a BCS conference is a Home Run. ”

    I was about to say “Tell that to the folks at Miami and Notre Dame”, but when you really think about it perhaps TOB has a point when he keeps bringing up the “state university”.

    Miami has horrible facilities and is on the decline. The only thing holding Miami together is its natural recruiting base which Doc Holliday and Urban Meyer are currently raiding. Notre Dame hasnt been Notre Dame in a long time despite the overblown ranking. They really didnt have too many decent wins this year. GT (barely) and Penn State.

    The AP top 10 doesn’t include a single private school. (Of course 11-25 has 5 private schools in Notre Dame, Wake, BYU, BC, and TCU). Still, all of the schools on the rise are public. In fact, technically, the ONLY private school to get 10+ wins in a BCS conference is Wake Forest since Notre Dame refuses to join a conference. I dont think anyone thinks Wake is going to win 10 every year. Maybe 7 or 8. Not 10.

    State universities really have a huge advantage. TOB knows that.

    More proof? Look who Miami got to coach their team vs who the state schools are nabbing. BC is getting ready to hire Whipple from Cowher’s staff.

  7. MatSci94 12/12/2006 at 10:43 AM #

    “The AP top 10 doesn’t include a single private school.”

    USC is a private school.

  8. Dan 12/12/2006 at 10:43 AM #

    Did not know that. Thanks Mat.

  9. SixPack 12/12/2006 at 10:44 AM #

    TOB got my attention with his comment :

    “NC State is a sleeping giant. We are going to excel in the classroom,
    in the community and on the field !”.

    I can’t imagine any true Wolfpacker arguing with that basis for a program !

  10. choppack1 12/12/2006 at 10:45 AM #

    Whipple may be a pretty solid hire. I think his name was mentioned during our search in 99.

  11. Dan 12/12/2006 at 10:47 AM #

    I’m not so sure about Whipple. Big Ben has never really tore it up in the NFL. Its more about the running game there. And coaching at UMass and Brown isnt like coaching at a BCS level school.

    It certainly isnt the big hire the FTOB crowd thought they would get.

  12. 94MEGrad 12/12/2006 at 10:54 AM #

    That’s a good point about Jimbo Fisher. If he is on the way out at LSU, going to FSU and reviving their offense would be more validation of his coaching ability. That could lead to him being in line to replace Bowden when he decides to retire.

  13. justaguy 12/12/2006 at 10:58 AM #

    The winners and losers article was a bit disappointing. The only thing that really matters is the new coaches. Only one sentence was devoted to that, “So both schools did what you’re supposed to do when you fire a coach: Find someone better than the guy you’re replacing.”

    Huh? That’s a pretty low bar for judging the new coaches. I don’t think either program was merely looking for “someone better”. They were looking for someone A LOT better who could raise the program to a level of being a year-in, year-out challenger for the ACC title.

    IMO, the big winners are the talented returning players at State. TOB improves their chances for a great season. Lee Fowler bolstering his shaky reputation matters little to me.

  14. packbackr04 12/12/2006 at 11:24 AM #

    i agree^ justaguy^ who cares that fowler lucked out.. AGAIN! Any word on Obie’s recruting angle? at the presser he did say he was gonna stay in raleigh for a week to talk with some recruits. has this been done, any new recruits he is targeting? Have we had any major defections since the chest pulled his red corvette out of the parking lot for the last time?

  15. xcharbo 12/12/2006 at 11:44 AM #

    But, USC is no small private school. They have 33,000 students and are in some ways a defacto public school in how they serve the LA community.

    BC is 25,000…

  16. highonlowe 12/12/2006 at 12:08 PM #

    I would have liked to see something about Sidney Lowe and his staff of Wolfpack family members as ‘big news’ in that first paragraph.

  17. tcthdi-tgsf-twhwtnc 12/12/2006 at 12:21 PM #

    It is time to focus on basketball.

  18. Dan 12/12/2006 at 12:52 PM #

    “It is time to focus on basketball.”

    I agree. I’m getting lonely at the games. What’s the deal with attendance this year?

  19. Buddygreen 12/12/2006 at 12:56 PM #

    Yea, basketball. Astur coming back soon and another player ready to play come Dec. 22. We need the added depth. Two players added to what we have can make a huge difference. Gives us a great chance to be more than just competitive. If we can hold serve at home and steal some wins on the road we got potential for a NCAA bid. But we need lots more people in the stands and we need to crank it up. Lots of young teams in ACC that are going to have up and down games. Home court going to be critical! Lowe and company need a full house!!!

  20. tcthdi-tgsf-twhwtnc 12/12/2006 at 1:13 PM #

    I think for the Reynolds game it should be 100% general admission, first come first serve, and they should hand out tixs to students on the brickyard the week of the game. There is no excuse for that game not to have 8,000 students present and a standing room only crowd.

  21. packpigskinfan23 12/12/2006 at 1:36 PM #

    ^there is NO reason for Renyolds to not be PACKED no matter what if the men are playing there…

    I was really disapointed to hear it wasnt full….

    how is that happening?!

  22. RabidWolf 12/12/2006 at 1:56 PM #

    The Reynolds game is the only game i’ve missed so far this year (couldn’t get tix–now I don’t know why). IMHO, there is STILL a lot of doubt about this years team because too many people (“fans”) actually LISTEN to the overpaid talking haircuts!! Everyone said that the ‘Pack wouldn’t be shit this year, but we have quality players right now, and when Engin comes back we’ll be even more frightening to the big dogs. WE WILL NOT BE LAST!!! WE WILL KILL SOME GIANTS!! WE WILL SHAKE UP THE BASKETBALL WORLD!!!

  23. Dan 12/12/2006 at 2:00 PM #

    http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2695097

    Looks like TOB placed a OL’man on AP All-American first team.

    “how is that happening?!”

    I have a theory. It involves all those people who said they would “be excited again” if they hired a new coach. Maybe that was just talk.

    That sad thing is that I was a pretty solid in my desire to see the old coach come back, but I am way more excited now with Sid. It really is a fun team to watch. Maybe the people who are loyal to the program will always be loyal. And those that complain will always be those who complain.

    Now I know the writers on this blog get to a lot of games. I’m not calling them out at all. I’m calling out the army of people who flood these blogs. Where in the hell are you?

  24. packbackr04 12/12/2006 at 2:19 PM #

    15 YEARS of depravity and lackluster performances is how and why it isnt full in there. Its like getting a girl to sleep with you again after you had her once but went limp noodle on her in mid romp. Why would she want that disppointment again. but people need to get over it… weve all had whiskey dick at one point inour lives. we need to get our asses in there and support the hell out of those guys, call me crazy but i think it is a special group of players and we might see something we did not expect by years end. Just like that girl, if she gives you another shot you just might show her something new and rock her world in a way its never been rocked.

  25. redfred2 12/12/2006 at 2:20 PM #

    “What’s the deal with attendance this year?”

    I would have to say that thinking back over the archives, it seems that too many Wolfpack fans were coaxed into expecting a terrible season. But to date, and when put in proper perspective, this is the best basketball season that we’ve witnessed in a long, long time. When an out manned and hard playing, basketball team needs them the most, the majority of Wolfpack fan’s response has been sadly disappointing.

    I guess it’s going to take some kind of miracle upset to get ‘loyal’ Wolfpack fans out of the house, and watching a team that is already playing it’s heart out every night, just for NC STATE, and that oh so ‘loyal’ fan base.

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