Head coach candidates
I thought I would go ahead & start the thread. I'll give a few names, but first my thoughts on our greatest need. Obviously we need someone who can coach, but whoever is our next coach needs to have some James Franklin in him. In other words, he needs to be upbeat, have some personality & be a bit of a "sales" guy. If we don't seek someone that can look past all the negatives, & both find & sell the positives, we will not gain any ground in the league that we compete. We also need someone who can rally the football community in this area. I realize that most football fans grow up either AU or UA, but there are many that either don't have such allegiances or don't have the time to dedicate to travel or the funds necessary to follow those programs. In my opinion, we are a niche program. There is nothing wrong with that. I think schools like Arkansas State, La-Laf & even USA, which all compete at the lower financial end of D-1, like ourselves, have done good jobs of making themselves relative in the niche. I realize that USA has something that we do not, that being administrative (board) support, so there is a difference. That all being said some of the assistant coaches that immediately come to mind are; Frank Wilson (LSU), Mike Bobo (Ga) & Eddie Gran (Cincy). The obvious ommission is John Neal. I love John. I still speak with him regularly. I was out west on business & he got me on the sideline for a game. IMO, John fits all the criteria, but our coach just left to be an oc at Louisville. I would think that, if he's offered the dc at OU, he stays out west. The next couple of guys are former head coaches who are now assistants; Mario Cristobal (UA) & GA Mangus (S Carolina). A couple of retreads come to mind, but I'm not sure that's the way I'd go; Butch Davis (UNC), Houston Nutt (Arkansas). Lastly, I would look at the lower levels for an up & coming coach. I would look down the road to Jax State & call Bill Clark. He's won at the high school level, like few others. He's well-liked in the AHSAA coaching community. He was the dc at USA, but was considered for that position at a couple of high-level BCS schools prior to taking the JSU job. Oh by the way, he just won at Jax State & will do so again. Brian has a big decision to make. I wish him the best. Go Blazers!
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