The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Said this on the JL thread but the same applies. To any "big" name.

I said earlier it wasn't impossible I just think we'd have to max ourselves out financially and pray a lot to get a big name like that. I think it's smarter to step back and think outside the box. Go find a GOOD COACH who's been successful in FCS or D2, who can field a well coached team and make us competive in the conf. They're out there. Someone that the bot won't bat an eye at. Mackin can take the savings and start upgrading facilities and putting away for that stadium we been wanting. I'm not selling UAB short but I think this is a opportunity to reset our whole plan and outlook. One step back, 2 steps forward. Get outta the mindset that we need a big name splash hire.

I don't care about splash hires. Too many people at too many schools worry about winning the press conference.

I'd take a mumbler right now if we shut out Troy next August.

Exactly. Time to back up and punt.

+1

I don't really want a big name either. I prefer a small school head coach. Some one to build us up, and is used to working with less. That should be the biggest qualification. We don't need anyone from a big program with money growing on trees. That's where the stupid consulting firm concerns me. I have a feeling that the focus will be on DI coaches and a bunch of lower level guys with more experience will be overlooked.

Consulting firms focus the way they are pointed, use the parameters they are given for the search.

If they're told "Find us the best of the rising young assistants at winning programs", that's the list you'll get. If they're told "I want to look at the best of the FCS and D2 coaches, experienced at winning and young enough to build a program and run it a while", that's what you'll get.

Search firms are not the villain, except perhaps to the degree that they cover the butt of those doing the hiring if it does not go well.

It is worth saying once again, before someone starts ranting about Mackin hiring McGee... that hire was almost universally praised and thought to be a solid hire at the time, on this very board. Sometimes when you roll the dice you double up, and sometimes you crap out.