AAC/BE Football Coaches Taken By P5 Teams
It appears the AAC has followed the Big East's football trend of successful coaches being taken by P5 programs. Charlie Strong (Texas), Justin Fuente (Virginia Tech), Tom Herman (Texas), Matt Rhule (Baylor), and Willie Taggart (Oregon) have all left for programs within the P5. Chad Morris and Ken Niumatalolo almost were poached both this year and last. Phillip Montgomery could be taken next year, if he keeps the Tulsa program moving upwards and onwards.
This interesting trend followed from the Big East. Brian Kelly (ND), Mark Dantonio (MSU), Bobby Petrino (first time - NFL), Walt Harris (Stanford), Randy Edsall (Maryland), Todd Graham (ASU), Rich Rodriguez (MICH), Butch Davis (NFL), Greg Schiano (NFL), and Doug Marrone (NFL) were all Big East Football coaches taken within the last 12 years of the Big East Football conference.
For a perceived non-power conference, the AAC/BE certainly supplied/supplies a lot of coaches to the upper levels of collegiate and professional football. While it can be disheartening and gut-wrenching to see a coach you offered a strong opportunity to decide to jump ship and leave (I know as a Marquette fan with both Tom Crean and Buzz Williams), it speaks volumes to the AAC programs that they have such a solid collection of coaches to build upon (and offer other young and up-and-coming coaches the same opportunity). The AAC needs to keep the strong momentum going, and not take a step back with a Tuberville/Pasqualoni/Diaco/Holtz/Kragthorpe/etc. hire.
I personally love the perception that the AAC hires really strong up-and-coming coaches that can eventually lead big P5 programs. Not only does it improve the quality of coaches in the AAC, it also strengthens each of the AAC programs by becoming programs built on multiple coaches, not any singular coach or era.
Looking forward to seeing who the AAC gets as their next crop of coaches, as well as seeing the developing of Scott Frost, Scottie Montgomery, Mike Norvell, and Willie Fritz.
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