Had a chance to meet all of the new MAC football coaches yesterday, here is my quick first impressions of them.
1) Jeff Genyk - very impressed with him. If his team picks up on half of his excitement and positive attitude then EMU will make a nice turnaround soon.
2) Brian Kelly - quite funny, very relaxed, seems to be a good motivator, certainly a good speaker.
3) Doug Martin - very intense guy, seemed like a no-nonsense person. Very knowledgeable and honest about his team. He was the players choice though, so that is positive.
4) JD Brookhart - not very personable, a little more reserved than the average college coach you meet. Did keep Charlie Frye from entering NFL or transfering though so he must be able to communicate personally.
N/A) George O'Leary, did not make the trip, UCF sources stated had a personal situation to attend on Tuesday. He was in MoTown on Monday but I was not there yet.
I did phone interviews with a handful of MAC coaches earlier this summer, and I found Brookhart to be a pleasant enough chap. Really excited about the new practice facility there. Not super-exciting, but pretty good. He said Frye just wanted to feel like he still belonged.
Of the others I spoke to, Novak and Hoeppner were the most fun by far, Amstutz and Brandon were all business, and Brady Hoke was just kinda there.
Vandelay Wrote:Had a chance to meet all of the new MAC football coaches yesterday, here is my quick first impressions of them.
1) Jeff Genyk - very impressed with him. If his team picks up on half of his excitement and positive attitude then EMU will make a nice turnaround soon.
2) Brian Kelly - quite funny, very relaxed, seems to be a good motivator, certainly a good speaker.
3) Doug Martin - very intense guy, seemed like a no-nonsense person. Very knowledgeable and honest about his team. He was the players choice though, so that is positive.
4) JD Brookhart - not very personable, a little more reserved than the average college coach you meet. Did keep Charlie Frye from entering NFL or transfering though so he must be able to communicate personally.
N/A) George O'Leary, did not make the trip, UCF sources stated had a personal situation to attend on Tuesday. He was in MoTown on Monday but I was not there yet.
I have not met Genyck but those who have really like the guy.
If personality means anything in college sports, and I think it is very important (for reasons I'll explain shortly) then Jeff will be a big success.
In college FB the HC has to be everything but part of it is being a salesman to the community, recruits, etc. (last I checked there is no NCAA draft and EMU was begging folks to buy tickets). That isn't as important in the NFL where season tixs and the draft make it possible for a great X and O coach with poor PR skills to make it.
Vandelay Wrote:Had a chance to meet all of the new MAC football coaches yesterday, here is my quick first impressions of them.
1) Jeff Genyk - very impressed with him. If his team picks up on half of his excitement and positive attitude then EMU will make a nice turnaround soon.
2) Brian Kelly - quite funny, very relaxed, seems to be a good motivator, certainly a good speaker.
3) Doug Martin - very intense guy, seemed like a no-nonsense person. Very knowledgeable and honest about his team. He was the players choice though, so that is positive.
4) JD Brookhart - not very personable, a little more reserved than the average college coach you meet. Did keep Charlie Frye from entering NFL or transfering though so he must be able to communicate personally.
N/A) George O'Leary, did not make the trip, UCF sources stated had a personal situation to attend on Tuesday. He was in MoTown on Monday but I was not there yet.
Lee Owens is one of the more personable guys I've ever met. That got me .... let me see ... Z-E-R-O MAC championships. JD can have the personality of a rock. If he gets me a few 9 or 10 win seasons I'm naming my first born after him! (and that will be a pain, considering he's already 3 1/2 years old).
I have not met the guy, but all reports are he's direct, succinct, and a straight shooter. When people sense those qualities they will trust the person behind them, often much more than if they think they're being schmoozed. If I remember the articles correctly he was one of Xerox's top TOP salesmen before throwing it all away to go back to football. I heard the players are high on him.
And you're right, Captain. LO had a salesman's personality but it sure didn't mean he could close.