James Madison (FCS – VA): Sources tell FootballScoop that The Citadel (FCS) head coach Mike Houston has been offered and is expected to accept the head coaching position at JMU. Houston served as the head coach at Lenoir-Rhyne (D-II – NC) for three seasons, going 7-3 in 2011, 9-3 in 2012, and 13-2 in 2013 before moving on to The Citadel where he put together a 9-4 season and FCS playoff appearance in year two leading the program
I agree LH. I think this is a solid hire. Especially, if the rumor is true that he is not going to run a TO centric offense. TO parts are fine with more read option/spread would be great with me considering the athletes we can get.
(01-18-2016 02:11 PM)JMU_71 Wrote: [ -> ]I agree LH. I think this is a solid hire. Especially, if the rumor is true that he is not going to run a TO centric offense. TO parts are fine with more read option/spread would be great with me considering the athletes we can get.
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Would assume we still have those TO looks. We had them in our offense this year, but he's got much different athletes and guys who can make big time plays here.
(01-18-2016 02:23 PM)bridgeforthduke Wrote: [ -> ]I'm not sure how I feel about this right now. At least it's not Stinespring.
Agreed. I like his background, but there's several milestones we can watch for to see how good he actually is:
- signing day...do we keep most of our recruits and possibly pick a couple surprises?
- press conferences throughout the first offseason and year...is he dismissive of the press
- first year...does he tailor the schemes to the players or try to force the players he has into his ideal schemes (will he force the TO onto this team if it seems like it won't do well). also...in-game adjustments? please!
- penalties...we've had a big problem with penalties of late. I would love to see whether he brings better discipline to JMU.
- second year...can we get into the playoffs and win a playoff game after the second season?
Granted it's after a huge win, but I'm liking listening to the post-game conference with Houston. Seems positive, but talks about hard work, winning, and spreading the credit. As far as I can tell, this was a solid hire and could possibly give us some recruiting in the south.
I think this is a great hire. You don't win at different levels like he has without having great head coaching skills. I think he will stay with us for at least several years and will win here. I am excited. Glad we went with a proven coach instead of pulling a 1A OC or DC. They are just looking to get back to the 1A level as quick as they can. I believe he will be a great ambassador for all things JMU. Beating USC at USC says a lot.
Lenoir Rhyne football. Before Houston was hired as DC in 2007 they sucked. Hadn't had a winning season since 1994.
2007 2-9 (Houston hired as DC)
2008 3-8
2009 5-6
2010 7-4 (1st winning season since 1994)
2011 7-3 (Houston becomes HC, wins 1st conference championship since 94')
2012 9-3 lost 2nd round of Div II playoffs (1st playoffs since 1962, used to be NAIA, became Div II in 1989? )
2013 13-2, lost Div II national Championship game
3 seasons as HC 2011-2013: 29-8, 5-2 in playoffs http://lrbears.athleticsite.net/2015LRFo...rdBook.pdf
Looking at the Citadel last 7 seasons, the 5 previous to Houston being hired as HC, and his 2 seasons as HC.
2009: 4-7
2010: 3-8
2011: 4-7
2012: 7-4 (that was only the 2nd winning season since 98'). 2013: 5-7_________________________________________________________
2014: 5-7 (Houston becomes HC)
2015: 9-4, won round of 24 over CCU, lost round of 16, 1st playoffs since 1992. http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/.../index.php https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Houst..._football)