Akron is reportedly down to four finalists:

Paul Winters - Wayne State (D-II) head coach, former akron offensive coordinator under Lee Owens and former Akron)
Mike Johnson - UCLA offensive coordinator and interim head coach, former Akron QB
Pat Narduzzi - Michigan State defensive coordinator

...And a mystery candidate.

Wow, Naduzzi is a big name.

(12-10-2011 02:57 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  Akron is reportedly down to four finalists:

Paul Winters - Wayne State (D-II) head coach, former akron offensive coordinator under Lee Owens and former Akron)
Mike Johnson - UCLA offensive coordinator and interim head coach, former Akron QB
Pat Narduzzi - Michigan State defensive coordinator

...And a mystery candidate.

After the Tressel fiasco, one might think the Zips would give up posting rumors about their HC to be.

This list is from footballscoop.com

(12-10-2011 07:38 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  This list is from footballscoop.com

And posted by you. Haven't you been burned enough?

Could someone discuss Narduzzi?

He would be a big name hire.

Narduzzi and Charles Molnar (UMass) would be/are very impressive hires.

Is it over? How long does it take? I assume the AD had a plan and was not just winging it,

(12-10-2011 08:40 PM)emu steve Wrote:  Could someone discuss Narduzzi?

He would be a big name hire.

Narduzzi and Charles Molnar (UMass) would be/are very impressive hires.

Remember the days when the MAC couldn't get coordinators for BCS big name BCS schools.

(12-11-2011 11:07 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(12-10-2011 08:40 PM)emu steve Wrote:  Could someone discuss Narduzzi?

He would be a big name hire.

Narduzzi and Charles Molnar (UMass) would be/are very impressive hires.

Remember the days when the MAC couldn't get coordinators for BCS big name BCS schools.

Hmm, Gary Blackney, Urban Meyer...

No.

(12-11-2011 11:03 AM)NIU05 Wrote:  Is it over? How long does it take? I assume the AD had a plan and was not just winging it,

We won't be announcing a coach until at least Monday, December 19th.

Akron's coaching search will take about three times as long as anyone else in the country. This is because our fan base is fixated on bringing in a D-II coach from a failed previous coaching staff. They don't want to look for the best candidate. There was a huge amount of repulsion when Narduzzi's name was brought up, same with Stanford assistant Brian Polian. I would take either of them ahead of Paul Winters.

(12-11-2011 01:02 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(12-11-2011 11:03 AM)NIU05 Wrote:  Is it over? How long does it take? I assume the AD had a plan and was not just winging it,

We won't be announcing a coach until at least Monday, December 19th.

Akron's coaching search will take about three times as long as anyone else in the country. This is because our fan base is fixated on bringing in a D-II coach from a failed previous coaching staff. They don't want to look for the best candidate. There was a huge amount of repulsion when Narduzzi's name was brought up, same with Stanford assistant Brian Polian. I would take either of them ahead of Paul Winters.

What is the problem with Narduzzi????

(12-11-2011 01:08 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(12-11-2011 01:02 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(12-11-2011 11:03 AM)NIU05 Wrote:  Is it over? How long does it take? I assume the AD had a plan and was not just winging it,

We won't be announcing a coach until at least Monday, December 19th.

Akron's coaching search will take about three times as long as anyone else in the country. This is because our fan base is fixated on bringing in a D-II coach from a failed previous coaching staff. They don't want to look for the best candidate. There was a huge amount of repulsion when Narduzzi's name was brought up, same with Stanford assistant Brian Polian. I would take either of them ahead of Paul Winters.

What is the problem with Narduzzi????

I wish I knew what they had against him.

Almost every assistant spends some time in a "failed" program at some point in their careers. People put way too much emphasis on superficial aspects of coaches' resumes. What you really need are people making the hire who can see beyond the "pedigree" and get a sense of the person's knowledge and drive and ability to motivate, teach, and inspire. Interviewing is tough. You have to be able to distinguish between the genuine and those who just know how to interview well and will tell you what they think you want to hear. A lot of pressure on the AD, especially because he failed so miserably in his first attempt.

(12-11-2011 01:02 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(12-11-2011 11:03 AM)NIU05 Wrote:  Is it over? How long does it take? I assume the AD had a plan and was not just winging it,

We won't be announcing a coach until at least Monday, December 19th.

Akron's coaching search will take about three times as long as anyone else in the country. This is because our fan base is fixated on bringing in a D-II coach from a failed previous coaching staff. They don't want to look for the best candidate. There was a huge amount of repulsion when Narduzzi's name was brought up, same with Stanford assistant Brian Polian. I would take either of them ahead of Paul Winters.

I have to chuckle when MAC fans pine for a BCS co-ordinator for their next HC. There is a fairly short list of those who have worked out in the MAC. Especially, B1G guys. Not that it can't work, just that it often doesn't work out.

Good luck to your AD, Akron. He can't afford to hire another bust.

Akron is interviewing UCLA's interim head coach for their bowl game sometime this week. Obviously he is not getting the HC job at UCLA since they hired Mora, so he's really interested in the Akron job.

As for BC coordinators, it depends. If the AD and search committee is careful on their choosing they can do well. Think Nick Saban (though he was a DC at MSU he actually went to the NFL for 2 years before becoming UT's HC), Gary Pinkel (OC at Washington for 7 years before UT), and Tim Beckman (DC at Oklahoma State for 2 years before UT) at Toledo. Sure Saban and Beckman did not stay long, but they were successful.

And two of them former Kent State players. Hm maybe that is the ticket...lol

(12-11-2011 07:23 PM)BrianNowicki Wrote:  Akron is interviewing UCLA's interim head coach for their bowl game sometime this week. Obviously he is not getting the HC job at UCLA since they hired Mora, so he's really interested in the Akron job.

As for BC coordinators, it depends. If the AD and search committee is careful on their choosing they can do well. Think Nick Saban (though he was a DC at MSU he actually went to the NFL for 2 years before becoming UT's HC), Gary Pinkel (OC at Washington for 7 years before UT), and Tim Beckman (DC at Oklahoma State for 2 years before UT) at Toledo. Sure Saban and Beckman did not stay long, but they were successful.

Wasn't Ron English a BCS coordinator?

Wasn't he DC at UofM and L'ville. (yes!!!)

P.S. We count English as a successful hire.

If I were an AD I'd have no trouble with a coordinator.

(12-10-2011 08:40 PM)emu steve Wrote:  Could someone discuss Narduzzi?

He would be a big name hire.

Narduzzi and Charles Molnar (UMass) would be/are very impressive hires.

Narduzzi was DC at NIU under Joe Novak for a couple of seasons and I belive his dad is a very noted high school coach

(12-11-2011 02:32 PM)MileHighBronco Wrote:  

(12-11-2011 01:02 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(12-11-2011 11:03 AM)NIU05 Wrote:  Is it over? How long does it take? I assume the AD had a plan and was not just winging it,

We won't be announcing a coach until at least Monday, December 19th.

Akron's coaching search will take about three times as long as anyone else in the country. This is because our fan base is fixated on bringing in a D-II coach from a failed previous coaching staff. They don't want to look for the best candidate. There was a huge amount of repulsion when Narduzzi's name was brought up, same with Stanford assistant Brian Polian. I would take either of them ahead of Paul Winters.

I have to chuckle when MAC fans pine for a BCS co-ordinator for their next HC. There is a fairly short list of those who have worked out in the MAC. Especially, B1G guys. Not that it can't work, just that it often doesn't work out.

Good luck to your AD, Akron. He can't afford to hire another bust.

It would be interesting to look at the coaches that were fired over the last decade to see where they came from.

Internal Assistant: Brian Knorr, Stan Parrish, Doug Martin, Shane Montgomery, Greg Brandon

Assistant: Ianello, Brookhart, Darnell, Owens, Hofher

Head Coach: None?


The greatest risk looks to be when you promote an internal assistant to the rank of head coach. Usually when a talented coordinator is hired at a MAC school and moves on his underpaid staff isn't of the same caliber.

The examples of HC's walking into a MAC program and finding success abound. Brian Kelly, Frank Solich, Pete Lembo, Jerry Kill all had instant impact on their programs.

Toledo I think is going to do alright with Campbell because he's inheriting a loaded Toledo program and Toledo (along with NIU) is one of the very best jobs in the MAC.

Dean Pees was an assistant at Mich St.