The unofficial online home for fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

I guess the lack of a thread on here about candidates just shows the pure apathy for the program.

I would like us to try and go to a guy that has lead a program before (be it FCS, D2, or D3). I would have to believe you at least place a phone to Vince Kehres and see if he has any interest (maybe he's different from his Dad). While they had a down year how about Dayton's coach? Tom Arth from Chattanoga (local kid from Ignatius and John Carrol)? While he's an Akron Ex Lee Owens has done a heck of a job at Ashland?

Any others? Does anyone even care??

I think we all care, but some have already moved on and are focused on basketball. Coaching candidates were discussed in an earlier thread, and I put in my two cents there, but I've also been thinking about the core qualities that we absolutely have to have regardless if who ends up getting the job.

First: a Kent State coach has to be creative. We desperately need offense, not just to win, but to get people interested. We are never going to out-talent teams, so I feel we should go with a coach that can be creative and make something, anything happen.

Second: we need a coach that is organized and can develop players. Because if our position in the food chain, we take plenty of players that can be considered projects. However, if we don't have the ability to coach them up, there's no reason to take the chance.

These are just two of many things we need, but I was curious what other qualities everyone would want in a coach that are specific to the Kent State job and not just, "winner, young coach, hungry"

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I want Hazell back.

I think Lee Owens should be a target-head coaching success (vs OC or DC at Big 10)/experience at FBS and FCS level-familair with MAC (Akron)...

I hate to admit this, but I have always been envious of Ohio's success with Frank Solich and wonder why Kent does not try the same strategy. Hire an older, proven head coach who has lost his job and will be unlikely to move on when successful. Even Akron has taken a stab at it, and it's tough to argue Terry Bowden hasn't improved the program (not a power, but competitive and going to bowl games). So with that mentality, why not these names:
Previous MAC Coaches: Butch Jones, Brady Hoke, Al Golden, Darrell Hazell
Power 5 Coaches w/ Midwest Connection: Les Miles, Bret Bielema, Todd Graham, Bo Pelini

I just want a coach with previous experience and a coach that can turn us into a top 50 offense. Someone that can make me watch every play instead of watching the cheerleader near falls.

(11-27-2017 12:50 AM)ilovegymnast Wrote:  I just want a coach with previous experience and a coach that can turn us into a top 50 offense. Someone that can make me watch every play instead of watching the cheerleader near falls.

Frankly, chuck-and-duck offense is boring ... hoping to have the ball last to win is not football .... a consistent string of 27-17 victories may not tickle your fancy, but a bunch of 7-5 seasons would.

I doubt Owens would be interested. He's very happy where he is. I doubt Hazell would want to come back. I also doubt Kehres would want to leave Mount Union. There really are only two types to go after. Either (a) a young, good assistant at a top, successful program (like Mason and Hazell). The downside is they are looking to move up as soon as they arrive and may go for the "quick fix" and leave nothing solid for the next coach. or (b) the Solich or Bowden type, a formerly successful coach who had some "issues". The downside is they may still have "issues" or may have nothing left in the tank. I'm sure lots of people will seek the job, but I wonder how many serious candidates will emerge?

Mike Riley who was recently let go from Nebraska might be a good fit. Has an overall positive college résumé. Solich came form Nebraska, and that turned out pretty well. At this stage of his career, this may be his last chance at a D1 head coaching job.

(11-27-2017 08:06 AM)Albert Flasher Wrote:  Mike Riley who was recently let go from Nebraska might be a good fit. Has an overall positive college résumé. Solich came form Nebraska, and that turned out pretty well. At this stage of his career, this may be his last chance at a D1 head coaching job.

That would be funny...can you image Solich, Pellini, and Riley meeting at a local football dinner...

Albert Flasher, sounds good. BTW, I know the origin of your "name". Someone with the Guess Who mistook Alert Flasher for Albert Flasher

I wonder if there is an urgency to move quickly on the hire because of the new early signing period in December.

(11-27-2017 10:03 AM)Muskrat Wrote:  Albert Flasher, sounds good. BTW, I know the origin of your "name". Someone with the Guess Who mistook Alert Flasher for Albert Flasher

You know your music history. Workshop Owner.

Could be waiting for permission to speak to FCS coaches still in the playoffs. Second round is this week with 3 weeks to go after that until the finals.

I was briefly watching a sports channel, probably one of the ESPN ones, and in the background was the list of schools with a head football coach opening. Kent State wasn't listed. I suppose they don't even matter enough anymore to warrant a single line.

I like the idea of someone with previous experience. Ohio and Akron have been making bowls. I don't want an DII coach like BGSU had with Dino Babers who is ready to move after a good year.

We tried Dick Crum.

Wasn't very successful, though he should have gotten one more year.

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Has KSU ever hired an FCS coach?

I can't remember one in my 30+ years here.

(11-28-2017 03:31 AM)cschierh Wrote:  Has KSU ever hired an FCS coach?

I can't remember one in my 30+ years here.

Dave Puddington in 1968 from Washington-St. Louis.

It wasn't FCS then, was called "College Division."

Given our lack of success and tradition, how do we sell this job to a candidate? The strongest selling point is the opportunity to turn around a long-suffering program and make a name for yourself as a coach. That means we unload what little dump truck of cash we have on a rising assistant or FCS HC who has bigger aspirations than coaching in the MAC. If they succeed, we enjoy it (everyone enjoyed 2012, right?), the coach moves on and we hire someone else with their eyes set on moving up. We had the opportunity to build on a once in a lifetime season but decided to go with a coach whose dream job was coaching at Kent and you see where that got us. We need a succession of motivated coaches to produce a string of success before we settle on a "career" coach.

goldenflash99, I agree about the strongest selling point. There are plenty of young guys out there who have the self-confidence (ego?) to believe that can reprise 2012. Keep in mind that, in my opinion, the university blew it after Glenn Mason departed, too, even though Dick Crum had a nice resume'. He was 54 years old and had had only one good season out of his last four at North Carolina. At the time I thought it was a good hire, but in retrospect.....