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Receivers coach Keith Gaithers going back to Army where he left to join WMU in 2019. Already on their website.

Sheesh.

Can we be making up our minds about stuff?

I like our opportunity to bring in a new guy with hopefully some great energy!

I'll admit, I don't know much about Gaithers but why would you leave for a team that rarely passes the ball? It sounds like he is a good recruiter -- good luck to him!

(01-11-2020 10:24 PM)BroncoMD Wrote:  I'll admit, I don't know much about Gaithers but why would you leave for a team that rarely passes the ball? It sounds like he is a good recruiter -- good luck to him!

Looks like they were pretty successful through the air when he coached Army receivers a few yrs ago. My question is why is he leaving after only 1 Year in Kalamazoo? Difference in philosophy? Chemistry issues among offensive side?

From his bio:
Prior to ECU, Gaither was at Army for two seasons, directing the Black Knights' receiving corps in 2015 and 2016. His pass catchers stood fourth nationally in yards per reception with a 17.9 average in 2016 during Army's successful 8-5 campaign,

My guess... $$$

It's a great school in a great area. The students there are the nation's elite, and the school has nearly unlimited resources. Why wouldn't you want to coach there?

It is unusual move.

I don't know if this is still true but BITD if you coached at one of the academies for a certain period of time (again I don't remember how long) you qualified for a military pension.

That would be no small deal in a coach's life-career.

Wish him well but WMU WR's couldn't get free most of the season. Technique, QB arm? Not sure but WMU has talent at that position. Reed transferred to MSU because of WR coaching change. Most CFB teams seem to have more staff changes these days. The pay spectrum likely the reason.

(01-12-2020 02:34 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  It is unusual move.

I don't know if this is still true but BITD if you coached at one of the academies for a certain period of time (again I don't remember how long) you qualified for a military pension.

That would be no small deal in a coach's life-career.

Not true now.

Not sure if it was ever true -- academy coaches are not government employees.

(01-12-2020 02:34 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  It is unusual move.

I don't know if this is still true but BITD if you coached at one of the academies for a certain period of time (again I don't remember how long) you qualified for a military pension.

That would be no small deal in a coach's life-career.

I believe the only academy coach who is recieving military pay is the coach at Air Force. The rest are all civilians.

West Point is special. Aside from the money, I can't imagine a better place to coach; or do anything else frankly. And I believe Army's coaches budget is significantly higher than Western's. I love WMU, but honestly, it wouldn't be a close call in my mind as far as work environment.

This past year was supposed to be a big one for Army. Ended up being very disappointing. Army expected to be able to throw the ball more than typical (which still wouldn't be much), as it entered the season with a qb who had a good arm (a rarity at West Point), and who could run. For some reason the pass game faltered badly. Although passing is rare in Army's version of the triple option, it is still important, as it typically results in very big plays (to wide open receivers). But, I must agree that if you are a receivers coach, the academies would not be too desirable from a professional standpoint.

(01-13-2020 08:52 PM)brovol Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 02:34 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  It is unusual move.

I don't know if this is still true but BITD if you coached at one of the academies for a certain period of time (again I don't remember how long) you qualified for a military pension.

That would be no small deal in a coach's life-career.

I believe the only academy coach who is recieving military pay is the coach at Air Force. The rest are all civilians.

West Point is special. Aside from the money, I can't imagine a better place to coach; or do anything else frankly. And I believe Army's coaches budget is significantly higher than Western's. I love WMU, but honestly, it wouldn't be a close call in my mind as far as work environment.

This past year was supposed to be a big one for Army. Ended up being very disappointing. Army expected to be able to throw the ball more than typical (which still wouldn't be much), as it entered the season with a qb who had a good arm (a rarity at West Point), and who could run. For some reason the pass game faltered badly. Although passing is rare in Army's version of the triple option, it is still important, as it typically results in very big plays (to wide open receivers). But, I must agree that if you are a receivers coach, the academies would not be too desirable from a professional standpoint.

No service academy football coach has received a government paycheck in quite a long time.

Until recently, the coaches at Army and AF were *contractors*, but government contractors are not government employees (for example, not subject to government payscales). Now that athletic departments at both Army and AF are 501 ( c )( 3 ) organizations, the coaches are no longer government contractors.

Navy's athletic department has been a 501( c )( 3 ) for a LONG time.

As for what happened to Army in 2019, look to injuries. More than half of the guys who started the season opener missed multiple games this year.