UC Coaching Search Official Thread

[Bearcat_DF]

Nobody who I like has been mentioned (Dave Christensen, Dave Clawson being the top two) -- so I'm guessing they are off MT's radar.

At the outset, I listed my criteria for a head coach:



Absent compelling evidence to the contrary, I'm 99% inflexible to those 5 points. I don't want a defense-first or coach with a defensive background -- you have to sell tickets to UC football and defense doesn't sell tickets. I don't want a pro-style or non-spread coach -- the parts are in place to run the spread, and UC simply can't recruit the types of players necessary to run a pro-style offense. I don't want a coordinator -- the wash-out risk is too high. I don't want someone who hasn't worked extensively in the midwest or recruited the midwest -- UC has to recruit this area to win. Someday they'll, hopefully, get a national recruiting base. Someday isn't now, though.

So when names like Tommy Tuberville (has not worked in the midwest, does not run the spread), Skip Holtz (has been out of the midwest for 15+ years, does not run the spread), Al Golden (defensive-background, does not run the spread), Kevin Sumlin (limited coaching experience in the midwest) and Jeff Quinn (no head coaching experience) pop up -- I'm naturally going to be apprehensive about their candidacy.

Whoever UC hires, I'll support 110%. I just don't want to see them make a dumb hire and set the program back 5-10 years, the way Louisville did when Petrino left.

41 Good post. What about someone like Tom O'Brien? Would he want to leave NCSU for UC. I think we are a high profile team. It would get him back in the BE where he had success. Even though he wasn't in the midwest, he recruited the Cincinnati Catholic schools well. He was routinely beating out ND for players.

And to boot - he is from Cincinnati!

[Carin's Dad]

Absent compelling evidence to the contrary, I'm 99% inflexible to those 5 points.

Wow, sounds like you have some clout. I hope MT clears his choices with you in advance.

[ou_bearcat]

41 Good post. What about someone like Tom O'Brien? Would he want to leave NCSU for UC. I think we are a high profile team. It would get him back in the BE where he had success. Even though he wasn't in the midwest, he recruited the Cincinnati Catholic schools well. He was routinely beating out ND for players.

And to boot - he is from Cincinnati!

Eh, the guy is 61 yrs old and has had 3 straight losing seasons.

[Carin's Dad]

I kinda like the sound of "been successful everywhere he's been". Is there anybody else out there like that?

[#41]

Well, whatever direction MT decides to move, it's apparently expected to happen quickly. Tim Adams and Scott Springer from BearcatLair were on Channel 5's Sports Rock -- both expected we'd hear about a new hire by the end of this week.

[Deaf_Bearcat]

Hire Quinn! The riskest one is not taking a risk. Scary? Yes.

[Former Lurker]

Absolutely. Petrino violated every NCAA rule imaginable, resulting in players transferring and/or getting kicked off the team. There was no one left.

I'm not saying that I'd hire Kragthorpe here, but I do think that he might have landed in a situation at Louisville that was just un-salvageable. I could see the guy being successful at his next stop, wherever that may be...

[brcats]

I apologize if this was touched on in the first 17 pages of this thread...

How quickly does MT make his hire? I know that he wants to make sure that he gets it right, but alot has been made of the timing of a coaching replacement because of recruiting.

[shaunsimpson]

I apologize if this was touched on in the first 17 pages of this thread...

How quickly does MT make his hire? I know that he wants to make sure that he gets it right, but alot has been made of the timing of a coaching replacement because of recruiting.

The hire will have to be made soon. Kelly will want a staff in place for recruiting at ND so if it is Quinn and he can keep much/some of the staff then we will not want to wait until January. If it is Jones then he needs to act quick since Marshall has an offer on the table for Jones and it won't be there for ever.

I will be surprised if we don't know who our coach is by the end of this week; however, I could be way off since Jones' buyout almost doubles if he leaves before a bowl game and Quinn is already here so they could wait.

The question is who still remains as coaching options outside of these two?

[Forsure21]

I vote for Quinn at this point. We will get BK's buyout and pay Quinn less which will help the AD. Quinn knows the Cincy community, players, league. A new coach would be completely rebuilding in all of those areas.

Let's keep the staff the same as much as possible except maybe a new D coordinator. Quinn can go hire an O coordinator as well.

[BearcaTim]

Somebody remind me why Peterson at Boise State isn't getting buzz for the UC job. He is a winner, high octane offense, beat Oklahoma in a BCS bowl, and can sell Boise. Oh, and he makes 850k to 1 mil.

[mjb1979]

Somebody remind me why Peterson at Boise State isn't getting buzz for the UC job. He is a winner, high octane offense, beat Oklahoma in a BCS bowl, and can sell Boise. Oh, and he makes 850k to 1 mil.

I don't think he wants to leave Boise. Simple as that.

[DMoney1080]

I vote for Quinn at this point. We will get BK's buyout and pay Quinn less which will help the AD. Quinn knows the Cincy community, players, league. A new coach would be completely rebuilding in all of those areas.

Let's keep the staff the same as much as possible except maybe a new D coordinator. Quinn can go hire an O coordinator as well.

I agree with you - except the D coordinator unless he goes to ND. Our d was rank in the 50's in total defense. Considering that they were on the field more than any defense in DI, that's still pretty good. Plus the defense is young. I think Quinn or Butch Jones are guys that we can definitely see as the next coach of UC. I trust that MT will make a good decision.

[DMoney_70]

Nobody is concerned at hiring an offensive coordinator that didn't even get to call the plays and has followed his head coach for 17 years without ever getting a head job somewhere else?

That bothers me.

[GoCats1994]

If the hire ends up being someone other than Quinn...why would it be announced prior to the bowl game being played?

This is not an endorsement of hiring Quinn...truth is, I have no idea who the best candidate is... My point is merely that I do not see how it benefits the current team to come out in public and say "Jones is the guy" or "Holtz is the guy" or whomever...

Let Quinn prepare the team. If a deal is signed...let it be "off the record"...and let the new guy coach his own bowl game.