Athlon: Grading College Football's Head Coach Hires for 2016 (Minnesota/Claeys: C+)

[BleedGopher]

per Athlon:

24. Tracy Claeys, Minnesota

Previous Job: Minnesota Interim Head Coach

Career FBS Record: 2-4

Claeys worked for 21 years as an assistant under Jerry Kill and was promoted to interim head coach after Kill retired due to health concerns in late October. Under Claeys’ direction, Minnesota finished 2-4 in the final six games, claimed a Quick Lane Bowl victory over Central Michigan and nearly defeated Michigan (29-26). The Kansas native inked a three-year deal in mid-November to be the full-time coach in 2016 and beyond. Claeys also wasted no time putting his stamp on the program, jettisoning two assistants shortly after the regular season ended. Continuing the success and overall momentum from Kill’s tenure is a big reason why Claeys is now the head coach. He’s got experience on the job from last year, knows the ins and outs of the program and can bring stability to a school that does not currently have a full-time athletic director. Minnesota played well under Claeys last season, but will that momentum carry into 2016? Claeys was a good coordinator under Kill. Now, he’s tasked with building a program and being more of a CEO. Is he up for the task?

http://athlonsports.com/college-football/grading-college-footballs-head-coach-hires-2016

Go Gophers!!

 

[CWCWCW]

Athlon's is not impressed and ranked Claeys 24 of 28. I'm not sure why the would call it a curious hire. All things considered, it was by far and away the best option at the time.
After looking at those 28 coaches, I would think only 1 and 3 would be a better choice for Minnesota at this time. They weren't offered and in all likelihood wouldn't have considered the Gophers.

 

[Go4]

i'd go B hire.

 

[Section2]

per Athlon:

24. Tracy Claeys, Minnesota

Previous Job: Minnesota Interim Head Coach

Career FBS Record: 2-4

Claeys worked for 21 years as an assistant under Jerry Kill and was promoted to interim head coach after Kill retired due to health concerns in late October. Under Claeys’ direction, Minnesota finished 2-4 in the final six games, claimed a Quick Lane Bowl victory over Central Michigan and nearly defeated Michigan (29-26). The Kansas native inked a three-year deal in mid-November to be the full-time coach in 2016 and beyond. Claeys also wasted no time putting his stamp on the program, jettisoning two assistants shortly after the regular season ended. Continuing the success and overall momentum from Kill’s tenure is a big reason why Claeys is now the head coach. He’s got experience on the job from last year, knows the ins and outs of the program and can bring stability to a school that does not currently have a full-time athletic director. Minnesota played well under Claeys last season, but will that momentum carry into 2016? Claeys was a good coordinator under Kill. Now, he’s tasked with building a program and being more of a CEO. Is he up for the task?

http://athlonsports.com/college-football/grading-college-footballs-head-coach-hires-2016

Go Gophers!!

He was better than a good coordinator.

 

[Golden04]

It really was a hire that had no other options. One nation sports writer wrote, that he was dissappointed that MN did not go after a big time coach. With the investigation results still pending at the time and no permanent athletic director, no coach would have come here in their right mind. Only a coach from Western Technical Rural Heights Community College, would have come here. Somebody who has nothing to lose but everything to gain. Only Universities like Alabama, Notre Dame, ect., would be able to attract coaches with similar circumstances, but not here.

Claey was really the only option. I think Claey deserves a shot and I'd give the hire an A. The President of the U of M was smart enough to take the only real option in front of him.

 

[Deckergopher]

im sure al golden and brady hoke were better hires then jerry kill at the time according to athlon

 

[MNVCGUY]

Claeys wasn't viewed as a hot commodity on the coaching market so it makes sense that the hire isn't going to attract a lot of attention or interest. Calling it a C+ hire makes sense in that they are basically saying it remains to be seen how well Claeys will do or if he will stick. They aren't saying it was a bad hire, they are just admitting they really don't know what to expect from him.

 

[Some guy]

Claeys was hired for continuity and then got rid of the offensive coordinator.

So the reason he was hired he did not bring with him.



I wouldn't grade it as a very good hire from an outside perspective. Probably had to be done by the U though.

It isn't like they gave him an F.

 

[fryguy22]

Claeys was hired for continuity and then got rid of the offensive coordinator.

So the reason he was hired he did not bring with him.

You do realize the difference between maintaining and building on a program's culture, and keeping every single person involved with that program on board, right?

 

[Some guy]

You do realize the difference between maintaining and building on a program's culture, and keeping every single person involved with that program on board, right?

I am talking about from an outside perspective.


As for getting rid of the o coordinator. I'm glad he did it. One of the reasons I didn't want Claeys at first was because I thought some changes needed to be made. Them being made made me like the hire more but probably made outsiders like the hire less. That's my analysis anyways.

 

[Gopher028]

I laughed so hard looking at this list, who they have in front of Claeys....
I'm not a big reader of Athlon, and I just determined I never will be.