First, up until this incident, I have been a big advocate of Claeys and felt that removing him was wrong. However, there are a couple of key issues now facing us that were not around 3 weeks ago.
1)More than likely there will be a recruiting violation from the NCAA as a result of the recruit having sex with a cheerleader. This incident is going to not go over well with donars
2)The incident is public enough that it will impact recruiting for 2018, unless someone else is brought in a s the figurehead to "cleans the ship"
3)There are donars who want a fall guy for this mess. The captain of the ship is TC, and he will most likely be the one held responsible for the behavior. The U feels that it will need a public relations “victory” to offset the public perception of this issue. Unfortunately, TC will be that guy.
4)It does not appear that Coyle is a supporter of Claeys.
5)Tickets sales were a disaster last year. For the people who dropped tickets, and more importantly new potential sponsors and ticket buyers, doing nothing is not acceptable. People aren’t going to get behind this program unless they perceive “change”
6)Ultimately, the timing is right. Removing an 8-4 coach in his first year is downright impossible as no other coach will come here. However, doing it after a recruiting violation, openly opposing the administration, and being the head coach when this incident happens, makes it more “acceptable”.
So with that said, my assumption is that TC is relieved after the bowl game.
Since it is slow today, I put together a possible hot list.
Ideal candidates-Coaches who might be available and consider the job.
1-Bret Bielema, age 49, current salary 4.1M-He has won multiple Big 10 championships on a campus similar to Minnesota, in a state that produces similar D1 recruits, and plays a style of football we enjoy in Minnesota. I would love to take him, even if he is a prick.
2-Bobby Petrino, age 55, current salary 3.8M-He won at Louisville, then at Arkansas, then at Western Kentucky, and again at Louisville. Given that issues, no way do they hire him, but if they did, we know that Kaler and Coyle are adopting the Just Win Baby attitude.
3-Chip Kelly-age, 53, current salary 6.5M-He is going to get fired. Most likely going to Texas A&M or some other helmet school. That said, I would take him. Once again, no way do we get him.
Realistic candidate
4-Les Miles, age 63,Unemployed-Miles has proven to be a successful head coach compiling a 141-55 record. He took a .500 squad at Oklahoma state and followed it with 3 winning seasons. Miles had a reputation of being great with the press and boosters. He was involved in the recruitment of Boone Pickens as a top booster, and has been very successful. I believe the PR of his hiring would be great….however the issue is his age. Does a 63 year old coach have the ability to come in and take MN to the next level. While he has captained the ship of 2 top programs, he didn’t take OSU to the next level, and you can argue that LSU slipped at the end of his watch.
5-PJ Fleck, age 36, salary 816,000-Fleck is a viral sensation that has taken a WMU program to the top of college football. While WMU was always decent, he has been tremendously successful in going undefeated last season. He is often compared to Urban Meyer as a young coach. Two possible issues. One is that he has never been a coordinator. Two, he might be Lou Holtz 2.0. He would use Minnesota as a stepping stone and, if successful, would be gone within 5 years.
6-Craig Bohl, age 58, salary 909,000-Bohl is the classic Midwestern coach. Player and defensive coordinator at Nebraska, Bohl then led NDSU to multiple national championships and then moved to Wyoming to lead the Cowboys to the top of the Mountain West. Bohl knows how to win with Midwestern talent, and is a tremendous recruiter of Minnesota. He also, like Kill, can bring an entire staff ready to plug in. His offensive and defensive coordinators were with him at NDSU. Two issues: First, Bohl is not the youngest nor the best spoken coach. I am not certain he would win the press conference, which is one of the keys that Kaler/Coyle would like for their new coach. Two, my personal opinion is that Bohl is a classic Osborne disciple, which means he brings in a lot of borderline players. NDSU and Wyoming are not overly “academic” and I see possible issues with him recruiting players to MN that he wants, but cannot get eligible.
Darkhorses-A couple of guys that could be around the fringes.
7-Skip Holtz-age 52, salary 500,000-Holtz has been a moderately successful coach at a handful of different stops. He had 4 winning seasons at East Carolina, followed by 3 poor years at South Florida, and now has had 3 of 4 successful years at Louisiana Tech. He is the classic Minnesota type hire, who has mediocre credentials but has the right last name. Wouldn’t be the worst, but I will be saddened if this is what we end up with.
8-Brady Hoke-age 58 salary 600,000-Before you laugh, think about who Hoke was prior to the Michigan debacle. He took a very poor Ball State program from virtually winless to a 12-1 record in 2008. He then wen t 13-12 at San Diego State and then led Michigan to an 18-14 record. Hoke’s teams prior to Michigan outperformed expectations. He also has coordinator experience. Once again, not thrilled if we end up here, but who knows.
Mark Coyle observation-In his short time, Coyle has hired 2 football coaches. While at Boise State, Bryan Harsin was hired as the head coach at the age of 38. Harsin was the classic young, up and coming coach. Harsin was at Boise State from 2002-2010, then became the Texas offensive coordinator followed by a single year as the Arkansas State head coach. He has a 38-13 record at Boise State. While at Syracuse, Coyle hired Dino Babers. Babers has a long history serving in a variety of position coaching roles before heading up Eatern Illinois from 2012-2013, Bowling Green from 2014-2015 and Syracuse. His overall record is 41-24. Babers is also knows for his uptempo offense.
It would appear, based on his record, that he tends to hire coaches who a)have head coaching experience b)have high powered offenses c)are not “retreads”
I think all signs point to Fleck.
1)More than likely there will be a recruiting violation from the NCAA as a result of the recruit having sex with a cheerleader. This incident is going to not go over well with donars
2)The incident is public enough that it will impact recruiting for 2018, unless someone else is brought in a s the figurehead to "cleans the ship"
3)There are donars who want a fall guy for this mess. The captain of the ship is TC, and he will most likely be the one held responsible for the behavior. The U feels that it will need a public relations “victory” to offset the public perception of this issue. Unfortunately, TC will be that guy.
4)It does not appear that Coyle is a supporter of Claeys.
5)Tickets sales were a disaster last year. For the people who dropped tickets, and more importantly new potential sponsors and ticket buyers, doing nothing is not acceptable. People aren’t going to get behind this program unless they perceive “change”
6)Ultimately, the timing is right. Removing an 8-4 coach in his first year is downright impossible as no other coach will come here. However, doing it after a recruiting violation, openly opposing the administration, and being the head coach when this incident happens, makes it more “acceptable”.
So with that said, my assumption is that TC is relieved after the bowl game.
Since it is slow today, I put together a possible hot list.
Ideal candidates-Coaches who might be available and consider the job.
1-Bret Bielema, age 49, current salary 4.1M-He has won multiple Big 10 championships on a campus similar to Minnesota, in a state that produces similar D1 recruits, and plays a style of football we enjoy in Minnesota. I would love to take him, even if he is a prick.
2-Bobby Petrino, age 55, current salary 3.8M-He won at Louisville, then at Arkansas, then at Western Kentucky, and again at Louisville. Given that issues, no way do they hire him, but if they did, we know that Kaler and Coyle are adopting the Just Win Baby attitude.
3-Chip Kelly-age, 53, current salary 6.5M-He is going to get fired. Most likely going to Texas A&M or some other helmet school. That said, I would take him. Once again, no way do we get him.
Realistic candidate
4-Les Miles, age 63,Unemployed-Miles has proven to be a successful head coach compiling a 141-55 record. He took a .500 squad at Oklahoma state and followed it with 3 winning seasons. Miles had a reputation of being great with the press and boosters. He was involved in the recruitment of Boone Pickens as a top booster, and has been very successful. I believe the PR of his hiring would be great….however the issue is his age. Does a 63 year old coach have the ability to come in and take MN to the next level. While he has captained the ship of 2 top programs, he didn’t take OSU to the next level, and you can argue that LSU slipped at the end of his watch.
5-PJ Fleck, age 36, salary 816,000-Fleck is a viral sensation that has taken a WMU program to the top of college football. While WMU was always decent, he has been tremendously successful in going undefeated last season. He is often compared to Urban Meyer as a young coach. Two possible issues. One is that he has never been a coordinator. Two, he might be Lou Holtz 2.0. He would use Minnesota as a stepping stone and, if successful, would be gone within 5 years.
6-Craig Bohl, age 58, salary 909,000-Bohl is the classic Midwestern coach. Player and defensive coordinator at Nebraska, Bohl then led NDSU to multiple national championships and then moved to Wyoming to lead the Cowboys to the top of the Mountain West. Bohl knows how to win with Midwestern talent, and is a tremendous recruiter of Minnesota. He also, like Kill, can bring an entire staff ready to plug in. His offensive and defensive coordinators were with him at NDSU. Two issues: First, Bohl is not the youngest nor the best spoken coach. I am not certain he would win the press conference, which is one of the keys that Kaler/Coyle would like for their new coach. Two, my personal opinion is that Bohl is a classic Osborne disciple, which means he brings in a lot of borderline players. NDSU and Wyoming are not overly “academic” and I see possible issues with him recruiting players to MN that he wants, but cannot get eligible.
Darkhorses-A couple of guys that could be around the fringes.
7-Skip Holtz-age 52, salary 500,000-Holtz has been a moderately successful coach at a handful of different stops. He had 4 winning seasons at East Carolina, followed by 3 poor years at South Florida, and now has had 3 of 4 successful years at Louisiana Tech. He is the classic Minnesota type hire, who has mediocre credentials but has the right last name. Wouldn’t be the worst, but I will be saddened if this is what we end up with.
8-Brady Hoke-age 58 salary 600,000-Before you laugh, think about who Hoke was prior to the Michigan debacle. He took a very poor Ball State program from virtually winless to a 12-1 record in 2008. He then wen t 13-12 at San Diego State and then led Michigan to an 18-14 record. Hoke’s teams prior to Michigan outperformed expectations. He also has coordinator experience. Once again, not thrilled if we end up here, but who knows.
Mark Coyle observation-In his short time, Coyle has hired 2 football coaches. While at Boise State, Bryan Harsin was hired as the head coach at the age of 38. Harsin was the classic young, up and coming coach. Harsin was at Boise State from 2002-2010, then became the Texas offensive coordinator followed by a single year as the Arkansas State head coach. He has a 38-13 record at Boise State. While at Syracuse, Coyle hired Dino Babers. Babers has a long history serving in a variety of position coaching roles before heading up Eatern Illinois from 2012-2013, Bowling Green from 2014-2015 and Syracuse. His overall record is 41-24. Babers is also knows for his uptempo offense.
It would appear, based on his record, that he tends to hire coaches who a)have head coaching experience b)have high powered offenses c)are not “retreads”
I think all signs point to Fleck.
