OK,So what are the ideal qualifications for the next Akron coach?

[Lee Adams]

Suddenly a lot of people have crystallized their opinions. Hell,24 hours ago we weren't absolutely sure we would be looking for another coach. Without naming names,what are the qualities that the next coach absolutely has to have?

[GP1]

In no order:

1. Understands it isn't easy to win at Akron but believes it can be done

2. Offensive oriented utilizing the spread offense

3. Success at actually teaching players how to play football

4. Ability to recruit quality MAC players

5. Uses traditional defense

[Jalapeño Zippy]

In no order:

1. Understands it isn't easy to win at Akron but believes it can be done

2. Offensive oriented utilizing the spread offense

3. Success at actually teaching players how to play football

4. Ability to recruit quality MAC players

5. Uses traditional defense

Ties to NE Ohio High Schools which would strenghten the recruiting efforts

[bobbyake]

Priority List in order:

Jim Tressel

Paul Winters

Luke Fickell

[Thewatcher]

STOP!

Here are the qualifications.....

Make your system fit the tools (players) you have to win and transition to a new style if desired as new players are added.

find a way to win with what you have ......

local players create local fans

make a connection to the Akron area.

Find a way to win,,, we dont care how.

[johnnyzip84]

These are characteristics that I prefer, but they obviously aren't necessarily essential in the new HC:

1) can salvage a decent recruiting class for 2012

2) has head coaching experience

3) runs a tight ship but uses more than just fear as a motivator

4) can adapt his schemes based on the talent he has to work with

5) isn't afraid to take calculated risks

[GoZips88]

Hmmmm (with all due respect to the original creator) ....

[ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net]

These are characteristics that I prefer, but they obviously aren't necessarily essential in the new HC:

1) can salvage a decent recruiting class for 2012

2) has head coaching experience

3) runs a tight ship but uses more than just fear as a motivator

4) can adapt his schemes based on the talent he has to work with

5) isn't afraid to take calculated risks

Man, won't it be fascinating to see if/how a new coach can find players for next year's class? Whoever is named, I think it will be telling to see whether they can find players, so late in the game, to play at UA. They certainly can't do worse than Rob did.

[ZachTheZip]

These are characteristics that I prefer, but they obviously aren't necessarily essential in the new HC:

1) can salvage a decent recruiting class for 2012

2) has head coaching experience

3) runs a tight ship but uses more than just fear as a motivator

4) can adapt his schemes based on the talent he has to work with

5) isn't afraid to take calculated risks

Man, won't it be fascinating to see if/how a new coach can find players for next year's class? Whoever is named, I think it will be telling to see whether they can find players, so late in the game, to play at UA. They certainly can't do worse than Rob did.

Well, Tressel would have them lining up. Players would de-commit from other schools to come here. Any other coach would have to work pretty hard to salvage a recruiting class.

[Buckzip]

A proven consistent winner.

[Sergeant Zip]

Knows how to send text messages.

[Lee Adams]

Nice work. Here are my qualifications:

1) Some type of successful HC experience at the D-II level or above.

2) Experience recruiting Ohio,Western Penna first and the ability to bring in a few athletes from down south or out west.

3)Has the ability and WILLINGNESS to adapt his schemes to the players he inherits.

4)Willingness to at least try to keep players from the previous regime and not run them off.

5)Willingess to bring in asisstants who aren't just retreads and who can adapt to the conditions as they exist here.

6)The ability to coach before and ON gameday. He has to be able to do more than assign positions and put players on the field.

7)The willingness to accept responsibility when he screws up and say so in public.

8)The willingness to connect with the few fans who actually still follow football here.

9)The ability to beat Can't.

It ain't gonna be easy.

[Blue & Gold]

Nice work. Here are my qualifications:

1) Some type of successful HC experience at the D-II level or above.

2) Experience recruiting Ohio,Western Penna first and the ability to bring in a few athletes from down south or out west.

3)Has the ability and WILLINGNESS to adapt his schemes to the players he inherits.

4)Willingness to at least try to keep players from the previous regime and not run them off.

5)Willingess to bring in asisstants who aren't just retreads and who can adapt to the conditions as they exist here.

6)The ability to coach before and ON gameday. He has to be able to do more than assign positions and put players on the field.

7)The willingness to accept responsibility when he screws up and say so in public.

8)The willingness to connect with the few fans who actually still follow football here.

9)The ability to beat Can't.

It ain't gonna be easy.

So basically an anti-Ianello?

[Captain Kangaroo]

Doesn't have a plan, and then change the plan to a process.

[g-mann17]

Most importantly his name should rhyme with rim vessel.

[bandzip]

Knows how to send text messages.

Man, I had completely forgotten about that.

[johnnyzip84]

Most importantly his name should rhyme with rim vessel.

Or stall splinters

For the record, I'm not set on any one individual. As much as I despised Tressel in the past, both at YSU and OSU, I'll admit if there is any chance of hiring him here, UA needs to give it a shot even if it is primarily for financial reasons. Assuming the potential coaching ban is not an issue, I still have a mild concern over whether he can operate the same program as he did at YSU without the threat of NCAA violations occuring here. And if he runs a 100% clean operation, will he necessarily be successful? Aside from these particulars, there is always the possibility that the one time successful "big time coach" simply doesn't get it done at the lower level program (for example Dick Crum at K.E.N.T., and more recently Bill Curry at Georgia St and Larry Coker at UTSA). Still, it's probably a risk worth taking, but there are certainly no guarantees regardless of who gets the job. Oh and one more thing. We can't schedule Slippery Rock and Clarion to open every season like Tressel did back in his YSU heyday.

[Lee Adams]

Most importantly his name should rhyme with rim vessel.

Or stall splinters

For the record, I'm not set on any one individual. As much as I despised Tressel in the past, both at YSU and OSU, I'll admit if there is any chance of hiring him here, UA needs to give it a shot even if it is primarily for financial reasons. Assuming the potential coaching ban is not an issue, I still have a mild concern over whether he can operate the same program as he did at YSU without the threat of NCAA violations occuring here. And if he runs a 100% clean operation, will he necessarily be successful? Aside from these particulars, there is always the possibility that the one time successful "big time coach" simply doesn't get it done at the lower level program (for example Dick Crum at K.E.N.T., and more recently Bill Curry at Georgia St and Larry Coker at UTSA). Still, it's probably a risk worth taking, but there are certainly no guarantees regardless of who gets the job. Oh and one more thing. We can't schedule Slippery Rock and Clarion to open every season like Tressel did back in his YSU heyday.

Ya and you can't schedule Akron,Toledo,OU etc,etc as your OOC patsies.

[akronzips71]

A "big time" coach gives the program instant credibility, and if we fail we really can't blame the coach!

Just consider this:

Right now, we are the worst team in Div I. And Akron is not exactly an Ivy league school. We have NOTHING to induce a recruit to come here, unless this is his only scholarship offer.

On the other hand, KD has managed to sign Zeke, Walsh, Tree, Harney, Deji who could all probably play for almost any program in the NCAA (look how well Humpty is doing) and next year Adams, a TOP prospect. Perpetual post season tourneys will do that for you. Akron is quickly becoming an attractive place to play basketball.

Football is locked in an endless loop. With our record no one wants to play for such a total loser.

We have nothing to offer except scholarship money. So does every other DI school.

The only chance we have to break out of this is to get a top top coach, with a winning reputation. Who can attract good kids to play for him, because there is some promise of a future.

[johnnyzip84]

Elton of the PD has some thoughts.

Matt Campbell is intriguing to me. Of course, Eric Page makes him look like a pretty good coach.

[you am i]

Since I've been following MAC football there have been a number of quality head coaches pass through the conference.

The ones that come to mind are Brian Kelly, Al Golden, Gary Pinkel, Nick Saban, and Urban Meyer. Bob Pruett and Joe Novak were also good. Brian Kelly was the only one hired that had previous head coaching experience at the college level. The rest came to the job as career assistants, most with some experience as either a player or assistant coach in the MAC.

A lost of posters have said they want someone at Akron who has a big name or has head coaching experience, but, in the MAC, the guys who have been the most successful have had neither, except for Kelly.

I lived in NW Ohio when Saban, Meyer, and Pinkel were hired and in each case the response from the fans upon the naming of the new coach was, "Who?"

If there was a proven successful formula for hiring a head coach everyone would know about it. It is always a crap shoot. You have to depend on the decision makers to make the right decision. Unfortunately, the track record of the decision makers at Akron has been bad. I want to believe they'll get it right this time. I have zero confidence at all in TW's judgment in this regard.

We need to find a leader. Someone the players believe in. Caleb Porter has those qualities. That's the kind of intangible that cannot be quantified or easily identified. That's why I would love to see Caleb on the committee.

[you am i]

Since I've been following MAC football there have been a number of quality head coaches pass through the conference.

The ones that come to mind are Brian Kelly, Al Golden, Gary Pinkel, Nick Saban, and Urban Meyer. Bob Pruett and Joe Novak were also good. Brian Kelly was the only one hired that had previous head coaching experience at the college level. The rest came to the job as career assistants, most with some experience as either a player or assistant coach in the MAC.

A lost of posters have said they want someone at Akron who has a big name or has head coaching experience, but, in the MAC, the guys who have been the most successful have had neither, except for Kelly.

I lived in NW Ohio when Saban, Meyer, and Pinkel were hired and in each case the response from the fans upon the naming of the new coach was, "Who?"

If there was a proven successful formula for hiring a head coach everyone would know about it. It is always a crap shoot. You have to depend on the decision makers to make the right decision. Unfortunately, the track record of the decision makers at Akron has been bad. I want to believe they'll get it right this time. I have zero confidence at all in TW's judgment in this regard.

We need to find a leader. Someone the players believe in. Caleb Porter has those qualities. That's the kind of intangible that cannot be quantified or easily identified. That's why I would love to see Caleb on the committee.

One more thing, when Saban, Meyer and Pinkel were hired, it was clear from the get-go that the right decision had been made. Meyer and Saban each took over a program that was slumping and made a noticeable positive impact in the first season. Pinkel took over from Saban and kept the ball rolling. That was what was so discouraging to me about RI's first year - straight into the crapper.

[Doug Snyder]

Elton of the PD has some thoughts.

Matt Campbell is intriguing to me. Of course, Eric Page makes him look like a pretty good coach.

I am intrigued by Campbell. he is considered a good recruiter at the MAC level. A NE Ohio guy, an OC with experience from the OL point of view (our weakest area this past year). My only concern is that he will have some of the same learning issues that Ianello had. maybe he can learn quickly. The really positive thing is...he has been recruiting MAC quality kids for 4 years now and must have good relationships with Ohio coaches and have a list to recruit from for 2012. He would make my list...but would not be the top choice....although the interview and vetting process could change that.

[Blue & Gold]

We need to find a leader. Someone the players believe in. Caleb Porter has those qualities. That's the kind of intangible that cannot be quantified or easily identified. That's why I would love to see Caleb on the committee.

+1.

CP could look a HC candidate in the eye, shake his hand, and recognize whether or not the candidate had "It."

[Lee Adams]

Now that it appears that the Tressel storm has finally passed back to what may actually help this program. Maybe instead of going after the latest 'hotshot' coordinators or even 'hotshot' younger coaches at a lower level,maybe what Wistrcill needs to look at is the possibility of stability. If Wistrcill is interested there are some more established coaches at I-AA and D-II who have been successful where they are. It seems like all the AD's in recent history have gone after assistants from bigger programs with very limited success here.

Maybe he needs to actually look this time at people who don't jump off the page or who are not his friends. Maybe he needs to look at coaches who have been winning at lower levels who might listen to an offer. But to do that you actually have to do some research. There are coaches in the Gateway,GLIAC,PSAC,OVC etc who are familiar with this area and are successful where they are. I am getting tired of watching coaches with no coaching track record trying to learn how to run a program on the fly. We know Faust didn't work but he probably never should have been in D-I to begin with. Get somebody on the sidelines who has a clue before they get here for c....t sake.