Is Our Head Coach "Search" a Sham?

[Dr Z]

There have been a total of 25 FBS openings this year. 18 are now filled. The seven that are open are: Akron, Arkansas State, Arizona State, Fresno State, Hawaii, Houston, Penn State and Southern Miss.

Find out who four (one being PSU) of those schools interviewed, wait until those four jobs are filled, and hire the best one that will take the job. Sit back and play MW3 until then. I'm half joking, but this plan is better than the last one.

[zipseuph]

There have been a total of 25 FBS openings this year. 18 are now filled. The seven that are open are: Akron, Arkansas State, Arizona State, Fresno State, Hawaii, Houston, Penn State and Southern Miss.

Find out who four (one being PSU) of those schools interviewed, wait until those four jobs are filled, and hire the best one that will take the job. Sit back and play MW3 until then. I'm half joking, but this plan is better than the last one.

yeah, you strike me as more of a Battlefield kinda guy.

[Spin]

If the choice has been made that its Winters, that doesn't mean there wasn't a search, that doesn't mean there wasn't a process.

I believe there was a search.

So what if it was Tom walking through the Student Union to the burger joint, and walking back to the JAR and not seeing any experienced college coaches along his "search".

[skip-zip]

Interesting article on Narduzzi

Who was the only one to mention Narduzzi in the Wheel of Fortune thread?

The idea that they would hire an only-recently-successful small college coach over a guy with Narduzzi's resume? That's laughable, and predictable.

BINGO!! That's why I keep having a problem with the words "Safe Choice" coming from the Winters supporters. How can that possibly be defined as a "Safe Choice"?

[Zipgrad01]

Interesting article on Narduzzi

Who was the only one to mention Narduzzi in the Wheel of Fortune thread?

The idea that they would hire an only-recently-successful small college coach over a guy with Narduzzi's resume? That's laughable, and predictable.

What's so great about his resume? His defense was fifth in the Big Ten in rushing defense? Why am I not filled with the desire to run to him with a job offer.

This guy falls under the category of Coach X. Just another guy who attends all the clinics and does what everyone else does with varying success depending on the talent level of the team.

Another Commander Riker. Everyone in Star Fleet knows a captain has to lead a smaller star ship to become captain of the Enterprise...or in our case, a medical resupply ship. In any event, at least Winters has experience leading a ship.

With that said, could he be a good coach for Akron? Yes. Lots of people could win at Akron. We have loads of potential.

His defense is ranked 9th in the country in total scoring defense and top 20 in every category.

He also had the 35th ranked defense at Miami (Oh), 38th ranked D at Northern Illinois and top 30 defenses at Cincy. He has done it everywhere. He has a good resume.

Top 30...Wow!

He may be good, but there are lots of good guys. We need the best fit.

Yes, wow Top 30. He had 4 different schools rank in the top 25% of D1 football in defense, with two of those being MAC schools. How many good MAC defenses have you seen?

You obviously have a better choice than a consistent top 30 coordinator. Who is it?

[Doug Snyder]

Interesting article on Narduzzi

Who was the only one to mention Narduzzi in the Wheel of Fortune thread?

The idea that they would hire an only-recently-successful small college coach over a guy with Narduzzi's resume? That's laughable, and predictable.

BINGO!! That's why I keep having a problem with the words "Safe Choice" coming from the Winters supporters. How can that possibly be defined as a "Safe Choice"?

Skip. Although I am OK with any of the 4 finalists...but I am a Winters supporter. I have never used the words "safe choice". In fact...I can't remember reading those words except from you. Can you give me a list of a few of those using those words?? If not...please stop useing that accusation.

[Dave in Green]

ZN.o search results for the term "safe choice" at any time over all forums

[hiroad1]

Interesting article on Narduzzi

Who was the only one to mention Narduzzi in the Wheel of Fortune thread?

The idea that they would hire an only-recently-successful small college coach over a guy with Narduzzi's resume? That's laughable, and predictable.

BINGO!! That's why I keep having a problem with the words "Safe Choice" coming from the Winters supporters. How can that possibly be defined as a "Safe Choice"?

Skip. Although I am OK with any of the 4 finalists...but I am a Winters supporter. I have never used the words "safe choice". In fact...I can't remember reading those words except from you. Can you give me a list of a few of those using those words?? If not...please stop useing that accusation.

I pretty much used those words a week ago to characterize a post by InTheZone..............

QUOTE(InTheZone @ Dec 9 2011, 01:23 AM)

QUOTE(Zipsrifle @ Dec 8 2011, 11:33 PM)

QUOTE(Dave in Green @ Dec 8 2011, 04:03 PM)

I don't know as much about Winters as some of you. I've tried to research him as best I could. By all accounts he appears to be a good and decent man who has toiled long and hard to reach where he is this season. His connections to UA are undeniable. In many ways he makes an almost perfect candidate for those who have longed for a qualified head coach with strong UA ties.

From all I'm able to gather, I believe that he would make a good head coach for UA in that he could probably make UA competitive in the MAC within a couple of years.

My only concern is that I haven't seen anything to convince me that he would be likely to turn UA into a big winner in the MAC, or in a more competitive conference in the event that UA should ever make such a move.

I guess I look at Winters as the comfortable choice -- the guy who is likely to draw the least criticism on ZN.o if he's selected, and someone who could probably navigate the MAC well enough to keep the Zips from being an embarassment.

I just don't see the flash of potential greatness that I do in someone like Matt Campbell, who has risen quickly to prominence at a young age.

If Winters ends up being the choice, I hope I'm wrong and that all of the optimism from others is well-founded.

This is why Proenza had better put together a hell of a Search Committee to find the coach. F the opinion fans on ZNO, make the right hire and lets get this thing turned around.

From InTheZone:

Ummm..... no. This administration knows they have F'd the fans enough, and they are not going to make a hire such as Ianello again that may come out of a "process" but leaves everyone saying WTF and then places the blame squarely on them if and when he fails. If they all want to save their asses, they'll hire someone the fans and alumni are behind, which at this point can really only either be a big name or Paul Winters (Mike Johnson has alumni support too, but doesn't want the gig). If they go with a choice of the fans, everyone shares in the blame as a community when the guy fails. They go out on a limb, its squarely on their ass again, and they know they can't survive that.

My response:

Come on.....

To make a decison because it is safe?

Absolutely the wrong approach! Those in the "administration" are paid to LEAD and make strategic decisions for this university.

Plus, I am not convinced it is anywhere near unanimous among alumni that they are insisting on an "Akron Man". I'm not.

I want the best coach available. That might be Winters, but I think there might be better people available.

I will be angry if I find UA did not make every effort to find the best person they can get. If a legitimate process leads to the hiring of Paul Winters, he will have my 100% support.

Anything less, and they will have people waiting to say "I told you so" if Winters isn't successful. How would that even be a "safe" approach for the administration?

[Dave in Green]

@hiroad1, thanks for the fact check on where the term "safe choice" originated.

In the long series of quotes, I said I looked at Winters as the "comfortable choice" and thought he was likely to do well but not necessarily turn UA into a big winner. I'm still not 100% certain that Winters is the best all-around choice. But after looking at what he accomplished as a D1A OC, I'm more open to him being one of the top candidates to turn UA around. Maybe one of the up-and-coming young coaches could do better, maybe not.

There will never be unanimous agreement on who the best available candidate is. But one thing is an absolute certainty. If the coach who is selected doesn't pan out, the Akron Zips Football forum is going to become a really unpleasant place to visit.

[GP1]

You obviously have a better choice than a consistent top 30 coordinator. Who is it?

There is a former coordinator out there who once had his offenses in the Top 10 nationally. This former coordinator has also taken a laughing stock from one of the worst teams in their division to the brink of playing in a national championship game. This coordinator has also coached in the MAC so he understands how difficult it is to win somewhere like Akron. Rumor has it, he has close ties to Akron as well.

Not another William Riker.

[ZachTheZip]

You obviously have a better choice than a consistent top 30 coordinator. Who is it?

There is a former coordinator out there who once had his offenses in the Top 10 nationally. This former coordinator has also taken a laughing stock from one of the worst teams in their division to the brink of playing in a national championship game. This coordinator has also coached in the MAC so he understands how difficult it is to win somewhere like Akron. Rumor has it, he has close ties to Akron as well.

Not another William Riker.

There also is a head coach who had his offense in the top 10 nationally. He has seen success as a head coach at a local lower division college. He has ties to many local high schools and a locally worshipped BCS school. He has even won at Akron before. Why aren't we discussing hiring him instead of one of his lackeys?

[Lee Adams]

@hiroad1, thanks for the fact check on where the term "safe choice" originated.

In the long series of quotes, I said I looked at Winters as the "comfortable choice" and thought he was likely to do well but not necessarily turn UA into a big winner. I'm still not 100% certain that Winters is the best all-around choice. But after looking at what he accomplished as a D1A OC, I'm more open to him being one of the top candidates to turn UA around. Maybe one of the up-and-coming young coaches could do better, maybe not.

There will never be unanimous agreement on who the best available candidate is. But one thing is an absolute certainty. If the coach who is selected doesn't pan out, the Akron Zips Football forum is going to become a really unpleasant place to visit.

'Big winner' at Akron is defined as what?

[GP1]

You obviously have a better choice than a consistent top 30 coordinator. Who is it?

There is a former coordinator out there who once had his offenses in the Top 10 nationally. This former coordinator has also taken a laughing stock from one of the worst teams in their division to the brink of playing in a national championship game. This coordinator has also coached in the MAC so he understands how difficult it is to win somewhere like Akron. Rumor has it, he has close ties to Akron as well.

Not another William Riker.

There also is a head coach who had his offense in the top 10 nationally. He has seen success as a head coach at a local lower division college. He has ties to many local high schools and a locally worshipped BCS school. He has even won at Akron before. Why aren't we discussing hiring him instead of one of his lackeys?

Because given the chance to assemble an entire team, Owens was a failure at Akron. 40 wins in 9 years doesn't cut it regardless of how anyone wants to slice it.

Winters has had success with what he had control over and shouldn't have what he didn't have control over held against him. Given control over an entire team, Winters has had success so when given the opportunity, he can put together an entire team.

[ZachTheZip]

You obviously have a better choice than a consistent top 30 coordinator. Who is it?

There is a former coordinator out there who once had his offenses in the Top 10 nationally. This former coordinator has also taken a laughing stock from one of the worst teams in their division to the brink of playing in a national championship game. This coordinator has also coached in the MAC so he understands how difficult it is to win somewhere like Akron. Rumor has it, he has close ties to Akron as well.

Not another William Riker.

There also is a head coach who had his offense in the top 10 nationally. He has seen success as a head coach at a local lower division college. He has ties to many local high schools and a locally worshipped BCS school. He has even won at Akron before. Why aren't we discussing hiring him instead of one of his lackeys?

Because given the chance to assemble an entire team, Owens was a failure at Akron. 40 wins in 9 years doesn't cut it regardless of how anyone wants to slice it.

Winters has had success with what he had control over and shouldn't have what he didn't have control over held against him. Given control over an entire team, Winters has had success so when given the opportunity, he can put together an entire team.

He had control over putting himself out in public to promote his offense and building his own reputation as a solid coach. If he had succeeded in these, we would have hired him instead of Brookhart. It's not just about calling plays.

We need someone who can excite the community in more ways than putting a good product on the field, because at this point nobody goes to see the product or even keeps tabs on it through what little media coverage we get. He could get us to six wins in his first year and nobody would notice or care because they've already been jilted by Akron in the past and don't want to see what we have to offer now.

[GP1]

He had control over putting himself out in public to promote his offense and building his own reputation as a solid coach. If he had succeeded in these, we would have hired him instead of Brookhart. It's not just about calling plays.

We need someone who can excite the community in more ways than putting a good product on the field, because at this point nobody goes to see the product or even keeps tabs on it through what little media coverage we get. He could get us to six wins in his first year and nobody would notice or care because they've already been jilted by Akron in the past and don't want to see what we have to offer now.

So hiring a noname coach from MSU or Toledo is going to get people excited? Let's not focus on this though....

......Let's focus on the first paragraph. Normally, a paragraph as stupid as the first above is reserved for drunks posting in the early hours of the morning. Done with finals are we?

[Jalapeño Zippy]

You obviously have a better choice than a consistent top 30 coordinator. Who is it?

There is a former coordinator out there who once had his offenses in the Top 10 nationally. This former coordinator has also taken a laughing stock from one of the worst teams in their division to the brink of playing in a national championship game. This coordinator has also coached in the MAC so he understands how difficult it is to win somewhere like Akron. Rumor has it, he has close ties to Akron as well.

Not another William Riker.

There also is a head coach who had his offense in the top 10 nationally. He has seen success as a head coach at a local lower division college. He has ties to many local high schools and a locally worshipped BCS school. He has even won at Akron before. Why aren't we discussing hiring him instead of one of his lackeys?

Because given the chance to assemble an entire team, Owens was a failure at Akron. 40 wins in 9 years doesn't cut it regardless of how anyone wants to slice it.

Winters has had success with what he had control over and shouldn't have what he didn't have control over held against him. Given control over an entire team, Winters has had success so when given the opportunity, he can put together an entire team.

He had control over putting himself out in public to promote his offense and building his own reputation as a solid coach. If he had succeeded in these, we would have hired him instead of Brookhart. It's not just about calling plays.

We need someone who can excite the community in more ways than putting a good product on the field, because at this point nobody goes to see the product or even keeps tabs on it through what little media coverage we get. He could get us to six wins in his first year and nobody would notice or care because they've already been jilted by Akron in the past and don't want to see what we have to offer now.

I would like one example please where the head coach was let go and a coordinator under that coach was hired in his place. Winning excites the community. Winters has proven that he can take a program like Wayne State and LIKE Akron and turn it around and make it a winner.

[ZachTheZip]

You obviously have a better choice than a consistent top 30 coordinator. Who is it?

There is a former coordinator out there who once had his offenses in the Top 10 nationally. This former coordinator has also taken a laughing stock from one of the worst teams in their division to the brink of playing in a national championship game. This coordinator has also coached in the MAC so he understands how difficult it is to win somewhere like Akron. Rumor has it, he has close ties to Akron as well.

Not another William Riker.

There also is a head coach who had his offense in the top 10 nationally. He has seen success as a head coach at a local lower division college. He has ties to many local high schools and a locally worshipped BCS school. He has even won at Akron before. Why aren't we discussing hiring him instead of one of his lackeys?

Because given the chance to assemble an entire team, Owens was a failure at Akron. 40 wins in 9 years doesn't cut it regardless of how anyone wants to slice it.

Winters has had success with what he had control over and shouldn't have what he didn't have control over held against him. Given control over an entire team, Winters has had success so when given the opportunity, he can put together an entire team.

He had control over putting himself out in public to promote his offense and building his own reputation as a solid coach. If he had succeeded in these, we would have hired him instead of Brookhart. It's not just about calling plays.

We need someone who can excite the community in more ways than putting a good product on the field, because at this point nobody goes to see the product or even keeps tabs on it through what little media coverage we get. He could get us to six wins in his first year and nobody would notice or care because they've already been jilted by Akron in the past and don't want to see what we have to offer now.

I would like one example please where the head coach was let go and a coordinator under that coach was hired in his place. Winning excites the community. Winters has proven that he can take a program like Wayne State and LIKE Akron and turn it around and make it a winner.

Uh, Matt Campbell?

[Jalapeño Zippy]

You obviously have a better choice than a consistent top 30 coordinator. Who is it?

There is a former coordinator out there who once had his offenses in the Top 10 nationally. This former coordinator has also taken a laughing stock from one of the worst teams in their division to the brink of playing in a national championship game. This coordinator has also coached in the MAC so he understands how difficult it is to win somewhere like Akron. Rumor has it, he has close ties to Akron as well.

Not another William Riker.

There also is a head coach who had his offense in the top 10 nationally. He has seen success as a head coach at a local lower division college. He has ties to many local high schools and a locally worshipped BCS school. He has even won at Akron before. Why aren't we discussing hiring him instead of one of his lackeys?

Because given the chance to assemble an entire team, Owens was a failure at Akron. 40 wins in 9 years doesn't cut it regardless of how anyone wants to slice it.

Winters has had success with what he had control over and shouldn't have what he didn't have control over held against him. Given control over an entire team, Winters has had success so when given the opportunity, he can put together an entire team.

He had control over putting himself out in public to promote his offense and building his own reputation as a solid coach. If he had succeeded in these, we would have hired him instead of Brookhart. It's not just about calling plays.

We need someone who can excite the community in more ways than putting a good product on the field, because at this point nobody goes to see the product or even keeps tabs on it through what little media coverage we get. He could get us to six wins in his first year and nobody would notice or care because they've already been jilted by Akron in the past and don't want to see what we have to offer now.

I would like one example please where the head coach was let go and a coordinator under that coach was hired in his place. Winning excites the community. Winters has proven that he can take a program like Wayne State and LIKE Akron and turn it around and make it a winner.

Uh, Matt Campbell?

UT coach wasn't let go...he moved on.

[Z.I.P.]

Campbell said "no one from Akron contacted him directly." The qualifying word "directly" would not be required unless perhaps the formal process of initiating contact with him had in fact begun but was still in its early stages.

Here's an interpretation of what he said: Someone associated with the UA search began the formal process of contacting Campbell. Toledo decided to name Campbell head coach before anyone from Akron had a chance to speak directly with Campbell. Campbell's first choice was the Toledo position. Once offered that position he felt no need to listen to any offer from UA.

My understanding is they never make their first contact directly -- they contact their manager, agent, lawyer, etc. BTW -- is UA using the same search company involved when they ended up with the last guy?

[Zip Watcher]

I would like one example please where the head coach was let go and a coordinator under that coach was hired in his place. Winning excites the community. Winters has proven that he can take a program like Wayne State and LIKE Akron and turn it around and make it a winner.

Uh, Matt Campbell?

No, actually Beckman LEFT .. he wasn't let go.

The only example I can think of isn't in FB .. it was when KD was elevated to HC after Thunder Dan was released.

[ZachTheZip]

He had control over putting himself out in public to promote his offense and building his own reputation as a solid coach. If he had succeeded in these, we would have hired him instead of Brookhart. It's not just about calling plays.

We need someone who can excite the community in more ways than putting a good product on the field, because at this point nobody goes to see the product or even keeps tabs on it through what little media coverage we get. He could get us to six wins in his first year and nobody would notice or care because they've already been jilted by Akron in the past and don't want to see what we have to offer now.

So hiring a noname coach from MSU or Toledo is going to get people excited? Let's not focus on this though....

......Let's focus on the first paragraph. Normally, a paragraph as stupid as the first above is reserved for drunks posting in the early hours of the morning. Done with finals are we?

I can't believe you're arguing that Paul Winters has more name recognition than any of the other coaching candidates. He has the least name recognition of them all. Pat Narduzzi is known to a half-million MSU fans as a guy who will almost certainly be a BCS head coach by the end of the decade. Mike Johnson is known throughout Los Angeles from working at UCLA and nationally from his time coaching in the NFL. The only people who know Winters are his former players and a few thousand people in the 'hood of Detroit.

I know how much you love Lee Owens' old offense, but Winters is not the guy for this job and he never will be. He had his chances and came up just short, just like his offense constantly did.

[Jalapeño Zippy]

I would like one example please where the head coach was let go and a coordinator under that coach was hired in his place. Winning excites the community. Winters has proven that he can take a program like Wayne State and LIKE Akron and turn it around and make it a winner.

Uh, Matt Campbell?

No, actually Beckman LEFT .. he wasn't let go.

The only example I can think of isn't in FB .. it was when KD was elevated to HC after Thunder Dan was released.

Good call. KD was a late addition to the staff and had a little clout in his favor with a couple of HS players contemplating their next move. Back to the subject at hand. Winters has proven his ability of turning around and leading a program. He has also shown that he can coach at the D1 level check the DIG stats provided earlier or on a different thread.

[Z.I.P.]

I would like one example please where the head coach was let go and a coordinator under that coach was hired in his place. Winning excites the community. Winters has proven that he can take a program like Wayne State and LIKE Akron and turn it around and make it a winner.

I was going to say Keith Dambrot, but I caught myself. There is a possibility that scenario will be taking place much closer to myself -- about ten miles away in Manoa Valley, O'ahu where the favorite (many are saying "strong favorite") to replace outgoing Hawaii coach Greg McMackin is long-time position coach, and most recently Associate HC, Rich Miano. (ok, he wan't a coordinator, but read on) If he gets the job, it will be based almost entirely upon his position as a local boy who made good, and the feeling among diehard fans that the coach must have local ties. Now where have I heard that before? BTW, he's never called plays.

[Jalapeño Zippy]

He had control over putting himself out in public to promote his offense and building his own reputation as a solid coach. If he had succeeded in these, we would have hired him instead of Brookhart. It's not just about calling plays.

We need someone who can excite the community in more ways than putting a good product on the field, because at this point nobody goes to see the product or even keeps tabs on it through what little media coverage we get. He could get us to six wins in his first year and nobody would notice or care because they've already been jilted by Akron in the past and don't want to see what we have to offer now.

So hiring a noname coach from MSU or Toledo is going to get people excited? Let's not focus on this though....

......Let's focus on the first paragraph. Normally, a paragraph as stupid as the first above is reserved for drunks posting in the early hours of the morning. Done with finals are we?

I can't believe you're arguing that Paul Winters has more name recognition than any of the other coaching candidates. He has the least name recognition of them all. Pat Narduzzi is known to a half-million MSU fans as a guy who will almost certainly be a BCS head coach by the end of the decade. Mike Johnson is known throughout Los Angeles from working at UCLA and nationally from his time coaching in the NFL. The only people who know Winters are his former players and a few thousand people in the 'hood of Detroit.

I know how much you love Lee Owens' old offense, but Winters is not the guy for this job and he never will be. He had his chances and came up just short, just like his offense constantly did.

The name recognition argument has very little credibility once the NAME individual is no longer with a NAME school. The recognition is with the school more than anything. If you can't run an organized program, student-athletes will see through it (i.e. iCoach). People follow leaders. Winters has proven to be an excellent leader and someone I would be happy with at the helm of the Akron Zips Program. He has kids playing their hearts out. That is the atmosphere a leader can create.

[ZipRoo]

I'm torn. I agree that P. Withers has done a great job at WaynesWorld. But then I double-click, and seriously question whether this is a guy who will excite anyone in Akron besides InTheZone. Don't think too many families are gonna say, "Hey, P. Withers is at Akron. Let's get down to the Info." He's just not that kind of hire. And I really wonder if Akron needs more than what he offers...this time around.