Jump to content

Porter to Portland?


Recommended Posts

Let's hope that Coach Porter recalls what Coach Dambrot decided and says thanks but no thanks. Would, could Akron add an addendum to Coach P's contract to sweeten his current deal in exchange for a highter buyout should he remain at Akron?

You can only pay so much for a soccer coach. Spending-wise, $300k goes pretty far in the Akron area. At some point, a pro team will pay more money.

I am sure any move would be more about taking-on a bigger challenge on a higher level than making a few more dollars.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 149
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Most MLS coaches make about the same as what we pay coach Porter. Very few make significantly more, and it takes many successful years in the MLS to negotiate up to that level.

Captain has it right. If he leaves, it will be about going to the next level, not about money.

His end goal is to coach the USMNT.

Klinnsman wants him to eventually take a pro job.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

the question is, is Portland the best place for Porter? They will have to increase the dimensions of Jeld-Wen field for Porter's style, and the Google Maps image doesn't seem to give them much room.

It would be great for soccer in Ohio if he could land in Columbus with the Crew.

Regardless, I don't see Akron moving back any after Porter leaves, especially with Embick

Link to comment
Share on other sites

the question is, is Portland the best place for Porter? They will have to increase the dimensions of Jeld-Wen field for Porter's style, and the Google Maps image doesn't seem to give them much room.

It would be great for soccer in Ohio if he could land in Columbus with the Crew.

Regardless, I don't see Akron moving back any after Porter leaves, especially with Embick

Why are we to assume Embick succeeds Porter?

Porter is an extremely charismatic leader, like few others. The primary thing he does better than his peers is recruit.

I do not insinuate that Embrick cannot do these things. From all accounts, Embrick is a fine coach.

But I can rattle off a list of coaches who can organize tactics, build strategy, and teach young men.

Replacing Porter will not be easy. It would be foolish to think the program would not suffer at his departure.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You can only pay so much for a soccer coach. Spending-wise, $300k goes pretty far in the Akron area. At some point, a pro team will pay more money.

I am sure any move would be more about taking-on a bigger challenge on a higher level than making a few more dollars.

I think this is right on the money......how much can you pay a college soccer coach? I'd have to think that we did everything we possibly could do to keep him here with the last contract we gave him.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Why are we to assume Embick succeeds Porter?

Porter is an extremely charismatic leader, like few others. The primary thing he does better than his peers is recruit.

I do not insinuate that Embrick cannot do these things. From all accounts, Embrick is a fine coach.

But I can rattle off a list of coaches who can organize tactics, build strategy, and teach young men.

Replacing Porter will not be easy. It would be foolish to think the program would not suffer at his departure.

I bet you could. And I would be very surprised if Tom W does anything other than launch a national search to get the best available soccer coach in the country to come here.

We are in a rare position with soccer that we don't have with any other sport. We're one of the best programs in the country, and we should expect to get the attention of some of the greatest coaching talent in the county. We shouldn't be settling for anything in this particular case.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

His end goal is to coach the USMNT.

Klinnsman wants him to eventually take a pro job.

Well look at Coach K. He coached the US Men's Basketball team, even though he has never coached at the pro level. My point is, one you become a legend as a coach it doesn't matter what level you are at. Obviously international soccer is much different than basketball, but he could choose a similar path. I feel like I'd rather have someone coaching the US team that has a resume of possibly multiple National Championships as opposed to an MLS head coach who may never win an MLS Cup. It all comes down to, does he want to become a legend at Akron and build a dynasty or be "just another coach" at the pro level. There is too much uncertainty pursuing a career at the pro level especially since he's already part of something special at UA.

At this point I think he leaves. But unlike our other sports, being one of the premier programs in the country will help us land a top coach. Probably not someone who cares as much about Akron, but hopefully someone who can win...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Coach Porter has achieved the highest goal he can at Akron. KD has not.

Well, this one I have to take exception to. Or at least to one interpretation of it: If he stays, Caleb could win several of these :NCAAC: That's similar to the path taken by Bruce Arena to USMNT coach.

Now I would like to pursue the question, "Why Portland?" You have to wear an ankle-length overcoat there for four-five months a year. Does anyone know any other reason why he would leave for PDX after turning down DC United? Right now the Timber are either #18 or 19 in MLS. I guess if you like a challenge...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, this one I have to take exception to. Or at least to one interpretation of it: If he stays, Caleb could win several of these :NCAAC: That's similar to the path taken by Bruce Arena to USMNT coach.

Now I would like to pursue the question, "Why Portland?" You have to wear an ankle-length overcoat there for four-five months a year. Does anyone know any other reason why he would leave for PDX after turning down DC United? Right now the Timber are either #18 or 19 in MLS. I guess if you like a challenge...

I've thought about the comparisons to Bruce's situation when he was national team coach. It would be cool if Porter could coach at Akron for 17 years, go to MLS for two years, and then head to the national team. One huge difference is that the whole time Bruce was at Virginia, there wasn't a domestic league like MLS. MLS probably raises the bar a bit.

As for the question of why Portland when he turned down DC; when DC was knocking, Porter didn't have the coach of the national team telling him he needed to get to the next level if he wanted to get to the top. Now he does.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I believe that if Porter planned on accepting the job, he'd take it after the Zips season ended in 2012 because he's not the type of person to leave a team in the middle of a season. You have to wonder if the offer being leaked by the Portland media hurts Portland's chance to land him, considering Porter has to deal with the players emotions and their worries of losing the coach they came to Akron to play for.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

beacon article - tuesday at 8:57 pm

UA soccer: Caleb Porter reportedly will be named coach of Portland Timbers on Wednesday

Published: August 28, 2012 - 08:57 PM

Goodbye, Caleb Porter?

Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson hinted Tuesday that a news conference announcing the team’s new coach, expected to be University of Akron coach Caleb Porter, would come today, the Oregonian reported.

Porter, 37, has coached the Zips since 2006 and won a national title in 2010. That team featured Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe, who won the Hermann Trophy as the nation’s best college player that season.

Porter has not returned phone messages from the Beacon Journal.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The program hasn't progressed enough to stand on its own if he leaves. We're not UNC or Indiana, where long term reputation has created a prestigious head coaching position. We were just a flash in the pan. We needed to win one more championship to prove that we're not a fluke.

Exactly.

Do not believe that we cannot slip back into mediocrity.

I am beginning to feel sick.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We will find out within the next couple of days http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012...coach-hire-week

The comments by Wilkinson sure make it sound like Porter. If so, hopefully he does stay on through the rest of the season.

Also, let me repeat one more time, this has nothing to do with money. Porter is happy here, this isn't about getting the bigger paycheck. Akron has offered him everything he could want AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL. And I think, no I KNOW that if all he wanted to do was coach college soccer, he would buy his grave in Akron right now and die an Akron legend like Jerry Yeagley at Indiana. But Porter wants something much bigger, something that he will not likely reach coaching amateurs who are also students four months out of the year when his competitors are coaching full time professionals 8-10 months out of the year. He has the current national team boss telling him to take a pro job if he wants to further his chances of having a future with US Soccer. And no, international soccer is nothing like international basketball, being the US national team coach is much more of a commitment. Trust me, I hate to see him go (if he is in fact leaving) just as much as anyone, but hopefully one day he will have the biggest job in American soccer, and we'll be able to say his first big gig was at Akron.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Anyone have a clue they can give to Zach or this other terribly confused individual?

I beg your pardon!

Ken Lolla's tenure ended on a high note, with a 3 or 4 very strong years, but nothing compared to Porter's stellar record.

Lolla's first decade was, to be charitable, mediocre.

Do not assume that we will attain these heights again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I beg your pardon!

Ken Lolla's tenure ended on a high note, with a 3 or 4 very strong years, but nothing compared to Porter's stellar record.

Lolla's first decade was, to be charitable, mediocre.

Do not assume that we will attain these heights again.

The next coach is walking into a very talented young team. My only concern is over whether the MAC will be able to send 2-3 teams to the tournament every year. The addition of West Virginia came at a bad time, especially with NIU's improvements.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...

×
×
  • Create New...