Coaching Carousel

[IRISHDODGER]

I think LSU will make a serious push for Freeman. That is a lot of money. And anyone can win at LSU. I think he wants to be at Notre Dame. But he needs to get locked up or a statement needs to be made to be done.

They should but I would hope MF is secure & happy where he’s at. If this was the BCS era, I’d be more concerned.

 

[Wild Bill]

Daboer would be a significant upgrade at USC.

 

[NotKoon]

I honestly don’t get why the poaching thing is the trend of the day. I don’t think I’m missing anyone when I say there have been 5 poached coaches from tier 1 to tier 1 and I can think of one tier 2 to tier 2. Willy Taggart, massive failure. Jimbo Fisher, massive failure. Brian Kelly, massive failure. Lincoln Riley, medium level failure, Mario Cristobal, minor failure. Then in tier 2, Holgerson, massive failure.
These moves put unrealistic expectations on the guys who are hired to win a championship within a couple of years and gives them the money to become complacent. Just because someone grinded to level up a program once, doesn’t mean it’ll be done a second time.
The three guys everyone fawns over are Lanning and Freeman (young guys in their first gig) and Cig (guy who worked his way up the latter) that’s the trend these programs should be following. But it seems ADs are more concerned with the sexy splash that’ll win the presser than actually winning games

 

[allenm5333]

Daboer would be a significant upgrade at USC.

Correct. If MF leaves, he is top 3 target for us

 

[Huntr]

primoment

 

[spoonidentity]

I've been following the Virginia Tech search for a bit now - I have family who are die heard legacy fans.

James Franklin is rumored and heavily connected to the position with multiple reports. However, sounds like they have been waiting on an answer since Monday when the school made a "best and final" offer to him, repeatedly for big, big money. Writers covering the team are saying it's part of due diligence before he signs an offer that big, but there's definitely some consternation that he's just using them and holding out for a "bigger" offer like Arkansas (lol) or Auburn or Florida.

He's represented by Jimmy Sexton and no one knows if that's just him playing hardball or what is going on. VT has also begun to reach out to other candidates, possibly including PJ Fleck (double lol). This may end up with Franklin in Blacksburg but there's definitely some drama and fan concern right now.

Just something to keep an eye on...

 

[rtrn2glory]

IF MF leaves the first call is to Clark and you make him say no.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

PJ Fleck leaving Minnesota for Virginia Tech just seems lateral to me. He's done well with less at Minnesota and I'm sure they are perfectly happy with him. It would seem to me like if he's going to leave, it would be for one of the bigger openings.

Fleck leaving Minnesota for Arkansas screams Bielema to me. We know how that turned out. Bielema ends up right back in the Midwest with Illinois.

I think Fleck has earned being called and considered, but it feels like he has the opportunity to be selective as long as Minnesota is happy with him and he probably wouldn't jump over to jobs like UCLA and Virginia Tech unless they were spending stupid money and making assurances.

 

[Dale]

PJ Fleck leaving Minnesota for Virginia Tech just seems lateral to me. He's done well with less at Minnesota and I'm sure they are perfectly happy with him. It would seem to me like if he's going to leave, it would be for one of the bigger openings.

Fleck leaving Minnesota for Arkansas screams Bielema to me. We know how that turned out. Bielema ends up right back in the Midwest with Illinois.

I think Fleck has earned being called and considered, but it feels like he has the opportunity to be selective as long as Minnesota is happy with him and he probably wouldn't jump over to jobs like UCLA and Virginia Tech unless they were spending stupid money and making assurances.

I could see it. Reset the clock, they’ll get tired of 8 wins eventually. Better recruiting area. Better NIL relative to conference standing (difference from Bielema).

Probably just a leverage play and staying put though.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I could see it. Reset the clock, they’ll get tired of 8 wins eventually. Better recruiting area. Better NIL relative to conference standing (difference from Bielema).

Probably just a leverage play and staying put though.

Suppose Drinkwitz leaves Mizzou. I think Fleck is a better fit there than with some of the jobs that are currently open. I just don't see Fleck meshing in the true SEC at a job like Auburn, LSU, Florida. Missouri is still kind of Midwest and might be a smoother transition.

Fleck has a .600 winning percentage and is two wins from going to fourth all time on Minnesota's win list. He's going to be sought after. Not questioning that.

Franklin going to Arkansas might be an even worse fit. But everyone has the benefit of waiting to see how the dominoes fall. I think for Franklin and VT, each should go with the bird in hand. Looks and feels like a great fit.

 

[Huntr]

Fleck would not work at Mizzou.

Completely not the dude that would connect with their fans.

 

[Dale]

Missouri has leaned culturally Southern since joining the SEC. Odom and Drinkwitz from the South. They just want to fit in 😂

A “insider” can’t speak to veracity expects PSU, not UF to be a possible concern there.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Fleck would not work at Mizzou.

Completely not the dude that would connect with their fans.

I will take your word for it because I don't know anything about the history and culture of the program. Gary Pinkel. That's it. LOL

When it comes to Fleck, I see that just about everywhere. His name comes up all of the time. He has the recruiting reputation for sure.

Dude just seems happy at Minnesota. He probably would have cashed in by now and hasn't.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Missouri has leaned culturally Southern since joining the SEC. Odom and Drinkwitz from the South. They just want to fit in 😂

A “insider” can’t speak to veracity expects PSU, not UF to be a possible concern there.

I'd argue we can say the same for Ohio. They're still in the Big Ten. LOL

 

[Bane]

Orgeron went 15-0 to win a title, then went 11-11 the rest of the way.

I do think that just reinforces in some people's minds that winning a title at LSU is so easy a caveman (Ed O) can do it. I'm not saying they're right or wrong, just pointing out that saying Ed O is a mediocre coach and still won a title at LSU doesn't make the job less appealing. I bet BK thought if Ed could win one, he could probably win multiple.

I don't think NIL makes LSU any less appealing, but I do think their dumpster fire they currently have going on in the upper ranks and politically do make it less appealing to the absolute top potential names but won't deter younger up and coming coaches.

 

[Bane]

Daboer would be a significant upgrade at USC.

Yeah, absolutely don't want that.

 

[Bane]

I could see it. Reset the clock, they’ll get tired of 8 wins eventually. Better recruiting area. Better NIL relative to conference standing (difference from Bielema).

Probably just a leverage play and staying put though.

Man if they haven't by now then he might be safe there for a long more time. Fleck was heralded as a huge hire at the time but he has not really done much at Minnesota of note. I get it's just Minnesota but he's had one truly good year and several bad or middling years. Minnesota just doesn't give a shit about Gopher football. The Vikings are king, then either the Wild or Gophers hockey, then the Twins, then the local HS hockey team, and probably some where in the tier with the Wolves and the Lynx is Gophers football.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

I'll be fucking ill if Freeman leaves for LSU or USC.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I do think that just reinforces in some people's minds that winning a title at LSU is so easy a caveman (Ed O) can do it. I'm not saying they're right or wrong, just pointing out that saying Ed O is a mediocre coach and still won a title at LSU doesn't make the job less appealing. I bet BK thought if Ed could win one, he could probably win multiple.

I don't think NIL makes LSU any less appealing, but I do think their dumpster fire they currently have going on in the upper ranks and politically do make it less appealing to the absolute top potential names but won't deter younger up and coming coaches.

I've said this before, I think Coach O was a lot smarter that people gave him credit for. He found Joe Burrow, hired Joe Brady and Dave Aranda. They recruited very well pre Covid and he had a great staff around him. I think he learned a lot from his failures at Ole Miss. Not sure why he basically quiet quit and let it all fall to shit, but he really did a good job of getting the program built to that point of 2019. 15-0 is no small feat.
I don't think that job is as attractive as it was when Kelly got it and I don't think it is at all as attractive as it was two weeks ago when he lost it.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

IF MF leaves the first call is to Clark and you make him say no.

You are probably right, but I don't think Coach Free is going anywhere.

 

[Dale]

IF MF leaves the first call is to Clark and you make him say no.

Mine would be Kalen DeBoer

 

[allenm5333]

Mine would be Kalen DeBoer

Him and Kenny D. Would have to think more but definitely those 2. How does elko make us feel?

 

[Katzenboyer]

Daboer would be a significant upgrade at USC.

That would be absolute worst case scenario.

I could actually see him winning a national championship there.

 

[Huntr]

Fickell retained for '26

RedditCFB (@redditcfb.com)

Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell to return in 2026, AD says Translated: "This coaching market already has too many teams who will be overpaying, so let's just use this money elsewhere for now."...

bsky.app

 

[Dale]

Him and Kenny D. Would have to think more but definitely those 2. How does elko make us feel?

I would like Elko. I don’t think he would take it. From all accounts ND has NIL figured out as good if not better than Alabama.

 

[Dale]

Fickell retained for '26

RedditCFB (@redditcfb.com)

Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell to return in 2026, AD says Translated: "This coaching market already has too many teams who will be overpaying, so let's just use this money elsewhere for now."...

bsky.app

View attachment 3061043

What are they wanting to see if Lance Leipold has a bounce back at Kansas or what Jason Eck does at New Mexico Year 2 first?

 

[Katzenboyer]

I've been following the Virginia Tech search for a bit now - I have family who are die heard legacy fans.

James Franklin is rumored and heavily connected to the position with multiple reports. However, sounds like they have been waiting on an answer since Monday when the school made a "best and final" offer to him, repeatedly for big, big money. Writers covering the team are saying it's part of due diligence before he signs an offer that big, but there's definitely some consternation that he's just using them and holding out for a "bigger" offer like Arkansas (lol) or Auburn or Florida.

He's represented by Jimmy Sexton and no one knows if that's just him playing hardball or what is going on. VT has also begun to reach out to other candidates, possibly including PJ Fleck (double lol). This may end up with Franklin in Blacksburg but there's definitely some drama and fan concern right now.

Just something to keep an eye on...

I think the Franklin would be silly if he took VT before seeing if he'd be considered at Auburn, Ole Miss (if it opens), etc.

 

[greyhammer90]

Just being clear, the only thing saying Freeman is interested in anything is some random poster on USC's 247 site who claims to know someone who knows Jimmy Sexton?

 

[Katzenboyer]

lol

View attachment 3061032

This reads to me as someone who put together Bowden + Freeman at ND, without any context that apparently things were strained behind the scenes, and just assumes MF would want to join up with CB again.

Never say never. But I'd be absolutely STUNNED if Freeman left ND for another job, but if he did, I don't think there's a snowball's chance in hell it would be for SC.

 

[Katzenboyer]

Just being clear, the only thing saying Freeman is interested in anything is some random poster on 247 who claims to know someone who knows Jimmy Sexton?

Yes.

And to add to the game of telephone, the only reason this is coming up now is because Josh Pate went on Taylor Lewan's podcast and said "watch the Lincoln Riley situation this offseason."