Coaching Carousel

[Bishop2b5]

Auburn is nuts if they fired Malzahn w/o his replacement lined up. Freeze is the speculation on Twitter. The SEC can’t blackball him much longer or he & his attorneys will sue their ass. IMO, he’d be smart to land a good B12 gig but the SEC was Bama & everyone else this year, so maybe the time to strike is now.

Oh, I agree. They almost certainly already have their next guy lined up and the deal worked out. I wouldn't be shocked if it was Freeze, but he's definitely trouble and a huge risk, and I'm hearing that the powers at Auburn aren't going down that path. I'll bet we know before the week's over.

 

[Ndaccountant]

The problem with Freeze is that he beat Bama with lots and lots of bought players (cash, cars and hookers). He comes with a LOT of character baggage. Hiring him to coach at a Power 5 school is likely to land you, sooner or later, in NCAA jail. Word is that the folks running things at Auburn have already decided he's not worth the risk and have no interest in Freeze and the problems he brings. It's also not clear that the SEC would allow Freeze back in yet. They made it clear a couple of years ago that he wasn't eligible for hire as an assistant at that time. Freeze is talented, but he may have burned too many bridges.

NCAA jail has not stopped many in the SEC lol, especially Auburn.

 

[Bishop2b5]

Sound like a guy you want to hang with at parties. Don't forget the blow.

He had several escort services on speed dial, could get a new Charger at a good price, and sure knew the way to a HS recruit's heart. "Son, sign with Ole Miss and there'll be some keys in your pocket and a girl on your rocket! Hotty Toddy!"

 

[Irish YJ]

He had several escort services on speed dial, could get a new Charger at a good price, and sure knew the way to a HS recruit's heart. "Son, sign with Ole Miss and there'll be some keys in your pocket and a girl on your rocket! Hotty Toddy!"

I don't care for Dodges, but I'll take the rocket rider.

 

[pumpdog20]

Anyone else feel this as a weird comment. As if Lea is getting the Vanderbilt job, but he'll coach the rest of the season.


https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/1338249215567417345?s=20

 

[Ndaccountant]

Gus to Arizona? Seems like the best landing spot for higher profile coaches that we just recently showed the door....

 

[Irish YJ]

Anyone else feel this as a weird comment. As if Lea is getting the Vanderbilt job, but he'll coach the rest of the season.


https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/1338249215567417345?s=20

sounds like a done deal...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brian Kelly states Clark Lea is a professional as it relates to the Vanderbilt job. Will be coaching through the end of the season…whenever that might be. <br><br>Adds it’s not a distraction for the program.</p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/1338249215567417345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Ndaccountant]

Anyone else feel this as a weird comment. As if Lea is getting the Vanderbilt job, but he'll coach the rest of the season.


https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/1338249215567417345?s=20

It's certainly worded awkwardly. This wouldn't be the first time that BK has said something that is easily misconstrued though. He does this a few times a year. The optimist in me believes it means that Clark is focused on the rest of this year, interviewing or not interviewing.

 

[Ndaccountant]

I would also add that it would be a surprise if BK was the first to let the public know about the Vandy coaching search.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Gus to Arizona? Seems like the best landing spot for higher profile coaches that we just recently showed the door....

Sark will get a strong look. Gus will get an opportunity somewhere. He's a bit quirky but he seemed to be an honorable person. I just think his failure to adapt offensively and his failure to admit it caught up with him.

 

[Irish YJ]

There's so many great personalities/characters in the SEC-W. Perhaps Auburn should hire Hairballz

 

[T Town Tommy]

There's so many great personalities/characters in the SEC-W. Perhaps Auburn should hire Hairballz

That lily white as* wouldn't last through spring practice.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Sark will get a strong look. Gus will get an opportunity somewhere. He's a bit quirky but he seemed to be an honorable person. I just think his failure to adapt offensively and his failure to admit it caught up with him.

Sark will be a hot commodity. I am really interested to see what Auburn has up their sleeves. Mario makes sense, but the price tag is enormous. Would be another ~$8M to buy him out before Jan 1. Can't imagine Auburn wanting to wait that long. Sark to Auburn? Freeze? LEs Miles?

 

[T Town Tommy]

Sark will be a hot commodity. I am really interested to see what Auburn has up their sleeves. Mario makes sense, but the price tag is enormous. Would be another ~$8M to buy him out before Jan 1. Can't imagine Auburn wanting to wait that long. Sark to Auburn? Freeze? LEs Miles?

My gut tells me Freeze was asked by Auburn to not consider the Gamecocks job. Gotta think Auburn has been working on the buyout long before the loss to the Aggies. If so, that means Freeze cleared through Sankey. My head tells me he didn't and it's either Mario or Napier. My $ right now says Mario.

 

[Ndaccountant]

My gut tells me Freeze was asked by Auburn to not consider the Gamecocks job. Gotta think Auburn has been working on the buyout long before the loss to the Aggies. If so, that means Freeze cleared through Sankey. My head tells me he didn't and it's either Mario or Napier. My $ right now says Mario.

If it is, that is what, $38M to get him? $21.5M to Gus, $8.3M to the assistants, $8M to Mario to pay off Oregon. I know that Gus has no offset language from various reports. Not sure about the assistants. But that is a huge sum to pay for Mario.

 

[T Town Tommy]

If it is, that is what, $38M to get him? $21.5M to Gus, $8.3M to the assistants, $8M to Mario to pay off Oregon. I know that Gus has no offset language from various reports. Not sure about the assistants. But that is a huge sum to pay for Mario.

Word is that three people paid Gus' buyout. If true, that would leave enough $ to maybe take a run at Mario. I like Napier but do you really pony up that much money to get the coach from Louisiana?

 

[Ndaccountant]

Word is that three people paid Gus' buyout. If true, that would leave enough $ to maybe take a run at Mario. I like Napier but do you really pony up that much money to get the coach from Louisiana?

I don't think it's worth either of them. I think it has to be a bigger name. Not saying any of these people are likely, but that kind of $$ would be worth guys like O'Brien or Franklin. Napier / Mario / Luke F / Freeze.....not so much.

 

[T Town Tommy]

I don't think it's worth either of them. I think it has to be a bigger name. Not saying any of these people or likely, but that kind of $$ would be worth guys like O'Brien or Franklin. Napier / Mario / Luke F / Freeze.....not so much.

Will be interesting for sure. Whoever it is, they better announce as soon as they can with early signing period upon us.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Anyone else feel this as a weird comment. As if Lea is getting the Vanderbilt job, but he'll coach the rest of the season.


https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/1338249215567417345?s=20

sounds like a done deal...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brian Kelly states Clark Lea is a professional as it relates to the Vanderbilt job. Will be coaching through the end of the season…whenever that might be. <br><br>Adds it’s not a distraction for the program.</p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/1338249215567417345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Honestly this could be realistic best case scenario. I was legit worried that he might get the Vandy job and leave this week, before the ACC Championship Game

 

[irishff1014]

sounds like a done deal...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brian Kelly states Clark Lea is a professional as it relates to the Vanderbilt job. Will be coaching through the end of the season…whenever that might be. <br><br>Adds it’s not a distraction for the program.</p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/1338249215567417345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

You like to see your coaches get interest that means they are doing a good job. With that said this is going to sting. He is going to get beat up there. If. Vandy was in a different conference I might have a different outlook. But this is going to hurt us more than some think it will.

 

[Ndaccountant]

as expected, that was not a good quote. Full quote according to Loy:

"Clark's a professional. He was in it last year with the Boston College job and he'll be in it. He's in it with the the Vanderbilt job, again, if it's the right fit for him. He's in it for the long haul here at Notre Dame, so it's not going to disrupt what he does in his preparation for the championship game and hopefully moving forward. That's a given. You're dealing with professionals that recognize that when they make a commitment here, they're committing to seeing it through. I'm not really concerned about it. I know our players aren't as well. As it relates to a distraction, I don't see that that's going to be a distraction at all."

 

[BilboBaggins]

as expected, that was not a good quote. Full quote according to Loy:

"Clark's a professional. He was in it last year with the Boston College job and he'll be in it. He's in it with the the Vanderbilt job, again, if it's the right fit for him. He's in it for the long haul here at Notre Dame, so it's not going to disrupt what he does in his preparation for the championship game and hopefully moving forward. That's a given. You're dealing with professionals that recognize that when they make a commitment here, they're committing to seeing it through. I'm not really concerned about it. I know our players aren't as well. As it relates to a distraction, I don't see that that's going to be a distraction at all."

I'm sure that went over well on some Cincinnati message boards.

 

[ulukinatme]

as expected, that was not a good quote. Full quote according to Loy:

"Clark's a professional. He was in it last year with the Boston College job and he'll be in it. He's in it with the the Vanderbilt job, again, if it's the right fit for him. He's in it for the long haul here at Notre Dame, so it's not going to disrupt what he does in his preparation for the championship game and hopefully moving forward. That's a given. You're dealing with professionals that recognize that when they make a commitment here, they're committing to seeing it through. I'm not really concerned about it. I know our players aren't as well. As it relates to a distraction, I don't see that that's going to be a distraction at all."

This gives me some hope at least lol. I do hope Lea gets a HC position someday, but I selfishly hope it's at ND once BK retires.

 

[NDRock]

I'm sure that went over well on some Cincinnati message boards.

Central Michigan as well, if they have any message boards.

 

[stpeteirish]

as expected, that was not a good quote. Full quote according to Loy:

"Clark's a professional. He was in it last year with the Boston College job and he'll be in it. He's in it with the the Vanderbilt job, again, if it's the right fit for him. He's in it for the long haul here at Notre Dame, so it's not going to disrupt what he does in his preparation for the championship game and hopefully moving forward. That's a given. You're dealing with professionals that recognize that when they make a commitment here, they're committing to seeing it through. I'm not really concerned about it. I know our players aren't as well. As it relates to a distraction, I don't see that that's going to be a distraction at all."

Yeah, I expect Clark to be named Vandy coach on the Sunday after the Clemson game which is a lot better than being named on the Sunday before the Clemson game

 

[Free Manera]

This gives me some hope at least lol. I do hope Lea gets a HC position someday, but I selfishly hope it's at ND once BK retires.

I think most people would prefer that, but here's the thing - ND probably won't hire him as a first year head coach. I wouldn't be surprised if Kelly and others are telling him that. It's all about getting the right first head job. Could always bring him back in 5 years assuming he doesn't land some other huge job by then.

 

[Rogue219]

Waiting to see if Tennessee fires Pruitt. Then this will officially be fun.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Waiting to see if Tennessee fires Pruitt. Then this will officially be fun.

They literally gave him an extension at the beginning of the year didn't they??

 

[NDRock]

They literally gave him an extension at the beginning of the year didn't they??

Yeah, or at the end of last year. Either way, think they owe $15 million. Good news is they are about finished paying Butch Jones off. They’re living our post Holtz, pre Kelly years right now.

 

[Rogue219]

They literally gave him an extension at the beginning of the year didn't they??

Yeah, or at the end of last year. Either way, think they owe $15 million. Good news is they are about finished paying Butch Jones off. They’re living our post Holtz, pre Kelly years right now.

There is speculation, fans are not happy, so unless Fulmer comes out and says something it's worth keeping an eye on.

Those extensions aren't worth the paper they get printed on. These schools throw away millions to make these guys go away. Quite an industry to be in, frankly.