History lesson-Fulmer hires

[hog88]

1 National Championship, 2 SEC Championships, 5 East Championships. Nuff said. He knows what he is doing. If he had been left alone he would have turned the program around. We will never have that type success again. There is to many gotta win at all cost right now folks for a coach to be able to last at UT.

Cut wasn't coming back to be his OC again.

 

[J C Higgins]

In sixteen years as a head coach of a nationally-contending SEC program, Fulmer hired exactly three assistants who would later become head coaches elsewhere. Those three coaches were on staff at UT for a combined four years.

Lovie Smith - defensive backs coach, 1993 and 1994. Became Chicago Bears head coach in 2004.

Doug Marrone - TE/OT coach, 2001. Became Syracuse head coach in 2009.

Dave Clawson - offensive coordinator, 2008. I'd argue that this doesn't even count, since he'd spent the previous nine years as a head coach between Fordham and Richmond as it was.

For a major program to have such a weak record of generating future head coaches is appalling, and it goes a long way toward explaining why the program began to crumble after 2001. In the case of programs like Penn State, they had numerous assistants who were there for a long time because they were exceptional and were well-compensated. In the case of UT, there were numerous assistants who were there for a long time who were truly awful and yet were not replaced.

UT suffered through eight years of Jimmy Ray Stephens and Greg Adkins coaching the offensive line. In the eight years that those two would have coached to develop, and despite having four- and five-star OL prospects coming in every single year, UT had exactly three OL who was drafted - Fred Weary (3rd round), Scott Wells (7th), Arron Sears (2nd).

Look at someone like Jacques McClendon: played in the All-American Bowl, top overall prospect in the state, played in 49 games at UT, and was a 4th-round pick who ended up starting five games in his NFL career.

Michael Munoz was by far the best OL prospect in the country, a five-star prospect with future NFL legend written all over him. He ended up undrafted.

There were four different five-star OLs recruited during that time: Munoz, Jason Respert, Sean Young, and Brandon Jefferies. They combined to player 0 NFL games.

Four-star guys included Sears, McClendon, and Chris Scott, but also Josh McNeil, Cody Douglas, Darris Sawtelle, Albert Toeiana, Rob Smith, and Eric Young.

Good and detailed review. Quite an indictment for a HOF coach to have such a bare coaching tree.

 

[T-TownVol]

In sixteen years as a head coach of a nationally-contending SEC program, Fulmer hired exactly three assistants who would later become head coaches elsewhere. Those three coaches were on staff at UT for a combined four years.

Lovie Smith - defensive backs coach, 1993 and 1994. Became Chicago Bears head coach in 2004.

Doug Marrone - TE/OT coach, 2001. Became Syracuse head coach in 2009.

Dave Clawson - offensive coordinator, 2008. I'd argue that this doesn't even count, since he'd spent the previous nine years as a head coach between Fordham and Richmond as it was.

For a major program to have such a weak record of generating future head coaches is appalling, and it goes a long way toward explaining why the program began to crumble after 2001. In the case of programs like Penn State, they had numerous assistants who were there for a long time because they were exceptional and were well-compensated. In the case of UT, there were numerous assistants who were there for a long time who were truly awful and yet were not replaced.

UT suffered through eight years of Jimmy Ray Stephens and Greg Adkins coaching the offensive line. In the eight years that those two would have coached to develop, and despite having four- and five-star OL prospects coming in every single year, UT had exactly three OL who was drafted - Fred Weary (3rd round), Scott Wells (7th), Arron Sears (2nd).

Look at someone like Jacques McClendon: played in the All-American Bowl, top overall prospect in the state, played in 49 games at UT, and was a 4th-round pick who ended up starting five games in his NFL career.

Michael Munoz was by far the best OL prospect in the country, a five-star prospect with future NFL legend written all over him. He ended up undrafted.

There were four different five-star OLs recruited during that time: Munoz, Jason Respert, Sean Young, and Brandon Jefferies. They combined to player 0 NFL games.

Four-star guys included Sears, McClendon, and Chris Scott, but also Josh McNeil, Cody Douglas, Darris Sawtelle, Albert Toeiana, Rob Smith, and Eric Young.

It totally amazes me how /why people think that Fulmer is our SAVIOR.......

 

[Sandman 423]

:crazy:

As Ohio Vol has pointed out, Fulmer's track record of hiring assistants was pretty terrible. It's one reason why I've been skeptical of Fulmer as AD. Virtually every good "hire" during the Fulmer years was actually a coach initially hired by Johnny Majors. In contrast, Johnny Majors had an insanely good track record of hiring staff coaches; arguably one of the best in college football history.

In this sense, the 1998 national championship should still be partly credited to Majors as almost all the top assistants that were on staff at that time were hired by Majors. Phil was a better recruiter and better at bringing people together, but just not very good at hiring / firing. I've always thought this was one of the big reasons why we saw a decline in the latter half of the Fulmer Era. As Phil had to replace Majors' hires, the program seemed to start struggling; the only exception being the two years we brought David Cutcliffe back before he accepted the Duke job.

I don't want to sound negative. In reality, Fulmer was the only realistic option to get rid of Currie/Haslam. But I'm also not going to become naively optimistic here. Fulmer hasn't been the best judge of coaches in the past. Hopefully, he makes a great hire, but in the back of my head, I'm still worried he makes an uninspiring Dave Doeren type hire.

:crazy: Credit Majors for the 98 championship? Why not Doug Dickey then?:crazy:

 

[TCVOLS]

Didn't take long for this to join the Fulemer vs Majors ranks, like about every other thread. Fulmer's going to make a good hire, don't worry. If Leach is so great, why isn't everybody kicking his door in? How many teams from the PAC 12 have won Natties since the instalation of BCS/CFP? 0. The only one was USC the year they cheated.

 

[VolFan..But]

Well Dave Clawson was a Hamilton hire. He was forced on Philip when Hamilton was sabotaging the program. Clawson was Hamilton's coach in waiting. Good coach but he needs to be with smart kids like Richmond and Wake. Not here.

Chavis was promoted to DC by Philip.

Cut was promoted to OC by Philip.

Because of the stability and the great town to live in etc., he had great loyalty from assistants. Assistants that all ended up at Power 5 jobs when it was all said and done. He made very good hires and kept them.

 

[VolFan..But]

Being an AD is a specialized very hard management position. Right?? Wrong. The revenue comes in almost regardless of who is in the chair. The finances are managed by accountants. The NCAA issues are managed by compliance. Hiring coaches is the easy part for most. Managing coaches is the main job you have to do. Keeping them out of trouble. No one better then Phil.

 

[KBVol]

Jimmy Ray Stephens OL.....fired at Florida, terrible. Now coaching high school
Randy Sanders good guy, bad OC
Dave Clausen....good coach bad fit.

So Fulmer only hired 3 coaches in 16 years? And surprisingly, all 3 guys you mentioned didn’t do well. Doesn’t leave much to the imagination regarding your thoughts/opinions of Coach Fulmer.

 

[JVol76]

1 National Championship, 2 SEC Championships, 5 East Championships. Nuff said. He knows what he is doing. If he had been left alone he would have turned the program around. We will never have that type success again. There is to many gotta win at all cost right now folks for a coach to be able to last at UT.

No it's not enough said. I'm not going to go into a big deal over it, Fulmer wouldn't have been my first choice but he's the AD now and I want him to knock it out of the park. If he doesn't then it'll be right back here again in a few years.

 

[AM64]

I'd rather have the best coaches available teaching my players. Look at Alabama. Other teams are constantly poaching his staff. Yet he makes another great hire and the machine keeps moving forward.

Saban has changed the game. He hires coaches as "staff" and stocks the shelves. When he loses an OC, he pulls one from the shelf. Those guys do analysis and remove some burden from coaches (the ones allowed on the field and practice field); two or more sets of eyes are better than one. By the time he needs one as a coach, they are full immersed in the concept - makes transition a whole different process.

It's the new football arms war - coaching depth. If he doesn't have to declare a coach at one position or another, Saban could start a coaching rotation. Probably something that the NCAA should end before it really gets established; a coach riding the bench and being paid well at AL can't coach against them elsewhere.

 

[Bryan1]

I just had a thought. I wonder with Fulmer at AD how bad will he micromanage or will he let whoever he hires do thier job?

 

[T-TownVol]

I just had a thought. I wonder with Fulmer at AD how bad will he micromanage or will he let whoever he hires do thier job?

Good question Jimmy......

 

[T-TownVol]

One source told FootballScoop Fulmer has discussed being very present in the program with a number of candidates; and we also hear he has relayed a similar message to several Tennessee recruits.

Phil will not micro-manage huh????????

 

[Bryan1]

Good question Jimmy......

Good answer! Who the f is Jimmy?

 

[BanditVol]

I am asking a question not giving info so if you cane looking for a nugget my bad. Can anyone help paint a picture of past Fulmer hires on staff? I recall Cut, but I think he was promoted from within. I also remember some horrific pics at the end on offense. Can anyone fill in the blanks?

Staff turnover was low in the Fulmer years, which is actually often cited as one of his issues.

The biggest changes are at OC. Randy Sanders for OC in 1998, a move that I disagreed with and one that failed. Then bringning Cut back in 2006, one that succeeded. Then the disasterous Clawson hire.

The thing is, Clawson is widely considered a good coach that was a bad fit at UT. In which case, Fulmer's judgment in switching to the spread with a bunch of pro style players can be questioned, but if so it was an error in judgment shared by Tommy Tubberville that same year.


I'd say Fulmer was 1-1-1 on OCs, with the "L" being Sanders.

So...flip a coin?

 

[114VOL]

a couple more years to install his scheme along w/ taj boyd coming and we would have had at least 3 more east titles....impatient fans killed it....thanks

:birgits_giggle:

Fulmer got himself fired. Like many of the less than informed fans, it seems you feel asleep after the SECCG in 2001 and didn't wake up until 2008.

 

[T-TownVol]

The sports writer that is always way behind in his remarks - a VN legend!

 

[volfan102455]

And I thought the AD hired the HC and then the HC hired the assistants.

A good HC will NOT take the Tennessee job IF that HC is not allowed to hire his staff.

And quite honestly - we don't need a HC that cannot evaluate and hire assistants.

 

[volfan102455]

Fulmers primary job right now should be to hire the HC.

If he is trying to work out deals to ensure VFL's get key positions - well then the list of potential HC's dwindles.

 

[Bryan1]

Fulmers primary job right now should be to hire the HC.

If he is trying to work out deals to ensure VFL's get key positions - well then the list of potential HC's dwindles.

Exactly! I just heard today that he was interviewing for coordinator positions, hence why I posted the question.

 

[Ohio Vol]

1 National Championship, 2 SEC Championships, 5 East Championships. Nuff said. He knows what he is doing. If he had been left alone he would have turned the program around. We will never have that type success again. There is to many gotta win at all cost right now folks for a coach to be able to last at UT.

16 years at the helm with what was, at worst, the second-best talent in the East while the West was mostly floundering around. And that's all there is to show for it.

The list of highly-touted recruits who failed to develop is jaw-dropping, and the fact that this program ended up tumbling down in the East despite continuously winning recruiting battles is damning.

 

[MADISONGAVOL]

Dave Clawson is always the first that comes to mind.

John Chavis was a Fulmer hire and has since been a successful defensive coordinator at stops in Baton Rouge and currently college station.

Edit: chavis was actually a majors hire

Was Clawson same type of deal butch got when admin and booster tied his hands on who he could hire? It's been said admin gave butch 650k for oc that's it and we all know what thst bought us