Kelly vs. Leach

#1
rjd970

rjd970

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#1
There is much heated debate between these two coaches in other threads, especially after TT was demolished tonight. For some reason, the fans backing these two coaches seem pretty passionate. Emotions aside, I thought a little perspective would be helpful here. By the numbers, here is how they compare (all statistics are head coaching, from Division 1 play only):

Kelly - 4 Seasons

Record - 30-19 (61.2%)
Conference Championships - 1 (MAC)
10 win seasons - 1
BCS Bowls - 0
Bowls - 3 (only coached 2); 2-0 100%
Made it to a bowl 60% of the time


Mike Leach - 9 Seasons

Record - 75-37 (67%)
Conference Championships - 0
10 win seasons - 1
BCS Bowls - 0
Bowls - 9 (10 including this season); 5-3 62.5%
Made it to a bowl 100% of the time


....after tonight, it is also worth noting that Cincy lost to Oklahoma 52-26 earlier this season. Neither coach was really effective with the common opponent.

To me, the only distinguishing stat is a single MAC championship by Kelly, in which he went 9-4 that season. If one looks at Division II stats, Kelly looks much better, but we also don't know how well Leach would have done at that level if he was the head coach (I don't know how we could possibly start to compare his stats as the Pori Bears HC). As a coordinator, he led the SEC in offense at KY and turned Oklahoma's offense around in a single season. His offensive philosophy at work with KY shows his offenses can be good in the SEC.

Everything else is pretty much a wash. I am still a Leach supporter, just as a personal preference because I think UT would be more exciting to watch and I like his personality. But objectively looking at the numbers it shows both have an equal shot of being successful/failure at UT. I would be fine with either.

If the first tier coaches aren't a possibility, Leach '09!
 
#2
#2
Kelly is probably going to win the Big East this year. That gives him 2 conference championships in 5 years compared to 0 in 10 years. I think that's a pretty relevant difference.
 
#3
#3
kptvol said:
Kelly is probably going to win the Big East this year. That gives him 2 conference championships in 5 years compared to 0 in 10 years. I think that's a pretty relevant difference.
Click to expand...

We'll see.
 
#4
#4
kptvol said:
Kelly is probably going to win the Big East this year. That gives him 2 conference championships in 5 years compared to 0 in 10 years. I think that's a pretty relevant difference.
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Please do not compare the MAC and Big Easy to the Big 12.
 
#7
#7
I hope neither are hired by UT!
Kelly barely beat a soft team coached by a joke.
The nation saw that Leach and his offense cannot beat sound defense.
 
#9
#9
UT fans want championships. One coach has shown the ability to obtain championships.
 
#13
#13
GmanTN said:
I hope neither are hired by UT!
Kelly barely beat a soft team coached by a joke.
The nation saw that Leach and his offense cannot beat sound defense.
Click to expand...

It wasn't all that close. Natti was up 21 in the fourth. They had a couple of big plays late in the game. It happens to the best of teams. The only thing that matters is holding on for the W.
 
#14
#14
I THINK I like both these guys! My only thing is Leach's philosophy of throwing the ball so much. You have to be able to run to be successful. On their first 3 or 4 possessions the never ran it. I don't like that. Not saying that they could against that D, but you have to keep them honest. He just seems to throw it 85% of the time. I don't know much about Kelly's system other than what I saw. And I saw them win.
 
#17
#17
kptvol said:
Unless he loses to 'Cuse, he's got it wrapped up.
Click to expand...

Again, we'll see. It would be a separating factor, but we are talking about the Big East and the MAC. It would be disengenuous to say Leach couldn't have won a championship in either of those conferences given the similarities of his accolades in the much harder conference he competes.

It's still a wash between the two IMO, with maybe a slight advantage to Kelly IF he wins the Big East AND picks up another 10 win season.
 
#18
#18
rmsmith said:
No doubt last years WV team was a juggernaut. but one year?
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Perhaps I should post the Boise State-OU score from 2006 or the West Virginia-UGA score from 2005. The Big 12 has been awful for awhile now.
 
#19
#19
rjd970 said:
Again, we'll see. It would be a separating factor, but we are talking about the Big East and the MAC. It would be disengenuous to say Leach couldn't have won a championship in either of those conferences given the similarities of his accolades in the much harder conference he competes.

It's still a wash between the two IMO, with maybe a slight advantage to Kelly IF he wins the Big East AND picks up another 10 win season.
Click to expand...

The Big East isn't super strong right now, but the Big 12 has been fairly weak for a long time. OU and Texas generally are good, but they've both had some relatively down years lately. The Red Raiders couldn't capitalize.
 
#20
#20
kptvol said:
Perhaps I should post the Boise State-OU score from 2006 or the West Virginia-UGA score from 2005. The Big 12 has been awful for awhile now.
Click to expand...

?!??
i thought we were comparing the Big East and the Big 12? Not the WAC and Big 12 or the Big east and the SEC.
 
#21
#21
rmsmith said:
?!??
i thought we were comparing the Big East and the Big 12? Not the WAC and Big 12 or the Big east and the SEC.
Click to expand...

Just showing examples of the Big East not being garbage and the Big 12 not being treasure.
 
#22
#22
Leach's playcalling sheet is napkin sized. You can't run the same 30 plays and not expect a defense to figure you out. I think that's obvious. Leach would be a terrible hire and I've always thought that. I think Kelly would be the better choice but I don't want him either. Kiffin is by far the choice with the most upside that is actually realistic. I think Hamilton knows this but it's mainly up to the boosters. Unfortunately, much to my dismay, I hear many of the prominent boosters are high on Leach. I just hope the stomping he took tonight changes their tune.
 
#23
#23
kptvol said:
Just showing examples of the Big East not being garbage and the Big 12 not being treasure.
Click to expand...

Oh i agree. granted there are years that they produce good teams. And there are years the big 12 is mediocre.. Overall though i'd rate the Big East slightly above garbage and the Big 12 the SEC's only rival for good football.
 
#24
#24
kptvol said:
Perhaps I should post the Boise State-OU score from 2006 or the West Virginia-UGA score from 2005. The Big 12 has been awful for awhile now.
Click to expand...

Sure....this crap conference has only produced 2 national champions in the last 8 years by 2 different teams.

Generalizations based on single years may make good sound bites, but they don't hold much water when actually thought through.
 
#25
#25
kptvol said:
It wasn't all that close. Natti was up 21 in the fourth. They had a couple of big plays late in the game. It happens to the best of teams. The only thing that matters is holding on for the W.
Click to expand...

Who is to say that if more time had been left on the clock that the outcome could have been different. Then what would have been your arguement? the fact is neither one of these guys should be near the top of our lists. Kelly has too much bad publicity on his remarks over a shooting in 2005 that many deemed as racial and Leach, well lets just say the bandwagoners got shocked and will wait until morning to drink some new kool-aid.
 
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