Dave Hart's going to get a lot of unsolicited advise when Dooley goes so I might as well throw in my two cents worth.
There are two kinds of good coaches: the big name that can recruit absolutely great players and let the xs and os take care of themselves; and the coach who can do more with less. A few, such as Saban, can do both.
Fulmer was the prototypical first type. Got great talent, not known for great coaching. In fact, it's probably fair to say that the post-Manning era demise in recruiting led to his termination. Chris Petersen is the second type. May not have all 4 stars, but gets a lot done.
The error with Dooley may be that he is neither. In fairness, we were all warned. The broadcaster for Louisiana Tech said when Dooley was hired that he would win the press conference but there were questions about his xs and os. He has been a good, but not outstanding recruiter.
Tennessee can't win without a coach that is either a big enough name to attract five stars or a good enough brain to do more with less. Florida can get away with someone that perhaps doesn't fall within either category because the recruiting takes care of itself.
So the first decision Hart has to make is whether he can get a high profile coach. If not, he should look at a guy like Dave Douren from Northern Illinois or Butch Jones from Cincinnati. A coordinator or even a moderately successful head coach like Kyle Wittingham isn't going to work.
There are two kinds of good coaches: the big name that can recruit absolutely great players and let the xs and os take care of themselves; and the coach who can do more with less. A few, such as Saban, can do both.
Fulmer was the prototypical first type. Got great talent, not known for great coaching. In fact, it's probably fair to say that the post-Manning era demise in recruiting led to his termination. Chris Petersen is the second type. May not have all 4 stars, but gets a lot done.
The error with Dooley may be that he is neither. In fairness, we were all warned. The broadcaster for Louisiana Tech said when Dooley was hired that he would win the press conference but there were questions about his xs and os. He has been a good, but not outstanding recruiter.
Tennessee can't win without a coach that is either a big enough name to attract five stars or a good enough brain to do more with less. Florida can get away with someone that perhaps doesn't fall within either category because the recruiting takes care of itself.
So the first decision Hart has to make is whether he can get a high profile coach. If not, he should look at a guy like Dave Douren from Northern Illinois or Butch Jones from Cincinnati. A coordinator or even a moderately successful head coach like Kyle Wittingham isn't going to work.
