The Coach In Waiting thing might just work for us.

#1
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Vfl2407

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#1
I’ve never been a big fan of this concept.
But where we are right now, I think it makes the most sense.
So many of our fans are clamoring for more Orange blood.
Many want Tee but a lot feel that he’s not quite ready for the head position yet.

I say make either Cut or Miles the offer of Head Coach for 3 years only. After that, they can retire or become AD.
Tee comes in first as OC and has it in writing that he is HCIW after three years.

This stabilizes recruiting as recruits know who they will be playing for at both the beginning and end of their 4-5 years.
Tee gets seasoned and has Fulmer around also, which he would like.
They can also bring in assistants like Terry Fair, Dale Jones, etc. if more Orange blood is wanted.

Ok, guys, rip this idea apart.
 
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#2
#2
It worked for Bowden and Fisher. If Miles is hired, recruits will want to know who's going to be here in 4 years, so you need a HCIW.
 
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#3
#3
It also gives time to understand if the HCIW is actually any good or a bust. If a bust, it will be obvious in time to correct the situation.
 
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#4
#4
Vfl2407 said:
I’ve never been a big fan of this concept.
But where we are right now, I think it makes the most sense.
So many of our fans are clamoring for more Orange blood.
Many want Tee but a lot feel that he’s not quite ready for the head position yet.

I say make either Cut or Miles the offer of Head Coach for 3 years only. After that, they can retire or become AD.
Tee comes in first as OC and has it in writing that he is HCIW after three years.

This stabilizes recruiting as recruits know who they will be playing for at both the beginning and end of their 4-5 years.
Tee gets seasoned and has Fulmer around also, which he would like.
They can also bring in assistants like Terry Fair, Dale Jones, etc. if more Orange blood is wanted.

Ok, guys, rip this idea apart.
Click to expand...

We have burned so many bridges that this actually makes sense. We are not getting a HR hire, and we can't really afford to take a chance on an up-and-comer with Frost and Campbell off the table. Tee was 247 recruiter of the year last year and is a 2017 Frank Broyles award nominee. He deserves a chance. I only hope he would agree to the HCIW deal.
 
#5
#5
There's been some Will Healy posts I've basically ignored. With the failure of identifying a new HC, I've been thinking a structure similar to coach-in-waiting to be a viable option. However, I don't like the term "coach-in-waiting".

- Hire someone like Will (or Tee) as the HC coach (not C-I-W). With Coach Fulmer as AD, his role would be formally expanded to actively mentor the young coach. This would be a difficult relationship and properly managing this HC/AD relationship key to success. The HC must be the HC and the mentor must have no desire to assume the HC role (in the future or on game days).

- The young HC needs to be someone who relates well with young athletes, is a proven recruiter, has demonstrated the ability to develop players, and has demonstrated success at managing. There are lots of these guys out there (Will / Tee). However, this is a different pool of fish to seek out and requires a different approach to find and evaluate than the search based on the requirement for an established/proven HC search.

- Use dollars save (should be anywhere from $3M - $7M) millions) to allow the young coach to build a rock solid staff (highly compensated with high expectations) of coordinators and coaches around him - someone who will trust his coordinators/staff to own their area or responsibility and perform.

For those of you who feel throwing $8 - $10M/yr at a Gruden-type HC is the only way forward, fire away.

I love TN football and a fan for life (good and bad). GBO!
 
#6
#6
Ask Texas how that worked out for them with the muskrat. Hire a friggin coach that can recruit and turn this program around. How hard can that be for someone who is supposed to be highly educated and being paid dearly to do his job. Has Fulmer even talked to anyone or is he getting his office redesigned first?
 
#8
#8
I think feels like he is learning pretty well under Helton, so why join the circus for the same position.

It would seem nearly impossible to write a contract with a head coach in waiting in 3 years. You have no idea who will be the AD, Chancellor, the record and performance of the HC, the financial implications when he becomes HC, the offers he may receive while waiting, etc.
 
#9
#9
tvolsfan said:
The coach in waiting suggestion is a bad idea being sold on a scared fan base.
Click to expand...

Some of us are more than single-dimensional and are open to other solutions to solve this problem. I for one am not scared. I am open to see options other than hiring a Gruden-type.
 
#10
#10
AdoptedVOL said:
Some of us are more than single-dimensional and are open to other solutions to solve this problem. I for one am not scared. I am open to see options other than hiring a Gruden-type.
Click to expand...

How we save this coaching search? I know, let’s give up on this one and the next one! VFL GBO
 
#12
#12
The question is if Tee has the skills to be the head coach at UT? This coach in waiting biz only works if the guy waiting really is the guy. It's one thing to be a coordinator. Quite another to run the entire show. Recruiting, assembling a staff, PR demands, etc....this list goes on and on. We might get the next Jimbo and we might get the next bust. Crap shoot. Heck, some speculate that he's not fully in control of the offense at USC. Dunno. Just glad I don't have to make this call. The one thing that gives me hope is that our AD has actually done it and been very successful. Suspect he can spot a good coach and tell if he's got what it takes to succeed. If Fulmer give us Tee as coach in waiting, I'd have to trust his decision is the right one. Not a Fulmer fan boy, but I do believe he loves this school and wants the very best for it. On top of that, I believe he still has a large ego. He's going to want to be seen as the guy who saved UT from the pit and once again brought grand times and glory back to Knoxville. Honestly could not say that about our last 2 ADs.
 
#13
#13
allvol123 said:
One of the worst ideas in sports.
Click to expand...

I wonder how Tee will feel about torpedoing his promising career in three years when he realizes Tennessee is about to fire Miles and has no intention of promoting Tee.
 
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#14
#14
USF grad in TN said:
It worked for Bowden and Fisher. If Miles is hired, recruits will want to know who's going to be here in 4 years, so you need a HCIW.
Click to expand...

Lets say FSU survived it. If you recall, Bowden wasn't happy about it and never really wanted to leave. Fisher finally forced their hand and Bowden left in an ugly divorce. They basically had to beg Bowden to come back for honoring his national championship team. I won't say it worked.

Overlooking Winston's sexual aggression worked better.
 
#18
#18
tvolsfan said:
I wonder how Tee will feel about torpedoing his promising career in threee years when he realized Tennessee is about to fire Miles and has no intention of promoting Tee.
Click to expand...

The implication being that UT is using Tee? Look, you hire him as the coach in waiting but it does and should depend on your performance. Tee can't just sit and assume it's just a matter of time until he gets the payday. That's not how this works. He'd need to show his wares recruiting to UT. Recruiting in Cal ain't that hard with all that talent...especially to USC. He'd also have to excel as the OC....all on his own here. I'd also expect him to be heavily involved in what the sitting coach does on a day to day, week to week basis if not doing a large part of that job as well by the time a change was contemplated. If Tee handles all that with no issues or concerns, the job is his, but if he expects to show up in Knoxville and have the job handed to him in a few years regardless of his ability and production, he needs to stay in LA. You work your ass off and earn this job especially if you're designated as the coach in waiting. Expectations will and should be higher for that designee that a regular coordinator. Being a head coach at a power 5 program in the toughest league in college football is a demanding as hell job. Tee needs to prove he can handle that. If his career gets "torpedoed", it will be Tee that pulled the trigger not UT.
 
#20
#20
Vfl2407 said:
I’ve never been a big fan of this concept.
But where we are right now, I think it makes the most sense.
So many of our fans are clamoring for more Orange blood.
Many want Tee but a lot feel that he’s not quite ready for the head position yet.

I say make either Cut or Miles the offer of Head Coach for 3 years only. After that, they can retire or become AD.
Tee comes in first as OC and has it in writing that he is HCIW after three years.

This stabilizes recruiting as recruits know who they will be playing for at both the beginning and end of their 4-5 years.
Tee gets seasoned and has Fulmer around also, which hng e would like.
They can also bring in assistants like Terry Fair, Dale Jones, etc. if more Orange blood is wanted.

Ok, guys, rip this idea apart.
Click to expand...

The only thing that will get UT back at this point is hiring Kiffin. Thats our best shot....some fans don't want to hear it...but its true.
 
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#21
#21
I'd have a hard time thinking Tee would agree to that. His wife has a better job than he does, and unless he's named HC i just don't see it happening.
 
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#23
#23
Vfl2407 said:
I’ve never been a big fan of this concept.
But where we are right now, I think it makes the most sense.
So many of our fans are clamoring for more Orange blood.
Many want Tee but a lot feel that he’s not quite ready for the head position yet.

I say make either Cut or Miles the offer of Head Coach for 3 years only. After that, they can retire or become AD.
Tee comes in first as OC and has it in writing that he is HCIW after three years.

This stabilizes recruiting as recruits know who they will be playing for at both the beginning and end of their 4-5 years.
Tee gets seasoned and has Fulmer around also, which he would like.
They can also bring in assistants like Terry Fair, Dale Jones, etc. if more Orange blood is wanted.

Ok, guys, rip this idea apart.
Click to expand...
I've been thinking about this and I am glad to see that someone else has thought of this too. I'm all in. Bring Peerless to coach WR's too.
 
#24
#24
At this point, I’m exhausted. Watching Florida, A&M, and now Nebraska all get their coaching situations figured out quickly while we are still floundering around in uncertainty has drained my energy as a fan in a way that nothing else has done.

I just want this insanity to end ... with a good outcome for once. Wake me up when the nightmare is over.
 
#25
#25
Vfl2407 said:
I’ve never been a big fan of this concept.
But where we are right now, I think it makes the most sense.
So many of our fans are clamoring for more Orange blood.
Many want Tee but a lot feel that he’s not quite ready for the head position yet.

I say make either Cut or Miles the offer of Head Coach for 3 years only. After that, they can retire or become AD.
Tee comes in first as OC and has it in writing that he is HCIW after three years.

This stabilizes recruiting as recruits know who they will be playing for at both the beginning and end of their 4-5 years.
Tee gets seasoned and has Fulmer around also, which he would like.
They can also bring in assistants like Terry Fair, Dale Jones, etc. if more Orange blood is wanted.

Ok, guys, rip this idea apart.
Click to expand...

Doug Mathews said this morning that Fulmer will 100%, absolutely not do the coaching in waiting thing.
 
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