The "Head Coach in Waiting" Trend

#1
AllVolCincy

AllVolCincy

Bloviator Extraordinaire
Joined
Nov 2, 2008
Messages
170
Likes
29
#1
I think it's interesting how college football is evolving so quickly right now. Not only has the spread offense changed the face of the game, but I'm amused by the new trend of bringing in high octane coordinators, and tagging them with the "Head Coach in Waiting" title. It kind of reminds me of NFL teams with the franchise player tag. With Florida State, Texas, Penn State and others going this route, I'm curious to know how others think it may impact the UT coaching search. What do you all think?
 
#2
#2
Unless the money was way up there, I've never understood why a true up and comer would want to get locked in like that.
 
#3
#3
I don't understand the Texas move at all! The others I can see but not this one and can't believe Mack signed off on it!
 
#4
#4
AllVolCincy said:
I think it's interesting how college football is evolving so quickly right now. Not only has the spread offense changed the face of the game, but I'm amused by the new trend of bringing in high octane coordinators, and tagging them with the "Head Coach in Waiting" title. It kind of reminds me of NFL teams with the franchise player tag. With Florida State, Texas, Penn State and others going this route, I'm curious to know how others think it may impact the UT coaching search. What do you all think?
Click to expand...

I didn't know Penn State had a HC in waiting. I know UK did it with Joker Phillips. Who did Penn State name as Joepa's successor?
 
#6
#6
The only advantage I see with this trend is for the school, in that it keeps one of your coordinators from looking for a new job.

It looks like a bad deal for the Coach-in-waiting all the way around. He could be making 2-4 million during those waiting years as a head coach somewhere else, instead of $900K as a coordinator. Plus if he does really well as a head coach somewhere else, his previous school will come knocking anyway with an even sweeter deal when it's time to replace the head coach.

It's really not much of a guarantee. If Mack Brown starts losing ala Fulmer, then he might be retiring earlier than expected and I wouldn't count on an assistant getting the Texas job then. Not many around here want to give the job to Chavis, most want a fresh approach. If Mack does last till retirement and the program has a drop off after Muschamp takes over, then his employment as head coach would be short lived also.
 
#9
#9
Hasn't Jimbo Fisher been the "Coach in Waiting" at Free Shoes University for 4 or 5 years? It seems like he has had that title for a while. Its silly, because he could have had another head coaching job by now.
 
#10
#10
enough with the coach in waiting bullcrap:rock:. Let's put an end to it once and for all. Lets higher Jimbo Fisher from FSU. Bobby is not going anywhere for a few more years and why would he not want to come to a program that has had a football program before 1976. He is from my area in WV and the guy can coach. He can recruit and he has SEC background as the LSU OC under Saban. This is a no brainer and this would be a way to stop this bullcrap stunt that programs are doing right now. Once next, "I would like to introduce our OC in waiting"?:birgits_giggle:
 
#11
#11
GAVol said:
Unless the money was way up there, I've never understood why a true up and comer would want to get locked in like that.
Click to expand...


Surely they have the contract wrote so that there's an out if the right job comes along. It's a way for them to get a raise, job security, and still have a way out (assuming they have the contracts wrote so that there's a way out).
 
#12
#12
cd12 said:
I don't understand the Texas move at all! The others I can see but not this one and can't believe Mack signed off on it!
Click to expand...


How do you know Mack signed off on it? Did the reports say Mack signed off on it?
 
#13
#13
AllVolCincy said:
....I'm curious to know how others think it may impact the UT coaching search. What do you all think?
Click to expand...

I don't get it. Granted, the HC-in-waiting gets a substantial salary increase, but there's gotta' be more to the story than that. A substantial buy-out clause and no-interview stipulation perhaps. Otherwise I can't fathom why other schools have allowed Jimbo Fisher to languish as HC-in-waiting at FSU. 'Course, the HC-in-waiting gets a nice salary, some certainty about the near-future, and no requirement to move the family. Maybe that's enough... but I'm skeptical.

To answer your question, assuming the HC-in-waiting ploy works for Muschamp, it takes a person I consider a feared candidate off the table. So I applaud the Texas decision. (Sorry, but I AM a Bama fan.) But I don't see a groundswell of HCs-in-waiting being appointed so I see minimal impact on the UT coaching search.

I think this HC-in-waiting phenominon will be short-lived except in special cases. I see how it can work for a school with a long-in-the-tooth coaching legand who refuses to retire; it helps with the obvious recruiting issues. But not for an entrenched, respected, and still-youthful (all in the perspective!) coach like Brown at Texas.
 
#14
#14
The Seattle Seahawks have the same situation with Jim Mora Jr.....when Holmgren retires Mora is the next coach, it is strange.
 
#15
#15
The HC in waiting is a good deal for the program it gives it stability and and is a good recruiting tool. As for the HCIW I would have to have a time frame and a couple of other out clauses. 5 years at the most then I can go.
 
#16
#16
give_him 6 said:
Hasn't Jimbo Fisher been the "Coach in Waiting" at Free Shoes University for 4 or 5 years? It seems like he has had that title for a while. Its silly, because he could have had another head coaching job by now.
Click to expand...

I think that if he doesn't become HC within the next 2 or 3 years, his pay goes way up...essentially, it's writing in an exit date for Bowden...I bet this is in most of these "coach-in-waiting" contracts...
 
#17
#17
AllVolCincy said:
I think it's interesting how college football is evolving so quickly right now. Not only has the spread offense changed the face of the game, but I'm amused by the new trend of bringing in high octane coordinators, and tagging them with the "Head Coach in Waiting" title. It kind of reminds me of NFL teams with the franchise player tag. With Florida State, Texas, Penn State and others going this route, I'm curious to know how others think it may impact the UT coaching search. What do you all think?
Click to expand...

I have heard this was the plan for Dave Clawson, and that is one of the big reasons he was hired, for when Fulmer someday retired. Obviously it did not work out as planned.
 
#18
#18
BJSforVols said:
How do you know Mack signed off on it? Did the reports say Mack signed off on it?
Click to expand...
on second thought maybe it was all done behind his back and he blindly stumbled in on the press conference..while wondering aloud "What in the #### is going on here?" ...."Well Mack meet our next coach" ...."I'm being fired?"...."No no Mack he is going to take over when you leave, we shot an email" ... "Oh ok..sorry Watson borrowed my laptop"
 
Last edited:
#19
#19
I'm so pissed about muschamp being named the Texas coach in waiting. He was my number 3 choice after gruden and kiffin
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#20
#20
Volmania said:
The only advantage I see with this trend is for the school, in that it keeps one of your coordinators from looking for a new job.

It looks like a bad deal for the Coach-in-waiting all the way around. He could be making 2-4 million during those waiting years as a head coach somewhere else, instead of $900K as a coordinator. Plus if he does really well as a head coach somewhere else, his previous school will come knocking anyway with an even sweeter deal when it's time to replace the head coach.

It's really not much of a guarantee. If Mack Brown starts losing ala Fulmer, then he might be retiring earlier than expected and I wouldn't count on an assistant getting the Texas job then. Not many around here want to give the job to Chavis, most want a fresh approach. If Mack does last till retirement and the program has a drop off after Muschamp takes over, then his employment as head coach would be short lived also.
Click to expand...


The benefit to the university is clear in that the staff is stable and is able to develop long-term relationships with recruiting outlets. I don't understand the benefit to the coach unless the school is their dream job.
 
#21
#21
OrangeWilly said:
The Seattle Seahawks have the same situation with Jim Mora Jr.....when Holmgren retires Mora is the next coach, it is strange.
Click to expand...

Yes, but Holmgrem is in the last year of his contract, and it's been said that he is not returning next year.
 
#22
#22
cd12 said:
on second thought maybe it was all done behind his back and he blindly stumbled in on the press conference..while wondering aloud "What in the #### is going on here?" ...."Well Mack meet our next coach" ...."I'm I being fired?"...."No no Mack he is going to take over when you leave, we shot an email" ... "Oh ok..sorry Watson borrowed my laptop"
Click to expand...


That's why I asked. I wonder if it was done without Mack's knowledge. If it was, I was thinking the same as you in that it could cause Mack to get unhappy at Texas.
 
#23
#23
BJSforVols said:
That's why I asked. I wonder if it was done without Mack's knowledge. If it was, I was thinking the same as you in that it could cause Mack to get unhappy at Texas.
Click to expand...

Well I couldn't quite get a good read on it from the presser but ole Mack did seem to be protecting his turf.
 
#24
#24
Penn State doesn't have a head coach in waiting but from what I've heard a lot of people seem to think that their DC will be the guy unless they hire someone new.
 
#25
#25
If a 2 mill or 3 mill a year head coaching job opens Muschamp will be gone. Brown is 57 and could possible coach another 10 to 15 years. Will wont wait that long.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.
Advertisement



Back
Top