By Richard
Cirminiello
If
it’s true you can’t go home again, someone forgot to tell this
year’s collection of first-year head coaches, many of whom will be
making return engagements of one kind or another. Dave Wannstedt,
Charlie Weis and Mike Gundy have accepted positions at their alma
maters. Frank Solich, Walt Harris, Terry Hoeppner and Ed Orgeron
are moving much closer to their hometowns. Brent Guy and Bill Cubit
have returned to former employers with beefed up titles. And Steve
Spurrier and Tyrone Willingham are back in the SEC and Pac-10,
respectively.
In this business, there’s an advantage to familiarity and old
contacts, and many of this year’s new hires used it deftly during
the interview process. They’re a part of the whopping 22 (that’s a
19% turnover in I-A coaches) rookie skippers who’ll get their first
good look this spring at what they inherited, and just how realistic
those early promises were when they accepted the jobs.
BYU
Head
Coach:
Bronco Mendenhall
Former Coach: Gary Crowton – Offensive coordinator at Oregon
Bio:
In a short time, by coaching standards, Mendenhall,
38, has navigated through a career maze to one of the
highest-profile jobs outside the BCS conferences. After serving two
seasons as the Cougars’ defensive coordinator, he takes over for the
man who brought him to Provo, Gary Crowton. He’s a defensive guru,
who’s also made stops at Northern Arizona, Oregon State, Louisiana
Tech and New Mexico. His Lobo defenses from 1998-2002 were
perennially the most disruptive in the Mountain West.
The Skinny:
The task of
returning BYU to its glory days falls to Mendenhall, an outstanding
defensive coach, who’s never held a position with nearly this much
responsibility. Since opening the 2001 season 12-0, the Cougars
have gone 14-23, precipitating the need for a change at the top.
Putting Out the Welcome Mat:
LB Cameron Jensen.
Jensen had a breakout season in Mendenhall’s aggressive 3-3-5 scheme
last year, leading the Cougars in tackles and tackles for loss. One
more fall to digest the unique system will prove to be a plus for
the junior.
East Carolina
Head
Coach:
Skip Holtz
Former Coach: John Thompson – Co-defensive coordinator at
South Carolina
Bio:
The 41-year old son of legendary college coach Lou Holtz is about to
undertake the second rebuilding project of his young career. Randy
Edsall has done a magnificent job in Storrs, but many don’t realize
it was Holtz who began building the current UConn foundation when he
was head coach of the Huskies from 1994-1998. The graduate of Notre
Dame spent four seasons in South Bend, the final two as offensive
coordinator in 1992 and 1993. Since 1999, he’s been reunited with
his dad, coaching the South Carolina offense and quarterbacks in a
variety of capacities.
The Skinny:
Six years ago, Holtz
was a hot name in the coaching ranks, and just a couple of years
ago, his dad’s likely successor in Columbia. However, that was
before he was stripped of his offensive coordinator duties, and
Steve Spurrier became available. Holtz didn’t exactly distinguish
himself at South Carolina, so he has to feel pretty good about
taking the reins of a program hell-bent on regaining its
respectability.
Putting Out the Welcome Mat:
RB Chris Johnson.
Holtz would love to air it out more often, but with no proven
quarterbacks on the roster, and a reputation to rebuild, he’ll lean
heavily on last year’s leading rusher.
Florida
Head
Coach:
Urban Meyer
Former Coach:
Ron Zook – Head coach at Illinois
Bio:
From Bowling Green
to Utah. From Utah to Florida. It hasn’t taken Meyer, 40, very
long to go from anonymity to the height of his profession. He
completed his two-year stay in Salt Lake City with a 16-game winning
streak and a blowout win in the Fiesta Bowl, the first-ever BCS bowl
appearance by a non-BCS school. It was the coronation for a coach,
who’s rightly being hailed as one of the best offensive minds in
America. At Bowling Green, he engineered the biggest turnaround of
any team in 2001, and led the Falcons into the Top 25 a year later.
In four seasons, he has an impeccable record of 39-8. Meyer cut his
teeth as a wide receivers coach with Colorado State and Notre
Dame.
The Skinny:
If there’s a flaw in
Meyer as a head coach, it has yet to be exposed, music to the ears
of all Irish fans. Oops, Gator fans. There’ll never be another
Steve Spurrier in these parts, but Meyer’s intense demeanor,
competitive nature and flair for the dramatic on offense will be the
next best thing. His rebuilding plans can be measured by an hour
glass, so you can fit Florida for an SEC crown within two years.
Putting Out the Welcome Mat:
QB Chris
Leak. No, he’s not a perfect fit for Meyer’s read option,
but in an offense this combustible, a player of Leak’s caliber
should put up even better numbers than he did last year. Meyer’s Xs
and Os helped turned Josh Harris and Alex Smith into college stars
the last three years.
Illinois
Head Coach:
Ron Zook
Former Coach:
Ron Turner – Offensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears
Bio:
College football’s nomad of the coaching fraternity is on his way to
the Big Ten. Fresh off his headline-grabbing ouster from Florida,
Zook, 50, is undertaking his 15th different position over
the past three decades. From college to the NFL, the former Miami
(OH) defensive back has amassed a deep resume with a concentration
on defense and special teams; Zook’s been a defensive coordinator
with Cincinnati, Kansas, Virginia Tech, Florida and the New Orleans
Saints. A three-year mark of 23-14 with the Gators was woefully
below expectations, making him a Pariah in Gainesville.
The Skinny:
Dennis Rodman couldn’t rebound as well as Zook did after getting
fired by the Gators last fall. His game management skills will
continue to be questioned, but he’s a good motivator, and an even
better recruiter, two things that were lacking at the tail end of
Ron Turner’s tenure.
Putting Out the Welcome Mat:
Champaign. No one’s
ready to mention Zook in the same breath as Robert Zuppke, but he
will bring a much-needed boost in energy and talent for at least the
honeymoon period.
Indiana
Head Coach:
Terry Hoeppner
Former Coach:
Gerry DiNardo – Currently out of coaching
Bio:
Hoeppner, 57,
parlayed six winning seasons as the head coach of Miami (OH) into a
nice pay raise and a head job in the Big Ten. He returns to his
home state, where he was raised, played high school ball and
coordinated the defense at Franklin College. Hoeppner’s a model of
perseverance, spending a decade coaching high school teams in three
different states and 15 seasons as a RedHawk assistant before
landing the position he just left. The highlight of his 48-24
career record was 2003’s 13-1 mark and the school’s first bowl game
in 17 years.
The Skinny:
Pay aside, you have
to wonder if this is a promotion or a lateral move for Hoeppner. At
Miami, he would have contended for a MAC title and a bowl every
year, especially since Marshall is now a member of C-USA. In
Bloomington, where the program has gotten steadily worse over the
past decade, he’ll be a speed bag for a deep Big Ten.
Putting Out the Welcome Mat:
CB Tracy Porter.
Hoeppner’s done well with defensive backs over the years, like
Sheldon White, Paris Johnson, Matt Pusateri and Darrell Hunter. As
a true freshman, Porter started seven games before being injured,
and earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman first team.
LSU
Head
Coach:
Les Miles
Former Coach: Nick Saban – Head coach of the Miami Dolphins
Bio:
Following a methodical career path,
Miles, 51, has ascended to the upper echelon of the college coaching
profession. In just four years, he led Oklahoma State out of a
funk, and gained national recognition for knocking off Oklahoma
twice. He leaves Stillwater with a 28-21 record, and bowl
appearances in three straight years. Sandwiched between stints at
OSU, Miles coached tight ends for another Cowboy team, the Dallas
Cowboys, from 1998-2000. By far, his longest stop in any one job
was the eight years he spent at his alma mater, Michigan, from
1987-1994.
The Skinny: Nick Saban brought the Tigers to the pinnacle of
the sport, and now it’s Miles’ task to keep them there. After
working small wonders at a school that was the clear stepchild in
its own state, it’ll be interesting to see what the coach can
accomplish at an elite program. Retaining Jimbo Fisher and luring
Bo Pelini out of Oklahoma, gives Miles a pair of top young
coordinators with lots of big-game experience.
Putting Out the Welcome Mat: The local media. Miles doesn’t
have any one distinguishing characteristic, but he is considered one
of the warmer personalities in college coaching, something that will
never be said about Saban.
Miami University
Head
Coach:
Shane Montgomery
Former Coach: Terry Hoeppner – Head coach at Indiana
Bio:
Terry Hoeppner’s
departure created an opening for Montgomery, 37, to continue his
climb in the coaching ranks. As the RedHawks’ offensive coordinator
and quarterbacks coach since 2001, he’s been a big reason the
program is in the midst of its best run in years. In 2003,
Montgomery was a finalist for the Broyles Award, given annually to
the game’s top assistant. Prior to Miami, he held several different
titles in eight seasons at Tennessee-Chattanooga. As a quarterback
with NC State from 1987-1989, he earned three letters, and was named
MVP of the Peach Bowl and Copper Bowl in successive seasons.
The Skinny:
Miami had a rising star on its own campus, so it made no sense to
look elsewhere to fill the void. The program has a good thing
going, and retaining an up-and-comer like Montgomery increases the
likelihood of maintaining that trend.
Putting Out the Welcome Mat:
QB Josh Betts. The
quickest way to derail the progress of a quarterback is to change
his coach, his system and his terminology. With Montgomery staying
in Oxford, Betts won’t have to worry about any of that as he aims to
improve on last year’s first season as a starter.
Mississippi
Head
Coach:
Ed Orgeron
Former Coach:
David Cutcliffe – Quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame
Bio:
In Orgeron, 43, the
Rebs get the preeminent teacher of defensive linemen and one of the
top recruiters in the country. Since graduating from Northwestern
State, he’s overseen the defensive line at Miami, Syracuse and, most
recently, USC. He’s been on the staff of four national championship
teams, and has tutored the likes of Cortez Kennedy, Russell
Maryland, Warren Sapp, Kenechi Udeze, Shaun Cody and Mike
Patterson. Oregeron spent seven seasons with the Trojans, the last
four doubling as the recruiting coordinator.
The Skinny:
Orgeron’s a terrific
coach, but a curious choice for a program looking to stray from
mediocrity. Not only does he have no head coaching experience, but
he’s never even held a coordinator’s job. USC is so hot these days
that the equipment manager might get looks at a few I-AA schools.
He’s intense and fiery, but figures to get schooled early in a
league that’s home to Mark Richt, Steve Spurrier, Urban Meyer,
Phillip Fulmer, Tommy Tubervile and Les Miles.
Putting Out the Welcome Mat:
DT Jerrell Powe.
After giving a verbal to LSU, the blue-chip freshman changed
course, and opted to stay home. If he clears some academic hurdles,
Powe will spend the next four years with a coach whose worked with
some of the best tackles of the past two decades.
New Mexico State
Head
Coach:
Hal Mumme
Former Coach:
Tony Samuel – Currently out of coaching
Bio:
No stranger to
reclamation projects, Mumme’s back in Division I-A determined to
save a sinking program that hasn’t bowled in 45 years. He’s a
classic, gunslinging renegade, who’s built his career on a
pass-happy offense patterned after the BYU teams of the 1980s.
After bouncing around obscure spots, like Valdosta State and Iowa
Wesleyan, Mumme, 52, went mainstream in 1997 when he took over the
Kentucky program. In four seasons, he led the ‘Cats to new heights
before leading them into the ground amid more than three dozen NCAA
violations. Mumme spent the last two seasons reviving a
Southeastern Louisiana program, which had been dormant for nearly
two decades.
The Skinny:
When you’re New
Mexico State, you need a hook to attract recruits and land a few
Thursday night games on ESPN2. Mumme offers that unique angle by
way of a non-traditional offense that’s as entertaining as it is
tough to slow down. Yeah, he brings baggage, but when your program
is on the edge of extinction, you’re wise to take chances.
Putting Out the Welcome Mat: QB Royal Gill. If Mumme’s
system can help Tim Couch to the top of the 1999 NFL Draft, the 6-5
transfer from Pima Community College has to feel pretty good about
moving on to Las Cruces.
Notre Dame
Head Coach:
Charlie Weis
Former Coach:
Tyrone Willingham –
Head coach at Washington
Bio:
No longer dividing
his time between New England and a menagerie of recruiting trips,
Weis, 48, can finally devote all of his energy to coaching his alma
mater. Fresh off his third Super Bowl as the offensive coordinator
of the New England Patriots, he’s set for his first head job, and
first job outside the NFL since leading Franklin Township (N.J.)
High School to a state title in 1989. Weis is a classic
rags-to-riches story of a coach, who didn’t play the game and earned
his stripes at the high school level before Bill Parcells gave him
his first break in 1990. Since then, he’s spent every season
working for either Parcells or Bill Belichek, a pair of future
Hall-of-Famers.
The Skinny:
Weis wasn’t the
first choice of the Irish. In fact, he wasn’t even on the short
list after Tyrone Willingham was fired. However, he’s here now, and
Notre Dame fans are getting used to the idea of having him—and his
four Super Bowl rings—in South Bend. Weis wisely addressed a
shortcoming by hiring three assistants with college head coaching
experience.
Putting Out the Welcome Mat:
QB Brady Quinn.
Quinn has the potential to be a very good pro-style passer, and Weis
is the kind of offensive mentor to bring it out. Between he and
David Cutcliffe, the two have coached Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and
Eli Manning over the past seven years.
Ohio
Head
Coach:
Frank Solich
Former Coach: Brian Knorr – Currently out of coaching
Bio:
In an off-season
filled with surprise hires, Ohio may have set the bar by landing the
60-year old Cleveland native. Solich spent a quarter of a century
at his alma mater, Nebraska, coaching backs for Tom Osborne for many
years, and assuming the role of head coach over his final six
seasons in Lincoln. Despite compiling a 58-19 record, he was dumped
by a fledgling athletic administration, which lost confidence in his
ability to keep the Huskers among the nation’s elite.
The Skinny:
Getting a head coach
with Solich’s background qualifies as a heist for a program that
hasn’t been the same since Jim Grobe left for Wake Forest five years
ago. He’s spent a lifetime in the company of Big 8/Big 12 players
and coaches, which brings instant credibility to a campus seeking a
football identity. The only downside is the distinct possibility
that this could be a steppingstone job.
Putting Out the Welcome Mat: RB Kalvin McRae. After dipping
its toe into the 21st century, and installing the spread
offense, Ohio returns to a more familiar power running game. Solich
isn’t bringing the option to Athens, but McRae, who led the ‘Cats in
rushing a freshman in 2004, should expect a sharp increase in
carries.
Oklahoma State
Head
Coach:
Mike Gundy
Former Coach:
Les Miles – Head coach at LSU
Bio:
Only Pistol Pete is
more Cowboy these days than Gundy, 37, who’s spent most of his adult
life in Stillwater. After Les Miles sought greener pastures at LSU,
OSU’s all-time leading passer was promoted from offensive
coordinator, making him the youngest head coach in I-A. Gundy has
ventured outside Oklahoma to coach Baylor quarterbacks for a year
and Maryland receivers for four, but 10 of the past 14 seasons have
been spent with the ‘Pokes.
The Skinny:
Gundy’s completely
geeked to have this job, which can be contagious to the players,
staff and local community. His agenda will be to continue the
momentum Miles built, and stop the cycle of up-and-down periods
that’s plagued the program. He’s long looked the part of a future
head coach, but has far exceeded everyone’s timetable. Dibs on
dubbing Gundy The Mahatma if he’s an instant success.
Putting Out the Welcome Mat:
QBs Donovan Woods
and Bobby Reid. Gundy’s affinity for the pass, coupled with the
early departure of Vernand Morency, means more passing attempts for
whichever quarterback gets handed the ball.
Pittsburgh
Head Coach:
Dave Wannstedt
Former Coach:
Walt Harris – Head coach at Stanford
Bio:
After 16 up-and-down
seasons with three of the most storied NFL organizations, Wannstedt,
52, heads back to college determined to lead his alma mater to the
glory days of the 1970s. He’ll forever be linked to Jimmy Johnson,
for whom he served as defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State, Miami
and the Dallas Cowboys. Together, the two won a national
championship in 1987 and a pair of Super Bowls in the early 1990s.
Wannstedt’s head coaching career with the Chicago Bears and Miami
Dolphins was a mixed bag of mediocrity and unfulfilled
expectations.
The Skinny:
If the transition to
the college game is a smooth one, Wannstedt looks like an ideal fit
for Pittsburgh. For years, the Panthers tried to lure him
back home, but only after last year’s debacle in Miami did it come
to fruition. He leads with passion and integrity, and has already
created the kind of commotion around the Steel City that was foreign
to Walt Harris. Like Pete Carroll, Wannstedt relates well to young
people, and could be better suited for coaching at this level.
Putting Out the Welcome Mat: LB H.B. Blades. Already the
Panthers’ top defender, Blades should become an even bigger factor
in a defense that’s predicated on speed and attacking.
San Jose State
Head
Coach:
Dick Tomey
Former Coach:
Fitz Hill - Executive director of the Ouachita
Opportunity Fund
Bio:
At an age when most
coaches are winding down, the 66-year old Tomey is attempting to
breathe life into a Spartan program that’s had one winning season
since 1992. He’s had an extensive 40-year career, all at the
college level with the exception of a one-year assignment in San
Francisco. Tomey’s first two head coaching jobs were at Hawaii and
Arizona, where he compiled a record of 158-110-7, and is the career
wins leader at both schools. In Tucson, he took the Wildcats to new
heights, including seven bowl trips and the program’s only Top 10
finishes in 1993 and 1998.
The Skinny:
Rather than remain
an assistant under Mack Brown, Tomey will try to prove he’s still
got it at one of the weakest and insolvent programs in America. Did
he really want another head job this bad? The Spartans got a
fiery veteran, but this marriage looks more likely to wind up like
John Robinson at UNLV or Rich Brooks at Kentucky than Mike Price at
UTEP.
Putting Out the Welcome Mat:
Defense. The
Spartans have needed help on D since the program’s birth, so Tomey,
one of the masterminds of Arizona’s famed Desert Swarm defense,
faces the biggest challenge of his career.
South Carolina
Head
Coach:
Steve Spurrier
Former Coach:
Lou Holtz – Retired from coaching
Bio:
Spurrier’s return to
college sidelines surprised no one, but his destination caught
plenty of people off guard. Prior to two forgettable seasons with
the Washington Redskins, he sustained one of the great coaching runs
in the modern era of college football. In a dozen memorable seasons
at Florida, the colorful Spurrier, 59, compiled a 122-27-1 record,
won six SEC titles and one national championship, and broke all
kinds of records with his wide open Fun ‘n Gun offense. Often
overshadowed in the resume is his ACC crown at Duke in 1989 and his
Heisman Trophy as a Gator in 1966.
The Skinny:
Major props must go
out to a South Carolina athletic administration, which replaced one
legendary coach (Lou Holtz) with another. Spurrier’s a winner, he’s
back in his element and he’s got something to prove after crapping
out in the capital. He’s already signed a Top 20 recruiting class,
and has the community buzzing as though it’s a Saturday night at
Williams-Brice. It’s just a matter of time before he has all the
pieces in place, and the ‘Cocks competing for their first SEC title.
Putting Out the Welcome Mat:
Everyone outside
Gainesville. Gator fans hate this move for obvious reasons, but
everyone from the fans and the media to the NCAA is thrilled a
magnetic personality like Spurrier is back where he belongs.
Regardless who you root for, he’s good for the game.
Stanford
Head
Coach:
Walt Harris
Former Coach:
Buddy Teevens – Head coach at Dartmouth
Bio:
Harris’ third head
coaching position has him returning home to Northern California.
The 58-year old South San Francisco native parlayed five straight
winning seasons and last year’s Big East championship at Pittsburgh
into a job he deeply coveted. While his early days were spent
coaching defenses, Harris first got noticed as Johnny Majors’
offensive coordinator at Tennessee from 1983-1988. Success in
Knoxville led to the head job at Pacific, his alma mater. Harris
has coached quarterbacks with the New York Jets, University of
Illinois and Ohio State, and is considered one of the more
innovative offensive minds in the college game.
The Skinny:
Buddy Teevens’
tenure was a colossal failure, and in his place, the Cardinal landed
a solid, veteran coach, who should immediately stabilize the
program. In what was supposed to be a rebuilding year, Harris
exited a blatantly strained situation at Pittsburgh with the last
laugh and the school’s first league title.
Putting Out the Welcome Mat:
QB Trent Edwards.
Harris has tutored 14 NFL quarterbacks, so he knows a little
something about getting to the next plateau. Edwards needs some
fine-tuning, but is talented enough to become Harris’ No. 15.
Syracuse
Head
Coach:
Greg Robinson
Former Coach: Paul Pasqualoni – Assistant coach with the
Dallas Cowboys
Bio:
It took 53 years,
and 30 seasons as an assistant, but Robinson has finally landed his
first head job. Although he spent the first 15 years of his career
at the college level and last fall as the co-coordinator of the
Texas defense, he’s best known for his achievements in the NFL.
From 1994-2003, Robinson was the defensive coordinator of the New
York Jets, Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs, picking up Super
Bowl rings with Denver in 1997 and 1998. In eight bowl appearances,
including four Rose Bowls with UCLA and Texas, his teams have yet to
lose.
The Skinny:
My, what one
successful season in Austin can do for a career. Isn’t this the
same Robinson who resigned from his post with the Chiefs one year
ago after Peyton Manning shredded his unit in the playoffs? Paul
Pasqualoni had some great moments with the Orange, but his best days
were behind him, and new athletic director Daryl Gross wisely sought
a new direction. In a diluted Big East, Syracuse is a sleeping
giant.
Putting Out the Welcome Mat:
DE James Wyche.
He’ll do just fine on talent alone, but the presence of Robinson—a
defensive guru with NFL ties—should only help Wyche’s draft position
in April of 2006.
UNLV
Head
Coach:
Mike Sanford
Former Coach:
John Robinson – Retired from coaching
Bio:
Utah’s unprecedented
success last fall spawned new gigs for Urban Meyer in Gainesville,
Kyle Whittingham in Salt Lake City and Sanford in Sin City. Along with
Meyer, Sanford, 49, was one of the architects of a Ute spread
offense which baffled defenses last season. The USC graduate has
spent his entire career on offense, making stops at Long Beach
State, Purdue, USC, Notre Dame, Stanford and with the San Diego
Chargers. Ironically, Sanford’s first job was as a graduate
assistant under John Robinson, the man he’s replacing at UNLV.
The Skinny:
UNLV is a program
long on potential. Robinson failed to tap it, but Sanford is
confident he will. The coach brings a fresh energy and a
read-option attack that’s geared toward putting fans in the seats
and points on the board. Sanford and his coaches assembled a
terrific first recruiting class, highlighted by statement wins in
the Las Vegas area.
Putting Out the Welcome Mat:
QBs Shane Steichen
and Jarrod Jackson. Whoever wins the right to run Sanford’s offense
will get an opportunity for instant success and notoriety.
Jackson’s a mid-year junior-college transfer with the quick feet
that intrigues his new boss.
Utah
Head
Coach:
Kyle Whittingham
Former Coach:
Urban Meyer – Head coach at Florida
Bio:
After a decade as the Utes’ defensive coordinator,
Whittingham, 45, takes over for Urban Meyer and assumes his first
head coaching position. During his tenure in Salt Lake City, the former BYU
linebacker has regularly produced underrated and fundamentally sound
defenses that have ranked in the Top 25 in points allowed six of the
last eight years. Prior to joining Utah, Whittingham spent six
seasons at Idaho State, the last two as defensive coordinator.
The
Skinny:
Talk about an impossible act to follow. All
Whittingham has to do is replace Meyer the year after the Utes go
12-0 and become the first non-BCS school to win a BCS bowl game. It
won’t be easy, but the administration greased the skids by staying
in-house and keeping some degree of continuity. Whittingham will
lean on new offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig to implement a system
around the personnel and develop promising young quarterback Brian
Johnson.
Putting Out the Welcome Mat:
The defense. The
offense will get tweaked and retrofitted, but with Whittingham
staying put, and Gary Andersen getting promoted to defensive
coordinator, the 4-3 defense remains a constant.
Utah State
Head
Coach:
Brent Guy
Former Coach:
Mick Dennehy – Currently out of coaching
Bio:
After four seasons, the 44-year old Guy left his post
as Arizona State’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach to
become the 25th head coach in Utah State history. No
stranger to Logan, he coached Aggie linebackers from 1992-1994, and
was Dirk Koetter’s defensive coordinator at Boise State from
1998-2000, when the Broncos won two Big West titles, and his unit
led the league in total defense and scoring defense in back-to-back
seasons. While at Oklahoma State, he was coached by Jimmy Johnson.
The Skinny:
Utah State’s move to the WAC and dire need to upgrade
facilities signal a pivotal time in the program’s history. Those
around Cache Valley are hopeful the high-energy Guy can effectively
usher in a new era of Aggie football while helping raise the $16
million needed to give Romney Stadium an extreme makeover. While
he’s a key to the future, Guy’s also a bridge to the past. He was
on staff in 1993 when the school captured its lone bowl victory.
Putting Out the Welcome Mat:
LB Jared Johnstun.
Having been one himself and coached a handful in the NFL, Guy knows
linebackers. Johnstun’s the best one he’ll inherit, and the kind of
personality that could make him a leader of the 2005 defense.
Washington
Head
Coach:
Tyrone Willingham
Former Coach:
Keith Gilbertson – Currently out of coaching
Bio:
Willingham, 51,
returns to the Pac-10 on the heels of his highly publicized
dismissal from Notre Dame. His resume is as robust and diverse as
any first-year coach, and includes substantive experience on both
sides of the ball, a three-year stint with the Minnesota Vikings and
ten seasons as a head coach. During that decade, he holds a record
of 65-51-1. While at Stanford, Willingham guided the Cardinal to
their first league title and Rose Bowl appearance in nearly three
decades, and was twice named Pac-10 Coach of the Year.
The Skinny:
Seeking substance
over style, the administration found their man in Willingham. He’s
the epitome of sideline professionalism and preparation, but after
failing to turn around the Irish in three years, some have begun to
wonder out loud if he’s just an average head coach. And then
there’s that lone bowl victory in ten seasons. The dichotomy with
Willingham is that parents and administrators adore him, while
boosters and fans grow frustrated by the lack of big wins and
big-name recruits. He’ll have his hands full with a rebuilding
Husky program that’s short on talent, even shorter on funds and
coming off a one-win season.
Putting Out the Welcome Mat:
Seattle. After the
off-field distractions of Rick Neuheisel and on-field ineptitude of
Keith Gilbertson, the community is thirsty for a grande double
espresso-sized cup of stability.
Western Michigan
Head Coach:
Bill Cubit
Former Coach:
Gary Darnell – Currently out of coaching
Bio:
Cubit, 51, returns
to Kalamazoo, the place where he coached the Bronco offense to some
impressive results from 1997-1999. Since leaving Western Michigan,
the 30-year veteran of the sidelines has held the titles of
offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in each of the last
five seasons, one with Missouri, two with Rutgers and the last two
at Stanford. His only collegiate head coaching experience came at
Division III Widener from 1992-1996. In the early 1970s, Cubit was
a record-setting wide receiver at Delaware.
The Skinny:
Things had become
stale under Gary Darnell, once a trendy candidate whenever coaching
vacancies opened up. With the Broncos riding a streak of four
straight losing seasons, capped by last year’s 1-10 fiasco, a change
at the top was inevitable. Cubit’s a link to the days when Western
was lighting up MAC defenses, and quarterback Tim Lester was
rewriting NCAA record books.
Putting Out the Welcome Mat:
QB Ryan Cubit.
Yeah, it has to be sort of weird when your dad’s the coach, but at
least Ryan won’t have to work overtime learning a new system or new
terminology. He’s been absorbing the coach’s philosophy since he
began teething.