I was going to wait till at least Pitt to share my short list of potential coaches but after today there is no point. Collins should be fired tonight. Not doing so is just delaying the inevitable. The fact is anyone on his staff (except for maybe Thacker) would not do any worse than Collins has done and will do this year. There is no hope left. Except the hope we would get from seeing Collins fired and speculating on a better hire. I am providing some names to consider that meet specific criteria I set out below.
I have watched enough Tech football (30 + years) to know that Tech is not a place for a coach without head coaching experience. Preferably from a place that is tough to win at and they won (Ross at Maryland and Johnson at Navy). Tech is too hard a place for a coach who has never been a head coach or was at a G5 or FCS school. The learning curve is too steep and challenges too much to handle. Anyone we hire has to have at least one top coordinator for Tech to win. We seem to never have two but we have to have one to have a chance. The staff is key.
I don't expect everyone to like all the names but I think we can all agree they have experience and a history of success at P5 schools. They are all from the south and have inroads in to recruiting in the south. They all should be available to Tech based on where they are now. The ones that got fired from schools like Florida and Auburn only had one losing season.
1. Dave Clawson at Wake Forest Since 2016 he has won 7-11 games and only one losing season. Anyone who can consistently win at Wake Forest is a good coach.
2. Gary Patterson who ran TCU a long time with success. Kind of old but good track record at a school that is about fifth in the state in terms of popularity. Analyst at Texas now.
3. Gus Malzahn...had one bad year at Auburn. Had success everywhere he has gone. At CF so Tech would be an upgrade to P5. Having been at Auburn he can recruit the area.
4. Dan Mullen...one bad year at Florida and they let him go. Only problem is he will not be use to academics Tech throws at him.
5. Jim McElwain...again one bad year at Florida and they let him go. He is at Central Michigan. This might be more like a Gailey hire. Solid coach but not likely to get a lot of excitement.
6. Bill O'Brian...been at Tech before. Head coach at Penn State during a very difficult period. Head coach in pros. Can we afford him may be the biggest question.
I prefer coaches with P5 experience but two coaches at G5 programs that are interesting include:
1. Bill Clarke at UAB. Told below he retired. Well would he come out of retirement? If not he is off the list. But I prefer guys above like I said anyway.
2. Curt Cignetti at James Madison. Saban guy.
I have watched enough Tech football (30 + years) to know that Tech is not a place for a coach without head coaching experience. Preferably from a place that is tough to win at and they won (Ross at Maryland and Johnson at Navy). Tech is too hard a place for a coach who has never been a head coach or was at a G5 or FCS school. The learning curve is too steep and challenges too much to handle. Anyone we hire has to have at least one top coordinator for Tech to win. We seem to never have two but we have to have one to have a chance. The staff is key.
I don't expect everyone to like all the names but I think we can all agree they have experience and a history of success at P5 schools. They are all from the south and have inroads in to recruiting in the south. They all should be available to Tech based on where they are now. The ones that got fired from schools like Florida and Auburn only had one losing season.
1. Dave Clawson at Wake Forest Since 2016 he has won 7-11 games and only one losing season. Anyone who can consistently win at Wake Forest is a good coach.
2. Gary Patterson who ran TCU a long time with success. Kind of old but good track record at a school that is about fifth in the state in terms of popularity. Analyst at Texas now.
3. Gus Malzahn...had one bad year at Auburn. Had success everywhere he has gone. At CF so Tech would be an upgrade to P5. Having been at Auburn he can recruit the area.
4. Dan Mullen...one bad year at Florida and they let him go. Only problem is he will not be use to academics Tech throws at him.
5. Jim McElwain...again one bad year at Florida and they let him go. He is at Central Michigan. This might be more like a Gailey hire. Solid coach but not likely to get a lot of excitement.
6. Bill O'Brian...been at Tech before. Head coach at Penn State during a very difficult period. Head coach in pros. Can we afford him may be the biggest question.
I prefer coaches with P5 experience but two coaches at G5 programs that are interesting include:
1. Bill Clarke at UAB. Told below he retired. Well would he come out of retirement? If not he is off the list. But I prefer guys above like I said anyway.
2. Curt Cignetti at James Madison. Saban guy.
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