Jay Mac

Sorry, I did not find another thread on this article. Maybe I need to use a PC instead of an iPad to access.

I do not believe fans, at least me, know what goes on inside the organization. Thus, for former players to recommend someone as coach seems as valid as fan preferences. I recall talking with Charles in 2013-2014 about decisions being made and that we concluded the coaches know what they are doing. But the game results suggested otherwise. In other words, we fans really don’t know what goes on in there. Who is an effective coach and who is not? Who knows better? Players… because they live it up close and personal. So for players to recommend a coach seems wholly appropriate. I think of the coaches I’ve had, as can all of you, and wonder “who is a better judge of their coaching acumen? The fans, or me and the other players?” Is Lanning a good hire? I hope so. I hope if he proves his value that he stays a long time. Yet I find him “green,” which doesn’t bode well for wins. Also, his references to players often use words that are typically applied to inanimate objects. That worries me as a propensity to be impersonal, to not view them as human beings, but as tools to leverage. I would not want a coach who talks like that.

Good points! Another downside is transfers’ potential to affect a student’s educational goals. That won’t matter if the student’s goal is pro sport…AND they become a pro. But how many college athletes do? Few. Also, most transfers are doing so because they aren’t getting playing time, which means a lesser skill set, which means less likely to go pro. So those shopping themselves risk going to a school with a weaker program in their major, which could affect their quality of education…which is why most of them are in college to begin with! Hey! The brass ring is now in the carousel dispenser!

Hiring experienced coordinators from without risks a short tenure as success means they may be hired as HCs elsewhere. Does 2 to 3 year tenure breed stability? Is stability important to long-term success? History indicates the answers are “no” and “yes.” Stability simply is not a guarantee of success, and therein lays a double edged sword. Also, external hires for coordinators inherently paints existing assistant coaches as constrained, and while they may never say that, they are smart enough to recognize the implication of a ceiling to their advancement. So it is important to occasionally take the risk and hire from within. Since when Mark was let go, the assistants have mostly been very good to great. At least one of them certainly would be a great coordinator given the chance. Mario’s challenge is to ID those and commit. If Mario continues to hire outside over inside for the coordinators, that establishes a precedent, a hiring culture. Future potential assistants will see that and someday it will be harder to find the best assistant coaches. This to me is the crux of the biscuit...assistant hires. These decisions are tough calls. I hope Mario is self-reflective enough to recognize the long-term impacts of his coordinator choices (and offensive play calling puts that into question).