It took a few days to get my Golden Gopher football posts moved from my MN Headhunter business blog. What follows is a summary of links from a quick search of articles regarding the search process and the names that have been mentioned so far.
Day 3
Gopher purse strings will be loosened for new hire and U plans to move quickly. President Bruininks giving us hope that Athletic Director Joel Maturi has the ability to go after a coach and pay him competitively.
U's dream duo: Dungy, Saunders Tony Dungy took himself out of the running. Is he everyone’s ultimate pick? Yes but he is a NFL coach. Mike Grant, son of Bud grant, runs a highly successful high school program. If really has interest in being a college coach one day the next head coach should hire him as an assistant and have recruiting be a focus for him.
Day 4
Gophers football: Trestman, Coker voice their interest Marc Trestman has the local connection we like. I wonder if there are perception issues as he was the offensive coordinator for Chuck Amato who along with his staff was fired from North Carolina State. If he was fired as a coordinator can he be a head coach. With his ties to the U of M, I would say yes.
Larry Coker, now that would be interesting. I doubt he could turn Minnesota into Thug U. of the Upper Midwest but I do not trust him. We need someone a little more stable.
Tice's U turn? I think Mike Tice is more of a NFL coach than a college coach but he certainly is saying the right things. Not having a college degree will likely keep him out of the run.
Day 5
Trestman, McCarney say they're interested A lengthy article on Marc Trestman and his impressive experience and local ties. Dan McCarney, why would a school fire Mason and then hire McCarney? He is a good guy but at best it is an even trade. He did just leave an Iowa State team saying it needed new life. Umm, that does not say much for the coach.
CHRYST ENDORSED FOR U JOB Here is my issue with Chryst, he had a degree from Wisconsin. He coaches for Wisconsin. The Badgers are a rivalry. Why on earth would we hire one of them? Other than a short term stay until his next big gig how much does he care? I know he was the ring barer at Joiel Maturi’s wedding and his father the best man, but that is one more reason not to hire him, perception of the hire. He is a talented coordinator but I would like to see us stay away from this one.
Speaking of coordinators, I am surprised that this is the forts time I have seen current/former offensive coordinator Mitch Browning mentioned. The national media gives Mason credit for the high-powered offense. They are wrong. Browning is the man who gets the credit.
Day 6
Gophers coaching search draws LSU's interest, I am a big LSU fan (and the SEC in general) and would rather see us hire a top assistant from a tradition rich program than an experienced coach from a “mid-major”. Bo Pelini, LSU defensive coordinator, fits that.
Also, the university has retained the search firm Baker-Parker and Associates.
Day 7
Gophers football: USC assistant Kiffin among U's prospects Lane Kiffin has the local connection and resume that should interest Minnesota. Also mentioned are Bobby Hauck (Montana) and Gary Patterson (TCU).
Coaching searches put heat on Maturi While the search for a basketball coach will not really begin for a couple of months there is a lot on AD Joel Maturi’s plate and there is the question if he is up to it. Unlike most, I have faith that that 2007 will be a much better year than 2006 was.
A guy calls in to the Sports Huddle on WCCO Radio and proposes the following, what about Lou Holtz as head coach and bring in Skip Holtz as a coordinator. Lou fixes the program and hands it off to Skip. Huh, that sounds interesting.
Day 8
According to KFAN, DeWayne Walker (current UCLA defensive coordinator and Gopher player in the early 80’s) says he has not been contacted by the Gophers. What? Chryst is on the short list but we have not yet had a chat with Walker. I don’t get that.
I think you are on the right track with the Wisconsin connection. I too am completely against hiring anyone from Wisconsin for the job. Lou Holtz's name should be dropped from the list since he isn't coming back to do anything at the U. He left after only two years, and the only reason he's mentioned is that fact that he is the highest profile coach we've ever had.
And Mike Tice...if I remember correctly, he couldn't win with the Vikings...curious.
That being said, I think Lane Kiffin, Bo Pelini or Marc Trestman would be fantastic options for the job.
Posted by: Colorado Gopher Fan | January 10, 2007 at 10:44 AM