Taking a closer look at Jim Mora Jr.
by John Berkowitz
on Oct 26, 2008 5:34 PM PDT
Jim Mora attended Hyak JH and Interlake HS in Bellevue, where he graduated in 1980. Mora was a member of the fraternity Lamda Chi Alpha and played DB at UW from 1980-83, appearing in two Rose Bowls. He began his coaching career directly after college as a graduate assistant for the Huskies under head coach Don James in 1984, and began his pro football coaching career in 1985.
Jim Mora hired on as a quality control coach with the San Diego Chargers in1985 moving up to coach the secondary in1 989. In 1992 he moved to the New Orleans Saints to coach under his father Jim Mora Sr. In 1997 the younger Mora moved to the San Francisco 49ers to coach under Steve Mariucci, and became the 49ers' DCin 1999. He was retained by Dennis Erickson in 2004.
In 2004 Mora was hired as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. He led the Falcons to a 11-5 record and a playoff berth his first year. In 2005 the team slid to 8-8 and in 2006 the Falcons finished 7-9 and he was fired after the season was concluded. Jim dodged a bullet ont ht one because that following spring the Michael Vick dogfighting scandal began to surface and Mora was safe back home coaching the Seahawk DB's in Seattle. Mora has ageed to become the Seahwks head coach in 2009 when Mike Holmgren retires.
On December 14th, 2006 while the Falcons were still statistically alive in their quest for the playoffs, Mora said during a radio interview with Dave "Softy" Mahler and former Huskies teammate / roommate Hugh Millen on KJR-AM that if it were offered, he would take the head coaching job at Washington even if the Falcons were in a playyoff run. While Mora later claimed that he was only kidding, he was criticized by many Falcons fans as well as members of the national media who claimed that making such comments was irresponsible.
The statement didn't go over well with current UW head coach Tyrone Willingham and the AD at the time Todd Turner. It is also rumored that it also turned off President Mark Emmert. There is an unwritten rule in college football that you never publically covet an existing coaches position.
Even though Mora is lined up for a $20 million dollar deal with the Seahawks there are rumors that both entitites may be willing to rethink that move if Mora still wants the UW job. Mora has been very silent this season which is a sign to many that he still would like to be considered for the job. Most feel that since he hasn't issued a disclaimer that he may still have interest.
For Washington to hire Mora it is going to cost some serious money. That can be said for any of the top coaches on their list which includes California's Jeff Tedford and Missouri's Gary Pinkel. any of those three are going to cost you upwards of $2.5 million per year.
Most of us are very comfortable with the idea of Jim Mora Jr as head coach of the Huskies. First of all he is the son of former Husky assistant Jim Mora. He has that Don James Rose Bowl pedigree, and most importantly he has the ability to unite and ignite the entire fan base.
Most of us feel he will be they type of recruiter that can butt heads with Carroll, Bellotti, Teford, and Neuheisel and come away with his share of big time athletes even though he has spent his entire career in the pro's.
I personally love the idea of Mora coaching the Huskies. I think he is one of the few guys that are out there that can turn this thing around quickly.
Where exactly does Jim Mora Jr rank on your personal list of Husky coaching candidates?
Do you think Jim Mora Jr is the right fit for Washington?
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For some reason I get the feeling he's going to be our next coach
He’d be a VERY close #2 on my list – (more like a #1B). The infusion of life and energy into the program would be off the charts HUGE. I think it would be fairly easy to go to Paul Allen and say “My Alma Mater needs me”. It’s not like the Seahawks are ablivious to whats going on at Montlake. He would be a very good coach and an outstanding recruiter.
by Snostrebla on Oct 26, 2008 8:29 PM PDT 0 recs
Mora as UWs next coach
Jim Mora Jr is number 1 on my list. He would be a GREAT hire. He will be both a great coach and recruiter and he will not back down from pete carroll to get the best highschool players. I live in the LA area the LA Times wanted ucla to hire Mora I can only hope this is true. Coach Mora will bring the Dawgs back
by Robert M on Oct 26, 2008 8:41 PM PDT 0 recs
The right fit
Mora would be a great fit at Washington. Turning down a guaranteed Head Coaching job with the Seahawks would be an undeniable sign that he is at Washington to stay. HIs youth, pedigree (his dad, and Don James), combined with the selling point to recruits of being an NFL Head Coach, what is there he doesn’t have?
The big question, would he turn down the Hawks???
P.S. – John, absolutely love the “closer look at” postings. I’d like to put in a request for Lane Kiffin. I am NOT very fond of Kiffin as an option, I bet a closer look would shed some light on him. My curiousity with him lies in his dad, is he available, would he leave the NFL to work under his son? What would a Kiffin led team, with a Monte Kiffin led defense look like? Keep up the good work!
"Bow Down to Washington"
"Kick the tires and light the fires!"
by Lear Pilot on Oct 26, 2008 8:59 PM PDT 0 recs
We need a motivator and winning Coleege Head Coach. Not an assistant, not a pro Coach.and not another fired dufus.
by Norm1 on Oct 26, 2008 9:49 PM PDT 0 recs
Carroll
Pete Carroll was a Pro Coach, that didn’t turn out too bad!
"Bow Down to Washington"
"Kick the tires and light the fires!"
by Lear Pilot on
Oct 26, 2008 10:21 PM PDT
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I think Mora is perfect in every conceivable way.
The only con in my mind — and it’s a con that applies to every candidate — is that you can’t GUARANTEE he’d take us back to the top 3 of the Pac-10.
by discovolante on Oct 26, 2008 11:28 PM PDT 0 recs
I'll pass on Mora.
I’m probably the only UW fan that does not want Jim Mora to even interview for the job. He already is locked in a contract for next season. We can all speculate whether or not he can recruit, but we don’t really know. We all speculate that he can coach college kids, but we don’t really know as he hasn’t been in the college game for quite some time. Let Donatell show you that just because you were a DC in the NFL does not mean it will directly translate to the college game.
I’ll take Chris Petersen everyday of the week, with Kiffin as my second choice. Mora? No thanks.
by Patton on Oct 27, 2008 12:25 AM PDT 0 recs
Tough one...
Mora seems to have the high energy that it would take to revive recruiting and the fan base. I personally like all the names (Petersen, Mora, Kiffin, Pinkel, Tedford, Christsen, Muschamp, etc) that have been throwing out there but my list would be this…
1. Pinkel (loooooooong shot)
2 tie. Mora Jr
2 tie. Kiffin
3. Petersen
Not a big Tedford fan only because his teams seem to choke when it matters. Kiffin and Mora give you the young gun, here to prove I can do it, attitude. Petersen, in my mind, is the safe bet (besides Pinkel) but maybe not the fun and exciting hire. All of these guys get me giddy….I cant wait until Ty is gone!!!!!
by bigdave967 on Oct 27, 2008 6:45 AM PDT 0 recs
Closer look
John, love the closer look articles. Thanks for the isight.
by dadcojohn on Oct 27, 2008 8:02 AM PDT 0 recs
Kiffin
I can do one on Kiffin but keep in mind he won’t be getting an interview at UW. He isn’t even on the long list.
by John Berkowitz on Oct 27, 2008 8:59 AM PDT 0 recs
That is what I am hearing
They want someone who is a proven builder/winner at the college level.
Kiffin is only 33-34 and has never run a college football program. They will look at Mora because he is a former UW player and has the ability to unite the community immediately. If Mora was not a UW grad he wouldn’t be on the list.
by John Berkowitz on Oct 27, 2008 9:56 AM PDT 0 recs
I'd much rather take my chances with
Patterson, Peterson, Graham than Kiffin.
by Snostrebla on Oct 27, 2008 10:57 AM PDT 0 recs
Experience
You can’t put a dollar amount on experience, as bad as Husky football is right now, we REALLY need an experienced, proven Head Coach.
Kiffin does not have experience!!!
"Bow Down to Washington"
"Kick the tires and light the fires!"
by Lear Pilot on Oct 27, 2008 11:24 AM PDT 0 recs
By that rationale..
You shouldn’t want Mora either then.
I don’t want Pinkel, he’s too old and it took him too long to get the Missouri Program where it is now. Who knows how long he’ll stay and coach. Chris Petersen would be my first choice followed by Kiffin. Kiffin wasn’t a HC at USC but he was definitely there as a proven winner.
To get a ‘head start’ on the coaching candidates wouldn’t that mean he can only talk to those who aren’t currently employed? Don’t you need permission to talk to coaches that are currently employed? If so, how does this help you get a jump start unless you plan on interviewing Kiffin?
by Patton on
Oct 27, 2008 1:04 PM PDT
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Experience
Mora is far more experienced than Kiffin. 10 years older, both had dads working in the NFL, got into coaching very early. Mora is Kiffin in 10 years.
Pinkel has experience turning around a bad program, how much has he learned in that process? That in itself puts him over Petersen who took over a very successful team. That said, I’d rather have Petersen than Pinkel, age, enthusiam, current knowledge of area recruits, and length of future potential.
"Bow Down to Washington"
"Kick the tires and light the fires!"
by Lear Pilot on
Oct 27, 2008 4:59 PM PDT
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Sniffle sniffle
I was getting use to these big wins over UWlosers.
by Oregon on Oct 27, 2008 1:46 PM PDT 0 recs
Get ready to Bow Down to Washington!
"Bow Down to Washington"
"Kick the tires and light the fires!"
by Lear Pilot on
Oct 27, 2008 5:00 PM PDT
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Kiffin
If the knock on Kiffin is lack of HC experience than we can take Dave Christen (SP?), Muschamp, and Sarkasian off any list. Petersen has no experience “rebuilding” a program because he was handed a winning program. Pinkel took 7 + years to get Missouri where they are now. Pat Hill has ONE WAC title in 11 years…enough said. The more i look around the more i like Paterson from TCU. John, any chance of a background write up on him?
by bigdave967 on Oct 28, 2008 10:39 AM PDT 0 recs
Petersen, I believe, is 30-3 as a head coach
With the wrong coach it would be trending down by now at Boise. (see Neuhiesel at UW) Four years ago when Hawkins was rumored to be leaving a lot of Boise fans were saying that was fine because Petersen was the “Brains” behind the success. He consistantly gets more out of less. I doubt there is more then 1 or 2 – 4 star players on his roster. He has a starting QB from our state that neither UW or WSU offered. He is the real deal and with any luck our coach next season.
by Snostrebla on Oct 28, 2008 12:09 PM PDT 0 recs
Take 'em off
I agree with bigdave take all the coordinators off the list. Pinkel could go either way, it took him a while to do it, but he now has experience doing it.
Petersen is worth the risk, he has soooo much upside. I’d like to know more about Patterson, could be a good dark horse.
"Bow Down to Washington"
"Kick the tires and light the fires!"
by Lear Pilot on Oct 28, 2008 9:37 PM PDT 0 recs
Don James
DJ thinks we hire a coordinator. Take it for what it is worth.
by John Berkowitz on Oct 29, 2008 7:37 PM PDT 0 recs
Rumor is...
It’s already a done deal = A coach that is currently coaching and his staff will be here when their seson is over. People are freaking out on Dawgman that it’s Pat Hill. Just a rumor…for whatever it’s worth. My guess is that it’s Jim Mora and the whole Pat Hill thing is a smoke screen while the Seahawks, Dawgs & Mora iron out the details.
by Snostrebla on Oct 30, 2008 7:50 AM PDT 0 recs
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