Names to be thinking about

by John Berkowitz on Sep 30, 2008 11:26 AM PDT Comment 18 comments

You can consider the coaching search on now even if there will be no decision on Willingham till the end of the season. UW for the record would prefer for it to go down like that however I am not sure if he can survive a big loss on the road to Arizona.

The dream on category:

I think the signing of Gary Pinkel or Jim Mora would excite the fan base and kick things off in the right direction. The problem is they both have a couple of pretty good jobs. Of the two I would go with Pinkel first. The program builder always comes first in my opinion.

Gary Pinkel (Missouri)
Jim Mora Jr (Seahawks)
Jeff Tedford (California)
Nick Saban (Alabama)
Mike Holmgren (Seahawks)
Don James (Retired)
Gil Dobie (Deceased)

The college head coach category

There is a pretty good chance tha all the guys listed here would at least listen. A few of them such as Hill, or Holtz wouldn't turn it down. Kelly and Patterson are two guys from outside the region that I would take a good look at.

Chris Petersen (Boise State)
Brian Kelly (Cincinnati)
Mike Riley (Oregon State)
Gary Patterson (Texas Christian)
Kyle Whittingham (Utah)
Pat Hill (Fresno State)
Al Golden (Temple)
Jim Harbaugh (Stanford)
Randy Edsall (UConn)
Todd Graham (Tulsa)
Skip Holtz (East Carolina)

The unemployed category:

Three of these guys are looking for work and have expressed interest in coaching at UW in the past. Mariucci and Bowden are a couple of names to throw out there.

Lane Kiffin
Chan Gailey
Steve Mariucci
Terry Bowden
Scott Linehan
Mike Tice
John Mackovic

The hot assistant coach category:

Christensen is a guy I can see them talking to. Expect them to talk to Walker too. Either of these guys would leap at the job.

Dave Christensen (Missouri)
Bud Foster (Virginia Tech)
Major Applewhite (Alabama)
DeWayne Walker (UCLA)
Chip Kelly (Oregon)
Steve Sarskisian (USC)
Will Muschamp (Texas)
Norm Chow (UCLA)

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Comments

My vote goes to...

Chris Petersen. I love that guys offense and his guys are always prepared.

by Snostrebla on Sep 30, 2008 11:10 AM PDT reply actions

Wow

Do you really think a dead Gil Dobie is better than what we have now? That’s harsh, man!!

This is really an interesting list. I’d prefer someone with head coaching experience.

Pinkel is too smart to take this mess over, I think. Somehow I think Mora would do it, he hasn’t taken over yet, it’d make Allen look good (like when he bought a team he didn’t really care all that much about) and he’d do a good job. Like Peterson, too.

And it’s too hard to judge Kifflin in his current impossible situation.

by waltham on Sep 30, 2008 11:24 AM PDT reply actions

I agree on the head coaching and program building experience.

by John Berkowitz on Sep 30, 2008 11:28 AM PDT up reply actions

Raising the Dead

I like the Gil Dobie idea. He raises from the dead and raises the program from the dead at the same time!!!

I’d love Chris Peterson, he knows how to develop players and make them play above peoples expectations. It’s scary to think what he could accomplish with our freshman class. Just not sure if he’s going to be interested in this mess!

by Lear Pilot on Sep 30, 2008 11:46 AM PDT reply actions

I think Petersen

would at least talk if not take the job. I think he’s got enough swagger to take over a mess of a program and turn it around. From what I’ve heard he runs a pretty tight ship, but without holding grudges over players heads like Ty.

I still think Kiffin would fit best. He could bring in a good staff (namely Def. Coor.) and with his name might even be able to salvage the 2009 recruiting class. I know I’ve thrown it all over this site, but he’s got great California ties and turned out a few NFL recievers in his time at USC. If they made the move today, by next fall Jake could have a very, very good corp. of wideouts to throw to.

by B Money on Sep 30, 2008 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions

We need an instant impact in recruiting

I think Skip Holtz would be a good decision because his name is out there right now due to East Carolina’s early success. Chris Petersen would also be a great hire. Any coach that takes over this job is going to have a hard time connecting with kids in recruiting right away and it will help a lot to have someone with recent success that is fresh in everyone’s minds. If we have a down recruiting year it is going to cripple this program once again because we have blown so many redshirts this year out of necessity and desperation.

I’ve never thought failed NFL coaches or assistants were the right decision for college teams because the NFL is just way too different from the college game. At this point we need a proven college coach who can take a program and build it up, and also a coach who can get a signature win.

John I have one big question for you, do you think we should sell our souls and empty our pockets and get Erickson to come in here for one of his 1 year turnaround disaster specials? If Arizona State doesn’t finish in the top 3 of the Pac this year I could see him moving on again. I don’t like the guy that much but his magical way of taking a team in the dumps and making them relevant could go a long way for this program. If we have to start over from scratch and waste the next 2 (1?) years of Locker’s time here it would be one of the biggest disasters in the history of college football.

by JoeinFW on Sep 30, 2008 12:06 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah - that Pete Carrol sure was a bust

Those yahoos at USC should have known how bad Petey would be given his failues at New York and in New England. Those failed pro coaches know NOTHING about winning in college.

And, Dennis Erickson? A coug? C’mon, Joe – you can’t be serious.

Shake that hand that shook the hand of Hustlin' Hugh

by Minny C on Sep 30, 2008 6:50 PM PDT up reply actions

my list

Brian Kelly
Lane Kiffin
Steve Sarskisian
Mike Tice
Chris Petersen

Any of these guys would give me hope.

PS Kyle Whittingham (Utah)…no way!! that name is to close to you know whose name.

by bigdave967 on Sep 30, 2008 12:08 PM PDT reply actions

kifflin

Kifflin was fired today.

by waltham on Sep 30, 2008 12:51 PM PDT reply actions

applewhite is not at

alabama anymore. he is the asst. head coach and RB coach at Texas now.

by Huskyborn on Sep 30, 2008 2:06 PM PDT reply actions

Why are we not ...

… talking about Butch Davis? He’d be a steal and should be gettable given the fact that UNC will never be as much about football as it is basketball. He’s got the cache, the track record, and the youth to be a dynasty builder.

Shake that hand that shook the hand of Hustlin' Hugh

by Minny C on Sep 30, 2008 6:52 PM PDT reply actions

I think Butch...

Is to attached to the South. He would be a good fit in terms of style, but without ties to California recruiting would be hard. I can’t imagine he would pluck many 4-5 star recruits away from home down South. And while at Miami (as I’ve heard, maybe John knows better), he had small classes and made the kids start early. I think that’s a big problem we’re having now at UW is the “sink or swim” methodology.

by B Money on Sep 30, 2008 9:49 PM PDT up reply actions

You ain't getting Tedford

But Lane Kiffin looks like the best prospect.

It would be funny however if you took another Stanfurd coach away (yes yes I know Ty went to ND first)

In other words, Go Bears!

by royrules22 on Oct 2, 2008 2:56 AM PDT reply actions

Mindset

I think the chances of getting Tedford are nill, but I like him. He is the hardest working coach in the Pac Ten and Washington really needs someone with that type of mindset.

by John Berkowitz on Oct 2, 2008 7:24 AM PDT reply actions