Coaching Carousel

[Mr. Tibbs]

Some fans are seriously trotting out John Gruden as a candidate.

click bait to get thru the week until the Toledo game is over this Saturday

I kinda think that if Gruden would get back into the college game as a HC, he would really want a higher profile program,
But IU is B1G, and can afford a decent pay package should that conversation go anywhere.

Candle has to be the runaway #1 choice though

 

[Mr. Tibbs]

Candle would be a good hire for them, but if he ends up being another good HC how did we really get the only bad one...

cuz...................................Illinois

 

[altgeld88]

Candle would be a good hire for them, but if he ends up being another good HC how did we really get the only bad one...

"A" people hire "A" people.
"B" people hire "B" and "C" people
"C" people hire:

 

[sacraig]

Mike Thomas....

Beckman didn't even pass cursory inspection. He was a "defense-minded" coach who coached a team whose success was due to having a good offense (run by Campbell) that could overcome their poor defense.

 

[BZuppke]

I always shake my head when people posit the question - just how did Beckman impress anyone in his interviews. His initial press conference was unsettling to say the least.

As always I’ll back these decisions with the benefit of the doubt but he was all out goofy from day one.

I also remember Zook mispronouncing ‘Illinois’. Made me wince.

 

[Ander1345]

Any chance Duke swipes Leipold? Asking for a friend.

 

[Point-Illinois]

Beckman didn't even pass cursory inspection. He was a "defense-minded" coach who coached a team whose success was due to having a good offense (run by Campbell) that could overcome their poor defense.

Yeah, I always hoped for Beckman to succeed and defended him until he was indefensible (I want so bad to believe in my coach even if he is a buffoon).

But your above statement was a flashing, bright red warning light that I saw and cognitively covered up HOPING it meant nothing. “Maybe he’s great at putting a staff together” I thought… “maybe defense is simply optional and offensive talent has the advantage at the MAC level” I justified.

Oh man was I wrong.

Though I guess he did improve our record every season! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Old.Edgy]

As I’ve said I’ve been a season ticket holder as a student and to the present since the Mike White era and I fully believe we have the best coach in my lifetime since then. I did believe in mackovic as a good successor to White but by the time he left, overall talent was slipping. The Tepper hire I disagreed with because he was an untried coordinator and at the time we were the second winningest big ten school to tOSU and could have conducted a national search and have Iowa’s recent history.

Turner’s lack of college experience concerned me.

Zook’s inability to win at Florida concerned me.

Beckman? Who was impressed at his introductory presser?

Lovie? Well 26 years away from college ball?

I always hoped for the best but every coaching hire since White/Mackovic started with concerns.

Bielema is clearly the most experienced, complete Power 5 coach we’ve hired over all this time.

I have no doubts we’ll see the results we seek in time.

First 3 years records of each coach since Ray Eliot retired in 1959....

Pete Elliot: 5-4, 0-9, 2-7 - catches lightning in 1963 - Rose Bowl - but program devastated by scandal...
Jim Valek: 4-6, 1-9, 0-10
Bob Blackman: 5-6, 3-8, 5-6
Gary Moeller: OMG, OMG, OMG - wins only 3 games, mostly famous for 0-0 tie with NW
Mike White: 3-7-1, 7-4, 7-5 -- catches most lightning in bottle EVER in 1963 -- Program plagued by scandal...
John Mackovic: 6-5-1, 10-2, 8-4 -- Highest winning percentage of .663
Lou Tepper: 6-5-1, 5-6, 7-5
Ron Turner: 0-11, 3-8, 8-4 -- catches lightning in bottle in 2001 with 10-2, then falls off cliff
Ron Zook: 2-9, 2-10, 9-4 -- catches lightning in bottle 2007
Tim Beckman: 2-10, 4-8, 6-7 -- devastates program with scandal
Lovie Smith: 3-9, 2-10, 4-8 -- Joins the ranks of nepotism centric programs
*Bret Bielema: 5-7, 8-5, 5-7 -- catches lightning in 2nd season
*Clearly the best coach we've hired since Mackovic and maybe the best since Ray Eliot retired in 1959...

 

[illini0440]

Any chance Duke swipes Leipold? Asking for a friend.

Considering we play Duke in 2025….wouldn’t be the benefit you’re thinking it would be

 

[D1959]

School after school making staff changes? Why does our DC still have a job?

 

[Mr. Tibbs]

Any chance Duke swipes Leipold? Asking for a friend.

a step down in conference pecking order
would be puzzling

 

[spotter]

Some fans are seriously trotting out John Gruden as a candidate.

 

[Illini4Chief]

School after school making staff changes? Why does our DC still have a job?

Sometimes coaches hire friends, and thus do not let friends go.....

 

[Birdus]

I always shake my head when people posit the question - just how did Beckman impress anyone in his interviews. His initial press conference was unsettling to say the least.

As always I’ll back these decisions with the benefit of the doubt but he was all out goofy from day one.

I also remember Zook mispronouncing ‘Illinois’. Made me wince.

Never forget the CHEW on the sideline.

 

[3 point girl]

First 3 years records of each coach since Ray Eliot retired in 1959....

Pete Elliot: 5-4, 0-9, 2-7 - catches lightning in 1963 - Rose Bowl - but program devastated by scandal...
Jim Valek: 4-6, 1-9, 0-10
Bob Blackman: 5-6, 3-8, 5-6
Gary Moeller: OMG, OMG, OMG - wins only 3 games, mostly famous for 0-0 tie with NW
Mike White: 3-7-1, 7-4, 7-5 -- catches most lightning in bottle EVER in 1963 -- Program plagued by scandal...
John Mackovic: 6-5-1, 10-2, 8-4 -- Highest winning percentage of .663
Lou Tepper: 6-5-1, 5-6, 7-5
Ron Turner: 0-11, 3-8, 8-4 -- catches lightning in bottle in 2001 with 10-2, then falls off cliff
Ron Zook: 2-9, 2-10, 9-4 -- catches lightning in bottle 2007
Tim Beckman: 2-10, 4-8, 6-7 -- devastates program with scandal
Lovie Smith: 3-9, 2-10, 4-8 -- Joins the ranks of nepotism centric programs
*Bret Bielema: 5-7, 8-5, 5-7 -- catches lightning in 2nd season
*Clearly the best coach we've hired since Mackovic and maybe the best since Ray Eliot retired in 1959...

Tepper was 18-16-1

 

[mhuml32]

Really a big fan of Mississippi State going to get Lebby …

Cover 3 podcast supports my idea and has a better "jingle" with David and Goliath. I continue to believe that David programs need to hire folks who won with David-level talent. This is why Mullen and Leach were so successful in Starkville. The same rings true for Goliaths. Hiring a guy who's been successful at Goliaths in their respective conferences (Oklahoma - UCF in AAC - Baylor under Briles) isn't going to fly at David programs. You also have the dynamic where Miss State fans have raised their expectations after the past two long-term coaches but the SEC is about to be getting harder. For example, they have @Ole Miss, @Arizona St, TAMU, @Tennessee, @Texas, and @Georgia next year. It was a brutal job for anyone to take (with a lot of zeros), but I don't see good things for Lebby.

 

[mhuml32]

Dana Holgorsen reportedly out at Houston.

Traylor would be the only guy I would target if I was Houston AD.

 

[Illiniam1984]

School after school making staff changes? Why does our DC still have a job?

Patience. Only his 1st year as DC. More important change that needs to be made is DB coach. I think they need to reassign Fenelus elsewhere and hire a secondary coach with more experience.

 

[mhuml32]

Not sure I like that given how good Toledo has been. Would be a very good hire for IU.

Candle was 26-19 going into this season after Campbell's recruits were gone. This year has been magical, but not sure decision makers have been enthralled with his body of work. Personally, I would love for Indiana to hire him. Goes back to my previous statement, hiring a Goliath (in MAC) coach to take over at a David (B1G) program is often a bad choice. He's not going to have a personnel, skill, or QB advantage like he enjoyed every week at Toledo.

 

[illini0440]

Candle was 26-19 going into this season after Campbell's recruits were gone. This year has been magical, but not sure decision makers have been enthralled with his body of work. Personally, I would love for Indiana to hire him. Goes back to my previous statement, hiring a Goliath (in MAC) coach to take over at a David (B1G) program is often a bad choice. He's not going to have a personnel, skill, or QB advantage like he enjoyed every week at Toledo.

Indiana is a david program in the B1G though

 

[mhuml32]

Now lets get Leipold out of Kansas for next season

 

[GILL-INOIS]

I am all for giving DC Henry another season

Defense carried this team most of the season. The offense showed up when Paddock took over. Great thing is we put points on the board for a change and moved the ball at a fast rate. Bad news is if we score all those TDs in few minute drives or shorter than the defense is going to be on the field and get tired as the game goes on. Paddock was the perfect QB to throw into action when the RB depth was depleted and needed to throw the ball around. Lack of talent or depth at the DL and Secondary caught up with us against Indiana and Northwestern. If there is heat on coordinators than the OC, DC and Special Teams all should be held accountable. It was a mix of all 3 and rarely did we play a complete game at all 3 facets.

 

[mhuml32]

Indiana is a david program in the B1G though

Candle was 26-19 going into this season after Campbell's recruits were gone. This year has been magical, but not sure decision makers have been enthralled with his body of work. Personally, I would love for Indiana to hire him. Goes back to my previous statement, hiring a Goliath (in MAC) coach to take over at a David (B1G) program is often a bad choice. He's not going to have a personnel, skill, or QB advantage like he enjoyed every week at Toledo.

Correct, hence this statement. Candle would be a bad hire for Indiana. Indiana is a Big Ten job, so it's still an awesome job, but being successful there is extremely hard. This is a hot take but I would rather hire Chuck Martin than Candle if I'm Indiana. Martin has shown to be successful at a school with less (MAC) resources and can win with less talent. Candle hasn't proven that at Toledo.

 

[Illiniam1984]

I am all for giving DC Henry another season

Defense carried this team most of the season. The offense showed up when Paddock took over. Great thing is we put points on the board for a change and moved the ball at a fast rate. Bad news is if we score all those TDs in few minute drives or shorter than the defense is going to be on the field and get tired as the game goes on. Paddock was the perfect QB to throw into action when the RB depth was depleted and needed to throw the ball around. Lack of talent or depth at the DL and Secondary caught up with us against Indiana and Northwestern. If there is heat on coordinators then the OC, DC and Special Teams all should be held accountable. It was a mix of all 3 and rarely did we play a complete game at all 3 facets.

Hiring an experienced secondary coach would be huge. Having both Fenelus and Henry as first time coaches in their new positions didn’t help this year.

 

[GILL-INOIS]

Hiring an experienced secondary coach would be huge. Having both Fenelus and Henry as first time coaches in their new positions didn’t help this year.

Only one way to get experience. We had lack of experience in the secondary and lack of talent/depth in the secondary. No doubt lacking experience coaching and playing at that position. Best hope is some of that will carry over into next season and grow from it.