I agree teams need to be careful for the ‘hot’ coordinator or coach. Usually it’s an AD that thinks the same formula applies to every situation without considering anything more than surface level factors. Doesn’t factor in experience or personality, which are tough to quantify, if that was the coach that actually built what was there or if they like to pork other employees.So as to Walters I found the hiring strange to begin with. Here’s a young guy who’s never been a head coach doing well as a DC at Illinois. Separate from the personal issues, why would you think he’s the right guy for a Big Ten program that just won the Big Ten West?
I’ll add that Bret is exactly what I’ve been advocating for since Mackovic left - an experienced power 5 coach who knows how to win. Places like Purdue and Illinois cannot afford to take a chance on a hot coordinator or a hot MAC coach.
I disagree on the MAC part. Candle has been at Toledo a while, I think he can be a good one, and although their current season is disappointing (Illinois 2023) liepold is doing great at Kansas considering where they were. Those two have long track records of stability and success, and are/were something of ‘hot’ MAC coaches. (I think beckman ruined anything MAC related for you)
It’s tricky and I find it fascinating why some guys get hired and some don’t, who ends up succeeding and who doesn’t. Really an art more than a science, and Whitman gets it.
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