The Illinois Football Coaching Search

illinoistradition said:

I guess I don’t understand how people can talk about Lewis and dismiss Leipold. Not saying you are but with both being MAC coaches and Leipold crushing Lewis this year, I’m confused by that.

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I'm not dismissing Leipold at all, I wouldn't mind if we hired him. But I also don't think you can compare what Leipold has done at Buffalo to what Lewis has done at Kent St. Leipold is further along into establishing Buffalo, he's in his 6th year. Lewis is just finishing up his 3rd year for a program that only has 5 winning seasons in the last 43 years, and he has two of them is his three seasons there.

Leipold certainly got the best of him this year, but Kent State did beat Buffalo last year. All in all both are good coaches that I wouldn't mind having on the sidelines for us. I just think we get a little higher upside with someone like Lewis.

I'm getting a bit disappointed with the rehashing of these names the more I think about it. We have some great attributes that should elicit desire to come. Of course, we have our warts too, but most of which can be fixed by a winning program and are not systemic roadblocks like a bad AD, or run down facilities, or a school without a competitive budget, or location, etc. I feel like we should be a place where coaches want to come and establish a program and challenge their coaching chops. I may be drinking the kool aid, but the more I hear about this coach or that coach, none are a slam dunk and that's I guess what has me feeling a bit pissed off that others don't see the vision. I'm not saying I want someone who will walk over coals to get to us and in fact, I might prefer someone we have to sell, because in the end, that person is in a good situation and has to contemplate leaving that for the dream of something bigger. Here's to hoping JW has something up his sleeve for this one.

Agree. In fact, I’d prefer Jeff or Todd Monken over all others mentioned. Being Illinois boys with strong family coaching legacy in the state would be a strong pull. Can’t think of any other qualified candidates that would have a better sense of belonging and ownership than these 2. Both are proven winners, good character and as others stated, check all the boxes. Let these HS coaches prove they will back the flagship school.

Don't sleep on Tom Manning the OC at Iowa State. Very well respected and will be a head coach soon. I think he would be a great hire young energetic offensive coach who has worked with one of the best coaches in the country in Matt Campbell. To me we need that young energetic guy to bring in a younger staff and really go after from a recruiting standpoint. Illinois needs something different then what has been tried we haven't been consistent winners in decades so why not try a little bit of an outside the box hire. Also would possibly bring ex QB Nathan Scheelhouse with him as QB or OC who is an up and comer in the coaching ranks and would
help fire up the local fans. Liepold and Monkin certainly solid coaches but I think we need to look at this hire differently then if we were a consistent winner

illini0440 said:

Lol not what I meant

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So it's Chip Kelly?

AutoPoster 3000 said:

I bought a new Corolla once. I got 35 mpg and it never broke down in seven years, not even once. Also, I was already bored driving it on the way home from the dealer. I'm not saying Lance Leipold is a Corolla. Well, I guess I sort of am saying that.

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I agree. Personality and style are intangibles, but they are important in recruiting. Some coaches have the personality of a "lukewarm fart."

IL Thunderbirds said:

Agree. In fact, I’d prefer Jeff or Todd Monken over all others mentioned. Being Illinois boys with strong family coaching legacy in the state would be a strong pull. Can’t think of any other qualified candidates that would have a better sense of belonging and ownership than these 2. Both are proven winners, good character and as others stated, check all the boxes. Let these HS coaches prove they will back the flagship school.

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Your last sentence really pisses me off. So U of I is a good place for their players to go if the HS coaches like the Illini coach and he genuflects for them, but not if said coach is someone they don’t like and who they perceive is slighting them? And not pissed at you for writing it but at the coaches who make it true.

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