Head Coach Candidates?

[AsUpRoDiGy]

It's pretty obvious at this point that Erickson will not return next year. With the Pac-12 South Division being so horrible, and USC's probation ending after this year, they will be running away with the division if ASU doesn't get a competent coaching staff. So basic question, who would you like to see ASU bring in as the next coach?

If I had a choice, I would aggressively pursue the DC from LSU, Mr. John Chavis. He's been a DC in the SEC for 16 years, and he would be a great HC candidate. He would bring the tough-minded aspect from the SEC, and he would have great recruiting connections as well. Who are your candidates?

 

[Mathew81]

I don't think it obvious. If we win the next 2 games and USC beats UCLA then we win the south division. Although I still think DE needs to go at this point, I could easily see the AD saying making the conference championship game is a successful season and keep him around.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I think you might have to address the AD first. Lisa Love likely gets canned if she comes out and gets rid of her guy.

As far as who ASU would hypothetically go after, I know that Ron English has some big fans among ASU donors and he has done a great job in his first gig resurrecting Eastern Michigan. Love might try to lure Carroll back since they know each other but that would be a longshot. I'd also see her maybe targeting Jack Del Rio if he gets fired in Jacksonville.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

I don't think it obvious. If we win the next 2 games and USC beats UCLA then win the south division. Although I still think DE needs to go at this point, I could easily see the AD saying making the conference championship game is a successful season and keep him around.

My family has deep connections with ASU, and we are boosters also. From what I'm hearing, and it's usually accurate, there is no way Erickson keeps his job after this year, even if he makes the conference championship game. The boosters are starting to get frustrated and impatient with Erickson, and the same thing happened while Koetter was the coach, which ultimately decided his future. Everyone wants this team to get back to the Frank Kush/Snyder days, and Erickson clearly isn't going to come close to that. I haven't heard anything on Love, however, I know most people aren't happy with her, but nothing indicates she will be gone soon. The 'only' way Erickson keeps his job, is by destroying Oregon in the championship game, which doesn't seem likely at all.

 

[HooverDam]

My #1 choice would be Kevin Sumlin, but I think ASU would have to back up the Brinks truck to lure him away from Houston. His DC is a NAU alum and of course his DL Coach is a former ASU star, so I would hope/imagine they'd be interested in coming back to AZ.

E: Also, I'd be all for Ron English. His overall record at EMU is pretty terrible but he's starting to turn things around there and may take them bowling this year for the first time in forever. The guy has long standing ties to ASU, is well regarded by Michigan and Louisville fans, is known to be a good recruiter, and most of all he's relatively young. I'd love ASU to get a young guy in here who can just make this his dream job and stay for decades.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

It would be very interesting if we're both on the hunt for a head coach in a few weeks with our AD being an ASU alum to boot. From a historical perspective the last time we were both looking for a coach in the same offseason it was when we got Mackovic and you got Koetter. We know how that turned out for us even if Dirk didn't set the world on fire up in Tempe. Time before that we ended up with Larry Smith and you guys got Daryl Rogers which was probably a draw if not in our favor because Smith started the Streak.

 

[AsUdUdE]

I think the number 1 choice should be Chris Peterson and since he loves Arizona and has recently lost, I think he would strongly consider ASU....

Just kidding

But realistically, Gus Malzahn (Auburn OC), Tim Beckman (Toledo HC), or maybe take a flyer with Rich Rod...

But my top choice without a dount would be Kirby Smart Defensive Cordinator or Alabama... The guy has an elite defensive mind, is a top recruiter, and had been under Saben for years... He is young, hungry, and would bring to ASU what they have lacked for decades, buzz...

He will be a head coach somewhere in 2012, lets just hope ASU puts the pressure on and comes stong with an offer...

Prodigy, please mention this to your people in the program.. Thanks

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I think you might have to address the AD first. Lisa Love likely gets canned if she comes out and gets rid of her guy.

As far as who ASU would hypothetically go after, I know that Ron English has some big fans among ASU donors and he has done a great job in his first gig resurrecting Eastern Michigan. Love might try to lure Carroll back since they know each other but that would be a longshot. I'd also see her maybe targeting Jack Del Rio if he gets fired in Jacksonville.

Yeah, I'd love to see the rationale for keeping Love, she's been an unmitigated failure.

 

[Gaddabout]

Gus Malzahn makes $1.3 million as Auburn OC (i.e. just a hair under what Erickson makes as head coach). He's not leaving for anything short of a good SEC head coach job.

Brent Venables is really, really interesting.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

You think Venables would be on the list? No hesitance after we hired the last fiery Oklahoma defensive coordinator that for years struggled to get a HC gig? I think Sumlin is right up ASU's alley but at this point he may not be available until January since UH appears on the way to a BCS game. It will be interesting to see who is actually pulling the strings in this one though, whether it's Love or boosters.

 

[HooverDam]

I think Sumlin is right up ASU's alley but at this point he may not be available until January since UH appears on the way to a BCS game. It will be interesting to see who is actually pulling the strings in this one though, whether it's Love or boosters.

I wonder if Erickson, Sumlins former boss, encourages him not to take the job if he gets fired. My original hope was that Erickson could somehow take ASU to the CCG, pull an unbelievable upset, go to the Rose and be happy to step down and into a Front Office role like Bellotti did and then recruit Sumlin to come here. Now that seems like even more of a pipe dream than it did initially.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

I think the number 1 choice should be Chris Peterson and since he loves Arizona and has recently lost, I think he would strongly consider ASU....

Just kidding

But realistically, Gus Malzahn (Auburn OC), Tim Beckman (Toledo HC), or maybe take a flyer with Rich Rod...

But my top choice without a dount would be Kirby Smart Defensive Cordinator or Alabama... The guy has an elite defensive mind, is a top recruiter, and had been under Saben for years... He is young, hungry, and would bring to ASU what they have lacked for decades, buzz...

He will be a head coach somewhere in 2012, lets just hope ASU puts the pressure on and comes stong with an offer...

Prodigy, please mention this to your people in the program.. Thanks

I know ASU will definitely contact Peterson, but I highly doubt he would leave Boise, unless of course he was offered a huge contract. One name I've actually been hearing a lot is Danny White, so many people want to see him take the program to prominence, but his health might be an issue, and another deterrent is his lack of coaching experience at the college level. I would personally love to get a coach from the SEC, just to bring that brand of football to the Pac. Most of the SEC coaches, however, stay there, and now that Ole Miss needs a new coach, that will be their #1 priority.

 

[Gaddabout]

You think Venables would be on the list? No hesitance after we hired the last fiery Oklahoma defensive coordinator that for years struggled to get a HC gig? I think Sumlin is right up ASU's alley but at this point he may not be available until January since UH appears on the way to a BCS game. It will be interesting to see who is actually pulling the strings in this one though, whether it's Love or boosters.

I don't know why anyone would be superstitious about Venables after UA's experience with Mike Stoops. They're two different, entirely unrelated people. Venables also might be the second-best recruiter in the country.

There remains the question whether Erickson will be fired or not. If he beats UA and Cal, he might survive another season.

 

[HooverDam]

Danny White

Anyone seriously suggesting that should be laughed at. White is a great Sun Devil, but has zero college coaching experience, connection to High School recruiting pipelines, etc. If White wanted to be ASUs HC he should've angled to get a job as QBs Coach years ago and work up some experience, but he never wanted to do that.

I'd be all for him as QB Coach in a new regime, but as a HC thats silly. I'd really like to see a bit more of an emphasis placed on having former Devils as Coaches. Juan Roque seems like he'd be a dream as the OL Coach, he's so full of energy it seems like he'd make a hell of a recruiter. Jim Jeffcoat would likely come coach the DL if Sumlin were hired, etc.

 

[AsUdUdE]

I don't know why anyone would be superstitious about Venables after UA's experience with Mike Stoops. They're two different, entirely unrelated people. Venables also might be the second-best recruiter in the country.

There remains the question whether Erickson will be fired or not. If he beats UA and Cal, he might survive another season.

I swear if this happens I am going to vomit.. the only silver lining to losing so many games this year to FAR less-talented teams was this would be the final nail in what has been the worst stretch of ASU in a LONG LONG time... seriously, take out Erickson's first year, he is 21-25.. and for the record 6 of those 21 wins have come against D-2 schools...

If Erickson survives this year there should be a revolt and I for one will not donate another dime to the program until he is gone...

 

[Dback Jon]

I swear if this happens I am going to vomit.. the only silver lining to losing so many games this year to FAR less-talented teams was this would be the final nail in what has been the worst stretch of ASU in a LONG LONG time... seriously, take out Erickson's first year, he is 21-25.. and for the record 6 of those 21 wins have come against D-2 schools...

If Erickson survives this year there should be a revolt and I for one will not donate another dime to the program until he is gone...

ASU has not played a D2 school under Erickson...

 

[AsUdUdE]

ASU has not played a D2 school under Erickson...

Oh.. I thought teams like Portland State, Idaho St, and UC Davis were considered D-2.. are they D-1?

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

FCS or formerly called 1-AA.

 

[Gaddabout]

I swear if this happens I am going to vomit.. the only silver lining to losing so many games this year to FAR less-talented teams was this would be the final nail in what has been the worst stretch of ASU in a LONG LONG time... seriously, take out Erickson's first year, he is 21-25.. and for the record 6 of those 21 wins have come against D-2 schools...

If Erickson survives this year there should be a revolt and I for one will not donate another dime to the program until he is gone...

The problem is a lot of alumni, instead of showing up with checks to pay for Erickson's ouster, are instead just giving up. It's been happneing slowly over the last 10 years, but it's really been happening the past 2 years. Now the core alumni that I mingle with that even stood by the program when Erickson was hired against their (very loud) objections are saying they're done. To me, that's a Lisa Love problem, not just an Erickson problem, but I do think the AD has to be fired before Erickson is let go. That's a sticky issue, because developing a solid "with cause" exit strategy for Love without getting a discrimination lawsuit will be a challenge if ASU goes to the Pac-12 championship game. They will likely have to pay $$$ to move Love out of that office, money I'm still not certain they have.

Quite a few of us tried to get English an interview with Love before they hired Erickson. We couldn't even get him in the door. That was when we knew we had lost access to the AD and things were changing. Ron really wanted the job, too. I'm certain that hasn't changed in the years since.

 

[Dback Jon]

Oh.. I thought teams like Portland State, Idaho St, and UC Davis were considered D-2.. are they D-1?

Nope - FCS (I-AA). D-II is teams like Western New Mexico or Grand Canyon.

 

[Mathew81]

I know ASU will definitely contact Peterson, but I highly doubt he would leave Boise, unless of course he was offered a huge contract. One name I've actually been hearing a lot is Danny White, so many people want to see him take the program to prominence, but his health might be an issue, and another deterrent is his lack of coaching experience at the college level. I would personally love to get a coach from the SEC, just to bring that brand of football to the Pac. Most of the SEC coaches, however, stay there, and now that Ole Miss needs a new coach, that will be their #1 priority.

I'd rather keep Erickson than go with Danny White. It would be a disaster.

 

[AsUdUdE]

The problem is a lot of alumni, instead of showing up with checks to pay for Erickson's ouster, are instead just giving up. It's been happneing slowly over the last 10 years, but it's really been happening the past 2 years. Now the core alumni that I mingle with that even stood by the program when Erickson was hired against their (very loud) objections are saying they're done. To me, that's a Lisa Love problem, not just an Erickson problem, but I do think the AD has to be fired before Erickson is let go. That's a sticky issue, because developing a solid "with cause" exit strategy for Love without getting a discrimination lawsuit will be a challenge if ASU goes to the Pac-12 championship game. They will likely have to pay $$$ to move Love out of that office, money I'm still not certain they have.

Quite a few of us tried to get English an interview with Love before they hired Erickson. We couldn't even get him in the door. That was when we knew we had lost access to the AD and things were changing. Ron really wanted the job, too. I'm certain that hasn't changed in the years since.

yeah...I just think its awful that we MAY make it to the PAC-12 championship completely by default and that may very well buy Love/Erickson a second life...

I completely agree about Love..I forget if she brought Herb in because despite a pooor record last year, he has been pretty good for the basketball program, but if she doesn't go, there is something wrong...

Just depressing all the way around..

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

I'd rather keep Erickson than go with Danny White. It would be a disaster.

I'm not sure it would be a disaster, he does have coaching experience, just obviously none in college. I doubt he would ever get the job, but his name has been floating around for quite a while. There was just an article on azcentral today also, that basically reiterates the displeasure with Love, and Erickson. I still don't see any way Erickson makes it past this year, so we will definitely be looking for his replacement.

Here's the article if you were curious:

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/hea...-football-dennis-erickson-lisa-love-mars.html

 

[Lefty]

It will be very interesting to see what happens because I see ASU winning their next two games and then losing to Oregon. Does ASU have enough money to buy out Erickson and how much can they pay a new coach? I know the UofA is going to pay their next coach $2 to $2.5 million a year.

 

[HooverDam]

It will be very interesting to see what happens because I see ASU winning their next two games and then losing to Oregon. Does ASU have enough money to buy out Erickson and how much can they pay a new coach? I know the UofA is going to pay their next coach $2 to $2.5 million a year.

Well UA and ASU are in different positions to some degree. UA is likely going to have to overpay someone a bit to bring them in. ASU is still a somewhat better job and they could likely get a guy like Ron English at a pretty good rate. He makes very little at EMU and even doubling his salary to come to ASU it would still be less than most (all?) P-12 Coaches. The bigger thing money wise for ASU I imagine would be getting enough money to pay a bunch of quality assistants. English might bring Snow with him, but I don't know if the rest of his staff is P-12 ready and they certainly don't have the AZ/California recruiting ties you'd like to see.