AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > December > 03
Monday, December 3, 2007
When looking for a new coach …
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If I’m hiring a new head coach to Georgia Tech, here are my criteria, in order:
1a: Connectivity. Gotta get a football coach who’ll inspire the masses, sizzle a little bit both with microphones in his face and on the sideline, yet without acting quite like Les Miles or Mike Leach.
1b. Ethics. If the next guy lands the football team in trouble with the NCAA, the leash given the program by The Hill will shorten, not that it’s long now. Rick Neuheisel? Are you kidding? I wonder if he ever was actually a candidate if the idea was squashed when run up the flag by somebody at or near the very top of the pole. Yeah, he won a suit against the NCAA in one case. But there was dubious activity at both of his stops as a head coach. Having 1a won’t matter if piggybacked by 1b.
Proven record as a winner, whether as an assistant or a head coach. If already a head coach, evidence of improvement while at previous stops greatly appreciated.
Track record not only for recruiting everywhere you’ve been before, but able to demonstrate an understanding of the differences at Tech (whatever they are, depending on your view of them) when it comes to recruiting.
Somebody who shows up to interview with a pretty good idea about who he wants to hire for most, or better yet all, of his staff. Certainly must have it narrowed down to a list of two each for the coordinator spots. Don’t bother showing up for an interview saying, ‘If I get hired, I’ll hire a great staff.’ Gotta do better.
Not George O’Leary. No re-inventing the physical laws of the universe, no my way or the highway, expand-the-stadium-or-else business. Got some ideas on how to improve the way the operation works? Great. Make a pitch, or pitches. Think you’re going to get an indoor practice facility soon? Thanks for coming, and leave your resume at the door. Leave a cash donation, too, if you would. We need the dough.
A coach who has developed quarterbacks over the course of a college career because that sure hasn’t happened at Tech in a while. Or, if N/A in the case of the head coach, he need not be the head coach unless he has in mind an OC/QBs coach with said track record, and that better be somebody you’re darned likely to be able to hire.
Be open minded to retaining defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator Giff Smith … if he’s open-minded to staying once he knows the new coach. Note the order of these two.
A nice pair of shill shoes. This relates to No. 1a. Gonna have to be able to sell, sir, or whatever you want to call the idea of hitting the bricks and raising money. It’s going to be a significant part of the job.
Onward …
So who’s going to Boise? And what are you going to do there? What’s there? Who’s been there, but decided then never to return? Who’s never been there who’s dying to go?
New Year’s Eve in the potato state? Hmmm. I don’t know the team’s travel plans yet, but I bet they charter back within a few hours of game’s end. That would put them back in the Atlanta around midnight by my guess.
Man, I gotta go to basketball practice …
