Coaching hires and rumors

BATON ROUGE – He has been described as a “mad scientist,” is definitely professorial, yet plays to his personnel and tries to keep it simple.
Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Matt Canada may be the offensive answer to LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda. Both were coordinators at Wisconsin, and both are bald.
Canada, 43, has been in talks with new LSU head coach Ed Orgeron and other LSU officials since Monday night for the vacant LSU offensive coordinator position with that expected to continue through Tuesday morning. A native of New Palestine, Indiana, and a graduate of Indiana University, Canada could be announced as LSU's new offensive coordinator as early as Tuesday or could turn the job down. Top target Lane Kiffin, an old USC friend of Orgeron, is not coming. He agreed to be the head coach at Florida Atlantic on Monday, taking a pay cut from his $1.4 million salary as Alabama’s offensive coordinator and turning down a likely $2 million salary for the same job at LSU.
LSU should be able to give Canada a major raise if he accepts the job as he is believed to be making under $1 million at Pittsburgh, which does not publicize its coaching salaries. But he has been there only one season. The Panthers, 8-4 under head coach Pat Narduzzi, will play Northwestern (6-6) in the Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium on Dec. 28.



Should Canada indeed head south to LSU, spring football should be interesting. Whereas Aranda once lined up with a 2-man front while coaching at Wisconsin, Canada tried seven offensive linemen later with Wisconsin and has used six with Pittsburgh.
Canada has had success with quarterbacks. While North Carolina State’s offensive coordinator from 2013-15, he developed Florida transfer quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who was a third round pick of the New England Patriots in the last NFL Draft. Brissett was 46th in the nation in passing efficiency in 2014 at 136.7 on 221-of-370 passing for 59.6 percent and 2,606 yards with 23 touchdowns against five interceptions. In 2015, he was 237 of 395 for 60 percent and 2,662 yards with 20 touchdowns and six interceptions for a 130.3 rating.
Nate Peterman, who is Canada’s quarterback at Pittsburgh this season, is No. 9 in the nation in passing efficiency at 161.2 on 172-of-288 passing for 2,602 yards and 26 touchdowns with six interceptions.
Much like Aranda, Canada runs a little bit of everything. He has used elements of the spread with single back and multiple tight ends or wide receivers this season. He has loved using the jet sweep and likes to set opponents up with it early in the game, then fake it and run up the middle. He has also used two back sets at Pittsburgh and at North Carolina State and uneven line formations, sometimes with six linemen. He loves deception and can be unpredictable. His offenses tend to get to the line of scrimmage quickly, but take their time and audible at the line.
Canada was one of five finalists for the Broyles Award that goes to the nation’s best assistant coach. The other four were defensive coordinators with Clemson’s Matt Venables winning it.
“In his debut season at Pitt, Canada has made a dramatic impact on the Panthers’ offense, which has been described by numerous observers as innovative, imaginative and fun,” a recent story on the Pittsburgh website said.
In 2016, Pittsburgh set a school record for points with 508 as the Panthers are No. 10 in the nation in scoring with 42.3 a game. Pittsburgh is the only team among the Power 5 conferences (Southeastern, Big Ten, Atlantic Coast, Big 12 and Pac-12) to score at least 28 points in every game this season. In a 76-61 win over Syracuse, the Panthers scored their most points since 1977. Canada’s Wisconsin offense was part of a 70-31 win over Nebraska in the Big Ten Championship game in 2012.
Canada’s offense has been balanced in 2016, gaining 2,757 rushing and 2,613 passing. Pittsburgh’s offensive line has allowed only nine sacks on the season for 0.75 a game, which leads the ACC and is No. 3 in the nation.
After his second season at North Carolina State in 2014, Canada signed a three-year deal through 2017 and made $560,000 in 2015. But head coach Dave Doeren, whom Canada worked under at Northern Illinois as offensive coordinator in 2011, fired him in a surprise move following the 2015 season. Doeren, whose background is on the defensive side, and Canada had philosophical differences with the offense.
Canada clashed with then-Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema in the 2012 season when he was offensive coordinator with the Badgers. Bielema’s background is also on the defensive side as is Orgeron’s. Bielema became Arkansas' head coach after the 2012 season, and Canada went to North Carolina State.
If Orgeron decides to hire Canada, it may be best for him to stay out of his way.
Canada's coaching history follows:
1994-95 ... Graduate Assistant/Quarterbacks and Tight Ends at Indiana.
1996 ... Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers Coach at Butler.
1997 ... Offensive Coordinator at Butler.
1998-2002 ... Quarterbacks, Running Backs Coach at Northern Illinois.
2003 ... Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks at Northern Illinois.
2004-06 ... Quarterbacks Coach/Passing Game Coordinator at Indiana.
2007-10 ... Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks at Indiana.
2011 ... Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Northern Illinois.
2012 ... Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks at Wisconsin.
2013-15 ... Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks at North Carolina State.
2016 ... Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks at Pittsburgh.
POCIC 1ST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN: LSU senior center Ethan Pocic was named to the first team of the Football Writers Association of America All-American team on Monday. Senior middle linebacker and senior cornerback Tre’Davious White made the second team. Junior safety Jamal Adams was named to the second unit of the Associated Press All-American team, while Beckwith and Pocic made the third team.
TIGERS LOSE, GAIN A COMMITMENT: LSU lost commitment Lowell Narcisse on Monday as the No. 16 dual action quarterback in the nation out of St. James reopened his recruitment. Narcisse said on ESPN Radio 104.5 in Baton Rouge that there is “a lot of uncertainty at LSU right now” with regard to Orgeron’s offensive coordinator search. “They don’t know who their offensive coordinator is. They don’t know who their quarterback coach is,” Narcisse said after visiting LSU over the weekend.
The Tigers gained a commitment from linebacker Monty Rice (6-2, 220) of James Clemens High in Madison, Alabama. Rice is not ranked by Rivals.com, but he was offered a scholarship by Alabama.
Dylan Moses, the No. 2 outside linebacker in the nation out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, via University High in Baton Rouge, reaffirmed his previous commitment to Alabama on Sunday. He had visited LSU over the weekend. Moses, who is the No. 32 prospect in the nation, had committed to LSU when Les Miles was the coach.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In Year 3 of deal, after Texas' buyout obligations expire, Strong's salary jumps to $2.5 million.</p>&mdash; Joey Knight (@TBTimes_Bulls) <a href="https://twitter.com/TBTimes_Bulls/status/808713360107851777">December 13, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Lane Kiffin was introduced as Florida Atlantic head coach on Tuesday morning, and he did his best to convince everyone that things will be different — while also pushing back at some rumors.
It’s the fourth head coaching job for Kiffin, who isn’t viewed very favorably by fans at the previous three jobs. Three years as Alabama offensive coordinator kept the media attention about him focused on the field. But Ed Orgeron wanted him to be LSU’s offensive coordinator, and Kiffin wanted a head coaching job, so he had some options.
Unlike previous stops, Kiffin says he’s excited to try to build something new at a program that hasn’t won before. FAU hasn’t posted a winning season since 2008. He says he’s changed. This is his chance to show it.
Here were 13 notable quotes from Kiffin’s presser.
- Kiffin said he wasn’t desperate to become a head coach, counter to reports.
“This was not about becoming a head coach. I was very happy at Alabama and what we were doing there, and to have a true freshman in Jalen Hurts and what he was able to do, three years with the SEC offensive player of the year. This was not, ‘I gotta be a head coach.’ There’s some special things going on at Alabama. I was very happy there. This was a unique opportunity of a place that wants to build a championship program.”
- Kiffin said that if he didn’t take a head coaching job, he would have returned to Alabama. His contract at Alabama was set to expire, and many reports indicated a return was not on the table.
“Yes, I was planning on being back there. We’re in a great run. That’s why I don’t read what’s out there. Coach Saban and I have a great relationship, regardless of what people may think. As he says, I get my ass-chewings from time to time. I’ve learned to accept those. It’s been a great run. We signed three years ago and talked about the offense and program and where it’s at. Coach wanted to make a change on offense. He wanted to go a different direction, and I give him credit for that. People have this assumption Coach Saban is stubborn and will do things a certain way.
“I get the credit for the offense, but I give it to him. He’s the one who wanted a change. He said, ‘We’re not going in the right direction. This is not where college football is going.’ As much as he could not stand where it was going and as much as he dislikes it, he was not going to be stubborn. We’ve seen other coaches around the country be stubborn and try to prove that style still works, and it doesn’t. We changed, and it’s been great for me.”
- Kiffin was grateful to Saban for the opportunity to be the OC, because Kiffin didn’t have many options.
“My phone was not ringing very much at the time after USC. That was a very humbling experience. After being let go there and going through that process, you call a lot of people that don’t call you back all of a sudden. You realize things about people, but you realize something when Nick Saban is willing to give me that opportunity. It’s been a wonderful three years. Coach Saban was great through this entire process. I learned so many things from him about how he runs a program and how he’s a CEO. I’d like to thank Coach Saban, and I’ll be back tonight for the 7:30 a.m. staff meeting tomorrow.”
- A Houston official said Kiffin would not have been a safe hire, but Kiffin said they cleared the air.
“Tilman (Fertitta) sent me a message clearing that up immediately about what he meant. That’s not what he meant. He sent me a great message about what he felt, and it had nothing to do with me and the interview process. I had a great time with them.”
- Kiffin is already considering adding Florida high school coaches to his staff.
“Definitely. It started last night, reaching out to a number of high school coaches in all of Florida to make sure they knew what we’re doing with the program here. The doors are open.”
- There’s also the possibility of bringing Alabama off-field coaches.
“That is definitely a possibility. Obviously, we’ve got some great coaches at Alabama who could come here in enhanced roles. That’s definitely an option.”
- He knows how to recruit in Florida, and he plans to surprise people again, noting what he did at USC (before USC was a power).
“I came down to Florida with SC, we were 6-6, lost to Utah, it was not like recruiting for USC what you’re used to. SC had been down for a while. I took the mindset — I didn’t know any different — that I’m going to beat Florida, Florida State in their own back yard. It’s just how I think. I remember some coaches on our staff laughing saying, ‘You’re wasting your time. What are you doing trying to get Keith Rivers, the top player in Florida? He’s not going to come to USC. What are you doing trying to beat Florida on Mike Williams who’s in Tampa and Gainesville’s right up the road?’ That just made me more excited. Like people who say why are you taking this job? I’ve recruited here before and look forward to doing that.”
- Now in a fourth head coaching job, Kiffin has given advice to first-year coaches, like Tom Herman a few years ago.
“I like helping first-year head coaches. I went down to see Tom Herman when he got down to Houston. I’d put together 32 different things I wrote down for him that no one teaches you when you become a head coach that you don’t even think about. I’m in a much better position now. When things come up, I’ll have the answers, instead of figuring them out. That’s maturity and growth.”
- Kiffin had some high-profile clashes with media at USC. He says working under Saban changed his view of media.
“You learn not to worry about what you can’t control, and what’s out there. When I was younger, I used to read everything, ‘Why’s this guy saying this? Why’s this article saying this?’ That’s one of the things Coach Saban taught me. He does not listen, watch or read anything that’s out there at all. ‘Why am I going to waste my time? No disrespect to the media, I really don’t care what they say. I care what’s going on in my program. If I’m reading that, I’m wasting time not watching film or recruiting players.’ I really don’t know what was out there, and I really don’t care what was out there.”
- He’s also done taking shots at other coaches.
“I’m not concerned about sending a message to the rest of the conference. I’ve sent those messages before, to Coach Meyer at Tennessee when I said we were going to sing Rocky Top all night long in the Swamp. That didn’t go over very well. That’s taken about 8-10 years to get back to buddies with Coach Meyer. We’re a lot better now. Or accusing him of cheating. I’m not worried about the message. I’m worried about our program.”
- Kiffin has no concerns about working two jobs through the Playoff.
“There is a dead period, so there’s not a need to go back and forth as much, had this been a week ago when recruiting was still alive. I can do a lot of that over the phone while I’m there. We’ll be preparing to hopefully win back to back national championships. That’ll be the focus. In the other time, my focus will be recruiting over the phone and hiring a staff.”
- What about the idea he could leave for another job quickly if he has success?
“I’m in a different place than where I would have been 10 years ago, and I think different. I see something very special here, with the people here when I met with them. This was different.”
- He called plays at USC and admitted later he needs to take a better big-picture approach. He plans to do that at FAU.
“Where I am in a different place after being with Coach Saban is seeing how he’s the CEO of everything and seeing how does he do that. A lot of that frees time because he does not call the defense. He knows what’s going on, it’s his defense, but he trains guys to do things. That’s an area I would change from where I was before. I was so focused on X’s and O’s and offensive football, versus managing the entire team. I know I could have done a better job focusing on defense, special teams, the whole university, relationships in the university, versus always being tunnel-visioned on X’s and O’s."
 
I enjoyed that read - we never get to hear from him or other coaches at Bama because Saban forbids it for pretty much the whole year. This was really good, I thought:

Kiffin had some high-profile clashes with media at USC. He says working under Saban changed his view of media.
“You learn not to worry about what you can’t control, and what’s out there. When I was younger, I used to read everything, ‘Why’s this guy saying this? Why’s this article saying this?’ That’s one of the things Coach Saban taught me. He does not listen, watch or read anything that’s out there at all. ‘Why am I going to waste my time? No disrespect to the media, I really don’t care what they say. I care what’s going on in my program. If I’m reading that, I’m wasting time not watching film or recruiting players.’ I really don’t know what was out there, and I really don’t care what was out there.”
 
[FONT=&quot]Lane Kiffin received 5-year, $4.75M deal w/FAU. Buyout is $2.5M 1st year & reduces $500,000 each year after that[/FONT]
 
CrimsonK said:
I enjoyed that read - we never get to hear from him or other coaches at Bama because Saban forbids it for pretty much the whole year. This was really good, I thought:

Kiffin had some high-profile clashes with media at USC. He says working under Saban changed his view of media.
“You learn not to worry about what you can’t control, and what’s out there. When I was younger, I used to read everything, ‘Why’s this guy saying this? Why’s this article saying this?’ That’s one of the things Coach Saban taught me. He does not listen, watch or read anything that’s out there at all. ‘Why am I going to waste my time? No disrespect to the media, I really don’t care what they say. I care what’s going on in my program. If I’m reading that, I’m wasting time not watching film or recruiting players.’ I really don’t know what was out there, and I really don’t care what was out there.”
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LOL

I liked his shot at LSU/Miles
 
Perhaps I'm being too hard on DACOACHO but let's imagine this were an 8 team playoff and LSU made it - here would be your coaches:

Saban
Meyer
Dabo
Peterson
Franklin
Harbaugh
Stoops
Orgeron

To me, at least one of those names, seems way outta place.
 
NO

O was a bad hire(essentially)....doesn't mean he won't have success

the Co ordinators look good to me
 
the more i read on Canada the more I like

I defenitely like the offensive approach.....like what CK said earlier. LSU doesn't need to go right to being TT
 
twinkie13 said:
NO

O was a bad hire(essentially)....doesn't mean he won't have success

the Co ordinators look good to me
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Biggest issue with hiring O was that they did it so fast. He would have taken the job the day before spring practice started. Just seems like they rushed it.
 
Tag shaping up to be the best hire of all with that move. What he did with CU this year was nothing short of a miracle
 
Pitt offered Canada the same amount of money LSU did... he still left... for obvious reasons

get ready to see the jet sweep Twinkie
 
CrimsonK said:
[FONT=&amp]Bruce Feldman ‏@BruceFeldmanCFB <small class="time" style="font-size: 13px; color: rgb(136, 153, 166);"> 53s54 seconds ago</small>[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]How great a job did Jim Leavitt do at CU? Buffs ranked No. 8 in fewest yds per play. 2 years ago, before Leavitt arrived, CU ranked No. 120.
[/FONT]
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I suppose part of him not getting hired as a HC was bc there was some reported player abuse at USF but man he must be an awful interview to not talk his way into some HC job by now
 
side story but Pitt AD has left for Oregon State which seems weird but ok

I feel like we are a better place but not losing much sleep over that
 
[FONT=&quot]Ole Miss will make Sam Houston State’s Phil Longo the Rebels new offensive coordinator, a source told FOX Sports Thursday. Longo led the nation’s most prolific offense in FCS football as the OC for the 12-1 Bearkats, who averaged 547 yards per game this season.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Word is Ole Miss wasn’t looking to overhaul the Rebels offense, but were trying to get better in a few key areas -- third down efficiency, Red Zone TD efficiency and running the ball. Longo’s offense at SHSU scored touchdowns in the Red Zone at 80 percent this season -- tops in FCS football. The Bearkats were No. 12 in third down efficiency and were No. 39 in rushing yards per game and ranked No. 17 in rushing yards per carry (5.21).[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The Rebels finished 5-7 this season and ranked No. 104 in Red Zone TD percentage, No. 67 in third down offense and were No. 97 in rushing. Overall, they ranked No. 45 in scoring. Just a year ago, Ole Miss had made the second in back-to-back New Year’s Six bowls and ranked No. 8 in scoring and No. 10 in total offense.[/FONT]
​
[FONT=&quot]Longo is a protege of Mike Leach, but has some different key principles from the Air-Raid scheme that has spread all over college football with variations like the pass-heavy attacks at Washington State and Texas Tech to a more run-reliant offense like Dana Holgorsen has at WVU.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Longo’s shown repeatedly his system can be quite versatile. In 2015, SHSU ranked No. 9 in rushing and No. 5 in scoring while also ranked No. 14 in third down offense. In 2014, Longo’s attack led the Southland Conference in rushing and Red Zone offense and ranked among the top 25 FCS teams nationally in scoring, rushing and total offense. At his previous coaching stops, Longo groomed two Harlon Hill Trophy finalists, Nigel Barksdale at Slippery Rock and Ted Schafke at Minnesota-Duluth. When he was the OC at Southern Illinois, RB Deji Karim finished third in the Walter Payton Award balloting after rushing for 1,694 yards and 18 touchdowns.[/FONT]
 
I expect Ole Miss to announce Wesley McGriff as DC soon. So an air raid disciple and a dude with no DC experience. Guns up or some shit.
 
CU DC Leavitt to Oregon in the same position. Will be the highest paid coordinator in the Pac 12. Sucks for us.
 
gps_3 said:
Not if Nick wants him to stay. He'll get the raise regardless I think

Yeah CK, rumor is that Sark fell off the wagon and is still battling recovery. Saban isn't going to allow him to be a distraction
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Sark got the job. Interesting to see how short the leash is
 
Started hearing yesterday that Sark was back in play. Don't know what changed. I'm pretty sure the rumors of him being wasted after the Florida game are accurate. If he stays sober, really good hire. If not, we'll find out how long the leash is
 
gps_3 said:
Started hearing yesterday that Sark was back in play. Don't know what changed. I'm pretty sure the rumors of him being wasted after the Florida game are accurate. If he stays sober, really good hire. If not, we'll find out how long the leash is
Click to expand...

Would love to hear any updates you get on this as time goes on. I'm happy because I think he is a great coach but the off field stuff scares me given the recent episode.
 
I'm guessing participation in some kind of recovery program is going to be part of his contract
 
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