Ron Prince to resign
- Thread starter cubsker
- Start date
JumpOnBoard
CTG Partner
Sorta saw that one coming..I think Prince can be a good hire somewhere else.
aplous
Donkey Hater
We would LOVE to get Patterson..he is an alum and great coach. I dont think that he would come. He's got a Top 15 program in a nice area (Dal/FW).....dont think he'd come to lil Manhattan and have to battle Stoops and co. every year.
Leavitt from USF has hella KSU ties and would be a great hire. I'm hoping they continue their downslide this year and maybe we could steal him.
Both guys shot us down after Snyder left....then again, no one wants to follow a legend.
Lane Kiffin would look good in purple, no???
Leavitt from USF has hella KSU ties and would be a great hire. I'm hoping they continue their downslide this year and maybe we could steal him.
Both guys shot us down after Snyder left....then again, no one wants to follow a legend.
Lane Kiffin would look good in purple, no???
J Galt
Everyone's got a price.....
Nah, I said it a couple years ago that this was a bad hire. Prince has charisma and is a pretty good recruiter, but he went to the Al Groh School of Gameday Coaching. Every time I watched them this year they just looked like they were absolutely not ready to be playing in the game they were in. He should be an offensive line coach/recruiting specialist at a big school, but he doesn't have the know-how or instincts to be an OC or HC at a school that is hoping to compete at a high level.
CAPital
Pretty much a regular
Bill Snyder is the greatest college football coach of all-time in the modern era.:shake: his coaching tree from his time at K-State is insane. Stoops,Leavitt,Mangino,etc etc
i dunno how Kiffin would handle being in the Lil Apple. It seems like he would want a job like UW or the Cuse.
cubsker
Used to be "Fun Cub"
being the best coach is different than being the best developer of future coaches.
CAPital
Pretty much a regular
Not my point. when i say he is the greatest, I obviously refer to him taking a K-State program that was worse then shit and turning it into a power. All while doing it with less than adequate facilities and in Manhattan, KS.
my comment about his coaching tree is just a fact/observation.:shake:
aplous
Donkey Hater
And I wouldnt be surprised to see Mark Mangino eat a small child during a game.:36_11_6:
Seriously though......Fran?? What gives you that thought?
~LOWGO~
Pretty much a regular
Word from the AD at the presser is they have coaches in mind that fall under 2 criteria: 1)Head coaching experience (no Venables, etc.) and 2)Hire them before seasons end (Can't be a current coach). My first thought was Turner Gill from Buffalo, but he doesn't fit the criteria.
smith1051
Pretty much a regular
We didn't even interview Patterson. Look back at some of the quotes when the job was open - he was basically begging to come back and we didn't even look his way...
aplous
Donkey Hater
paraphrase......we didnt get Patterson last time, what makes me think he'll come back.
Insider Wildcat list......
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#f6f6f8><TD vAlign=top>BRET BIELEMA
Head Coach, University of Wisconsin
BIO: Bielema began his coaching career at his alma mater, Iowa, for nine seasons before making the move to K-State to work under Bill Snyder. At K-State he was co-coordinator of the Wildcat defense. K-State recorded a 22-6 record in the two seasons Bielema was in Manhattan. Bielema left K-State to take over the Wisconsin defense and assume a spot as coach-in-waiting under Barry Alvarez. He took over the Badger program in 2006 and led them to a 21-5 record his first two seasons in charge.
WHY BIELEMA: Bielema showed in his first two seasons why he was wanted at Wisconsin to replace Alvarez, leading the Badgers to two New Year's Day bowl games. While at K-State his defenses ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense and total defense. While things were good for Bielema and Wisconsin in the first two years, things turned south somewhat for the Badgers in 2008. A four-game losing streak in the middle of the season almost equaled the first two season's loss total and has turned up the pressure on Bielema at Wisconsin.
WHY NOT BIELEMA: Bielema loved his time at K-State with Snyder and has indicated coaching at K-State would be high on his list. Still, the guy is the head coach at Wisconsin so the pull would have to be mighty.
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: If Bill Snyder is involved in this hire, Bielema will be high on the list if not at the top. Whether or not he has any legitimate interest in the job is the big question.
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</TD><TD vAlign=top>DAVE CHRISTENSEN
Offensive Coordinator, University of Missouri
BIO: Christensen, who spent his playing days at Washington, possesses 25 years of college coaching experience, including 10 at BCS conference schools and has coached under current Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel since 1992. He has served as Pinkel's offensive coordinator since 1997, and has been an offensive line coach for the past 16 seasons. Christensen has complete control of Mizzou's high-powered offense he installed for Coach Gary Pinkel. Christensen came to Missouri after previous coaching stops at Toledo, Idaho State and Washington.
WHY CHRISTENSEN: Rivals.com ranked Christensen, who has produced multiple national award candidates, as college football's top offensive coach prior to the 2008 season and the coordinator is nothing if not familiar with what it takes to win in the Big 12. During Christensen's eight years at Missouri, he has produced 11 all-conference offensive linemen and the offense he put in place not only helped turn around Pinkel's program, it has been the major catalyst in the Tigers' rise to national prominence.
WHY NOT CHRISTENSEN: Aside from being without ties to K-State or the surrounding area, Christensen possesses no head coaching experience at any level of college football, and at this point, it may serve K-State's best interest to go with a candidate who has as established himself as a suitable head coach. Choosing youth over experience in back-to-back hires is a dangerous line for any BCS conference program to walk.
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: Christensen will be a head coach very soon, but likely at Washington or Missouri, if Pinkel jumps to Washington. As the architect of Mizzou's offense, he's a proven innovator and knows the Big 12 in and out. With that said, going with another coordinator lacking head coach experience doesn't seem appealing.
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</TD><TD vAlign=top>RANDY EDSALL
Head Coach, University of Connecticut
BIO: Edsall is in his 10th season as the head coach at the University of Connecticut. During his first nine years in Storrs, the program has blossomed from a major college football newcomer to the champion of a Bowl Championship Series conference. Only one other school besides UConn has moved up from Division I-AA to Division I-A (Football Bowl Subdivision) and earned an AP ranking faster. Only five times has a team ascended from Division I-AA to Division I-A and produced a .500 or better season in each of its first three years at the highest level of collegiate football and UConn is one of those programs.
WHY EDSALL: Edsall is a proven program builder, moving UConn up from I-AA to I-A status and into a contender in the Big East Conference. After 10 years at UConn, he seems ready for his next challenge.
WHY NOT EDSALL: Edsall is an East Coast guy and as it turns out, his alma mater may be hiring at season's end. Taking over a storied Syracuse program would certainly seem to fit for this 50-year-old.
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: Edsall may be a longshot for this gig, but he will soon make his move from Storrs to find his next challenge.
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</TD><TD vAlign=top>KIRK FERENTZ
Head Coach, University of Iowa
BIO: Kirk Ferentz is in his 10th year as Iowa's coach, with the only other Hawkeye head football coach serving the school for a longer period of time being Hayden Fry (20 years, 1979-98). Ferentz took the Hawkeyes to six straight bowl games (2001-06). It's the second longest bowl streak in school history. The youthful 2007 Hawkeyes, despite not being selected for a bowl berth, became bowl eligible following their sixth win. It was the seventh straight season for Iowa to be bowl eligible.
WHY FERENTZ: Ferentz and Bill Snyder go way back, serving together on the Iowa staff for eight years. He has been successful at Iowa, but appears to be on the verge of being pushed out in Iowa City. Still, he's a proven head coach who would certainly earn Snyder's seal of approval.
WHY NOT FERENTZ: It's going to take Ferentz, 53, being run out of Iowa City for him to even consider K-State and how would the Wildcats faithful feel about hiring someone who was just fired? If he is out of work, his alma mater (UConn) may be looking for a head coach at season's end, too, if Randy Edsall moves on.
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: Ferentz is a coach who finds a way to win and should be strongly considered (if available) by K-State, but he likely won't be high on the list.
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</TD><TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f6f6f8>TURNER GILL
Head Coach, University of Buffalo
BIO: Currently the head coach at Buffalo University, Gill got his start in coaching at Nebraska, where he was a three-year starter at quarterback during his playing days, as a graduate assistant, before leaving the school for consecutive one-year stints at North Texas and SMU. Gill returned to his alma mater in 1992 and served as both quarterbacks and receivers coach. Gill has also spent time in the NFL, functioning as the Green Bay Packers' director of player development.
WHY GILL: Since Gill arrived at Buffalo prior to the 2006 season, the Bulls have shown dramatic improvement. In 2007 Buffalo raised its win total to five, the highest it's been since the school joined Division I-A nine years ago. Gill has strong Big 12 ties, and knows what it takes to constantly win in the conference. Gill was mentioned as a candidate for Nebraska's head coach, and is no stranger to being charged with the task of turning around a struggling program.
WHY NOT GILL: Though Gill has experience as a Division I-A head coach and as an assistant in the Big 12, he hasn't had the chance to prove he's capable of steering a BCS conference ship. Gill boasts just two years of head coaching experience, and many believe it would be better for K-State to go with a more seasoned head coach at a time such as this.
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: Gill understands the Big 12, is doing something at what is thought to be a no-win job and is very well liked in the coaching profession. Still, would he bail on the Wildcats in a few years if Nebraska called?
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</TD><TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f6f6f8>TODD GRAHAM
Head Coach, University of Tulsa
BIO: Graham, who currently serves as the head coach at Tulsa made his name as a successful high school coach in the state of Oklahoma before being named to Rich Rodriguez's staff at West Virginia in 2001. After serving as the school's linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator for two seasons, Graham was hired onto Steve Kragthophe's staff at Tulsa as the defensive coordinator, but left after three seasons to pursue his first head coaching position at Rice. Graham would return to Tulsa as the head coach prior to the 2007 season.
WHY GRAHAM: After the events of the last two years, it seems as though K-State could use a defensive-minded head coach, and that's just what Graham is. The 45-year-old has been successful at every level of coaching and boasts 21-10 record as a head coach, leaving no tangible reason for anyone to believe he'd be over his head in a major conference.
WHY NOT GRAHAM: Graham may have three years of head coaching experience under his belt, but he is largely unfamiliar with life in the Big 12. Graham has no ties to Kansas State or the conference it plays in, and his short seven years of experience at the Division I level makes hiring him a bit of a risk.
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: Graham is a young rising star in the coaching profession and don't be surprised if he's tabbed by a Big 12 school in the near future.
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</TD><TD vAlign=top>JIM GROBE
Head Coach, Wake Forest University
BIO: Grobe, currently the head coach at Wake Forest, served as the coach at Ohio University before taking over the Demon Deacon program. After six years in charge of the Bobcats, he moved to the ACC. During his time at Wake Forest, his teams have played in three bowl games (entering 2008), the most for a head coach in the program's history.
WHY GROBE: Grobe has developed a reputation of building programs. He turned Ohio into a Mid American Conference contender in his time with the Bobcats and has moved Wake Forest into an ACC contender during his time at the school. He's a proven, veteran head coach who may be looking for a move to one of the nation's top football conferences and away from the limitations of Wake Forest, one of the smallest schools in Division I athletics.
WHY NOT GROBE: Grobe has elevated Wake Forest into a ranked program and a contender in the ACC in his time there. He may not be interested in leaving the school after eight years at the helm. He was a candidate for the Nebraska position a year ago early on in the process and was passed over. The big question is: Would K-State in the Big 12 offer him a big enough move up to entice him away from Wake?
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: Grobe is out of the Bill Snyder mold -- much substance over little flash -- but like Snyder, he may fend off other offers and just stay with the program he helped build.
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</TD><TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f6f6f8>BRIAN KELLY
Head Coach, University of Cincinnati
BIO: Kelly, currently the coach at Cincinnati, began his coaching career in 1987 at Grand Valley State. He became that program's defensive coordinator two years later and then became the head coach in 1991. Grand Valley won back-to-back Division II national titles while Kelly was named national Coach of the Year. He moved to Central Michigan for three years and led the program to a bowl game before moving on to the Bearcats for the 2007 season.
WHY KELLY: Kelly has been a winner wherever he has been a coach. He has taken programs up steps at each stop and has Cincinnati as a contender in the Big East. He is one of the top small-BCS coaches and will be a wanted coach during the offseason. Kelly, and his open-minded approach to his offensive philosophies, is a red-hot coaching commodity because of his ability to win wherever he goes.
WHY NOT KELLY: Kelly is at his third school since becoming a head coach at the Division II level. He has turned each program into winner and could demand a bidding war for his services with several schools being interested in him being their coach. There have also been rumblings that the NFL could come calling for the 47-year-old coach after this season.
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: Kelly has no Big 12 ties, but his ability to win is rather overwhelming. After all, that's what it's all about.
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</TD><TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f6f6f8>JIM LEAVITT
Head Coach, University of South Florida
BIO: Leavitt, a Missouri graduate, began his coaching career at Iowa under Hayden Fry, but left the Hawkeyes to join Bill Snyder at K-State beginning with the 1990 season. In five years with the Wildcats, Leavitt -- as co-coordinator of the defense -- helped the Wildcats rise into national prominence. He left Manhattan following the 1995 season to begin the South Florida program from scratch at the I-AA level. He now has the Bulls in the Big East Conference and has been ranked in the top 10 the past two seasons.
WHY LEAVITT: Leavitt was part of the turnaround at K-State under Snyder. He helped turn the Wildcats into one of the nation's top defenses in the country while at K-State. He has shown he can coach at the BCS level with his building the program at USF from ground up to getting the Bulls into the top 10. His teams are ranked among the nation's best defenses statistically year in and year out.
WHY NOT LEAVITT: Leavitt was contacted about the opening when Snyder retired and decided to remain in Tampa following the 2005 season. His team is competitive in the Big East each year and in contention for a BCS bowl berth representing the conference each season. Most importantly, Tampa is Leavitt's hometown.
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: Three years ago the search started with Leavitt and it will likely again this time. Maybe not being the coach to follow the legend will help the cause.
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</TD><TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f6f6f8>DAN McCARNEY
Assistant Head Coach, University of Florida
BIO: A former Iowa Hawkeye football player, McCarney began his coaching career with the Hawkeyes as the offensive line coach in 1977. In 1979, he remained with the Hawkeyes and their new coach Hayden Fry. After 10 seasons under Fry, McCarney moved to Wisconsin as defensive coordinator before taking over the Iowa State program in 1995. After 11 seasons in Ames, McCarney stepped down as head coach and joined Jim Leavitt's staff at USF for one season before joining Urban Meyer at Florida in 2008.
WHY McCARNEY: A longtime head coach in the Big 8/12 at Iowa State, McCarney has handled a program in the environment K-State has to work in. He also has 30 years of coaching experience at the BCS conference level and worked under some of the game's best coaches. McCarney also worked with former Wildcat coach Bill Snyder for nine seasons at Iowa, and remains close to Snyder. His familiarity among the coaching ranks would likely allow him to find some experienced assistant coaches.
WHY NOT McCARNEY: McCarney's 56-85 record with the Cyclones isn't a great mark as a head coach. His teams only won seven more games five times in his 12 seasons at Iowa State, including only one with nine victories.
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: If Bill Snyder is involved in the decision, then McCarney will get a look. He did something with little at ISU, but this is far from a sexy hire for younger fans. And for everyone who says no coach would come without knowing who the school president would be, McCarney is a guy who would.
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</TD><TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f6f6f8>GARY PATTERSON
Head Coach, Texas Christian University
BIO: Patterson, a K-State graduate, began his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach on Jim Dickey's 1982 staff at K-State. Since that first year, Patterson has had 10 stops along the way as an assistant coach before taking over the head coach duties at TCU in 2000. In the first 10 years Patterson has been a coach at TCU (three as defensive coordinator), the Horned Frogs have played in nine bowl games.
WHY PATTERSON: Patterson is one of the top coaches in the country not at a BCS school. His teams regularly are found in the top 10 of each defensive statistical category. His teams have recorded four 10-win seasons in the past six years. Patterson is a former Wildcat player (1980-81) and a native of Rozel, Kan., could want to return home.
WHY NOT PATTERSON: Patterson has had several chances to leave TCU over the past few years and has decided to stay in Fort Worth. Following the 2005 season, Patterson was riding an 11-1 record and was not strongly considered for the K-State job (either due to the school's or his lack of interest) and may not be interested in leaving now, either.
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: He's a K-Stater, a proven head coach and a defensive whiz. Yes, Patterson should be at or darn near the top of the wish list.
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</TD><TD vAlign=top>BILL SNYDER
Former Head Coach, Kansas State University
BIO: Snyder spent 17 years roaming the sidelines in the stadium that now bears his name as head coach of the Wildcats. He retired following the 2005 season after orchestrating what has been called The Greatest Turnaround in College Football History. He is the school's all-time winningest coach and led the team to bowl games each season from 1993-2003.
WHY SNYDER: Snyder has done it at K-State. He proved football could win in Manhattan, Kan., and he proved success could be maintained in Manhattan, Kan. The coaching bug is a tough one to shake, especially for a coach who put so much into a program and it could be one that is still alive inside Snyder.
WHY NOT SNYDER: When Snyder stepped down nearly three seasons ago, he cited the desire to spend more time with his family. Is the coaching fire as driving as it used to be for the long-time coach? The game on and off the field has changed a lot since Snyder first took over as coach for the 1989 season.
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: Snyder is rested and may be ready to return to the sideline, but is this the long-term answer for the program, even if he returns to groom a successor? It's more likely that Snyder will help pick the next coach.
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</TD><TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f6f6f8>BRENT VENABLES
Defensive Coordinator, University of Oklahoma
BIO: Venables has been the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma since the 2004 season. He was a finalist for the Chuck Broyles Assistant Coach of the Year award in 2006. He began his coaching career in 1993 as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, K-State. He moved up the ranks with the Wildcats being co-coordinator for the defense in 1998. He moved on to Oklahoma following the 1998 season and is now the associate head coach as well as defensive coordinator for the Sooners.
WHY VENABLES: Venables, a former all-conference choice at K-State, could relish the chance to return "home" to begin his head coaching career. He has learned from two of the best coaches in the country, Bill Snyder and Bob Stoops, since graduating from college. He also is one of the top recruiters in the country.
WHY NOT VENABLES: Venables has never been a head coach at any level, and for some reason seems to get little interest from schools when there is an opening. And, like Mike Stoops, some feelings remain bruised about how the 1998 season ended prior to three coaches moving to Oklahoma. While his resume' looks good the lack of a prior head coaching position could hurt his chances at K-State who could be a little shy about giving a coordinator their first shot at being a head coach again.
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: Venables should be a strong candidate for the job, but going with another young coordinator who will require on-the-job training doesn't sound too tantalizing. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Insider Wildcat list......
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#f6f6f8><TD vAlign=top>BRET BIELEMA
Head Coach, University of Wisconsin
BIO: Bielema began his coaching career at his alma mater, Iowa, for nine seasons before making the move to K-State to work under Bill Snyder. At K-State he was co-coordinator of the Wildcat defense. K-State recorded a 22-6 record in the two seasons Bielema was in Manhattan. Bielema left K-State to take over the Wisconsin defense and assume a spot as coach-in-waiting under Barry Alvarez. He took over the Badger program in 2006 and led them to a 21-5 record his first two seasons in charge.
WHY BIELEMA: Bielema showed in his first two seasons why he was wanted at Wisconsin to replace Alvarez, leading the Badgers to two New Year's Day bowl games. While at K-State his defenses ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense and total defense. While things were good for Bielema and Wisconsin in the first two years, things turned south somewhat for the Badgers in 2008. A four-game losing streak in the middle of the season almost equaled the first two season's loss total and has turned up the pressure on Bielema at Wisconsin.
WHY NOT BIELEMA: Bielema loved his time at K-State with Snyder and has indicated coaching at K-State would be high on his list. Still, the guy is the head coach at Wisconsin so the pull would have to be mighty.
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: If Bill Snyder is involved in this hire, Bielema will be high on the list if not at the top. Whether or not he has any legitimate interest in the job is the big question.
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Offensive Coordinator, University of Missouri
BIO: Christensen, who spent his playing days at Washington, possesses 25 years of college coaching experience, including 10 at BCS conference schools and has coached under current Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel since 1992. He has served as Pinkel's offensive coordinator since 1997, and has been an offensive line coach for the past 16 seasons. Christensen has complete control of Mizzou's high-powered offense he installed for Coach Gary Pinkel. Christensen came to Missouri after previous coaching stops at Toledo, Idaho State and Washington.
WHY CHRISTENSEN: Rivals.com ranked Christensen, who has produced multiple national award candidates, as college football's top offensive coach prior to the 2008 season and the coordinator is nothing if not familiar with what it takes to win in the Big 12. During Christensen's eight years at Missouri, he has produced 11 all-conference offensive linemen and the offense he put in place not only helped turn around Pinkel's program, it has been the major catalyst in the Tigers' rise to national prominence.
WHY NOT CHRISTENSEN: Aside from being without ties to K-State or the surrounding area, Christensen possesses no head coaching experience at any level of college football, and at this point, it may serve K-State's best interest to go with a candidate who has as established himself as a suitable head coach. Choosing youth over experience in back-to-back hires is a dangerous line for any BCS conference program to walk.
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: Christensen will be a head coach very soon, but likely at Washington or Missouri, if Pinkel jumps to Washington. As the architect of Mizzou's offense, he's a proven innovator and knows the Big 12 in and out. With that said, going with another coordinator lacking head coach experience doesn't seem appealing.
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Head Coach, University of Connecticut
BIO: Edsall is in his 10th season as the head coach at the University of Connecticut. During his first nine years in Storrs, the program has blossomed from a major college football newcomer to the champion of a Bowl Championship Series conference. Only one other school besides UConn has moved up from Division I-AA to Division I-A (Football Bowl Subdivision) and earned an AP ranking faster. Only five times has a team ascended from Division I-AA to Division I-A and produced a .500 or better season in each of its first three years at the highest level of collegiate football and UConn is one of those programs.
WHY EDSALL: Edsall is a proven program builder, moving UConn up from I-AA to I-A status and into a contender in the Big East Conference. After 10 years at UConn, he seems ready for his next challenge.
WHY NOT EDSALL: Edsall is an East Coast guy and as it turns out, his alma mater may be hiring at season's end. Taking over a storied Syracuse program would certainly seem to fit for this 50-year-old.
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: Edsall may be a longshot for this gig, but he will soon make his move from Storrs to find his next challenge.
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Head Coach, University of Iowa
BIO: Kirk Ferentz is in his 10th year as Iowa's coach, with the only other Hawkeye head football coach serving the school for a longer period of time being Hayden Fry (20 years, 1979-98). Ferentz took the Hawkeyes to six straight bowl games (2001-06). It's the second longest bowl streak in school history. The youthful 2007 Hawkeyes, despite not being selected for a bowl berth, became bowl eligible following their sixth win. It was the seventh straight season for Iowa to be bowl eligible.
WHY FERENTZ: Ferentz and Bill Snyder go way back, serving together on the Iowa staff for eight years. He has been successful at Iowa, but appears to be on the verge of being pushed out in Iowa City. Still, he's a proven head coach who would certainly earn Snyder's seal of approval.
WHY NOT FERENTZ: It's going to take Ferentz, 53, being run out of Iowa City for him to even consider K-State and how would the Wildcats faithful feel about hiring someone who was just fired? If he is out of work, his alma mater (UConn) may be looking for a head coach at season's end, too, if Randy Edsall moves on.
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: Ferentz is a coach who finds a way to win and should be strongly considered (if available) by K-State, but he likely won't be high on the list.
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Head Coach, University of Buffalo
BIO: Currently the head coach at Buffalo University, Gill got his start in coaching at Nebraska, where he was a three-year starter at quarterback during his playing days, as a graduate assistant, before leaving the school for consecutive one-year stints at North Texas and SMU. Gill returned to his alma mater in 1992 and served as both quarterbacks and receivers coach. Gill has also spent time in the NFL, functioning as the Green Bay Packers' director of player development.
WHY GILL: Since Gill arrived at Buffalo prior to the 2006 season, the Bulls have shown dramatic improvement. In 2007 Buffalo raised its win total to five, the highest it's been since the school joined Division I-A nine years ago. Gill has strong Big 12 ties, and knows what it takes to constantly win in the conference. Gill was mentioned as a candidate for Nebraska's head coach, and is no stranger to being charged with the task of turning around a struggling program.
WHY NOT GILL: Though Gill has experience as a Division I-A head coach and as an assistant in the Big 12, he hasn't had the chance to prove he's capable of steering a BCS conference ship. Gill boasts just two years of head coaching experience, and many believe it would be better for K-State to go with a more seasoned head coach at a time such as this.
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: Gill understands the Big 12, is doing something at what is thought to be a no-win job and is very well liked in the coaching profession. Still, would he bail on the Wildcats in a few years if Nebraska called?
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Head Coach, University of Tulsa
BIO: Graham, who currently serves as the head coach at Tulsa made his name as a successful high school coach in the state of Oklahoma before being named to Rich Rodriguez's staff at West Virginia in 2001. After serving as the school's linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator for two seasons, Graham was hired onto Steve Kragthophe's staff at Tulsa as the defensive coordinator, but left after three seasons to pursue his first head coaching position at Rice. Graham would return to Tulsa as the head coach prior to the 2007 season.
WHY GRAHAM: After the events of the last two years, it seems as though K-State could use a defensive-minded head coach, and that's just what Graham is. The 45-year-old has been successful at every level of coaching and boasts 21-10 record as a head coach, leaving no tangible reason for anyone to believe he'd be over his head in a major conference.
WHY NOT GRAHAM: Graham may have three years of head coaching experience under his belt, but he is largely unfamiliar with life in the Big 12. Graham has no ties to Kansas State or the conference it plays in, and his short seven years of experience at the Division I level makes hiring him a bit of a risk.
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: Graham is a young rising star in the coaching profession and don't be surprised if he's tabbed by a Big 12 school in the near future.
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Head Coach, Wake Forest University
BIO: Grobe, currently the head coach at Wake Forest, served as the coach at Ohio University before taking over the Demon Deacon program. After six years in charge of the Bobcats, he moved to the ACC. During his time at Wake Forest, his teams have played in three bowl games (entering 2008), the most for a head coach in the program's history.
WHY GROBE: Grobe has developed a reputation of building programs. He turned Ohio into a Mid American Conference contender in his time with the Bobcats and has moved Wake Forest into an ACC contender during his time at the school. He's a proven, veteran head coach who may be looking for a move to one of the nation's top football conferences and away from the limitations of Wake Forest, one of the smallest schools in Division I athletics.
WHY NOT GROBE: Grobe has elevated Wake Forest into a ranked program and a contender in the ACC in his time there. He may not be interested in leaving the school after eight years at the helm. He was a candidate for the Nebraska position a year ago early on in the process and was passed over. The big question is: Would K-State in the Big 12 offer him a big enough move up to entice him away from Wake?
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: Grobe is out of the Bill Snyder mold -- much substance over little flash -- but like Snyder, he may fend off other offers and just stay with the program he helped build.
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Head Coach, University of Cincinnati
BIO: Kelly, currently the coach at Cincinnati, began his coaching career in 1987 at Grand Valley State. He became that program's defensive coordinator two years later and then became the head coach in 1991. Grand Valley won back-to-back Division II national titles while Kelly was named national Coach of the Year. He moved to Central Michigan for three years and led the program to a bowl game before moving on to the Bearcats for the 2007 season.
WHY KELLY: Kelly has been a winner wherever he has been a coach. He has taken programs up steps at each stop and has Cincinnati as a contender in the Big East. He is one of the top small-BCS coaches and will be a wanted coach during the offseason. Kelly, and his open-minded approach to his offensive philosophies, is a red-hot coaching commodity because of his ability to win wherever he goes.
WHY NOT KELLY: Kelly is at his third school since becoming a head coach at the Division II level. He has turned each program into winner and could demand a bidding war for his services with several schools being interested in him being their coach. There have also been rumblings that the NFL could come calling for the 47-year-old coach after this season.
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: Kelly has no Big 12 ties, but his ability to win is rather overwhelming. After all, that's what it's all about.
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Head Coach, University of South Florida
BIO: Leavitt, a Missouri graduate, began his coaching career at Iowa under Hayden Fry, but left the Hawkeyes to join Bill Snyder at K-State beginning with the 1990 season. In five years with the Wildcats, Leavitt -- as co-coordinator of the defense -- helped the Wildcats rise into national prominence. He left Manhattan following the 1995 season to begin the South Florida program from scratch at the I-AA level. He now has the Bulls in the Big East Conference and has been ranked in the top 10 the past two seasons.
WHY LEAVITT: Leavitt was part of the turnaround at K-State under Snyder. He helped turn the Wildcats into one of the nation's top defenses in the country while at K-State. He has shown he can coach at the BCS level with his building the program at USF from ground up to getting the Bulls into the top 10. His teams are ranked among the nation's best defenses statistically year in and year out.
WHY NOT LEAVITT: Leavitt was contacted about the opening when Snyder retired and decided to remain in Tampa following the 2005 season. His team is competitive in the Big East each year and in contention for a BCS bowl berth representing the conference each season. Most importantly, Tampa is Leavitt's hometown.
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: Three years ago the search started with Leavitt and it will likely again this time. Maybe not being the coach to follow the legend will help the cause.
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Assistant Head Coach, University of Florida
BIO: A former Iowa Hawkeye football player, McCarney began his coaching career with the Hawkeyes as the offensive line coach in 1977. In 1979, he remained with the Hawkeyes and their new coach Hayden Fry. After 10 seasons under Fry, McCarney moved to Wisconsin as defensive coordinator before taking over the Iowa State program in 1995. After 11 seasons in Ames, McCarney stepped down as head coach and joined Jim Leavitt's staff at USF for one season before joining Urban Meyer at Florida in 2008.
WHY McCARNEY: A longtime head coach in the Big 8/12 at Iowa State, McCarney has handled a program in the environment K-State has to work in. He also has 30 years of coaching experience at the BCS conference level and worked under some of the game's best coaches. McCarney also worked with former Wildcat coach Bill Snyder for nine seasons at Iowa, and remains close to Snyder. His familiarity among the coaching ranks would likely allow him to find some experienced assistant coaches.
WHY NOT McCARNEY: McCarney's 56-85 record with the Cyclones isn't a great mark as a head coach. His teams only won seven more games five times in his 12 seasons at Iowa State, including only one with nine victories.
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: If Bill Snyder is involved in the decision, then McCarney will get a look. He did something with little at ISU, but this is far from a sexy hire for younger fans. And for everyone who says no coach would come without knowing who the school president would be, McCarney is a guy who would.
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Head Coach, Texas Christian University
BIO: Patterson, a K-State graduate, began his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach on Jim Dickey's 1982 staff at K-State. Since that first year, Patterson has had 10 stops along the way as an assistant coach before taking over the head coach duties at TCU in 2000. In the first 10 years Patterson has been a coach at TCU (three as defensive coordinator), the Horned Frogs have played in nine bowl games.
WHY PATTERSON: Patterson is one of the top coaches in the country not at a BCS school. His teams regularly are found in the top 10 of each defensive statistical category. His teams have recorded four 10-win seasons in the past six years. Patterson is a former Wildcat player (1980-81) and a native of Rozel, Kan., could want to return home.
WHY NOT PATTERSON: Patterson has had several chances to leave TCU over the past few years and has decided to stay in Fort Worth. Following the 2005 season, Patterson was riding an 11-1 record and was not strongly considered for the K-State job (either due to the school's or his lack of interest) and may not be interested in leaving now, either.
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: He's a K-Stater, a proven head coach and a defensive whiz. Yes, Patterson should be at or darn near the top of the wish list.
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Former Head Coach, Kansas State University
BIO: Snyder spent 17 years roaming the sidelines in the stadium that now bears his name as head coach of the Wildcats. He retired following the 2005 season after orchestrating what has been called The Greatest Turnaround in College Football History. He is the school's all-time winningest coach and led the team to bowl games each season from 1993-2003.
WHY SNYDER: Snyder has done it at K-State. He proved football could win in Manhattan, Kan., and he proved success could be maintained in Manhattan, Kan. The coaching bug is a tough one to shake, especially for a coach who put so much into a program and it could be one that is still alive inside Snyder.
WHY NOT SNYDER: When Snyder stepped down nearly three seasons ago, he cited the desire to spend more time with his family. Is the coaching fire as driving as it used to be for the long-time coach? The game on and off the field has changed a lot since Snyder first took over as coach for the 1989 season.
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: Snyder is rested and may be ready to return to the sideline, but is this the long-term answer for the program, even if he returns to groom a successor? It's more likely that Snyder will help pick the next coach.
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Defensive Coordinator, University of Oklahoma
BIO: Venables has been the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma since the 2004 season. He was a finalist for the Chuck Broyles Assistant Coach of the Year award in 2006. He began his coaching career in 1993 as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, K-State. He moved up the ranks with the Wildcats being co-coordinator for the defense in 1998. He moved on to Oklahoma following the 1998 season and is now the associate head coach as well as defensive coordinator for the Sooners.
WHY VENABLES: Venables, a former all-conference choice at K-State, could relish the chance to return "home" to begin his head coaching career. He has learned from two of the best coaches in the country, Bill Snyder and Bob Stoops, since graduating from college. He also is one of the top recruiters in the country.
WHY NOT VENABLES: Venables has never been a head coach at any level, and for some reason seems to get little interest from schools when there is an opening. And, like Mike Stoops, some feelings remain bruised about how the 1998 season ended prior to three coaches moving to Oklahoma. While his resume' looks good the lack of a prior head coaching position could hurt his chances at K-State who could be a little shy about giving a coordinator their first shot at being a head coach again.
GPC'S QUICK ANALYSIS: Venables should be a strong candidate for the job, but going with another young coordinator who will require on-the-job training doesn't sound too tantalizing. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
KSUVOLS4LIFE
Pretty much a regular
the problem was the president of the University was fixated on prince. He basically forced the decision on the AD and others. This basically caused the AD to start to look for work elsewhere, which he found last year and the 2nd in charge in the Big12 offices.
I believe we will have a hard time getting Leavitt or Patterson. Why would either want to leave a state with great recruiting and already solid programs to come to this mess. They would have to do it for pure love of the university. I do hope we stay in the Bill Snyder family and hire someone else even it is not one of those two guys. I personally would love to have Brent Venables from OU. The guy should have had a head gig a long time before Prince got his.
cubsker
Used to be "Fun Cub"
I think guys like Leavitt, Edsall, Gill, Venables, Kelly and Grobe can all land better jobs than KSU. I think you could get one of the fallen angels (Franchione, Bowden, Willingham) or lesser known coordinators (Christiansen) or you'll end up settling for someone like McCarney.
aplous
Donkey Hater
cubsker
Used to be "Fun Cub"
lol
aplous
Donkey Hater
The next coach of the KState Wildcats.....Gary Patterson!!
Thanks to Utah for the W last night....maybe that made the decision easier???
aplous
Donkey Hater
fuck
<TABLE id=blog-body-heading cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=405>Gary Patterson is rather perturbed about Kansas State report
3:20 PM Fri, Nov 07, 2008 | Permalink | <SCRIPT src="http://d.yimg.com/ds/badge.js" ____yb="1"></SCRIPT> Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon <!--
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E-mail News tips
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TCU coach Gary Patterson called into ESPN 103.3's Galloway and Co. to make it clear that he is still TCU's coach despite the report that he's accepted the Kansas State gig.
I was driving during Patterson's appearance, so I couldn't jot down any quotes, but let's just say that he was not very happy. He went so far as to say that the report decreased the odds that he'd be willing to listen if his alma mater comes calling. (His feelings, of course, are subject to change based on dollar figures being tossed around on voicemail messages.)
When I first heard about the report, I figured it made sense that TCU struggled in the second half of last night's loss to Utah because the Horned Frogs head coach quit at halftime. But that's not the case.
http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews...gary-patterson-is-rather-perturbed-about.html
<TABLE id=blog-body-heading cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=405>Gary Patterson is rather perturbed about Kansas State report
3:20 PM Fri, Nov 07, 2008 | Permalink | <SCRIPT src="http://d.yimg.com/ds/badge.js" ____yb="1"></SCRIPT> Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon <!--
Bio --> E-mail News tips </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
TCU coach Gary Patterson called into ESPN 103.3's Galloway and Co. to make it clear that he is still TCU's coach despite the report that he's accepted the Kansas State gig.
I was driving during Patterson's appearance, so I couldn't jot down any quotes, but let's just say that he was not very happy. He went so far as to say that the report decreased the odds that he'd be willing to listen if his alma mater comes calling. (His feelings, of course, are subject to change based on dollar figures being tossed around on voicemail messages.)
When I first heard about the report, I figured it made sense that TCU struggled in the second half of last night's loss to Utah because the Horned Frogs head coach quit at halftime. But that's not the case.
http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews...gary-patterson-is-rather-perturbed-about.html
