My first (I think) public call of the coaching hire

[ReVOLver]

[droner]

I've talked to some South Carolina fans who believe that's a good hire. And they hate to see it. They said so.

[ReVOLver]

I've talked to some South Carolina fans who believe that's a good hire. And they hate to see it. They said so.

I think he would be a really good hire. He's an up and comer who knows the league due to stops at SC and UF. Great recruiter. Never been in NCAA trouble. I know that Louisville is prepared to break the bank to keep him, but I think he wants to coach in the SEC and will eventually be in the league. There is also a really good chance that he would be able to reel in Jalen Ramsey.

Go get him, Dave.

[Be-the-Vol]

Nice pick!  I know you picked him because of his awesome first name.   

By the way, say "Hi" to your lovely bride for me.

[VinnieVOL]

He's my first pick at this point.

[Volznut]

I think he would be a really good hire. He's an up and comer who knows the league due to stops at SC and UF. Great recruiter. Never been in NCAA trouble. I know that Louisville is prepared to break the bank to keep him, but I think he wants to coach in the SEC and will eventually be in the league. There is also a really good chance that he would be able to reel in Jalen Ramsey.

Go get him, Dave.

he would definitely recruit well. Not just Ramsey. He could get Lawson and Hatcher in the fold too, especially if he hired Tee

[ReVOLver]

he would definitely recruit well. Not just Ramsey. He could get Lawson and Hatcher in the fold too, especially if he hired Tee

Yes. I think Ramsey is most important though.

[ReVOLver]

Nice pick!  I know you picked him because of his awesome first name.   

By the way, say "Hi" to your lovely bride for me.

She always says that you should be on Facebook and say hi yourself! 

[Creek Walker]

he would definitely recruit well. Not just Ramsey. He could get Lawson and Hatcher in the fold too, especially if he hired Tee

I have my doubts about how good a coach Tee Martin is. He did not look very good at UK and while I don't keep up with USC as much, obviously there are some issues out there with coaching in general right now.

But there's no doubt that he can recruit and I would laugh until I cried if UT hired him and he pulled Ramsey away from USC after Kiffin hired him for that specific reason.

[murfvol]

My initial list was Petrino, Patterson and Strong. I'd pretty much wail as an AD.

[UTnbama]

He's no public speaker....yet, but there's no doubt he can coach.

[Be-the-Vol]

She always says that you should be on Facebook and say hi yourself! 

I may call an interwebs master and have him/her set me up a page.  Do I need to be on the youtubes or plugged into an ipad/ipod thingy to get good my face space page reception?  

[BanditVol]

I would definitely be happy with Strong.  One of my top picks.   

[ReVOLver]

I may call an interwebs master and have him/her set me up a page.  Do I need to be on the youtubes or plugged into an ipad/ipod thingy to get good my face space page reception?  

I don't know any interwebs masters. 

[WoodstockVol]

Right Now,I want either Mike Gundy or Charlie Strong to be the next UT Coach

[VoLynteer]

Lynnie approves! 

[Black Diamond Vol]

Meh.  If he's our coach, I'll get behind him, but still...meh.  He doesn't excite me any more than Dooley did when he was hired.

[ReVOLver]

Meh.  If he's our coach, I'll get behind him, but still...meh.  He doesn't excite me any more than Dooley did when he was hired.

I can dig the excitement level but he is far more accomplished than Derek Dooley.

[Black Diamond Vol]

I can dig the excitement level but he is far more accomplished than Derek Dooley.

I wouldn't say he's "far" more accomplished.  Both were successful assistants in the SEC (granted, Strong was coordinator and Dooley wasn't), and both had modest success as head coaches in inferior leagues.  I'd say Strong has the better resume, but not by much. 

[RON]

Since Gruden isn't available I want Charlie Strong. Would love to keep Jay Graham on staff and get Tee Martin.

[PirateVOL]

I'm in

He was at the top of the list in my "Noth that anyone asked" post a week ago.

[BanditVol]

I wouldn't say he's "far" more accomplished.  Both were successful assistants in the SEC (granted, Strong was coordinator and Dooley wasn't), and both had modest success as head coaches in inferior leagues.  I'd say Strong has the better resume, but not by much. 

"Modest success"???? Dooley didn't even have a winning record at LaTech (17-20).  Strong is 24-8 at Louisville.  Strong is in a BCS Bowl this year.  And while I disrespect the Big East as much as anyone, it's still better than the Sun Belt.  Finally, two different Coordinator positions vs. a position coach at LSU.  Its a pretty huge difference IYAM.

Dooley

2007   Louisiana Tech   5–7   4–4   T–4th         
2008   Louisiana Tech   8–5   5–3   T–2nd   W Independence      
2009   Louisiana Tech   4–8   3–5   T–5th

Strong

2010   Louisville   7–6   3–4   T–5th   W Beef 'O' Brady's      
2011   Louisville   7–6   5–2   T–1st   L Belk      
2012   Louisville   10–2   5–2   T–1st   TBD Sugar†

As a side note, Dooley's record at UT was 15-21....slightly worse than at LaTech.     That was against better competition, but also with better talent.

[ReVOLver]

I wouldn't say he's "far" more accomplished.  Both were successful assistants in the SEC (granted, Strong was coordinator and Dooley wasn't), and both had modest success as head coaches in inferior leagues.  I'd say Strong has the better resume, but not by much. 

Strong was a longtime coordinator and a national championship coordinator twice. I'd say that's a pretty big difference, especially on a staff where the head coach was an offensive guy.

[Black Diamond Vol]

"Modest success"???? Dooley didn't even have a winning record at LaTech (17-20).  Strong is 24-8 at Louisville.   Strong is in a BCS Bowl this year.  And while I disrespect the Big East as much as anyone, it's still better than the Sun Belt.

Yeah, two mediocre seasons, and one good season, in a year when the Big East is the weakest it's ever been (and that's saying a lot).  I'm not sure that the Big East IS better than the Sun Belt this year.  And "BCS Bowl Participant" doesn't really have the same cache it used to (See Northern Illinois).  Look, he went 10-2 this year, and that's great.  But per our AD, we're looking for someone with a proven track record of success as a head coach.  Strong has had one good season.  If that's what Hart considers a "proven track record", then maybe he should have hired that search firm after all.

Finally, two different Coordinator positions vs. a position coach at LSU.  Its a pretty huge difference IYAM.

True.  But success as defensive coordinator doesn't necessarily mean that he's going to turn our defense into the Steel Curtain as a HC.  I would remind you that Dooley was Saban's recruiting coordinator at LSU.  That was supposed to mean a parade of 5 stars heading to Knoxville.  Didn't quite turn out that way, did it?
 

[BanditVol]

Yeah, two mediocre seasons, and one good season, in a year when the Big East is the weakest it's ever been (and that's saying a lot).  I'm not sure that the Big East IS better than the Sun Belt this year.  And "BCS Bowl Participant" doesn't really have the same cache it used to (See Northern Illinois).  Look, he went 10-2 this year, and that's great.  But per our AD, we're looking for someone with a proven track record of success as a head coach.  Strong has had one good season.  If that's what Hart considers a "proven track record", then maybe he should have hired that search firm after all.

True.  But success as defensive coordinator doesn't necessarily mean that he's going to turn our defense rinto the Steel Curtain as a HC.  I would remind you that Dooley was Saban's recruiting coordinator at LSU.  That was supposed to mean a parade of 5 stars heading to Knoxville.  Didn't quite turn out that way, did it?

Theres a huge difference between having a losing record saying winning two thirds of your games period dot