Tulsa's next Head Football Coach

[mmckell]

I think it's fairly safe to start a thread about a new head coach.

What are some names of coaches that Tulsa should consider at the end of this season?

My two cents... I may be way off the rails, but I would be excited to find a coach similar to Matt Campbell at Iowa State. Loyal, excellent talent evaluator, makes decent in game adjustments, and shows incremental improvements every year. Thoughts?

 

[TulsaRising1]

How about Bill Bedenbaugh from OU?

 

[aTUfan_rivals]

Nice resume. Can he recruit?

 

[Karen50]

I think it's fairly safe to start a thread about a
Todd Graham.

 

[jesterondirt]

@Karen50 you waited 10 years and this is your first post?

 

[Karen50]

Ha. If u don’t have something good to say don’t say nothing at all.

 

[jesterondirt]

Ha. If u don’t have something good to say don’t say nothing at all.

Hahaha, good point. This place would be dead if we all did that right now

 

[Chris Harmon]

Opened this thread just to see what names you guys are throwing out...surprised not to see Lashlee and Spavital mentioned yet. Figured that would've been in the first post.

 

[jesterondirt]

Opened this thread just to see what names you guys are throwing out...surprised not to see Lashlee and Spavital mentioned yet. Figured that would've been in the first post.

Jake is in his first year of a 5 year contract @ $800,000 per year. Not sure the specifics, but that sounds expensive for a buyout.

 

[Chris Harmon]

Jake is in his first year of a 5 year contract @ $800,000 per year. Not sure the specifics, but that sounds expensive for a buyout.

[thumb2] Not saying it's a great option...just surprised his name wasn't already thrown out. I knew I'd see Todd Graham.

 

[TU_BLA]

Seth Littrell is the first call. Then Lashlee (who would probably bring in The Milkman as an OC after consulting with Malzahn). If they're not coming, you talk to Graham. Bet Graham would take a 4 yr at reduced salary with an option for an extension after 2 yrs and an improvement in wins and attendance. I think Graham would get people fired up again.

Also, look at Alex Grinch (OU DC). That dude has a magnetic fiery personality. I would also take a look at Beamer's kid from OU.

 

[jesterondirt]

I wonder if Bill Bedenbaugh has thrown his name into any coaching vacancies in the past?

 

[TU_BLA]

Venables? Or is he just biding his time for the right opportunity? Hell, I'd take Bo Pelini right now.

 

[Fmr'Cane16]

If they're not coming, you talk to Graham. Bet Graham would take a 4 yr at reduced salary with an option for an extension after 2 yrs and an improvement in wins and attendance. I think Graham would get people fired up again.

I think you are kidding yourself if you think TG would come back here for anything less than $1 more than what Monty made. Coach K would have. TG, no effin way. And I’m aware that ASU is still paying him. But they owe him and he will take every penny. This is an entirely separate transaction and he will be of the opinion that we need him, not the other way around.

 

[Beware Hurricane Warning]

Mike Yurcich

 

[TU Pilot]

Don Brown maybe?

 

[Hurricane Drummer]

Find Francis "Close the Gates of Mercy" Schmidt's great-great grandson and hire that guy.

 

[Henry Kendall]

Here’s a way-too-early Bonus Kendall Prediction: The next coach will a dark horse, not mentioned among the obvious choices mentioned in this thread.

 

[TU_BLA]

Here’s a way-too-early Bonus Kendall Prediction: The next coach will a dark horse, not mentioned among the obvious choices mentioned in this thread.

Mike Leach. He needs more of that east coast press in his life.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox_rivals]

Any chance that none of this goes through due to budget constraints and the next coach is the same coach?

 

[TulsaGrad07]

Any chance that none of this goes through due to budget constraints and the next coach is the same coach?

I think your consideration is unfortunately the most likely. It takes guts and vision to implement change; our AD and the Admin don't imbue that sense of intestinal fortitude and agency required to revisit the budget and / or pull the trigger.

 

[mcane]

I really don't think Littrell will leave UNT to come to TU. My guess is his next step is a coordinator at a Big XII or SEC school. The step up in competition from CUSA to AAC is a big one, as we should know.

 

[TheGoldenTulsas]

Todd Graham would be interesting choice, if they even interview him which is unlikely. I'm guessing some would be upset at that prospect of him returning (like some donors didn't want to give Kragthorpe another shot after Blankenship firing).

If he's sitting there at home with no coaching options besides this, why wouldn't he at least entertain the idea of being an HC for the same salary as Montgomery? He's been jobless over a year and is probably bored.

I'd wonder if he'd be able to replicate the kind of success last time unless he can find a truly innovative OC again which would be tough in this environment (where everyone has a spread hurry-up no-huddle offense, a decent OC at Princeton gets a massive deal at a Big 12 school, and basically every FCS coach and great HS offensive mind gets swooped up to high paying positions).

 

[Henry Kendall]

Littrell will not leave a HC job to become a coordinator somewhere, unless he gets fired for doing a Briles.

 

[TheGoldenTulsas]

Any chance that none of this goes through due to budget constraints and the next coach is the same coach?

That is a very realistic option and the number 1 option they'll consider unless they feel they have absolutely no choice. The guy took a pay cut and the admin has basically no money to buy him out, much less bring in a reputable up-and-coming Div 1 head coach prospect.

I'd expect the most likely options are either Monty back or promoting from within (e.g. current DC Gillespie). The fan base would be irate with one of those options and maybe just a bit disappointed at the other (some fans would be happy with it though and at least it would be a fresh face at the top). TU admin is probably looking to hold off on buyouts or really big pay days until the $7 million TV money comes in.

 

[TU_BLA]

That is a very realistic option and the number 1 option they'll consider unless they feel they have absolutely no choice. The guy took a pay cut and the admin has basically no money to buy him out, much less bring in a reputable up-and-coming Div 1 head coach prospect.

I'd expect the most likely options are either Monty back or promoting from within (e.g. current DC Gillespie). The fan base would be irate with one of those options and maybe just a bit disappointed at the other (some fans would be happy with it though and at least it would be a fresh face at the top). TU admin is probably looking to hold off on buyouts or really big pay days until the $7 million TV money comes in.

If a group of donors comes in and says, we're giving you the $ to buy out hsi contract and we'll pledge "x" number of dollars for 5 years to go towards a new coach OR we'll pull ALL of our donations...you'd better believe someone on the board will get this through. You keep thinking this is an admin decision. This is a "whoever has the most money put up in front of them" decision.

 

[Gmoney4WW]

I'd love to see the explosion in the fan base if they hired Gillespie or Graham and either one of them took Kendal as OC.

 

[TU_BLA]

I'd love to see the explosion in the fan base if they hired Gillespie or Graham and either one of them took Kendal as OC.

Gillespie might. Graham won't hire Kendall. If Graham ends up at a P5, he might call Lashlee.

 

[HuffyCane]

Gillespie might. Graham won't hire Kendall. If Graham ends up at a P5, he might call Lashlee.

There’s a lot of reasons Graham won’t be our coach, but Lashlee is a known commodity and his offense is 10 years old, and Graham already won with his mentor. Whether it’s Applewhite, Malzahn or Morris, Graham hires unknown guys with little known and ultra aggressive offensive ideas that make him look good. Lashlee isn’t in that conversation.

 

[Gmoney4WW]

Gillespie might. Graham won't hire Kendall. If Graham ends up at a P5, he might call Lashlee.

I wasn't commenting on the reality of it, just the dumpster fire fan reaction. Yes Gillespie could, no Graham would never...

 

[TheGoldenTulsas]

I really don't think Littrell will leave UNT to come to TU. My guess is his next step is a coordinator at a Big XII or SEC school. The step up in competition from CUSA to AAC is a big one, as we should know.

Why would a coach leave UNT for Tulsa when UNT consistently beats out TU for recruits? Sure he could win those guys at TU, but There's a path to win the C-USA at UNT with those kinds of players, but no path where TU wins AAC with those caliber guys. The pay raise isn't so great if he can't win and segue into a major head coaching gig. Better to try to win where he's at and pick from the offers.

People glorify Kragthorpe and Graham and say it's all about coaching, but they ignore the massive changes and investments the athletic department made along with those hires. Those HC's succeeded in large part because of the corresponding upgrades. A new HC won't be able to fix this program without massive changes required just to keep up with AAC schools ($180 million at Memphis!).

 

[Chris Harmon]

Why would a coach leave UNT for Tulsa when UNT consistently beats out TU for recruits?

I understand the point you're making, but it's misleading to say UNT consistently beats TU for recruits.

Over the past 20 years, UNT has occasionally beaten out Tulsa for a prospect, but it was rare. Now that TU has had a losing record in seven of the past eight years, North Texas is actually doing pretty well against TU in recruiting this year. Jake Roberts flipped his commitment from TU to UNT, and the Mean Green have commitments from three other guys that Tulsa had offered: WR Loronzo Thompson, QB Kade Renfro (who may switch to UCF soon) and DE Kortlin Rausaw.

But one recruiting cycle does not make this a consistent occurrence.

In 2018, UNT picked up two kids that had Tulsa offers...but Tulsa beat out UNT for 7 kids the Mean Green had offered: TK Wilkerson, Josh Owens, Jaxon Player, Davis Brin, X'Zavea Gadlin, Imiee Cooksey and Yohance Burnett.

In 2017, North Texas lost all of its recruiting battles against TU...8 of them: Dante Bivens, Malik Jackson, Akayleb Evans, Daiquain Jackson, Marcus Mays, Sam Crawford, JC Santana and Chris Paul.

In 2016, Tulsa beat UNT for three kids: Clay Greathouse, Rowdy Frederick and Keenen Johnson.

In 2015, UNT did pick up a kid Tulsa had offered and moved on from -- Cortney Finney, but Tulsa beat UNT offers for four kids: Michael Anderson, Diamon Cannon, Reggie Robinson and Keidrien Wadley.

This continues on as you back each year. Just wanted to clear that up.

 

[Chris Harmon]

A new HC won't be able to fix this program without massive changes required just to keep up with AAC schools ($180 million at Memphis!).

I agree about massive change, but the investment into the program needs to happen regardless of what TU ultimately decides at the end of the season regarding the coach. The fact that an indoor facility is not already in place, when so many high school programs have them, is ludicrous.

 

[TU_BLA]

I agree about massive change, but the investment into the program needs to happen regardless of what TU ultimately decides at the end of the season regarding the coach. The fact that an indoor facility is not already in place, when so many high school programs have them, is ludicrous.

Yeah, the facility that Broken Arrow has is ridiculous.

 

[TheGoldenTulsas]

I understand the point you're making, but it's misleading to say UNT consistently beats TU for recruits.

Over the past 20 years, UNT has occasionally beaten out Tulsa for a prospect, but it was rare. Now that TU has had a losing record in seven of the past eight years, North Texas is actually doing pretty well against TU in recruiting this year. Jake Roberts flipped his commitment from TU to UNT, and the Mean Green have commitments from three other guys that Tulsa had offered: WR Loronzo Thompson, QB Kade Renfro (who may switch to UCF soon) and DE Kortlin Rausaw.

But one recruiting cycle does not make this a consistent occurrence.

In 2018, UNT picked up two kids that had Tulsa offers...but Tulsa beat out UNT for 7 kids the Mean Green had offered: TK Wilkerson, Josh Owens, Jaxon Player, Davis Brin, X'Zavea Gadlin, Imiee Cooksey and Yohance Burnett.

In 2017, North Texas lost all of its recruiting battles against TU...8 of them: Dante Bivens, Malik Jackson, Akayleb Evans, Daiquain Jackson, Marcus Mays, Sam Crawford, JC Santana and Chris Paul.

In 2016, Tulsa beat UNT for three kids: Clay Greathouse, Rowdy Frederick and Keenen Johnson.

In 2015, UNT did pick up a kid Tulsa had offered and moved on from -- Cortney Finney, but Tulsa beat UNT offers for four kids: Michael Anderson, Diamon Cannon, Reggie Robinson and Keidrien Wadley.

This continues on as you back each year. Just wanted to clear that up.

Thank you for the thorough response! I guess it just felt that way with this year especially and last year to some extent.

That's a school TU needs to beat badly year in year out to keep the DFW pipeline, but TU needs to win games to give them a reason to go north. TU competes on another competition level, but kids want to win, especially if they're moving a bit further away.

An indoor practice facility would help with another thing: It gets a bit colder in Tulsa than in mid/south Texas. Not as good to practice outside when it's freezing cold or rainy. Regardless, TU should have one for soccer/football to share.

 

[HuffyCane]

I understand the point you're making, but it's misleading to say UNT consistently beats TU for recruits.

Over the past 20 years, UNT has occasionally beaten out Tulsa for a prospect, but it was rare. Now that TU has had a losing record in seven of the past eight years, North Texas is actually doing pretty well against TU in recruiting this year. Jake Roberts flipped his commitment from TU to UNT, and the Mean Green have commitments from three other guys that Tulsa had offered: WR Loronzo Thompson, QB Kade Renfro (who may switch to UCF soon) and DE Kortlin Rausaw.

But one recruiting cycle does not make this a consistent occurrence.

In 2018, UNT picked up two kids that had Tulsa offers...but Tulsa beat out UNT for 7 kids the Mean Green had offered: TK Wilkerson, Josh Owens, Jaxon Player, Davis Brin, X'Zavea Gadlin, Imiee Cooksey and Yohance Burnett.

In 2017, North Texas lost all of its recruiting battles against TU...8 of them: Dante Bivens, Malik Jackson, Akayleb Evans, Daiquain Jackson, Marcus Mays, Sam Crawford, JC Santana and Chris Paul.

In 2016, Tulsa beat UNT for three kids: Clay Greathouse, Rowdy Frederick and Keenen Johnson.

In 2015, UNT did pick up a kid Tulsa had offered and moved on from -- Cortney Finney, but Tulsa beat UNT offers for four kids: Michael Anderson, Diamon Cannon, Reggie Robinson and Keidrien Wadley.

This continues on as you back each year. Just wanted to clear that up.

Not to mention that anyone choosing UNT over Tulsa likely isn’t choosing it for football reasons. It’s almost always geography, parents, girlfriend, new baby or they can’t academically qualify (or know they don’t want to study).

 

[TU 1978]

UNT is a commuter school much like UH. That said, they do have 35,000 students so they have a potentially large base of spectators for games. They certainly didn’t have a packed stadium when our daughter attended and TU pounded them by 50+.

I wish Janet would turn her attention to academics and not football.

 

[Gmoney4WW]

I understand the point you're making, but it's misleading to say UNT consistently beats TU for recruits.

Over the past 20 years, UNT has occasionally beaten out Tulsa for a prospect, but it was rare. Now that TU has had a losing record in seven of the past eight years, North Texas is actually doing pretty well against TU in recruiting this year. Jake Roberts flipped his commitment from TU to UNT, and the Mean Green have commitments from three other guys that Tulsa had offered: WR Loronzo Thompson, QB Kade Renfro (who may switch to UCF soon) and DE Kortlin Rausaw.

But one recruiting cycle does not make this a consistent occurrence.

In 2018, UNT picked up two kids that had Tulsa offers...but Tulsa beat out UNT for 7 kids the Mean Green had offered: TK Wilkerson, Josh Owens, Jaxon Player, Davis Brin, X'Zavea Gadlin, Imiee Cooksey and Yohance Burnett.

In 2017, North Texas lost all of its recruiting battles against TU...8 of them: Dante Bivens, Malik Jackson, Akayleb Evans, Daiquain Jackson, Marcus Mays, Sam Crawford, JC Santana and Chris Paul.

In 2016, Tulsa beat UNT for three kids: Clay Greathouse, Rowdy Frederick and Keenen Johnson.

In 2015, UNT did pick up a kid Tulsa had offered and moved on from -- Cortney Finney, but Tulsa beat UNT offers for four kids: Michael Anderson, Diamon Cannon, Reggie Robinson and Keidrien Wadley.

This continues on as you back each year. Just wanted to clear that up.

I thought UNT had won a few more battles with us than they had. Thanks for clearing that up for me. You know what we wanna know! Not that you would divulge on that fathead attorney. I got two proper choices on that reference.

 

[Hurricane Drummer]

I agree about massive change, but the investment into the program needs to happen regardless of what TU ultimately decides at the end of the season regarding the coach. The fact that an indoor facility is not already in place, when so many high school programs have them, is ludicrous.

I wonder if TU has any donors willing to put up money for an IPF? I would think if we did, it would have happened around 2016 when the program was trending up.

 

[goldenhurricane2]

I wonder if TU has any donors willing to put up money for an IPF? I would think if we did, it would have happened around 2016 when the program was trending up.

from what I understand, there is some degree of financial backing, but the optics of starting or even taking about starting that project were not positive based on the university’s situation.