1 of 1- OldMacManaic
- Member
Offline 
- From: SWPDX
- Registered: 1/06/2020
- Posts: 497
coaching staff changes
might as well start the chatter now . . .
Bill Musgrave was fired at Cal two weeks ago. would be perfect OC in Eugene. former Duck, former NFL QB, former NFL QB coach and OC. would be an instant attractant for talented QBs wanting to develop next-level skills.
Tosh needs to go. never liked the stench associated w him anyways. the D just disappeared at critical times this year, and there were no in-game adjustments when we got exposed.
Keith Heyward is currently DC at UNLV. he had a good tenure in Eugene and was well liked by players and fans. might be his time. also Big Joe was co-DC and associate HC last year under Mario; he's a Left Coast guy and might be interested. both would bring recruiting chops and game-day skills.
the sooner these positions are filled, the sooner Ducks can secure current commits, land others, and work the transfer portal. hoping Rob Mullens has the phone glued to his ear today.
- WoodburnDuck
- Member
Offline
- Registered: 12/30/2019
- Posts: 332
Re: coaching staff changes
Just last night I was thinking about Mullens. Is he really all that great at hiring coaches? Every time they conduct a coaching search, the general word seems to be "It'll be OK - Uncle Phil wants a natty, he'll open the checkbook, Mullens will make a good hire" yada yada yada. Heard the same general thing when Lanning was hired.
What I didn't hear - not even during the Lanning search - was that if all this is true, then how do you explain Helfrich, Taggart, and Cristobal? Sure, Cristobal had decent success, but pretty much everyone was questioning his capabilities as a coach vs. a recruiter by the time Miami pursued him - yet they still ponied up with a big fat raise in the hopes he'd stay.
Well, sure enough, I read Canzano's latest column, and according to him the big donors are pissed off and blaming Mullens. That still doesn't mean it's Mullens' fault, or that Lanning won't turn out to be an amazing HC and win a Natty. I also realize great coaches are rare, and big bucks don't guarantee a thing. But I'm glad it's being addressed.
- DucksReign
- Banned
Offline
- Registered: 12/29/2019
- Posts: 1,289
Re: coaching staff changes
Mullens was at fault for the Taggart hire specifically to the buyout component or lack thereof to his contract.
However Oregon has a LONG history beginning with Rich Brooks who had no prior head coaching experience and then promoting coaches from within...Brooks to Bellotti to Kelly to Helfraud...then that approach was broken with the hiring of Taggart who did have previous head coaching experience at a lower level...then the original approach returned with the promotion of Cristobal(who was, according to all the stories at the time, massively favored by the players over Jim Leavitt who also wanted the job). So Lanning is Mullens first hire in terms of a P5 coach albeit a coordinator and not a head coach.
By all accounts, Justin Wilcox was offered the job and turned it down...I think gestures were also made to Chip Kelly. The hiring process is too cumbersome with lights shining too brightly on the people making the decisions to blame in the case, Mullens.
What I do think can be blaming issues are contracts, contract extensions, length of contracts and the dollar amount of contracts i.e. I wonder how Texas A&M alumni feel about Jimbo Fisher? Or Michigan State alumni feel about Mel Tucker's 10-year deal?
In terms of Lanning, I don't feel there were or are any missteps on his contract via Mullens.
So what do high roller alumni want to do? Fire Mullens? That doesn't change what is in Lanning's contract. Or if it does...really...after 3 head coaches since 2017 Oregon needs to go through that process again?
- Duckball
- Member
Offline
- Registered: 11/03/2022
- Posts: 660
Re: coaching staff changes
OldMacManaic wrote:
might as well start the chatter now . . .
Bill Musgrave was fired at Cal two weeks ago. would be perfect OC in Eugene. former Duck, former NFL QB, former NFL QB coach and OC. would be an instant attractant for talented QBs wanting to develop next-level skills.
Tosh needs to go. never liked the stench associated w him anyways. the D just disappeared at critical times this year, and there were no in-game adjustments when we got exposed.
Keith Heyward is currently DC at UNLV. he had a good tenure in Eugene and was well liked by players and fans. might be his time. also Big Joe was co-DC and associate HC last year under Mario; he's a Left Coast guy and might be interested. both would bring recruiting chops and game-day skills.
the sooner these positions are filled, the sooner Ducks can secure current commits, land others, and work the transfer portal. hoping Rob Mullens has the phone glued to his ear today.
Musgrave??
Please God, NO. He's been a dismal failure at every place he's been.
Surely you jest.
- WoodburnDuck
- Member
Offline
- Registered: 12/30/2019
- Posts: 332
Re: coaching staff changes
Mullens was at fault for the Taggart hire specifically to the buyout component or lack thereof to his contract.
However Oregon has a LONG history beginning with Rich Brooks who had no prior head coaching experience and then promoting coaches from within...Brooks to Bellotti to Kelly to Helfraud...then that approach was broken with the hiring of Taggart who did have previous head coaching experience at a lower level...then the original approach returned with the promotion of Cristobal(who was, according to all the stories at the time, massively favored by the players over Jim Leavitt who also wanted the job). So Lanning is Mullens first hire in terms of a P5 coach albeit a coordinator and not a head coach.
By all accounts, Justin Wilcox was offered the job and turned it down...I think gestures were also made to Chip Kelly. The hiring process is too cumbersome with lights shining too brightly on the people making the decisions to blame in the case, Mullens.
What I do think can be blaming issues are contracts, contract extensions, length of contracts and the dollar amount of contracts i.e. I wonder how Texas A&M alumni feel about Jimbo Fisher? Or Michigan State alumni feel about Mel Tucker's 10-year deal?
In terms of Lanning, I don't feel there were or are any missteps on his contract via Mullens.
So what do high roller alumni want to do? Fire Mullens? That doesn't change what is in Lanning's contract. Or if it does...really...after 3 head coaches since 2017 Oregon needs to go through that process again?
I was just thinking about this in terms of being a fan engaged in chatter and speculation regarding coaching hires. As in, why should I as a fan trust the judgment of someone who hired Willie Taggart?
I’m not saying I actively mistrust Mullens or anyone else involved in the hiring process. I just think it’s funny when fans say we don’t have to worry because Uncle Phil et. al. will take care of everything when, like I said, they hired Taggart.
Last edited by WoodburnDuck (11/27/2022 6:43 pm)
- Jiffy Jeff
- Member
Offline
- From: Sherwood, OR
- Registered: 12/30/2019
- Posts: 589
Re: coaching staff changes
There is one component to all of this that is overlooked, and the that is of the search firm they contract during this process. I'd be curious as to how this process looked when they hired Lanning. Did Mullens have Lanning on his target list or did Lanning's camp reach out to the firm? Did they have discussions with the likes of DeBoer? I guess my primary question is to what extent is the activity or passivity of the AD in the search?
Relevant to the original post, I would like to see Lanning take a hard look at the FCS playoffs and poke his nose around some of the higher flying offenses that are on display and winning ball games.
- oldretiredguy
- Moderator
Offline
- Registered: 12/29/2019
- Posts: 2,248
Re: coaching staff changes
No idea who Lanning will hire, but seriously doubt Bill is a candidate. Lots of names out there, and I expect to see someone young that Lanning has ties to. It's rumored that several coaches on staff were invited to join Dilly, as they have homes and/or family in AZ, but they all appear to be staying right now. Tosh is a real disappointment to me, and something has to happen on D...we have way to much talent to look that bad. I expect the OC hire to be done quickly, given the portal opening on 12/5, and the ESD. GO DUCKS!
- DucksReign
- Banned
Offline
- Registered: 12/29/2019
- Posts: 1,289
Re: coaching staff changes
It appeared to me at the time and understandably so as a first-time head coach, Lanning hired primarily "friends" he knew to be his assistant coaches.
I am hoping going forward there is a change in that approach because if you are only looking at the people you know then you may not see the best person for the job.
I have no idea if the football coaching world can be like many other jobs where senior emoloyees don't like working for some young hotshot young executive.
It will be tough for Lanning to find an OC younger than him with lots of experience but a 50-year old who has more coaching experiences than Lanning might be an excellent hire.
- oldretiredguy
- Moderator
Offline
- Registered: 12/29/2019
- Posts: 2,248
Re: coaching staff changes
It appeared to me at the time and understandably so as a first-time head coach, Lanning hired primarily "friends" he knew to be his assistant coaches.
I am hoping going forward there is a change in that approach because if you are only looking at the people you know then you may not see the best person for the job.
I have no idea if the football coaching world can be like many other jobs where senior emoloyees don't like working for some young hotshot young executive.
It will be tough for Lanning to find an OC younger than him with lots of experience but a 50-year old who has more coaching experiences than Lanning might be an excellent hire.
How about Dan Mullen? His name is circulation around the HDC.
Tweet