So we published a new hot board today. It’s our third version. There are only seven names on it. That’s how it should go. The list should shrink. That said, look, I know exactly what the reaction is going to be…and it’s not going to be super positive.
Let’s talk about the new name first. When I first had someone mention Jay Norvell to me I thought maybe they mentioned the wrong Norvell. It happens. If Missouri hires Jeff Monken, I’m probably going to call him Todd Monken at least 50% of the time (which is nicer than what most of you will probably call him). So I checked and said “Jay Norvell?” Indeed.
I honestly didn’t know where he was coaching at. For those of you who also don’t, he’s at Nevada. He’s a game under .500 in three years. I know what the initial reaction is going to be because it was my initial reaction as well. But I started asking around about Norvell and got some very positive feedback:
“He is one of the most impressive I’ve ever been around in terms of organization, ideology, logic, being a good person, etc”
“As far as the splash factor, fans would not love it, but he has a strong resume”
“Great guy. Really liked him. Always thought he was a good coach. Left here on good terms.”
“Seems like a big jump, but he’s very connected and well-liked.”
“Great dude. High Energy Guy.”
Will work “if he has the right coordinators.”
He’s coached everywhere. He’s got recruiting ties everywhere. He’s experienced in just about every aspect of a program. I know you guys are going to be mad this was the mystery name I was trying to vet last night, but I really think it’s worth a look. If I’m looking at the seven names here, Norvell is definitely in the top three.
As for the rest, nothing really new here. Some people still insist Jim McElwain is the leader, although again, we got information to the contrary on that Wednesday morning. Blake Anderson is going somewhere this offseason, the only question is if it is Missouri. As we posted last night, Boston College is expressing interest in Jeff Monken.
*I talked to a source who's been involved on the hiring side of this stuff yesterday who brought up some interesting points. He told me “the bench has never been this shallow” as far as coaching candidates. The reason is simple: Guys aren’t jumping just to jump and get in a Power Five job these days. And the explanation is pretty simple too: They don’t have to jump until they find exactly the right situation.
A big part of this is the patience or lack thereof of the big schools. Coaches hate getting fired. They live in fear of it. I talked to multiple people in the business yesterday who said some version of the same thing: “A coach’s biggest fear is someone telling him he isn’t good enough and getting fired.” It’s an ego thing largely. So anyway, schools are firing guys faster than ever now. Willie Taggart and Chad Morris didn’t get two years. Barry Odom got bowl eligible in three of four and got fired at his alma mater. Coaches notice that. I know you guys think they don't, but they do.
So if you’re Bryan Harsin making 1.5 million at Boise, you’re probably doing all right (especially because I don’t know what coaches spend their money on. They all get free clothes, free cars, free country club memberships; other than a mortgage and groceries and such, I’m not sure what they have to actually buy). So you could make 1.5 at Boise and wait for the perfect situation where you can walk in and win right away. Or you can take the payday, jump at the 4 million a year and 20 million guaranteed and get fired three years later. Yeah, you’re walking away with 20 million, but you got fired and who knows if you’ll ever get another shot at that level? I know you guys tend to think “Back up the Brinks truck” and “If we just pay him enough he’ll take the job,” but these guys aren’t wired that way. Matt Campbell is another example. He’s making good money in Ames. I’m sure he’s been offered more at “better” programs. But he can go 8-4 every single year and never feel a bit of heat and be the king at Iowa State. And he can do that forever until Ohio State or Notre Dame or the absolute perfect job comes open. He doesn’t have to go to Arkansas and take over a tire fire and worry about getting fired when he doesn’t have it rolling in four years.
All that is a very long winded way of explaining why some of the coaching lists might be a bit underwhelming (although I would remind you at this point, Missouri hasn't made a hire and our list may not be accurate, so it's not fair to call the pool as a whole underwhelming until we see who takes these jobs). Guys aren’t jumping like they used to jump. And there aren’t a ton of guys ready move for mid-tier Power Five jobs.
*One note I’ve picked up: I thought Missouri would make a clean break staff-wise. And they still might. It could depend on the coach, but I know there is hope that a spot can be found on the new staff for Andy Hill and Brick Haley. I don’t know that it’s a mandate or anything, but it is something someone told me has been broached. Perhaps that’s only for certain coaches, I’m not sure. Hill and Haley have still been going out on the road recruiting this week for sure. Not sure how many of the other coaches have been.
*I’m now confident this is going into the weekend and we aren’t looking at a press conference before Sunday at the earliest and more likely probably early next week. It’s going to be done some time next week. It absolutely has to be. Missouri is going to try to bring as many kids on campus as it can. The focus of that will be the committed players, whether they have official visits remaining or they are unofficial trips. But there will be an effort to get every one of them on campus in front of the new coach prior to the early signing period. So my guess is we are four to six days away from an announcement. We're about to find out which of you all can handle that.
Let’s talk about the new name first. When I first had someone mention Jay Norvell to me I thought maybe they mentioned the wrong Norvell. It happens. If Missouri hires Jeff Monken, I’m probably going to call him Todd Monken at least 50% of the time (which is nicer than what most of you will probably call him). So I checked and said “Jay Norvell?” Indeed.
I honestly didn’t know where he was coaching at. For those of you who also don’t, he’s at Nevada. He’s a game under .500 in three years. I know what the initial reaction is going to be because it was my initial reaction as well. But I started asking around about Norvell and got some very positive feedback:
“He is one of the most impressive I’ve ever been around in terms of organization, ideology, logic, being a good person, etc”
“As far as the splash factor, fans would not love it, but he has a strong resume”
“Great guy. Really liked him. Always thought he was a good coach. Left here on good terms.”
“Seems like a big jump, but he’s very connected and well-liked.”
“Great dude. High Energy Guy.”
Will work “if he has the right coordinators.”
He’s coached everywhere. He’s got recruiting ties everywhere. He’s experienced in just about every aspect of a program. I know you guys are going to be mad this was the mystery name I was trying to vet last night, but I really think it’s worth a look. If I’m looking at the seven names here, Norvell is definitely in the top three.
As for the rest, nothing really new here. Some people still insist Jim McElwain is the leader, although again, we got information to the contrary on that Wednesday morning. Blake Anderson is going somewhere this offseason, the only question is if it is Missouri. As we posted last night, Boston College is expressing interest in Jeff Monken.
*I talked to a source who's been involved on the hiring side of this stuff yesterday who brought up some interesting points. He told me “the bench has never been this shallow” as far as coaching candidates. The reason is simple: Guys aren’t jumping just to jump and get in a Power Five job these days. And the explanation is pretty simple too: They don’t have to jump until they find exactly the right situation.
A big part of this is the patience or lack thereof of the big schools. Coaches hate getting fired. They live in fear of it. I talked to multiple people in the business yesterday who said some version of the same thing: “A coach’s biggest fear is someone telling him he isn’t good enough and getting fired.” It’s an ego thing largely. So anyway, schools are firing guys faster than ever now. Willie Taggart and Chad Morris didn’t get two years. Barry Odom got bowl eligible in three of four and got fired at his alma mater. Coaches notice that. I know you guys think they don't, but they do.
So if you’re Bryan Harsin making 1.5 million at Boise, you’re probably doing all right (especially because I don’t know what coaches spend their money on. They all get free clothes, free cars, free country club memberships; other than a mortgage and groceries and such, I’m not sure what they have to actually buy). So you could make 1.5 at Boise and wait for the perfect situation where you can walk in and win right away. Or you can take the payday, jump at the 4 million a year and 20 million guaranteed and get fired three years later. Yeah, you’re walking away with 20 million, but you got fired and who knows if you’ll ever get another shot at that level? I know you guys tend to think “Back up the Brinks truck” and “If we just pay him enough he’ll take the job,” but these guys aren’t wired that way. Matt Campbell is another example. He’s making good money in Ames. I’m sure he’s been offered more at “better” programs. But he can go 8-4 every single year and never feel a bit of heat and be the king at Iowa State. And he can do that forever until Ohio State or Notre Dame or the absolute perfect job comes open. He doesn’t have to go to Arkansas and take over a tire fire and worry about getting fired when he doesn’t have it rolling in four years.
All that is a very long winded way of explaining why some of the coaching lists might be a bit underwhelming (although I would remind you at this point, Missouri hasn't made a hire and our list may not be accurate, so it's not fair to call the pool as a whole underwhelming until we see who takes these jobs). Guys aren’t jumping like they used to jump. And there aren’t a ton of guys ready move for mid-tier Power Five jobs.
*One note I’ve picked up: I thought Missouri would make a clean break staff-wise. And they still might. It could depend on the coach, but I know there is hope that a spot can be found on the new staff for Andy Hill and Brick Haley. I don’t know that it’s a mandate or anything, but it is something someone told me has been broached. Perhaps that’s only for certain coaches, I’m not sure. Hill and Haley have still been going out on the road recruiting this week for sure. Not sure how many of the other coaches have been.
*I’m now confident this is going into the weekend and we aren’t looking at a press conference before Sunday at the earliest and more likely probably early next week. It’s going to be done some time next week. It absolutely has to be. Missouri is going to try to bring as many kids on campus as it can. The focus of that will be the committed players, whether they have official visits remaining or they are unofficial trips. But there will be an effort to get every one of them on campus in front of the new coach prior to the early signing period. So my guess is we are four to six days away from an announcement. We're about to find out which of you all can handle that.
