[martyup]

An out of the box (out of the park) wish list candidate for me...NY Giants OC, Mike Kafka. Northwestern grad, played and coached at Kansas City in the NFL, and had moved up to OC.

Like him because he went to my Chicago High School (the Pope taught there too) and saw him play as a high schooler.

might be worth it, for the puns if nothing else.

I feel like the last several years of Stanford football have been Kafkaesque.

[martyup]

An out of the box (out of the park) wish list candidate for me...NY Giants OC, Mike Kafka. Northwestern grad, played and coached at Kansas City in the NFL, and had moved up to OC.

Like him because he went to my Chicago High School (the Pope taught there too) and saw him play as a high schooler.

might be worth it, for the puns if nothing else.

I feel like the last several years of Stanford football have been Kafkaesque.

[jacket3ree]

Yeah, the headlines write themselves. Certainly could use a metamorphosis.

I suppose the next step is to crosscheck Matt's wish list with people Luck knows. It feels like Luck will turn to someone he's worked with before. To be honest, Kafka doesn't excite me because I just sort of watched the Giants while contemplating everything I needed to get done around the house and their performance against a decimated Niner defense didn't exactly scream "hire me." Again, he might be an available coach soon. Hope that's not the only place we are shopping. In the available bin.

Luck really needed to get rid of Taylor, but there was no leg up on the coaching search unless Luck runs the tightest, leak free ship conceivable.

[jacket3ree]

Yeah, the headlines write themselves. Certainly could use a metamorphosis.

I suppose the next step is to crosscheck Matt's wish list with people Luck knows. It feels like Luck will turn to someone he's worked with before. To be honest, Kafka doesn't excite me because I just sort of watched the Giants while contemplating everything I needed to get done around the house and their performance against a decimated Niner defense didn't exactly scream "hire me." Again, he might be an available coach soon. Hope that's not the only place we are shopping. In the available bin.

Luck really needed to get rid of Taylor, but there was no leg up on the coaching search unless Luck runs the tightest, leak free ship conceivable.

[Maple Leaf]

Here at two articles which discuss the hiring of head football coaches, both articles focus on hiring head coaches at lower division schools.  The articles could require subscription.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6784645...-carousel/

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6758018...-cignetti/

On a side note I would not be surprised if Luck has been seeking out guidance from John Lynch both for possible head coaching candidates and how to function as a GM.

[Maple Leaf]

Here at two articles which discuss the hiring of head football coaches, both articles focus on hiring head coaches at lower division schools.  The articles could require subscription.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6784645...-carousel/

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6758018...-cignetti/

On a side note I would not be surprised if Luck has been seeking out guidance from John Lynch both for possible head coaching candidates and how to function as a GM.

[PVTree]

Hey, the Giants read my recommendation and named Kafka their interim coach, hoping to keep him in New York. 8^)

[PVTree]

Hey, the Giants read my recommendation and named Kafka their interim coach, hoping to keep him in New York. 8^)

[SkiBum80]

Hey, the Giants read my recommendation and named Kafka their interim coach, hoping to keep him in New York. 8^)

But it frees up Brian Daboll to add to the prospectives list.
Maybe he could be lured with some extra benefits of complimentary anger management classes and unlimited free passes into the injury tent.

[SkiBum80]

Hey, the Giants read my recommendation and named Kafka their interim coach, hoping to keep him in New York. 8^)

But it frees up Brian Daboll to add to the prospectives list.
Maybe he could be lured with some extra benefits of complimentary anger management classes and unlimited free passes into the injury tent.

[old spanish trail]

Hey, the Giants read my recommendation and named Kafka their interim coach, hoping to keep him in New York. 8^)

But it frees up Brian Daboll to add to the prospectives list.
Maybe he could be lured with some extra benefits of complimentary anger management classes and unlimited free passes into the injury tent.

LOL "free passes into the injury tent."

[old spanish trail]

Hey, the Giants read my recommendation and named Kafka their interim coach, hoping to keep him in New York. 8^)

But it frees up Brian Daboll to add to the prospectives list.
Maybe he could be lured with some extra benefits of complimentary anger management classes and unlimited free passes into the injury tent.

LOL "free passes into the injury tent."

[Mick]

31) Jake Dickert (Wake Forest): The former Washington State coach already having the Demon Deacons with more wins this year than either of the last two has my attention. Three-year inherited median of #87 and now in the first year is #66. Not world-beating, but I don’t think Wazzu or Wake in recent years are the easiest places and he’s managed a winning record.

Dickert was the defensive coordinator at Washington State in COVID working for Rolovich who takes over after Leach goes 11-2 and 6-7 in his last two seasons. Five coaches refused to get vaccinated, so Dickert is elevated to temporary, interim head coach, goes 3-2 regular season including a 40-13 win over Washington in the Apple Cup. Pac-12 falls apart, now he's independent and goes 8-5 his last season at WSU, and goes to three bowl games in four years. His successor at WSU is 5-5 and likely to finish either 5-7 or 6-6.

Dickert then joins Wake Forest after WF has consecutive 4-8 seasons and loses at least 22 players through the portal (two withdrew their decision to transfer, resolution of the other 12 are unknown). 32 players transferred to WF (almost exclusively from G5 and FCS schools), and in what I consider to be a terrific sign, nine of them came from WSU, four of them start, two others are in the two-deep. Wake Forest is currently 7-3, #52 RPI (Matt might have a different RPI rank). They lost to#16 Ga. Tech by one point in OT and have won five of their last six. They have Delaware and Duke remaining.

FWLIW, my four AI models averaged Dickert as the #9 most attractive HC candidate. He rates as midlevel expensive, strong on potential Luck relationship, low on buyout challenge, strong on admissions, moderate on transfer portal chops. AI quote is: "Quiet overachiever who stabilizes tough jobs and would accept a collaborative structure." Two big questions: can he recruit and does he "get" Stanford? Two big ifs...

[Mick]

31) Jake Dickert (Wake Forest): The former Washington State coach already having the Demon Deacons with more wins this year than either of the last two has my attention. Three-year inherited median of #87 and now in the first year is #66. Not world-beating, but I don’t think Wazzu or Wake in recent years are the easiest places and he’s managed a winning record.

Dickert was the defensive coordinator at Washington State in COVID working for Rolovich who takes over after Leach goes 11-2 and 6-7 in his last two seasons. Five coaches refused to get vaccinated, so Dickert is elevated to temporary, interim head coach, goes 3-2 regular season including a 40-13 win over Washington in the Apple Cup. Pac-12 falls apart, now he's independent and goes 8-5 his last season at WSU, and goes to three bowl games in four years. His successor at WSU is 5-5 and likely to finish either 5-7 or 6-6.

Dickert then joins Wake Forest after WF has consecutive 4-8 seasons and loses at least 22 players through the portal (two withdrew their decision to transfer, resolution of the other 12 are unknown). 32 players transferred to WF (almost exclusively from G5 and FCS schools), and in what I consider to be a terrific sign, nine of them came from WSU, four of them start, two others are in the two-deep. Wake Forest is currently 7-3, #52 RPI (Matt might have a different RPI rank). They lost to#16 Ga. Tech by one point in OT and have won five of their last six. They have Delaware and Duke remaining.

FWLIW, my four AI models averaged Dickert as the #9 most attractive HC candidate. He rates as midlevel expensive, strong on potential Luck relationship, low on buyout challenge, strong on admissions, moderate on transfer portal chops. AI quote is: "Quiet overachiever who stabilizes tough jobs and would accept a collaborative structure." Two big questions: can he recruit and does he "get" Stanford? Two big ifs...

[martyup]

Rolovich is a weenie assistant coach now.

[martyup]

Rolovich is a weenie assistant coach now.

[jacket3ree]

I'd take Dickert. He's done a great job at Wake. Not sure we are much of an upgrade unless we overpay a bit, probably.

[jacket3ree]

I'd take Dickert. He's done a great job at Wake. Not sure we are much of an upgrade unless we overpay a bit, probably.

[Mick]

I'd take Dickert. He's done a great job at Wake. Not sure we are much of an upgrade unless we overpay a bit, probably.

Dickert was making $2.55 mms. with up to $550k in bonuses at WSU. Dickert's contract extension took him through 2027, so it's likely Wake Forest paid the buyout. Indications are that Dickert's base is $4.8 million and additional income of $1.5 million taking him to between $6 mms. and $6.5 mms. 

Bill Belichick doesn't appear to like him very much, at least in the wake of UNC's lost to WF...Jake even took off his hat to greet Coach Belichick after the game...
Bill Belichick brushes past Wake Forest coach with frosty handshake after UNC loss

BB said he congratulated Dickert ... in one word:
Bill Belichick reveals what he told Wake Forest coach during icy postgame handshake

[Mick]

I'd take Dickert. He's done a great job at Wake. Not sure we are much of an upgrade unless we overpay a bit, probably.

Dickert was making $2.55 mms. with up to $550k in bonuses at WSU. Dickert's contract extension took him through 2027, so it's likely Wake Forest paid the buyout. Indications are that Dickert's base is $4.8 million and additional income of $1.5 million taking him to between $6 mms. and $6.5 mms. 

Bill Belichick doesn't appear to like him very much, at least in the wake of UNC's lost to WF...Jake even took off his hat to greet Coach Belichick after the game...
Bill Belichick brushes past Wake Forest coach with frosty handshake after UNC loss

BB said he congratulated Dickert ... in one word:
Bill Belichick reveals what he told Wake Forest coach during icy postgame handshake

[Chupacabra]

The guy I want and have always wanted is Jim Leonhard. Seems like an obvious coaching superstar in the making.

[Chupacabra]

The guy I want and have always wanted is Jim Leonhard. Seems like an obvious coaching superstar in the making.

[fullmetal]

Randomly: why not Cignetti from Indiana?

[fullmetal]

Randomly: why not Cignetti from Indiana?

[yvonne]

Randomly: why not Cignetti from Indiana?

I don't know how things work in this new world, but the buyout is steep. https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...ers-coach/

[yvonne]

Randomly: why not Cignetti from Indiana?

I don't know how things work in this new world, but the buyout is steep. https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...ers-coach/

[old spanish trail]

Randomly: why not Cignetti from Indiana?

I don't know how things work in this new world, but the buyout is steep. https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...ers-coach/

Who took over at James Madison?

[old spanish trail]

Randomly: why not Cignetti from Indiana?

I don't know how things work in this new world, but the buyout is steep. https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...ers-coach/

Who took over at James Madison?

[Giants]

Randomly: why not Cignetti from Indiana?

I don't know how things work in this new world, but the buyout is steep. https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...ers-coach/

Who took over at James Madison?

Bob Chesney.  He is a candidate to take over at Penn State.

[Giants]

Randomly: why not Cignetti from Indiana?

I don't know how things work in this new world, but the buyout is steep. https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...ers-coach/

Who took over at James Madison?

Bob Chesney.  He is a candidate to take over at Penn State.

[skip75]

I heard Dan Patrick & RG3 on the radio this morning speculating that Andrew Luck could become the head coach.  Felt to me a bit like "hot take" conjecture, but I suppose it could make some sense.  Maybe AL was interested in coaching all along, but felt like he needed a year with Frank Reich as his mentor.  It would seem to blow up the new structure with a GM, but I suppose this season could have been the break-in period with AL mentoring Sam Fisher for that role.  Also, if that was the plan all along, it probably would have made more sense for recruiting, etc. to just be up front about it from the beginning.

My best guess is that, just like the Frank Reich hire was not on anyone's radar, AL just might have something up his sleeve again that none of us foresee.  Although with all the analysis that Matt puts into it, maybe it's unlikely to come up with any scenario that he hasn't anticipated.

[skip75]

I heard Dan Patrick & RG3 on the radio this morning speculating that Andrew Luck could become the head coach.  Felt to me a bit like "hot take" conjecture, but I suppose it could make some sense.  Maybe AL was interested in coaching all along, but felt like he needed a year with Frank Reich as his mentor.  It would seem to blow up the new structure with a GM, but I suppose this season could have been the break-in period with AL mentoring Sam Fisher for that role.  Also, if that was the plan all along, it probably would have made more sense for recruiting, etc. to just be up front about it from the beginning.

My best guess is that, just like the Frank Reich hire was not on anyone's radar, AL just might have something up his sleeve again that none of us foresee.  Although with all the analysis that Matt puts into it, maybe it's unlikely to come up with any scenario that he hasn't anticipated.

[fullmetal]

For some reason, I see Andrew Luck better suited for the GM role even though I suspect he has the communication/knowledge chops to be a great coach.  In this day and age, maybe the GM takes on a lot more of the outward-facing roles previously assumed by the head coach: maybe the booster glad-handling, the administrative stuff with the AD, ResEd dining training table stuff, etc etc.  Luck has the name, the face, and the enthusiasm to represent the program in ways that aren't central to football, and the head coach's job is to make the football team run.  I can imagine a head coach candidate looking at that setup and thinking "it'd be great to not have to play politics and just coach."  Luck could do that for the coach.

[fullmetal]

For some reason, I see Andrew Luck better suited for the GM role even though I suspect he has the communication/knowledge chops to be a great coach.  In this day and age, maybe the GM takes on a lot more of the outward-facing roles previously assumed by the head coach: maybe the booster glad-handling, the administrative stuff with the AD, ResEd dining training table stuff, etc etc.  Luck has the name, the face, and the enthusiasm to represent the program in ways that aren't central to football, and the head coach's job is to make the football team run.  I can imagine a head coach candidate looking at that setup and thinking "it'd be great to not have to play politics and just coach."  Luck could do that for the coach.

[ADPinWDC]

Amazing weather.  Motivated, intelligent student-athletes.  Being surrounded by high-performing coaches in other sports.  Alumni networking.  Silicon Valley networking.  Maybe enough connections to get your kids in...if they're good enough.  Renewed institutional commitment.

Great springboard. Coaches who succeed at Stanford succeed anywhere. Career accelerator.

No downside. If you fail, no one can win at Stanford. If you win, you've bucked the odds.

New administration looooves football, or so they say.

Resources. Lots of them. It's a rich place, and they're committed to winning.

Institutional values.

Best brand on the planet. Connections that no other university can replicate. Institutional credibility in every room.

Talent magnet (players, coaches, staff). Recruiting differentiator. Motivated, coachable athletes. National recruiting footprint. Transfer appeal. Easy to recruit coaches and staff. On-campus hosuing perks.

Innovation runway. Player development edge. NFL playbook and credibility. Data and sports science. Top of class sports medicine. Holistic development. Life after football pipeline...yes, the 40 year decision. Leadership incubator. 

Excellent facilities and resources. Great tech stack. Superb storytelling environment.

Identity and scheme advantages. Distinctive philosophy. Pro-style with modern flair. High-intellect, cerebral players, especially if you run a "smart" complex system.

NIL the Stanford Way. Premium values. Alumni donors. Corporate ecosystem. $1.3 billion athletic capital campaign (2021-2028). New football ops building, NFL grade weight room, VR film theater.

Reasonable media expectations.

Nowhere to go but up.

Track record of success not too long ago.

Even if your kids don't get into Stanford, great benefits. SF Bay Area best place in world to live. Not just great weather, but quality of life. Safety, schools, healtthcare, culture, nature. Easy travel and access to transportation. Incredibly beautiful campus. Spousal career network.

Autonomy. Low booster interference. Great academic/athletic partnership.

Long-term stability.

A GM and AD who really, really want to win. High patience, real runway.

High caliber coaching peers.

Winning overall athletic tradition.

Nationwide exposure.

Silicon Valley networking. The Stanford Network is your secret superpower. Alumni in every industry.

Bottom line: Stanford isn’t Alabama, but it’s the only place where a coach can win 10 games, graduate 100 % of his players, and still get invited to moderate Davos panels. The job sells itself to the right ambitious, cerebral winner.

Agree with all this.   Troy Walters cannot be having fun at Bengals (WR coach), and not making a fat salary.  
I like what he did at UCF as OffCo.   
He knows Stanford.  8 seasons in NFL after winning Biletnikoff award under Willingham in 1999.   Get him.  
Scott Frost took him from UCF to Nebraska.

[ADPinWDC]

Amazing weather.  Motivated, intelligent student-athletes.  Being surrounded by high-performing coaches in other sports.  Alumni networking.  Silicon Valley networking.  Maybe enough connections to get your kids in...if they're good enough.  Renewed institutional commitment.

Great springboard. Coaches who succeed at Stanford succeed anywhere. Career accelerator.

No downside. If you fail, no one can win at Stanford. If you win, you've bucked the odds.

New administration looooves football, or so they say.

Resources. Lots of them. It's a rich place, and they're committed to winning.

Institutional values.

Best brand on the planet. Connections that no other university can replicate. Institutional credibility in every room.

Talent magnet (players, coaches, staff). Recruiting differentiator. Motivated, coachable athletes. National recruiting footprint. Transfer appeal. Easy to recruit coaches and staff. On-campus hosuing perks.

Innovation runway. Player development edge. NFL playbook and credibility. Data and sports science. Top of class sports medicine. Holistic development. Life after football pipeline...yes, the 40 year decision. Leadership incubator. 

Excellent facilities and resources. Great tech stack. Superb storytelling environment.

Identity and scheme advantages. Distinctive philosophy. Pro-style with modern flair. High-intellect, cerebral players, especially if you run a "smart" complex system.

NIL the Stanford Way. Premium values. Alumni donors. Corporate ecosystem. $1.3 billion athletic capital campaign (2021-2028). New football ops building, NFL grade weight room, VR film theater.

Reasonable media expectations.

Nowhere to go but up.

Track record of success not too long ago.

Even if your kids don't get into Stanford, great benefits. SF Bay Area best place in world to live. Not just great weather, but quality of life. Safety, schools, healtthcare, culture, nature. Easy travel and access to transportation. Incredibly beautiful campus. Spousal career network.

Autonomy. Low booster interference. Great academic/athletic partnership.

Long-term stability.

A GM and AD who really, really want to win. High patience, real runway.

High caliber coaching peers.

Winning overall athletic tradition.

Nationwide exposure.

Silicon Valley networking. The Stanford Network is your secret superpower. Alumni in every industry.

Bottom line: Stanford isn’t Alabama, but it’s the only place where a coach can win 10 games, graduate 100 % of his players, and still get invited to moderate Davos panels. The job sells itself to the right ambitious, cerebral winner.

Agree with all this.   Troy Walters cannot be having fun at Bengals (WR coach), and not making a fat salary.  
I like what he did at UCF as OffCo.   
He knows Stanford.  8 seasons in NFL after winning Biletnikoff award under Willingham in 1999.   Get him.  
Scott Frost took him from UCF to Nebraska.

[Maple Leaf]

For some reason, I see Andrew Luck better suited for the GM role even though I suspect he has the communication/knowledge chops to be a great coach.  In this day and age, maybe the GM takes on a lot more of the outward-facing roles previously assumed by the head coach: maybe the booster glad-handling, the administrative stuff with the AD, ResEd dining training table stuff, etc etc.  Luck has the name, the face, and the enthusiasm to represent the program in ways that aren't central to football, and the head coach's job is to make the football team run.  I can imagine a head coach candidate looking at that setup and thinking "it'd be great to not have to play politics and just coach."  Luck could do that for the coach.

Totally agree.  Plus being the Football GM puts him on the same level as the AD in terms of being heard by the Administration, and provides the athletic department the flexibility of allowing Luck to assist other teams/programs.

[Maple Leaf]

For some reason, I see Andrew Luck better suited for the GM role even though I suspect he has the communication/knowledge chops to be a great coach.  In this day and age, maybe the GM takes on a lot more of the outward-facing roles previously assumed by the head coach: maybe the booster glad-handling, the administrative stuff with the AD, ResEd dining training table stuff, etc etc.  Luck has the name, the face, and the enthusiasm to represent the program in ways that aren't central to football, and the head coach's job is to make the football team run.  I can imagine a head coach candidate looking at that setup and thinking "it'd be great to not have to play politics and just coach."  Luck could do that for the coach.

Totally agree.  Plus being the Football GM puts him on the same level as the AD in terms of being heard by the Administration, and provides the athletic department the flexibility of allowing Luck to assist other teams/programs.

[mutoo1]

chip kelly is available.

but it won't be that former bruin coach.

[mutoo1]

chip kelly is available.

but it won't be that former bruin coach.