Hot Seat Coaches

[free7694]

I think Scott Downing needs to equal his career win total (6) at UNC this year to keep his job.

[bluehenbillk]

KC Keeler has to be on the hot seat if UD isn't in the playoffs. UD simply isn't a .500 program and they've been right around there too often lately. I agree with the previous comment though about UD's pathetic hoops coach not being shown the door and Keeler's contract may help our AD in learning to stay put

[ngineer]

Lehigh's Coen is on thin ice after 3 straight losing seasons (5-6, 5-6 and 4-7) despite going 4-2 in the PL last year and beating Laugheyette for the second year in a row. With 18 starters returning this year, 10 on the offensive side of the ball, expectations will be high. The schedule will not be easy with OCC games with Villanova, New Hampshire, Harvard, Princeton and starting the season on a long road trip to an improved Drake team. Anything less than 7-4 and a PL championship will be disappointin. Mountain Hawks should be considered 'underdogs' in only two games (Villanova and UNH). All the others are either toss-ups or favored, so a 9-2 season should be seen as realistic. Still, with Colgate, Holy Cross and Laugheyette not much different, a stumble against any one would not be out of the question. Finally, with Lehigh alum and new OC Cecchini in place, the heir apparent is in place if there is not a turnaround.

[BDKJMU]

No playoffs in 2010 will have the faithful screaming for KC Keeler's head after 6-6, 5-6, 4-8 & 6-5 four of the past five years, the losing-est season in 117 year team history and one playoff appearance in five years. But alas a contract that runs through 2017 means he's not going anywhere soon.

I assume that was signed after the 07' NC game appearance? What kind of idiot would sign a I-AA HC who won an NC with another coaches recruits (granted made an NC game with his own recruits) to a 10 year contract

I don't know of any other CAA coach in recent memory has gotten a 10 year contract. Laycock in 09' got a 4 yr. MM even after the 04'-08' run has never gotten more than a 5 yr. Talley got a 5 yr in 06'. I'm sure he's got a long extension, but I doubt a decade. I doubt McDonnell has one close to that long either. Why would Keeler have been given more than a 5 year contract? Just makes no sense. (I would say the same thing if Matthews was given more than a 5 year).

[tjbison]

Craig Bohl - NDSU is feeling the pressure

[g-webb1994]

I'm all for progress being made but even though I'm optimistic I'm also a realist. GWU lost to graduation the right side of their OL (RT 2nd Team All-Conf), starting QB (1st Team All Conf), starting inside LB (1st Team All-Conf) and 15 other seniors including several other starters. With OOC road games at Akron, Sam Houston State and ODU along with conference road games at CSU, Liberty and Stony Brook 2010 will be a challenge for a team with some key talent returning but also with some open holes that have to be plugged with players who have little game experience. So with that in mind, I don't see Coach Patton's job in jeopardy barring a total season melt down and the Runnin Dawgs could surprise. Team size, strength and depth is improving but inexperience must be overcome.

I've thought and heard rumblings that Patton would hang it up for the past three or four years, and it wouldn't shock me if he did at any point.

As for his seat being 'hot', not this year, if he pulls out a .500 record with the schedule we have and talent we have to replace, it will be one of his better coaching jobs while at G-W.

Then again, G-W just pulled the trigger by firing the inept clod we had for a mens hoops coach for 15 years, so maybe General Patton should be looking over his shoulder a bit? I don't think he is in any trouble whatsoever, but if G-W all of a sudden has developed an itchy trigger finger with coaches, who knows?

[T-Dog]

Here's something I wrote for the SoCon back in November but with some changes.

Hot Seat

Bobby Lamb - Furman: The hottest seat in the conference by far. After 8 years, he's been out of the playoffs four years now and has lost to App St every year (went 1-1 in 2005). App fans hope he stays forever. The usual patient Furman fans are getting tired of Lamb's inconsistencies. It mostly depends on what the new president wants though. 2010 could be Bobby's Waterloo as he's made personnel changes to gear up for the campaign.

Getting Hotter

Kevin Higgins - The Citadel: Under Higgins, The Citadel has shown flashes of greatness at times in Higgins four years in charge. However, inconsistent has been the only consistent. A bad loss to WCU one week, a big win over hated rivals Furman the next. The Citadel has never been one to fire coaches for a couple bad seasons, so for now Higgins is safe, but a couple more seasons at or below .500 could put him in front of the firing squad considering how promising things were. Implementation of the flexbone could help next year as the team loses stud WR Andre Johnson.

Cold Seat (for now)

Pat Sullivan - Samford: The former Heisman trophy winner is in his third year at the helm at the SoCon newbies. After putting together a respectable 6-5 record in 2008 and a decent 5-6 record 2009, Sullivan looks to be safe for the near future. Samford's an unknown when it comes to how their university works but what is known is Sullivan can rest easy for a while as Samford is really happy being in the SoCon.

Dennis Wagner - Western Carolina: WCU fans hate losing. However, it's been the one consistent for them in the last few years. Wagner brought optimism when he took over in 2008, but has had limited success, although a great showing vs hated rivals App St in the finale got fans hoping for the future. If it's the same-old after 2-3 more years, he'll be on the sun just like his predecesor.

Jeff Monken – Georgia Southern: This is familiar territory for Monken, who guided AP and the flexbone to the second golden age of Georgia Southern a decade ago. He's been hailed as a returning hero for bringing back the flexbone. With a popular President taking over, Monken has the tools for a third golden age. However, it's a double-edged sword with Eagles fans, who are impatient with losing. Also, this is Monken's first college head coaching job as he's always been at the side of The Big Sexy.

Sitting on a throne of ice

Russ Huesman - UTC: Huesman went from the top of the world in Richmond to the bottom of the barrel in UTC and so far, he's a resounding success. Got UTC's first winning season in a long time, he's has UTC on the path to SoCon glory in the near future. However, he will be the sought-after coach in the SoCon but thankfully for UTC, he's an alum and has said many times it's the only coaching job he ever wants. A season opening visit from 5-time defending conference champs App St has got UTC chomping at the bit.

Pete Lembo - Elon: What Huesman was in 2009, Lembo was in 2006. Taking a cellar-dwellar team and building them up. Despite falling short in the SoCon title race, Lembo took Elon to it's first ever NCAA playoffs. He's going to be sought-after as well, so it'll be interesting if he takes the quick road to bigger bucks or continues to build foundations at Elon after losing all-world WR Terrell Hudgins and his first recruiting class.

Mike Ayers - Wofford: Despite a bad 2009 riddled with injuries, Wofford fans are still believing in Ayers. He has two SoCon titles under his belt and three playoff appearances. And with that dang wishbone offense, Wofford is unlikely to stay below .500 once a healthy team returns next year.

Jerry Morre - App State: Three National Titles and five-straight SoCon titles in the last five years have secured Jerry's spot for as long as he wants to. The only question is how much longer will he want to?

[OL FU]

Here's something I wrote for the SoCon back in November but with some changes.

Hot Seat

Bobby Lamb - Furman: The hottest seat in the conference by far. After 8 years, he's been out of the playoffs four years now and has lost to App St every year (went 1-1 in 2005). App fans hope he stays forever. The usual patient Furman fans are getting tired of Lamb's inconsistencies. It mostly depends on what the new president wants though. 2010 could be Bobby's Waterloo as he's made personnel changes to gear up for the campaign.

Getting Hotter

Kevin Higgins - The Citadel: Under Higgins, The Citadel has shown flashes of greatness at times in Higgins four years in charge. However, inconsistent has been the only consistent. A bad loss to WCU one week, a big win over hated rivals Furman the next. The Citadel has never been one to fire coaches for a couple bad seasons, so for now Higgins is safe, but a couple more seasons at or below .500 could put him in front of the firing squad considering how promising things were. Implementation of the flexbone could help next year as the team loses stud WR Andre Johnson.

Cold Seat (for now)

Pat Sullivan - Samford: The former Heisman trophy winner is in his third year at the helm at the SoCon newbies. After putting together a respectable 6-5 record in 2008 and a decent 5-6 record 2009, Sullivan looks to be safe for the near future. Samford's an unknown when it comes to how their university works but what is known is Sullivan can rest easy for a while as Samford is really happy being in the SoCon.

Dennis Wagner - Western Carolina: WCU fans hate losing. However, it's been the one consistent for them in the last few years. Wagner brought optimism when he took over in 2008, but has had limited success, although a great showing vs hated rivals App St in the finale got fans hoping for the future. If it's the same-old after 2-3 more years, he'll be on the sun just like his predecesor.

Jeff Monken – Georgia Southern: This is familiar territory for Monken, who guided AP and the flexbone to the second golden age of Georgia Southern a decade ago. He's been hailed as a returning hero for bringing back the flexbone. With a popular President taking over, Monken has the tools for a third golden age. However, it's a double-edged sword with Eagles fans, who are impatient with losing. Also, this is Monken's first college head coaching job as he's always been at the side of The Big Sexy.

Sitting on a throne of ice

Russ Huesman - UTC: Huesman went from the top of the world in Richmond to the bottom of the barrel in UTC and so far, he's a resounding success. Got UTC's first winning season in a long time, he's has UTC on the path to SoCon glory in the near future. However, he will be the sought-after coach in the SoCon but thankfully for UTC, he's an alum and has said many times it's the only coaching job he ever wants. A season opening visit from 5-time defending conference champs App St has got UTC chomping at the bit.

Pete Lembo - Elon: What Huesman was in 2009, Lembo was in 2006. Taking a cellar-dwellar team and building them up. Despite falling short in the SoCon title race, Lembo took Elon to it's first ever NCAA playoffs. He's going to be sought-after as well, so it'll be interesting if he takes the quick road to bigger bucks or continues to build foundations at Elon after losing all-world WR Terrell Hudgins and his first recruiting class.

Mike Ayers - Wofford: Despite a bad 2009 riddled with injuries, Wofford fans are still believing in Ayers. He has two SoCon titles under his belt and three playoff appearances. And with that dang wishbone offense, Wofford is unlikely to stay below .500 once a healthy team returns next year.

Jerry Morre - App State: Three National Titles and five-straight SoCon titles in the last five years have secured Jerry's spot for as long as he wants to. The only question is how much longer will he want to?

I agree. with everything except we have been out of the playoffs three years not four. but who is counting

I just reread that an realized you may not have been talking about consecutive years, sorry.

[Stubbins]

Rob Ash if MSU misses the playoffs again

With some fans, yes. With the MSU Admin, no. As long as MSU is competitive within the conference, players are staying out of trouble and graduating, Ash will be here a long time. Besides, I think we make the playoffs this year so it's a moot point.

The Boobcats should make the playoffs this year...they seem to be loaded this year. If they can hold on to the games they should win, they'll get in.

[bluehenbillk]

I assume that was signed after the 07' NC game appearance? What kind of idiot would sign a I-AA HC who won an NC with another coaches recruits (granted made an NC game with his own recruits) to a 10 year contract

BDK-

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt & assume you got your info to make that statement from of the Tuby lovers on gohens.net. The truth is, yes there were a considerable number of Tubby's recruits on the '03 NC team. There were also a number of transfers, impact transfers on the team as well - Andy Hall, Shawn Johnson & David Boler being probably the 3 biggest. There were guys like Germaine Bennett that were "in the doghouse" that became star players. The bottom line is Tubby may have recruited many of those players, but couldn't even manage a winning record with them, much less win a NC.

Keeler has a lot of faults, I stated above that he deserves to be on the hot seat potentially with a poor 2010, but he also deserves the majority of the credit for 2003.

[JohnStOnge]

Wouldn't say "hot seat" at this point but I've got to figure McNeese's Matt Viator has got to feel the pressure to win a playoff game. His teams have been very competetive in the regular season but have laid total eggs in the playoffs. Viator as head coach has yet to lose a regular season game against a non conference FCS opponent. During regular seasons he has wins on the road against a very good Appalahcian State team in 2009 and a solid South Dakota State team in 2008 (counting transitional South Dakota State as FCS).

But in the playoffs Viator is 0-3 and has come no closer 25 points in any game. The really frustrating part is that I don't think any of those teams that thrashed McNeese in the playoffs were better than the Appalachian State team McNeese nipped on the road during the 2009 regular season. If you look at how McNeese under Viator has done iduring the regular season against non conference FCS opponents as well as FBS opponents, what has happened to his teams in the playoffs makes no sense. Very frustrating for fans and, I'm sure, very frustrating for Viator.

[BDKJMU]

I assume that was signed after the 07' NC game appearance? What kind of idiot would sign a I-AA HC who won an NC with another coaches recruits (granted made an NC game with his own recruits) to a 10 year contract

BDK-

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt & assume you got your info to make that statement from of the Tuby lovers on gohens.net. The truth is, yes there were a considerable number of Tubby's recruits on the '03 NC team. There were also a number of transfers, impact transfers on the team as well - Andy Hall, Shawn Johnson & David Boler being probably the 3 biggest. There were guys like Germaine Bennett that were "in the doghouse" that became star players. The bottom line is Tubby may have recruited many of those players, but couldn't even manage a winning record with them, much less win a NC.

Keeler has a lot of faults, I stated above that he deserves to be on the hot seat potentially with a poor 2010, but he also deserves the majority of the credit for 2003.

But I was mainly questioning why in the world would ANY I-AA coach short of Jerry Moore get a 10 year extension. I gave examples of CAA coaches who've either won an NC or had great success: Matthews, Talley, Laycock, McDonnell, and none of them as I'm aware have gotten anything close to a 10 yr contract. (As far as I could find, none of them had longer than a 5 year).

So you're defending Keeler being given a 10 year contract? How do you put a coach who's got 7 years left on his contract on the hot seat? Even if UD didn't make the playoffs, or the next year, or the next, it sounds like UD couldn't fire him without having to make a 7 figure buyout.

[Silenoz]

With some fans, yes. With the MSU Admin, no. As long as MSU is competitive within the conference, players are staying out of trouble and graduating, Ash will be here a long time. Besides, I think we make the playoffs this year so it's a moot point.

The Boobcats should make the playoffs this year...they seem to be loaded this year. If they can hold on to the games they should win, they'll get in.

I said that last year too

[bluehenbillk]

So you're defending Keeler being given a 10 year contract? How do you put a coach who's got 7 years left on his contract on the hot seat? Even if UD didn't make the playoffs, or the next year, or the next, it sounds like UD couldn't fire him without having to make a 7 figure buyout.

Nope, never defended the length of his contract. He deserved an extension & the main reason he got one was to adjust his pay which I'm fine with. I didn't like the length of either Keeler or Ross' (hoops coach) extensions though. No one is sure of the contract language but common sense would hopefully prevail that there would be a buyout clause. Other than having the contract it's all specualtion though.

[The Cats]

Hot Seat: Coach Monken, GSU.

Can you imagine the pressure of being the coach that brings back the triple option to GSU? What if he doesn't make the playoffs in his first season? the GSU faithful are not forgiving - ask Sewak, BVG, or Hatcher.