There has been some angst and confusion about how Strong is going about picking his staff. For clarification, I thought I would post a primer on the do's and don'ts of picking a staff.....
1. Pick names that the fans recognize so they feel comfortable, and feel you've made a 'splash'.
2. Google the names. Suggested first starts are wikipedia and yahoo sports. Look up the stats to see yardage allowed or gained, points allowed or scored, etc., based on if it is an offensive or defensive coach.
3. Bonus points if you find a youtube clip of the coach giving a passionate speech, throwing a headset in anger, etc. Fans love it and it's a sure indicator of how good a coach he is. If on any clip, he is shown clapping his hands, dismiss the candidate outright.
4. Count how many Rivals 4* and 5* players at his postion. This is the indicator if he can recruit or not.
5. Any player from his position who goes pro is gives direct proof he can develop players. Again, this is simply google work from the confines of your own home computer. You needn't take a step out of the basement (unless your mom needs you to take out the trash)
6. Do this in a timely manner. The fan base (entirely made up of a few hundred posters on a free internet chat room board) needs these things done quickly.
7. Turn on ESPN Classic and see if you can catch a few edited games of the team he's with now.
8. Transparency. The above said fan base needs to know exactly what you did, when you did it, who you considered, who you didn't consider and why you picked who you did. This is crucial. The internet chat boards are entitled to this information. You do not want to risk losing the $826.72 sum total of donations of these folks.
9. Go to the chat boards of the schools the coach is currently employed. These "think tanks" are chock full of analysis and the pros and cons of any coach. These people have the pulse of the team, oft time gleaned from what insiders have told somebody.
This is entirely the only things you need to decide if you have a quality coach, and if the internet gang will be pleased with your choice.
WHAT NOT TO DO - UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES
1. Pick the phone up and actually talk to the guy. It's not important to hear him speak. (unless it's the aforementioned youtube clip)
2. Do not examine and game film of the coach. Any youtube clips or re runs of games on ESPN are enough.
3. Do not interview him. It's not important to hear exactly what his offensive or defensive philosophy is. "He runs the spread" or "He's a 3-4 guy" is all you need to know.
4. Do not call other coaches or players and ask their opinion. As stated above, yahoo sports writers and the other school's chat boards have all the correct information you need.
5. Do not discuss his thoughts on teaching the position he'll coach. As stated, if he has a guy in the pros, that's all you need to know that he can develop players. No NFL players, he stinks.
I hope this helps, and I hope no one here has wasted their time actually doing the "what not to do" list.
Hook 'em!
1. Pick names that the fans recognize so they feel comfortable, and feel you've made a 'splash'.
2. Google the names. Suggested first starts are wikipedia and yahoo sports. Look up the stats to see yardage allowed or gained, points allowed or scored, etc., based on if it is an offensive or defensive coach.
3. Bonus points if you find a youtube clip of the coach giving a passionate speech, throwing a headset in anger, etc. Fans love it and it's a sure indicator of how good a coach he is. If on any clip, he is shown clapping his hands, dismiss the candidate outright.
4. Count how many Rivals 4* and 5* players at his postion. This is the indicator if he can recruit or not.
5. Any player from his position who goes pro is gives direct proof he can develop players. Again, this is simply google work from the confines of your own home computer. You needn't take a step out of the basement (unless your mom needs you to take out the trash)
6. Do this in a timely manner. The fan base (entirely made up of a few hundred posters on a free internet chat room board) needs these things done quickly.
7. Turn on ESPN Classic and see if you can catch a few edited games of the team he's with now.
8. Transparency. The above said fan base needs to know exactly what you did, when you did it, who you considered, who you didn't consider and why you picked who you did. This is crucial. The internet chat boards are entitled to this information. You do not want to risk losing the $826.72 sum total of donations of these folks.
9. Go to the chat boards of the schools the coach is currently employed. These "think tanks" are chock full of analysis and the pros and cons of any coach. These people have the pulse of the team, oft time gleaned from what insiders have told somebody.
This is entirely the only things you need to decide if you have a quality coach, and if the internet gang will be pleased with your choice.
WHAT NOT TO DO - UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES
1. Pick the phone up and actually talk to the guy. It's not important to hear him speak. (unless it's the aforementioned youtube clip)
2. Do not examine and game film of the coach. Any youtube clips or re runs of games on ESPN are enough.
3. Do not interview him. It's not important to hear exactly what his offensive or defensive philosophy is. "He runs the spread" or "He's a 3-4 guy" is all you need to know.
4. Do not call other coaches or players and ask their opinion. As stated above, yahoo sports writers and the other school's chat boards have all the correct information you need.
5. Do not discuss his thoughts on teaching the position he'll coach. As stated, if he has a guy in the pros, that's all you need to know that he can develop players. No NFL players, he stinks.
I hope this helps, and I hope no one here has wasted their time actually doing the "what not to do" list.
Hook 'em!
