Off Season Coaching Carousel

[IUPNation]

It strikes me as a bit odd that with a very strong connection to the ROONEY FAMILY and the STEELERS, SVC has an absolutely awful FB program. I realize it's D3 but 33-68 over the past 10 seasons is abysmal. If CMU, a pretty serious academic institution, can go 77-29 in the same PAC over that time, there doesn't seem to be a good explanation for those results. Is Latrobe really an awful place to spend 4 years ??

The nicer part of Oakland/ almost Squirrel Hill or Latrobe?

Yeah..CMU wins that easily.

[Ram040506]

Couple points of view here:

(1) Do we have any candidates to move up a level?

(2) Do we have any about to be fired?

(3) The Rumor Mill



Starting with the first question, I'd say maybe a small handful. I think the two leading candidates (if they'd be interested) would be Shawn Lutz (SRU) and Jeff Clements (Kutztown). They are still of the (ballpark) right age and both have strong reputations in the coaching universe. Some of our other top coaches (my opinion) are either too old or are too comfortable at this stage.

The second question:

This one is tricky. You really have to research the contracts. Losses alone aren't enough to get these guys fired as our schools surely aren't ponying up for buyouts. We also don't have 'whale' boosters to cover the buyout. You'd have to research and see which contracts are expiring (for the PA state school members). For the privates / non-PASSHE, I'd say it's 100% safe to say Shepherd isn't making a change. Gannon's athletic department is sporadic so you never know. Daniel Day is safe at Seton Hill.

Now, getting to No. 3, there are certainly some rumors flying around. Most have not been discussed yet (publicly) on this board. I will say this: it's very possible one (or two) of our 'high profile' jobs will be open shortly after the season ends. We'll see.

Just going by the flirtations with Lehigh (or was it Lafeyette?) from Clements over the last cycle, I'd think he's got an eye for moving up if the right opportunity presented itself again. He was a DL when he played and coached the DL at his alma mater prior to moving up to a DC position before he became a head coach. Kutztown defenses have been the most consistent in the PSAC over the last 6 years I've followed the league as well. Perhaps even a D1 calls him about a DC position or a DL coach position. Wouldn't be farfetched to me.

The OC at Ship left midsummer for an analyst position with Wake Forest. I don't think its crazy for say Rutgers to call Clements about a DL coaching position and it being a fairly nice pay bump and he'd take it. Who knows, I don't know Clements at all so just speculation, but any of these coaches could be poached like that really. Seems to be happening more and more.

[Fightingscot82]

Just going by the flirtations with Lehigh (or was it Lafeyette?) from Clements over the last cycle, I'd think he's got an eye for moving up if the right opportunity presented itself again. He was a DL when he played and coached the DL at his alma mater prior to moving up to a DC position before he became a head coach. Kutztown defenses have been the most consistent in the PSAC over the last 6 years I've followed the league as well. Perhaps even a D1 calls him about a DC position or a DL coach position. Wouldn't be farfetched to me.

The OC at Ship left midsummer for an analyst position with Wake Forest. I don't think its crazy for say Rutgers to call Clements about a DL coaching position and it being a fairly nice pay bump and he'd take it. Who knows, I don't know Clements at all so just speculation, but any of these coaches could be poached like that really. Seems to be happening more and more.

Clements making about $160k at Kutztown. Rutgers DL coach makes $400k. Its why Justin Lustig left Edinboro after 18 months.

[Fightingscot82]

Elizabeth City State in the CIAA has fired their head coach. Again, may draw some interest from PSAC coordinators looking for an opportunity to be a head coach.

[WarriorVoice]

Couple points of view here:

(1) Do we have any candidates to move up a level?

(2) Do we have any about to be fired?

(3) The Rumor Mill



Starting with the first question, I'd say maybe a small handful. I think the two leading candidates (if they'd be interested) would be Shawn Lutz (SRU) and Jeff Clements (Kutztown). They are still of the (ballpark) right age and both have strong reputations in the coaching universe. Some of our other top coaches (my opinion) are either too old or are too comfortable at this stage.

The second question:

This one is tricky. You really have to research the contracts. Losses alone aren't enough to get these guys fired as our schools surely aren't ponying up for buyouts. We also don't have 'whale' boosters to cover the buyout. You'd have to research and see which contracts are expiring (for the PA state school members). For the privates / non-PASSHE, I'd say it's 100% safe to say Shepherd isn't making a change. Gannon's athletic department is sporadic so you never know. Daniel Day is safe at Seton Hill.

Now, getting to No. 3, there are certainly some rumors flying around. Most have not been discussed yet (publicly) on this board. I will say this: it's very possible one (or two) of our 'high profile' jobs will be open shortly after the season ends. We'll see.

Jim Clements. His name is Jim...

[EastStroud13]

Clements got mentioned by The Athletic as a name to watch for the Temple opening. Likely nothing more than speculation at this stage, but it's not often you see a D2 coach discussed as an option for an FBS head coaching job. He was the only D2 coach mentioned.

[TDBoi8136]

Clements got mentioned by The Athletic as a name to watch for the Temple opening. Likely nothing more than speculation at this stage, but it's not often you see a D2 coach discussed as an option for an FBS head coaching job. He was the only D2 coach mentioned.

And my anxiety for him leaving has shot up again. I thought we were in the clear with Lehigh and Lafayette having new and pretty good coaches. *sigh*

[IUPbigINDIANS]

And my anxiety for him leaving has shot up again. I thought we were in the clear with Lehigh and Lafayette having new and pretty good coaches. *sigh*

The Curt Cignetti path and success is probably raising some eyebrows.

Curt went from IUP to Elon to James Madison to Indiana ... to just getting paid like a motherfreaker.

[KU10]

And my anxiety for him leaving has shot up again. I thought we were in the clear with Lehigh and Lafayette having new and pretty good coaches. *sigh*

If he were to leave it would certainly be bittersweet as a KU fan but he has more than earned the opportunity to move up. He is a damn good coach and has had great success everywhere he has been so far.

Curent OC Marcel Quarterman has been at KU for 11 years. The last 5 as OC. I would feel confident in him stepping in to replace Clements and keep the program rolling.

[Fightingscot82]

The Curt Cignetti path and success is probably raising some eyebrows.

Curt went from IUP to Elon to James Madison to Indiana ... to just getting paid like a motherfreaker.

True. Plus the PSAC assistants to FBS storylines of the past year. The conference may not produce national champions but it is a great place to play and work. Its a good product for what it is.

As long as you have Chip Kelly and Lance Leipold success stories, people will give them a sniff.

[Ship69]

The Curt Cignetti path and success is probably raising some eyebrows.

Curt went from IUP to Elon to James Madison to Indiana ... to just getting paid like a motherfreaker.

Mike Yurcich going from Ship to Oklahoma State a few years back at OC certainly got some attention. And even though it didn't work out for him at Penn State, he had a nice run for a few years while probably making as much in five years at D1 as he would have in 25 years at D2. Ship has struggled to find a consistent OC ever since, and I don't think it's any coincidence that the decline in football quality in recent years has come after the departure of some quality assistant coaches. Morgan to Millersville certainly didn't help, and he has struggled with trying to bring that program back.

[TDBoi8136]

If he were to leave it would certainly be bittersweet as a KU fan but he has more than earned the opportunity to move up. He is a damn good coach and has had great success everywhere he has been so far.

Curent OC Marcel Quarterman has been at KU for 11 years. The last 5 as OC. I would feel confident in him stepping in to replace Clements and keep the program rolling.

I like the head coach from Susquehanna University if Clements were to leave. He has done a good job turning that school into a consistent playoff team. Plus they beat the d3 national champs last year and lost to them this year by 2 points.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The Concord (WV) job is now open.

[Fightingscot82]

The Concord (WV) job is now open.

I wish them well. In 2023 he was making $66,950. Yes, its West Virginia. But an entry level position in PASSHE anymore is $54,435 for a lot less stress and responsibility.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I wish them well. In 2023 he was making $66,950. Yes, its West Virginia. But an entry level position in PASSHE anymore is $54,435 for a lot less stress and responsibility.

Jeez. If that's what the HC is making ... imagine what his staff is (was) making.