Who will be the next Valdosta HC..

[Eagle74]

Who is suggesting that VSU is going to settle?

Well, I'll say if VSU manages to bring on Coach Tony Annese, they certainly won't be settling. He's a proven winner.

[Matt Witwicki]

Well, I'll say if VSU manages to bring on Coach Tony Annese, they certainly won't be settling. He's a proven winner.

Well, that ain’t happening. But I don’t think anyone sees that as realistic.

I don’t think anyone here is implying they’ll have to settle for someone who isn’t a winner. Sparky is a winner for sure and I’d expect they’ll get a winner at an existing program.

I think there’s a lot of room between a program having doom and gloom..and it being the best setup in SR2 and expected to be top 5 nationally. I think VSU continues to win..but the bar of expectation is extremely high and I’m saying there’s some challenges to maintain that.

I’m curious who the other two candidates are now. Maybe Steve Englehart, who’s had been at FL Tech or someone like that.

[Rational Observer]

I've been told there has been FOIA requested.

If someone did a FOIA request they won't get anything as that is a federal law and doesn't apply to a state institution.

[Eagle74]

Sparky is a winner for sure

Overall record: 71 - 97 record (42.3%) 👀
Includes Arena etc
Conference record: 20 -31
Davenport: 40 -37

I'm sure Sparky is a good guy, and he does have experience. I know that VSU would be an upgrade pay wise. If that's the direction VSU wants to go, I wish the Blazers the very best.

[Matt Witwicki]

Overall record: 71 - 97 record (42.3%) 👀
Includes Arena etc
Conference record: 20 -31
Davenport: 40 -37

I'm sure Sparky is a good guy, and he does have experience. I know that VSU would be an upgrade pay wise. If that's the direction VSU wants to go, I wish the Blazers the very best.

This is a disservice to Sparky. Brand new Davenport program he took over and he’s developed it quite well and knows FL kids and the portal.

Over the last 3 years he’s 8-3, 8-2, 7-4..with most of his setbacks against Ferris and GVSU.

[Eagle74]

This is a disservice to Sparky. Brand new Davenport program he took over and he’s developed it quite well and knows FL kids and the portal.

Over the last 3 years he’s 8-3, 8-2, 7-4..with most of his setbacks against Ferris and GVSU.

No disservice at all, just simply laying out the facts.
I totally agree with you. He's been the head coach for Davenport for 8 years, and no doubt, his record for the past few have been pretty good.

To me, over the years VSU in the GSC has kinda been like Alabama in the SEC. I'm sure when replacing Coach Nick Sabin the potential candidates were carefully vetted on all aspects, not just a few. Coach DeBoer's overall record is 113 - 16, not a bad percentage at all.

Like I said, whoever VSU picks to be their head coach (including Sparky) I wish them the very best.

[Finchwidget]

https://footballscoop.com/news/valdo...aig-head-coach

Graham Craig is expected to be named the next VSU HC.

[Eagle74]

Congratulations Coach Graham Craig on your new leadership position of Blazer Football.

On a separate issue, I'm quite sure that based on his winning trajectory Coach Sparky McEwen will end up being a very good hire for some football program.

[Matt Witwicki]

I heard this from a coaching buddy a little bit ago.

Too bad they didn't make this internal decision a little earlier..before the portal blew up on them like it has..but the roster was heavy portal already..and that swings both ways with portal guys when the coach departs. I think school starts this coming Monday at VSU so it would've been nice to get some player midyear for the coach, but that quick window is now kinda gone.

As for the hire..it's not real sexy or a sitting head coach with a winning past, but I think in this situation it might be the best decision they had in front of them. I got a text before the scoop thing that Sparky had withdrawn his name and was staying at Davenport. He doesn't have a bad thing going there, so I get it.

Graham Craig already knows the lay of the land very well and any of the forthcoming challenges I made reference to since he was on staff last year. Not having to find things out as he goes (in that regard) is a good thing.

I recall hearing that Graham was well-liked locally as well..and he did very well in his season as the OC with the Blazers.

He seems more reserve than the guy he's replacing..but I get the impression that VSU and the locals were ok with that change. haha

Nearly all the staff went to PV..so he will seemingly need to hire a staff kinda from scratch..maybe he can get some GA's from a year ago..TBD. Coach Craig has been in the coaching world for a while, so maybe he's able to tap into some of his Memphis connections and such. Who he will get for DC will be interesting. Brandon Anderson from the last 3 years went to PV as well.

The roster had plenty of seniors and Sammy was seemingly looking to try next level football after his last go around. Bullard the WR just inked with Michigan State, the Center to App State, and others have signed in the last 2 weeks..but you'd think Coach could salvage some of the remaining names in the portal with him being familiar with them and calming the waters.

A nice upside VSU has is their proximity to high level athleticism in their location between ATL and Southern FLA. If they are ambitious in the portal they can replace some talent asap..but still have a ton to replace.

Their schedule has the Citadel to start the year, a low level FCS they should handle..and their schedule having more Conference Carolina teams should make it very manageable, not having a fire breathing dragon in that conference as of 2025. The SOS for VSU might be lower but that's not a bad thing for a brand new HC..and games still existing with WF, Delta, and UWA.

Spring Ball will come very quick..as will signing day for Coach Craig..but here's to hoping he can get the ball rolling quickly and inject a back-to-normal feeling in Valdosta..which has felt a bit frantic since Coach Jackson departed.

[Rational Observer]

I heard this from a coaching buddy a little bit ago.

Too bad they didn't make this internal decision a little earlier..before the portal blew up on them like it has..but the roster was heavy portal already..and that swings both ways with portal guys when the coach departs. I think school starts this coming Monday at VSU so it would've been nice to get some player midyear for the coach, but that quick window is now kinda gone.

It's better to kick the tires instead of just promoting an assistant without a search.

[Eagle74]

Their schedule has the Citadel to start the year, a low level FCS they should handle..and their schedule having more Conference Carolina teams should make it very manageable, not having a fire breathing dragon in that conference as of 2025. The SOS for VSU might be lower but that's not a bad thing for a brand new HC..and games still existing with WF, Delta, and UWA.

First of all, while I've been a fan of VSU, but I just don’t see them handling The Citadel Bulldogs this coming season. Also, it's way to early to be judgmental about the Conference Carolina teams. I see some of their member institutions to be on the upswing with their football programs. A few could emerge as potentially strong foes for the rebuilding Blazers. This includes NGU which competed pretty evenly while they were in the GSC.

[Matt Witwicki]

First of all, while I've been a fan of VSU, but I just don’t see them handling The Citadel Bulldogs this coming season. Also, it's way too early to be judgmental about the Conference Carolina teams. I see some of their member institutions to be on the upswing with their football programs. A few could emerge as potentially strong foes for the rebuilding Blazers. This includes NGU which competed pretty evenly while they were in the GSC.

Fully agree on the Citadel. When I heard of that game near the start of the year, I checked to see how they were during their last season and they were 0-11. That’s where my head was at when I made the statement. I see they won 5 contests this year. With VSU doing some level of a reboot here, this game is harder than I had in my head. Agreed.

Conference Carolina’s didn’t have a playoff team amongst that group and the top teams were like 6 or 5 wins. It’s gonna take some time for that conference.

Certainly games like Albany State will always help in non-conference. They are normally above .500 and an in-state rival.

[gr8ness97]

Albany is trending up, so Valdosta may be more vulnerable in year 1, just like what happened to TJ. I did see the kicker (Botsford) committed to UTEP, and some other names getting committed elsewhere too. Its back to being a rebuild again.

[Eagle74]

Conference Carolina’s didn’t have a playoff team amongst that group and the top teams were like 6 or 5 wins. It’s gonna take some time for that conference.

So glad Carson Newman (9-3, 7-1 in conference) didn't have that same mindset after going 5-6 season before last. Even VSU went 5-6 three seasons ago, and then 12-2 the next year. In this new age of transfers, trying to predict the success (or lack of it) of teams has become basically impossible.

We shall see.

[vsuman]

So what's taking so long with naming the new HC at VSU? What's with all the secrecy? Footballscoop and a few TV outlets have reported a few days ago the new coach is Graham Craig. What's the holdup?