The Vast Majority of Successful Coaches DO NOT Call Plays

[LA_Mustang]

What do we want, play callers or guys who will install offenses?

I'd like a coach that will bring an offense to town, not just call plays.

I'd like a guy who brings talent to town, I could care less about his offensive system. A recruiting salesman should the first, second and third requirements of the new coach. I'd be okay with that being the only requirement.

[floridianstang]

We Need a coach that can coach up the existing talent and win so as to prove to recruits what can be done and to join SMU's championship contender program. A lot of these "good recruiters" do so with a brand name behind them. We don't have a brand right now so it will take time and work to change the perception of the program.

[SMU Football Blog]

I follow the "Hit by a Bus" philosophy if we go the coordinator route. Any assistant that wouldn't be the head coach on an interim basis of his current boss were hit by a bus the day before a game doesn't interest me very much. Not 100% rule, but always a concern of mine.

We hired Tubbs in basketball many years ago and it was a disaster. Tubbs was the 2nd or 3rd assistant on that OU staff.

Now where does Montgomery fall into that, I don't know.

I am not sure the article says Montgomery can't recruit. However, if that is what is being suggested, it is a major concern whether it is accurate or not. Recruiting is the lifeblood of college football. Any assistant hoping to move up the chain should want to avoid getting the "doesn't recruit" label and if you do, I am concerned. Great example of that is John Tenuta, who has that wrap, and can't get a HC job and gets let go every time his HC gets fired and the new HC cleans house.

[JasonB]

The assistants are just as important as the head coach.

If we hire an assistant to be our HC, I worry not only about their ability to give up calling plays (coordinators in the booth are much more effective. Seeing the game from up high allows you to evaluate what is going on and make adjustments much better than field level). I also worry about their ability to attract top assistants.

Larry has been great because he attracted a lot of people that want to work with Larry. Great young assistants who are fantastic recruiters.

That is what we COULD have had with Jones if he had been open to bringing other people into the program, but it is definitely what we need to identify in the next coach. I am hesitant to back the young assistant route just because of the assistant issue. Unless Chad Morris has enough contacts to put together a great staff.

We need to hire someone who really good young coaches are dying to work with.

[Rebel10]

That is what we COULD have had with Jones if he had been open to bringing other people into the program, but it is definitely what we need to identify in the next coach.

No it would not have been. June still would not have gone out himself and developed relationships with local coaches like Larry Brown does. Seems like June apologists never get that. As far as hiring an OC vs a retread head coach as you have seen the success and failure rate are about the same on either. Also SMU has never given an OC a chance with restrictions softened like June had so please stop the drama.