Buckle Up: Coaching Search 2019!

Addazio is gone. Gunnell is the interim. Jarmond is leading a search. That's what everyone knows. This is what I've been told.

Addazio

The writing was on the wall a long time ago. But things have been falling apart behind the scenes since the Kansas game. You saw testiness from the staff online and even behind closed doors (an alleged assistant fight). Addazio didn't know if he would be fired for certain, but that was the rumor going around the team after Notre Dame. BC also granted Rutgers permission to talk to Addazio, so that also sent a message. 

Gunnell

While they could have gone in many different ways with the staff, Gunnell was a relatively safe pick. He can focus on recruiting between now and the bowl (mostly keeping verbals committed) and let the coordinators get ready for the bowl game. He is well liked by all and will be a very likely candidate to stay on with the new coach. 

The Search

Lots of names have been floated by Feldman and Thamel. Most are predictable and are close to what I have heard. The only name that I think will get a real look that wasn't floated out by those two is Bret Bielema. While there have been feelers and guys who have been reached out to, nothing is even close to being done and no one has had a formal interview. That will start soon (probably later this week). Father Leahy has traditionally been a Wild Card in these events with regards to budgets and approvals, but supposedly he is truly going to let Jarmond run the show (see the wording in the press release).

The Al Washington stuff is pure gossip or speculation. Al might end up being the guy, but this wasn't predetermined and it certainly won't be decided early this week. The Al/Don Brown package is also not a thing. 

If I were betting, I would predict Jeff Hafley but this process never settles on the first hot name (see Mark Whipple, Jack Bicknell Jr or Bob Diaco).

Explaining my Martin Jarmond tweets

In the ever-changing BC AD search a new name emerged Wednesday: Ohio State assistant AD Martin Jarmond. The name first leaked out on the BC message boards, then the Heights and finally via SI's Pete Thamel. I immediately went to Twitter to share my skepticism on the reports. Because this post could be meaningless in less than 24 hours (see the Mike Dee talk), I will try to keep things short. I don't believe Jarmond is the choice and I would be less than thrilled if he is the hire.

My skepticism on Jarmond being the candidate is based on how quiet this process has been. For better or worse, this is a Father Leahy decision and he has shown no history of sharing his opinions or news with sports reporters. The only thing I hear from BC people is that this is all Leahy and he is not talking. So if Jarmond is truly a finalist, it is his side that is talking to the media or BC folks speculating. If Jarmond's representatives are leaking to the media prior to a deal being finalized, they are playing with fire. It is the surest way to lose a BC offer. I would also be surprised by Jarmond based on the prerequisites that BC wanted in a candidate. While he has fundraising experience, Jarmond has never run his own department and has never hired or fired a coach. Of course, BC can say they want something and totally flip on that requirement, but it would be somewhat out of character for Father Leahy given his decisions since firing Gene D.

As for my skepticism on Jarmond's ability for the role, I just think BC is not in a place where we want someone learning on the job. We have major building projects to execute, decisions to make on our three biggest coaches (I am including a plan for when York steps down), and a fan and donor base to build up. Jarmond might be an Athletic Director wunderkind, but I would prefer someone who had a longer track record and a proven history of success.

We will see how this plays out. As the constant naysayer in this process, I will be wrong eventually. I just don't think it will be with Jarmond.

This is getting silly

So we are close...or we're not. This guy is getting the job, but wait, he's totally not. The sky is falling! We're going to make a huge splash!

Ohio's Jim Christian involved at BC, but no offer on table and still unclear whether he's leader in clubhouse. Story: http://t.co/tyn4PGdzeh
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) April 1, 2014

St. Bonaventure Coach Mark Schmidt was in Boston area today for his first in-person interview with BC, according to sources.
— Pete Thamel (@SIPeteThamel) April 1, 2014

A new name has emerged as a contender in the BC mix, Ohio Coach Jim Christian. Sources say he's a legit candidate.
— Pete Thamel (@SIPeteThamel) March 31, 2014

St. Bonaventure's Mark Schmidt and Syracuse assistant Mike Hopkins are no longer options at BC, sources told ESPN.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) April 1, 2014

I write this with some strong conviction: none of that news came from Brad Bates. This is from the coaches and/or their agents. And even then, I doubt the veracity of much of it.

I can be as unreliable as the rest, but let me share what I know.

1. The Board approved a significant budget for the new head coach. I don't know if that budget is tied to certain candidates. I don't know if there is a closed window on the approval. I also know that having a big budget doesn't guarantee the ability to hire whomever you like, but it leads me to believe BC and Brad Bates have bigger ambitions than the names floated.

2. There have been prolonged discussions with candidates not highlighted by the media. Once again, talking to and actually signing a big name are two different things. We had talks with Bill O'Brien and Al Golden during the football search and nothing came of it. But once again, it speaks to Bates' process.

I don't know who we will hire at this point. Once we actually make a hire, I will give my opinion on the process and the end result. Until then, I just have to be patient.

Thoughts on SI's Addazio article

I am sure most of you have read SI's behind the scenes article on Addazio's first recruiting class. It is great publicity for the program and provides an interesting look at how Addazio is attacking our talent issues head on (since he is his own recruiting coordinator). These are a few of the things that stood out to me:

-- Addazio is more than just "rah, rah" and high energy. There is some simple sales strategies and statistics at work here and that is a good thing. I don't know if this is his original thought or he is adapting from other coaches whom he worked under, but having X amount of prospects that require X amount of contact and calls per week is familiar to anyone who has worked in Sales before. You are never going to close every deal in football or business, so you need enough prospects lined up to reach your goals. It is a simple concept, but one that has been lacking around BC. Too often the past four years we went from our A List to our C List without any rhyme or reason in between.
-- Institutional guys are buying in. Most programs have a few coaches and guys who have been around a while and have seen many come and go. BC has two on staff now in Kevin Lempa and Al Washington. Both have been part of multiple BC regimes and know what works and doesn't. Both are quoted in the article and seem to be enjoying the new culture.
-- #beadude is going to get played to the hilt this fall by the media. I like the idea behind Don Brown's viral hash-tag. But as we know a good thing can become a tired cliche when we hear about it every week. I predict it will get mentioned weekly in our games and will be all over the feature articles this fall. I will try to keep from rolling my eyes as long as recruiting is going strong. I also expect Brown's magic to keep us competitive this fall. I do feel for him that he didn't trademark the phrase as it will be on signs and t-shirts in the near future.
-- High School Coaches talking about Spaz. The contrast in John DiBiaso's (Everett) and Greg Toal's (Don Bosco) comments about our former staff were telling. DiBiaso was more candid in saying the former was "all over the place." While Toal didn't defend Spaz, he did point out Spaz's success as a defensive coach. This is all validation of what most of us thought -- things were a mess under Spaz. And his staff not being cohesive was also a byproduct of the AD having influence in who was hired and who was not. None of us know if Addazio will succeed but I think it is clear he is in control. I also like that his "energy" is translating to critical high school coaches and players.

Dick Kelley featured in SI

As some of you may know Dick Kelley was very hesitant to share his battle with ALS publicly. I am glad he now is letting others capture his meaning to the BC sports community and the college sports media world. SI's Pete Thamel wrote a great feature on Dick and it is a must read for all BC fans.