BEST Coaching move for 2014

[cloverleaf]

I believe most of us would agree the best coaching move for 2013 was Gus Malzahn moving from Arkansas State to Auburn. Malzahn almost won a national championship his first year as head man on the Plains. Several key coaching moves come with high expectations for the 2014 season. Of these new coaches, who if any have the chance to be the Malzahn of 2014.

James Franklin. (Penn State from Vanderbilt)
Chris Peterson. (Washington from Boise State)
Bobby Petrino. (Louisville from Western Kentucky)
Steve Sarkisian. (USC from Washington)
Charlie Strong. (Texas from Louisville)

My take is at least one...maybe two of these coaches are going to have really BIG seasons. What do you think men?
Who's on your radar?

 

[GoSooners]

I like Chris Peterson more than any of them. I think he breaks the Boise State coaches curse. Especially since it was Peterson who has basically been the man behind the curtain, and that has made that team work the way it has for all these years. I think he's going to start recruiting nothing but speed at UW just like he did at Boise. I look for them to be a powerhouse in a couple of years.

 

[cloverleaf]

Yeah Sooners...the Boise State curse? When I think of BSU coaches who flopped badly...I think of Dan Hawkins. He was a fish out of water at Colorado. Last I heard, Hawkins was fired as a coach in the CFL last year after only a few games.

I believe James Franklin and Penn State will give the Big Ten fits. What he accomplished at Vanderbilt was simply amazing. Watch how Vandy drops back to a doormat the next couple of years.

I also believe Sarkisian has an opportunity to have a big year (2014) at Southern Cal. There is really good talent on this team.

 

[TyBounce]

I think all 5 of those coaches are going to need a year or 2 to produce a really big season , but i think Sarkisian could have the quickest turn around but i dont know if 9-3 is really big by USC standards.

Strong may need a couple of years to establish defense in the offensive oriented league.

The problem for Franklin and Petrino is that Penn St and Louisville probably had better seasons last year than they will this year.

I really like Sarkisian at USC both short term and long term.

 

[GoSooners]

Sarkasian has the built in advantage of already knowing the Orange County highschool system very well. USC is already a successful program. I don't think it takes an ultra talented coach to coach that program given the way they have first choice of recruits in one of the top 3 recruiting areas in the country. Which shows you just how bad Lane Kiffin was, although he did have probation and limited scholarships to work with... That's why I didn't include Sarkasian. I think it's a given the Trojans will be good. Especially with the probation pretty much behind them. I included Peterson just because UW hasn't had a great program since the 80's. And I think the guy is a gamechanger. I also think he's the best coach in the Pac-12 North. I also believe that Charlie Strong is a good coach. But he is a fish out of water at Texas. I'm curious to see how that one plays out.

 

[RunLeeRun]

Anyone see how Franklin is killing it in recruiting? He's raising the bar that Meyer set, which is needed for a conference without a top ten pick 6 years running. He's definitely bringing an SEC mentality, using the loop-holes like co-hosting another teams camp to get a foothold in other areas. More teams should do that.

 

[cloverleaf]

Runner, you don't win at outmanned Vanderbilt in the SEC like Franklin did unless you are something special. Franklin has the "IT" factor and its obvious to many of us old timers he can recruit, motivate and coach.

I believe in the future you Big Ten folks will see some great battles between Ohio State and Penn State. Both of these coaches know from past SEC experience that to win...they have to recruit tough ass defensive lineman. None better than in the SEC. Franklin now can recruit those guys, he couldn't at Vanderbilt.

The Big Ten will be fun to watch the next few years.....