faithinviks
Active member
GreenGiant said:
interim head coach
-
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Let the speculation begin
- Thread starter VikNut
- Start date
interim head coach
faithinviks
Active member
Interim head coach for a year??? This is exactly what I am worried about...
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/11967626/uab-blazers-shut-football-program" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
UAB has shut down its football program, a source told ESPN's Joe Schad on Tuesday. School officials had said they were evaluating the viability of UAB football, and coach Bill Clark told ESPN.com on Sunday that he expected the school to end a program that has struggled financially.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/11967626/uab-blazers-shut-football-program" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
UAB has shut down its football program, a source told ESPN's Joe Schad on Tuesday. School officials had said they were evaluating the viability of UAB football, and coach Bill Clark told ESPN.com on Sunday that he expected the school to end a program that has struggled financially.
faithinviks said:
At least we kept our financial heads above water this year. UAB looks to suck 19 million from the university per year.
Barnum is the interim coach for the 2015 as well as a candidate for permanent job. Apparently he is going to be evaluated on how he does this coming year. I think if the program takes a turn for the better. ie; wins, he shouldn't have a problem getting the permanent position. With that being said, hopefully he and the team have success. There are no plans for a new Head Coach until the end of the 2015 season.
Hopefully everybody can get behind Barnum and be supportive of the program. I say lets be positive and hope for the best out of the team and Barnum.
Hopefully everybody can get behind Barnum and be supportive of the program. I say lets be positive and hope for the best out of the team and Barnum.
Barnum will be the Head Coach for the upcoming season. No word yet on which assistants, if any, will be staying. I am hoping Jamie Hill stays....would love to see what the defense would be like without Burton's fingerprints all over it. Maybe we will finally have a pass defense that can make a stop at the end of games becasue our DB's won't be yanked if they look back to find the ball!!! Over the past three years the Viks lost games in which they had taken a lead in the fourth quarter on at least nine ocassions. Almost always due to long passes being completed. .... A previous comment referred to Burton's integrity during his tenure at PSU. Obviously you haven't spoken with anyone in the program. Not going to sling it now, he is gone, but know this -- many a young man left the program due to the lack of integrity.
We'll see how it goes with Barnum. He knows the players and they seem to respect him--key to being a head coach. Players don't have to necessarily like you but they do need to respect you! Plus Barnum does not have the ego of his predecessor, ie. doubt we will see four page spreads about Barnum in the game program. The Viks had the talent this year to win 8 games. Hard to get fired up to play when the head coach rips the whole team a new one in the locker room BEFORE the game!!!
I believe they made the decision to go with Barnum for a year so they don't lose a whole recruiting class since if they wait for the new AD to choose, there would be nothing left for the new head coach to recruit.
A new start, Again!! GO VIKS !!!!
We'll see how it goes with Barnum. He knows the players and they seem to respect him--key to being a head coach. Players don't have to necessarily like you but they do need to respect you! Plus Barnum does not have the ego of his predecessor, ie. doubt we will see four page spreads about Barnum in the game program. The Viks had the talent this year to win 8 games. Hard to get fired up to play when the head coach rips the whole team a new one in the locker room BEFORE the game!!!
I believe they made the decision to go with Barnum for a year so they don't lose a whole recruiting class since if they wait for the new AD to choose, there would be nothing left for the new head coach to recruit.
A new start, Again!! GO VIKS !!!!
PSU has football coaching options
http://portlandtribune.com/pt/12-sports/242335-108623-eggers-psu-has-football-coaching-options" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
•Changes are brewing at Portland State. At some point in the next few weeks, PSU is expected to hire an athletic director to replace Torre Chisholm, who departed in September and was replaced by Valerie Cleary on an interim basis.
After that, the Vikings will address the football coaching situation.
Nigel Burton was fired last Wednesday after five years as head coach. In his place is interim coach Bruce Barnum, Burton’s offensive coordinator.
Hiring an AD comes first. A selection committee, headed by PSU faculty representative Bob Lockwood, has pared a list of candidates to three who will be interviewed over the next two weeks. Cleary, the Vikings’ associate athletic director/senior woman administrator, is well-respected, but not interested in becoming a candidate. She is expected to move back into her previous post once a permanent AD is named.
School President Wim Wiewel will also meet with the candidates and have the final say on the hire. It’s possible, though, that the committee will choose to re-open the process and mull other candidates, pushing back the timing on the hire.
It’s also possible that, because of the AD situation, Barnum keeps the job for at least a season on a look-see basis. The thinking is, that would provide some stability and give the new AD time to assess the situation, rather than make a rush hire of someone who would already be behind in the recruiting process.
• Once the Vikings are ready to hire a football coach, four candidates who would be worthy of selection:
— Tim Walsh, Cal Poly’s head coach the past six seasons and Portland State’s head coach for 14 years (1993-2006). Walsh is 3-0 against the Vikings during his time at San Luis Obispo.
“I’ve had a lot of calls (from friends and alums) concerning both positions (AD and coach),” Walsh says. “Portland State always will have a huge place in my heart and my life, but as far as going back, I’d have to know more about the situation.”
— Steve Coury, longtime head coach at Lake Oswego High. Coury coached professional football (in the World League) and at the FBS level (Pittsburgh) early in his career and has an outstanding football mind with strong in-state recruiting ties. His son, Stevie, was a redshirt freshman wide receiver for the Vikings this fall.
“I’d take a look at the job, for sure,” Coury says.
— June Jones, the one-time Portland State quarterback who quit as Southern Methodist’s head coach two games into the 2014 season. Jones was twice a head coach in the NFL (Atlanta, San Diego) and resurrected a moribund SMU program in 2008, taking the Mustangs to four straight bowl games, and three bowl victories, from 2009-12. Jones has local ties and has been living in Oregon since his resignation.
“I’ve thought about it, I’m interested, and I’m always rooting for Portland State to do well,” Jones says. “But I don’t know if the timing is right. Right now, I have my eye on a couple of other situations.”
One report has Jones as a potential candidate to replace Bobby Hauck at Nevada-Las Vegas.
— Robin Pflugrad, a former Portland State receiver with a wealth of college coaching experience, including two years as head coach at Montana (2010 and ‘11). Pflugrad, who also played at North Eugene High and Mt. Hood CC, was an assistant at Arizona State, Washington State and Oregon and was Big Sky coach of the year in 2011, taking the Grizzlies to the FCS semifinals. He was out of coaching this fall and is living in Phoenix.
“I would love to come back and coach my alma mater,” Pflugrad says. “I’m extremely interested. It’s a place that’s always been dear to my heart. I’ve always followed the Vikings. Other than the team I’m coaching, the next score I’m looking for in the newspaper is Portland State.”
http://portlandtribune.com/pt/12-sports/242335-108623-eggers-psu-has-football-coaching-options" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
•Changes are brewing at Portland State. At some point in the next few weeks, PSU is expected to hire an athletic director to replace Torre Chisholm, who departed in September and was replaced by Valerie Cleary on an interim basis.
After that, the Vikings will address the football coaching situation.
Nigel Burton was fired last Wednesday after five years as head coach. In his place is interim coach Bruce Barnum, Burton’s offensive coordinator.
Hiring an AD comes first. A selection committee, headed by PSU faculty representative Bob Lockwood, has pared a list of candidates to three who will be interviewed over the next two weeks. Cleary, the Vikings’ associate athletic director/senior woman administrator, is well-respected, but not interested in becoming a candidate. She is expected to move back into her previous post once a permanent AD is named.
School President Wim Wiewel will also meet with the candidates and have the final say on the hire. It’s possible, though, that the committee will choose to re-open the process and mull other candidates, pushing back the timing on the hire.
It’s also possible that, because of the AD situation, Barnum keeps the job for at least a season on a look-see basis. The thinking is, that would provide some stability and give the new AD time to assess the situation, rather than make a rush hire of someone who would already be behind in the recruiting process.
• Once the Vikings are ready to hire a football coach, four candidates who would be worthy of selection:
— Tim Walsh, Cal Poly’s head coach the past six seasons and Portland State’s head coach for 14 years (1993-2006). Walsh is 3-0 against the Vikings during his time at San Luis Obispo.
“I’ve had a lot of calls (from friends and alums) concerning both positions (AD and coach),” Walsh says. “Portland State always will have a huge place in my heart and my life, but as far as going back, I’d have to know more about the situation.”
— Steve Coury, longtime head coach at Lake Oswego High. Coury coached professional football (in the World League) and at the FBS level (Pittsburgh) early in his career and has an outstanding football mind with strong in-state recruiting ties. His son, Stevie, was a redshirt freshman wide receiver for the Vikings this fall.
“I’d take a look at the job, for sure,” Coury says.
— June Jones, the one-time Portland State quarterback who quit as Southern Methodist’s head coach two games into the 2014 season. Jones was twice a head coach in the NFL (Atlanta, San Diego) and resurrected a moribund SMU program in 2008, taking the Mustangs to four straight bowl games, and three bowl victories, from 2009-12. Jones has local ties and has been living in Oregon since his resignation.
“I’ve thought about it, I’m interested, and I’m always rooting for Portland State to do well,” Jones says. “But I don’t know if the timing is right. Right now, I have my eye on a couple of other situations.”
One report has Jones as a potential candidate to replace Bobby Hauck at Nevada-Las Vegas.
— Robin Pflugrad, a former Portland State receiver with a wealth of college coaching experience, including two years as head coach at Montana (2010 and ‘11). Pflugrad, who also played at North Eugene High and Mt. Hood CC, was an assistant at Arizona State, Washington State and Oregon and was Big Sky coach of the year in 2011, taking the Grizzlies to the FCS semifinals. He was out of coaching this fall and is living in Phoenix.
“I would love to come back and coach my alma mater,” Pflugrad says. “I’m extremely interested. It’s a place that’s always been dear to my heart. I’ve always followed the Vikings. Other than the team I’m coaching, the next score I’m looking for in the newspaper is Portland State.”
BroadwayVik
Active member
Steve Coury make sense as Athletics Director. I'd like to see PSU become more of a Lake Oswego State to make the entire athletics programs here more emotionally and financially healthy and vital.
June Jones seems to be interested in more developed programs, "for the time being." I wish he'd just talk straight with us. Very disappointed. Doesn't he have enough money already?
Robin Pflugrad makes sense as HC if Jones is not interested. Be true to your school.
Tim Walsh has had his time here already. I'm just not a Walsh fan. Notice where Cal Poly ended up (7-5). Look familiar? Same pattern as here. Cal Poly would be wise to keep him for a few more years and then trade up.
June Jones seems to be interested in more developed programs, "for the time being." I wish he'd just talk straight with us. Very disappointed. Doesn't he have enough money already?
Robin Pflugrad makes sense as HC if Jones is not interested. Be true to your school.
Tim Walsh has had his time here already. I'm just not a Walsh fan. Notice where Cal Poly ended up (7-5). Look familiar? Same pattern as here. Cal Poly would be wise to keep him for a few more years and then trade up.
GreenGiant
Active member
I can understand not wanting to make a hire until the new AD is on the job. But Barnum is really hard for me to get excited about. Maybe he is a good guy, and maybe they will let someone else run the offense, but unless you all were watching a different game than I have been the last several years, his play calling generally sucks. There are some guys that have proven records available now, they won't likely be around in a year
I was excited a few weeks ago. In my mind, the only reason they would dump Burton with the possibility of paying him next year's salary would be if there was a specific plan for who the next coach would be. They had to have a coach in mind who would be a big name to excite the public, bring in big time recruits, and restore PSU football to where it should be...
Well, not sure I saw this one coming. They stick with Barnum, and people are saying that it's great because it would protect the recruiting class. I may be off here, but I've only heard of the one verbal for next year, the kid from Oregon City. When I look at it now, it just appears that someone at PSU REALLY didn't like Burton and wanted him out regardless of who the coach is next year.
My favorite part of this whole fiasco is that the article from today is still talking about people who would never step into this situation in a million years. I know some people on this board wouldn't want June Jones or Tim Walsh, but I don't think you ever had to worry about it. Kerry Eggers should put a call in to Nick Saban to get his thoughts on coming to coach here.
Well, not sure I saw this one coming. They stick with Barnum, and people are saying that it's great because it would protect the recruiting class. I may be off here, but I've only heard of the one verbal for next year, the kid from Oregon City. When I look at it now, it just appears that someone at PSU REALLY didn't like Burton and wanted him out regardless of who the coach is next year.
My favorite part of this whole fiasco is that the article from today is still talking about people who would never step into this situation in a million years. I know some people on this board wouldn't want June Jones or Tim Walsh, but I don't think you ever had to worry about it. Kerry Eggers should put a call in to Nick Saban to get his thoughts on coming to coach here.
VikThunder
Active member
GreenGiant said:
I can't get behind Barnum. He's part of the problem. Not a solution. How is keeping him on as interim going to help recruiting? This is really, really stupid. There are guys like Robin Pflugrad and Eric Kiesau who would make solid head coaches.
GreenGiant
Active member
We should forget about recruiting this year. We have plenty of younger guys coming up, we know there will be several players from JC or even dropping down to cover immediate needs. Hire a good coach, put some wins on the board and next years class could be lights out above who we may get this year anyway.
Montana: Gee it looks like you've got offers from PSU, all lined up. Who is coaching at PSU next year? If we were to offer, would you be interested?
Cal Poly: It looks like PSU is offering you a full ride. I wonder if they will even have a program in a couple of years? How would you like to receive an offer from us?
Sacramento State: You should be proud of your son, he has offers from PSU a couple of others. Boy have you read in the paper about PSU possibly dumping football? Your son deserves a commitment from the university he will go to. If we were to offer you a scholarship son how would you like to know that there will be football here in two years?
PSU: Well it looks like nobody has offered you a scholarship. I know that you were on the two deep at your high school, and your grades were decent enough. We need some fresh bodies. How would you like to dress down for D-1 football?
Montana: Gee it looks like you've got offers from PSU, all lined up. Who is coaching at PSU next year? If we were to offer, would you be interested?
Cal Poly: It looks like PSU is offering you a full ride. I wonder if they will even have a program in a couple of years? How would you like to receive an offer from us?
Sacramento State: You should be proud of your son, he has offers from PSU a couple of others. Boy have you read in the paper about PSU possibly dumping football? Your son deserves a commitment from the university he will go to. If we were to offer you a scholarship son how would you like to know that there will be football here in two years?
PSU: Well it looks like nobody has offered you a scholarship. I know that you were on the two deep at your high school, and your grades were decent enough. We need some fresh bodies. How would you like to dress down for D-1 football?
faithinviks
Active member
It's important to be positive and give Barnum all the support we can. But can someone please point out to him and the rest of the coaches he decides to keep that something has to change!!! Compared to other programs at this level who are winning we do an abysmal job developing our position players. Especially at the QB position which Barnum was responsible for.
These kids are not going to get better just because they play and lift weights. Can someone PLEASE start to coach/develop all these talented guys.
On the offensive play calling side I am just going to hope that some of the worst play calling I've ever seen the first half of our season was strongly influenced by Burton.
Onward and upward. Go Viks!!!
These kids are not going to get better just because they play and lift weights. Can someone PLEASE start to coach/develop all these talented guys.
On the offensive play calling side I am just going to hope that some of the worst play calling I've ever seen the first half of our season was strongly influenced by Burton.
Onward and upward. Go Viks!!!
GreenGiant
Active member
With all due respect to other posters. I think our unwillingness to expect more from the coaches is part of the problem at PSU. I'm not suggesting that constant nagging and picking apart the staff is helpful, but I would suggest that without a press corp that follows the team and reports on them, there is a leg missing from the stool. On one hand we have the coaches telling us to keep the faith and fill us with promise of the next season. We have the athletic administration cheer leading in the background but there is no reliable source of unbiased critique of the team (not the players individually) or the program's progress.
We need to support Barnum as far as he earns our support. That means giving him a fair chance to show what he can do. But if all they did was cut one staff member, not to replace him or the offensive coordinator, the university didn't really do anything to improve the product on the field. The perfect scenario for the university is for Burton to find a position elsewhere (pretty likely), they would only have to pick up the difference in salary and not replace a staff member......looks like a possible money saving proposition to me.
If they hire a decent AD soon, there is no reason that AD can't go out and find a good coach for 2015. There are going to be plenty of coaching moves in the next couple of months. Those teams don't seem willing to stand pat because of recruiting. To say we don't want to hurt recruiting is a canard. Without a decent team on the field for 2015 they may end up losing two years of recruiting.
We need to support Barnum as far as he earns our support. That means giving him a fair chance to show what he can do. But if all they did was cut one staff member, not to replace him or the offensive coordinator, the university didn't really do anything to improve the product on the field. The perfect scenario for the university is for Burton to find a position elsewhere (pretty likely), they would only have to pick up the difference in salary and not replace a staff member......looks like a possible money saving proposition to me.
If they hire a decent AD soon, there is no reason that AD can't go out and find a good coach for 2015. There are going to be plenty of coaching moves in the next couple of months. Those teams don't seem willing to stand pat because of recruiting. To say we don't want to hurt recruiting is a canard. Without a decent team on the field for 2015 they may end up losing two years of recruiting.
Ok, I have to jump in on this. First, June Jones will not be coaching here absent some miracle. I think he's got the UNLV job pretty much lined up in his sights. It's a crappy environment, but a higher level. I love June, but I'm not sure we want to go back to the old run n shoot days. It's a big personnel change and an O that you have to build over time.
Second, I'm a big Steve Coury fan but he's got such a good gig at LO, it would be hard for him to break out of that I think. He would have to give up his regular job as well and probably take a pay cut. As much as he might want to coach Stevie and Long again, I'd be surprised if he actually made the move.
I agree with the prior post on Tim Walsh. Great guy, good coach, but I just don't see that option offense working here with our personnel. We'd have to start all over on O with what many consider a boring offense.
Pflugrad would be a good pick I think. He's low key and the players like him. The only downside might be his fundraising ability.
This brings me to my main point which is that we need a HC that can get the cash rolling. Its our biggest problem. Yes we need to win, but I don't think that alone gets us the security we need. Solid donations are needed.
Ok, finally on coach Barnum. I hope to God I don't have to go through another season of complaining about the personnel and play calling on O. Let's be straight, It was horrible. There are a million examples so I won't go into detail. My hope is that if he does stay, he hires an OC. Keeping him there allows us to recruit (we'd have nobody recruiting until after signing day if we didn't keep some staff around). I believe however that the new AD will make the final decision and most likely will want to fill that HC spot asap. Until then, we really don't have a choice but to keep someone in place for now and if you're going to do that you have to also say he's staying another year for now to give him some credibility while recruiting.
Stay positive and look for ways to help for now. Happy days may be just around the corner. Go Viks!!!
Second, I'm a big Steve Coury fan but he's got such a good gig at LO, it would be hard for him to break out of that I think. He would have to give up his regular job as well and probably take a pay cut. As much as he might want to coach Stevie and Long again, I'd be surprised if he actually made the move.
I agree with the prior post on Tim Walsh. Great guy, good coach, but I just don't see that option offense working here with our personnel. We'd have to start all over on O with what many consider a boring offense.
Pflugrad would be a good pick I think. He's low key and the players like him. The only downside might be his fundraising ability.
This brings me to my main point which is that we need a HC that can get the cash rolling. Its our biggest problem. Yes we need to win, but I don't think that alone gets us the security we need. Solid donations are needed.
Ok, finally on coach Barnum. I hope to God I don't have to go through another season of complaining about the personnel and play calling on O. Let's be straight, It was horrible. There are a million examples so I won't go into detail. My hope is that if he does stay, he hires an OC. Keeping him there allows us to recruit (we'd have nobody recruiting until after signing day if we didn't keep some staff around). I believe however that the new AD will make the final decision and most likely will want to fill that HC spot asap. Until then, we really don't have a choice but to keep someone in place for now and if you're going to do that you have to also say he's staying another year for now to give him some credibility while recruiting.
Stay positive and look for ways to help for now. Happy days may be just around the corner. Go Viks!!!
GreenGiant
Active member
Guychamp said:
Who would want to come here as an OC on a single year contract? The new head coach regardless of who they are will want to bring in his own guys. If Barnum is coaching in August, he will also be OC.
GreenGiant said:
What about promoting someone like a Steve Cooper to OC? He seems to have been a fine position coach with TEs and WRs.
bigskyconf
Active member
GreenGiant said:
A lot of wisdom in this post. It is true that Barnum was a finalist for the North Dakota job last season so someone must think he can coach. What I am scared about (and yes, I am scared right now), is with the radio deal and the stadium deal set to expire next year, if Barnum goes into next year and coaches as "interm" and all things remain the same as they were this year, does that make it easy for the administration to say after next season, "Well, we don't have a radio deal. We don't have a stadium deal. We don't have a permanent coach, the football team still did not have a successful season, and attendance was low again. Therefore we think it is best to discontinue football"?
If all the kids come back next year and are not scared off by all this, we could still have a pretty darn good team next year, with the right coach of course. Talent is something that has not been lacking during the Burton/Barnum era.
Anyone know what type of offense Barnum is going to run next year? Is he going to stick with whatever style of pistol offense we have been using?
VikThunder
Active member
Oregon State's Mike Riley has taken the Nebraska job. I wonder how that will shake up the coaching world?
