E-Wu Tang Clan
Active member
Baldwin obviously, just coaching QBs for the Calgary Stampeders. Maybe Baldwin is more comfortable at the FCS level and at at a school where there aren't a lot of academic restrictions.
Chris Fisk, head coach at Central Washington. Seems like we tend to poach from CWU a lot but Fisk has had a lot of recent success at CWU. CWU made it to the 3rd round of the D2 playoffs in the 2023 season where they lost to the #1 ranked Colorado School of Mines. He is a former offensive coordinator and the GNAC coach of the year in 2021 before CWU moved to the Lone Star Conference.
Zak HIll, was coaching high school but now does offensive quality control for the Seahawks. He basically works for Ryan Grubb which was OC for UW last year. For those who don't know he was OC for EWU under Baldwin until he left to OC for Boise State then Arizona State after. He left Arizona State for recruiting violations, getting caught talking to recruits in a black out period.
Jim McElwain, current Central Michigan head coach and former Eastern QB in the 80s. He would certainly have to take a large pay decrease but has had losing seasons the last few years at Central Michigan. He certainly has the coaching pedigree with head coaching stops at Florida, Colorado State and offensive coordinator at Alabama for Nick Saban. His three year contract extension with Central Michigan ends after the 2025 season.
Jeff Schmedding, EWU's former DC and WSU's current DC. If I remember right it was between him and Best for head coach after Baldwin left. He left for Boise State after 2018, got elevated to DC then followed Boise State's head coach to Auburn. They all got fired then got hired as DC at WSU. He might see it as a downgrade but WSU is basically G5 status now.
Bodie Reeder. Former OC that left EWU for Northern Texas after 2018 CCG appearance and has been just been bouncing around from school to school since. I'm not sure why. I have the same reservations one would have hiring someone who bounces around from job to job even though he was kind of proved himself at Eastern.
Pat McCann, EWU's former WR coach/interim OC and current OC at Fresno State. He has no head coaching experience and I don't even know if he wants to be head coach but fits like a glove into our recent offensive identity. Best offered him the OC position at the end of 2021 but he took a job coaching WRs at Fresno State. Paired with a competent DC as assistant head coach would be a good combination. He would have to take a pay decrease.
Pete Carroll, former head coach of the Seattle Seahawks and USC. I'm sure an college FCS job would be a lot less stressful and would give him something to do instead of hanging around UW practices. His pro style offensive philosophy is outdated though.
Do what Idaho did and pick up a OC from a successful FCS team like Jason Eck at SDSU.
If you think about it, it is a good thing that we know Best's contract won't be renewed early in the season so the AD can shop around. We could've went 7-5 or 6-6 with one or two good close wins and have Best's contract extended for another few years of being mid tier.
Edit: feel free to make your own suggestions.
Chris Fisk, head coach at Central Washington. Seems like we tend to poach from CWU a lot but Fisk has had a lot of recent success at CWU. CWU made it to the 3rd round of the D2 playoffs in the 2023 season where they lost to the #1 ranked Colorado School of Mines. He is a former offensive coordinator and the GNAC coach of the year in 2021 before CWU moved to the Lone Star Conference.
Zak HIll, was coaching high school but now does offensive quality control for the Seahawks. He basically works for Ryan Grubb which was OC for UW last year. For those who don't know he was OC for EWU under Baldwin until he left to OC for Boise State then Arizona State after. He left Arizona State for recruiting violations, getting caught talking to recruits in a black out period.
Jim McElwain, current Central Michigan head coach and former Eastern QB in the 80s. He would certainly have to take a large pay decrease but has had losing seasons the last few years at Central Michigan. He certainly has the coaching pedigree with head coaching stops at Florida, Colorado State and offensive coordinator at Alabama for Nick Saban. His three year contract extension with Central Michigan ends after the 2025 season.
Jeff Schmedding, EWU's former DC and WSU's current DC. If I remember right it was between him and Best for head coach after Baldwin left. He left for Boise State after 2018, got elevated to DC then followed Boise State's head coach to Auburn. They all got fired then got hired as DC at WSU. He might see it as a downgrade but WSU is basically G5 status now.
Bodie Reeder. Former OC that left EWU for Northern Texas after 2018 CCG appearance and has been just been bouncing around from school to school since. I'm not sure why. I have the same reservations one would have hiring someone who bounces around from job to job even though he was kind of proved himself at Eastern.
Pat McCann, EWU's former WR coach/interim OC and current OC at Fresno State. He has no head coaching experience and I don't even know if he wants to be head coach but fits like a glove into our recent offensive identity. Best offered him the OC position at the end of 2021 but he took a job coaching WRs at Fresno State. Paired with a competent DC as assistant head coach would be a good combination. He would have to take a pay decrease.
Pete Carroll, former head coach of the Seattle Seahawks and USC. I'm sure an college FCS job would be a lot less stressful and would give him something to do instead of hanging around UW practices. His pro style offensive philosophy is outdated though.
Do what Idaho did and pick up a OC from a successful FCS team like Jason Eck at SDSU.
If you think about it, it is a good thing that we know Best's contract won't be renewed early in the season so the AD can shop around. We could've went 7-5 or 6-6 with one or two good close wins and have Best's contract extended for another few years of being mid tier.
Edit: feel free to make your own suggestions.
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