Posted October 18, 2010    

•Tim Brewster

•Jim Harbaugh

•All-Star Game News

•Brett Favre

•Jose Theodore

Here’s How to Hire U Football Coach 

Hire a high school coach, or bring back Glen Mason? 

Ludicrous.   

The announcement yesterday that Tim Brewster will not be retained as Gophers coach has set off speculation as to who should replace him.  The hiring of Brewster in January of 2007 was a high risk move, entrusting a Big Ten football program to a guy who had a reputation as an extraordinary recruiter but never had been a college head coach or even a coordinator.   

Brewster went 1-11 his first season as he transitioned the Gophers from a successful running team to a spread attack.  His next two seasons the Gophers were 7-6 and 6-7.  Before the 2008 season he dropped the spread in favor of a pro style offense, a change in scheme that was highly visible just like the parade of changes to his coaching staff that includes six different coordinators. 

Despite the instability in coaches and changes in X’s and O’s (including on defense) the Gophers wouldn’t have lost 10 of their last 13 games dating back to last season if the recruiting had been as advertised.  Brewster was the biggest fan of his recruiting classes but so far the performance of his players hasn’t matched the coach’s hype.   

Brewster’s 6-21 Big Ten record got him fired.  His predecessor, Mason, was 16 games under .500 in conference games in 10 seasons.  That record got him dismissed in January of 2007 and is no endorsement to bringing him back despite a suggestion in a local newspaper last week to make him interim coach.   

How the University goes about choosing the next coach will have everything to do with the outcome.  Here’s what should be done: 

Minimize risk.  Don’t hire a high school coach, or college assistant with no experience as a coordinator, or a retread former college head coach whose past success was mediocre.  And don’t give the job to a pro assistant coach just because he works for the Vikings (see Darrell Bevell and Leslie Frazier), or used to be with the Purple (see Mike Tice).   

It’s all about experience and past success.  Target coaching candidates who have at least a few and preferably several years experience as a head coach at the Division I level.  To be considered the coach needs a winning percentage of about .600 percent or better.  Exceptions can be considered for coaches who have made dramatic progress at historically awful programs.  

Age matters.  The Human Resources Department cringes, but let’s be real.  Odds of success favor hiring a coach within a certain age range.  Something like 37 to 53 years old.  Why?  Because too young can translate into not enough experience.  Too old can mean the "fire in the belly" is gone, with less passion and commitment to the mega challenge of making the Gophers a consistent Big Ten title contender.

 

It’s all about experience and past success.  Target coaching candidates who have at least a few and preferably several years experience as a head coach at the Division I level. 

Spell It Out and Demand this: EXCELLENCE 

EXCELLENCE.  There’s a reason the word is spelled in cap letters. The whole search needs to be done with this mantra: “We are committed to hiring a college head coach who is a proven winner.”  No excuses.   

Fundraising starts now. The best of efforts must be made to raise money from outside sources to allow the Gophers to compete for top coaches.  There are probably 25 college coaches or more who earn about $1.6 million or greater per season.  Brewster was paid approximately $1 million a year.  Not good enough going forward.  

Hit a grand slam home run.  If the mantra demands excellence at the top of the search criteria then the hunt begins with a dream short list.  Can you say Jim Harbaugh, Chris Petersen or Tony Dungy?  Hire any of those guys and the town goes nuts just like when Lou Holtz brought his magic bag here in 1984 and transformed a slum program overnight into a respectable outfit on its way to the Rose Bowl and becoming bigger in this state than the Vikings.  

Keep your eye on the criteria.  If the U can’t hit a grand slam home run, then hit a solo shot.  Head coaches like Air Force’s Troy Calhoun, Utah’s Kyle Whittingham and South Florida’s Skip Holtz are criteria poster boys.  Don’t panic.  The right guy who meets the criteria is out there.   

For gosh sake, make sure the administration is on board.  It takes more than a great coach and willing athletic department to have a powerful football program.  The school president and other top leaders have to be arm-in-arm with the coach and supporting his needs.  Gary Barnett led the Northwestern miracle turn around in the mid-1990’s and said about administrators: “They’re not on the outside looking down saying, ‘Good luck.’…”  

Check out Wednesday’s column when Sports Headliners will have a more complete list of who should be considered for the job and the names of three coaches the U may ultimately choose from. 

 

All-Star Game, Vikings & Other Notes 

Sports Headliners has learned that the Minnesota High School All-Star Football Game will be held at TCF Bank Stadium next year.  All-Star director Dave Fritze said the sponsoring Minnesota High School Football Coaches Association will hold the game there on June 25, 2011 and in future years. 

The All-Star game has a long history that dates back more than 50 years.  In the 1970’s the game was played at Memorial Stadium on the University campus.  Other sites have included Parade Stadium and Macalester College in the metro area.  Last year’s game was held at St. Cloud State University.  

Fritze said the All-Star game costs about $70,000 to stage and whatever proceeds are available go to the football coaches association, a nonprofit that has long been a vigorous promoter of amateur football in the state with activities such as clinics and the game. The game is played between many of the best graduating prep seniors in the state who represent the Metro and Outstate squads.  

As part of the 50^th season, the Vikings organization is asking fans to help select the 50 greatest Vikings players of all time.  By visiting www.vikings.com/50 fans can find statistics, biographies, photos and videos of many nominees.  Voting began last week and continues through 29. 

Twins hero Michael Cuddyer sounded the Gjallarhorn prior to yesterday’s Vikings-Dallas game at Mall of America Field.  

There were about 30 Dallas media, including 12 representing Spanish radio and TV, covering the game.  That will be one of the largest media contingents of the season at Mall of America Field.

Vikings quarterback Brett Favre said after the Dallas game that wide receiver Randy Moss had some words for the team at halftime that were helpful.  Favre didn’t elaborate.  

Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin, who had a franchise record 95 yard kickoff return for a touchdown, was probably the team’s MVP yesterday in the 24-21 win.  He was asked if the addition of Moss to the roster created opportunities for others.  “Definitely, it’s becoming easier,” Harvin said.  “A lot of lanes should open up for us in the running game, and we just have to get it all together, and hopefully this game gave us the momentum and our offense can build from this.”

Dave Mona’s pre-game vignette on WCCO Radio prior to the Minnesota-Purdue game Saturday included the fact that collectively former Boilermakers quarterbacks have thrown more NFL touchdown passes than alums from any other school.  Guess how many NFL touchdown passes ex-Gophers have thrown?  One, according to Mona.  His research showed that Gino Cappelletti threw the lone touchdown pass on a fake field goal.  Purdue’s total? 1,096.   

New Wild goaltender Jose Theodore recently contacted goalie mask designer Todd Miska to update the mask he wore with the Capitals.  Earlier this year Miska painted the masks of Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding.

Defenseman Brent Burns and wife Susan are working with the nonprofit Defending The Blue Line to offer free Wild tickets to military service members. Preference is given to currently deployed, combat wounded, and families of KIA (Killed In Action) service members.  www.DefendingTheBlueLine.com 

FOX Sports North will televise tomorrow night’s Timberwolves-Indiana game from Target Center beginning at 7 p.m.  

The Minnesota Swarm has re-signed forward Ryan Benesch to a three-year contract extension. Benesch, 25, played in 15 games during his first season with the Swarm in 2010. He had 83 points on 28 goals and 55 assists last year, tying him for ninth in the NLL in scoring.  

Swarm fans can buy two season tickets at full price, and then purchase two more at 50 percent off.   www.mnswarm.com 

Registration for the second season of the Minnesota Hockey Recreational League is open through November 1. The league begins play in early December and offers a low cost hockey option for boys and girls ages 9-14.   More information is available at www.minnesotahockey.org or send an email to info@minnesotahockey.org.  

 

Dave Mona

Niklas Backstrom

Josh Harding