I base this on two lines of reasoning: the first of course is my own intuition, belief and way of looking at the head coaching search on the whole. The second has influenced the first, and that is me trying to reach out to as many possible people in terms of sources within CU, from afar, at some of the schools potential candidates coach at.
Take it as you will, agree to disagree but that's the preface I want to begin with.
1) Steve Sarkisian: In terms of an outside head coach (aka not Darrin Chiaverini) that could come in, maintain this year's class and hit the ground running in terms of recruiting, I think he's the best bet. Sarkisian has proven to be an accomplished recruiter, both at UW and USC. The way I see it, Sarkisian effectively laid the groundwork for Chris Petersen to come in at Washington and elevate the program to truly great levels.
His final season at Washington in 2013, the Huskies had the No. 18 overall recruiting class in the nation. Keep in mind that the year before he took the helm in Seattle, UW went 0-12. By the time UW was beating up on Colorado in the 2016 Pac-12 Championship, it was a healthy chunk of Sarkisian's former recruits responsible for it.
When he wrapped up his inaugural class at USC in 2014, the Trojans came in at 10th overall in terms of the nation's best.
At the end of the day, you can't talk about Sarkisian without using the phrase "rolling the dice" when it comes to the documented abuse of alcohol, in general and on the job, that's clouded his head coaching career. You just can't.
After UW and USC, Sarkisian has bounced around with brief stints as Alabama's OC during the National Championship in 2017 (for the 2016 season he served as an offensive analyst) and then OC with the Atlanta Falcons in 2017-2018, before he was ultimately fired on New Year's Eve, 2018.
But what sticks out to me is how Nick Saban re-hired him as the Crimson Tide's OC in early 2019. Given that it was Saban, who as a hired consultant for MSU's coaching search committee, recommended the Spartans pursue Mel Tucker, I think it's fair to say that he's a guy who possesses a pretty firm grasp on coaching ability and character.
You can't really imagine either of Sarkisian's interviews with Saban (for the 2016 analyst role and 2019 OC position) which didn't feature a no-BS, eye-to-eye conversation about alcohol. I'm not willing to believe Saban on his end rolled the dice and just made a move.
Thus, if he was willing to give Sarkisian a chance in terms of forgiving his past sins on that note, so should Rick George.
Now, I'm not in Sarkisian's head obviously, but when I look at a guy like him, giving his ungraceful exit from his past head coaching position, that's a man I sense a hunger in to get another chance at the top. And I might go as far to say that for Sarkisian, loyalty (to a reasonable extent) for the man (George) who takes that chance on you and gives you the keys to the car comes with the territory of accepting a head coaching position.
And let's not forget the precarious QB situation Colorado is in. A guy like Sarkisian could at the minimum help groom Brendon Lewis and most definitely (if not this immediate season then no doubt soon enough) be a magnet as a recruiter of QBs.
He's high on my list without a doubt and I'm hearing from some folks down in Alabama that he's a big horse in the race.
2) Darrin Chiaverini: Pulling for Chev to be named next head coach is not a copout or something to be looked down upon. In terms of keeping this current class tight (the man recruited nearly 35% of the signees in 2020 personally), Chiaverini is probably the best option.
In other words, retaining Chiaverini presents the Buffaloes with their best chance to keep the overall structure and style of this incoming class, which is Colorado's best in years. His loyalty is not to be questioned. With the Buffs needing stability and consistency desperately in the coming year(s), Chiaverini provides security in that regard and also brings enough experience to the job title of head coach to where I'd be comfortable letting him go to work.
Say what you want about his play calling in 2016, but let's not forget he was co-offensive coordinator with Brian Lindgren. I doubt it's possible to go back to the records that season and see which guy called exactly what play and what their overall dynamic was, but sending Chev to the play calling leper colony is unfair.
Great coaches know how to surround themselves with talented guys that can plug the holes and fill the gaps in areas where the said head coach may not be overly proficient. Chiaverini would need some talented guys around him, and he already has some (Darian Hagan, Ross Els, Brian Michalowski).
Immediate stability among the recruits and current players obviously is a major selling point with Chiaverini. But I don't believe that he's getting a full fair shake from folks who call him inexperienced or the easy option. He might be in-house, but he is certainly not unqualified. He'd be stepping into a bigger pair of shoes. I personally think he could fit in them.
***On the note of Chiaverini, source of mine told me, short and bluntly, that Chev was "feeling good" about his chances. I think he's impressed ADRG enough to be considered a finalist.
Bret Bielema I personally am not very hot on due to what I've heard around the grapevine in terms of how his players enjoyed him. Troy Calhoun has had success no doubt, but what kind of rebuild process, and for how long, in terms of him drawing up a new offense and convincing not only this year's but 2021, 2022 and onward prospects to roll with it, will Colorado have to trudge through?
Jim Mora I hear wants the job but his hiring flare and recruiting prowess I feel is lukewarm.
Sarkisian is a dice roll due to the alcohol stuff, but I feel he'll rise to the occasion at CU, recruit the hell out of California, and eventually bring an elite QB to Boulder.
Chiaverini remains a prudent option, and his lack of experience with big responsibilities at the P5 level is something that could be remedied.
In closing, I personally expect by Friday a new HC named and by the end of the weekend, introduced. This ordeal will be over shortly.
Take it as you will, agree to disagree but that's the preface I want to begin with.
1) Steve Sarkisian: In terms of an outside head coach (aka not Darrin Chiaverini) that could come in, maintain this year's class and hit the ground running in terms of recruiting, I think he's the best bet. Sarkisian has proven to be an accomplished recruiter, both at UW and USC. The way I see it, Sarkisian effectively laid the groundwork for Chris Petersen to come in at Washington and elevate the program to truly great levels.
His final season at Washington in 2013, the Huskies had the No. 18 overall recruiting class in the nation. Keep in mind that the year before he took the helm in Seattle, UW went 0-12. By the time UW was beating up on Colorado in the 2016 Pac-12 Championship, it was a healthy chunk of Sarkisian's former recruits responsible for it.
When he wrapped up his inaugural class at USC in 2014, the Trojans came in at 10th overall in terms of the nation's best.
At the end of the day, you can't talk about Sarkisian without using the phrase "rolling the dice" when it comes to the documented abuse of alcohol, in general and on the job, that's clouded his head coaching career. You just can't.
After UW and USC, Sarkisian has bounced around with brief stints as Alabama's OC during the National Championship in 2017 (for the 2016 season he served as an offensive analyst) and then OC with the Atlanta Falcons in 2017-2018, before he was ultimately fired on New Year's Eve, 2018.
But what sticks out to me is how Nick Saban re-hired him as the Crimson Tide's OC in early 2019. Given that it was Saban, who as a hired consultant for MSU's coaching search committee, recommended the Spartans pursue Mel Tucker, I think it's fair to say that he's a guy who possesses a pretty firm grasp on coaching ability and character.
You can't really imagine either of Sarkisian's interviews with Saban (for the 2016 analyst role and 2019 OC position) which didn't feature a no-BS, eye-to-eye conversation about alcohol. I'm not willing to believe Saban on his end rolled the dice and just made a move.
Thus, if he was willing to give Sarkisian a chance in terms of forgiving his past sins on that note, so should Rick George.
Now, I'm not in Sarkisian's head obviously, but when I look at a guy like him, giving his ungraceful exit from his past head coaching position, that's a man I sense a hunger in to get another chance at the top. And I might go as far to say that for Sarkisian, loyalty (to a reasonable extent) for the man (George) who takes that chance on you and gives you the keys to the car comes with the territory of accepting a head coaching position.
And let's not forget the precarious QB situation Colorado is in. A guy like Sarkisian could at the minimum help groom Brendon Lewis and most definitely (if not this immediate season then no doubt soon enough) be a magnet as a recruiter of QBs.
He's high on my list without a doubt and I'm hearing from some folks down in Alabama that he's a big horse in the race.
2) Darrin Chiaverini: Pulling for Chev to be named next head coach is not a copout or something to be looked down upon. In terms of keeping this current class tight (the man recruited nearly 35% of the signees in 2020 personally), Chiaverini is probably the best option.
In other words, retaining Chiaverini presents the Buffaloes with their best chance to keep the overall structure and style of this incoming class, which is Colorado's best in years. His loyalty is not to be questioned. With the Buffs needing stability and consistency desperately in the coming year(s), Chiaverini provides security in that regard and also brings enough experience to the job title of head coach to where I'd be comfortable letting him go to work.
Say what you want about his play calling in 2016, but let's not forget he was co-offensive coordinator with Brian Lindgren. I doubt it's possible to go back to the records that season and see which guy called exactly what play and what their overall dynamic was, but sending Chev to the play calling leper colony is unfair.
Great coaches know how to surround themselves with talented guys that can plug the holes and fill the gaps in areas where the said head coach may not be overly proficient. Chiaverini would need some talented guys around him, and he already has some (Darian Hagan, Ross Els, Brian Michalowski).
Immediate stability among the recruits and current players obviously is a major selling point with Chiaverini. But I don't believe that he's getting a full fair shake from folks who call him inexperienced or the easy option. He might be in-house, but he is certainly not unqualified. He'd be stepping into a bigger pair of shoes. I personally think he could fit in them.
***On the note of Chiaverini, source of mine told me, short and bluntly, that Chev was "feeling good" about his chances. I think he's impressed ADRG enough to be considered a finalist.
Bret Bielema I personally am not very hot on due to what I've heard around the grapevine in terms of how his players enjoyed him. Troy Calhoun has had success no doubt, but what kind of rebuild process, and for how long, in terms of him drawing up a new offense and convincing not only this year's but 2021, 2022 and onward prospects to roll with it, will Colorado have to trudge through?
Jim Mora I hear wants the job but his hiring flare and recruiting prowess I feel is lukewarm.
Sarkisian is a dice roll due to the alcohol stuff, but I feel he'll rise to the occasion at CU, recruit the hell out of California, and eventually bring an elite QB to Boulder.
Chiaverini remains a prudent option, and his lack of experience with big responsibilities at the P5 level is something that could be remedied.
In closing, I personally expect by Friday a new HC named and by the end of the weekend, introduced. This ordeal will be over shortly.
