Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Three More Names

I thought I'd add to the list of possible coaching candidates at Columbia with three more names from the top three finishers in the Ivy League this season. 

Remember you can see my original short list of my favorite candidates, led by Tom Gilmore and Joe Moglia, here.


Joel Lamb

Lamb has been the #2 guy under Tim Murphy at Harvard for nine years and has consistently produced potent scoring teams as offensive coordinator.

A few things give me pause about Lamb: we don’t know how he’d perform without the powerful Harvard name as a recruiting lure. And it seems like he is truly trying to wait his turn at Harvard as his first choice. Someone like that could bolt back to Harvard at a moment’s notice even if he was already working at or committed contractually to Columbia.

He’s also not a New York guy by any stretch. And I think getting someone at least familiar with the city and/or Columbia is ideal.

Those scenarios aside, Lamb is still an impressive candidate who should be looked at closely if he is interested in the job.


Joe Conlin

Conlin is coming off a great year as the Yale offensive coordinator. And he spent a number of years at FCS powerhouse New Hampshire before coming to New Haven. He’s young and ambitious.

But did the Elis excel because of his work or because of Bushnell Cup winner Tyler Varga and super WR Deon Randall? Both of those players were guys he did not recruit. ‘


Conlin also has no experience with Columbia or NYC. 


Don Dobes

I’ve already flagged two other Dartmouth assistants, Keith Clark and Cortez Hankton, as good possible candidates for us at Columbia.

But Don Dobes, the Big Green defensive coordinator, is certainly worth a look.

You can’t really find more experience than what Dobes brings to the table, and his work with the Dartmouth defense these last few years has been impressive.

He doesn’t have NYC or Columbia experience, but experience is not really his Achilles heel no matter how you look at it.

I suppose a lot of people would question his age and wonder if he’s past his prime as a head coaching candidate.

But I’d still give him a long look. 

16 comments:

Will Flote said...

Jake,
I believe that you mentioned some time off, please take it! You and your cronies have accomplished your primary goal and forced PM out. Now its talk of taking a year off, a crippled program, not going to be a good team in 15, and the inability to recruit. This blog is a parasite on any positive energy! Give the kids a break. I know many don’t read this but it impacts those who do. You know who they are, think about those names on the letter.
Let’s try and build something. Having no coach may hinder recruiting but so does an alumni fan blog that consistently predicts doom and gloom. Allie is correct, there is talent on this team, man up and help lead.

Anonymous said...

Joe Moglia is unlikely to leave Coastal Carolina for anything less than a princely (and well deserved) sum. His team is battling for a national championship so why would he make the rebuilding detour. In fact, I don't see him moving for anything but an FBS opportunity.

#1 Lion said...

I pray that those clowns from the Football Committee (AKA Nathan's Hot Dog Committee) just stay away from the whole Head Coach selection process. Remember, those idiots went along with keeping Mangurrian. If they disagreed, they should have resigned; and they didn't! That speaks volumes!!!

My vote, again, is to get Tom Gilmore and we're good!

Chick said...

Say, Will Flote,, why don't you "FLOTE away" since I can't figure out what you're talking about? Jake did not suggest shutting down for a year, some fan did. Jake said no and so did I. That would be stupidly defeatist and would admit CU is hopelessly incompetent. We'll have a coach and AD and recruits in 2015 and I expect an improvement over PM's horrible record. I also said there is talent if we get a decent coach Wwho knows how to use it.
LET'S GO LIONS, in 2015 and every year. And we need a talented AD as well as a coach. No members of the Nathan's Hot Dog Committee, especially Ted Gregory, need apply. He's just a toady for Campbell.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Flote, Jake did not force Pete out the door. Pete did that to himself through his own actions. The man is a horrible communicator and it got him in trouble. Imagine the luxury of being 0-20 over the last 2 years and keeping a 500K salary. Do you realize the number of coaches that can manage to do that in both FBS and FCS? NONE. Any other coach would have been dismissed a long time ago but Pete had the backing of the administration because they didn't want to deal with the problem.

So Pete's an idiot for letting that job slip out of his grasp when he had another million coming to him if he acted professional. This blog could scream all it wants but that would not budge the apathy of the administration.


If Jake did have a hand in Pete leaving then he deserves a standing ovation.

Coach said...

Jake - please don't mention any assistants from Yale. We have hired 2 already - McElreavy and Shoop- wow! Both outstanding citizens when they were at Columbia.

Coach said...

Would like to see Columbia hire a coach with a proven recruiting record. This is, by far, the most important criteria.

Unknown said...

Write a big check and hire Jim Grobe.

Need to start emphasizing recruiting DC to Miami. He knows the area.

No need to repeat the same process of hiring Ivy Retreads who think the northeast and second tier CA HSs are the center of the football world.

Coach said...

Top guy-1st class- would be a good hire-

D-Wyle said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Coach said...

Would like to see Columbia look at Jeff Devanney from Trinity and Marty Fine from Bryant. Both outstanding and would work well at Columbia.

Anonymous said...

Spoke with someone who's opinion I really respect. The right person for the job should show a track record of success in spite of hurdles such as small budget, urban school, losing culture, etc. We need a can do guy who already has done it in a comparable environment.

Also, we probably don't want someone that came from a major program for similar reasons.

We need someone who has shown they can succeed and excel with less and someone who is not going to expect everything to be handed to and laid out for them.

Coach said...

Gilmore signed new deal at Holy Cross-

Anonymous said...

Very interesting suggestion regarding Jim Grobe. He does have the necessary background. Winning at Wake Forest is a tough task given the facilities are not on par with other ACC programs. He took them to the Orange Bowl and was offered the Nebraska job at one point.

The thing with guys like Grobe is he is a bit more big time ready than what Columbia has to offer. This is a massive rebuilding project. He is 62 and would likely want a situation he can get back to the FBS status he was accustomed to. I just get the gut impression the Columbia job is for younger coaches willing to dig in and hit the road recruiting (eastern seaboard is an excellent idea).

Coach said...

Columbia is using an outside search firm for the AD job- They will submit 2 or maybe 3 names- then who decides from the administration ??

Jake said...

Music to my ears! Outside = good.