Monday, November 27, 2023

Nunzio Now?

Jake's note: This and any other post I publish about potential head coaching candidates for Columbia are just provided here as food for thought. I have not been paid, fed, cajoled, or threatened into endorsing any candidate over any other, etc.  




Nunzio Campanile


Longtime Bergen Catholic coach Nunzio Campanile has often been mentioned as a possible head coaching candidate for Columbia Football.

In years past, the Columbia athletic department's intense dislike for any high school coaches (a sentiment that long kept former Don Bosco head coach Greg Toal from even coming close to getting the job at CU).

But it's been more than six years since Campanile left BC and he's been coaching to great reviews at Rutgers and now Syracuse ever since. In fact, he's been so respected at Syracuse that they named him interim head coach earlier this month.

The Orange appear to be close to getting a major "big fish" to take the permanent head coaching job, which means Columbia has another chance to consider Campanile and his still very strong recruiting ties to some of the very strong Ivy football feeder areas in the Northeast and his new experience in other areas of the nation thanks to his college experience. 

Will he get a chance this time during this search process? I'm not sure, but it would be a good idea to do so. 

59 comments:

Anonymous said...

Do we really have a chance of getting Nunzio Campanile? I hear several schools are interested in him. It would be great to get an FBS coach especially after watching what he did with Syracuse on Saturday. Besides I hear he is well respected by most of the top high school coaches around the country. Why do we want a lower level college coach? Let’s get him now!

Anonymous said...

Columbia has no chance to get him. More wild speculation by Jake.

Anonymous said...

Nunzio would be the WOW factor that Columbia Football needs. We are instantly validated inside and outside the league. Nunzio has proven to be a GREAT recruiter (nationally), highly regarded by players and he was the interim Head Coach at both Rutgers and Syracuse. Furthermore, he would be able to retain Auggie Hoffman, who all of the current players seem to like. the question is, why wouldn't you hire Nunzio immediately? If this guy falls in your lap, which he is available and willing to take the job, then hire him!

Anonymous said...

Catch your breath, pal. You're getting ahead of yourself.

Roar Lion said...

I appreciate Jake's updates, but is there any evidence he wants the job? Ivy recruiting is hugely different than FBS recruiting, the money is different than FBS, the players are more likely pre-law than pre-NFL. For a younger coach, it's not clear that even a great 10-year run in the Ivies would be attractive to FBS schools. Al never got a good enough offer in his Penn years and Buddy failed in FBS. So if Campanile took the job, it might foreclose him being a HC in FBS in the future.

Also, I'll say again that allowing people to post as Anonymous simply ratchets up the troll level without adding anything the conversation.

Anonymous said...

People fear repercussions. What's the big deal of it's anonymous?

Anonymous said...

Question: does Jake actually know who the registered people are? Is he more able to monitor and possibly turn off "Roar Lion" or whatever somehow? I'm just curious.

Anonymous said...

That’s great, turn everything on Jake! He’s the guy with all of the sources and credible contacts. Let’s detract from the main issue, Walmart Pete (Pilling) trying to get UNQUALIFIED candidates for a bargain. You people are fools.

Anonymous said...

Who are the unqualified candidates being considered at this point?

Anonymous said...

We can’t sell ourselves short thinking an FBS coach would not want this job. Let’s at least reach out to Nunzio and see if he’s interested. We have a lot to offer for a coach. We should not settle for a D3 or 1-AA coach. We need a Wow coach now. Hopefully Piling reaches out ASAP. Jake - thanks for the info. Best name we’ve heard since the start of this search.

Anonymous said...

Going to Columbia would essentially end his FBS career, not going to happen

Anonymous said...

So that would mean your true name, as you listed above, is “Roar Lion”?
Very catchy and unique.
There’s no need to trash other alums
who are hopeful for success, just because you think you have superior insights.

I know how they feel, We’ve been thirsty
for some sustained victory for a very
long time—in my case almost 75 years.

Anonymous said...

Regarding the death of a career comment(s)... Teeven came from Stanford, Surface from the Pros (Bengals, OL coach) and Murphy from Cincinnati. Somehow they lasted quite a bit... They take Ivy jobs to sit for 10-15 years of stability in an unstable profession.

Anonymous said...

Except this isn’t Princeton, Harvard or Dartmouth that already had a track record of sustained football success.

ungvar said...

Campanile's recent jobs at Rutgers and Syracuse suggest an interest in staying in the NJ/NY area. He has a large family that may still be centered in NJ, although I can't confirm this. And agreeing with the poster above, he may be interested securing a relatively stable position at an Ivy.

Mr. Pilling, treat this guy to a fancy dinner in Manhattan--cigars, rare wines, the whole shebang. If the two basketball teams keep at it this year, and you can recruit Mr. Campanile, I'll personally pay for a fancy plaque extolling your virtues we can mount on the Dodge Fitness Center wall next to the stuffed lion (if that's still there).

Roar Lion said...

I don't have superior insights nor do I pretend to. As a poster of many years, I know if I see Old Lion, Valmas, Doc/Jock, Tod, Arthur or others, that they care about CU football and have been paying attention to the program for a long time. I may not agree with them and no, I don't know who any of them are. What I have come to hate are the idiots who claim Fabish is getting a 4-year contract when Jake is reporting he won't be back. Or that Painton is Baby Gronk/Brian O'Neill 2.0 when actually he's a kid trying to learn a new position. Or that Pilling has cut the FB coach salary and wants unqualified candidates. It's just a running river of idiocy. I come back bc Jake is the only person covering our program, and he does a fine job, but the comments enable trolls to dominate the conversation.

If you have a handle, we learn pretty quickly whether you're destructive or not. And if you are wrong say, 10 times in a row, people know to ignore you or call you out. Also, are there five different people feeling this way on an issue, or one guy posting continuously? On Voy, the most ludicrous posters tend to disappear after awhile, partly because people stop responding to them.

Anonymous said...

Agree with your position on anonymous posts. I do think you give jake a fairly big pass. While it is fair to say his efforts to get admin to address a failed football program were meaningful, a lot of what he has had to say last 2 or 3 years is simply inaccurate and it is not really clear he has any true inside sources of information

Oh, and someone might suggest he refrain from anointing the next star for the program based on high school height and weight or a single catch in a single game

Signed
Annie Mous

Anonymous said...

Walmart Pete will cost us a good Coach because he wants to save money. The most qualified candidate (that we are aware of) is Nunzio. Santos is out because he was leveraging the CU job for more money at UNH. Good riddens, he hasn’t accomplished anything at UNH anyway.

And Rustic (Harvard), Cozza (Yale), Tosches (Princeton), and Lyons (Dartmouth) ALL had horrible records for several years prior to their dismissal. Did Rustic and Cozza win championships, yes, and that is why they were allowed to stick around longer than they should have.

Anonymous said...

You have no facts for this statement, thanks for posting... lol:

"The most qualified candidate (that we are aware of) is Nunzio. Santos is out because he was leveraging the CU job for more money at UNH. Good riddens, he hasn’t accomplished anything at UNH anyway."

Anonymous said...

Exactly. The reading and analytical skills here are shockingly bad.

There is ZERO evidence that Nunzio is even interested in the job, yet there's criticism of Pilling for not hiring him.

Anonymous said...

We are not aware that either of those guys are candidates or even interested in the job.

Anonymous said...

Nunzio is a Bergen County guy. If he wants to stay in the area and Pilling isn’t trying to lowball the comp, going here would be an intriguing opportunity.

Anonymous said...

Help needed-can somebody explain how I can switch from commenting here as “anonymous” to my longstanding nom de plume?

Anonymous said...

Funny

Anonymous said...

How about this, if you can’t see the drop down menu button next to “Anonymous” (upside down triangle to the right), then just sign your name.

What time is your MENSA meeting?

Anonymous said...

Teevens was fired by Dartmouth, he didn't leave on his own, and he was returning to alma mater. Surace also returned to alma mater. That connection can overcome a lot. Murphy supposedly tried to leave Harvard on a regular basis, obviously unsuccessfully, and is not a good example of someone wanting low key job with stability.

Anonymous said...

Oops - Teevens fired by Stanford, of course, not DC ( although he may have come close after the first few years of the second teprm).

Anonymous said...

Santos is out? Sounds like Larsen is heating up. Pretty good resume of non D1 guys who've had their name mentioned here.

Anonymous said...

Just curious, why is Larsen heating up? He seems like a good candidate.

Anonymous said...

LOL nobody knows what names are heating up, Larsen? Oh sure you have the "inside" information.

Anonymous said...

Santos out? Who ever said he was ever in?

Anonymous said...

My sources tell me Jimbo is super interested. His buyout has him covered from a comp basis for next 8 years. Pilling lets make this happen!

Anonymous said...

I'd like to see us interview Lincoln Riley. I like young, offensive-minded coaches who wear visors.

alawicius said...

Who is "Jimbo"?

Anonymous said...

Fisher

Anonymous said...

Chip Kelly got his coaching start at Columbia so you never know.

Anonymous said...

So did Bill Polian.

Anonymous said...

Is the headhunter actually doing a nationwide sweep? Has the opening been posted on any of the coaches’ blogs? What is the status of the staff? What is the comp range being listed by the headhunters?

Anonymous said...

Is the headhunter actually doing a nationwide sweep? Has the opening been posted on any of the coaches’ blogs? What is the status of the staff? What is the comp range being listed by the headhunters?

So many questions...lol

Anonymous said...

Great, the war is LOST. Walmart Pete selected Poppe. We now have a former Special Teams Coordinator, who has been a Head Coach for 9 months (I repeat, 9 months), leading the Lions. He's taking the OC from PU, great, maybe Coach Flinn (correct spelling BTW) can teach our new HC at CU the game at this level. Walmart Pete, you have your Villanova connection, good for you. The rest of the Ivy coaches will be sending you Thank You notes for the Holidays. You can add those cards to the other Ivy basketball coaches who thank you for keeping Engles. Bravo to you, Walmart Pete, you've taken the program a giant step backwards (again).

For all you naysayers, believe what you want. The announcement is forthcoming and I do accept apology notes when this is made public... Walmart Pete didn't even have the decency to contact Nunzio. This "search" is a FRAUD and it is embarrassing!

My apologies to the faithful who wanted bigger and better things (Gilmore, Larsen, Garrett, whoever)... I know I did.

The flip side is that Poppe IS a nice guy and he's passionate about his work. The previous Columbia and Harvard players really liked him. The Union payers were (are) amazed by his passion. This is a GREAT segment when he was introduced at Union. Hopefully, he will will prove us wrong. I just don't like learning on the job. We're going from someone with decades of experience as a HC to 9 months at the helm of a Div.-III program. Just let that sink in... DECADES, versus 9 MONTHS...

https://www.news10.com/video/union-introduces-jon-poppe-as-head-football-coach/8342635/

If he's smart, he'll keep Auggie Hoffman.

Anonymous said...

Find it really hard to believe it happened that fast. That said, if true, it makes some sense. And I'll remind you, Bags started at Union.

Anonymous said...

I'll remind you (again), that Bags left Union after 10 seasons (and two National Championships - '83/'89), not 9 months...

Anonymous said...

My apologies to the faithful who wanted bigger and better things (Gilmore, Larsen, Garrett, whoever)... I know I did. Who said a decision's been made?

Anonymous said...

"Walmart Pete selected Poppe." No he didn't!

Anonymous said...

Yes, I believe he did.

Anonymous said...

"Yes, I believe he did". Based on what information?

Anonymous said...

You're a tool. If this is true, get on board and support the team. You know nothing other than complaining.

Anonymous said...

Jon Poppe would be a fantastic selection if true. However, I believe it's not accurate.

Anonymous said...

All- these rumors being put forth on timing this wk and selection of Poppe are categorically false. Stop the nonsense. You’re hurting the program.

Anonymous said...

"Walmart Pete" increased the football budget by 50%. He made a huge investment in football.

Anonymous said...

“Pilling 5th Ave” is working a geal to get Jimbo here as HC along with Elko as DC! This is happening people! Dont listen to the jagoffs and asshats!

Anonymous said...

Can someone please clarify where "Walmart Pete" came from? He made Bags the highest paid coach in the Ivy League, doubled the football budget, and most importantly is paying the assistant coaches enough to attract top talent.

How is that Walmart????

CC '18

Anonymous said...

“Pilling 5th Avenue!”

Anonymous said...

"Pilling 5th Avenue" has no ring to it, sorry. I believe the moniker "Walmart Pete" was created because WP went down to the basement to get a new coach. He's not paying Al money to Poppe. Instead we get an inexperienced HC on. the cheap.

Anonymous said...

"He's not paying Al money to the new coach".

No kidding, genius. The new guy never inherits the salary of the last guy. It's more or less depending on obvious factors.

Pilling increased the salaries of the staff and fought for significantly more money for football and all you do is whine and bitch about it.

Anonymous said...

Was it Pilling who fought for it, or was it a prerequisite for Al to take the job. Thank you, Al.

Anonymous said...

It's both. Pilling targeted Al and also committed to more $ for football.

Anonymous said...

Fair Point.

Anonymous said...

So it’s Poppe? He’s a winner!