Sean McDonnell
Lord knows I'm not high-handed enough to stick with my list and only my list of possible coaching candidates.
After thinking about it a bit more, I realize UNH Head Coach Sean McDonnell is very likely someone Columbia is looking at for our open job.
They may have even made an offer already.
He was the head coach who brought in
Chip Kelly to be the offensive coordinator when the Wildcats turned things around, and he's overseen the strong program ever since.
Sources tell me his salary is paltry and he should be at least interested in what Columbia can offer.
McDonnell was also an assistant at Columbia for two seasons in 1989 and 1990.
A lot's changed since then, but he at least knows where the stadium is.
Sources tell me his salary is paltry and he should be at least interested in what Columbia can offer.
McDonnell was also an assistant at Columbia for two seasons in 1989 and 1990.
A lot's changed since then, but he at least knows where the stadium is.
23 comments:
Jake: quite simply, here is the problem- no coach has ever won at Columbia. What happens to their career after Columbia? Has any former coach got a Head job after Columbia? No. Can the administration convence any coach that the school is committed ? How do they prove to a coach that they will let some kids in and improve financial aid ? Will they offer the top coaching salaries in the league? The school is represented by amateurs, in regards to football, but these Head Football Coaches are professionals.
Frank Navarro got the Princeton job after Columbia. And I believe Bob Shoop and Norries Wilson will get head coaching jobs once again.
Correct regarding Frank- but he got the Princeton job after Wabash.
Good work though, Jake. The consensus among college football coaches is that Columbia is a graveyard for Head Coaches. In fact, the whole league is not a take-off point for Head Coaches, not just Columbia.
Just remembered- Bob Odell was fired at Penn and became the Head Coach at Williams. Anybody go back that far?
Hey, Chip Kelly coached at Columbia. Do you think Oregon isn't a step up?
McDonnell would be an intriguing candidate. No question he wins with poor facilities. I was watching the FCS playoffs this year and they showed the assistant coaches crammed into area overlooking the field that was treacherous to get to. Not kidding they had to climb a skinny catwalk. One misstep and you are done.
Though a quick search shows he has been sought after by other FCS programs and perhaps even FBS programs. Seems a long shot Columbia can attract him unless they can put a very healthy package together exceeding the $255,000 he earns annually at UNH. Source.
Then again, as Coach says above, every high caliber coach will really question coming to Columbia with their back already against the wall in the most stressful way.
It's a job for a young coach who wants to prove himself, not a proven vet seeking a payday at the expense of his reputation. Pete paved that path and he is finished.
I think Columbia needs to hire a expirienced coach like the Univ of Buffalo did.
Jim Small
Can't believe a young coach with aspirations
would roll the dice at Columbia. Seems to me that a guy in his mid to early 50s could make a nice home here. Look at the
comfortable spot Coach Murphy has made for himself at Harvard. If anyone could win 5 a year for 10 or so years, we would all be happy.
Not saying we should look for a retiree, but this is the Ivy League, not the SEC.
Financial aid is apparently no longer a problem. One of our outstanding incoming basketball players tweeted that he is essentially getting a free ride.
I have a hard time believing Sean Mcdonnell is going anywhere.
UNH came within inches of going to the FCS national championship this year and have you seen the plans for their new stadium?
http://unhstadium.com/about/timeline/
Great points coach !
Wonder if the lateness of the coach recruitment process will prove to be a major deterrent to a new hire since the new HC will have lost most of the opportunity to build the program though his own recruits for the class of 2019.
If that is the case we may see Coach Rippon officially get the nod for the coming season.
McDonnell has been head coach at UNH about 15 years, with a very good record. How experienced do you want him to be? And if he was considered by Buffalo, he lost out to younger Lance Leipold who won the Div. 3 championship six times at Wisconsin-Whitwater,
Trouble is McD would have to uproot himself from his alma mater. Why do that to take on a rebuilding job at CU.? He'd have to really want a big challenge.
There are capable people out there though and it's Pilling's job to get one.
A new stadium for UNH sounds great. I also did not realize they will be playing at San Jose State Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015. I have it circled on my calendar now.
Old Lion,
My recollection of the FA packages in the Ivy League a few years ago, was that any prospective student who's parent's income was under $100,000 per year, was pretty much tuition free.
Not so common in the big cities of the east and west coasts, but in the south and mid-west, not bad money.
He's got my vote.
Any coach that can do what he's done with most of his kids coming from NH and MA.
Must be a coaching genius.
Not sure how a new stadium would keep a coach from taking a new job that has the potential increase of $125,000+ per year.
It will cost at least $500,000 and a 5 year contract to get someone of McDonnell's caliber. Not sure they will pull the trigger on that. Top staff means $150,00 for each coordinator
and @100,00 for each assistant. Welcome to the world of a winning program.
Coach,
Glad to be here!
Referring to former Head Coaches at Columbia.
look first of all there are many coaches out there who want the columbia job , many coaches , it was rumored that BIG PETE was getting paid 400,000$ a year , that is a lot of money for a 1aa coach , coaches out there know this and they are interested , tom gilmore would certianly want the job it would be twice waht he gets paid at holycross , i hear the former head man at penn is considering the job right now !
the one thing that cant happen is rippon , he needs to go , his defense was terrible at marshall and even worse at columbia, he needs to go now , he cant coach , if he could the defense would have played a lot better , brown crushed rippon defense in the last game , his defense got worse as the season went along not better! what columbia needs to win is great recruiting, the type of recruiting like mike whalen provided at weslyian , he turned that arounf in 3 years becuase of great recruiting , in fact the whole staff has to go , BIG PETE had all yes man who in the end couldnt stand him as a person , he was the wrong guy for columbia , anyone who knows BIG PETE knows he has horrible people skills , the kind young men wont respect!!
it is joke that people would entertain keeping rippon, wake up he got fired at marshall for a terrible performance ( hey after he left marshall they went 12-0 )
it is simple there is an arms race going on in the ivy league , harvard and yale are the big dogs , dartmouth is trying to keep up with them , everyone else is getting crushed like the bugs!!
we should be looking for a coach like the university of buffalo just hired , a really good division 3 coach who has to work very hard to recruit really good players , and a coach that does it all!! not some re-tread like BIG PETE , or a guy on the money grab like ripon!!
we need fire and electricity, with tremendous work ethic!!
i agree with the money part , you will have to pay , but we all know what columbia is doing , they have paid some fancy search firm , to go out and do some secret search , and talk to coaches quietly !! we all know they have been doing this!!they pat ripon on the back and say keep up the good work , were with you! ya right !!! thats why ripon was down at the coaches convention looking for a job!!
they have ray tellier and taylor there , they are paying , now they are paying a search firm , just crazy!!
you limit who might really want the job!! they should go out and hire a guy like ray tellier , a division 3 guy , pay him , and then make him go out and get great asistant coached who can recruit , and pay those assistant coaches big money to recruit the best kids to columbia!! it is that simple ! but lets listen to some fancy search firm screw it up and make us all feel good!
look what weslian did with mike whalen , they pulled him away from williams with a better pay and position , he went out and out recruited everyone and he turned it around in 2 years !
that is how you do it !! it is simple !!
some one pack ripons bags for him!
Great posts Jim Small! I'll add that it is not money alone that will attract candidates. Pete was able to get the 400K based on his relationship with Ms. Murphy. I'm not so sure Pete's predecessors made the same figure.
A veteran coach will also be asking what is in place to help them build a winner. A new AD is a start but no one knows his effectiveness there are far more questions than answers overall. While there is no shortage of candidates willing to put it all on the line it will take a shrewd vetting to find the right fit for the program. That's why i don't think they will hire someone for this upcoming season and just leave well enough alone until the larger hiring/firing window opens in November and December '15.
How accurate is the $400k per year for PM? I heard it was not that high...
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