Coaching Search...who's next? lets hear all the wild speculation

[T6Panther]

I hope it is Matt Drinkall. He was the OC at St. Ambrose; they haven't been the same since he left. Drinkall's turnaround at Kansas Wesleyan was super impressive. He was able to sign players from all over the country. Salina, Kansas, isn't a destination town lol. His offense there broke about every school record possible, it would be exciting football in the Dome.

[achrist70]

Well, we officially have a list according to Cole Bair... Here are the 6 that have interviewed. Of note - Jeremiah Johnson and Ryan Clanton turned down requests for interviews.

- Bryce Paup
- GV Head Coach Joe Woodley
- Army OC Matt Drinkall
- South Carolina WR coach Mike Furrey
- Wyoming OC Jay Johnson
- Boise State Assistant Head coach Erik Chinander

I actually think this is a pretty impressive list, and I'm very curious to see where this goes. Four of them obviously have UNI ties.

I think out of that list Chinander, Woodley, and Drinkall jump out to me, but I'm pretty open. I just want someone eager to embrace the new normal with an athletics office ready to support them.

I will say that I think that all six of these could a great job if given the chance and resources to be successful. I do actually think that the FBS rosters being trimmed down will help a program like UNI overtime.

Just looking at the list

Bryce Paup I think he is a heck of a coach, I do wonder if him being on staff will be a hinderance for him getting the job, I get the feeling like "new blood" may be wanted.

Joe Woodley has had a ton of success at Grandview, the program that his dad started. I have had a couple of kids that I coached play for him and they all said great things. I do wonder if UNI is a much tougher job than Grandview, but as someone said earlier winners, win.

Drinkall is the unknown for me, that is nothing against him, looking at his resume it is impressive, and I think the time at a service academy is interesting.

Furrey has the UNI connection, but not necessarily the Sheriff/Farley connection. He does have some head coaching experience in the D2 level as well.

Jay Johnson another coach with a UNI connection, the guy that kept Kurt Warner off of the field at UNI. I would say he is maybe the candidate that I am least excited about but that is not to say he isn't a qualified candidate, he hasn't been a head coach, and he is 55 years old would be my hesitation.

Erik Chinander is very intriguing I think, I wonder what his end goal is, meaning is he wanting to become a power 4 head coach, if so I don't know if coming to UNI would aide in that. I would guess that he would take a pay cut to come here, but he is originally from North Butler (if might have been Alison Bristow still), and I know that his father passed away a few years ago so that might be a draw to come back. He was also part of probably the best coaching staff UNI has ever had.

The other questions I have is, if Paup doesn't get the job does he stick around? I know that Rick Nelson isn't technically on contract right now, but does he possibly come back? He could also be looking to retire, I don't know. Same with Coach Austin who was also a member of that 07 staff.

[Trapped in California]

Not exactly on topic, but it has been mentioned by Farley and others. Welcome to the free for all of college sports in the NIL era

Matt Rhule expects Nebraska football will have '30-50 guys' enter transfer portal after season

[MVCBeat]

So if we hire Drinkall are we a triple-option school now?

[BCPanther]

So if we hire Drinkall are we a triple-option school now?

No. That's not what he's run in the past. More of a spread with some power elements. Think K-State that throws 70% of the time.

[UNIAlum95]

That is really a solid list of candidates. That said, I hope Paup is there as a courtesy given his history with Panther athletics. I loved him as a player and I think he was a good add to the staff a number of years ago but he is not a HC.

I'll also pass on Johnson too echoing BC's comments. BTW the only reason he kept Warner on the bench was TA was ALWAYS going to play the upper classman QB. Every time Kurt got an opportunity to play when Jay was injured or we were up by 40 pts, he outplayed him. Not that it has anything to do with his ability to be a head coach but I want it clear that while he was a 3x all Gateway player, he was not the best QB on the team. Jay has admitted that as well.

[MVCBeat]

That is really a solid list of candidates. That said, I hope Paup is there as a courtesy given his history with Panther athletics. I loved him as a player and I think he was a good add to the staff a number of years ago but he is not a HC.

I'll also pass on Johnson too echoing BC's comments. BTW the only reason he kept Warner on the bench was TA was ALWAYS going to play the upper classman QB. Every time Kurt got an opportunity to play when Jay was injured or we were up by 40 pts, he outplayed him. Not that it has anything to do with his ability to be a head coach but I want it clear that while he was a 3x all Gateway player, he was not the best QB on the team. Jay has admitted that as well.

We'll make sure he acknowledges that in his press conference.

[T6Panther]

So if we hire Drinkall are we a triple-option school now?

He played a large role in Army moving to more of a spread triple option versus the old school triple option.

"Running a no-huddle, Power-Spread system, Drinkall’s offense set conference and school records for points per game (54.3) and yards per game (530.8) during the regular season. The 2018 offense produced a quarterback accounting for 3,739 yards and 47 touchdowns, while simultaneously producing a running back that accounted for 2,788 yards and 41 total touchdowns. Averaging over seven yards per play, the 2018 offense additionally set conference and school records for total points, total yards, points in a game (83), points in a half (69), and points in a quarter (49). All three records were set in separate games."

[MVCBeat]

Was he demoted from OC?

[SteinPizza]

Furrey does have some head coaching experience at Limestone, but his overall record was right around .500. Having said that, Limestone total record is well under .500 so maybe it's more impressive than you might think at first glance.

Fun Fact: Limestone's current head coach is another former NFL WR - Jerricho Cotchery.

I was basing the comment off him winning division titles and making the playoffs his last two years. The NFL experience would definitely help with his recruiting pitch. I get the sense he may not be as coveted by UNI or this board as some others, but it will be interesting to see where he’s at in four or five years. If he works his way up to being an SEC coordinator and his offense racks up some points and wins, look out.

[clenz]

I was basing the comment off him winning division titles and making the playoffs his last two years. The NFL experience would definitely help with his recruiting pitch. I get the sense he may not be as coveted by UNI or this board as some others, but it will be interesting to see where he’s at in four or five years. If he works his way up to being an SEC coordinator and his offense racks up some points and wins, look out.

It's that weird spot of "If he didn't play at UNI would we want him?" The answer is likely a resounding no based on that resume. However, he knows UNI and the area so that changes it. It also falls in that weird "He probably knows what he is doing and would be ready to step into a head role" high upside and "Well, his resume told you he wasn't ready" downside. So again, combine that with a guy who didn't graduate from UNI and they never get mentioned. However, he did graduate from UNI, so that slightly changes the math.

I'm not anti-Furrey by any stretch, though I completely get any hesitation anyone might have.

[BCPanther]

There's a clear best choice here if the money and commitment level work...

[06panther10]

It's that weird spot of "If he didn't play at UNI would we want him?" The answer is likely a resounding no based on that resume. However, he knows UNI and the area so that changes it. It also falls in that weird "He probably knows what he is doing and would be ready to step into a head role" high upside and "Well, his resume told you he wasn't ready" downside. So again, combine that with a guy who didn't graduate from UNI and they never get mentioned. However, he did graduate from UNI, so that slightly changes the math.

I'm not anti-Furrey by any stretch, though I completely get any hesitation anyone might have.

Thats why you conduct interviews. Being a convincing salesman is equally important as x’s and o’s in this sport.

[FOTY]

Thats why you conduct interviews. Being a convincing salesman is equally important as x’s and o’s in this sport.

And, that my friend, is how Farley landed in the role.

[06panther10]

And, that my friend, is how Farley landed in the role.

Yes. And was very successful for that reason as well.