Football coaches are just like football

Filed in archive College Football on January 26, 2010

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When college and professional football season comes to a close it is time of the year when the ritual of coach hiring and firing takes place and this year is certainly not different from the rest. Around 21 college football coaching changes have been witnessed until now and some of these decisions will bring good news for the teams whereas others will have to bite the dust.

It all started with Pete Carroll leaving USC and moving back to NFL. Most of us don't remember that Pete Carroll has previously coached in NFL and he was with the Jets and New England during the nineties and is even credited with the record of 33-31 which he achieved in five NFL seasons but never seemed comfortable in the pros. Later on he tasted success at USC where he was involved in two BCS National titles and compiled a 97-19 record in nine years. Carroll could have moved out of USC due to imminent NCAA sanctions but the money offered by Seattle was too good to be ignored. It is expected he could infuse new strength in Seattle by adding young players and give their teeth back to them. Though the gun may not be placed on his head immediately but he would be expected to bring some good results in another couple of years or so.

Lane Kiffin has now been given the task of taking over what Pete Carroll left and he even brings along his father Monte Kiffin and top recruiter Ed Orgeron with him but if you ask Tennessee Volunteer fan what they think about Kiffin there is always a chance that you might end up with hundred different answers. If we look at Kiffin's track record then he was just 5-15 in the NFL with The Raiders and this can be termed as total disaster. Questions are being raised on his abilities and some feel USC should have waited for some one better.

If you talk about Chan Gailey then he can be dubbed as Bill Fitch of football coaches and is said to have an impressive coaching resume and experience of head coach with Georgia, Troy, Samford, Tech and even in NFL with The Dallas Cowboys. Though he has wins under his belt and is a player's coach but Buffalo Bills need someone like Bill Cowher to take them out of the mess.
Even Notre Dame has hired Brian Kelly as its new football coach and he joins the team after having performed some kind of magic at Cincinnati achieving a career record of 34-6 in four years with the team. Notre Dame has made good decision by hiring Brian Kelly who would certainly perform a better job than Charlie Weis.

Coach hopping has just started so stayed tuned for some more action in the future on this front.