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Grooming the next OC

Alabama is the master of having coaches in waiting on its staff. They specialize in hiring talented but recently fired coaches for off the field positions. Then, if they do well, they get an on the field job when it comes open.

Ex.

  • Lane Kiffin as OC backed up by staffer Steve Sarkisian. Steve promoted when Lane went to FAU.
  • Mike Locksley hired as a staffer after he got fired at New Mexico. He then was promoted to OC and is now off to Maryland as HC.
  • Dan Enos hired as Qb coach after being fired at Arkansas. He was the backup to Locksley but shocked Saban by taking the Miami job.
  • Steve Sarkisian just came back to Bama as OC after being fired by the Falcons. He is now backed up by staffer Major Applewight who was fired by Houston.

Saban hires talented (but fired) coaches as off the field staffers. Unlimited budget. It works.
 
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zanecane said:
@Go Canes!!

I knew this would be a typical response. It’s short sited. (Don’t take that as a criticism please)

If he leaves it means we DID well. Not that we will continue to do so.

Clemson built that program the right way. It’s the reason they have so few people transfer out and they have so few misses in recruiting. They recruit players for their systems and their systems never change.

Do you want to have to go out and find a new OC every couple years? Go through the process over and over? While also needing to find players to fit that new OC’s system? Of course not.
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No I don't "want" to go out and find a new OC every couple of years. But that is reality, plain and simple. Finding one example in all of college football of a staff where it doesnt happen, for whatever reasons may be there, is the singular exception not the rule.

The real life scenario is that Enos took this job soley to help him catapult himself into another HC gig somewhere else. That's the naturer of the beast. Everyone from Saban to Meyer on down is constantly churning assistant coaches and we will hopefully be no different.
 
DTP said:
We haven't even had Enos for one game let alone an entire season. A bit early to start thinking about allowing him to groom an "OC in waiting", no? I mean, there is the possibility he flops. Or maybe he's aiiight but nothing special? I think if a guy has been with the program for a few years and is doing a great job, you should probably think about bringing in a protege for him. Otherwise, you're getting way too ahead of yourself.
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I hope Manny isn’t going into this thinking Enos could flop. Could he? Sure. But i’d Prefer manny builds a culture that expects and works towards sustained success. If it flopped he wouldn’t be expected to hire the OC in waiting. He’d Clean house.

You call it getting ahead of yourself. I call your style shortsighted. To each their own.
 
zanecane said:
What I envy about Clemson is that although they have lost an OC recently, and may lose another after this season or next, they always have an "OC in waiting" being groomed to continue the scheme.

Its a very smart move by dabo. for multiple reasons. Helps the kids on the team as they don't need to learn a new offence, helps him focus on improving aspects of the team rather than teaching the basics over again, and helps in recruiting as he can sell kids on being "the next (insert name)" and not have to worry as much about decommits because nothing but the OC name will change.

Enos has job hopped quite a bit and Michigan State his alma mater may fire Coach D at seasons end. He would only be in the running if we have a big season of course. But, looking at the rest of our O staff there does not seem to be anyone capable or qualified to take on the role if he was to leave,

I know some will think I'm getting ahead of myself, but I disagree. I think if you want to sustain success in college football, or in any business really, you need to plan ahead and learn from others who are having success.
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And it helps too that your guys you work around don't mind working with you which is a plus for Dabo. Guys appreciate that the coach feel that way about them. To have them in line to take over once the guy in front of them is gone. It create great comfort and job security. I came to appreciate Dabo lately especially after knowing how he became the HC. It's a good model for Diaz to follow!
 
jjjrcanes said:
And it helps too that your guys you work around don't mind working with you which is a plus for Dabo. Guys appreciate that the coach feel that way about them. To have them in line to take over once the guy in front of them is gone. It create great comfort and job security. I came to appreciate Dabo lately especially after knowing how he became the HC. It's a good model for Diaz to follow!
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Exactly, just the way Scott handled questions about being an OC candidate for other jobs should help people understand how much he appreciated the culture and hierarchy Dabo has built at Clemson.
 
zanecane said:
What I envy about Clemson is that although they have lost an OC recently, and may lose another after this season or next, they always have an "OC in waiting" being groomed to continue the scheme.

Its a very smart move by dabo. for multiple reasons. Helps the kids on the team as they don't need to learn a new offence, helps him focus on improving aspects of the team rather than teaching the basics over again, and helps in recruiting as he can sell kids on being "the next (insert name)" and not have to worry as much about decommits because nothing but the OC name will change.

Enos has job hopped quite a bit and Michigan State his alma mater may fire Coach D at seasons end. He would only be in the running if we have a big season of course. But, looking at the rest of our O staff there does not seem to be anyone capable or qualified to take on the role if he was to leave,

I know some will think I'm getting ahead of myself, but I disagree. I think if you want to sustain success in college football, or in any business really, you need to plan ahead and learn from others who are having success.
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Good post. I've been thinking the same thing since we finished announcing the staff. The truth is that there has been so much positivity in the program for the last month that I didn't want to nitpick. Not saying you are and it's an excellent point that should be brought up and discussed.

The way the current offensive staff is constructed, I would assume that Manny wanted a commitment from Enos to see this thing through. Gives me the impression that if or when Enos bolts we are going to have to blow it up and install a fairly new offense. I say fairly because we know it's going to be an aggressive, Miami friendly type of offense.
 
Cortez55403 said:
Alabama is the master of having coaches in waiting on its staff. They specialize in hiring talented but recently fired coaches for off the field positions. Then, if they do well, they get an on the field job when it comes open.

Ex.

  • Lane Kiffin as OC backed up by staffer Steve Sarkisian. Steve promoted when Lane went to FAU.
  • Mike Locksley hired as a staffer after he got fired at New Mexico. He then was promoted to OC and is now off to Maryland as HC.
  • Dan Enos hired as Qb coach after being fired at Arkansas. He was the backup to Locksley but shocked Saban by taking the Miami job.
  • Steve Sarkisian just came back to Bama as OC after being fired by the Falcons. He is now backed up by staffer Major Applewight who was fired by Houston.
Saban hires talented (but fired) coaches as off the field staffers. Unlimited budget. It works.
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Then maybe our next OC is another guy from Bama ...
 
Well once we know if the product on the field matches the hype right now then we will be able to start doing this. We have a coach now who doesn’t want to be anywhere but here. It was his choice and we’re the apple of his eye.

The continuity will begin in about two years or so. We just need to continue to change the culture. The last 3 coaches killed Miami culture.
 
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DTP said:
We haven't even had Enos for one game let alone an entire season. A bit early to start thinking about allowing him to groom an "OC in waiting", no? I mean, there is the possibility he flops. Or maybe he's aiiight but nothing special? I think if a guy has been with the program for a few years and is doing a great job, you should probably think about bringing in a protege for him. Otherwise, you're getting way too ahead of yourself.
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Exactly. I believe dude will be good for us, but let him call a game first before we crown someone or talk about oc in waiting. We always put mfs on a pedestal when they haven't proven **** yet
 
coolazzice said:
Exactly. I believe dude will be good for us, but let him call a game first before we crown someone or talk about oc in waiting. We always put mfs on a pedestal when they haven't proven **** yet
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You're also only allowed so many coaches on staff so if you're going to use a coaching spot for an OC "in waiting" he better be able to coach RB, WR, or OL also.

It's like the guys who get all pannicky because we don't have 12 scholarship receivers or 9 defensive tackles. You only have so much room, you can't worry about being 5 deep at every position.
 
Cortez55403 said:
Alabama is the master of having coaches in waiting on its staff. They specialize in hiring talented but recently fired coaches for off the field positions. Then, if they do well, they get an on the field job when it comes open.

Ex.

  • Lane Kiffin as OC backed up by staffer Steve Sarkisian. Steve promoted when Lane went to FAU.
  • Mike Locksley hired as a staffer after he got fired at New Mexico. He then was promoted to OC and is now off to Maryland as HC.
  • Dan Enos hired as Qb coach after being fired at Arkansas. He was the backup to Locksley but shocked Saban by taking the Miami job.
  • Steve Sarkisian just came back to Bama as OC after being fired by the Falcons. He is now backed up by staffer Major Applewight who was fired by Houston.
Saban hires talented (but fired) coaches as off the field staffers. Unlimited budget. It works.
Click to expand...

Thats interesting. It means Saban, unlike our fans, prefer Enos over Applewhite as the OC.
 
zanecane said:
What I envy about Clemson is that although they have lost an OC recently, and may lose another after this season or next, they always have an "OC in waiting" being groomed to continue the scheme.

Its a very smart move by dabo. for multiple reasons. Helps the kids on the team as they don't need to learn a new offence, helps him focus on improving aspects of the team rather than teaching the basics over again, and helps in recruiting as he can sell kids on being "the next (insert name)" and not have to worry as much about decommits because nothing but the OC name will change.

Enos has job hopped quite a bit and Michigan State his alma mater may fire Coach D at seasons end. He would only be in the running if we have a big season of course. But, looking at the rest of our O staff there does not seem to be anyone capable or qualified to take on the role if he was to leave,

I know some will think I'm getting ahead of myself, but I disagree. I think if you want to sustain success in college football, or in any business really, you need to plan ahead and learn from others who are having success.
Click to expand...

The guy hasn't even coached one game at Miami and we have him penned down as the next HC at Michigan State. We always do this with new OC or DC.
 
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As long as Manny knows what type of offense he wants implemented here and recruits good players to run that offense will be fine. Having a identity is half the battle.
 
Go Canes!! said:
No I don't "want" to go out and find a new OC every couple of years. But that is reality, plain and simple. Finding one example in all of college football of a staff where it doesnt happen, for whatever reasons may be there, is the singular exception not the rule.

The real life scenario is that Enos took this job soley to help him catapult himself into another HC gig somewhere else. That's the naturer of the beast. Everyone from Saban to Meyer on down is constantly churning assistant coaches and we will hopefully be no different.
Click to expand...
Since Alabama has had unparalleled “success” in turning coordinators into head coaches, why would Enos leave for Miami where the track record is the opposite, if that is the only reason he came here?
 
coolazzice said:
We do this stupid **** with players too.... We anoint them when they haven't done anything.
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You can view it however you like. I actually think a lot of the posters in agreement with the concept are just thinking past next season and it makes sense to do so. I’m not anointing anyone. Whether is happens in 1 year or 3 years from now it’s HIGHLY unlikely he’ll be the OC past that point. That’s the nature of college football.

Michigan State is a definite possibility for him if he has the success here that we all hope he does.

Successful top programs have plans in place. It’s not a bad idea to learn from them.
 
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