[NU Sports] Fitz' future

[Jeff Beamsley]

Probably too much here to comment on completely, but I did want to point out
that programs like PSU and UoM where head coaches tend to stick around for a
while, they also have assistants who tend to stick around for a while.
That's because these programs make enough money to pay their assistants very
well.  There is still a fair amount of movement for those who aspire to head
coaching jobs, but there are also those who aspire to succeed the current
head coach.  They demonstrate their qualifications by helping the program
win and their loyalty by turning down offers to go other places.  So I would
suggest that it is certainly possible, if this ends up being a retirement
position for RW, that Fitz could still be groomed as a successor within the
system.  That scenario would play out if the defense doesn't improve over
the next season or two.  RW has proven he can post a winning season with a
weak defense, so I'm not sure continued weakness on defense results in RW
getting fired as long as the offense continues to perform.  IF that
situation occurs, Colby is the only one at risk.  RW replaces Colby with
Fitz and now you've got a succession plan.

Jeff
 

-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On
Behalf Of Michael Vance
Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2005 2:27 PM
To: nwu-sports at romaine.tssi.com
Subject: [NU Sports] Fitz' future

At 11/27/2005 01:41 PM, Mike Nolan wrote:
>Why could Vanderlinden do a good job of grooming Fitz and Walker not do 
>the same thing?  I think Fitz is a few years away from being ready to 
>move up to DC.  Unfortunately, I don't know if Walker can wait that 
>long to do something about the quality of his defensive teams.

Since this whole discussion of Fitz as heir apparent began, there's been one
thing nagging at me: Is it realistic, or even desirable, to expect Fitz to
spend the remainder of his coaching career at NU?  And actually, would it be
best for him and the program to do that or would it be better for him to
learn from as many people as he can, perhaps taking the LB or DC job under
an established defensive guru (any names are escaping me at the
moment) before returning to NU as DC or Head Coach?

I see some substantial problems with the idea of him staying at NU for the
duration:

1) For him to move up, Greg Colby would have to move out.  For that to
happen, the defense would either have to not improve significantly,
resulting in Colby's firing, or it would have to improve drastically,
resulting in Colby getting a higher-prestige DC or head coaching offer.

2) In the first of these scenarios (the defense not improving), it's
doubtful that we would continue to win enough games for Walker to keep his
job.  If Walker gets canned, the whole staff probably goes with him.  There
are always exceptions to that, and out of everyone on the current coaching
staff, Fitz would be the most likely to be retained by a new coach.  But
it's still unlikely.

3) If the defense improves enough for Colby to keep his job, but for
whatever reason not move on to another opportunity, that leaves Fitz stuck
at a position coaching spot indefinitely.  He would have to look for a DC
job elsewhere.

4) Once Colby is gone, he would still have to wait out Walker retiring.  The
same rules apply.  If we continue to be a winning program, Fitz would
probably be a hot commodity on the coaching market.  If we lose, especially
because of defensive woes, then Fitz "loses," too.  Would he have the
patience to wait out Walker's retirement, even for the head coaching job at
his alma mater?  Maybe, maybe not.  Would the money and potential prestige
of a head coaching job elsewhere be to much to resist?

A lot of coaches start out their coaching careers at their alma mater, as a
grad assistant or low-level position coach, and then move on, intending to
return.  Sometimes that happens, sometimes it doesn't.  One example that we
are all familiar with is Gary Barnett.  Writers on this list have often said
that GB is in his "dream job" at Colorado.  But if you remember from his
book (for those who haven't burned it), his dream job is actually at his
alma mater, Missouri.  CU is just a very close second.  Would GB ditch
Colorado for Missouri if he was offered the job today?  Who knows.

Personally, I would have no problem with Fitz leaving to take a DC position
elsewhere, especially if it was under a head coach or at a school with a
strong defensive tradition.  Aside from the fact that he'd be on the other
side of the field, I would even understand if he went to PSU as LB coach if
JoePa retired and Vandy moved up to DC.  It is "Linebacker U."  I don't see
that happening -- I don't think he'd go to another Big Ten school, although
working for VanderLinden would be tempting -- but something along those
lines is perfectly within the realm of possibility.  I wouldn't even mind
him getting his first head coaching experience somewhere else and then
coming back with that under his belt.  It would be a shame to lose him for
the years he was gone, but it might pay off in the long run.

Any thoughts?

-Michael 

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