It’s a pretty simple flow chart for me:
Step 1) Can we hire a system coach who has proven, like Leach, that they can punch way above their weight class against top competition? If yes, hire them. If no, go on to Step 2. (Spoiler alert: we can’t hire them….there is no one).
Step 2) Interview candidates. By far the most important part of the interview is figuring out their NIL plan. The entire program has to be built around that going forward. If their plan is “I’m going to raise our NIL funding by XYZ% every year by engaging with donors, etc” then kindly tell them to 17 off, because that crap won’t happen, and wouldn’t work even if it did.
Whoever we hire has to know our limitations and how to get around them. One way to do it is they themselves take a lower starting salary so we can use that extra money for players. Another way is to actually strategize where to go all out. Somebody may say “just get me my QB and I’ll figure everything else out”. Somebody may say, “Spend big in the portal on proven players, that keeps us from ever really missing on a recruit”. Somebody may say “get me 2 elite DT’s per year to build my D around, I’ll figure everything else out”. These are all viable plans. But there has to BE a plan for NIL, one that is known on the front end by the coach, AD, and boosters, and that everyone is on the same page in executing. Pick whoever has the best one. I don’t care what their name is, or if they win the press conference.
Hire the coach that knows more than anyone else that coaches are overrated, and players win games. Its that simple.
