Started By
Message

Which big name coaching candidate…

Posted on 10/31/25 at 2:40 pm
Posted by LSU2184
Member since Nov 2021
313 posts
Posted on 10/31/25 at 2:40 pm
That was a head coach at one school and was hired away from that school to another has had sustained success? I’m not saying there hasn’t been one, but I’m having trouble remembering one in recent years. Saban > Dolphins > Bama and Urban Meyer after retiring for a couple of years…but often times it is a coordinator from a school that has had success or the head coach of a lower tier school that is brought on to be the head coach of a new school. But when we’re talking about pulling a head coach from one school… One large successful program… To another successful program… What are the examples where that has been successful? Full disclosure… I would take Lane Kiffin in a heartbeat. But I think it’s an interesting question to think about…

We all want the sure thing…is there a sure thing?
This post was edited on 10/31/25 at 2:43 pm
Posted by S
RIP Wayde
Member since Jan 2007
168264 posts
Posted on 10/31/25 at 2:42 pm to
Pine box Tuberville?
Posted by theSaltwaterGuide
Calcasieu parish
Member since Jan 2018
721 posts
Posted on 10/31/25 at 2:48 pm to
Most of the time big name coaches don't leave success. Most of it time schools hire someone that has shown potential at a lesser school. Les at OkieSt and Saban at MichSt. Both had shown promise at those schools. Would be equivalent to like Kenny Dillingham. Has shown some promise and a team with 10x the resources should scoop him up.
Posted by nvasil1
Hellinois
Member since Oct 2009
17334 posts
Posted on 10/31/25 at 2:55 pm to
quote:

But when we’re talking about pulling a head coach from one school… One large successful program… To another successful program… What are the examples where that has been successful?

I guess he hasn't been in Tuscaloosa long enough, but DeBoer seems like he's off to a good start.
Posted by LSU2184
Member since Nov 2021
313 posts
Posted on 10/31/25 at 2:56 pm to
Right, still to be determined. They wanted him gone after the Fla St. loss
Posted by TigerintheNO
New Orleans
Member since Jan 2004
43953 posts
Posted on 10/31/25 at 2:57 pm to
Les Miles when he left Ok State
Urban Meyer when he left Utah
Posted by LSU2184
Member since Nov 2021
313 posts
Posted on 10/31/25 at 3:00 pm to
Both fall under… “often times it is a coordinator from a school that has had success or the head coach of a lower tier school that is brought on to be the head coach of a new school”
Posted by KiwiHead
Auckland, NZ
Member since Jul 2014
35371 posts
Posted on 10/31/25 at 3:01 pm to
So far DeBoer is proving your hypothesis wrong. But that being said he's probably the exception.


What's interesting is that the most successful coaches at the playoff schools were mostly assistants before their big break

Day
Freeman
Smart
Hell, you could add Dabo

Come to mind.....or they were a coach that moved up

Cignetti
Dillingham
Franklin
Posted by OleVaught14
Member since Jun 2019
9511 posts
Posted on 10/31/25 at 3:03 pm to
quote:

Urban Meyer when he left Utah


At the time, Utah was still a Group of 5 school in the Mountain West. He was the hot name, but there was uncertainty how he would do making the jump to a big school.

quote:

Les Miles when he left Ok State


He was 28-21 at Oklahoma State and was coming off a 7-5 season. LSU or Florida fans would riot at that idea now.

Another one is Gene Chizik - was 5-19 at Iowa State when Auburn hired him.
Posted by TigerintheNO
New Orleans
Member since Jan 2004
43953 posts
Posted on 10/31/25 at 3:11 pm to
quote:

He was 28-21 at Oklahoma State


That was highest winning% an OK State HC had in half a century, better than Jimmy Johnson's record there.
Posted by Handsome Pete
Member since Apr 2019
2202 posts
Posted on 10/31/25 at 3:14 pm to
quote:

That was a head coach at one school and was hired away from that school to another has had sustained success?
Early to say "sustained" but I think Bama is happy with DeBoer.
Posted by blacroix
Member since Sep 2019
512 posts
Posted on 10/31/25 at 3:16 pm to
Mac Brown?
Posted by TXTiger81
Houston, TX
Member since Aug 2021
1195 posts
Posted on 10/31/25 at 3:52 pm to
How many programs have been able to hire big name coaches away from other programs?

USC from OU
LSU from ND

Who else?

It’s not an easy thing to do. You have to be a premier program.
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 1Next pagelast page
refresh

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookXInstagram