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Ra'Shaad Samples, SMU, Running Back Coach/Recruiting Coordinator (25): Samples saw his on-field career end early due to injuries, but he’s thrived in the time since as a coach. The former four-star recruit joined Houston’s staff in an off-field role in 2016 and 2017 working with running backs, receivers and QBs. Texas hired him in 2018 as an assistant wide receivers coach, where he drew rave reviews as a recruiter. Last year, SMU brought him back home to the DFW area where he’s since emerged as one of the American’s top overall recruiters. The son of Dallas-area coaching legend, Reginald Samples, Ra’Shaad earned a promotion this offseason to running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. Samples currently sits second in the AAC recruiter ranking.

Roman Sapolu, Fresno State, O-line Coach/Run Game Coordinator (28): One of the best young offensive line coaches in college football, Sapolu earned a dual promotion this offseason to offensive line coach (he previously assisted new OC Ryan Grubb with the unit) and run game coordinator. The Bulldogs ranked 34th nationally last season in rushing yards per play, while finishing in the top 50 nationally in pass protection. Sapolu, a former Oregon State player, came to Fresno State from Idaho State, where he led an o-line that had two all-conference performers and paced an offense that tailed 5,403 yards.
 
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I wonder how long it will take? I can't remember how long they have to post the job for.
 
David1979 said:
I wonder how long it will take? I can't remember how long they have to post the job for.
Click to expand...

That "posting" discussion always mystifies me. Were does that requirement come from? Why do we see
schools like Illinois and many others, hire someone within a couple of days after the opening occurs?

Is it because there are ways around the requirement by those who are creative and unwilling to let bureaucrats control their actions? Is it just a U of Iowa policy that efforts should have been made
to repeal or at least modify?
Anybody?
 
millhawk said:
We can try. I want Matt Drinkall tho.
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I question if Drinkall would be better suited for the Oline. He apparently is well versed in it and would be a great recruiter. Nobody would complain about Reese Morgan and what he did.
 
The coach needs to be the following:

1. Get a younger guy (preferably African American)

2. Get someone that can recruit Texas, New Jersey, and Florida.

3. Get someone that wants to be a head coach one day.
 
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I like the OP's idea of Sample, but Chris Barfield who was promoted to SMU asst. head coach would have been great.

I really like Tashard Choice at North Texas, played college ball at Georgia Tech. From Thomasville, GA. And played in the NFL. Would possibly open up Georgia and also has spent time in Texas.

Sean Dawkins at Troy would help recruiting Alabama and the South. Previously at Austin Peay when they turned things around.

Justin Hill at Tulsa would be another possible candidate.
 
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GunnerHawk said:
I like the OP's idea of Sample, but Chris Barfield who was promoted to SMU asst. head coach would have been great.

I really like Tashard Choice at North Texas, played college ball at Georgia Tech. From Thomasville, GA. And played in the NFL. Would possibly open up Georgia and also has spent time in Texas.

Sean Dawkins at Troy would help recruiting Alabama and the South. Previously at Austin Peay when they turned things around.

Justin Hill at Tulsa would be another possible candidate.
Click to expand...
Good names! Also really like Jamaal Fobbs of Tulane a Louisiana native
 
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pakithreatadvisory-red.jpg
 
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Tytyhawk said:
The guy is a big up & comer & the players love him. He could definitely recruit! I would really like that addition
Click to expand...

He's not an OL specialist, which be ideal, but his recruiting ability is probably better than we would get with an OL warhorse.
 
RomanHawk said:
He's not an OL specialist, which be ideal, but his recruiting ability is probably better than we would get with an OL warhorse.
Click to expand...
Agree💯 Pretty sure TP didn’t have any OL coaching experience prior to Iowa and, as stated, that is possibly by design. With KF is in charge, the OL philosophy isn’t going to change and he most likely prefers to mold that department head around his curriculum without any philosophical head butting.
Being an OL coach at Iowa is as much about the willingness to be coached as it is having the ability to coach.
With the right type of recruits, Iowa is one of the best at teaching and inspiring five 300lb 20 yr olds, all full of piss and vinegar, to cohesively dance angrily as a unit. The number of OL millionaires Iowa has produced is proof.
So hopefully we get a youngish energetic recruiter who’s willing to travel, accept senior tutelage and packs a thick midwestern rolodex.
 
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KatoHawk said:
Agree💯 Pretty sure TP didn’t have any OL coaching experience prior to Iowa and, as stated, that is possibly by design. With KF is in charge, the OL philosophy isn’t going to change and he most likely prefers to mold that department head around his curriculum without any philosophical head butting.
Being an OL coach at Iowa is as much about the willingness to be coached as it is having the ability to coach.
With the right type of recruits, Iowa is one of the best at teaching and inspiring five 300lb 20 yr olds, all full of piss and vinegar, to cohesively dance angrily as a unit. The number of OL millionaires Iowa has produced is proof.
So hopefully we get a youngish energetic recruiter who’s willing to travel, accept senior tutelage and packs a thick midwestern rolodex.
Click to expand...

Your post has a lot of good points but also raises some undiscussed issues. Qualification are an important part of the equation, but dynamics could be the deciding factors.

First we have to differentiate the OL coach task. One is the development of individuals. KF has had great success at that. Second is the development of the OL as a unit. KF has been very poor at that. A large part of that has been his refusal to change schemes and play design.

An OL candidate with a good understanding of both OL and overall offensive concepts is not going to accept a position where he feels that poor schemes are going to block his success. And I agree that KF
will not be receptive for suggestions for change.

Another factor that plays against the acquisition of an outstanding younger guy is the block for promotion with the current staff configuration.

While I think TP is a very good young coach, I think putting him at OL was a huge mistake. That job is just too complex for a novice, so there is a price to pay in the short run. And we paid it. And again, with no promotional opportunity, no long term TP should have been expected.

So IMO, the chance for an optimum hire (OL guru, with solid offensive conceptual understanding, and energetic/talented recruiter) is minimal. Candidate will be off-put by existing offense and lack of promotional opportunity. KF will be less than enthusiastic about challenges to his offensive system and may even consider such a candidate as a threat.

What that leaves is a compromise candidate: either one who is an older OL guru without any burning desire for advancement and limited recruiting ability, or a good young recruiter who has OL exposure (but not expertise) who will leave our current offense unchallenged and again be gone in 3/4 years.
 
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RomanHawk said:
Your post has a lot of good points but also raises some undiscussed issues. Qualification are an important part of the equation, but dynamics could be the deciding factors.

First we have to differentiate the OL coach task. One is the development of individuals. KF has had great success at that. Second is the development of the OL as a unit. KF has been very poor at that. A large part of that has been his refusal to change schemes and play design.

An OL candidate with a good understanding of both OL and overall offensive concepts is not going to accept a position where he feels that poor schemes are going to block his success. And I agree that KF
will not be receptive for suggestions for change.

Another factor that plays against the acquisition of an outstanding younger guy is the block for promotion with the current staff configuration.

While I think TP is a very good young coach, I think putting him at OL was a huge mistake. That job is just too complex for a novice, so there is a price to pay in the short run. And we paid it. And again, with no promotional opportunity, no long term TP should have been expected.

So IMO, the chance for an optimum hire (OL guru, with solid offensive conceptual understanding, and energetic/talented recruiter) is minimal. Candidate will be off-put by existing offense and lack of promotional opportunity. KF will be less than enthusiastic about challenges to his offensive system and may even consider such a candidate as a threat.

What that leaves is a compromise candidate: either one who is an older OL guru without any burning desire for advancement and limited recruiting ability, or a good young recruiter who has OL exposure (but not expertise) who will leave our current offense unchallenged and again be gone in 3/4 years.
Click to expand...
Unlike Polasek's Iowa experience, the next OL Coach is going to be dealing with BF 95% of the time, and not KF. The KF to BF HC transfer is now well underway, and will soon be reality.
 
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bumpstock said:
Unlike Polasek's Iowa experience, the next OL Coach is going to be dealing with BF 95% of the time, and not KF. The KF to BF HC transfer is now well underway, and will soon be reality.
Click to expand...
Not to side rail the thread, but if you have inside information on that, well done. I will never call anyone out for having an inside scoop. I like being on HR for some of the rumors, but this is contrary to what I believe will happen.
I used to think there was going to be a transition to Brian, but nit anymore, I think it will be someone else first, while BF goes somewhere first to cut his teeth before getting the big boy job.
 
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