By: LONNY DEMAREE
In times like the UK football team is experiencing speculation begins to rise and everybody’s got a suggestion as to whom the new coach should be. Some speculators as per usual have a friend or a connection to someone who has reason to know. All of this is generated on the assumption that Joker Phillips will be terminated.
Only one person Mitch Barnhart knows for sure what’s on the agenda for the coaching position for future years and he might be in a quandary. But while the speculation is running wild let us dissect the coaching situation as we see it. Is it fair to Joker Phillips because as of now he has a job but he understands the drill and as he said many times, he knows what he signed up for when he got into the business of coaching?
Names that are flying around as potential coaches are, in no particular order, are Washington State head coach Mike Leach who runs a high scoring offense. But has an eccentric personality and is litigious.
Bobby Petrino has serious character flaws and has been an athletic director’s nightmare
Former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressell. He is under a 5-year show-cause penalty and if hired by the University would have to appeal to the NCAA to allow him to coach.
Louisiana Tech head Sonny Dykes is hot but if hired he would have to get a different offensive coordinator because it’s very questionable whether UK would allow Tony Franklin to return.
Phil Fulmer 62-year old, who is anxious to get back into coaching and is a name that UK could pay his salary. Objectors on the basis of age should ask Bill Snyder, 72-years old, at Kansas State if he’s too old. He did it once, retired, the program went down and he came out of retirement and he built it back again.
Duke head coach David Cutcliffe, who is doing a good job at Duke but never stirred any excitement juices in Kentucky fans.
Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart but why would he leave the Crimson Tide for UK. But perhaps money could sway him. He is already making a handy salary without the pressure. And the list goes on.
But notice all of the names circulating are east of the Mississippi river. Mitch Barnhart has connections on the west coast side of the country and he would quite possibly bring someone in from that side of the country. My exploration has led me to San Jose State that is doing well at the present. Their head coach is Mike MacIntyre, 47-years old. He has a mixture of experience on both sides of the ball though he has a wealth of experience on the defensive side. Fans thirst for offense at UK however consistently strong defense hasn’t been seen at UK since Jerry Claiborne’s wide-tackle-six defense. He worked as the Dallas Cowboys defensive backs coach 2003-’06; worked as the New York Jets defensive backs coach 2007; Duke’s defensive coordinator 2008-’09; wide receiver ‘s coach at Ole Miss 1999-’02. SJS is posting national success in the defensive stats. So stay tuned.
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