He must not care about having to look for a new job following this season. Expect NU to clean house in their athletics department following this football season. That includes brining in an entirely new coaching staff for their football program.
He must not care about having to look for a new job following this season. Expect NU to clean house in their athletics department following this football season. That includes brining in an entirely new coaching staff for their football program.
Yeah I mean he probably got his salary doubled/tripled so he’ll have some time. It just doesn’t look good as a head coach hiring someone, especially if he goes back down to a lower level. How are they going to trust that he’ll be around if a bigger program comes calling.
Let me be clear on this, if he had left during the spring/summer, not ideal but I get it. The day before fall camp…shame on you and shame on NW.
In my opinion he can leave whenever he chooses and NW can do what they want and if you believe the situation to be as toxic as reported both parties will be almost untouchable unless they have a great and suprising season who would want to deal with them in the future
I think college athletics has a shorter memory than we think... Curious what the stats are (or perceived stats/feelings 🤣 ) on assistant coaches (could do HCs) leaving after one year regardless of programs/timing of leave and landing somewhere else... maybe even failing upwards?
Even if it's only one year - It's the best move for him (arguably life changing) higher paycheck/major college football job, access to that network, a chance to turn around a program, and clean up it's image? It's easy to predict his talking points in a future job interview and coincidentally this seasons BIG10 network storylines.
Again sure the timing is horrible but coaches leave programs all the time and no administrations cares (maybe the fans but even then ehhh). Imo best case scenario is that James crushes it and he leaves in the winter and Nick has to find some other up and comer... after all this time I would take that... Honestly, at this level, i would prefer higher turnover if it means winning.
@siu-sal Well said...the idea of "reputations" for college football coaches only counts when it refers to their Ls v Ws. Every coach has a middle-of-the-night bugout bag, ready to leave when they get that call, and they absolutely should.
I also like the idea of an SIU-sized program having high turnover due to talented, ambitious coaches proving themselves as a hot commodity on the FCS level, then getting poached. The FCS level shouldn't be the ceiling for the types of coaches SIU goes after, and if they leave after 3 seasons, "vade cum deo".
@siu-sal Well said...the idea of "reputations" for college football coaches only counts when it refers to their Ls v Ws. Every coach has a middle-of-the-night bugout bag, ready to leave when they get that call, and they absolutely should.
I also like the idea of an SIU-sized program having high turnover due to talented, ambitious coaches proving themselves as a hot commodity on the FCS level, then getting poached. The FCS level shouldn't be the ceiling for the types of coaches SIU goes after, and if they leave after 3 seasons, "vade cum deo".
Dude didn't even coach a game. I don't think anyone begrudges a coach for getting a better opportunity and moving on and I think everyone expects that to happen if SIU is successful. Having someone leave the day before fall camp is different than your scenario above and can put a program in a precarious position. Trying to find a replacement that quickly and get them up to speed is a tall order. Pretty shitty regardless of the situation. Again, I put this more on NW coach than Vokolek. He knows what he's doing to the programs he's pulling from this late in the game.
@siu-sal Well said...the idea of "reputations" for college football coaches only counts when it refers to their Ls v Ws. Every coach has a middle-of-the-night bugout bag, ready to leave when they get that call, and they absolutely should.
I also like the idea of an SIU-sized program having high turnover due to talented, ambitious coaches proving themselves as a hot commodity on the FCS level, then getting poached. The FCS level shouldn't be the ceiling for the types of coaches SIU goes after, and if they leave after 3 seasons, "vade cum deo".
Dude didn't even coach a game. I don't think anyone begrudges a coach for getting a better opportunity and moving on and I think everyone expects that to happen if SIU is successful. Having someone leave the day before fall camp is different than your scenario above and can put a program in a precarious position. Trying to find a replacement that quickly and get them up to speed is a tall order. Pretty shitty regardless of the situation. Again, I put this more on NW coach than Vokolek. He knows what he's doing to the programs he's pulling from this late in the game.
Well said 2011, and agree with you 1000%. When you make a commitment, you stay true to that commitment. Once the season has ended, and you desire to leave, by all means do so. NW is in a shameful situation. Money is certainly going to be there, but the winning, not so much. Perhaps they should change their names to the Mildcats. 🙂
No way that guys turning down an opportunity to go to Northwestern, and be the defensive coordinator for a good friend in the Big Ten. It would be ludicrous to stay at SIU who struggled to a 5-6 record and likely headed for the same this season. Let’s say he stays here, SIU has another awful season and they let go of some staff. His career is basically finished at that point. Great move by him, saw an opening and took it.
I’m not sure what people here expect Northwestern to do. Go without a Defensive Coordinator for a season or hire someone that is unemployed? You can go after the guy all you want. But as an institution, you do what’s best for your business. I run a business, and would absolutely hire an important employee from a competitor in front of an important day coming up. It’s business. Unfortunate timing for SIU, but it’s business.
We have to trust that our internal hire can have the next man up mentality and build upon the 15 practices he had with Vokolek system and not change it immediately but evolve to his style over the course of gaming planning during the season.
but NU just chugging along regardless - talk about commitment! https://twitter.com/Bradley_Locker/status/1689302682127769600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1689302682127769600%7Ctwgr%5E3c2fc03fd82f10d02186ca033903b27c032bbbf3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdeadspin.com%2Fembed%2Finset%2Fiframe%3Fid%3Dtwitter-1689302682127769600autosize%3D1
The entire Northwestern staff is probably gonna get nuked after the season. A season at Northwestern no matter the circumstances looks better on a resume than (likely) an average Southern Illinois team though.
I don't blame Volo.... You have to look out for yourself and family. I'm not that worried about it - James is an experienced D coach. I'll get worried if/when we start the season 0 - 3.
Fitzgerald will be coaching an FBS school before you know it - as soon as he gets his multi-million dollar golden "helicopter" from NU. Not sure he deserved to be fired after making NU foosball relevant again.
NCAA.com has listed us as a potential winner over FBS NIU: https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2023-08-10/25-potential-fcs-over-fbs-upsets-2023
I'm not sayin' -- I'm just sayin'!
