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Excluding Todd Graham, when was the last time Pitt hired a proven college head coach?

^It's a little of both. Chryst did better at Wisconsin than Pitt because Wisconsin is an easier program to win at. But he also did better at Wisconsin than Pitt because he treated Pitt as the place to learn how to be a head coach. He lost to YSU in his very first game because his entire staff was inexperienced. If he could coach that game again today (same players, time machine scenario), he'd win it.

Three years into his apprenticeship he lost to an Akron team that was so good it ended up firing its coach at the end of the year. He most likely would have snoozed through the Youngstown state game if played in year 3 as well.
 
The term 'proven' is debatable, but I think having a record slightly better then .500 before coming to Pitt isn't proven.

It's been a long, long. LONG time. Todd Graham was hired and lied to, so one could argue that be was never given the proper chance.

Someone brought this up in another post, and I think I am in agreement. Pitt needs to finally go after a proven head coach.

Then again, proven head coaches are likely smart enough to stay away.
Tennessee fans feel your pain. Look at our last four hires.Kiffin,Dooley, Butch Jones, and Pruitt. That is a big 0-4.
 
If Narduzzi had been hired at Tennessee instead of Pitt and performed as he has here he would’ve been gone midway through year 3. At Pitt that performance got him an extension.

Narduzzi would be able to recruit a helluva lot better roster at Tennessee than he would at Pitt.

And Pruitt just got a big ass extension before this season.

In fact, Pruitt just fired his DL coach that he hired 7 months ago. And the guy had a 2 year contract. Hell, midway through year 3, Vols are still playing the same woeful QB that was there when Butch Jones was HC.
 
Tennessee fans feel your pain. Look at our last four hires.Kiffin,Dooley, Butch Jones, and Pruitt. That is a big 0-4.

Throwing in the towel on Pruitt already?

Tennessee let their program deteriorate under Fulmer. He had a losing record in 2 of his last 4 seasons. He was consistently out recruited by SOS/Urban, Richt, TT, Saban/Miles... then Holtz/Spurrier shut off the Carolina pipeline.

Also, It's no secret that Cut ran the show for the Big guy.
 
I think Pruitt and Narduzzi have a lot of similarities based upon what I’ve seen. I don’t think either one is anything beyond an average head coach.
 
I think Pruitt and Narduzzi have a lot of similarities based upon what I’ve seen. I don’t think either one is anything beyond an average head coach.

I disagree on Narduzzi. Not sure about Pruitt.

I'll say this about Narduzzi. He has worked his ass off to make sure sure Pitt has a QB that gives Pitt a chance to compete. He had one bust on the USC transfer. Pruitt is still forcing Guarentano (sp ?) out there every week. It's insane that he is in year 3 with no viable competition.
 
I disagree on Narduzzi. Not sure about Pruitt.

I'll say this about Narduzzi. He has worked his ass off to make sure sure Pitt has a QB that gives Pitt a chance to compete. He had one bust on the USC transfer. Pruitt is still forcing Guarentano (sp ?) out there every week. It's insane that he is in year 3 with no viable competition.
The best QB we had was thanks to Chaney. He is the reason Nate P. came to Pitt. PN puts out this personna of being a tough guy. Why doesn’t he bring in better OL? The real kicker for me was attempting a FG from the 1 yard line against PS. Talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words.
 
The best QB we had was thanks to Chaney. He is the reason Nate P. came to Pitt. PN puts out this personna of being a tough guy. Why doesn’t he bring in better OL? The real kicker for me was attempting a FG from the 1 yard line against PS. Talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words.

That's the thing. Duzzi isn't a moron. He knows his OL and running game sucks.

Here's another thing that hurts a school like Pitt, that can't just go out and sign top 10 classes every year. The HC is usually either a Defensive or Offensive guy. They are going to do their thing on that side of the ball and you know what you're going to get. With the other side of the ball, the system is ultimately going to resemble the HC's style, but it's a little harder to put the pieces together. You are usually employing a coordinator who is just occupying the seat until a better opportunity comes along, and it's a little more difficult to recruit because kids don't know exactly who they are going to play for and the relationships just aren't as solid.
 
The SEC is a different animal. A lot of those schools have irrational, batshit crazy fanbases. Also, many of them have meddlesome monied boosters, with unrealistic expectations.

There are a lot of quality coaches in the league that aren't going to keep their jobs. I like both Lane Kiffin and Mike Leach. I don't think either is in a situation where they can win though.

Auburn and LSU are both hot seat jobs. If you coach at either of those schools, you're going to be fired. It's not a matter of if, but when. 9 wins, even 8 is usually good enough to stay employed at Tennessee, if you can compete with FLA, BAMA, and UGA. It's going to come with a lot of bitching and ridicule, but you can stay employed. It also helps if you are likable and don't come across as an asshole or aloof (McElwain, Moorhead, Derrick Dooley)

Also, never be the guy that follows the guy. Great coaches that are loved and go out on their own terms almost NEVER leave when the cubbard is full, and their replacements are rarely accepted and have a very short leash. (Ron Zook & Will Muschamp at UF)

Right now, the only coaches with job security are aren't first year guys are Saban, Smart, Stoops, and Mullen. Probably Jimbo short-term, due to his contract.

Tennessee is an interesting situation. The coup in the AD that led to Pruitt's hiring ensures they are going to do everything possible to help him succeed. However, there are some really big boosters that are laying in wait for that thing to go off the rails and they could try to make a swift move if the climate turns toxic. (something that I don't see happening in a covid season regardless)
 
He didn't win more at Pitt. Wisconsin is currently an exception. They guy that preceded him won 3 straight Big 10 Championships, then took his act to the SEC, where he lost his ass.

Perhaps Chryst is the poster child of how hard it is to win at Pitt?
Or how easy it is to win at wisconsin. They are the big dog in their division. None of the teams recruit well so even with above average talent you have the best roster in the division.
 
The SEC is a different animal. A lot of those schools have irrational, batshit crazy fanbases. Also, many of them have meddlesome monied boosters, with unrealistic expectations.

There are a lot of quality coaches in the league that aren't going to keep their jobs. I like both Lane Kiffin and Mike Leach. I don't think either is in a situation where they can win though.

Auburn and LSU are both hot seat jobs. If you coach at either of those schools, you're going to be fired. It's not a matter of if, but when. 9 wins, even 8 is usually good enough to stay employed at Tennessee, if you can compete with FLA, BAMA, and UGA. It's going to come with a lot of bitching and ridicule, but you can stay employed. It also helps if you are likable and don't come across as an asshole or aloof (McElwain, Moorhead, Derrick Dooley)

Also, never be the guy that follows the guy. Great coaches that are loved and go out on their own terms almost NEVER leave when the cubbard is full, and their replacements are rarely accepted and have a very short leash. (Ron Zook & Will Muschamp at UF)

Right now, the only coaches with job security are aren't first year guys are Saban, Smart, Stoops, and Mullen. Probably Jimbo short-term, due to his contract.

Tennessee is an interesting situation. The coup in the AD that led to Pruitt's hiring ensures they are going to do everything possible to help him succeed. However, there are some really big boosters that are laying in wait for that thing to go off the rails and they could try to make a swift move if the climate turns toxic. (something that I don't see happening in a covid season regardless)
Pat Dye was at Auburn for 12 years and Tuberville for 10 years. Les Miles was at LSU for 12 years, and Saban left for another job.
 
The term 'proven' is debatable, but I think having a record slightly better then .500 before coming to Pitt isn't proven.

It's been a long, long. LONG time. Todd Graham was hired and lied to, so one could argue that be was never given the proper chance.

Someone brought this up in another post, and I think I am in agreement. Pitt needs to finally go after a proven head coach.

Then again, proven head coaches are likely smart enough to stay away.
First off don't come on here trying to change history by defending Todd Graham. He left in the dead of night regardless why? Second by proven you obviously mean a coach who was very successful, not just a little. Those guys are bought up by the SEC and aren't coming here with all the talent in the south. So I guess it's Majors I and II then Gottfried who had some succss at Kansas. So who should we go after this time?
 
And they were always either on the hot seat or looking over their shoulder their entire tenure. Remember the Bobby Pitrino fiasco?
LOL - yeah okay. I just gave you 2 coaches that stayed at 1 place for 12 years. That is considered stability in the coaching world.
 
First off don't come on here trying to change history by defending Todd Graham. He left in the dead of night regardless why? Second by proven you obviously mean a coach who was very successful, not just a little. Those guys are bought up by the SEC and aren't coming here with all the talent in the south. So I guess it's Majors I and II then Gottfried who had some succss at Kansas. So who should we go after this time?

Pitt should be able to obtain a successful coach form a non power 5 conference who has shown success of maybe two seasons of winning 10+ games. With the exception of Graham, Pitt has not chosen someone like that since, arguably, Mike Gottfried.

And Graham bolted because be knew he wasn't going to be successful with SP at the helm.
 
So I guess it's Majors I and II then Gottfried who had some succss at Kansas. So who should we go after this time?


Well if we are using Majors and Gottfried as our barometer then that means the next time we hire a coach we need to hire someone from a traditional Big 12 bottom feeder.

So Neal Brown?

😛
 
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Throwing in the towel on Pruitt already?

Tennessee let their program deteriorate under Fulmer. He had a losing record in 2 of his last 4 seasons. He was consistently out recruited by SOS/Urban, Richt, TT, Saban/Miles... then Holtz/Spurrier shut off the Carolina pipeline.

Also, It's no secret that Cut ran the show for the Big guy.
Cut definitely was the key to Fulmer winning. If Pruitt doesn’t recruit a top QB, he will not make it. That loss to Kentucky was terrible. They had not won in Knoxville since 1984. That was the worst loss to Kentucky since 1893!
 
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