Three intriguing G5 head coaching candidates

[HailToPitt725]

For a hypothetical head coaching search. In no particular order,

Billy Napier (41 y/o, HC at Louisiana)
- Spent time under Swinney and Saban
- 21-11 record at Louisiana, including an 11-3 finish last season (best in program history) and 4-1 start in 2020
- Led Louisiana to first AP Top 25 appearance in program history after defeating #17 Iowa State this season
- Known to be an exceptional recruiter; finished with the top recruiting class in the Sun Belt the past two years, including a 2020 class that finished higher than some P5 programs

Jamey Chadwell (42 y/o, HC at Coastal Carolina)
- 35-13 record at FCS Charleston Southern, a historically difficult program to win at
- Oversaw Coastal Carolina’s transition from FCS to FBS
- Known for creative offenses that feature multiple pre-snap motions and RPO options
- 10-7 record as full-time head coach; Coastal Carolina off to 5-0 start in 2020
- Led Coastal Carolina to first AP Top 25 appearance in program history after defeating ranked Louisiana two weeks ago

Will Healy (35 y/o, HC at Charlotte)
- Youngest D1 coach in the country when hired by FCS Austin Peay in 2016; turned program around from a 34-game losing streak to an 8-4 record, one of the best in program history
- 2017 FCS Head Coach of the Year
- Took Charlotte to their first bowl game in program history in his first season; off to 2-2 start in 2020
- Strong recruiter; finished with the best FCS recruiting class in 2017 and guided Charlotte to their best recruiting class in program history in 2020, including their first four-star commit

 

[Saboteur II]

I like Napier. There isn't sufficient D1 talent in western Pa to fill Duquesne's roster let alone ours. We have to recruit and we don't need a slob as a coach.
Watching Narduzzi's face shield get covered with fog was soooo appropriate. Guy is in a fog.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

For a hypothetical head coaching search. In no particular order,

Billy Napier (41 y/o, HC at Louisiana)
- Spent time under Swinney and Saban
- 21-11 record at Louisiana, including an 11-3 finish last season (best in program history) and 4-1 start in 2020
- Led Louisiana to first AP Top 25 appearance in program history after defeating #17 Iowa State this season
- Known to be an exceptional recruiter; finished with the top recruiting class in the Sun Belt the past two years, including a 2020 class that finished higher than some P5 programs

Jamey Chadwell (42 y/o, HC at Coastal Carolina)
- 35-13 record at FCS Charleston Southern, a historically difficult program to win at
- Oversaw Coastal Carolina’s transition from FCS to FBS
- Known for creative offenses that feature multiple pre-snap motions and RPO options
- 10-7 record as full-time head coach; Coastal Carolina off to 5-0 start in 2020
- Led Coastal Carolina to first AP Top 25 appearance in program history after defeating ranked Louisiana two weeks ago

Will Healy (35 y/o, HC at Charlotte)
- Youngest D1 coach in the country when hired by FCS Austin Peay in 2016; turned program around from a 34-game losing streak to an 8-4 record, one of the best in program history
- 2017 FCS Head Coach of the Year
- Took Charlotte to their first bowl game in program history in his first season; off to 2-2 start in 2020
- Strong recruiter; finished with the best FCS recruiting class in 2017 and guided Charlotte to their best recruiting class in program history in 2020, including their first four-star commit

They would be on the list.

 

[FireballZ]

For a hypothetical head coaching search. In no particular order,

Billy Napier (41 y/o, HC at Louisiana)
- Spent time under Swinney and Saban
- 21-11 record at Louisiana, including an 11-3 finish last season (best in program history) and 4-1 start in 2020
- Led Louisiana to first AP Top 25 appearance in program history after defeating #17 Iowa State this season
- Known to be an exceptional recruiter; finished with the top recruiting class in the Sun Belt the past two years, including a 2020 class that finished higher than some P5 programs

Jamey Chadwell (42 y/o, HC at Coastal Carolina)
- 35-13 record at FCS Charleston Southern, a historically difficult program to win at
- Oversaw Coastal Carolina’s transition from FCS to FBS
- Known for creative offenses that feature multiple pre-snap motions and RPO options
- 10-7 record as full-time head coach; Coastal Carolina off to 5-0 start in 2020
- Led Coastal Carolina to first AP Top 25 appearance in program history after defeating ranked Louisiana two weeks ago

Will Healy (35 y/o, HC at Charlotte)
- Youngest D1 coach in the country when hired by FCS Austin Peay in 2016; turned program around from a 34-game losing streak to an 8-4 record, one of the best in program history
- 2017 FCS Head Coach of the Year
- Took Charlotte to their first bowl game in program history in his first season; off to 2-2 start in 2020
- Strong recruiter; finished with the best FCS recruiting class in 2017 and guided Charlotte to their best recruiting class in program history in 2020, including their first four-star commit

Living in the Charlotte area, I really like what I've seen and heard about Healy. You'd love a shot at Billy Napier, but I have to believe he'll garner interest for a lower-half SEC gig soon.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

Tony Elliott - There is an additional name to add to the mix. Co-OC for Clemson

 

[thebadby2]

Tony Elliott - There is an additional name to add to the mix. Co-OC for Clemson

No more coordinators. Need a program builder. We aren’t just handing the keys to someone, we need to start over. Again.

 

[oldpantherfan]

Love the lack of diversity. Only non white person mentioned in the post is shot down because he is a coordinator,
So yes lets offer the job to a head coach of a non power school over a coordinator from a annual top 5 (actually annual top 2) program. Hmmm. Wonder why?
Oh and we tried that already remember Todd Graham.

 

[thebadby2]

Love the lack of diversity. Only non white person mentioned in the post is shot down because he is a coordinator,
So yes lets offer the job to a head coach of a non power school over a coordinator from a annual top 5 (actually annual top 2) program. Hmmm. Wonder why?
Oh and we tried that already remember Todd Graham.

So much wrong with your post I don’t even know where to start. Just stupid.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

No more coordinators. Need a program builder. We aren’t just handing the keys to someone, we need to start over. Again.

I’m sure established head coaches around the country will be lining up for the Pitt job. So who do you think we should hire?

 

[cashisking884]

Napier isn’t coming. He’s staying in the south.

I really like Chadwell. Give me everything he does on offense.

 

[thebadby2]

I’m sure established head coaches around the country will be lining up for the Pitt job. So who do you think we should hire?

You don't think there's an up and coming successful head coach who built a winner in a lower competitive tier who's looking for a P5 opportunity? I don't know who that would be these days, I'm not following as closely as I usually do. But I'm pretty sure the next Jim Tressel, Brian Kelly, Urban Meyer, Chip Kelly, Mark Dantonio, etc. is out there somewhere. The things they do to build programs at lower level work in P5 too.

we don't need any more first time HCs learning on the job, or in the case of this HC, not really learning.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

You don't think there's an up and coming successful head coach who built a winner in a lower competitive tier who's looking for a P5 opportunity? I don't know who that would be these days, I'm not following as closely as I usually do. But I'm pretty sure the next Jim Tressel, Brian Kelly, Urban Meyer, Chip Kelly, Mark Dantonio, etc. is out there somewhere. The things they do to build programs at lower level work in P5 too.

we don't need any more first time HCs learning on the job, or in the case of this HC, not really learning.

There aren’t many viable, realistic options out there that fit your criteria. Do you want a 60 year old like Curt Cignetti (JMU)? If you can think of a younger guy that was won at a lower level and can recruit well, then I’d be interested.

 

[HailToPitt725]

Updates on the coaches I listed above,

- Jamey Chadwell’s Chanticleers defeated Georgia State 51-0 to improve to 6-0. There’s a solid chance they could get to 10-0 before their season finale against Liberty, who recently defeated Syracuse.
- Billy Napier’s Ragin Cajuns are about to defeat Texas State and improve to 5-1. There’s a pretty good chance they win out to finish 10-1.
- Will Healy and UNC-Charlotte lost big at Duke to fall to 2-3.

If Narduzzi were to hypothetically be fired at season’s end, I’d love for Pitt to go after either Chadwell or Napier. I’d probably lean more towards Chadwell due to the fact that he’s now turned two small schools into winners (FCS Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina). Really fun offense to watch.

 

[Jakey_John]

Love the lack of diversity. Only non white person mentioned in the post is shot down because he is a coordinator,
So yes lets offer the job to a head coach of a non power school over a coordinator from a annual top 5 (actually annual top 2) program. Hmmm. Wonder why?
Oh and we tried that already remember Todd Graham.

This is one of the dumbest posts I’ve ever read and I’ve spent time in the locker room.