Here's how I see the coaching decision playing out

[Flatlandcoug]

Some thoughts.......

People keep talking about Dickert's "connections". All he has to know is a few people who know a few people who know a few people.. On top of that, Chun as the athletic director can help identify candidates and use his time at Ohio State to talk to people. Y'all act like if Dickert hasn't hung out on a Saturday night with someone that they aren't going to talk to him.

On the recruiting front, a good recruiting coordinator is just as important as the head coach when it comes to recruiting. Do you guys honestly look at Mike Leach and think that he's a guy who spends time looking at film on defensive players in high school?

I don't understand the hand wringing about the offensive coordinator hire. Defensive minded coaches don't automatically hire OC's that only run the ball. Bob Stoops played DB in college and was on the defensive side of the ball his whole life and he's embraced their version of the Air Raid. Quit worrying about the offense.

If Chun hires Dickert, it's only going to happen if we do well enough to justify it. None of us know what that bar is, but it is obviously going to take more than one upset win to do it. I do agree with the comments that we should start Dickert out around $2 million base with enough incentives to get him close to $3 million. If he hits the right metrics, bump him by $250k-500k each year that he hits them. If he is still at WSU in six years, it means that things are going great and he should be making $4 million per year by then (or more if the success dictates it).

 

[Brent H.]

Wazzu is in a really tough situation right now. Dickert doesn't look like he's over his head and probably can manage this program. The real problem is recruiting. We have like 6 commits and signing day is a month and a half away. So right now this recruiting class is a wash, even if we don't hire Dickert, the new staff won't be in place. I think Chun needs to just make a decision though sooner rather than later if he's keeping Dickert or not solely for recruiting.

Also, the dude is Pullman to the core, he graduated with 11 people from high school. He's small town and his wife is small town. Finding good coaches, who significant others are good with Pullman is difficult. People threw the name Jeff Banks out for the job, you think his girlfriend/wife is Pullman?

 

[Observer11]

Wazzu is in a really tough situation right now. Dickert doesn't look like he's over his head and probably can manage this program. The real problem is recruiting. We have like 6 commits and signing day is a month and a half away. So right now this recruiting class is a wash, even if we don't hire Dickert, the new staff won't be in place. I think Chun needs to just make a decision though sooner rather than later if he's keeping Dickert or not solely for recruiting.

Also, the dude is Pullman to the core, he graduated with 11 people from high school. He's small town and his wife is small town. Finding good coaches, who significant others are good with Pullman is difficult. People threw the name Jeff Banks out for the job, you think his girlfriend/wife is Pullman?

Depends on what decade. She'd have fit in well in the 70's and 80's.

Besides, monkeys are cool.

 

[etowncoug]

Wazzu is in a really tough situation right now. Dickert doesn't look like he's over his head and probably can manage this program. The real problem is recruiting. We have like 6 commits and signing day is a month and a half away. So right now this recruiting class is a wash, even if we don't hire Dickert, the new staff won't be in place. I think Chun needs to just make a decision though sooner rather than later if he's keeping Dickert or not solely for recruiting.

Also, the dude is Pullman to the core, he graduated with 11 people from high school. He's small town and his wife is small town. Finding good coaches, who significant others are good with Pullman is difficult. People threw the name Jeff Banks out for the job, you think his girlfriend/wife is Pullman?

His girlfriend would get along great with Price.

 

[cr8zyncalif]

Patrol, getting back to your initial post: if the team continues to perform at a high level, I think it doesn't as much mean that Chun will be avoiding a tough decision, as it means that there really won't be much of a decision to make in the first place. Ends up in the same place, but a slightly different reasoning path to get there.

 

[BiggsCoug]

Wazzu is in a really tough situation right now. Dickert doesn't look like he's over his head and probably can manage this program. The real problem is recruiting. We have like 6 commits and signing day is a month and a half away. So right now this recruiting class is a wash, even if we don't hire Dickert, the new staff won't be in place. I think Chun needs to just make a decision though sooner rather than later if he's keeping Dickert or not solely for recruiting.

Also, the dude is Pullman to the core, he graduated with 11 people from high school. He's small town and his wife is small town. Finding good coaches, who significant others are good with Pullman is difficult. People threw the name Jeff Banks out for the job, you think his girlfriend/wife is Pullman?

Need a zoo and a strip club, then yes.

 

[Fab5Coug]

Some thoughts.......

People keep talking about Dickert's "connections". All he has to know is a few people who know a few people who know a few people.. On top of that, Chun as the athletic director can help identify candidates and use his time at Ohio State to talk to people. Y'all act like if Dickert hasn't hung out on a Saturday night with someone that they aren't going to talk to him.

On the recruiting front, a good recruiting coordinator is just as important as the head coach when it comes to recruiting. Do you guys honestly look at Mike Leach and think that he's a guy who spends time looking at film on defensive players in high school?

I don't understand the hand wringing about the offensive coordinator hire. Defensive minded coaches don't automatically hire OC's that only run the ball. Bob Stoops played DB in college and was on the defensive side of the ball his whole life and he's embraced their version of the Air Raid. Quit worrying about the offense.

If Chun hires Dickert, it's only going to happen if we do well enough to justify it. None of us know what that bar is, but it is obviously going to take more than one upset win to do it. I do agree with the comments that we should start Dickert out around $2 million base with enough incentives to get him close to $3 million. If he hits the right metrics, bump him by $250k-500k each year that he hits them. If he is still at WSU in six years, it means that things are going great and he should be making $4 million per year by then (or more if the success dictates it).

I don't know if you're getting good coordinators to leave their jobs based on "knows a guy who knows a guy". We saw how almost zero P5 connections worked out with Wulff. I'm sure he knew some guys who knew some guys too.

 

[Flatlandcoug]

I don't know if you're getting good coordinators to leave their jobs based on "knows a guy who knows a guy". We saw how almost zero P5 connections worked out with Wulff. I'm sure he knew some guys who knew some guys too.

We aren't going to be stealing well established coordinators from Power 5 schools, but if you know a guy who knows a guy who is currently coaching somewhere at a smaller school who is looking for his chance to move up, why would you assume that they wouldn't be willing to talk to Dickert?

I"m not even sure why you bring up Wulff. Should KSU assume that they are doomed to mediocrity and quit playing football because they hired an FCS coach and he is doomed to failure? Not every coach is like Wulff.

 

[roses04]

Let the season play out, plus I am sure there are assistant coaches reaching out to Dickert and on the offensive side of the ball, there are run and shoot people that will reach out. Timmy Chang is an example, he is at Nevada as a WR coach, not sure if he is any good, but there are plenty of Run N shoot people out there if that is the offense Dickert wishes to run as a head coach. The Run N Shot is something different, so it does create match up and prep problems for some teams, but there are many different passing offenses than can utilize the offensive talent on this team. Last week was 166 yards rushing and 236 passing, they did a good job with the run game, which is something I think Dickert as a defensive coach understands. He was also a WR, so I am sure an effective passing offense is important. In spite of everything this team has been through this season, and especially the last two weeks, they have looked very well prepared, and that doesn't just happen, a lot of that credit goes to Dickert and the coaches that are left.

 

[Fab5Coug]

We aren't going to be stealing well established coordinators from Power 5 schools, but if you know a guy who knows a guy who is currently coaching somewhere at a smaller school who is looking for his chance to move up, why would you assume that they wouldn't be willing to talk to Dickert?

I"m not even sure why you bring up Wulff. Should KSU assume that they are doomed to mediocrity and quit playing football because they hired an FCS coach and he is doomed to failure? Not every coach is like Wulff.

With Wulff it wasn't even JUST that he had FCS experience only, it's that he ONLY had experience at EWU. He just didn't know that many people and brought his lackluster EWU staff with him as a result. Probably a good part of that was the $ we had available as well.

Will that be a problem with Dickert? I don't know. That should be what Chun asks during an interview though. Who do you know and who can you bring in?

 

[Fab5Coug]

I'm also a little hesitant to make a long term decision on the program based on 4 games. Let's face it, even if Dickert goes 3-1 in those games, Arizona is garbage, UW is a mess and ASU fell all over themselves to give that game to us.

I won't kick and scream if he gets the job after knocking off UW in the AC, but I'll be cautiously optimistic.

 

[95coug]

Do we eliminate Banks from the mix or does this get him into our top 2? Discuss…

View embedded media

So...recruiting trips to Deja Vu?

 

[bogusto]

I'm also a little hesitant to make a long term decision on the program based on 4 games. Let's face it, even if Dickert goes 3-1 in those games, Arizona is garbage, UW is a mess and ASU fell all over themselves to give that game to us.

I won't kick and scream if he gets the job after knocking off UW in the AC, but I'll be cautiously optimistic.

I think it is a mistake to dismiss Arizona and UW as messes. To me, they both seem to be on the upswing as the season progresses. As miserable as he looked for most of the game, that UW QB displayed some chutzpah and ability when the game was on the line against Stanford.

 

[CougPatrol]

Another thing to consider, and this is something the NFL has started moving to, is that maybe WSU should go all-in on the young, fun, and high energy coaching staff. It's risky, as this mentality can knock your program off the rails if the discipline and maturity level isn't there, but I'm not getting that vibe from Dickert.

Getting into living rooms is tough for any WSU coaching staff, so maybe try another approach with the coaches. A young, relatable, fire in the belly kind of staff. I'll use BiggsSpeak here. Who do you want to play for? A bunch of tired old flames like Chip Kelly, Herm Edwards, Kyle Whittingham, etc., or a group of coaches like Dickert on a campus like WSU and have an absolute blast of a time? You'll play early, you'll play fast, we've got a fantastic new Indoor Practice Facility that's going to be added to our already fantastic facilities.

Sign me up!

 

[BiggsCoug]

Another thing to consider, and this is something the NFL has started moving to, is that maybe WSU should go all-in on the young, fun, and high energy coaching staff. It's risky, as this mentality can knock your program off the rails if the discipline and maturity level isn't there, but I'm not getting that vibe from Dickert.

Getting into living rooms is tough for any WSU coaching staff, so maybe try another approach with the coaches. A young, relatable, fire in the belly kind of staff. I'll use BiggsSpeak here. Who do you want to play for? A bunch of tired old flames like Chip Kelly, Herm Edwards, Kyle Whittingham, etc., or a group of coaches like Dickert on a campus like WSU and have an absolute blast of a time? You'll play early, you'll play fast, we've got a fantastic new Indoor Practice Facility that's going to be added to our already fantastic facilities.

Sign me up!

Welcome to the Discipleship of Biggs.

 

[425cougfan]

I think it is a mistake to dismiss Arizona and UW as messes. To me, they both seem to be on the upswing as the season progresses. As miserable as he looked for most of the game, that UW QB displayed some chutzpah and ability when the game was on the line against Stanford.

Wise words, IMO, especially with UW. Those teams aren't very good but they're more than good enough to beat WSU, and they both are improving.

 

[CougPatrol]

I think it is a mistake to dismiss Arizona and UW as messes. To me, they both seem to be on the upswing as the season progresses. As miserable as he looked for most of the game, that UW QB displayed some chutzpah and ability when the game was on the line against Stanford.

UW is good enough to beat us, but Arizona isn't. I just don't see that happening, apart from key injuries, of course.

Arizona has Cal and Utah up next before flying to Pullman on a Friday night to play us in sub-35 degree weather. They showed a little offensive moxie vs. USC last week, but USC's program has run adrift.

Year to date, here's Arizona's offensive production:

16 vs. BYU
14 vs. SDSU
19 vs. Northern AZ
19 vs. Oregon
16 vs. UCLA
0 vs. Colorado
16 vs. UW
34 vs. USC (trailed 35-14 at halftime)

Nothing surprises me anymore where WSU is concerned, but objectively, Arizona looks like a very favorable matchup for us, especially in Pullman. They've given up 40 points/game in 4 of their last 5 games and they're averaging less than 20 points scored on offense.

 

[Glad Cougar]

I'm also a little hesitant to make a long term decision on the program based on 4 games. Let's face it, even if Dickert goes 3-1 in those games, Arizona is garbage, UW is a mess and ASU fell all over themselves to give that game to us.

I won't kick and scream if he gets the job after knocking off UW in the AC, but I'll be cautiously optimistic.

I give the Cougars a lot more of the credit in those takeaways vs. ASU than saying the Sun Devils gave that game to us. The WSU defense was flying to the ball, guys were actively working to pull the ball out, they were hitting ASU hard & solid. That first, hard punch delivered by the Cougs put ASU back on its heels and they had to play from behind the rest of the way. As HC and defensive coordinator, Dickert had the team ready to play. We'll see if he can do the same in the final 3 games.

Glad Cougar

 

[etowncoug]

UW is good enough to beat us, but Arizona isn't. I just don't see that happening, apart from key injuries, of course.

Arizona has Cal and Utah up next before flying to Pullman on a Friday night to play us in sub-35 degree weather. They showed a little offensive moxie vs. USC last week, but USC's program has run adrift.

Year to date, here's Arizona's offensive production:

16 vs. BYU
14 vs. SDSU
19 vs. Northern AZ
19 vs. Oregon
16 vs. UCLA
0 vs. Colorado
16 vs. UW
34 vs. USC (trailed 35-14 at halftime)

Nothing surprises me anymore where WSU is concerned, but objectively, Arizona looks like a very favorable matchup for us, especially in Pullman. They've given up 40 points/game in 4 of their last 5 games and they're averaging less than 20 points scored on offense.

Arizona is not going to like 30 degree weather on a Friday night. We win if we don't beat ourselves.

UW, on the other hand, has pretty good corners and a decent pass rush. Maybe we beat them, but it's a bad match up for us. Plus they are likely playing to salvage their season.

 

[Coug90]

Arizona is not going to like 30 degree weather on a Friday night. We win if we don't beat ourselves.

UW, on the other hand, has pretty good corners and a decent pass rush. Maybe we beat them, but it's a bad match up for us. Plus they are likely playing to salvage their season.

two complete unknowns right now - weather that could impact either team. I don’t think we’ve seen our guys play in really shitty weather yet unless I’m missing something. I guess USC was wet and the offense clicked before JDL went down. And (knock knock) unknown injuries that could impact the game. I think it’s safe to say at this point it’s highly unlikely we go 3-0 or 0-3 and there’s a split probability we go 2-1 or 1-2 down the stretch. Sure UW is never a given as bad as they are but we are sure as hell no guarantee for Oregon right now either.

 

[CougPatrol]

Arizona is not going to like 30 degree weather on a Friday night. We win if we don't beat ourselves.

UW, on the other hand, has pretty good corners and a decent pass rush. Maybe we beat them, but it's a bad match up for us. Plus they are likely playing to salvage their season.

I can’t with a clear conscience pick WSU to win the Apple Cup since we never do, but why is UW a bad matchup for us? They can’t score, so right off the bat I think that’s a huge benefit to WSU. Their secondary is strong, and if this was Leach and the air raid, I’d be concerned; but if we come into the game healthy, with McIntosh, Borghi, JDL, and our WR depth, i like our odds of scoring more points than them.

I think UW is pretty bad this season. Their last 2 games vs. Arizona and Stanford are fools gold. Arizona stinks, and last week, Stanford literally didn’t have any available WRs off their 2-deeps. They played UW with 3rd string WRs and the worst rushing attack in the P12.

I’m very interested to see how UW does these next 3 weeks at Oregon, vs. ASU, and at Colorado.

 

[spongeandshoot]

I give the Cougars a lot more of the credit in those takeaways vs. ASU than saying the Sun Devils gave that game to us. The WSU defense was flying to the ball, guys were actively working to pull the ball out, they were hitting ASU hard & solid. That first, hard punch delivered by the Cougs put ASU back on its heels and they had to play from behind the rest of the way. As HC and defensive coordinator, Dickert had the team ready to play. We'll see if he can do the same in the final 3 games.

Glad Cougar

Totally agree. It wasn't ASU just being careless. Those were valid attempts to take their milk money.

I think we punched them on the mouth on the opening kick. I don' think they were expecting that.

 

[roses04]

Sometimes things just happen for a reason, who would have thought a young DC from Wyoming would be our head coach about 18 months after he was hired. Then you have covid, a vaccine mandate, and he ends up as interim coach. Maybe, just maybe WSU got lucky this time. I don't know if Dickert is the long term solution, but he has performed well up to this point and his ability to keep this team together is nothing short of amazing. He wants the job, embraces Pullman and the life style, if he wins he is the perfect long term solution. Also as the DC this defense got off to a shaky start, they are undermanned against many pac 12 teams, but now seem to be performing fairly well. He seems to be the type of coach that can develop players, something that is a must at WSU. Lets see how the rest of the season plays out and let the chips fall where they may. People have expressed recruiting concerns, naming a new head coach unless it is Chris Peterson, which won't happen, will not help us in the short run. If you look at the comments from the LB we have signed from CA, who is now being recruit by USC, his comments about Dickert and the impression he left on him are all very positive. I don't have to make the decision, but if Dickert gets this team to 7 wins, plus a bowl game, he has put himself in the number one position. Hell, if he beats Oregon, sign him the next day.

 

[dgibbons]

Wazzu is in a really tough situation right now. Dickert doesn't look like he's over his head and probably can manage this program. The real problem is recruiting. We have like 6 commits and signing day is a month and a half away. So right now this recruiting class is a wash, even if we don't hire Dickert, the new staff won't be in place. I think Chun needs to just make a decision though sooner rather than later if he's keeping Dickert or not solely for recruiting.

Also, the dude is Pullman to the core, he graduated with 11 people from high school. He's small town and his wife is small town. Finding good coaches, who significant others are good with Pullman is difficult. People threw the name Jeff Banks out for the job, you think his girlfriend/wife is Pullman?

Well, the 2022 class was essentially abandoned when the coaches were fired.

 

[Coug90]

Well, the 2022 class was essentially abandoned when the coaches were fired.

With what this class looked like prior to your coaches losing their jobs I’d argue it was abandoned well before that.

 

[roses04]

Recruiting this year will be tough to say the least, step one hang onto the commits you have (9) and then there are still players undecided, the transfer portal, jc players, players that get dropped from blue blood programs, there are ways to make up ground. Leach was signed on 11/30/2011. The Apple Cup is on 11/26 this year, I'd like to think a new coach is named by 12/3 at the latest. Then identify the type of offense you will be running, So you pick up 9-12 in the early signing period, and work on the rest until February, not an easy task, but it's what happens during a coaching change this won't even be a top 50 class but neither was Leach's first class. BTW, Leach signed Gabe Marks, Robert Lewis and Teondray Caldwell, Brett Batalone and Edwardo Middleton, that worked out in his first class, and many others that didn't pan out, which is expected in your first class. A strong finish and a commitment from the players that are here, will help recruiting a lot.

 

[BiggsCoug]

Recruiting this year will be tough to say the least, step one hang onto the commits you have (9) and then there are still players undecided, the transfer portal, jc players, players that get dropped from blue blood programs, there are ways to make up ground. Leach was signed on 11/30/2011. The Apple Cup is on 11/26 this year, I'd like to think a new coach is named by 12/3 at the latest. Then identify the type of offense you will be running, So you pick up 9-12 in the early signing period, and work on the rest until February, not an easy task, but it's what happens during a coaching change this won't even be a top 50 class but neither was Leach's first class. BTW, Leach signed Gabe Marks, Robert Lewis and Teondray Caldwell, Brett Batalone and Edwardo Middleton, that worked out in his first class, and many others that didn't pan out, which is expected in your first class. A strong finish and a commitment from the players that are here, will help recruiting a lot.

This is a disaster. It isnt just that kids have been building relationships for 2-3 years now with other staffs…. with the early signing date kids are coming off the board. There isn’t time to flip a kid for a newly hired staff. The new coach will be taking over and have the pool of potential recruits slashed before he gets a chance.

To recap:
Turd hired with a short recruiting timeline.
Covid year.
Turd fired.

Whoever gets hired is jammed up. And that doesn’t take into consideration kids leaving for the portal. WSU needs a big 25 kid HS class and take the 7 transfers allowed by the NCAA to keep their numbers up.

 

[CougInSpain]

Ive lived in Austin recently. There are tons of women. Why he chose this one??? When he could have chosen any of them at Lake Travis???? Why have one when you can have many???

One of the few things I can actually agree with you on.

 

[CougSinceBirth]

Need a zoo and a strip club, then yes.

Wellllll...there is "The Zzu" and I think someone just took over what used to be Mike's and their cages. We're on our way there!

 

[Coug90]

Wellllll...there is "The Zzu" and I think someone just took over what used to be Mike's and their cages. We're on our way there!

That place opened back up yet? It was still closed for BYU…that was a fun spot to take the kids before the game.

 

[CougInSpain]

That place opened back up yet? It was still closed for BYU…that was a fun spot to take the kids before the game.

I have a couple of pint glasses from there but don't use them in fear of breaking something irreplaceable.

 

[roses04]

Ive lived in Austin recently. There are tons of women. Why he chose this one??? When he could have chosen any of them at Lake Travis???? Why have one when you can have many???

How many women on Lake Travis have a Monkey, maybe it's the Monkey that drew him in.

 

[BiggsCoug]

How many women on Lake Travis have a Monkey, maybe it's the Monkey that drew him in.

They dont need one.

 

[CougSinceBirth]

That place opened back up yet? It was still closed for BYU…that was a fun spot to take the kids before the game.

I'm not sure! It's been a few years since I've been on campus, let alone was a student. I think I recall it closing down sometime right after my senior year.

Pullman Denny's will always be tops. Even with the crappy food - you couldn't beat the beer prices and the only Denny's with a bar.

 

[95coug]

I'm not sure! It's been a few years since I've been on campus, let alone was a student. I think I recall it closing down sometime right after my senior year.

Pullman Denny's will always be tops. Even with the crappy food - you couldn't beat the beer prices and the only Denny's with a bar.

Denny’s closed and turned into a Fujiyama. Not even sure that’s open anymore (seems pretty pricy for the college crowd), the building looked pretty quiet driving by after the first couple games.

 

[CougEd]

Denny’s closed and turned into a Fujiyama. Not even sure that’s open anymore (seems pretty pricy for the college crowd), the building looked pretty quiet driving by after the first couple games.

95 did you go to the Stanford game and where you on highway 26 probably 3 on that Friday. I saw someone with a 95 Coug plate that passed me.....

 

[95coug]

95 did you go to the Stanford game and where you on highway 26 probably 3 on that Friday. I saw someone with a 95 Coug plate that passed me.....

I went to the Stanford game, but not on Friday. It’s been a few years since I did anything but up & back for a game. Doesn’t make sense to me to pay a 2 night minimum when I live 2 hours away.

I checked twice to see if the 95Coug plate was available. First time it was, but that car already had WSU plates. By the time my next car was up for renewal, it was taken. I saw it on the road a few months later, figured that was the universe rubbing salt in the wound.