Reactions to our new staff so far....?

[ttowncoug]

Danny Freund - Offensive coordinator / QBs coach
Jesse Bobbit - Defensive coordinator / LBs coach
Robbie Rouse - Running backs coach
Mike Iupati - Co-offensive line coach
Taylor Lucas - Co-offensive line coach
Everrette Thompson - Co-defensive line coach

I like Iupati because he's going to bring him credibility and being able to sell something to recruits.

The rest of the SDSU staff is a big question mark as to whether what they did at South Dakota will translate into the new Pac-12. I'd like to see us get some power 4 experience guys to balance this staff out and who bring recruiting connections.

 

[Loyal Coug1]

Danny Freund - Offensive coordinator / QBs coach
Jesse Bobbit - Defensive coordinator / LBs coach
Robbie Rouse - Running backs coach
Mike Iupati - Co-offensive line coach
Taylor Lucas - Co-offensive line coach
Everrette Thompson - Co-defensive line coach

I like Iupati because he's going to bring him credibility and being able to sell something to recruits.

The rest of the SDSU staff is a big question mark as to whether what they did at South Dakota will translate into the new Pac-12. I'd like to see us get some power 4 experience guys to balance this staff out and who bring recruiting connections.

Agh. Must....not....comment...on this thread.......

 

[roses04]

time will tell, but until then:

 

[UberCougars]

We hired a coach, he hired a staff.

Only time will tell.

 

[CougPatrol]

After reading the recent article by Wilner on how we deliberately chose to invest higher in the assistant coaching pool as opposed to front loading Rogers salary, I'm optimistic with the decision making. $4.5M for the assistant coaching pool in 2025 is an $800K increase over 2024. It positions WSU to potentially have the highest paying assistant coaching pool in the new P12 in 2026.

Knowing that we had to make financial reductions, that's the approach I would have taken as a numbers guy. Rather than get into a d!ck measuring contest with head coaching salaries (which we can't win), why not usher in a new model where the head coach's salary is more in-line with his team of assistant coaches? I think this is going to be the model of the future, particularly in the G5 ranks. If you're going to be a G5 steppingstone program, then forge an identity to the up and comers that WSU is the place to go to build your resume. I value

Most importantly though, I like that we're rolling the dice on a hungry staff that will bring in a proven philosophy of competing with hard nose kids. I don't know if it will work, but I'm confident that this staff knows how to build a successful culture. I think that's incredibly important at this point in time with our program. We lost our last 3 games of the regular season because the locker room culture sucked. The same was true in 2023. QBs checked out, high lever players checked out, coaches checked out. I don't see that happening with Rogers.

 

[Loyal Coug1]

After reading the recent article by Wilner on how we deliberately chose to invest higher in the assistant coaching pool as opposed to front loading Rogers salary, I'm optimistic with the decision making. $4.5M for the assistant coaching pool in 2025 is an $800K increase over 2024. It positions WSU to potentially have the highest paying assistant coaching pool in the new P12 in 2026.

.

Well $1.4-1.57M (or whatever) isn't exactly lowballing a guy who made $300K this year. It's more than half the current G5 HC's.

That said, I agree with the overall idea of sharing more with assistants relative to the HC. At more than a few schools, the HC salary is as much or more than the total of assistant pay. So how come we have hired 6 assistants so far, and their combined total of years coaching at FBS schools is -0-?

(Sorry, I tried not to comment.......)

 

[dgibbons]

Danny Freund - Offensive coordinator / QBs coach
Jesse Bobbit - Defensive coordinator / LBs coach
Robbie Rouse - Running backs coach
Mike Iupati - Co-offensive line coach
Taylor Lucas - Co-offensive line coach
Everrette Thompson - Co-defensive line coach

I like Iupati because he's going to bring him credibility and being able to sell something to recruits.

The rest of the SDSU staff is a big question mark as to whether what they did at South Dakota will translate into the new Pac-12. I'd like to see us get some power 4 experience guys to balance this staff out and who bring recruiting connections.

Lucas is rather thin on experience as well. Just saying.

 

[CougPatrol]

Lucas is rather thin on experience as well. Just saying.

There are risks involved here without question, but I'm OK with that. Iupati's upbringing and NFL pedigree warrant the risk. He interned under Harbaugh, who speaks highly of him. Everyone seems to regard him highly. Lord knows we've rolled the dice on worse candidates before.

 

[ShockandAweWSU]

I'm gonna sound like a negative Nelly....but increasing assistant pool by that much and then hiring Freund and then Bobbit as your DC doesn't quite match....i guess we will see how the rest of the staff is field out. Not gonna lie...im a little bummed so far.

 

[ttowncoug]

I'm gonna sound like a negative Nelly....but increasing assistant pool by that much and then hiring Freund and then Bobbit as your DC doesn't quite match....i guess we will see how the rest of the staff is field out. Not gonna lie...im a little bummed so far.

I tend to agree.

And what’s concerning is it’ll take 2 years at a minimum to get any change if these hires aren’t right.

 

[UberCougars]

McCoy’s Mavericks?

McCoy’s Marauders?

 

[MRICoug]

I am skeptical at best.

 

[Wazzubrooz]

Didn’t Coach Leach himself said football is football and would not have had an issue with hiring someone like Jimmy Roger. Having only FCS experience.

 

[BiggsCoug]

Didn’t Coach Leach himself said football is football and would not have had an issue with hiring someone like Jimmy Roger. Having only FCS experience.

It is not. Maybe for Leach. But most guys have to adjust as they move up the ladder.

 

[Loyal Coug1]

Didn’t Coach Leach himself said football is football and would not have had an issue with hiring someone like Jimmy Roger. Having only FCS experience.

It is not. Maybe for Leach. But most guys have to adjust as they move up the ladder.

I was unaware that CML knew Jimmy Rogers. Thanks for that. And might I add that there is a difference between hiring a coach from FCS as an assistant and having your ENTIRE STAFF being from FCS (and NAIA) and having -0- FBS experience.

 

[CougEd]

I was unaware that CML knew Jimmy Rogers. Thanks for that. And might I add that there is a difference between hiring a coach from FCS as an assistant and having your ENTIRE STAFF being from FCS (and NAIA) and having -0- FBS experience.

Coaching is coaching...recruiting is recruiting. The question becomes the connections. That is the concern.

Wulff had a more successful third year class than Leach.

Where Leach I always thought limited his staff would now be a huge boost....Leach always called his own plays. Coordinators had to go elsewhere to get that last bit of experience to get a head gig. Dana Holgerson had to leave Leach and go to Houston to coordinate and call plays. Riley went to Eastern Kentucky./

But with coordinators leaving every year or two at WSU, Leach had the right formula...he called the plays.

 

[Loyal Coug1]

Well per the usual source, our coaching staff and support staff hiring is complete. You kind of forget that there are as many or more non-"coach" personnel around a FB team as there are coaches. Best wishes to all the displaced Cougs.

Pullman and WSU are a real bitch to lose a "specialized" job in. Unlike a metropolitan area, you have to move to stay in your profession. Yeah I know, Duh. One of the reasons that we are so inbred in certain areas (athletics and otherwise). Just do your job, be semi-competent, don't stir the pot or have innovative ideas or ruffle feathers or call BS on anything. Result? Guaranteed career-long employment, pretty much annual raises, great state retirement plan, and a series of promotions over time.

That said, I choose not to comment further, for now, on our now complete coaching staff or recruiting results. Except one. Quote below from our new 2025 transfer recruit from SDSU. The kid, from "tiny" Goddard Kansas, sure thinks a lot of himself.

"I am a physical receiver with great ball skills and great yards after catch ability," Pabst told CF.C. "I don't let the first guy make the tackle. "

I did see that we brought the kissing coaching cousins along from SDSU. I also found this interesting (although a bit outdated) MWC portal tracker. It says it only updates monthly. A view of our new conference mates and those that didn't meet our metrics.

Mountain West Transfer Portal Tracker 2024-2025

We are now in a new cycle of the transfer portal. Reminder that players for the 2024-2025 cycle can not formally enter the transfer portal until December 9th. This post will probably be updated no...

www.mwcconnection.com

P.S. Gonzaga game on ESPN+ so I can't watch it. F-ers. Fun article on Brand X on our 2010 win against Gonzaga. Capers: "I was afraid of Baynes".

 

[UberCougars]

Well per the usual source, our coaching staff and support staff hiring is complete. You kind of forget that there are as many or more non-"coach" personnel around a FB team as there are coaches. Best wishes to all the displaced Cougs.

Pullman and WSU are a real bitch to lose a "specialized" job in. Unlike a metropolitan area, you have to move to stay in your profession. Yeah I know, Duh. One of the reasons that we are so inbred in certain areas (athletics and otherwise). Just do your job, be semi-competent, don't stir the pot or have innovative ideas or ruffle feathers or call BS on anything. Result? Guaranteed career-long employment, pretty much annual raises, great state retirement plan, and a series of promotions over time.

That said, I choose not to comment further, for now, on our now complete coaching staff or recruiting results. Except one. Quote below from our new 2025 transfer recruit from SDSU. The kid, from "tiny" Goddard Kansas, sure thinks a lot of himself.

"I am a physical receiver with great ball skills and great yards after catch ability," Pabst told CF.C. "I don't let the first guy make the tackle. "

I did see that we brought the kissing coaching cousins along from SDSU. I also found this interesting (although a bit outdated) MWC portal tracker. It says it only updates monthly. A view of our new conference mates and those that didn't meet our metrics.

Mountain West Transfer Portal Tracker 2024-2025

We are now in a new cycle of the transfer portal. Reminder that players for the 2024-2025 cycle can not formally enter the transfer portal until December 9th. This post will probably be updated no...

www.mwcconnection.com

P.S. Gonzaga game on ESPN+ so I can't watch it. F-ers. Fun article on Brand X on our 2010 win against Gonzaga. Capers: "I was afraid of Baynes".

Didn’t you promise to STFU in another thread? 🧵

P. S. Yes you CAN see the game on espn+ today. Find $25, go to Safeway or Walgreens or Rosaurs or Walmart and buy one of those little Visa cards. Activate the Visa card, then go to espn+ and sign up.

Always here to help a fellow Coug!