The Grinch Acid Test

[Cougsocal]

This has nothing to do with whether he is the best candidate, but if you want a accurate measure of current perception of the WSU football program in the the coaching fraternity, Alex Grinch is the acid test.

He is a young, up and comer, a coordinator at a blue blood, who has expressed interest in becoming a HC. He has recent first hand knowledge of the program, the P-12 and there is no delusion that, if successful, he would want to stay long term. He also is in a job where he has no immediate expectation of becoming the HC, and could be out on his ear after next season if improvement stalls and the have another LSU type melt down. WSU, for him, would be a stepping stone. The question is does he consider WSU a stepping stone to bigger and better things, or too much of a career gamble? I hope he is interested, because his interest is the truest measure of the development of the program in the Moos/Chun/Leach era.

Of course, in the circumspect/save, face behind the scene world, of coach hiring, we might never know. But reading the tea leaves so far, signs are good. There has been no quick, "not interested," he has been silent, there is no evidence that WSU is being used as leverage, and the OU media is nervous he might leave.

Considering where we were 8 years ago -- the dumpster fire meets the black balled coach -- we are already way ahead of the game, the question is just how far. Grinch wanting the job, would indicate we are where Moos had hoped we might be.

 

[Coug90]

This has nothing to do with whether he is the best candidate, but if you want a accurate measure of current perception of the WSU football program in the the coaching fraternity, Alex Grinch is the acid test.

He is a young, up and comer, a coordinator at a blue blood, who has expressed interest in becoming a HC. He has recent first hand knowledge of the program, the P-12 and there is no delusion that, if successful, he would want to stay long term. He also is in a job where he has no immediate expectation of becoming the HC, and could be out on his ear after next season if improvement stalls and the have another LSU type melt down. WSU, for him, would be a stepping stone. The question is does he consider WSU a stepping stone to bigger and better things, or too much of a career gamble? I hope he is interested, because his interest is the truest measure of the development of the program in the Moos/Chun/Leach era.

Of course, in the circumspect/save, face behind the scene world, of coach hiring, we might never know. But reading the tea leaves so far, signs are good. There has been no quick, "not interested," he has been silent, there is no evidence that WSU is being used as leverage, and the OU media is nervous he might leave.

Considering where we were 8 years ago -- the dumpster fire meets the black balled coach -- we are already way ahead of the game, the question is just how far. Grinch wanting the job, would indicate we are where Moos had hoped we might be.

My guess is he would take the job. Don’t see why he wouldn’t. I think he is quite a ways from taking something over that’s bigger, like a torch passing at Oklahoma. If Lincoln Riley got run over by a bus, Grinch wouldn’t even be a candidate IMO.

I’m not even sure it’s much of a risk for him. Say he signs a 4 year $10 million or so deal. After year 2 or 3 it’s clear he’s not a head coach. He’s young enough and has a good enough resume as a DC, he goes right back to DC somewhere.

My concern With Grinch is he seems to only be interested in climbing the ladder. A couple of nice years in Pullman he’s probably gone.

 

[Observer11]

My guess is he would take the job. Don’t see why he wouldn’t. I think he is quite a ways from taking something over that’s bigger, like a torch passing at Oklahoma. If Lincoln Riley got run over by a bus, Grinch wouldn’t even be a candidate IMO.

I’m not even sure it’s much of a risk for him. Say he signs a 4 year $10 million or so deal. After year 2 or 3 it’s clear he’s not a head coach. He’s young enough and has a good enough resume as a DC, he goes right back to DC somewhere.

My concern With Grinch is he seems to only be interested in climbing the ladder. A couple of nice years in Pullman he’s probably gone.

Maybe that's the plan on paying down the debt/shrinking the deficit. Write in massive buyout terms on football coaches contracts and turn them over every three years.

Hiring Grinch would necessitate a big buyout provision in the off-chance he is able to attain a reasonable level of success. Chun and Schultz are no dummies in finance and structuring contracts.

 

[COUGinNCW]

This has nothing to do with whether he is the best candidate, but if you want a accurate measure of current perception of the WSU football program in the the coaching fraternity, Alex Grinch is the acid test.

He is a young, up and comer, a coordinator at a blue blood, who has expressed interest in becoming a HC. He has recent first hand knowledge of the program, the P-12 and there is no delusion that, if successful, he would want to stay long term. He also is in a job where he has no immediate expectation of becoming the HC, and could be out on his ear after next season if improvement stalls and the have another LSU type melt down. WSU, for him, would be a stepping stone. The question is does he consider WSU a stepping stone to bigger and better things, or too much of a career gamble? I hope he is interested, because his interest is the truest measure of the development of the program in the Moos/Chun/Leach era.

Of course, in the circumspect/save, face behind the scene world, of coach hiring, we might never know. But reading the tea leaves so far, signs are good. There has been no quick, "not interested," he has been silent, there is no evidence that WSU is being used as leverage, and the OU media is nervous he might leave.

Considering where we were 8 years ago -- the dumpster fire meets the black balled coach -- we are already way ahead of the game, the question is just how far. Grinch wanting the job, would indicate we are where Moos had hoped we might be.

Good synopsis.

 

[Glad Cougar]

Don't underestimate the power of the wife. If it's true that she did not like Pullman, her husband may want to wait for something else. See Laurel Bennett.

Glad Cougar

 

[ShockandAweWSU]

Offense is our identity. I want a head coach who the moment you hear his name you think of an explosive offensive play caller. A guy who can recruit playmakers and win the recruiting battle. Graham Harrell is that guy. Only WSU coaches ever to be successful have been offensive minded coaches.

 

[CougPatrol]

Yes. Without question. If we hire Grinch, Harrell, or some other up and comer, I’d put up a $10m buyout clause front and center.

 

[Glad Cougar]

Don't underestimate the power of the wife. If it's true that she did not like Pullman, her husband may want to wait for something else. See Laurel Bennett.

Glad Cougar

First time I've ever quoted myself in this forum. But I don't know who to believe anymore. Here's a quote from Jessamyn McIntyre (Cougar broadcast crew) regarding Alex Grinch:

“I’m sure he has his eyes on a head coaching position eventually,” she said. “… I do know his family loved it in Pullman and they really enjoyed their time there."

So maybe the wife isn't an issue?

Glad Cougar

 

[chipdouglas]

My concern With Grinch is he seems to only be interested in climbing the ladder. A couple of nice years in Pullman he’s probably gone.

Some people complain that Grinch is setting our sights too low. The problem is that this job is to "splash" hires what being a regional manager at Taco Bell is for Fortune 500 VPs looking to advance to CEO. That means no splash hire - or even medium excitement hire - is retiring here. I think we just have to be OK with that.

Given our realistic options, we have a real shot at Grinch due to his program history, he's made a positive difference everywhere he's been (not a fluke), and he brings a desperately needed defensive mindset which would be an amazing complement to an evolved AR should we continue it.

The other options are either totally unrealistic (Urby), investing in our strength (offense) while continuing to neglect our weakness, dud hires or bringing on board a vagabond who will make us compete straightup (traditional scheme/s) with teams with far superior talent. Those don't excite and few of them will retire here either.

 

[OrangeGravy]

Yes. Without question. If we hire Grinch, Harrell, or some other up and comer, I’d put up a $10m buyout clause front and center.

That new coach would have to agree to that big of a buyout though. We have some leverage in that situation depending on who we offer, but I'm not sure we have 10mil worth.

 

[Cougsocal]

My guess is he would take the job. Don’t see why he wouldn’t. I think he is quite a ways from taking something over that’s bigger, like a torch passing at Oklahoma. If Lincoln Riley got run over by a bus, Grinch wouldn’t even be a candidate IMO.

I’m not even sure it’s much of a risk for him. Say he signs a 4 year $10 million or so deal. After year 2 or 3 it’s clear he’s not a head coach. He’s young enough and has a good enough resume as a DC, he goes right back to DC somewhere.

My concern With Grinch is he seems to only be interested in climbing the ladder. A couple of nice years in Pullman he’s probably gone.

First, love you very positive attitude, but see below.

"Moving on" is coaching. If a requirement is a coach who want to make Pullman his career/long term destination, that list is very very short. Leach for example never came to Pullman with the expectation that it was his end destination, the only fans who thought that also believe in the tooth fairy. He needed a career rehab job, and we gave it to him when everyone else wanted no part of him. He left for basically a lateral position -- the #2 school in Mississippi and lowest funded in his division i.e. the WSU of the SEC.

As for risk, sure there is. If you are an up and comer with career ambitions,like Grinch, you envision head coaching at a blue blood school someday, not wow 10 million and I could still land as a DC somewhere if I flop. Wulffing it in Pullman, ends that ambition forever. You sit tight at OU, have some success, some day you can expect an offer from an underachieving school like UT, FL, FSU, Miami, far easier programs to win at, if you a good coach, and harder to Wulff it, if you aren't that good.

Also, consider this isn't about the best fit, it is an acid test on the perceived state of our program. The only "name" coach we have hired in recent history was being black balled at the time. All other hires were existing assistants or big sky coaches. We have never had interest from a coach with Grinch's big time gravitias, who didn't come with serious, career threatening baggage. Grinch is seen, rightly or wrongly, as a future coach of a power school. A guy like that simply showing interest in WSU, is an indicator on how the program is now perceive. For Example, don't you think Arkansas' hiring process would have been perceived in a far more positive light, had guys the calibre of Grinch showed interest, whether or not they were hired?

 

[32eekortS]

That new coach would have to agree to that big of a buyout though. We have some leverage in that situation depending on who we offer, but I'm not sure we have 10mil worth.

Exactly. No young coach with aspirations of “moving up the ladder” is agreeing to a $10 million buyout.

 

[OrangeGravy]

Some people complain that Grinch is setting our sights too low. The problem is that this job is to "splash" hires what being a regional manager at Taco Bell is for Fortune 500 VPs looking to advance to CEO. That means no splash hire - or even medium excitement hire - is retiring here. I think we just have to be OK with that.

Given our realistic options, we have a real shot at Grinch due to his program history, he's made a positive difference everywhere he's been (not a fluke), and he brings a desperately needed defensive mindset which would be an amazing complement to an evolved AR should we continue it.

The other options are either totally unrealistic (Urby), investing in our strength (offense) while continuing to neglect our weakness, dud hires or bringing on board a vagabond who will make us compete straightup (traditional scheme/s) with teams with far superior talent. Those don't excite and few of them will retire here either.

The above is something I think some fans have forgotten about or think we've "outgrown" in the last 8 years. We haven't and no matter who the next hire is, they will be underwhelming until proven otherwise. There's no way around that.

 

[dgibbons]

Exactly. No young coach with aspirations of “moving up the ladder” is agreeing to a $10 million buyout.

If it decreases year by year, maybe.

 

[etowncoug]

Grinch IMO is probably who we hire.

Pros: used to coaching on teams where the defense takes a back seat to the offense. I think he'd hire an air raid OC and call it good. He can focus on the defense which needs help. Only gets hired away if he is successful. Would be two coaches who succeeded here.

Cons: Doesn't have a wide network of coaches to pull assistants from. Wasn't an animal as a recruiter.

 

[Cougsocal]

Please consider the Pac-12's hiring history before we start acting all high and mighty.

The only "big name" hire the conference has attracted in recent years has been Kelly, and he had lost a lot of his prior luster. Utah, UA, ASU, Cal, OSU, UO, UW, Colo. and Stan all hired retreads, assistants and guys off the radar. Clay Helton is the coach of the conference's "big name" school, and he replace a . Look at his questionable resume. Prior to Lake, an assistant, the UW hired the Boise State coach (a guy they first passed over in favor of Sark) which Colorado and ASU had also done, and failed at, previously. We got Leach because only Moos had the balls to break the unwritten AD code. That situation was very unique.

Let not be like Arkansas and start with wholly unrealistic expectations. Remember, they went from Leach ain't good enough, to hiring Sam Pittman. They are still wiping egg off their face. Let's not poison the well before the hire. It is in our best interest to generate a hiring bounce, who ever we hire. That bounce is up to us. Hell you can turn hiring Urban Meyer into a downer, if you focus on health concerns and unclear commitment..

 

[Coug90]

Some people complain that Grinch is setting our sights too low. The problem is that this job is to "splash" hires what being a regional manager at Taco Bell is for Fortune 500 VPs looking to advance to CEO. That means no splash hire - or even medium excitement hire - is retiring here. I think we just have to be OK with that.

Given our realistic options, we have a real shot at Grinch due to his program history, he's made a positive difference everywhere he's been (not a fluke), and he brings a desperately needed defensive mindset which would be an amazing complement to an evolved AR should we continue it.

The other options are either totally unrealistic (Urby), investing in our strength (offense) while continuing to neglect our weakness, dud hires or bringing on board a vagabond who will make us compete straightup (traditional scheme/s) with teams with far superior talent. Those don't excite and few of them will retire here either.

I also think Grinch is less risky than Baldwin. Back to your business world comparisons, a CFO or COO of a Fortune 500 company is better prepared to take over the role of CEO than the CEO of a small company, assuming they have the requisite leadership qualities you are looking for. Power 5 jobs are a different animal than FCS jobs.