Looks like we found our coach.......

[19TERRIER19]

Pitt Defensive Coordinator Josh Conklin will be our new head coach.

[youngterrier]

hmmm

[lawdog]

http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt ... at-wofford

http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/sport ... 7bb01.html

Experienced, energetic, defensive specialist.

[Retiredterrier]

That is fine if (a very important if) Wofford gets to keep all assistants that want to stay. If he gets to bring in his own staff then I don't like it. I think we have a great staff now so why do we need a brand new one ? Anyway I have nothing against Conklin. Keeping the current staff would provide maximum stability for this situation. Although I realize that when you hire an outside guy as HC then he usually cleans house and brings in his own guys. So it is a good chance that he will get rid of the current staff. Plus bringing in an outside guy is kind of a slap in the face for any assistants who were hoping to get the HC job . If they are upset enough then they may leave and find another school. That would not be good either. And it is likely that Conklin will not be a career HC like MA has been. I would prefer keeping someone for longer than just a few years although I don't think we will ever have one to stay as long as MA.

[milesy20]

Not my choice, but I like the optics of this as it shows us poaching a sitting FBS DC.

I am hoping that our AD pulls a master stroke and explains that staff will remain intact. Why fix what isn't broken?

Conklin has had success everywhere he has coached but has hopped around a bunch. He has Wofford experience so he (hopefully) knows this place.

Maybe this change will cause our well tuned machine to shift into another gear. Maybe it will derail us. Time will tell.

[lawdog]

He has progressed rapidly as a young coach and is obviously thought highly of. Loves the game. Obviously hard worker. He has significant Wofford and SoCon coaching experience and knows our system and most of our assistants. I strongly suspect he will keep all or most of them, but it is his call; he has the responsibility and the sayso. Wyoming guy ... I sort of like that.

[Ruckus]

Great resume; knows us and who we are. Young aggressive and defensive guy.
Sound like anybody we know?

[youngterrier]

Let me list some pros/cons:

Assuming he sticks with the assistants we have (I think that would be the best move):

Pros: new set of eyes that can help change bad tendencies while building on good ones, youth, experience with various programs at different levels.

Cons: not that much tangible success in his various roles...he may have some success but it's not something that jumps out on the page, he also doesn't appear to be institutionally committed to any team he plays for.


Any more pros/cons?

I'm not sure how I feel either which way. I'll have to see how this effects recruiting and hear what he has to say at the news conference

[Ruckus]

Not much tangible success?
I would think handing last years national champion its only loss is a measure of success. As well as a Frank Broyles Award nominee.

http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/coach ... h=football

[youngterrier]

In that game the Pittsburgh defense surrendered 42 points. the Pitt wiki page is pretty bad for looking at stats but the defensive ones don't really jump out at you.

[lawdog]

He has left the DC position at a solid ACC school to be our head coach. That says a lot. He apparently sees a bright future for us, as do we.

[Ruckus]

I’ll take wins, thanks. Just like this year.
Alabama gave up 35 to them BTW. Would we take Saban or Pruitt?
Power 5 conference coordinator.
I’ll take him. He’ll do just fine.

[youngterrier]

I don't think he's a bad hire. I'll have to hear what he has to say in the press conference on Wednesday.

The big thing for me is how he jumps around programs it seems and because of that it's hard to get a good read on him.

[lawdog]

Has experience and history up in the northland where NDSU et al roam; that should serve us well.

Should be attractive to recruits, especially since our talent for next year gives him and us a great chance to be successful from day one.

[lawdog]

Recent video interview. http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/Pitt ... 1709200198