He's been away from coaching since 2009. hasn't coached in college since an asst job at San Jose State in 1989. Didn't have a lot of success in the NFL as a HC overall record is way below .500. Not sure why Ariz State hired him. Good interview, maybe he's developed a clear plan of how he will handle the job I guess. But his ESPN career has solely focused on the NFL, so I am not sure how he will transition not only back to coaching but to college coaching. While I'm sure he knows a lot of coaches I wonder if he has contacts that will allow him to build a college staff and then there is recruiting which he hasn't had to deal with for years. I'm leery that he's going to be successful. But I hope he is, seems like a really quality person and I'm sure he'll work very hard.
thanks to my life's situations, and my commitment to staying with my son rather than leaving, it's been 17 years since I coached a college baseball team. I'd bet both my nuts that if I got hired tomorrow, I'd win a conference title within 3 years... maybe 2. Don't go counting the old dog out just yet.
Herm notes that he's been coaching the Under Armor game for the last several years and really enjoys the kids. So... While he is mostly an NFL guy he has been staying up with high school kids. Seems like this could be an excellent hire. Risky, but with good potential.
He could be the next Pete Carroll, but likely he's the next ASU coach to get fired after a few years.
The AD is Ray Anderson. I'm not sure if it's the same Ray Anderson I met years ago at an ND-Stanford game but back then he was a sports agent. He represented many of the black NFL coaches such as Dennis Green and also represented Ty Willingham. He want on to a high position with the Falcons and then I believe he worked in the NFL home office in NYC. I'm guessing that he may have represented Edwards years ago when he coached the Jets. Assuming it's the same Ray Anderson, it's a common name.
So this job was down to Herm and Sumlin.... yet he went with the lighter skinned black guy.... change is possible
OOPS! Thanks for the correction. It is that same guy. I was really impressed by this guy. He got into Harvard Law because he was damn smart.
:idea: I've also met Ray Anderson. He is not from Los Angeles. He's from Laverne, CA. He was the QB at Bonita HS in their glory days. Bonita is right down the street from Damien HS and it was also the HS that produced Heisman winner Glenn Davis. Back in the day, his intelligence and leadership abilities were legendary...