Learning More About Prospective Head Coaches For Maryland

Who should be Maryland’s next Head Coach? Three weeks ago we discussed that with a number of National writers.

Numerous names abound. The 10 which currently interest Baltimore Sports and Life (BSL) the most (and that BSL believes are plausible hires) are: Scott Frost, PJ Fleck, Phillip Montgomery, Matt Campbell, Justin Fuente, Tom Herman, Chad Morris, Mike Norvell, Dino Babers, and Lincoln Riley.

Today we take larger looks at Frost, Fleck, Montgomery, and Campbell with brief interviews with writers who cover their current programs. Our thanks to those writers for their responses.

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

Baltimore Sports and Life: Obviously Oregon had had a successful offense for years under Head Coaches Mike Bellotti, and Chip Kelly. When Mark Helfrich became Oregon’s Head Coach to begin the 2013 season, Scott Frost was promoted to Offensive Coordinator (from Wide Receivers Coach). With Frost at the helm, were there any immediate changes he brought to the offense? Clearly having Marcus Mariota to work with helped, as high level production was sustained over ’13, and ’14. How much credit does Frost deserve for Oregon’s offensive success in those years?

Ken Goe, The Oregonian: It’s hard to know where Mariota ends and Frost begins when talking about the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Many people believe Mariota covered up a lot of problems that have surfaced at times this year. Certainly, there has been criticism of the current staff for not having a player in the pipe line to replace Mariota. The current QB, Vernon Adams, is a grad transfer. Adams is an exceptional playmaker. But the perception is that he ad-libs on a lot of those big plays, which don’t seem to come out of the structure of the offense. What’s hard to know is whether Adams is succeeding despite the offense, or whether Frost has wisely tailored things to let Adams freelance and make things happen. It sure looks different than the offense Chip Kelly ran.

Baltimore Sports and Life: By their standards, the Ducks have struggled in 2015. If Frost was deserving of credit the previous two seasons, what blame does he deserve for Oregon’s regression this year? 

Goe: I think the jury is out about Scott Frost. Whatever he accomplished his first two years, he accomplished with a Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback. This year, Oregon QB Vernon Adams missed a big chunk of the season, which probably explains at least some of the drop off. Frost has had a difficult act to follow, but nobody here thinks Oregon’s offense is performing at the same level that it did when Chip Kelly was here.

Baltimore Sports and Life: Has Frost had a significant role in Oregon recruiting? Do you perceive him as being well liked among Ducks players?

Goe: Well, I’m not the beat guy. I’m unsure of what the current players think of him. When I was the beat guy, in 2010 and 2011, he was the receivers coach. He was well-regarded as a recruiter at that time. But I never saw him as a strong personality within that coaching staff.

Baltimore Sports and Life: Frost had a quote this past week questioning the acumen of those who would question him; is this quote an aberration? If he were the spokesman for a program, regularly dealing with media, boosters, etc… do you see him thriving in that capacity?

Goe: When I covered the team, Frost never seemed particularly comfortable talking to reporters. It surprised me, given that he was a high-profile college player who spent time in the NFL. Maybe he just didn’t like doing it. He has taken on a higher-profile role since becoming coordinator. I think the culture of the Oregon staff is very insular and very dismissive of outside criticism. So he probably was reflecting the mindset of the coaching staff when he answered that question about critics. I think he would need to grow into a role in which he was the face of a program.

Baltimore Sports and Life: Last year when Nebraska fired Bo Pelini, I thought the Cornhuskers would turn to Frost. Did it surprise you that they did not?

Goe: No, I was not surprised. I didn’t think then, and still don’t think that Frost is ready to head a program like Nebraska. If I were doing Nebraska’s hiring I would want someone with previous experience and success as a college head coach.

Baltimore Sports and Life: If Frost took over the Terrapins job, who on the Oregon staff could you envision following him to College Park?

Goe: I don’t see anyone leaving the current Oregon staff. Many of the staff members have been there for a long time and put down roots. I guess if anyone left, it might be receivers coach Matt Lubick, who would love to be a  coordinator. That assumes that Lubick wouldn’t be promoted to replace Frost.

 

Baltimore Sports and Life: There are numerous stories to be found about Fleck instilling some life to the Western Michigan program. Also improving the facilities, and locker-room, etc. Those transformations have helped recruiting wise, with Western Michigan having multiple strong classes. Talk about the impression Fleck makes as the leader of the program?

David Drew / MLive Media Group: Fleck has really become the face of WMU’s program and has created excitement and energy in a program that had become stale in the years prior to his arrival. To the outside world he comes across as “out there” and boisterous with his seemingly never-ending energy and list of mantras and phrases, but recruits and players have bought in and it’s working for him as things continue to look up for the program in year three. Fleck is the youngest head coach in the country at the FBS level, but he is very calculated with what he says and how he goes about things. He knows when the cameras are on and he knows how to sell the program and himself in the process.

Baltimore Sports and Life: In Fleck’s second year, the Broncos had a turn-around season, with the Broncos winning 8 games, and Fleck being named the MAC Head Coach of the Year. In his first year things were rough with the team he inherited. Sometimes you learn more about people when they go through adversity. During that 2013 season (1-11 overall, 1-7 in the MAC), what stood out to you about Fleck?

Drew: I think the fan base was really unsure about the hiring of Fleck as the losses piled up. All the public heard was “row the boat,” and how he was going to build a Boise State-type program in Kalamazoo. What I saw during the many practices I attended that season was a coach that was frustrated with the losses, but he maintained the right approach with players and the media. He continues to say to this day that recruiting is the top priority of the program. With three classes now under his belt you can see the pieces starting to come together. WMU had a big turnaround last year and the Broncos are on track to have another good season this year, but there is a lot of talent on the roster now that has WMU set up for the future – he isn’t bringing in a lot of junior college players for a “quick fix” approach.

Baltimore Sports and Life: Tell us about Fleck’s teams on the field. What do you like (and or question) about his offensive and defensive philosophies?

Drew: One aspect that often doesn’t get talked about much in sports is the coaching staff around a head coach. Fleck has a really good staff around him and most of the coaches have been with him from the start. Fleck doesn’t deny that he focuses more on the offensive side of the ball and he spends a lot of time with the receivers. Going back to last year, WMU has had a balanced offensive attack running and passing the ball. One thing I questioned last year was the coaching staff’s ability to make adjustments during games, but that’s really changed this year. The Broncos have become a second-half team as this season has gone on.

Baltimore Sports and Life: As Western Michigan’s Head Coach, Fleck’s primary focus has been on competing in the MAC. That said, he’s had up-close looks at in-state dual Big Ten powers Michigan and Michigan State. At Maryland, the Wolverines and Spartans would be in his same division. Do you see Fleck as a guy ready to move on to that next level?

Drew: Fleck has had two games against Michigan State and both were respectable 13-point losses. WMU also had Ohio State back on its heels this season. That said, Fleck hasn’t won the big games yet. He is 0-2 against perennial MAC West Division powers Northern Illinois and Toledo. His Broncos can make a big statement in the final three weeks of this season when they host Bowling Green and then travel to Northern Illinois and Toledo to finish out the regular season.

What Fleck has proven is that he can recruit and he can create hype for a program. Whether people like what Fleck says and how he goes about things or not the bottom line is people are paying attention to WMU across the country. I don’t think there is any doubt Fleck will move on to a bigger job at some point, but being the highest-paid coach in the MAC right now I think he can be a little picky. He has a good thing going in Kalamazoo. At this point I don’t think he’s ready for a USC or South Carolina-level job, but I look at places like Maryland, UCF and potentially a few other low to mid-level power five schools that might have openings after the season and I wonder how many will reach out to him.

 

Baltimore Sports and Life: After a long run at Baylor (serving as their Offensive Coordinator during 2012-14), Philip Montgomery joined Tulsa as their Head Coach for the 2015 season. The Golden Hurricanes are just 4-4 overall, 1-3 in the American Athletic Conference; but have had competitive games vs. Oklahoma, Houston, and Memphis. Can you speak to some of the immediate big picture changes (more off the field vs. on the field) Montgomery has brought to the Tulsa program?

Kelly Hines, Tulsa World: I think as much as anything, Montgomery brought a new energy and a fresh perspective. He and his staff gave a clean slate to the returning players and looked at them with fresh eyes, moving quite a few to other positions where they are thriving. There’s a palpable excitement surrounding the program that wasn’t there during the lackluster previous two seasons, and Montgomery is a big part of that. He celebrates like crazy after wins but also wants his players to be mad about losses, even those to more talented teams. It’s a long process to rebuilding fully, but Tulsa seems on its way.

Baltimore Sports and Life: Tulsa figures to always trail Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State for attention, and recruits in-state. That said, the Tulsa offense has showed well overall in the Offense S&P ratings. Given what his offenses accomplished at Baylor, and the immediate success the Tulsa offense has had this year – do you sense there is increasing interest in high-level Oklahoma HS talent to give the Tulsa program a look?

Hines: I think so, at least for offensive players. There hasn’t been a huge payoff yet — most of the committed players don’t have many offers — but it seems as if more local guys are taking visits and checking things out.

Baltimore Sports and Life: Montgomery spent 16 years working with Art Briles in different locations. Beyond the similar offense, where else can the Briles influence be shown?

Hines: I think they have similarities in their personalities and as a result their procedures are comparable. For example, Briles didn’t have his assistants available to the media very often, and Montgomery is the same way. I think Montgomery has taken a lot of Briles’ traits simply by virtue of being around him so long. They’re both very calculated with what they say, not giving too much away without being difficult.

Baltimore Sports and Life: What have been your impressions of Montgomery as a public speaker / face of the program? Does he appear to be well liked by the current roster (players he inherited)?

Hines: I think he’s done a great job as the face of the program, even better than I expected. You never know how that’s going to go for a first-time coach, but Montgomery is really a people person and is able to connect with people from all walks of life, from donors to recruits. That comes from having moved a lot as a kid. He’s very likable and his players really bought in early to what he was trying to accomplish because they really wanted to experience success that hadn’t been there lately. He shoots them straight but also comes across as very human, something that often seems lacking in FBS coaches.

 

Baltimore Sports and Life: Reading a couple of National articles (ESPN & USA Today) on Campbell, I get the impression that he is already at a school that is a perfect fit for him. Do you see a guy capable of being the focal point of a program under a higher level of media scrutiny?

Nick Piotrowicz, The Blade: I don’t think the media scrutiny of a bigger market would bother him at all, simply because he genuinely believes in the nuance of being a college football coach. He enjoys the foundation-building tasks of creating a good program. That dude LOVES practice. He tends to use a lot of football cliches, but actually puts stock in them. The outside noise doesn’t worry him whatsoever.

Baltimore Sports and Life: What are some of things outside the lines you can point to, that Campbell has done to help build the Toledo program?

Piotrowicz: Campbell is really big on the face-to-face meeting. Everyone, from player No. 1 to No. 105, receives evaluation and one-on-ones with the coaches to know where he stands. The players like that level of honesty.

He’s also a stickler for grades, and for kids who don’t qualify out of high school, he’s fond of the greyshirt. Toledo really likes to keep true freshmen off the field to build them in every way.

Baltimore Sports and Life: In the aforementioned ESPN article, Campbell spoke to having a recruiting rubric. Basically traits he’s looking for by position. How has he done recruiting wise vs. other MAC schools, and with developing talent?

Piotrowicz: P.J. Fleck is the only MAC coach who can say he recruits as well or better than Campbell. Toledo, like Western Michigan, isn’t ever going to pull five-star kids, but coaches love Campbell’s  program for the mid-tier guys because they feel they can send kids there and they’ll improve. When people ask me how Toledo became ranked, it’s development. This year, his fourth, Toledo is legitimately deep with kids who can play right now.

That creates ties with good high school programs.

Baltimore Sports and Life: What do you like (or question) about the offensive and defensive schemes Campbell’s Toledo programs have employed?

Piotrowicz: I like Toledo’s blocking schemes a lot. Under Campbell, the Rockets always have a good line with smart kids. Toledo wants to run, and against most teams, it does. Defensively has been the problem. Toledo was a bad pass defense team in Campbell’s first three years. Jon Heacock, a former head coach himself, reinvented the defense, and with some maturation from the kids Toledo already had, they’ve fashioned a team that’s solid on both sides.