gangrene

I think Leavitt's "name" is plenty big to make the splash we're hoping to achieve. But, it's the experience he has in building a successful program from scratch to a #2 BCS ranking that makes him so attractive for this position. So says the school that just took one of the biggest gambles in the history of the NCAA football world by hiring a HS HC four years ago. Some might say we don't have the luxury to pass on these guys and, let's face it, without these issues, they'd both be currently employed at BCS programs.

Ok, this story and list from Stewart Mandel is from 2007, but I think it's still plenty relevant since most of the coaches being discussed here are on that list because they were coaching in 2007: Head man hierarchy Unveiling the nation's 10 best and five worst coaches Only one coach makes the top 10 list, but he's not actually in the top 10, rather listed as one of the five "just missed" coaches. And then there's the five worst coaches, where two of our potential candidates are mentioned.

I can't speak for the rest of the forum, but it is definitely my hope that if Leavitt is hired, he retains Canales as his HC. In fact, that's one of the things that has me excited about the Leavitt possibility. In addition to Canales, I would expect Leaviit to bring along more of his former USF staff as I believe most of them are still looking for work. The idea of having an entire BCS staff on the North Texas sidelines and press box is very exciting.

WKU wins 54-21. Willie Taggert is building a heck of a program there and they should be in contention for the SBC championship in another 2-3 years. He just missed out on a couple of 4 star recruit last year and he's extended more than 100 offers this year to mostly 3 and 4 star recruits.

KRAM, I don't think anything has really changed, other than the idea seems a little more realistic to some people now because the thought has been validated by a professional reporter at a credible and respected news outlet. I agree that with Leach comes a lot of potential problems, but I also think that his pros far outweigh his cons. He's loved by the overwhelming majority of the Texas Tech fan base and most of them wish he was still at Tech. Leach has an undeniable notoriety but he would instantly infuse excitement and success into UNT football. Even if Leach came to UNT, I don't think he'd be here for any more than about three years.

Better check that job description again. No where does it specify that the NFL or NCAA coaching experience must have been as a head coach, just that an applicant is required to have five years combined coaching experience at those levels.

I think hiring Leach is a no-brainer, but it's more about egos and money than anything else. For those reasons alone, I don't think it will happen. As to who makes the first move about coaching vacancies, I think it's a case-by-case basis and greatly varies from one coach to the next. Neither side wants to publicize possible rejection.

That clause you speak of that requires him to seek "employment in a football related position" only applies if had been fired without cause. Since Leavitt was fired with cause, he's only entitled to 1/12 of his adjusted base pay, which is around $60K per year vs. $1.7 million per year he would have been entitled to if he had been fired without cause.

So this disgruntled USF fan was complaining that Leavitt didn't do enough to elevate the program, wants into a better BCS conference than the Big East and doesn't like playing Sun Belt teams. What's the point? I'd be ecstatic to have those complaints.

Just giving you a hard time. I appreciate your research and insight into the Leavitt situation. I've been a big proponent of hiring Leavitt so I've been digging up everything I can find too. It's easy to get caught up in the lawsuit though and forget what he brings in terms of coaching. The general public tends to believe everything the media says so, in their minds, Leavitt has been guilty since day one. Nothing that may come out in a trial would ever convince them he wasn't guilty. The same can be said of Mangino, even though he settled. The reputations of Leach, Mangino and Leavitt have suffered irreparable damage that no court decision can repair, which is all the more reason each of them needs to get back into coaching as soon as possible and get people focused back on what it is they do for a living - coach successful football programs.

I have to agree with a lot of what you said. I've read through most of the reports as well and, you're right, other allegations are coming out. Leavitt is alleging that AD, Doug Woolard "personally confided" to him that USF had to find a job for basketball transfer, Gus Gilchrist's, trainer as a "quid pro quo" to sign the transfer, knowing that would violate NCAA rules. It's turned into a game of chicken and I don't think either party wants to see this thing actually go to court because both parties stand to suffer a great deal from the publicity of it. I don't know what the settlement offer from USF was but there's a great deal of difference between $1.7 million and $60K per year. I'm inclined to believe Leavitt would accept an amount far less than the maximum amount of his contract owed to him under the fired without cause clause. I'm even more inclined to believe he would do so if he had another coaching job. Yes, there are definitely risks with Leavitt but, without these risks, we'd hardly stand a chance at getting him. I hope RV will at least call Leavitt and discuss all this in great detail. I would not want this cloud hanging over Leavitt's and UNT's heads if he was the HC here. But I've got to believe Leavitt would back off of his demands from USF and settle prior to accepting the UNT job. Ultimately, neither party wants to see this suit go to court.

Is that like a colonoscopy?

Also, Leavitt's former players are playing Cincinnati on ESPN2 right now. If you'd like to know what kind of talent he could potentially bring to UNT, tune in.

footballscoop.com These guys hit some and miss some, but I've found their information to be fairly reliable.

I hope Coach Dodge and his wife can relax now and enjoy watching their son play without all of the added stress and pressure they've endured these last few years. At the same time, I hope people can see and respect Riley as individual and not just blame everything on the coach's son. There's no denying Todd Dodge inherited a pretty bad situation. I think we can all agree that, while he clearly made mistakes, he did everything he knew how to do to make this program successful. As others have already stated, Coach Dodge has exhibited a great deal of integrity and class. For that, he has my utmost respect.

Leavitt has my vote. There aren't many coaches who can claim the #2 BCS ranking; to have two of them currently out of work (Leach - 2008 and Leavitt - 2007) and on our coach's wish list is great. To actually hire one of them would be a dream come true.

No, not for HC. I wanted him for OC last year but he ranked well below Canales on my wish list. He hasn't even been an OC for an entire season yet. Let him learn the ropes for about 5 years and then we can talk to him about becoming a HC. If you want someone from the Leach tree who is ready for a HC position, then Oklahoma State's OC, Dana Holgorsen, is your man.

Honestly, I don't understand how Dodge was allowed to bring his entire HS staff with him to UNT. Was a potential coaching staff not discussed in his interview? If so, was RV not the slightest bit concerned with bringing a HS staff to UNT? I know I was...you can pull up my posts from 2006. I bit my tongue as much as I could when Dodge was being discussed for HC but I really felt it was doomed when I learned who he was bringing with him. The comments from OU's coaching staff (which were discussed in OU's recent thread about Dodge's firing) only served to confirm my worst fears. It's all moot now, but it's one of those things that has me scratching my head and more than a bit worried about who our next HC will be.

Nicely done and spot on.

No matter who ends up getting the job, this is likely the best-case scenario. UNT is simply not in the position to be a career destination choice for any aspiring HC. Maybe we'll get there one day but, for now, we need to find a coach that can successfully use UNT as a springboard to a better opportunity. Dickey didn't get there because he didn't win OOC games and other programs weren't impressed by our SBC titles.

1 million dollars??

Thanks for enlightening us.

Indeed, it is...I raced home from work to make it just in time, only to find out I have an hour to spare!

A collection of links to other messageboards where UNT's next coach is being discussed (some weren't worth linking, so I didn't): UNT's next coach - Texas Tech North Texas fires Todd Dodge - Texas UNT fires Dodge - effective immediately - CUSA board UNT fires coach, of course you know whose names pops up - Southern Miss Todd Dodge to be fired today - TCU Todd Dodge fired at North Texas - Rice Dodge done at North Texas - OU