What's the big obsession with Fritz?

cdizzle86 · October 28, 2015

I won't pretend I know everything about the coaching world, so I'm hoping some of you can shine some light on the Willie Fritz obsession on this board. I get that he's had some success at other levels of college football, but how is he our #1 option? If he was so amazing, wouldn't he have already been hired by a P5 program? The guy is 55 years old, so he's not new to coaching, but we're acting like he's the next big thing.

Edited October 28, 2015 by cdizzle86

Harry · October 28, 2015

His name is kind of catchy. He has a bright smile. He's much thinner than Mangione.

Censored by Laurie · October 28, 2015

His name is kind of catchy. He has a bright smile. He's much thinner than Mangione.

now this is the kind of outside-the-box thinking we need here...see if we can capitalize on the accomplishments of UNT's successful jazz program and get them to translate to the football field. I know that'd make me feel so good

Eagle-96 · October 28, 2015

He has worked his way up the coaching ladder and had success at each level.

From 1993 to 1996, Fritz was head coach at Blinn College. He turned around a program that had gone 5-24-1 in its three previous seasons, producing a 39-5-1 record. Willie Fritz lead the team to two national junior college championships, in 1994 and 1996.

97-47 at Central Missouri in Division 2. In 13 seasons he had only two seasons with a losing record both 5-6. He led them to their first playoff appearance in 32 years.

40-15 at FCS Sam Houston over 4 years with 2 National Championship game appearances.

14-5 at FBS Georgia Southern

Edited October 28, 2015 by Eagle-96

UNT90 · October 28, 2015

Because he has won everywhere he has been and built 2 programs from the ground up.

And he took a transitional FBS team in their 1st year of FBS competition to a Sun Belt Conference Championship while going undefeated in conference play. That Ga. Southern team lost to NC St by 1 and a nationally ranked Ga. Tech by 4.

I see people on here wanting an offensive specialist (much like Dodge after Dickey) and a recruiter (Benford, anyone?). People want to hire to address a single problem, like we did the last 2 times (how did that work out again?).

Hire someone who has shown to have been able to build AND SUSTAIN a winning program under tough circumstances. That's Fritz to a T.

I also see people on here wanting to hire a JUCO head coach. Fritz took over a terrible JUCO program at Blinn and won at least one JC National title. But we want some JUCO dude who hasn't proven he can do it on a FCS level, much less a FBS level?

Madness.

Some have referred to Fritz as the safe hire. The proper term is the best hire.

But no worries, RV has already made his reactionary statements and there is little doubt he will make a reactionary hire. Because that's what he does.

If RV makes the hire, I predict the next coach will be the Vic Trilli of UNT football.

Eagle-96 · October 28, 2015

If RV makes the hire, I predict the next coach will be the Vic Trilli of UNT football.

derp-meme-generator-hey-i-like-your-hair

Harry · October 28, 2015

now this is the kind of outside-the-box thinking we need here...see if we can capitalize on the accomplishments of UNT's successful jazz program and get them to translate to the football field. I know that'd make me feel so good

LOL! Chuck for HC!

oldguystudent · October 28, 2015

I predict the next coach will be the Vic Trilli of UNT football.

I am quite certain that Todd Dodge already enjoys the title of Football Trilli.

UNT90 · October 28, 2015

I am quite certain that Todd Dodge already enjoys the title of Football Trilli.

Silly man. You think UNT, and especially RV, are incapable of repeating past mistakes.

Cute.

He is already on record saying this is what he is going to do (that statement alone should have fans quaking in their boots).

This wont end well.

Ben Gooding · October 28, 2015

I'm not sure of it either. Wille Fritz does not bring name recognition. At this point, that is the most important trait to look for because that will turn recruiting around the fastest. Want to stop losing, recruit at a much higher level. I'm not sure Fritz brings that to the table.

I am not a big fan of Houston Nutt, but he brings name recognition with him and was always a damn good recruiter.

GOMG2013 · October 28, 2015

People want to hire to address a single problem, like we did the last 2 times (how did that work out again?).
Hire someone who has shown to have been able to build AND SUSTAIN a winning program under tough circumstances. That's Fritz to a T.

I agree with this. The next coach has to bring more to the table. One of the biggest things forgotten in hiring a head coach is his ability to attract good Co ordinators. The good up and coming Co ordinators are not going to join a coach that they think they are much better than. Whoever it is, they have to be respected in the coaching community.

We talk a lot about how good a coach has recruited, but if we use levine as an example, he was a great recruiter while he was a position coach. Once you become a head coach, you are no longer recruiting like you used to. You have to assemble a staff for that. The ability to assemble a solid staff and attract up and coming talent is going to be important in building AND sustaining a winning program.

UNT90 · October 28, 2015

I'm not sure of it either. Wille Fritz does not bring name recognition. At this point, that is the most important trait to look for because that will turn recruiting around the fastest. Want to stop losing, recruit at a much higher level. I'm not sure Fritz brings that to the table.
I am not a big fan of Houston Nutt, but he brings name recognition with him and was always a damn good recruiter.

Poor Ben. You weren't around for the Dodge hire, were you?

Substance over style. For once.

But don't worry. You will get your wish. We just won't win very much the next 4 years...

Eagle-96 · October 28, 2015

I'm not sure of it either. Wille Fritz does not bring name recognition. At this point, that is the most important trait to look for because that will turn recruiting around the fastest. Want to stop losing, recruit at a much higher level. I'm not sure Fritz brings that to the table.
I am not a big fan of Houston Nutt, but he brings name recognition with him and was always a damn good recruiter.

I am not sure that I could possibly disagree more with this post. Fritz has won and turned around programs at EVERY SINGLE LEVEL and team he has been at. He wasn't a name hire at any of his previous stops yet changed programs in VERY short order. He recruits just fine but more importantly he gets every bit of talent out of the players he recruits. He can COACH. That is what is important. He was inducted into the NJCAA Hall Of Fame for what he did at Blinn.

Ben Gooding · October 28, 2015

Poor Ben. You weren't around for the Dodge hire, were you?
Substance over style. For once.
But don't worry. You will get your wish. We just won't win very much the next 4 years...

No I wasn't.

I just don't think Fritz brings what we currently need. We need someone with REAL name recognition. Todd Dodge didn't fit that bill either. Dan Mccarney had name recognition, but for only the 35 year old recruits. Too bad those don't exist.

I am not sure that I could possibly disagree more with this post. Fritz has won and turned around programs at EVERY SINGLE LEVEL and team he has been at. He wasn't a name hire at any of his previous stops yet changed programs in VERY short order. He recruits just fine but more importantly he gets every bit of talent out of the players he recruits. He can COACH. That is what is important. He was inducted into the NJCAA Hall Of Fame for what he did at Blinn.

Ok. Agree to disagree, apparently.

Cerebus · October 28, 2015

LOL! Chuck for HC!

I'm not really sure how the average North Texas fan would react to him being hired, oh wait I do:

UNT90 · October 28, 2015

No I wasn't.
I just don't think Fritz brings what we currently need. We need someone with REAL name recognition. Todd Dodge didn't fit that bill either. Dan Mccarney had name recognition, but for only the 35 year old recruits. Too bad those don't exist.

I know you weren't, because EVERY high school football player in Texas, and most in America, knew who Todd Dodge was.

We also got huge local and a lot of national publicity due to the hire.

It was great. Except he wasn't prepared to coach at the major college level. And we lost. A lot.

You would have LOVED that hire. But don't fret, young Ben, Dodge II is just around the corner.

Eagle-96 · October 28, 2015

No I wasn't.
I just don't think Fritz brings what we currently need. We need someone with REAL name recognition. Todd Dodge didn't fit that bill either. Dan Mccarney had name recognition, but for only the 35 year old recruits. Too bad those don't exist.

You don't think we need:

1. A coach who has a proven track record of turning around programs.

2. A coach who has a career winning percentage of 73%

3. A coach that can win with any players he has. "He's been able to win with other people's players and he's been able to recruit and win with his own players," said Georgia Southern athletic director Tom Kleinlein.

I don't care if nobody has heard of him. They will know about him once he wins and wins alot. Then he moves on to a bigger name school and wins there too.

UNT90 · October 28, 2015

I think it's funny that people poo poo Fritz when the chances of him wanting to come to UNT are probably under 10%.

golfingomez · October 28, 2015

I think it's funny that people poo poo Fritz when the chances of him wanting to come to UNT are probably under 10%.

this... he would probably see it as a lateral move... if his success continues, he could probably leverage for a job in the ACC, considering he has established some Georgia roots

Eagle-96 · October 28, 2015

I think it's funny that people poo poo Fritz when the chances of him wanting to come to UNT are probably under 10%.

He will probably land a much better G5 or lower level P5 job this time around unless he wants to hold out for a big P5 job in a year or two.

RV has already stated what he wants. After DD he wanted an offensive coach and we got Dodge, some headlines and not much else. Then he wanted a defensive minded coach with head coaching experience thus Mac. He has gone on record stating he wants a young offensive minded coach this time. Look for him to interview G5 offensive coordinators, P5 offensive position coaches, and 1 or 2 minority candidates to appease the toothless NCAA mandate.

Edited October 28, 2015 by Eagle-96

akriesman · October 28, 2015

Fritz was just hired by Georgia Southern in 2014. His contract runs through 2018. Would a guy like him even be interested in taking a small jump up to UNT after only 2 seasons ? This is of course assuming we could double his current salary ? Every time a coach takes a step up, he risks losing the momentum he built and his reputation if things don't go well.

I never heard of this guy before. But after researching him, I can see why everyone is so impressed.

MeanGreenTexan · October 28, 2015

Because he has won everywhere he has been and built 2 programs from the ground up.
And he took a transitional FBS team in their 1st year of FBS competition to a Sun Belt Conference Championship while going undefeated in conference play. That Ga. Southern team lost to NC St by 1 and a nationally ranked Ga. Tech by 4.
I see people on here wanting an offensive specialist (much like Dodge after Dickey) and a recruiter (Benford, anyone?). People want to hire to address a single problem, like we did the last 2 times (how did that work out again?).
Hire someone who has shown to have been able to build AND SUSTAIN a winning program under tough circumstances. That's Fritz to a T.
I also see people on here wanting to hire a JUCO head coach. Fritz took over a terrible JUCO program at Blinn and won at least one JC National title. But we want some JUCO dude who hasn't proven he can do it on a FCS level, much less a FBS level?
Madness.
Some have referred to Fritz as the safe hire. The proper term is the best hire.
But no worries, RV has already made his reactionary statements and there is little doubt he will make a reactionary hire. Because that's what he does.
If RV makes the hire, I predict the next coach will be the Vic Trilli of UNT football.

So wait a minute, since Fritz is your guy, if RV were to somehow money-whip Fritz and get him here, would you be happy with Rick for making that hire?

Eagle-96 · October 28, 2015

Fritz was just hired by Georgia Southern in 2014. His contract runs through 2018. Would a guy like him even be interested in taking a small jump up to UNT after only 2 seasons ? This is of course assuming we could double his current salary ? Every time a coach takes a step up, he risks losing the momentum he built and his reputation if things don't go well.

I agree with you to an extent. I think he would embrace the challenge(with the right amount of cash thrown his way). He has won everywhere, and everywhere he has gone hasn't had the best track record before he got there. Coaches like that welcome the challenge and, in his mind, there is no reason to believe he wouldn't do the same thing all over again.

NM Green · October 28, 2015

The silence is deafening. We're waiting - if RV gets Fritz do you jump for RV joy? Great question.

GMG

MeanGreenTexan · October 28, 2015

I agree with you to an extent. I think he would embrace the challenge(with the right amount of cash thrown his way). He has won everywhere, and everywhere he has gone hasn't had the best track record before he got there. Coaches like that welcome the challenge and, in his mind, there is no reason to believe he wouldn't do the same thing all over again.

NT is a train wreck.
If a coach can bring this team up from 0-12 (or, at best 2-10) to 6-6 or better, they'll look like coaching geniuses, and would get picked up sooner rather than later.

We're so far down, that it might actually be a good thing.