New Coach Wish List

[El Paso Eagle]

With thanks to Scottie -

Mickey Matthews has been JMU’s football coach for seven years, and his most-recent teams have been among the more successful in program history. His 2004 squad won the NCAA Division I-AA title, and the Dukes have won 20 games during the last two seasons and 26 during the last three.

Matthews’ 2004 Dukes had a 13-2 record and became the first team to reach the Division I-AA title game with three road wins. JMU won at Lehigh (14-13), Furman (14-13) and William & Mary (48-34) and beat Montana (31-21) for the national crown. The Dukes’ 13 wins were a team season record, and they tied their regular-season mark for wins by compiling a 9-2 pre-playoff record while tying for the crown in the Atlantic 10, Division I-AA’s most-competitive league in 2004.

JMU’s only 2004 losses were to nationally ranked Division I-A West Virginia and to William & Mary, a team it later beat during the playoffs. The Dukes defeated nationally ranked teams in Villanova, Massachusetts, Maine, and Delaware during the regular season.

Matthews also led JMU to a share of the Atlantic 10 title and to the league’s automatic playoff berth in 1999 during his first year as a head coach. The Dukes were 8-3 during the regular season after finishing 3-8 the previous year.

Matthews’ teams’ success helped him win the 2004 Division I-AA coach of the year award from the American Football Coaches Association and the 1999 Eddie Robinson Award from The Sports Network as Division I-AA’s top coach. For 2004 he also received Virginia college coach of the year awards from state’s sports information directors and the Norfolk and Portsmouth sports clubs, Division I-AA coach of the year honors from the All-America Football Foundation, and the Amarillo (Texas) chamber of commerce’s achievement award.

The Andrews, Texas, native before coaching at JMU was an assistant at Georgia (1996-98), defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Marshall (1990-95), and an assistant at Southwest Texas State (1988-89), Texas Christian (1987), Houston (1986), Texas-El Paso (1982-85), West Texas State (1980-81), and Kansas State (1978-79). Matthews went to Georgia with Jim Donnan under whom at coached for six seasons at Marshall.

* * * * *

Matthews in 1999 took his JMU job a week before spring practice was to begin, inheriting a team that had won only five of its previous 18 games and was predicted to finish next to last in the Atlantic 10. Add that the Dukes were to open at eventual Division I-A national runner-up Virginia Tech and that they had one of the nation's more-challenging Division I-AA slates (six Division I-AA foes won seven or more games in 1998), and it's understandable that expectations weren't high.

However, Matthews said he would be disappointed if JMU didn't qualify for the NCAA playoffs, and his team quickly made itself one of Division I-AA's top 1999 stories.

The Dukes lost their opener at Virginia Tech but then won seven straight games and finished the regular season with an 8-3 overall record and a 7-1 Atlantic 10 mark. They tied for the Atlantic 10 crown (JMU's first title in 20 Division I-AA seasons), advanced to post-season play for the first time in four years, and were nationally ranked for the final nine weeks of the season.

The success of Matthews' team was recognized with him being named coach of the year in the A-10 in addition to his national award. JMU players also received the A-10's offensive (Curtis Keaton) and defensive (Chris Morant) player of the year awards, and the Dukes were named to 12 positions on the league's three all-star teams. The same program winning both of the player of the year awards in a season hadn't happened in the league since 1980, and never before had the same program gotten both of the top player awards and the top coaching award.

Matthews' whirlwind first JMU season began March 22, 1999 when he was introduced as the Dukes' fifth head coach. He succeeded Alex Wood, who resigned March 15, 1999 to become quarterbacks' coach with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings.

* * * * *

Matthews' 2000 JMU team was nationally ranked for most of the season before finishing 6-5. Morant (defensive end), Derick Pack (linebacker), Ron Atkins (safety) and Jason Inskeep (center) were first-team All-A-10, and nine Dukes overall received all-league honors.

His 2001 team, with only 11 seniors and 54 freshmen and red-shirt freshmen, was 2-9. Seven of its games were decided by seven or fewer points, and JMU featured the Buck Buchanan Award winner as Division I-AA's top defensive player in senior linebacker Derrick Lloyd.

JMU in 2002 was 5-7 and won two of its final three games with a squad that included only six seniors and five juniors. The Dukes won two overtime games, and six of their other contests were decided by seven or fewer points. JMU had eight All-A-10 honorees, including first-team defensive end Jerame Southern and return specialist Mike Connelly.

JMU in 2003 improved to 6-6 with a team that had but four seniors, including Southern, a first-team All-A-10 choice and a third-team All-America by The Sports Network.

His 2004 team won seven games that were decided by 10 or fewer points and two other contests that were scoreless into the second half. The Dukes allowed an average of only 86.8 yards per game rushing and controlled most of their national semifinal and final games with a bruising running attack. The balanced and deep JMU squad had only three first-team all-league honorees, including first-team All-Americas in offensive guard Matt Magerko and free safety Tony LeZotte, but had seven members named to the second and third all-league units.

JMU's 7-4 team in 2005 included the A-10 defensive player of the year and a first-team All-America in LeZotte. Magerko again was a first-team All-America, and he, LeZotte, cornerback Clint Kent, defensive end Kevin Winston, and punt returner L.C. Baker were first-team All-A-10.

* * * * *

Matthews worked with linebackers and defensive backs at Georgia (1996-98), which won two bowl games during his tenure there. He also coached Champ Bailey, who was recognized as the nation's top defensive player, and Georgia in 1998 led the Southeastern Conference in interceptions. Bailey was the Washington Redskins' first-round choice in the 1999 NFL draft.

With Matthews on its staff, Georgia was 5-6 in 1996, 10-2 in 1997 and 9-3 in 1998. The Bulldogs completed 1998 having won 20 of their last 25 games, including a Peach Bowl win over Virginia (35-33) after the 1998 season and an Outback Bowl win over Wisconsin (33-6) after the 1997 season.

With a supposedly rebuilding team in 1998, Georgia won four SEC road games and was second in the league and 16th nationally in scoring defense (17.2 points per game).

At Marshall, Matthews was part of a program that won the Division I-AA title in 1992, was runner-up in 1991, 1993 and 1995, and was a 1994 semifinalist. The Herd in 1991 and 1995 led the nation in total defense and in 1993 led the nation in scoring defense.

Marshall won 64 games in Matthews' six years with the program (58 the last five seasons) and won 11 or more games and made NCAA post-season appearances for five straight years from 1991-95. The Herd was 45-4 at home and 15-4 in post-season play. Marshall led the Southern Conference in scoring defense four times (1990, 91, 94, 95), total defense four times (1990, 93, 94, 95), passing defense twice (1990, 94) and rushing defense four times (1992, 93, 94, 95).

Former JMU assistant coach William King was an All-America linebacker and the 1993 Southern Conference defensive player of the year while Matthews was Marshall's defensive coordinator.

Matthews Biographical Information

Born

Nov. 8, 1953 in Andrews, Texas.

High School

Andrews (Texas) High School

College

Bachelor's degree in education from West Texas State in 1976. Has done graduate work at Texas Christian.

Playing Career

Earned four varsity letters as a halfback and receiver at West Texas State after earning 12 varsity letters in four high school sports. Rated by Texas Football magazine as a "blue chipper" and was All-South Plain player of the year in 1971 and a National Honor Society member.

Coaching Career

1999-Present: Head coach, JMU.

1996-98: Assistant, Georgia (linebackers in 1996-97, defensive backs in 1998). Georgia won two bowl games (Outback, Peach) while he was with the program, and he coached first-round NFL draftee Champ Bailey.

1990-95: Assistant, Marshall (defensive coordinator, assistant head coach).

1988-89: Assistant, Southwest Texas State (defensive coordinator, assistant head coach).

1987: Assistant, Texas Christian (defensive backs).

1986: Assistant, Houston (outside linebackers, directing the special teams).

1982-85: Assistant, Texas-El Paso (defensive backs).

1980-81: Assistant, West Texas State (defensive backs, recruiting coordinator).

1978-79: Part-time assistant, Kansas State (running backs).

1976-77: Assistant, Lamar (Texas) High School (offensive backs).

Personal Data

Michael Chester Matthews… married to the former Kay Bolger of Irving, Texas… they have a daughter, Meredith Anne, a son, Clayton, who played for JMU in 2001 and 2002 and who now is a JMU assistant coach, and one grandchild

[calvin]

Hayden Fox

He had some great teams at Minnesota State. And he has some great assistant coaches.

[El Paso Eagle]

In just one season on the job, Don Carthel has changed the culture and fortune of Buffalo football. After being introduced as the 26th head coach of West Texas A&M Football on April 27, 2005, Carthel began the process of transforming a program that had not posted a winning record since 1998 and the results were nothing short of amazing.

In 2005, the Buffs stormed back on the collegiate football map as they collected a 10-1 regular season record and captured the school's first Lone Star Conference Championship in 19 years. Excitement about Carthel's program was also at new heights as attendance soared, averaging over 14,000 fans a game at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium during the regular season. In addition to gaining praise from many WTAMU alumni and area media outlets, Carthel was honored by his peers after the completion of the season by being named 2005 Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year.

"Don Carthel has a proven record, a passion for coaching and a commitment to winning," Dr. Russell C. Long, former WTAMU president said. "He has a strong support base in this area and is well known as a man of principle and integrity."

"Don's first year at West Texas A&M exceeded all on-field expectations," said Director of Athletics Michael McBroom. "The success of the football team directly translated to great enthusiasm and excitement for Buffalo football throughout our community. With success comes higher expectations; our challenge now is to achieve consistent success over many seasons. I am confident that Don will be able to deliver a quality football product for our fans for years to come."

The Friona, Texas native returns to college football and the LSC, where he had previous coaching stints at Eastern New Mexico University and Abilene Christian University. Carthel was born in Dimmitt and raised in Friona, and as a child, he found rides to Kimbrough Memorial Stadium on Saturdays to watch WT home games.

"I've always loved coming to WT to watch sports. I remember coming to basketball games to watch Mike Mitchell and Maurice Cheeks, and I fondly remember football games. I began watching WT when Pistol Pete Pedro played and then Duane Thomas and through the Joe Kerbel era. It was always a highlight to come from Friona to WT games. It's a privilege to be a part of the rich WT tradition."

In addition to coaching at the school, Carthel also graduated from ENMU with a bachelor's degree in physical education with a minor in mathematics in 1974 and a master's in physical education in 1975. While at ENMU played center/kicker for the Greyhounds from 1970-73, helping ENMU to a No. 17 ranking in NAIA his senior season.

In 1975, Carthel began his coaching career at Floydada High School, serving as the defensive coordinator under Texas High School Hall of Fame coach L.G. Wilson, leading Floydada to the district championship in both 1975 and '76.

In 1977, Carthel moved up to the collegiate ranks, beginning at NCAA-III Dubuque University (Iowa) and was the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator for the Spartans from 1977-79, being part of a staff that turned the program around, after DU won just three games in the previous four year. Dubuque went to the NCAA playoffs, winning back-to-back Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) championships in 1978 and '79. DU was undefeated in 1979 and ranked No. 3 in the country.

Carthel served as defensive coordinator at Ft Worth's Boswell High School in 1980.

In 1981 at the age of 28, Carthel became the youngest head coach in the country when he took over the head coach position at Lubbock Christian College (now Lubbock Christian University) from 1981-82.

Carthel was an assistant coach at the University of Texas-El Paso from 1983-84, before he became the head coach at ENMU from 1985-1991.

While head coach at ENMU, Carthel helped the Greyhounds make the transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II, and becoming one the top programs in the LSC. In 1985, Carthel's first year at the helm, the Greyhounds were playing Texas A&I University (currently Texas A&M University-Kingsville) in the season finale for a share of the LSC title.

Though they narrowly lost that game, 21-17, the Greyhounds won the conference crown in 1991, becoming the first team outside of Texas to win the LSC championship in the conference's 59 years of football.

In his seven years at ENMU, Carthel compiled a 44-28-1 (.610) ledger, winning seven or more games in five of those seven seasons, including opening the 1987 season with a 9-0 record and tying the school record for victories in a season. In five of Carthel's seven years, the Greyhounds were ranked in the Division II Top 20 Poll. Carthel was inducted into the ENMU Hall of Fame in 2001.

In January, 1992, Carthel resigned from coaching to return to Friona, where he farmed and raised his family, serving on the Friona school board for nine years. However, Carthel could not stay away from coaching and became a volunteer coach for Abilene Christian.

His son Colby was a standout linebacker at Angelo State University, leading the Rams to the LSC South title in 1999. The younger Carthel joined the ACU staff in 2000 as the recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach. In Abilene, the father and son enjoyed their first coaching stint on the same sideline prior to this summer when Colby joined the WTAMU football staff as the Buff's defensive coordinator.

The elder Carthel coached at ACU until 2004, when he was named the head coach and general manager of the Dusters in their inaugural season in the Intense Football League. Amarillo posted a 15-3 record under Carthel and won the IFL Championship last year. The Dusters joined the AFL2 in the april of 2005 and had a 2-1 record when Carthel resigned to take his current post at West Texas A&M.

Carthel received the Coach of the Year award from the IFL, as well as being named to the Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame in 2004 for leading the Dusters to the IFL crown. That honor accompanies his 1991 Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame Honor for leading the ENMU football program to the LSC Championship.

"The Amarillo Dusters' success really opened my eyes to fans' reaction and appreciation of a winning football program in the Texas Panhandle and we hope to put just as an exciting program together here at WT that people can get excited about and enjoy watching," Carthel said. "We hope to provide a program that the alumni and boosters can be very proud of."

Carthel and his wife Cindy Phillips of Farwell, Texas, have been married for 33 years, and have two adult children, Colby and Courtney. Colby joins his father on the Buffs sideline this fall as WTAMU's defensive coordinator and is married to Sarah (Butler) Carthel, an All-American volleyball player for the WTAMU Lady Buffs and current graduate assistant for the WTAMU volleyball program. Courtney Burgoon is married to Andrew Burgoon, an assistant principal in the Canyon ISD, and they have twin 2-year-old daughters, Kylie and Kyler.

[UNTLifer]

Don Carthel

[MeanGreenBuzz]

Rob Spence is in his second year as Clemson's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He was the architect of one of the most improved offenses in Clemson history in his first season. The 2005 Tigers improved 89 yards per game in total offense over 2004, the fourth-biggest jump in Tiger history and the eighth-best improvement among Division I teams.

His balanced approach brought Clemson to a #2 overall mark in total offense in the ACC in 2005. The Tigers were the only school in the conference to rank in the top four in both rushing offense and passing offense. That was achieved in an ACC that had 10 defensive players taken in the first round of the NFL draft, an all-time record for any conference.

Spence's approach helped the Tigers to an 8-4 record, including three wins over top-25 teams. Clemson defeated #16 Florida State and #19 South Carolina in consecutive games to end the regular season, then defeated Colorado in the Champs Sports Bowl and ranked #21 in the final AP and USA Today polls.

Clemson's passing attack made a dramatic improvement in 2005. Charlie Whitehurst was fifth in the nation in completion percentage, while the team was also fifth in the nation, completing passes at a school-record rate.

The Tigers had unique balance, as it had two 700-yard rushers (Reggie Merriweather and James Davis) and two 500-yard receivers (Chansi Stuckey and Aaron Kelly) for just the third time in history.

Clemson's success on offense was no surprise to those who have followed Spence's career. The veteran assistant led Toledo to four-consecutive top-13 final marks in total offense, and helped the Rocket program to 35 victories between 2001-04. Twice in his four years at Toledo, the Rockets finished in the top 20 in the nation in rushing, and twice the team finished in the top 20 in passing.

Spence was not a one-year wonder with the Rockets. All four of his offenses were in the top 13 in the nation in total offense and in the top 25 in scoring offense.

Spence guided a Toledo offense that averaged 474.1 yards per game and 35.2 points per game during the 2004 regular season that included a 9-3 overall record and the Mid-American Conference title. It was the third time in four years that Toledo played for the MAC title.

The Rockets gained 2,013 yards rushing and 3,676 yards passing in the 2004 regular season, joining Louisville (11-1), Oklahoma (12-0), and Southern California (12-0) as the only offenses in the nation to record at least 2,000 yards rushing and 3,000 yards passing.

As quarterbacks coach at Toledo, Spence groomed efficient signal-callers. In each of his four years as coordinator, its starting quarterbacks were in the top 16 in the nation in passing efficiency.

In 2003, the Rockets were 11th in the nation in total offense and sixth in passing efficiency, and averaged 32.4 points per game, significant reasons for Toledo's 8-4 record that included two top-25 wins. Bruce Gradkowski was second in the nation in completion percentage (71.2). He went on to be an NFL draft choice in 2006.

The 2002 season featured an offense that was fifth in the nation with an average of 472 yards and 35.4 points per contest. The Rockets were in the top 30 in the nation in rushing (#16) and passing (#29).

Spence came to Toledo after a year as the co-offensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech, where he tutored freshman Luke McCown, who threw for 2,533 yards and 21 touchdowns on the way to a freshman All-America season.

Spence was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Hofstra from 1997-99. In 1999, it averaged 34 points per game, and had an 11-2 record and #5 final national ranking. His 1998 offense averaged 38.7 points and was ninth in the nation in total offense.

Spence was an assistant at Maryland (1992-96) under Mark Duffner, as Maryland set 70 school offensive records. As quarterbacks coach in 1994, Maryland was 10th in the nation in passing.

In 1991, Spence coached the quarterbacks at Holy Cross under Duffner, and helped the Crusaders to an 11-0 record and a #3 national ranking. Holy Cross was fourth in the nation in total offense and ninth in passing at the I-AA level that year.

Spence worked as the offensive coordinator at Hofstra in 1990, helping that program to a 12-1 record and a #3 national ranking. He was the offensive coordinator at Iona, his alma mater, in 1989, and that team posted an 8-2 record.

Spence began his coaching career as an assistant at Pelham (NY) Memorial High School in 1981 before moving to Iona Prep in New Rochelle, NY in 1982. He was the varsity offensive coordinator in 1982 and the head junior varsity coach in 1983. He then became the head coach at Iona Prep in 1984, a position he served for five seasons until he started his college coaching career at Iona. His five-year head coaching record was 29-19-1 at Iona Prep.

Spence, a native of Pelham, NY, played high school football at Saint Andrews High in Middletown, DE (1972-75). He went on to play tight end at Iona from 1978-81. He earned his bachelor's degree in social work from Iona in 1981 and later earned his master's degree in education from Iona in 1990.

An avid runner who ran in the Boston Marathon in April of 2004, the 48-year-old Spence and his wife Susan have two daughters, Samantha (14) and Sydney Rae (12).

This guy is a winner. We need a winner.

[NT03]

You guys their agents.. Damn lol

Edited October 23, 2006 by NT03

[Green Nightmare]

Rick Neuheisel

Proven Winner

Proven Name

Shows we are at least serious about making a committment

Whoever it may be needs TX ties

[Cr1028]

Hayden Fox

He had some great teams at Minnesota State.  And he has some great assistant coaches.

←

I second that motion. I like Dobber.

Seriously though, I've always wanted Slocum and I'll stay on that bandwagon.

Edited October 24, 2006 by Cr1028

[PlummMeanGreen]

Rick Neuheisel

Proven Winner

Proven Name

Shows we are at least serious about making a committment

Whoever it may be needs TX ties

←

Want an impact coach who won't need a 4, 5 or 9 year plan in Denton? Well.........here he is!

My dark horse choice of the best name coach that we could possibly get if we went outside our usual box of the last 25 years of less than successful hires at UNT and with such a hire as Rick Neuheisel who IMHO would create the fastest season tickets "record" sales in our football programs entire history. Such a hiring by NORTH TEXAS would create much buzz and media interest statewide (and even perhaps even create a bit of jealousy) among many of our Texas D1-A college collegues who would start wondering out loud: Why couldn't our AD have hired that guy instead of freakin' NORTH TEXAS for crissakes'?!?!?!

Rick Neuheisel who Troy Aikman says was one of 2 QB coaches (the other one with Dallas whose name escapes me); but with Neuheisel as one of those 2 key coaches who would make him the QB he would become AND................. with Neuheisel's national name ID could even possibly help UNT find the Big Donor to help him get "his new football stadium" quicker than anyone listed on this wish list of prospective coaches; and the above lists of names of which some might create many of those "Who in the Heck Is That" type questions)?

Question: Would UNT with Rick Neuheisel as our coach be able to recruit our first true blue chip QB in our school's entire football recruiting history? Might Troy Aikman even put in a phone call and a good word about his former mentor to some Texas HS blue chip QB that Neuheisel is going after to play in our new football stadium? AND THEN.............might UNT start using the forward pass as an integral part of our game plan rather than using the forward pass as some kind of trick play?

Of course, college football enthusiasts and purists such as those on Scotties Voy Forum Board and here on GMG.com know all about the high potential of those they've listed and those who would probably be good selections in MG Country most any other time of our last 25 years, but how much would Denton and Denton County's Mr. Joe Casual/Borderline Fan know about them as to cause many of that group to want to buy Mean Green football season tickets as early as next Spring (such as a Rick Neuheisel hire would probably pull off with such fans).

Of course, all this with Rick Neuheisel just my .02, but also using the example of Idaho U right after they announced Dennis Erickson as their new coach and how they had record season ticket sales in Vandal Country in a matter of a few weeks after he was announced as their school's new head football coach.

FWIW (and based on our less than successful hiring traditions of the last 25 years in Denton)...................I think Rick Neuheisel would be a dark horse candidate for our head football coaches job because I honestly don't think many of our present UNT officials would think they could even convince him to even say "hello" to them; but, hey, all this is all about speculation, right?

Edited October 24, 2006 by PlummMeanGreen

[Guest GrayEagleOne]

While I do think that Texas ties are a plus when it comes to recruiting and fund-raising, I get to wondering how Mike Price at UTEP has done so well when he had no Texas ties. He seems to have gotten pretty good talent in his first two classes. Of course, he hasn't had to try to help raise funds for a new stadium and he had a pretty good fan base to work with.

[GreenFlag]

Barry Switzer.

[SilverEagle]

While I do think that Texas ties are a plus when it comes to recruiting and fund-raising, I get to wondering how Mike Price at UTEP has done so well when he had no Texas ties.  He seems to have gotten pretty good talent in his first two classes.  Of course, he hasn't had to try to help raise funds for a new stadium and he had a pretty good fan base to work with.

←

That's the main difference between us and UTEP. UTEP's fans are there, they just needed a little encouragement.

I still believe that the new coach needs to completely understand the situation here, and be ready to provide a viable plan to turn it around when he gets interviewed.

addendum:

Under the "too weird to believe" catagory, here is a story about Florida State's problems.

Bobby Bowden Defends Son, Team's Progress

FSU coach backs his offensive coordinator and direction of team

Oct. 23, 2006

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said Monday that team morale is high despite a disappointing season and that he doesn't regret making his youngest son, Jeff Bowden, the team's offensive coordinator.

But fan impatience with the younger Bowden has increased after a half-dozen years of mounting losses and declining offensive production.

"I don't think he'd get half the criticism if his name ain't Bowden," Bobby Bowden said Monday.

"How can I have nine coaches and it's always one guy's fault?" the elder Bowden asked Monday. "We're a team. We win and we lose. We don't point fingers."

Bowden called a meeting Monday of his unity council as well to take the pulse of morale among a half-dozen key players, including quarterback Drew Weatherford, after the Seminoles' 24-19 loss Saturday to Boston College. It was Florida State's seventh loss in its past dozen games dating to last November.

Bowden created the unity council after the 2002 season, when the team split over whether Chris Rix or Adrian McPherson should be playing quarterback shortly before McPherson's removal from the team over gambling questions.

Weatherford had words with quarterbacks coach Daryl Dickey during Saturday's game in the second half when he was warned he could be replaced by Xavier Lee.

"I wasn't pleased," Weatherford said. "I just asked him what I should be doing out there ... probably not in such a moderate tone. I just wanted an answer."

Edited October 24, 2006 by SilverEagle

[Hunter Green]

OK, I'll be the first on this thread to mention Todd Dodge. I'll admit, Neuhisal (sp) gets my attention from a known name standpoint, But I'm sure Dodge could recruit and THAT'S the name of the game.

[Green Nightmare]

REcruiting is only half the battle.

Proven winning at the college level is much more important to me

Neihuesil is the hire

[El Paso Eagle]

Rick Neuheisel

Rick Neuheisel as coach on the Baltimore Ravens.Rick Neuheisel (born February 7, 1961 in Madison, Wisconsin) is a football coach. Formerly a college head coach, he is currently the quarterbacks coach for the NFL's Baltimore Ravens.

Neuheisel grew up in the Phoenix area and played his college football at UCLA, beginning his career as a walk-on, holding for place kicks. He secured the starting quarterback position four games into his senior year, leading the Bruins to the Pac-10 championship in 1983 and a 45-9 victory over Illinois in the January 1984 Rose Bowl, in which he was named the most valuable player.

His professional career included two seasons with the San Antonio Gunslingers (1984-1985) of the USFL and three games with the San Diego Chargers of the NFL in the strike season of 1987. He closed out the season's final two games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but did not receive any playing time.

While attending law school at USC on an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, Neuheisel served as a graduate assistant with UCLA, where he tutored Troy Aikman. He later became a full-time assistant coach, and stayed at UCLA through the 1993 season. In 1994, he moved to Colorado as an assistant to Bill McCartney. McCartney retired following that season and Neuhesiel, age 34, became the head coach. He stayed for four seasons (1995-98), then left to coach at Washington for four seasons (1999-2002). In the 2000 season, the Huskies won the Pac-10 title and the Rose Bowl over the Purdue Boilermakers. Washington, led by quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo, the Rose Bowl MVP, finished the season at 11-1 and was ranked third in the final national polls.

His 2001 and 2002 teams posted records of 8-4 and 7-6 respectively, as criticism began to mount that the team was becoming less physical and playing more of a finesse style. Passing yardage records were routinely broken while Washington's running game fell off dramatically.

Neuheisel was fired in the summer of 2003 from the University of Washington for gambling on the NCAA Basketball Tournament, in addition to numerous minor recruiting violations. However, the gambling case became a local sensation when it was revealed that he had received an internal University of Washington memo which authorized this type of gambling. Analysis revealed that the NCAA rules were ambiguous and inconsistent (the NCAA website itself was found to have old versions of its rules by posters on the "dawgman.com" website) seeming to allow gambling within certain contexts, and it became apparent that the NCAA violated its own rules when questioning Neuheisel about the gambling. Legal proceedings enabled Neuheisel to collect a substantial settlement and essentially clear him of wrongdoing as the NCAA and University of Washington were forced to abandon their case. He was a volunteer coach for Rainier Beach High School in Seattle for two seasons, then became an assistant coach with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens in January 2005.

[Bryan316]

Bring back Matt Simon. The facilities are improving, we've gone from 4+ bodybag games to 1 or 2 per year, and RV is a much better AD to work with than Helwig. The powers that be also had issues with his constant adjusting, but our current coach doesn't adjust at all! NTTV's "Retro" hours were running some of the Matt Simon shows from '94, and I couldn't help but long for the days of Mitch Maher accurately throwing the ball to the recievers and tight ends, or tucking it in and running.

Denny Green will soon be departing from the Cardinals. Is there any chance he would consider NT? Would we even try to court him?

[pollock]

Neuheisel grew up in the Phoenix area and played his college football at UCLA, beginning his career as a walk-on, holding for place kicks. He secured the starting quarterback position four games into his senior year, leading the Bruins to the Pac-10 championship in 1983 and a 45-9 victory over Illinois in the January 1984 Rose Bowl, in which he was named the most valuable player.

←

Man, that's crazy.

Neuheisel was fired in the summer of 2003 from the University of Washington for gambling on the NCAA Basketball Tournament, in addition to numerous minor recruiting violations. However, the gambling case became a local sensation when it was revealed that he had received an internal University of Washington memo which authorized this type of gambling. Analysis revealed that the NCAA rules were ambiguous and inconsistent (the NCAA website itself was found to have old versions of its rules by posters on the "dawgman.com" website) seeming to allow gambling within certain contexts, and it became apparent that the NCAA violated its own rules when questioning Neuheisel about the gambling. Legal proceedings enabled Neuheisel to collect a substantial settlement and essentially clear him of wrongdoing as the NCAA and University of Washington were forced to abandon their case. He was a volunteer coach for Rainier Beach High School in Seattle for two seasons, then became an assistant coach with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens in January 2005.

←

I knew basically that he got canned for betting on the BB tourney, but I didn't know that bit about the ambiguity in the rules. Hard to hold that against him. I have heard some speculation that he left some shenanigans behind in Colorado.

In any case, if we get a new coach, he needs to be a known name (like Neuheisel) or an up-and-coming guy w/ Texas connections, like the WTAMU guy.

Dodge does a pretty good job of recruiting at Carroll.

The best thing about hiring Slocum would be that we wouldn't have to tolerate him as an analyst on FSN any more.

[EagleD]

Barry Switzer.

←

I quit cheering for the Cowboys b/c of him. Nooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!

Here's my thought:

Gary DeLoach

I know he can coach and recruit defense. I'm willing to bet he can coach offense, or at least surround himself with good people.

Whoever we hire will have to be part coach AND part salesman b/c he's gonna have to meet with donors to try and build a new stadium. Sadly, Barry Switzer does fit both those categories.

GO MEAN GREEN not Crimson and Cream!!!!!!!!!

[SilverEagle]

In just one season on the job, Don Carthel has changed the culture and fortune of Buffalo football. After being introduced as the 26th head coach of West Texas A&M Football on April 27, 2005, Carthel began the process of transforming a program that had not posted a winning record since 1998 and the results were nothing short of amazing.

In 2005, the Buffs stormed back on the collegiate football map as they collected a 10-1 regular season record and captured the school's first Lone Star Conference Championship in 19 years. Excitement about Carthel's program was also at new heights as attendance soared, averaging over 14,000 fans a game at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium during the regular season. In addition to gaining praise from many WTAMU alumni and area media outlets, Carthel was honored by his peers after the completion of the season by being named 2005 Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year.

"Don Carthel has a proven record, a passion for coaching and a commitment to winning," Dr. Russell C. Long, former WTAMU president said. "He has a strong support base in this area and is well known as a man of principle and integrity."

"Don's first year at West Texas A&M exceeded all on-field expectations," said Director of Athletics Michael McBroom. "The success of the football team directly translated to great enthusiasm and excitement for Buffalo football throughout our community. With success comes higher expectations; our challenge now is to achieve consistent success over many seasons. I am confident that Don will be able to deliver a quality football product for our fans for years to come."

The Friona, Texas native returns to college football and the LSC, where he had previous coaching stints at Eastern New Mexico University and Abilene Christian University. Carthel was born in Dimmitt and raised in Friona, and as a child, he found rides to Kimbrough Memorial Stadium on Saturdays to watch WT home games.

"I've always loved coming to WT to watch sports. I remember coming to basketball games to watch Mike Mitchell and Maurice Cheeks, and I fondly remember football games. I began watching WT when Pistol Pete Pedro played and then Duane Thomas and through the Joe Kerbel era. It was always a highlight to come from Friona to WT games. It's a privilege to be a part of the rich WT tradition."

In addition to coaching at the school, Carthel also graduated from ENMU with a bachelor's degree in physical education with a minor in mathematics in 1974 and a master's in physical education in 1975. While at ENMU played center/kicker for the Greyhounds from 1970-73, helping ENMU to a No. 17 ranking in NAIA his senior season.

In 1975, Carthel began his coaching career at Floydada High School, serving as the defensive coordinator under Texas High School Hall of Fame coach L.G. Wilson, leading Floydada to the district championship in both 1975 and '76.

In 1977, Carthel moved up to the collegiate ranks, beginning at NCAA-III Dubuque University (Iowa) and was the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator for the Spartans from 1977-79, being part of a staff that turned the program around, after DU won just three games in the previous four year. Dubuque went to the NCAA playoffs, winning back-to-back Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) championships in 1978 and '79. DU was undefeated in 1979 and ranked No. 3 in the country.

Carthel served as defensive coordinator at Ft Worth's Boswell High School in 1980.

In 1981 at the age of 28, Carthel became the youngest head coach in the country when he took over the head coach position at Lubbock Christian College (now Lubbock Christian University) from 1981-82.

Carthel was an assistant coach at the University of Texas-El Paso from 1983-84, before he became the head coach at ENMU from 1985-1991.

While head coach at ENMU, Carthel helped the Greyhounds make the transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II, and becoming one the top programs in the LSC. In 1985, Carthel's first year at the helm, the Greyhounds were playing Texas A&I University (currently Texas A&M University-Kingsville) in the season finale for a share of the LSC title.

Though they narrowly lost that game, 21-17, the Greyhounds won the conference crown in 1991, becoming the first team outside of Texas to win the LSC championship in the conference's 59 years of football.

In his seven years at ENMU, Carthel compiled a 44-28-1 (.610) ledger, winning seven or more games in five of those seven seasons, including opening the 1987 season with a 9-0 record and tying the school record for victories in a season. In five of Carthel's seven years, the Greyhounds were ranked in the Division II Top 20 Poll. Carthel was inducted into the ENMU Hall of Fame in 2001.

In January, 1992, Carthel resigned from coaching to return to Friona, where he farmed and raised his family, serving on the Friona school board for nine years. However, Carthel could not stay away from coaching and became a volunteer coach for Abilene Christian."

I find this pretty impressive. Anyone who can serve on a school board of a small school district for nine years has GOT to have a pretty thick skin. They also have to be able to manage people, and address their concerns. Otherwise you don't get re-elected.

[VideoEagle]

Bring back Matt Simon. 

←

No. Not maybe, but no.

[UNTLifer]

Bring back Matt Simon. 

←

He would have too much trouble crossing all those bridges he burned.

[H-towngreen]

I say we go with a Texas Football God. Someone who knows a little something about how to run an offense. Someone who can walk into any recruits home and have their attention and respect. He would be the youngest football coach in the NCAA. But he is one of the hottest young coaches in football.

MAJOR APPELWHITE!!!!!

[VideoEagle]

He would have too much trouble crossing all those bridges he burned.

←

He had a tendency to stand in the middle of a bridge and set fire to both ends. Then he would complain about the fire.

You might get the feeling I’m not exactly a Matt Simon fan. You would be right, although I did like some of those 5 receiver sets.

[MeanMag]

I quit cheering for the Cowboys b/c of him.  Nooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!

Here's my thought:

Gary DeLoach

I know he can coach and recruit defense.  I'm willing to bet he can coach offense, or at least surround himself with good people. 

Whoever we hire will have to be part coach AND part salesman b/c he's gonna have to meet with donors to try and build a new stadium.  Sadly, Barry Switzer does fit both those categories.

GO MEAN GREEN not Crimson and Cream!!!!!!!!!

←

DeLoach would definately bring the attitude I am looking for from our Mean Green.

Neuhiesel is a possibility too

And Applewhite has to be the most intriguing name in this thread.

[El Paso Eagle]

Does anyone know how DeLoach was at recruiting?