U Of Houston Considering 71 Year Old Jack Pardee

[SUMG]

(from espn.com):

HOUSTON -- Houston is looking to its past in the search for a new football coach.

Former Cougars coach Jack Pardee, who also coached the Houston Oilers and two other NFL teams, said Tuesday he has been contacted by the school about returning for a second stint as head coach.

Pardee, 71, coached the Cougars from 1987-89, compiling a 22-11-1 record. The Cougars were 1-10 the season before he arrived but rose to as high as No. 14 in the nation before Pardee left to coach the Oilers.

Pardee was 87-77 in 11 seasons in the NFL as head coach of the Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins and Oilers. Pardee has not coached since 1996, when he was in the Canadian Football League.

Pardee told Houston TV station KRIV that Cougars athletic director Dave Maggard called him to discuss the job. Maggard has declined to comment on specifics of his coaching search.

"There are a lot of ifs, but if the school is interested I'd be very interested," Pardee said. "I am not looking for a job. If they find somebody else they are more comfortable with, I would back that decision 100 percent."

Former Cougars quarterback David Klingler told the Houston Chronicle that the school has contacted him about being the offensive coordinator for Pardee.

"I know some people would be concerned about his age, but you have to take each person on an individual basis," Klingler said. "But I will say this -- I've been around a lot of coaches, and I wouldn't consider doing this for anyone other than Jack Pardee."

The Cougars are replacing Art Briles, who left to become head coach at Baylor last week.

[nautique]

Pardee won't happen in a million years. No way they bring back a dude his age.

Edited December 5, 2007 by nautique

[SUMG]

(from the Houston paper):

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5351045.html

[AJR2010OX]

Pardee won't happen in a million years. No way they bring back a dude his age.

He did get them to No. 14 in the nation, so why not bring back a proven winner, despite his age?

[Dodge2007]

You never say never, especially in the coaching business. Sure seems a younger, more dynamic college coordinator would be better for Couger High. If I am an AD, I would put in a significant buyout clause with every head coach hire in this day of collegiate sports.

Otherwise, you have guys like Graham leaving Rice after one season, to move to another team in the same conference.

[SUMG]

Has Klingler been coaching? Or would he be a first time coach as OC? If so, that's a bigger stretch than ole Jack Pardee coming back, as HC.

[NT80]

I see no "splash" for them if that's the hire.

[EagleMBA]

Let's see now...Captain Kangaroo is doing pretty well at FAU and must be close to 71. Oh, and then there's that old dude at Happy Valley...Joe something. And that other Joe who coaches the Redskins.

Age is a state of mind, my friends. If Pardee is still in good health, he could do the job with young assistants to recruit. My father used to say "The older the buck, the stiffer the horn!".

[runt96]

You never say never, especially in the coaching business. Sure seems a younger, more dynamic college coordinator would be better for Couger High. If I am an AD, I would put in a significant buyout clause with every head coach hire in this day of collegiate sports.

Otherwise, you have guys like Graham leaving Rice after one season, to move to another team in the same conference.

I agree and maybe that's why they're looking at people with UofH connections. When someone does well they would like to keep them. Why become the search committee for others when your guy's do well.

[Coffee and TV]

The age isn't an issue, what should be an issue is that the guys hasn't coached since 1996.