Smut Targeting Larry Coker As Coach?

NT80 · December 18, 2007

Coker in coaching mix at SMU

01:50 AM CST on Tuesday, December 18, 2007

By KATE HAIROPOULOS / The Dallas Morning News

khairopoulos@dallasnews.com

Former Miami coach Larry Coker's name has emerged in SMU's football coaching search, which is now in its eighth week.

Coker has interviewed for the job, according to a report aired Monday on ESPN's College Football Live.

Attempts to reach Coker were unsuccessful.

SMU athletic director Steve Orsini declined comment through SMU spokesman Brad Sutton.

Jimmy Sexton, Coker's agent, also declined comment.

Coker, 59, spent this season as an analyst for ESPNU after he was fired from Miami at the end of the 2006 season.

Coker went 60-15 in six seasons at Miami, a private school like SMU, and won a national championship in 2001. The Hurricanes lost to Ohio State in double overtime in the national title game in 2002.

But Coker, who has a reputation as a players' coach, never recovered from a sideline-clearing brawl during a game with Florida International, along with six losses, in his final season.

SMU, the first Bowl Subdivision program to make a coaching change, has been looking for a coach since firing Phil Bennett on Oct. 28.

Orsini has insisted that he is pleased with SMU's search despite its duration.

Former Navy coach Paul Johnson interviewed at SMU two weeks ago, but accepted the Georgia Tech job days later.

UNTflyer · December 19, 2007

What do Larry Coker and Barry Switzer have in common?

Both won championships on someone else's hard work.

UNTFan23 · December 19, 2007

What do Larry Coker and Barry Switzer have in common?
Both won championships on someone else's hard work.

I thought you were gonna say both ran dirty programs.

good_ken · December 19, 2007

What do Larry Coker and Barry Switzer have in common?
Both won championships on someone else's hard work.

Les Miles is about to join that club.

NTPhiKap99 · December 19, 2007

Les Miles is about to join that club.

He's been there three years most of that team is his. Does Saban deserve some of the credit of course but it's no Switzer, Jimmy situation.

good_ken · December 19, 2007

He's been there three years most of that team is his. Does Saban deserve some of the credit of course but it's no Switzer, Jimmy situation.

The seniors who carry that team are all Saban's (Flynn, Dorsey, Douchette).

Next year it will be Saban's team outright; and very interesting to see how they do (especially since Perilloux is 2 Heismans behind his prediction).

CMJ · December 19, 2007

So does that mean any coach who wins a National Title before his 4th or 5th year did it off the backs of someone else? If so, those Meyer, Tressel, and Stoops clowns are hacks. :rolleyes:

GreenN'walinsVet · December 19, 2007

So does that mean any coach who wins a National Title before his 4th or 5th year did it off the backs of someone else? If so, those Meyer, Tressel, and Stoops clowns are hacks.

dont forget Lloyd Carr

NT80 · December 19, 2007

SMU, Franchione discuss coaching opening

School, ex-Texas A&M coach have been in contact, sources say

07:35 AM CST on Wednesday, December 19, 2007

By KATE HAIROPOULOS / The Dallas Morning News

khairopoulos@dallasnews.com

SMU and former Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione have been in contact regarding the school's open football coaching job, and Franchione has shown interest, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

SMU has declined to comment on candidates while the search is ongoing.

The school has been looking for a coach since firing Phil Bennett on Oct. 28 and has reportedly interviewed former Miami coach Larry Coker.

Franchione has been out of work since resigning from A&M following a win over rival Texas on Nov. 23. His tenure in College Station was rocky.

Dennis Franchione stepped down as head football coach at Texas A&M on Nov. 23. He had a 32-28 record in five seasons, and his final season was marked by a fiasco involving a secret e-mail newsletter that sold insider information about the Aggies.

A&M athletic director Bill Byrne wrote a letter of admonishment for Franchione's personnel file that stated the e-mails violated NCAA rules.

Franchione's settlement with A&M guarantees the coach $1.7 million from the school during the 2008 season.

He will make another $1.7 million in 2009, though A&M will owe only the difference between the total and Franchione's salary, if he is working.

The same holds true with a $1 million total in 2010.

If SMU hires Franchione, it would certainly add fire to the school's rivalry with TCU.

Franchione helped turn around the long-struggling private school, going 25-10 from 1998 to 2000, before leaving for Alabama.

He started TCU's ongoing streak of playing in nine bowl games in the last 10 seasons.

SMU athletic director Steve Orsini has said that he wants a proven coach and that he is aiming high.

Orsini has insisted that he has been pleased with the search process, despite its duration.

Former Navy coach Paul Johnson interviewed at SMU two weeks ago before taking the Georgia Tech job days later.

GoMeanGreen1999 · December 19, 2007

(especially since Perilloux is 2 Heismans behind his prediction).

He has some company with Rick Meyer, the kid that was going to win 4 at ND.

I don't know it is the fact that they had the death penalty or what, but for offering between 1.5 - 1.8 million per season, they sure have had a hard time landing a new coach.

CaribbeanGreen · December 19, 2007

He has some company with Rick Meyer, the kid that was going to win 4 at ND.
I don't know it is the fact that they had the death penalty or what, but for offering between 1.5 - 1.8 million per season, they sure have had a hard time landing a new coach.

Wasn't that the great Ron Powlus? I think Beano Cook predicted the 3 (maybe 4?) Heismans before passing out in his applesauce.

Quoner · December 19, 2007

The seniors who carry that team are all Saban's (Flynn, Dorsey, Douchette).
Next year it will be Saban's team outright; and very interesting to see how they do (especially since Perilloux is 2 Heismans behind his prediction).

Saban's switching again?

MeanMag · December 20, 2007

I know that SMU wanted a new coach bad, but most schools (including us last year) find a better girl before they dump the one they've got...

Poneez · December 20, 2007

I know that SMU wanted a new coach bad, but most schools (including us last year) find a better girl before they dump the one they've got...

The alums would not have pledged the money for our new coach had we not fired Phil Bennett when we did.

UNTLifer · December 20, 2007

I hear Coach Tom Foolery is still looking for employment.

MeanMag · December 21, 2007

The alums would not have pledged the money for our new coach had we not fired Phil Bennett when we did.

I don't believe that for a second. My point is last year we fired Dickey around the same time you guys fired Bennett, but we had another coach all but wrapped up at least a week or 2 prior to that.

Poneez · December 21, 2007

I understood your point and that is certainly one strategy. I was just explaining why it would not have worked for us.

UNTLifer · December 21, 2007

I understood your point and that is certainly one strategy. I was just explaining why it would not have worked for us.

Why don't you all hire Coach Allen from Highland Park? He's the only coach that has had success in that part of Dallas in the last couple of decades. Plus, we could make fun of him for trying to mimic Coach Landry.

Poneez · December 21, 2007

I suppose if we wanted a high school coach, he'd be a pretty good candidate.

NT80 · December 21, 2007

I suppose if we wanted a high school coach, he'd be a pretty good candidate.

How have those college coaches worked out for ya? :rolleyes:

Poneez · December 21, 2007

How have those college coaches worked out for ya?

Our most recent coaches did not have D1 HC experience, which clearly didn't work out so well, which is why I hope we will take another route this time around. My previous comment was not to be a slight against high school coaches as some of them have successfully made the transition. But I don't think that would be the right fit for us at this point.