Cal Poly - who is their next coach?

[dbackjon]

Only "Western" school with a vacancy right now (correct me if I am wrong)

Major implications in GWFC/Big Sky land...

[AZGrizFan]

Only "Western" school with a vacancy right now (correct me if I am wrong)

Major implications in GWFC/Big Sky land...

On e-griz, it sounds like Brent Pease might be in the running....former Griz QB, current OC at Boise State....

[SloStang]

Musty posted this on the Cal Poly message board:

Alison Cone was Tom Barket's guest during halftime of tonight's basketball game against Fresno State, and their lengthy conversation focused entirely on the football coach search. Some tidbits:

Cone has spoken to "about a dozen" well-qualified candidates, both in person and over the phone. However, no official interviews have been conducted. A "small" search committee will meet tomorrow to narrow the list. Cone is specifically looking for someone with coaching experience at the D-1 level, but she doesn't believe head coaching experience is a necessity. The "target date" for a hire is the first week of January, so...7-10 days? Once the committee narrows the list, one (or several) candidates will be invited onto campus for a formal interview. No mention was made of possible in-house candidates, or which coaches will be following Ellerson

[AZGrizFan]

Musty posted this on the Cal Poly message board:

Alison Cone was Tom Barket's guest during halftime of tonight's basketball game against Fresno State, and their lengthy conversation focused entirely on the football coach search. Some tidbits:

Cone has spoken to "about a dozen" well-qualified candidates, both in person and over the phone. However, no official interviews have been conducted. A "small" search committee will meet tomorrow to narrow the list. Cone is specifically looking for someone with coaching experience at the D-1 level, but she doesn't believe head coaching experience is a necessity. The "target date" for a hire is the first week of January, so...7-10 days? Once the committee narrows the list, one (or several) candidates will be invited onto campus for a formal interview. No mention was made of possible in-house candidates, or which coaches will be following Ellerson

Playin' it close to the vest, huh? I would think Ellerson would be naming his staff relatively quickly...

[dbackjon]

Musty posted this on the Cal Poly message board:

Alison Cone was Tom Barket's guest during halftime of tonight's basketball game against Fresno State, and their lengthy conversation focused entirely on the football coach search. Some tidbits:

Cone has spoken to "about a dozen" well-qualified candidates, both in person and over the phone. However, no official interviews have been conducted. A "small" search committee will meet tomorrow to narrow the list. Cone is specifically looking for someone with coaching experience at the D-1 level, but she doesn't believe head coaching experience is a necessity. The "target date" for a hire is the first week of January, so...7-10 days? Once the committee narrows the list, one (or several) candidates will be invited onto campus for a formal interview. No mention was made of possible in-house candidates, or which coaches will be following Ellerson

thanks! hope you can keep us updated with local news on this front.

[SloStang]

AD said in a story in the local paper that one of Ellerson's assistants had applied, but she did not say who. Most people expect OC Ian Shields will follow Ellerson to West Point to install the triple option. I am hoping that DC Payam Saadat applied and that he will get the job and continue the program in the direction Ellerson had it heading.

The one good thing that gives you hope if you are a Cal Poly fan is that eight years ago Cal Poly football program was struggling coming off three straight 3-8 season and there were rumors about the team being dropped. Even with all that they were able to hire a coach of Ellerson's caliber. Now the program is coming off 6 straight 7+ win seasons with five straight top 25 finishes and a 21.5 million dollar up grade to the stadium. Interest in Cal Poly football has never been higher and it sounds like they have some quality coaches interested in the job.

[travelinman67]

The one good thing that gives you hope if you are a Cal Poly fan is that eight years ago Cal Poly football program was struggling coming off three straight 3-8 season and there were rumors about the team being dropped. Even with all that they were able to hire a coach of Ellerson's caliber. Now the program is coming off 6 straight 7+ win seasons with five straight top 25 finishes and a 21.5 million dollar up grade to the stadium. Interest in Cal Poly football has never been higher and it sounds like they have some quality coaches interested in the job.

Agreed...program has a huge head of steam...could attract some names that otherwise might pass on an FCS program, as it's competitive, growing, funded, and quality of life there is high (and not too cold)...deal maker will be the salary. Hope the AD doesn't shy away from spending some dough...especially in a community with a well-above-average median income.

[AZGrizFan]

Alright, I'll do it for $200,000.

[SloStang]

Alright, I'll do it for $200,000.

Well then I'll tell them that I will do it for $199,999.

[SUUTbird]

Since the head coach and OC are leaving does that mean we can expect Cal Poly to run something else besides the triple option next year? I hope not i think the triple option is the best offense in all of football, wish SUU would run it...

[SloStang]

Since the head coach and OC are leaving does that mean we can expect Cal Poly to run something else besides the triple option next year? I hope not i think the triple option is the best offense in all of football, wish SUU would run it...

We wont know until they name who the next coach is.

[D1B]

Good luck on the search. I thoroughly enjoyed the Wisconsin game. Poly is class act, all around.

Nice to meet you and the gang too.

[Cap'n Cat]

Good luck on the search. I thoroughly enjoyed the Wisconsin game. Poly is class act, all around.

Nice to meet you and the gang too.

Cal Poly asked D1B and I to be on the search committee. We had to decline as we are awaiting a shipment of weed from Costa Rica in the next two weeks.

[SloStang]

Good luck on the search. I thoroughly enjoyed the Wisconsin game. Poly is class act, all around.

Nice to meet you and the gang too.

D1B, it was great to meet both you and the Cap'n at the Wisconsin game. Sorry I was not in a better mood after the game. I did come eventually come in off the ledge, but I am back out there now that Ellerson decided to move on to Army.

I would love to see Cal Poly and UNI sign a home and home. You can count on me and the gang making the game at UNI. That would be a great party.

[SloStang]

Good luck on the search. I thoroughly enjoyed the Wisconsin game. Poly is class act, all around.

Nice to meet you and the gang too.

Cal Poly asked D1B and I to be on the search committee. We had to decline as we are awaiting a shipment of weed from Costa Rica in the next two weeks.

Trying to fund the football travel budget for 2009?

[SloStang]

The latest from the local sports writer's blog "Bloggin with Scroggin":

Apparently the hiring committee at Cal Poly had quite a bit of trouble narrowing down a pile of 40-plus applicants for the head football coaching position left vacant by Rich Ellerson.

By the end of the day Tuesday, athletic director Alison Cone and the committee will have met with 10 candidates, and one could be named by Wednesday but could come as late as Friday.

Only one will interview on Tuesday, and that’s Oregon offensive line coach Steve Greatwood. Was the committee saving their favorite for last? Or will the front-runner emerge from the unnamed group that came before him?

Link: http://sloblogs.thetribunenews.com/collegebeat/

Finalist we think we know about:

Boise State assistant coach Brent Pease.

Former Michigan State defensive coordinator Chris Smeland (former Cal Poly player and coach).

Oregon associate head coach/O-line coach Steve Greatwood.

Unnamed Ellerson assistant coach.

That means there are six we do not know about.

[AZGrizFan]

The latest from the local sports writer's blog "Bloggin with Scroggin":

Apparently the hiring committee at Cal Poly had quite a bit of trouble narrowing down a pile of 40-plus applicants for the head football coaching position left vacant by Rich Ellerson.

By the end of the day Tuesday, athletic director Alison Cone and the committee will have met with 10 candidates, and one could be named by Wednesday but could come as late as Friday.

Only one will interview on Tuesday, and that’s Oregon offensive line coach Steve Greatwood. Was the committee saving their favorite for last? Or will the front-runner emerge from the unnamed group that came before him?

Link: http://sloblogs.thetribunenews.com/collegebeat/

Finalist we know about:

Boise State assistant coach Brent Pease.

Former Michigan State defensive coordinator Chris Smeland (former Cal Poly player and coach).

Oregon associate head coach/O-line coach Steve Greatwood.

Unnamed Ellerson assistant coach.

That means there are six we do not know about.

Jesus, I hope not. That does NOT bode well for the Griz games the next couple years...

[dbackjon]

Pease would be a great hire.

Looks like Cal Poly has a lot of great options.

[AZGrizFan]

Pease would be a great hire.

Not for the rest of the Western teams...

[SloStang]

Pease would be a great hire.

Not for the rest of the Western teams...

AZ, you really think that highly of Pease? His resume looks great, but not many over on egriz thought highly of him. Probably were just p!ssed that he left for Northern Arizona.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Not for the rest of the Western teams...

AZ, you really think that highly of Pease? His resume looks great, but not many over on egriz thought highly of him. Probably were just p!ssed that he left for Northern Arizona.

If you look at his success as an offensive coach it's hard to argue with. I wouldn't put a whole lot of stock into what some of the egriz guys say as sour grapes run deep with some. He is untested as the head man but rest assured if he even has a decent QB to work with he will get the most out of him. If he does get the job there will be no drop off on O but it will be interesting to see the staff he puts together. I sure hope Mike Breske is not available for the defensive side of things. That would be an absolute nightmare.

[Appaholic]

Brian VanGorder needs a gig.....

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Brian VanGorder needs a gig.....

You probably wanna keep him on reserve for someone in the SoCon though don't you?

[Appaholic]

Brian VanGorder needs a gig.....

You probably wanna keep him on reserve for someone in the SoCon though don't you?

Yeah....Western ought to be due for a change by the end of next season...

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

You probably wanna keep him on reserve for someone in the SoCon though don't you?

Yeah....Western ought to be due for a change by the end of next season...

I would think you would be looking for a change at The Citadel for comedic purposes but pragmatically Wofford or Eloon might be good too.