2011 Preview Blitz: ACC Coaches
By Kyle Kensing
Harry Truman famously decorated his desk in the Oval Office with a placard reading, “The Buck Stops Here.” Every head college football coach is his program’s president, the figurehead on which all blame or praise is bestowed. And while the buck may indeed stop with the head coach, like a president he’s surrounded with his Cabinet and staff. The corps can be as important as the individual, but the components prove expendable. Staff shake-ups are the effort made before an ax falls on the head coach, much in the same way a president will make personnel changes. Regardless, the head coach becomes the final stop along the chain of command.
The ACC fraternity of coaches is collectively young. Only Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer and Wake Forest’s Jim Grobe have more than five years’ experience as head man at the same program. North Carolina’s Butch Davis and NC State’s Tom O’Brien will surpass that milestone this season, though there’s rampant speculation Davis won’t be around much longer.
What the conference’s coaches lack in tenure, they make up for in promise. Miami’s Al Golden led Temple to 17 wins in two years, whereas past Owl teams needed about eight seasons to reach that many wins. National championship winning Mike London has Virginia looking like a surprise bowl team. And Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher proved to be worth the wait.
Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech
The ACC’s elderstatesman now that Bobby Bowden is retired, Beamer has dominated the ACC since Virginia Tech moved over from the Big East almost a decade ago. Beamer is seemingly stuck in a state of flux: when VPI is expected to dip, it rallies to win 11-or-so games. But when the Hokies are expected to chase the BCS title, they…win 11-or-so games. It’s a flux most coaches would give a toe for mind you, but it’s a flux nonetheless.
This season’s Hokies are young and untested throughout many key positions, yet could (and probably should) end up back in the conference championship. Beamer is the Even Steven Jerry Seinfeld was to George and Elaine’s yin-and-yang.
- Body of Work: Beamer-coached teams have reached BCS bowls in over 70 percent of the seasons since its inception. He’s destined for the Hall of Fame, and the only feather-in-the-cap alluding him is a national championship. VT has shown no signs of slowing under Beamer, either. It won 11 games last season, all of which came in a row. The Hokies have won three of the last four ACC championship, and thanks to a favorable schedule, could be in position for yet another.
- Seat: Cool as a cucumber. Only widespread lack of institutional control a la Jim Tressel could force him out of Blacksburg.
- Offensive Coordinator: Bryan Stinespring
VPI has always been at its best offensively leaning on the run. Michael Vick predated Stinespring, so it was only with Tyrod Taylor Stinespring had a complementary quarterback. Frank’s son Shane, who doubles as running backs coach and associate head coach, has overseen some of the running back development. The Hokies were prolific last season though, and Taylor was able to thrive in Stinespring’s system.
A coordinator who needs no introduction, Foster is as much a staple of Hokie success as Beamer. His VPI defenses continuously rank among college football’s top 20. Last season’s “dip” to 26 is a rarity. His name is regularly floated in coaching vacancies, but seemingly that ship sailed.
Cutcliffe is credited with much of both Peyton and Eli Manning’s collegiate success. Those are nice bulletpoints for the resume. His ability to lead quarterbacks is evident in Durham, where Thaddeus Lewis excelled in 2009 and Sean Renfree has shown the potential for great things this season. But in taking over the ultimate BCS conference dud, Cutcliffe must prove his all-around abilities. Duke is nearing two decades without a postseason appearance.
- Body of Work: His reputation as a coordinator is second-to-none, but that does little for a head coach. Duke’s improvement under Cutcliffe is evident though, as the Blue Devils have been competitive in games they previously wouldn’t have been, and were even a win shy of the postseason two years ago.
- Seat: Luke warm. Duke’s historic lack of success should buy him more time than a coach at most other programs, but a bowl bid should be in his immediate future. Otherwise, his tenure is for naught.
- Offensive Coordinators: Kurt Roper and Matt Luke
Roper is the quarterbacks coach and Luke is an offensive line guy that handles the Dukies’ ground game. Cutcliffe made a wise move delegating out the role to a committee, as the duo brings unique perspective. Duke was an ugly No. 104 using the rush and No. 71 in sacks allowed. Given how often Renfree dropped back though, the latter figure isn’t so bad. The Blue Devil offense was also good for 25.3 points per game, one of the program’s higher yields all-time.
His time as Cornell’s head football coach gave Knowles a foundation for coaching high academic athletics, something very necessary at Duke. Cornell was thoroughly middling in his time there, but that was an improvement from a four-year stretch of futility before his arrival. Last season, he was secondary coach. The Dukies struggled against the pass, but his unit was also the chief line of defense against short-range pass and rush plays as a result of a thin front seven.
Davis’ future in Chapel Hill could rest less on his own actions, and more on those of former assistant John Blake. Blake’s ties to agents brought the NCAA gumshoes sniffing, and arguably cost UNC a conference championship last season. The impending NCAA sanctions supersede what has been a success on-field tenure for Davis
- Body of Work: Miami’s era of dominance in the early 2000s can be attributed to Davis, and North Carolina has experienced an unprecedented run of success with him at the helm. Davis’ recruiting abilities are top notch, which UNC placing so many return draftees in the NFL suggests. The NCAA looming over his head is the only pockmark on his tenure — unfortunately, it’s a doozie.
- Seat: Uncomfortably hot. When the NCAA comes swinging its ax, the head coach is almost always directly in its way.
- Offensive Coordinator: John Shoop
Shoop is a Pro Style coach through-and-through, something that has to be a selling point for Davis when wooing recruits. Shoop doubles as quarterbacks coach, and last season did a nice job getting the most from TJ Yates. To truly get a sense of Shoop’s abilities though, one must consider he helped the Bears to 13-3 record with Jim Miller at quarterback. The college and NFL games are very different, but that in itself deserves a medal.
Even amid the myriad problems plaguing the talented Tar Heel defense last season, it allowed a respectable 23.2 points per game and held opponents 338.5 yards per game, good for No. 30 nationally. UNC employs an aggressive 4-3 Cover-2 that has yielded results.
Few coaches have accomplished what Edsall has in cultivating a program from the Division I-AA ranks to a BCS bowl. Actually, none have. Edsall had to sell a region uninterested in college football on backing a concept, and the result was Connecticut becoming a fixture near the top of the Big East. His lack of high profile moments or his low-key demeanor may not have made his hire a sexy one for Maryland, but those familiar with football know he’s a winner.
- Body of Work: Edsall’s long tenure at UConn is unrivaled in terms of completely building a program without hassle. How he handles one with a stocked cupboard and lofty expectations will determine his tenure.
- Seat: Comfy. Unquestionably, the expectations at Maryland are far greater than they were at UConn. That said, the Terps won nine games last season, completely exceeding expectations with a young corps. That group is now battle-tested, and Edsall can get his UM era started off nicely as a result.
- Offensive Coordinator: Gary Crowton
Edsall’s track record speaks for itself. Then again, so does Gary Crowton’s, which is a decidedly mixed bag. Crowton’s disastrous tenure as BYU’s head coach is well known, as is LSU’s offensive struggles with him as coordinator. He did lead Oregon under Mike Bellotti, which included the Ducks’ second place season of 2005.
Bradford’s stepping in as defensive coordinator in February was odd, coming after Paul Pasqualoni lured Don Brown away to…Connecticut of all places. Bradford’s Southern Miss defenses were stout, which is a testament to his 4-3 facing so many potent C-USA offenses.
Fisher was given the coaching equivalent of following George Carlin at a comedy show in following legendary Bobby Bowden. But Fisher hit a home run by leading FSU to the conference title game and a Chick-Fil-A Bowl victory. The Seminoles’ 11 wins were the program’s most since their 2000 national runner-up season. This particular Seminole team is earning not only ACC title buzz, but is considered a strong BCS Championship contender.
Fisher is a brilliant offensive tactician who has gotten the most out of his talent. He implements a balanced rushing and passing attack, the former of which can be seen in three 500-plus-yard backs.
Fisher’s real success is seen off the field, where the Seminoles nabbed one of the nation’s best recruiting classes this past winter.
- Offensive Coordinator: Mark Coley
Coley is just 37 years old and a dyed-in-the-wool Seminole. While his offense is an extension of Fisher’s, his real worth is as the ‘Noles recruiting coordinator. FSU is recruiting at a championship program level, as it should be.
Brother of Arizona’s Mike and Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops, Mark left the nest last season and led a solid Seminole corps. FSU allowed opponents 19.6 points per game, the 20th best mark in the nation and third overall in the ACC behind Clemson and Boston College. Even in lean years at Arizona, Mark’s defenses always excelled.
I received a tweet last week from someone who doesn’t follow me asking “Are you serious???” about my praise for Golden, based on Temple’s inability to reach the MAC Championship game. Sports fandom is riddled with ADD. How else could one explain such preposterous reactions to a coach who won 17 games in two seasons at Temple. TEMPLE! There was a time when Temple would have struggled to win the Pennsylvania high school championship, let alone the MAC.
Of course, conference championships will be expected at Miami. What Golden brings that could ensure a return to national prominence is an ability to recruit locally. His Temple teams were stocked with Philadelphia and southern New Jersey talent. Many of the great Hurricane teams of the past were comprised of local stars, and the talent pool in Florida is as rich as anywhere in the nation.
- Body of Work: Golden went to the Military Bowl with Temple in 2009, and should have earned another bowl berth last season. Considering he had two postseason-level campaigns after a 30-year drought, that’s a major testament to his abilities.
- Seat: Tepid. Golden immediately starts with the disadvantages of 1. not being a glamorous choice and 2. taking over a program that demands national championships. He’s immediately seen with more skepticism than counterparts like London. He’s energetic though and a great recruiter, and should win over ‘Cane fans immediately.
- Offensive Coordinator: Jedd Fisch
The Seattle Seahawk offense wasn’t exactly igniting the scoreboard last season on its way to being the first sub-.500 playoff team. Fisch was working with some broken parts, though. Going from Matt Hasselbeck to Jacory Harris is a big change.
A Big Ten mindset did wonders for lowly Temple. The Owls became a defensive force under D’Onofrio in a short time. Working with the talent The U has, he should have no problem transitioning to FBS competition.
There’s no shortchanging Grobe’s accomplishments at Wake. He inherited a team that often shared a seat on the ACC basement sofa alongside Duke, and in three years went to a BCS bowl. The Demon Deacons rattled off three straight postseason appearances under Grobe, but are in danger of a third straight bowl-less campaign should WF not capitalize on a seven-home game schedule.
- Body of Work: As mentioned above, Grobe has had more success than any Wake coach. Last season was his worst there though, which can be a troubling sign this deep into a coach’s tenure.
- Seat: Luke warm. There aren’t rumblings of Grobe’s impending doom. Though his ’09 team underachieved and last year’s finished in the basement, his Orange Bowl run earned plenty of leeway. Furthermore, last season’s Deacs were young and could develop into something special, assuming Grobe’s given the opportunity.
- Offensive Coordinator: Steed Lobotzke
Wake’s rise to three straight bowl games was done via a healthy dose of running and passing, both of which Lobotzke oversaw. He helped develop Riley Skinner and Josh Adams, both of whom were integral cogs for the Deacs’ success. He could do some good things with this young group, including quarterback Tanner Price and star-in-the-making tailback Josh Harris.
The committee defensive leadership at Wake came about after Brad Lambert was named Charlotte’s first head coach. The Deacs surrendered nearly 36 points per game last season, plummeting 45 spots in the nation’s rankings from where it was in ’09. Billings has worked on both sides of the ball, which makes his move somewhat peculiar. Knorr has a defensive background and is a Grobe disciple. His last season at Air Force, the Falcons improved dramatically from their previous, 2006 campaign.
Johnson has won everywhere he’s gone, whether it was Georgia Southern (two Div. I-AA national championships), Navy (six straight bowl appearances) or Georgia Tech (2009 ACC Champion). His tenure has come under scrutiny recently amid NCAA allegations of players (namely star wideout Demaryius Thomas) receiving “improper benefits.” More troubling from an on-field perspective is that Johnson loses Anthony Allen and Josh Nesbitt, though the latter missed half of last season with an injury that gave Tevin Washington time to grow.
- Body of Work: Johnson is a coach who can boast enviable success at all levels he’s worked. Last season’s dip below .500 was the result of some bad breaks and near-misses. This could be another trying campaign though, as replacing Allen will prove difficult and Washington has yet to show how much he stacks up to Nesbitt.
- Seat: Warm, but not sweat-inducing. The sub-.500 mark and NCAA sanctions are troubling, but Johnson seems to have Georgia Tech brass behind him.
- Offensive Coordinator: Johnson
It’s not Paul Johnson’s triple option for nothin’. The head coach does a masterful job running the formation. His right-hand man is backfield coach Brian Bohannon. There have been no problems there, as the Wreck have ranked near the top of the ACC offensively throughout Johnson’s tenure.
Groh had a spectacular season as Virginia’s head coach in 2007, but his teams’ inability to find offensive identities ultimately led to losses and in 2009, cost him his job. Groh is one of those coaches well-suited to being a coordinator, as he’s a proven defensive mind.
Brought over from Richmond where he won the 2008 FCS Championship, London is a local expected to bring consistency to a program that has sorely lacked it. Al Groh had an aberration of a season in 2007. London needs to do more than that to placate the Cavalier fans. Of course, he can do just that. London’s recruited well in the Mid-Atlantic, and was the right choice to blend UVa’s hard-nosed defense with a more progressive offensive outlook.
- Body of Work: His national championship at Richmond speaks volumes, and beyond that the Wahoos showed improvement in his first season. London is energetic and a great community face, something that could spark interest in the program.
- Seat: Comfy. London will need to reach a bowl game sooner than later, though I suspect this season’s team could sneak in there as the offense improves.
- Offensive Coordinator: Bill Lazor
There are certainly worse options under whom to study defense than Mike Holmgren. That is precisely who Lazor was an apprentice to before coming to UVa. He coached Matt Hasselbeck during the Seahawks’ late 2000s peak. UVa hasn’t had reliable quarterback play in sometime; perhaps Lazor is the man to rectify that.
Reid actually helped London break into coaching at Richmond during the mid ’90s. Reid spent time at Syracuse under Paul Pasqualoni. Ultimately, defensive responsibility falls largely on London, with Reid likely serving more as a capo.
NC State has regained respectability with O’Brien manning the sidelines. The Wolf Pack were strong in the early 1990s, but fell off into the mid-2000s. O’Brien has turned NCSU into a legitimate threat, last season reaching nine wins with a healthy mixture of offense and defense. He’ll have more eyes following his team this season, thanks to his spring decision to back Mike Glennon over Russell Wilson. It’s a big risk that could have high rewards.
- Body of Work: O’Brien’s had steady success at both Boston College and NC State. He’s one of those “Ol’ Reliable” coaches who never reached a particularly big milestone, but has always maintained success.
- Seat: Comfy. O’Brien did turn on the heat somewhat with his aforementioned QB move, but with two bowl appearances in the last three years, he has earned some collateral.
- Offensive Coordinator: Dana Bible
Any coach who can fight leukemia and come back to lead his players gets my utmost respect. Bible did just that last year. The long-time O’Brien assistant has overseen a progressive bump in NCSU offensive outputs since the O’Brien regime commenced in 2007.
Archer, like Bible, has been at NCSU for the duration of O’Brien’s tenure and in that time seen continuous improvements. Last season’s Wolf Pack actually ranked No. 29 in scoring defense at 21.3 points per game allowed.
BC brass rewarded Spaziani’s dedication to Eagle football, giving him the head position after Jeff Jagodzinski was fired. Spaziani was an assistant for over a decade. His skills as a defensive coach shine through. He has kept the Eagles’ bowl streak going, this season reaching 13 thanks to a five-game win streak to close the regular season, and he’s done it with some of the best defenses in the nation. But BC has struggled mightily offensively, perhaps squandered great defenses’ capability of taking the Eagles to more, like a first-ever BCS bowl.
- Body of Work: Spaziani has proven his defensive chops routinely. This year with a new staff on offense, he’ll get the chance to show how he manages a staff.
- Seat: Toasty. BC can’t have another just-barely bowl season. Not with stud running back Montel Harris and star linebacker Luke Kuechly given BC arguably the best offensive and defensive players in the ACC.
- Offensive Coordinator: Kevin Rogers
From Brett Favre to Chase Rettig — talk about a serious alleviation in the diva department. If Rogers could work with the Silver Haired Wrangler Wearing Gunslinger in Minnesota, he’ll have no problem sculpting the talented Rettig into a viable NFL-level quarterback. Rogers has ACC credentials too, having coached at Virginia Tech in the 1990s. He takes over for Gary Tranquill, who retired. Tranquill’s offenses looked…well, tranquil, so Rogers should be an immediate improvement.
McGovern, like Spaziani, is a long-time Eagle. The two work closely together, and the results can be seen in the Eagles’ nation-leading defense. There’s little negative that can be said about BC’s defense. If the offense comes around, look out.
Barring Butch Davis and North Carolina’s NCAA troubles, no coach is on a hotter seat than Swinney. His Tigers underachieved last season, finishing below .500 and limping to the end line. Despite reaching the ACC Championship game in ’09, his leash is short this year. Swinney recruits well though, and the incoming crop of Tiger freshman will be stars if expectations become reality.
- Body of Work: Swinney relieved Tommy Bowden with the expectation of getting Clemson over the hump of mediocrity. The ’09 team reached the conference title game, but with five losses ultimately underachieved. Last season’s 6-7 finish despite Clemson having one of the nation’s top defenses had some speculating Swinney wouldn’t even see 2011.
- Seat: Uncomfortably hot. Clemson’s going to be young, and with the talent coming in that would generally buy a coach a few years. The Tigers’ underachievement means Swinney must turn his youngsters into immediate contributors.
- Offensive Coordinator: Chad Morris
Morris was plucked away from perpetual offensive juggernaut Tulsa to inspire a Clemson offense that struggled mightily sans Jacoby Ford and CJ Spiller. Morris oversaw GJ Kinne’s development into one of the best non-AQ quarterbacks in college football last season. He’ll be expected to do the same for Tajh Boyd.
Steele not only has a great coach name, but is also a product of Nick Saban’s tree. He helped Alabama’s Sugar Bowl run in 2008, which saw the Crimson Tide allow just 14.3 points per game. Last season’s Clemson defense was almost as impenetrable, giving up just 18.8 per — tops in the ACC.