UNC's Search for a New Head Coach
Throughout the past two football seasons, the NCAA probe into the UNC football program has left the university in an awkward position with an unusual set of circumstances. Not since Lawrence Taylor, has UNC’s legitimacy come under such scrutiny. From the playing fields to the classroom, UNC has always been viewed as a top-tier school even by the highest standards. People in the UNC family were immediately baffled by the allegations of misconduct by the University’s Athletic Department. While outsiders may throw ignorant suggestions about the quality of management in the UNC tradition by grasping at unfamiliar straws, the University is quietly handling any ill-advised student-athlete transactions with precaution to disguise the scandal as what it is: uniquely isolated. While the administration deals with remedying the scandal, the ‘mismanaged’ athletic department looks forward to another basketball season atop many lists to win another national championship, while the football program continues to heal.
The UNC football season began in a depressive manner; with 3 weeks left in the preseason, UNC was in the process of appointing Everett Withers to lead the football team just hours after showing Butch Davis the door. Altogether, the football team put together a successful season with a (5-1) start and a +.500 record to regain bowl eligibility in what could have been ‘the most broken season’ for UNC athletics. This positive rebound from the fall-out that began in July 2010 most surely earned Everett Withers an interview for the Head Coaching job left vacant by Davis in the preseason. It cannot be overemphasized how well Withers handled the situation in which he was presented. His success was positively viewed by the revamped UNC Athletic Department and Coach Withers has most deservedly been nominated as a candidate for the unclaimed Head Coaching position. So, what competition does he face for the job?
Thanks to the constant monitoring of insidecarolina.com, as well as several other sources, the list of candidates that follow represent the pool of nominees UNC is interviewing for the HC position: Everett Withers, Larry Fedora, Butch Jones, James Franklin, Kevin Sumlin, and Gus Malzahn. Per insidecarolina.com, because Urban Meyer is the new hire at Ohio State, hesitation for Skip Holtz’s inclusion in the list of candidates, and Chris Petersen’s romantic affinity for Idaho, these three coaches, who were at one time considered to be potential candidates, are all off the board. Did you really think Urban Meyer would give up UF dominance established by himself for a 3-star project like UNC football? So, other than Meyer, which of these candidates is the best option to take control of the UNC football program?
Let’s break these guys down based on what they could bring to UNC football and what they might be lacking.
Everett Withers
Pros:
-He has worked as a defensive coach on the professional and collegiate level.
-From 2002-2004, as the Tennessee Titans’ DB coach, Withers gained notoriety by leading the Titans defense to 57 interceptions over 3 seasons (the most interceptions by a team in a three year span since 1993-1995).
- In 2009, Withers turned the UNC defense into a powerhouse defense in the NCAA
-2009 UNC defense: 6th in total defense, 13th in scoring defense, 10th in run defense, 14th in pass defense.
-The only school in the country ranking in the top-15 in total yards allowed, scoring defense, run defense, pass defense, third-down defense, tackles for loss, and pass efficiency.
-(7-5) record with the Tarheels in his year as interim head coach.
Cons:
- Everett Withers has had little experience in the role as head coach and although he managed the pressure this season in an outstanding way, UNC is looking for a coach that has a record of success.
-Butch Davis left an impact on UNC football that has fans expecting the program to keep improving.
-Davis made 4 and 5-star prospects a normalcy at UNC. Since his departure, Withers has struggled on the recruiting trail and talent has dropped off over the year from potential 5 stars to a majority of 3 star athletes.
-Mediocrity is not what Bubba Cunningham is looking for in his first hire as the new AD.
-The most crucial element that Withers is unable to avoid is his tie to the Davis era scandal.
-UNC has to make a decision to bury this blemish on the University and a Head Coach tenured through the scandal doesn’t help separating the university from the past.
-(3-5) conference record falling to the bottom of the ACC Coastal Division
Decision: Withers isn’t our guy. UNC is looking to make a splash with whom they bring in to take the reigns of a growing football program. There is money in the boosters club dedicated to bringing in a proven success
and, while Withers did a fantastic job leading the football team through a tough year, his credentials don’t yell improvement, and the university and he share too much history associated with the Butch Davis fallout. Nonetheless, we wish him a future full of success. Thank you, Coach Withers.
Kevin Sumlin
Pros:
-Sumlin has had concrete success as a Division 1 NCAA head coach.
-Since taking over at Houston in 2008, Sumlin has accrued a (35-17) record and, in 2011, led Houston to an undefeated regular season and a potential BCS bowl berth (Note: After losing to Southern Miss. on Sat. Dec. 3, Sumlin's Cougar's came just shy of a (13-0 record) and Conference USA championship, thus forfeiting a shot at a BCS bowl berth.).
-Brought Houston into the Top-25 in week 7 and remained there throughout the season reaching 6th overall at the end of the regular season.
-Has had success in recruiting and offense
- The Cougar offense has topped 40 points in 22 of 39 game (56.4%), reached 50 points nine times and scored over 70 points twice.
- Receiving the OC job midseason at Texas A&M, Sumlin took the offense from 16 ppg to 33 ppg, immediately.
-Ties to Bubba Cunningham
- Fits the mold of what Cunningham wants for the new HC with a highlighted offense.
- Coached against and beat Cunningham’s former school, Tulsa, on every occasion Cunningham was there.
Cons:
-His newfound success has him high on coaching lists around the country.
-As the new Athletic Director, Cunningham should be hasty on making the right decision regarding a new head coach. Sumlin’s success will put him in the driver’s seat for head coaching opportunities next year, and that could mean UNC would be waiting a long time in a Sumlin-or-bust pursuit. With that said, Sumlin could be off the board earlier rather than later. Arizona State has already offered Sumlin their head-coaching job, and with his recent success, other schools are likely to pull the same trigger soon.
-BCS success
-Though Sumlin has had an outstanding record at Houston, you always have to be slightly skeptical when pulling a coach up from the lower-than-BCS ranks. The ACC is no football powerhouse, but the competition will stiffen up on a week-to-week basis. There’s a reason they haven’t let Boise play for a championship yet.
Decision: Coach Sumlin would be the hire that would define the beginning of Bubba Cunningham’s tenure at UNC and reignite the fading flame of optimism in the Tarheel faithful. It’s an all around improvement in both X’s/O’s strategy and the recruiting weakness of Withers. Additionally, the Tarheels stout young offense coming back next year could be appropriate tools for Sumlin to work with. There’s no realistic projection of how Sumlin would contend in a BCS conference, but there’s no reason to believe he doesn’t deserve the shot.
Gus Malzahn
Pros:
-Offensive mastermind
- Gained recognition through redeveloping and re-popularizing the Wildcat formation, which he has used as the OC at Arkansas, Tulsa, and Auburn.
-Malzahn has created an effective offensive style, which operates as a no-huddle spread-oriented run first and pass attack.
-Success as an offensive coordinator
-While at Auburn, Malzahn ran one of the most proficient SEC offenses to the effect of a national championship title
-His offenses in 2007 and 2008 ranked first nationally in total offense
-2010 Frank Broyles Award recipient, top assistant coach in the country.
-Great Recruiter
Cons:
-Inexperience
-Just 6 years removed from being an Arkansas high school head coach, Malzahn has quickly worked his way up the ranks from an offensive coordinating novelty to a commodity as head coach. Only thing is, he’s yet to coach a game on the collegiate level as an HC.
-Character Flaws
-‘Flaws’ is a little too harsh. Malzahn has an unusual personality, but that’s not worth noting. His wife however has shown up in the media from time to time and rumors about her personal behavior seem to follow the pair.
Decision: UNC’s current offensive style may not be the perfect fit for Malzahn to work with, but he is completely capable of re-engineering and transforming the UNC football program into a successful ACC program. This does seem to be the perfect hire for Cunningham now that Petersen in falling on the list. Malzahn’s name would bring a Petersen-style splash. His reputation as an offensive ‘genius’ would bring the same optimism about the program that the Butch Davis hire had—perhaps more. Carolina may not have the exact personnel Malzahn would want, but they have nearly all the pieces for him to work with. While this is my personal favorite for the position, I hate the idea of watching UNC’s defense play second-fiddle to a non-Pro style offense. Malzahn should be at the top of Cunningham’s list
Conclusion
Everett Withers and Gus Malzahn met with Bubba Cunningham Nov. 29 and Dec. 1 respectivel to interview for the Head Coaching position. In the upcoming week, Kevin Sumlin, along with Southern Mississippi Head Coach Larry Fedora, Vanderbilt Head Coach James Franklin, USF Head Coach Skip Holtz, and Cincinnati Head Coach Butch Jones, will interview for the position, as well. At the present time, Malzahn and Sumlin top the list for apparent reasons—Everett Withers stands in the second tier, due his own consideration—Fedora, Jones, and Franklin round out the list, with Holtz status wavering as a potential hire. Cunningham has officially stated that UNC will know their new Head Coach by UNC’s bowl game, which is projected to either be the Independence Bowl on Dec. 26 or the Military Bowl on Dec. 28. Either way, UNC fans should have an idea of the direction the program is heading by Christmas.
UPDATE: As of Dec. 5, UNC has officially offered USM head coach Larry Fedora the head coaching position at UNC. Through 4 season in Hattiesburg, Fedora is (33-19). He is expected to accept the position Tuesday Dec. 6.
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