Young, energetic coach who did a remarkably good job as Head Coach at Kent State and had a very auspicious start as Colorado’s OC this weekend. He is a Chicago area native and despite the negative aura around NU right now might be tempted by the opportunity to be a head coach in the Big Ten at a program with exponentially more resources that he had at Kent State.
Sean Lewis Should Be At The Top of NU’s Head Coaching Candidate List
- Thread starter corbi296
- Start date
Colorado OCs have a history of doing well here.
For well over a decade I’ve been hoping NU football would draw upon the veer & shoot coaching tree, particularly the Babers branch.
At this point, snagging Lewis would be a major coup and unfortunately, one I doubt the current (incompetent) administration could pull off.
I can imagine that call, hi this is Dr Gragg from Northwestern, we would like to talk to you about our head coach position....pause.....click....
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At a minimum, they need to address the Athletic Director position. No way any young, talented coach will hitch his wagon to Gragg. AD first, head coach next, which means they need to be identifying the AD replacement now. I have zero confidence they are doing that.
Painfully obvious to us, but I fear the same.
The easy AD choice is to recruit current Kansas AD, Travis Goff, back to NU. Young, Jim Philipps protege who has made some pretty good decisions since leaving for Kansas. Hiring Lance Leopold to run the football program was a stroke of genius.
NU ain't that smart.
This assumes that Gragg actually bothers to make the call. He's not big on communication...
How about opening up the checkbook for Babers? Would love to see Dino on the sidelines in Evanston.
Babers?
Syracuse Orange (Atlantic Coast Conference) (2016–present)
2016 Syracuse 4–8 2–6 T–6th (Atlantic)
2017 Syracuse 4–8 2–6 7th (Atlantic)
2018 Syracuse 10–3 6–2 2nd (Atlantic) W Camping World 15 15
2019 Syracuse 5–7 2–6 6th (Atlantic)
2020 Syracuse 1–10 1–9 T–14th
2021 Syracuse 5–7 2–6 T–6th (Atlantic)
2022 Syracuse 7–6 4–4 T–3rd (Atlantic) L Pinstripe
2023 Syracuse 1–0 0–0
Syracuse: 37–49 18–39
Syracuse Orange (Atlantic Coast Conference) (2016–present)
2016 Syracuse 4–8 2–6 T–6th (Atlantic)
2017 Syracuse 4–8 2–6 7th (Atlantic)
2018 Syracuse 10–3 6–2 2nd (Atlantic) W Camping World 15 15
2019 Syracuse 5–7 2–6 6th (Atlantic)
2020 Syracuse 1–10 1–9 T–14th
2021 Syracuse 5–7 2–6 T–6th (Atlantic)
2022 Syracuse 7–6 4–4 T–3rd (Atlantic) L Pinstripe
2023 Syracuse 1–0 0–0
Syracuse: 37–49 18–39
That would be interesting. I would not mind at all.
It doesn’t matter who they hire, if the Administration doesn’t commit to making systemic changes in how the school supports the program, and commits to providing resources to the football program I don’t mean a shiny new stadium, I mean a commitment to paying up for a top notch Coach ( overpaying), a competitive NIL program, an admission policy that puts us closer to a level playing field with so called academic peers, establishing the actual ability to recruit transfers and actually taking pride in the product the school produces.
Fitz's departure has made all these things less likely, not more likely. They were a real stretch before, with Schill and Company in charge it feels like a pipe dream. I don't think all these things are necessary for go forward success but some of them are.
That’s why anyone that thinks this turns around quickly by bringing in a new Coach will be disappointed. Just because we have a seat at the Big 2 table, I think it can be argued that this is the most difficult job within the Big 2 and it certainly has been hurt by the events of the last 60 days. This is probably a mortal wound not a flesh wound.
A good man with a fun (and trending) offensive scheme that hasn’t made it into the BIG, yet.
Dino is also a guy I could see sticking around at NU for five or so years to right the ship before he hands off the program to someone else.
Would be a heck of a hire, but maybe not impossible given his tenure at Syracuse may be getting stale.
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Plus he knows first hand how to turn around a program that was as bad as our own. Hopefully, he is learning and picking up a lot from Coach Prime and will have the magic formula ready for us.
We will be paying $$$ for a top notch coach and also assistants. The NIL program is being taken over by the University and will be competitive (already done). Our admission policy isn’t going to be changing however. That‘s what I was made to understand anyways from someone who would know.
Nothing was shared on transfers - my sense is that this is measure of recruiting capability, though the argument that our quarter system isn’t helpful may have some merit. St. Gary would have been able to land quality transfers though in my opinion. And so would Coach Prime.
Possible Head Coaches.
Sean Lewis
Or
'Bob Stoops. The guy is in the f*cking USFL for Chrissakes.
1999 Oklahoma 7–5 5–3 T–2nd (South) L Independence
2000 Oklahoma 13–0 8–0 1st (South) W Orange† 1 1
2001 Oklahoma 11–2 6–2 2nd (South) W Cotton 6 6
2002 Oklahoma 12–2 6–2 T–1st (South) W Rose† 5 5
2003 Oklahoma 12–2 8–0 1st (South) L Sugar† 3 3
2004 Oklahoma 12–1 8–0 1st (South) L Orange† 3 3
2005 Oklahoma 8–4 6–2 T–2nd (South) W Holiday 22 22
2006 Oklahoma 11–3 7–1 1st (South) L Fiesta† 11 11
2007 Oklahoma 11–3 6–2 1st (South) L Fiesta† 8 8
2008 Oklahoma 12–2 7–1 T–1st (South) L BCS NCG† 5 5
2009 Oklahoma 8–5 5–3 T–3rd (South) W Sun
2010 Oklahoma 12–2 6–2 T–1st (South) W Fiesta† 6 6
2011 Oklahoma 10–3 6–3 T–3rd W Insight 15 16
2012 Oklahoma 10–3 8–1 T–1st L Cotton 15 15
2013 Oklahoma 11–2 7–2 T–2nd W Sugar† 6 6
2014 Oklahoma 8–5 5–4 T–4th L Russell Athletic
2015 Oklahoma 11–2 8–1 1st L Orange† 5 5
2016 Oklahoma 11–2 9–0 1st W Sugar† 3 5
Oklahoma Sooners (Big 12 Conference) (2021)
2021 Oklahoma 1–0 W Alamo[a] 10 10
Oklahoma: 191–48 121–29
Total: 191–48
Sean Lewis
Or
'Bob Stoops. The guy is in the f*cking USFL for Chrissakes.
1999 Oklahoma 7–5 5–3 T–2nd (South) L Independence
2000 Oklahoma 13–0 8–0 1st (South) W Orange† 1 1
2001 Oklahoma 11–2 6–2 2nd (South) W Cotton 6 6
2002 Oklahoma 12–2 6–2 T–1st (South) W Rose† 5 5
2003 Oklahoma 12–2 8–0 1st (South) L Sugar† 3 3
2004 Oklahoma 12–1 8–0 1st (South) L Orange† 3 3
2005 Oklahoma 8–4 6–2 T–2nd (South) W Holiday 22 22
2006 Oklahoma 11–3 7–1 1st (South) L Fiesta† 11 11
2007 Oklahoma 11–3 6–2 1st (South) L Fiesta† 8 8
2008 Oklahoma 12–2 7–1 T–1st (South) L BCS NCG† 5 5
2009 Oklahoma 8–5 5–3 T–3rd (South) W Sun
2010 Oklahoma 12–2 6–2 T–1st (South) W Fiesta† 6 6
2011 Oklahoma 10–3 6–3 T–3rd W Insight 15 16
2012 Oklahoma 10–3 8–1 T–1st L Cotton 15 15
2013 Oklahoma 11–2 7–2 T–2nd W Sugar† 6 6
2014 Oklahoma 8–5 5–4 T–4th L Russell Athletic
2015 Oklahoma 11–2 8–1 1st L Orange† 5 5
2016 Oklahoma 11–2 9–0 1st W Sugar† 3 5
Oklahoma Sooners (Big 12 Conference) (2021)
2021 Oklahoma 1–0 W Alamo[a] 10 10
Oklahoma: 191–48 121–29
Total: 191–48
There is only one Coach Prime. He would turn NU into a power, but of course he represents everything the Administration despises. It’s going to take more than money to fix this mess.
Well, I think before this mess started one could easily argue NU in the Big Ten with a new stadium on the horizon was a step up for a young AD at Kansas with significant NU ties. Now, I don't think the same argument can be made. I am not saying it would be easy and I am aware that he is originally from Kansas, but he would be such a good fit for NU that it would be worth it for NU to offer him a big bag of money to take it.
Could you imagine that meeting with Coach Prime and Schill??
I, for one, am not interested in becoming a power if you have to do it the way Deion has done it. Deion is Fools Gold for Colorado. I predict he will be gone from Boulder after this season or next, likely for Tallahassee. Deion does not give a crap about Colorado or his players. He only cares to the degree that these players or schools help him feed his ego and enhance the public perception of Deion. It's all about Neon Deion.
He’s a Kansas native and a Kansas alum who’s found pretty strong success at Kansas. A buddy of mine lived near him in Wilmette, he moved back home for family reasons as well. Kansas is also in the midst of a football facilities rebuild as well to the tune of $300MM. Besides that it’s a preeminent basketball brand.
He ain’t coming back to NU because he worked for a while here under Phillips.
Yes, he would get the "well he was here" treatment. And why would he come back to this mess. I truly believe there is no actual heat on Gragg as well and NU is digging in with him at the helm.
I’m not so sure about that. Fitz was big on doing it the Northwestern way and not compromising standards. A new administration may take a different view on what NU needs to do to even be relevant in college football, which is a necessity because it is the biggest revenue driver for the athletic department through TV contracts. Notice I said a new administration. I have no confidence in the current administration to make the necessary changes to pay for a top notch coach and assistants, and to work with recruiting standards and NIL to get good players.
There won't be any new administration, so we get what we get.
Not even that. I just don’t see why he would even consider leaving what is probably his dream job to come clean up the current mess that is NU athletics.
I actually think Fitz and his approach to NIL was holding back if anything. While the NIL isn’t “officially” part of the program, the head coach has a lot of influence on how it is enacted and Fitz pretty clearly wanted to take an egalitarian approach without using it as a recruiting tactic.
I believe he will be gone in a couple of years too. What’s the problem with that? Colorado was arguably the worst P5 program in the country. He just beat the National runner up in his FIRST game.
His job is to win football games. That is the job of every P5 Coach. It’s the era of big money contracts and exposure for schools. The old days of claiming NU is somehow doing it the right way has become laughable.
He is a HOF’er that has the highest name recognition in the sport. He will put multiple players in the NFL that will make millions. How is that not caring about his players. There is no pretense with him. What you see is what you get and recruits go in with eyes wide open. This is in contrast with some other name Coaches that speak like they care and act like they don’t. He is especially appealing to AA kids with similar backgrounds. His job is to make them better and he does that. I could personally live without the bravo, but this is exactly his appeal. If NU hired him they would sell out every game and there would be 10 fans to replace everyone that was turned off. You either play like a big boy in today’s world or you become the University of Chicago.
NU should take a run at JJ Watt as our next head coach. He would have a Deionesque impact on NU.
I don't agree with you on this point but if you are right, then the University of Chicago it is.
As far as what a College Football Head Coach's job is, in my opinion it is to develop student/athletes to be the best they can be on and off the field. I already have a favorite professional football team and league, I don't need another one. If college football continues to move more in the direction of exclusively being a minor league feeder system for the NFL, I'll just stop watching college football. I am a MLB baseball and Chicago Cubs fan but I don't watch the Iowa Cubs play.
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I believe college football has been a minor league feeder system for the NFL for decades. It used to be that mainly the blue bloods acted as that feeder system. The money has blown it up with TV, NIL, transfers etc that the “student-Athlete” is really only a reality for non revenue sports. It’s not even disputed anymore with a charade of pretending.
Not minimizing how you feel or your right to feel this way, but you have been watching minor league football for years.
I don't disagree with you but I have been an NU fan for 40 years largely because I think they still did it the right way. If the system has changed to the point where even the NU's of the world can't have a fighting chance at competing when doing it the right way, then my days of following College Football are over. I just wouldn't find it appealing anymore. I'll get my pro football fix by following the Bears and the NFL.
A mentor of mine once said that going into a situation with the lowest of expectations and to turn it around if you have the right resources in place can be the smartest career choice you could make. There’s no where to go but you and if you just make the right decisions and a few tweaks everything falls in place and you’re a hero. Coach Prime and St. Gary and Ara demonstrated that more than anyone. I think we have the right resources (certainly more than when St. Gary and Ara were here). We also have B1G money. The only thing working against us are the academic restrictions and even that is way overblown as evidenced by what St. Gary did and what Stanford under Harbaugh and most of Shaw’s reign showed. This is an attractive role for both the head coaching and the AD position primarily because of how low the program is today, but with the foundation in place (which I do credit and thank Fitz for). Super attractive.
