Why isn't Whittingham mentioned more often for coaching vacancies?

[Art Vandelay]

Granted I don't pay attention to much about Utah other than when they are losing to BYU or TCU Kyle is obviously an excellent coach and even the most ardent red or blue goggled supporter recognizes Utah or BYU is not nor never will be ND, the SEC or other higher profile positions. I think Kyle has done just as much, if not more than Brian Kelly and had similar success to Urban before he became Tebow's fluffer. Has KW been approached for higher profile gigs and turned down the interview opportunity or has he been overlooked for some other reason?

[Mormon Red Death]

Granted I don't pay attention to much about Utah other than when they are losing to BYU or TCU Kyle is obviously an excellent coach and even the most ardent red or blue goggled supporter recognizes Utah or BYU is not nor never will be ND, the SEC or other higher profile positions. I think Kyle has done just as much, if not more than Brian Kelly and had similar success to Urban before he became Tebow's fluffer. Has KW been approached for higher profile gigs and turned down the interview opportunity or has he been overlooked for some other reason?

Same question is for Bronco and Patterson.

[SeattleUte]

Granted I don't pay attention to much about Utah other than when they are losing to BYU or TCU Kyle is obviously an excellent coach and even the most ardent red or blue goggled supporter recognizes Utah or BYU is not nor never will be ND, the SEC or other higher profile positions. I think Kyle has done just as much, if not more than Brian Kelly and had similar success to Urban before he became Tebow's fluffer. Has KW been approached for higher profile gigs and turned down the interview opportunity or has he been overlooked for some other reason?

This is a good question. I was thinking about it the other day. I think the answer may be that football coaches need to be a cultural match with the school. We saw with Mike Price the problems that can develop where there is cultural dissonance. Whittingham seems pegged into a pretty narrow cultural hole. Also, it may be like sometimes with guys who have extramarital affairs and guys who don't. Maybe the coaches who get mentioned send out signals.

[dabrockster]

Granted I don't pay attention to much about Utah other than when they are losing to BYU or TCU Kyle is obviously an excellent coach and even the most ardent red or blue goggled supporter recognizes Utah or BYU is not nor never will be ND, the SEC or other higher profile positions. I think Kyle has done just as much, if not more than Brian Kelly and had similar success to Urban before he became Tebow's fluffer. Has KW been approached for higher profile gigs and turned down the interview opportunity or has he been overlooked for some other reason?

I bet they have stonewalled any contact and probably even told their agents that they are happy where they are...


I like a settled coach who is not looking for the next "Big Coach Job"..

[Art Vandelay]

Same question is for Bronco and Patterson.

I think Bronco is the most understandable, I'm sure it is fairly well known in the coaching fraternity that he has stated that he views this as not only a job but a higher calling from God (so did Gerry Faust, but God didn't seem to view it the same way). Patterson would have been a very hot commodity this year, but TCU was smart and locked him up early. It just seems to me that KW is the prime candidate.

[Mormon Red Death]

I think Bronco is the most understandable, I'm sure it is fairly well known in the coaching fraternity that he has stated that he views this as not only a job but a higher calling from God (so did Gerry Faust, but God didn't seem to view it the same way). Patterson would have been a very hot commodity this year, but TCU was smart and locked him up early. It just seems to me that KW is the prime candidate.

Kyle has been mentioned in (Washington vacancy last year) and a couple of others. Maybe he has just made it know that he is happy where he is.

[Goatnapper'96]

Granted I don't pay attention to much about Utah other than when they are losing to BYU or TCU Kyle is obviously an excellent coach and even the most ardent red or blue goggled supporter recognizes Utah or BYU is not nor never will be ND, the SEC or other higher profile positions. I think Kyle has done just as much, if not more than Brian Kelly and had similar success to Urban before he became Tebow's fluffer. Has KW been approached for higher profile gigs and turned down the interview opportunity or has he been overlooked for some other reason?

I think Whittingham is happy where he is. I think the same for Patterson and Bronco. I do know that KSU put on a huge full court press for Patterson last year but he would not go back to his alma mater. I think he knew he had a good thing going the next couple of years at TCU and I think that making a BCS bowl game is easier to accomplish at TCU than KSU. The way that things are structured presently gives the good non-BCS schools some real leverage with great coaches. At the end of the day there are only a handful of top tier programs with legitimate National Championship chances and unless one of those programs comes calling, I think the Whits, Pattersons or Petersons can find more consistent glory at their current locations than moving to mid tier BCS programs.

[Art Vandelay]

I think Whittingham is happy where he is. I think the same for Patterson and Bronco. I do know that KSU put on a huge full court press for Patterson last year but he would not go back to his alma mater. I think he knew he had a good thing going the next couple of years at TCU and I think that making a BCS bowl game is easier to accomplish at TCU than KSU. The way that things are structured presently gives the good non-BCS schools some real leverage with great coaches. At the end of the day there are only a handful of top tier programs with legitimate National Championship chances and unless one of those programs comes calling, I think the Whits, Pattersons or Petersons can find more consistent glory at their current locations than moving to mid tier BCS programs.

I agree. I'm just curious if there have been overtures made toward Kyle, or like SU said above it is known he is happily married and not interested in hooking up with a waitress from the Waffle House (Oh Tiger...how the mighty have fallen).

[LA Ute]

BYU has an advantage in keeping successful coaches because for an LDS coach, the BYU HC job is a sort of pinnacle. That is not a critical statement at all, just the way I think it is, and I don't blame them for feeling that way. I think LaVell could have moved to a higher-paying HC job had he wanted to (like Steve Cleveland did), but if the BYU HC does his job right he's a quasi-GA and a very adored member of the community nationwide (maybe even worldwide). I think that's just the nature of the job.

Whittingham has a somewhat similar situation but to a much, much smaller extent. He's seen by much of the fan base as "one of ours," even though he's a BYU grad.

Coug fans, do you think Bronco is safe in his job if he wins 7-8 games a year, with occasional 10+ win seasons? I do, but I don't really have a feel for the expectations of the Cougar fan base. Friends of mine who know Steve Cleveland say he had to go to the gym to work out at 4:30 a.m. just to be left alone. I imagine lots of NCAA head coaches have that problem, but it might be tougher in Provo.

[SeattleUte]

BYU has an advantage in keeping successful coaches because for an LDS coach, the BYU HC job is a sort of pinnacle. That is not a critical statement at all, just the way I think it is, and I don't blame them for feeling that way. I think LaVell could have moved to a higher-paying HC job had he wanted to (like Steve Cleveland did), but if the BYU HC does his job right he's a quasi-GA and a very adored member of the community nationwide (maybe even worldwide). I think that's just the nature of the job.

Whittingham has a somewhat similar situation but to a much, much smaller extent. He's seen by much of the fan base as "one of ours," even though he's a BYU grad.

Coug fans, do you think Bronco is safe in his job if he wins 7-8 games a year, with occasional 10+ win seasons? I do, but I don't really have a feel for the expectations of the Cougar fan base. Friends of mine who know Steve Cleveland say he had to go to the gym to work out at 4:30 a.m. just to be left alone. I imagine lots of NCAA head coaches have that problem, but it might be tougher in Provo.

What about the fact that Kyle has been more succcessful than Bronco? I'm not sure Bronco has the record to make him a "hot commodity."

[Goatnapper'96]

Coug fans, do you think Bronco is safe in his job if he wins 7-8 games a year, with occasional 10+ win seasons?

I think it would depend on a lot things. What you describe is Lavell in his past 5 years and from my recollection the fanbase was whiny and acted like a bunch of pussies, and that was without Utah being real good. So in essence, I doubt he would be safe.

However, I doubt, barring any huge changes in conference affiliation, that is the level of success Mendenhall attains. I think he is going to stay pretty consistent in the 9-11 win seasons with fewer trips to 12 than he has trips to 7-8 wins.

[Goatnapper'96]

What about the fact that Kyle has been more succcessful than Bronco? I'm not sure Bronco has the record to make him a "hot commodity."

LOL! Kyle looks more and more like a one year hit wonder. How could anyone not beat BYU when the qb can only complete 33% of his passes?

[LA Ute]

LOL! Kyle looks more and more like a one year hit wonder. How could anyone not beat BYU when the qb can only complete 33% of his passes?

Smack aside, and passing over SU's occsaionally deranged views, I don't think it's fair at all to call KW a one-hit wonder. Both are fine coaches with outstanding records in a very tough arena. Bronco has a string of 10-win seasons. Kyle has a National Coach of the Year award, a very good winning record, has never lost a bowl game, and there is that 13-0 season and Sugar Bowl win.

The MWC is lucky to have them both, and to be able to say neither one is a "flight risk" right now. It's really extraordinary when you think about it.

[TheBYUGuy]

Smack aside, and passing over SU's occsaionally deranged views, I don't think it's fair at all to call KW a one-hit wonder. Both are fine coaches with outstanding records in a very tough arena. Bronco has a string of 10-win seasons. Kyle has a National Coach of the Year award, a very good winning record, has never lost a bowl game, and there is that 13-0 season and Sugar Bowl win.

The MWC is lucky to have them both, and to be able to say neither one is a "flight risk" right now. It's really extraordinary when you think about it.

Yeah, remember that time when KW and the Utes finished higher than 3rd place in the MWC? Clearly he is not a one-hit wonder.

[TripletDaddy]

I think Bronco is the most understandable, I'm sure it is fairly well known in the coaching fraternity that he has stated that he views this as not only a job but a higher calling from God (so did Gerry Faust, but God didn't seem to view it the same way). Patterson would have been a very hot commodity this year, but TCU was smart and locked him up early. It just seems to me that KW is the prime candidate.

btw, I am going to call a shot here re: Patterson. I think he is pursuing a brilliant strategy.

TCU is the toast of the town this season. He also knows that next season will be a similarly great run.

So rather than put out feelers this year, he agrees to a raise and a long deal, knowing that he will likely still be a hot commodity after next year...except that next year he can negotiate his BCS coaching gig off of his new, much higher base money and length of term.

If TCU has another 11 or so win season next year, I think Patterson will be gone. I am not convinced that Florida State has really settled on any long term coaching solution, for example. JoPa may retire now that Bowden is permanently in the rear-view mirror (unlikely but possible). There always seem to be vacancies.