Choate to Texas - Co-DC - Inside LB Coach - Confirmed

[MSU01]

The staff that Texas is assembly is extremely impressive. UT has already stated that they want to elevate Longhorn football back to its glory days where they are regularly not only winning Big 12 titles, but competing for national championships. The pressure is on. If UT isn't consistently in the FBS playoffs in the next 4-5 years, this staff is gone. I hope for Choate's sake that he made the right move and that Texas can achieve its goal.

Career-wise I don't think it really matters for Choate whether Texas becomes a national power again or the staff is fired in 3 or 4 years for not achieving that level. He has gained enough of a reputation that it won't be hard for him to find well-paying assistant coach jobs, regardless of whether or not he ever becomes a FBS Head Coach - pretty much the same situation he has been in at MSU. The pressure is on everywhere at all times - if Choate had stayed at MSU and gone 7-4 or 6-5 the next couple of years without any playoff appearances/wins, he'd have been under serious pressure from MSU fans and boosters.

[imacat]

Colton Pool’s article. https://406mtsports.com/college/big-sky ... 88f7d.html

[imacat]

Career-wise I don't think it really matters for Choate whether Texas becomes a national power again or the staff is fired in 3 or 4 years for not achieving that level. He has gained enough of a reputation that it won't be hard for him to find well-paying assistant coach jobs, regardless of whether or not he ever becomes a FBS Head Coach - pretty much the same situation he has been in at MSU. The pressure is on everywhere at all times - if Choate had stayed at MSU and gone 7-4 or 6-5 the next couple of years without any playoff appearances/wins, he'd have been under serious pressure from MSU fans and boosters.
[/quote]

Agreed

[AFCAT]

Career-wise I don't think it really matters for Choate whether Texas becomes a national power again or the staff is fired in 3 or 4 years for not achieving that level. He has gained enough of a reputation that it won't be hard for him to find well-paying assistant coach jobs, regardless of whether or not he ever becomes a FBS Head Coach - pretty much the same situation he has been in at MSU. The pressure is on everywhere at all times - if Choate had stayed at MSU and gone 7-4 or 6-5 the next couple of years without any playoff appearances/wins, he'd have been under serious pressure from MSU fans and boosters.

Agreed
[/quote]

Hit the quote button and then move your cursor in the right of the last [/quote] and then type your response.

[Cledus]

Longhorn Nation is loving the hire, as they should. They got themselves a good one...



https://www.hornfans.com/threads/coach- ... 22/page-43

I've been saying this for years, but a lot of fans here think we should only hire coaches who tell us they want to take a pay cut and stay here for the rest of their lives.

[lutecat]

The staff that Texas is assembly is extremely impressive. UT has already stated that they want to elevate Longhorn football back to its glory days where they are regularly not only winning Big 12 titles, but competing for national championships. The pressure is on. If UT isn't consistently in the FBS playoffs in the next 4-5 years, this staff is gone. I hope for Choate's sake that he made the right move and that Texas can achieve its goal.

I'll disagree. That staff has 2 years to make the BCS playoffs. Otherwise they're gone. Texas is the most delusional fan base in the world.

[imacat]

https://247sports.com/college/texas/Art ... 159773512/

[RobertoGato]

The move also makes sense to me from this perspective.

Choate wanted the BSU job. He was a strong candidate but ultimately took second place to a Power 5 coordinator.

So the message that sends him is pretty clear: to get where you want to go, you need to be a Power 5 coordinator.

I would also guess that it didn’t help that covid hysteria meant he just didn’t get to be a coach this year. But that’s just conjecture.

[lutecat]

A lot of these articles mention the fact that we didn't play this year and I wonder if its because that highlighted the financial limitations of FCS that the big dog P5 don't have.

[Cat4LifeHouseDivided]

The move also makes sense to me from this perspective.

Choate wanted the BSU job. He was a strong candidate but ultimately took second place to a Power 5 coordinator.

So the message that sends him is pretty clear: to get where you want to go, you need to be a Power 5 coordinator.

I would also guess that it didn’t help that covid hysteria meant he just didn’t get to be a coach this year. But that’s just conjecture.

Thats too much logic Roberto

[RobertoGato]

The move also makes sense to me from this perspective.

Choate wanted the BSU job. He was a strong candidate but ultimately took second place to a Power 5 coordinator.

So the message that sends him is pretty clear: to get where you want to go, you need to be a Power 5 coordinator.

I would also guess that it didn’t help that covid hysteria meant he just didn’t get to be a coach this year. But that’s just conjecture.

Thats too much logic Roberto

Lol!

Well put me firmly in the camp that believes that just because this is an emotional game, that does not mean we have to get all up in our feelings regarding everything that happens off the field.

[RobertoGato]

A lot of these articles mention the fact that we didn't play this year and I wonder if its because that highlighted the financial limitations of FCS that the big dog P5 don't have.

Financial limitations and also maybe the difference between coaching in the south versus the pacific region where hyper restrictive policies carried the day.

[utucats]

So, here’s some details.

This got leaked early on the Texas side, before Choate was able to talk to all of the players. He’s obviously not very pleased about that, but people love to be the “first” to get the information out.

Choate loved his time at MSU. So why is he moving on? He wants to be an FBS HC. After the Boise search, he seemed to realize that FCS to FBS HC hires are not that common/frequent. So he became more open to the idea of a DC job at a major P5 school.

He did not approach this job, they approached him. Kwiatkoski is close with Choate, after Mike Stoops fell through he convinced Sark on Choate.

At the end of the day, I get why Choate is leaving. He’s making the better career choice. I feel bad for him that it got leaked out before he could talk to his players. I think all of us, when we look back and reflect, know that he cares a ton about these players. Good luck to Choate in Texas.

This kind of dovetails on what I’ve believed for a long time, that fans here are delusional thinking someone will be thrilled to take a massive pay cut just because we like Montana.

“Fans here are delusional.” That’s all you needed to say. No need to elaborate. This place became eCats two years before Ash left.

Ash left? not exactly. More like was shown the door.

That was the right move and so was hiring Choate. Coach did a great job and moving along is going to be what happens when our coaches have success. I’m disappointed because I feel like we are knocking on the door of conference titles and are slowly closing the gap with the FSC elite. Would have liked to have kept some consistency in the coaching department for a couple more seasons.

Nice thing is Choate made this a damn desirable job for our next HC. Now we get to see if Costello has the skills to do more than just raise money.

[FTG247365]

So, here’s some details.

This got leaked early on the Texas side, before Choate was able to talk to all of the players. He’s obviously not very pleased about that, but people love to be the “first” to get the information out.

Choate loved his time at MSU. So why is he moving on? He wants to be an FBS HC. After the Boise search, he seemed to realize that FCS to FBS HC hires are not that common/frequent. So he became more open to the idea of a DC job at a major P5 school.

He did not approach this job, they approached him. Kwiatkoski is close with Choate, after Mike Stoops fell through he convinced Sark on Choate.

At the end of the day, I get why Choate is leaving. He’s making the better career choice. I feel bad for him that it got leaked out before he could talk to his players. I think all of us, when we look back and reflect, know that he cares a ton about these players. Good luck to Choate in Texas.

Thanks 99, not at all surprised the news broke/leaked before he could tell the team, it's a product of the Twitter age and instant gratification that comes from our hyper connected lives.

It sucks, but he's left the program in a much better state than his predecessor. He'll always be Coach Cho4te to me... all the best coach, really hope it works out in Austin, don't know that Sark would be my first choice, but that kind of payday is hard to pass up.

If the decision is solely based on salary, then I can understand his move. But no way do I think this puts him in a better position to move to a HC job in FBS.

It absolutely does put him in a better position.

People can scrutinize bar tabs with tequila shots on them all you want...

Steve Sarkisian was just the offensive coordinator of arguably the most talented and prolific offense in college football history. Three players were among the three finalists for the Heisman Trophy. Alabama’s offense might include four and even five first round picks. Heisman winner Devonta Smith will be a star in the NFL day 1.

Pete Kwiatkowski has no holes on his resume. Between Montana State, Boise State, Washington, he’s one of the most proven - and subsequently highest paid - defensive coordinators in the country.

He and Choate have worked together before. Word on the street is Sark’s main lesson from Saban was to hire the best staff possible no matter the cost. Word also is Sark got more money than you could imagine to build an assistant pool. Coach K is set to make $2 million. I bet Choate makes close to what his salary could’ve been as Boise State head coach. Bryan Harsin made $1.8 mil last year.

If you think that an ultra competitive guy like Choate gets offered a chance to rebuild one of the most prestigious and certainly one of the most lucrative, resource rich programs in the United States and it comes with a pay raise of at least five times his MSU base and maybe as much as 10 times...that there’s even a sliver of a chance he’ll down...

Choate might’ve hesitated with Boise State. New AD, different first choice for HC, changing landscape, Broncs maybe moving leagues or going independent, the ****** show of the Mountain West TV contract in concern to BSU (if you don’t know, better start listening to my radio show).

But this is a slam dunk. Choate gone like a ghost in the night because when this is presented to you, you take it. Period. Congrats to Choate. He’s an elite football coach, and as much momentum as he created at MSU, this is a dream scenario even if the pressure and potential to fail is astronomical.

Well said Colter. No matter where a coach is at. They'll always be looking down the road. I would have loved to se Choate stay, but we all knew it was a matter of time before he got a "promotion".

[aucat]

The staff that Texas is assembly is extremely impressive. UT has already stated that they want to elevate Longhorn football back to its glory days where they are regularly not only winning Big 12 titles, but competing for national championships. The pressure is on. If UT isn't consistently in the FBS playoffs in the next 4-5 years, this staff is gone. I hope for Choate's sake that he made the right move and that Texas can achieve its goal.

I'll disagree. That staff has 2 years to make the BCS playoffs. Otherwise they're gone. Texas is the most delusional fan base in the world.

I absolutely agree with Lutecat. This, in my opinion, is a really dumb move. He is basically going backwards to the type of job he had at UW. Texas is NOT a good place to be. Ever since they blew up the Southwest Conference with their selfish move to create their own TV network to only show Texas football, the program has lagged. Yet, as pointed out by Lutecat, the fans want a BCS championship. Hell, they couldn't even carry A&M's water right now. I'm not whining about Choate leaving because he obviously wanted out, so fine, let him go. Time will tell, but I have to agree it was a terrible career move for him. If he had continued to move the program here to being competitive in the FCS final four, then he could have had his pick of a FBS head coaching job. However, I think he will just be a nobody as an assistant. Not a bad way to make a living, but as I said earlier, at MSU he was the head honcho and the big fish in a small pond. Now he is basically a nobody little fish in the ocean. If Texas doesn't do well the first thing that happens is the OC and/or DC get fired. SO if that happens Choate can move on somewhere else as an assistant. I just can't imagine giving up a HC job at a rising program to go be a nobody assistant.

[PortlandCat90]

Coach absolutely made the right choice - for him. Others would have made the right decision - for themselves. We need to accept that.

Contrary to many insinuating that he is a traitor, taking a lesser role or that UT is "delusional", consider the facts:
+ Competition - MSU is FCS; Texas is a huge player on the national scene even when bobbling around .650 the past few years.
+ Culture - While Bozeman is definitely a cool place, it doesn't near Austin in culture, opportunity, etc. if that is what one is looking for....and I grew up in Bozeman, kept the bench warm in Reno H. Sales Stadium, and have lived in Austin for over 5 years.
+ Money - Texas has put nearly a $1 billion (with a "B") into sports facilities in the past 12 years with the current DKR South End Zone expansion at $175 million. That's the South End Zone guys. Also insert his contract differential here. Trust me, the Texas Exes have ways to boost non-coaching contract compensation. When Herman was going to be fired UT had $30 million pledged within 3 days to cut the cord. (On the downside of that - did anyone believe that Sark was going to keep Stoopes - a former Sooner - who once flashed the "Horns Down" symbol years ago?)
+ Priority - I realize this is a political hot-button, but the Big Sky failed to get the teams on the field. In Texas the high schools played full schedules where the protocols catapulted this opportunity. No coach wants to sit around and listen to cake-eaters who call off the season while shopping at full capacity at CostCo. The negative monetary implications will be felt widely throughout the Big Sky for years in my opinion. Hell - he's a football coach. Someone took that away from him while he watched others fulfill their dreams for over a year..and there is no guarantee on this upcoming season.
+ Players - Austin lies in the heart of some serious high school talent. The only city/suburbs with 3 Super Bowl Champion QBs. 3 hours from the Metroplex, 2 hours from S.A., 3 hours from Houston. Texas and Florida has immense high school talent to pick from. Hell, UT went 7-3 this year: 2 losses by 2 points and a 4 OT loss to UO.....with a complete mess and loss of the team construction by Herman...in the Big 12. While TA is a tremendous talent, the state is crawling with this type of talent.
+ Heart - Coach is not one to rest on his laurels. To be a large part of a huge FBS football program is a larger goal in his mind and heart. I also assume HC at a large FBS is in his mind/heart as well, and this is a faster way to reaching that goal. You can't keep a competitor down when he sees a higher level available.

Coach spent 4 years at MSU and has done exactly what he was asked to do, and more, I would say. As I tell my kids - "leave things in better shape than you found them" - he has done that. Are there years left on his contract? Yes. Is there a penalty for terminating that contract early? Yes. And he (UT) will pay that penalty. Ethics? Arguably. That's for each person to decide in their own self.

Yeah, it sucks. Kinda like when our kids graduate and figure out there's a whole world outside of their hometown to attack and grow by.

Think of it this way - if we never went to the playoffs and were pimp-slapped for nearly a mile of rushing yards by the Griz in the last 4 years, you would be happy to get rid of him. So, why the hard feelings now for many? Because he has done an excellent job and we obviously want him to stay.

He's made the decision that was best for him after fulfilling much of his obligation.

Congratulate the man, thank him for his hard work and what he has done for the program and university, and reserve your tickets and tailgate spot for our next coach and this team. Go Cats!

[utucats]

Personally, I don’t care if it is a good decision for Choate or not. He made his choice and it is time for both him and us to move on. Thanks for the memories Coach! You left MSU football better than you found it.

Next man up!!

[catbooster]

The staff that Texas is assembly is extremely impressive. UT has already stated that they want to elevate Longhorn football back to its glory days where they are regularly not only winning Big 12 titles, but competing for national championships. The pressure is on. If UT isn't consistently in the FBS playoffs in the next 4-5 years, this staff is gone. I hope for Choate's sake that he made the right move and that Texas can achieve its goal.

I'll disagree. That staff has 2 years to make the BCS playoffs. Otherwise they're gone. Texas is the most delusional fan base in the world.

I absolutely agree with Lutecat. This, in my opinion, is a really dumb move. He is basically going backwards to the type of job he had at UW. Texas is NOT a good place to be. Ever since they blew up the Southwest Conference with their selfish move to create their own TV network to only show Texas football, the program has lagged. Yet, as pointed out by Lutecat, the fans want a BCS championship. Hell, they couldn't even carry A&M's water right now. I'm not whining about Choate leaving because he obviously wanted out, so fine, let him go. Time will tell, but I have to agree it was a terrible career move for him. If he had continued to move the program here to being competitive in the FCS final four, then he could have had his pick of a FBS head coaching job. However, I think he will just be a nobody as an assistant. Not a bad way to make a living, but as I said earlier, at MSU he was the head honcho and the big fish in a small pond. Now he is basically a nobody little fish in the ocean. If Texas doesn't do well the first thing that happens is the OC and/or DC get fired. SO if that happens Choate can move on somewhere else as an assistant. I just can't imagine giving up a HC job at a rising program to go be a nobody assistant.

If I was an AD at a P5 school looking for a new head coach, I'd be thinking like you - someone who is a successful head coach at a FCS school, with a proven track record, who rebuilt the program to be nationally competitive would be preferred over a successful P5 coordinator. But I'm not an AD and whether right or wrong it appears that P5 AD's don't think that way.

Chaote has done a great job here and just lost out to a P5 coordinator for the Boise head job (not P5 but arguably in the running with the lesser of the P5's). Boles got the HC job at Wyoming after how many national championships at NDSU? Kleiman got the HC job at Kansas State after how many national championships (he's the one exception I can think of off the top of my head, but KSU isn't exactly a powerhouse P5)? Baldwin had EWU nationally competitive for years - didn't leave for a P5 HC job. Much as I hate to admit it, Booby had that other school in the national championship game a number of times and went to UNLV. Those are some fairly successful coaches at the FCS level. I just don't think the facts support your position, as much as I wish they did.

Chaote has been a good coach for us. I wish we had him for a few more years before he left. But I wish him well and am happy he's found a new challenge that he wants to take on.

[Catprint]

There are lots of good posts and thoughts that have come out after the first 2-3 hours of frustration on the board last night. Colter Nuanez’ post at 1:00 AM and PortlanCat90’s post this afternoon to name a couple. Here is my story I have weaved together. I don’t know Jeff Choate; I have never met any of his family; I don’t know any coaches or players. I have no sources. All I have is a knowledge of human nature; some understanding of the coaching profession; experience as an employer for 30 years and a lot of speculation. Just pulling together the pieces. (I did have this all laid out before Colter Nuanez put together his spot on post at 1:00 AM this morning. I just had work to do today!! His post is great.) Still think this story helps draw it all together. Take it for what it is.

Coach Choate since day one of his career has been a mover. That is his fundamental nature. His wife and family either support him or tolerate it but they know that is him. In nearly 30 years of coaching, he has held 14 different job titles (some different titles at the same school). In the last 20 years, he has moved nine different times and averaged 2.2 years per job.

The opportunity at MSU was perfect for his career and he came in and did a great job. He took a failing program and brought MSU to #4 in the nation and the semi-finals. Not a national championship but close to it. He had done a tremendous job in those 4 years.

Then the pandemic hit and Coach Choate (from what I read) was not happy with Big Sky conference leadership and the decision not to play in the fall and play in the spring. This was likely a common feeling among many BSC coaches. The spring schedule was one more irritant.

Last month, when the Boise State head coach position came open, Choate either threw his name in the hat or was asked to by key BSU alumni/etc. It is unclear from what I read. This was an ideal opportunity and while perhaps a long shot, it was worth considering. He was the number 2 choice and did not get the job.

Coach Choate is a smart man. Simultaneously, he knew the following about himself and the future.
1) The MSU head coach position was a way station. Maybe Choate thought he would stay 3-5 years. I don’t know. But he was going to move on. That is simply his nature. He was not going to stay at MSU for 6-10 years no matter what any of us thought.
2) He understood what another poster has laid out in this thread. He clearly knew that the last MSU coach to move up in the coaching ranks (get another job) was in 1967 (Jim Sweeney). That is 53 years ago!! Nine coaches had retired or been fired. Coach Choate was not going to retire and knew that if he did not go out on top, he would likely be fired if the cards did not turn his way. #4 in the nation was pretty close to on top.
3) Once he had been in consideration for the BSU HC job, his name was in play for all sorts of options. Not only in play by other teams but by Coach Choate himself. He knew he was perhaps at the top of the pile at MSU and the pandemic had seriously disrupted his future plans. He knew there were other options. The “new job” bug was in Choate’s mind and once someone thinks about leaving, it is difficult to change minds.
4) His family and future is important. Even though the MSU position was a Head Coach, the money at MSU was paltry by football standards and would way in any one’s minds. He wanted to do better for his family.

From this point, it was simply the circumstances of life. Pete Kwiatkowski was a key figure. As we all know, coach K. was at MSU from 2000-2005 and Choate and Coach K have long connections from their time at Boise State and Washington. Obviously, Coach K has respect for Choate. So then the dice roll in ways that no one predicts. Texas fires Herman and hires Coach Sark. After a short time, Coach K is pulled away from UW to be DC. Now, there is a DC position at UW and I am sure Choate is interested or thinking about it. Maybe someone contacted him, maybe not. But there is certainly changes afoot.

Then the rest is serendipity. Coach Sark at Texas intends to hire Mike Stoop (Bob Stoop’s son of Oklahoma fame.). The deal goes so far that Stoop informs Saban he is leaving Alabama and starts looking for a home. Then the Texas Alumni go ballistic. Basically, you cannot hire the son of our number #1 nemesis (Oklahoma). Forget the fact Stoops was fired and no longer connected to OU. Emotions run deep. (Think Ty Gregorak). Coach Sark is forced to eat crow, call up Mike Stoops and say the deal is off. Now Sark and Coach K are in a bind. They need someone now and they need someone to rebuild the awful Texas defense. Coach K tells Sark, “I know the guy.” They talk and Coach K calls up Choate and offers a position. There is some conversation and give and take and the bottom line -- Coach Choate gets an extra title and a huge raise (2.5-4 times what he made at MSU from what I have read). The deal is done.

Jeff Choate has improved his salary; he has leveraged his success at MSU; he has created a much better financial situation for his family. From an outsider’s viewpoint, it all makes sense. Even if only 2 or 3 years there, he has done a great job of securing his family's financial future.

While all speculation on my part, it fits rather nicely. There was no animosity with Costello or Cruzado. Maybe just the cold facts that MSU could not give Choate much of a raise. There is likely some dislike for the BSC leadership. And the unfortunate aspects of the pandemic. It was simply an opportunity that came to be when everything fell into place.

Think of it from your perspective. You have a nice job at a Bozeman corporation. You make $70,000 a year and you do a pretty darn good job. You are not exactly pining to move but you and your wife have talked about it. Suddenly, due to a variety of circumstances related to an old college buddy, you have an opportunity to move to Houston and take a job for $300,000 with tremendous potential. Though you are key at your current corporation, no one things you are disloyal or stupid or a traitor because you have improved your family’s lot in life and improved your personal career. Sure, your co-workers and friends are disappointed you are leaving but they want nothing but the best for you. That is how life works. You are taking the risk the new job might not work out but isn’t that the American way?

Somehow we have come to believe that coaches (who have the least job protection of nearly any profession in America) are somehow beholden to the players and institution and the fans for some level of loyalty that we don’t expect from ANY other job. It really isn’t fair or right that we think this way.

I wish Coach Choate the best and hope he is successful. I pray the Cats get a great coach but I will be a supporter regardless.

[imacat]

I don’t know how things are going to work out for Choate at Texas; anymore than I know how any future seasons at MSU would have gone under Choate’s leadership. We can all theorize and speculate but that is all we are doing.

The only thing that matters is that Choate thought this was the right move for him, his family and his future. Time will tell how it works out for him.

Now it is up to Leon and the search committee to find the next coach. One that can improve on Choate and take the program to the next level. If he leaves immediately after winning the NC, it will be ok with me.

GO CATS!!!!