MSU’s next head coach

[joeLovestheCats]

Upfront: yes, this is my first post. And, I've only been a season ticket holder/Cats Fan for 6 years. So, I know there's a lot I don't know. However, I can't help but wonder why the attitude of giving up on Coach Choate? I've lived in the SEC most of my life and been through the coaching carousels many times. It's painful and a long, expensive process. It seems to me, we have a fantastic coach who loves MSU and Bozeman. Why not make him an offer for 3-5 yrs that he can't turn down? Personally, I love the guy and think we should do whatever it takes to keep him.

[Hi-Line Bobcat]

Upfront: yes, this is my first post. And, I've only been a season ticket holder/Cats Fan for 6 years. So, I know there's a lot I don't know. However, I can't help but wonder why the attitude of giving up on Coach Choate? I've lived in the SEC most of my life and been through the coaching carousels many times. It's painful and a long, expensive process. It seems to me, we have a fantastic coach who loves MSU and Bozeman. Why not make him an offer for 3-5 yrs that he can't turn down? Personally, I love the guy and think we should do whatever it takes to keep him.

Context man, you have to read the other posts first. The thread started as a what if scenario, meaning who would you want to replace Choate if he were to take the BSU job. I don’t think really anybody on here wants him gone.

[coloradocat]

Upfront: yes, this is my first post. And, I've only been a season ticket holder/Cats Fan for 6 years. So, I know there's a lot I don't know. However, I can't help but wonder why the attitude of giving up on Coach Choate? I've lived in the SEC most of my life and been through the coaching carousels many times. It's painful and a long, expensive process. It seems to me, we have a fantastic coach who loves MSU and Bozeman. Why not make him an offer for 3-5 yrs that he can't turn down? Personally, I love the guy and think we should do whatever it takes to keep him.

We can't afford to make him an offer he can't refuse. Even if we could I'm not sure the Board of Regents would allow it.

[Cataholic]

Upfront: yes, this is my first post. And, I've only been a season ticket holder/Cats Fan for 6 years. So, I know there's a lot I don't know. However, I can't help but wonder why the attitude of giving up on Coach Choate? I've lived in the SEC most of my life and been through the coaching carousels many times. It's painful and a long, expensive process. It seems to me, we have a fantastic coach who loves MSU and Bozeman. Why not make him an offer for 3-5 yrs that he can't turn down? Personally, I love the guy and think we should do whatever it takes to keep him.

Welcome aboard!! Glad to have a new perspective join us!

If you are coming from SEC country, you will find that we love the Bobcats just as much, but we don’t have the deep pockets of the Power 5 schools. Choate probably makes about $300,000 per year with MSU. The last Boise State coach was making about $1.8 million. We would love to pay Choate more, but our finances are very limited in comparison to FBS schools. Many of our assistants make around $50,000 which is tough for someone living on Bozeman.

I do know that MSU has kept pace with other FCS level schools and is considered one of the premier coaching gigs in FCS football. The bottom line is that the FBS schools can outbid us on any given day.

Keep posting! Glad to see a new opinion and welcome to Bobcat nation!!

[Cat4LifeHouseDivided]

Upfront: yes, this is my first post. And, I've only been a season ticket holder/Cats Fan for 6 years. So, I know there's a lot I don't know. However, I can't help but wonder why the attitude of giving up on Coach Choate? I've lived in the SEC most of my life and been through the coaching carousels many times. It's painful and a long, expensive process. It seems to me, we have a fantastic coach who loves MSU and Bozeman. Why not make him an offer for 3-5 yrs that he can't turn down? Personally, I love the guy and think we should do whatever it takes to keep him.

Welcome aboard!! Glad to have a new perspective join us!

If you are coming from SEC country, you will find that we love the Bobcats just as much, but we don’t have the deep pockets of the Power 5 schools. Choate probably makes about $300,000 per year with MSU. The last Boise State coach was making about $1.8 million. We would love to pay Choate more, but our finances are very limited in comparison to FBS schools. Many of our assistants make around $50,000 which is tough for someone living on Bozeman.

I do know that MSU has kept pace with other FCS level schools and is considered one of the premier coaching gigs in FCS football. The bottom line is that the FBS schools can outbid us on any given day.

Keep posting! Glad to see a new opinion and welcome to Bobcat nation!!

300k if he hits his bonuses. I think his base is in the 200s.

[TomCat88]

bump

[rollo_tumasi]

Why did you "bump" this...Inside info??

[TomCat88]

Why did you "bump" this...Inside info??

Yes, but only because it's more likely now, but still less than 50%.

[BleedingBLue]

Justin Ena, Weber's former DC.

[ibleedblue]

Why did you "bump" this...Inside info??

Yes, but only because it's more likely now, but still less than 50%.

[GoCats18]

First off, I can't believe this crap was started before we even know what is going to happen with Choate. Here is the thing, if he goes and we play it safe and hire in house, that is a horrible move. We are not a struggling program, we are on the brink of having major success. This is not the time to settle for in house. You go out and you bring in someone with coaching experience that has the agility to continue what Choate has done and hopefully take us to the next step. I understand Choate wants to move up and coach that the next level, who wouldn't want that? I personally hope he stays, I hope we make it worth it for him to stay, I hope he takes us to Frisco, I hope we can win a National Championship with him as our coach, I hope he gets to see the stadium project he has helped build get finished...........I hope he is here when the streak is at 20. Go Cats!!!!

[catsrback76]

Buckle up folks, I got a feeling we're shopping for a new coach even as we speak!

[MSU01]

First off, I can't believe this crap was started before we even know what is going to happen with Choate. Here is the thing, if he goes and we play it safe and hire in house, that is a horrible move. We are not a struggling program, we are on the brink of having major success. This is not the time to settle for in house. You go out and you bring in someone with coaching experience that has the agility to continue what Choate has done and hopefully take us to the next step. I understand Choate wants to move up and coach that the next level, who wouldn't want that? I personally hope he stays, I hope we make it worth it for him to stay, I hope he takes us to Frisco, I hope we can win a National Championship with him as our coach, I hope he gets to see the stadium project he has helped build get finished...........I hope he is here when the streak is at 20. Go Cats!!!!

Of course we all hope Choate stays, but he's relatively young and if he continues to build the program as he has done over his first four years, someone else will eventually come calling whether it's Boise this year or someone else in the future. There's no harm in discussing on a message board what MSU would do if and when he leaves, and I'm sure there would be a wide-ranging search performed with both internal and external candidates.

[iaafan]

Buckle up folks, I got a feeling we're shopping for a new coach even as we speak!

If we're not, we're in real trouble. Choate is the No. 2 candidate at least and we have a season (six games, but still a season) to pay. Unless the plan is to cancel our season if Choate goes, then we had better be prepared to get someone on board ASAP or go the interim route for this spring season.

[VimSince03]

First off, I can't believe this crap was started before we even know what is going to happen with Choate. Here is the thing, if he goes and we play it safe and hire in house, that is a horrible move. We are not a struggling program, we are on the brink of having major success. This is not the time to settle for in house. You go out and you bring in someone with coaching experience that has the agility to continue what Choate has done and hopefully take us to the next step. I understand Choate wants to move up and coach that the next level, who wouldn't want that? I personally hope he stays, I hope we make it worth it for him to stay, I hope he takes us to Frisco, I hope we can win a National Championship with him as our coach, I hope he gets to see the stadium project he has helped build get finished...........I hope he is here when the streak is at 20. Go Cats!!!!

Hiring in-house maintains the current culture of the program which is off-the-charts great right now. Not saying it is the only way as all options should be considered but if a team has an established mindset within the coaching staff that also produces wins, no need to rock the boat. I mean NDSU has kept it in-house since 2003 and its worked out pretty well for them!

[iaafan]

First off, I can't believe this crap was started before we even know what is going to happen with Choate. Here is the thing, if he goes and we play it safe and hire in house, that is a horrible move. We are not a struggling program, we are on the brink of having major success. This is not the time to settle for in house. You go out and you bring in someone with coaching experience that has the agility to continue what Choate has done and hopefully take us to the next step. I understand Choate wants to move up and coach that the next level, who wouldn't want that? I personally hope he stays, I hope we make it worth it for him to stay, I hope he takes us to Frisco, I hope we can win a National Championship with him as our coach, I hope he gets to see the stadium project he has helped build get finished...........I hope he is here when the streak is at 20. Go Cats!!!!

Hiring in-house maintains the current culture of the program which is off-the-charts great right now. Not saying it is the only way as all options should be considered but if a team has an established mindset within the coaching staff that also produces wins, no need to rock the boat. I mean NDSU has kept it in-house since 2003 and its worked out pretty well for them!

I'd hate to see Choate go, but if he does I believe he's set MSU up well going forward. We still have, I believe, a great president and director of athletics. Excellent facilities that will improve greatly in about 7-8 months. Not only do we have good coaches on staff, but there are also coaches out there that were recently on the staff that would be great assistants and some would be potential head coaches. Miller, Alexander, Bignell, Daly, Ioane, Robertson, Kwiatkowski, McEndoo to name just some. Also a lot of assistants that Choate has come across that he could recommend.

[Common Cat]

Byron Hout

[Cats15]

I am less worried now about losing Choate after Boise hired their new AD. It looks like he is looking outside of the Boise circle for potential replacements and today interviewed Florida OC Brian Johnson. It sounds like there is at least 2 others that will be interviewed for the position.

[MSU01]

I am less worried now about losing Choate after Boise hired their new AD. It looks like he is looking outside of the Boise circle for potential replacements and today interviewed Florida OC Brian Johnson. It sounds like there is at least 2 others that will be interviewed for the position.

I agree. Brian Johnson is a 33-year old OC at the SEC level who helped to run a top-10 offense in FBS football this year. That's going to be tough for Choate to go against if Johnson is interested in the Boise job, their new AD likes him, and the AD is comfortable hiring outside the Boise coaching tree. We will see!

[Cledus]

I am less worried now about losing Choate after Boise hired their new AD. It looks like he is looking outside of the Boise circle for potential replacements and today interviewed Florida OC Brian Johnson. It sounds like there is at least 2 others that will be interviewed for the position.

I agree. Brian Johnson is a 33-year old OC at the SEC level who helped to run a top-10 offense in FBS football this year. That's going to be tough for Choate to go against if Johnson is interested in the Boise job, their new AD likes him, and the AD is comfortable hiring outside the Boise coaching tree. We will see!

I think Choate has the kind of managerial and administrative skills that take decades to learn. The X's and O's guys are in the spotlight for their talent, but they don't have a record of success in the dull and unsexy administrative portion of being a head coach; the behind the scenes things the fans don't see. That's why I think Choate may be the front runner.