Qualities or Qualifications of New HC

[BigBruceBaker]

Just because other topics have gotten so bogged down a few questions for the group:

1. What are the 3 most important qualities for our new HC to have?

2. What are the top 3 qualifications that he needs (has to be have been an FCS coordinator or had to have been a DC at a FCS school - examples)

3. Does he need to have prior connections to Bozeman/MSU?

4. How long do you want him to stay?

[technoCat]

1. Ability to pick good coordinators and let them do their jobs. Get the fanbase/donors excited. Keep the culture.
2. Would love to see someone who has ties to building from the lines out. So a line coach or OC from a school that prioritized that. I would prefer someone with ties to the West, don't really care if its FBS or FCS.
3. No. It's a nice to have but not required.
4. Long enough to win a championship. We are right on the edge so if they come in an push us over, I wouldn't begrudge them moving on.

[stevo]

1. He has to be about the student athlete and want to take care of them. Be a Players coach

2. He must have some ties to Montana and understand recruiting Montana and the importance of the rivalry.

3. Must be able to maintain our current culture

4. Must know how to recruit and have done it in our areas, Northwest, California, Texas ect.

5. He must be a winner.. Prove he wants to win

6. Must be a leader / advocate for the University, for boosters, for fans.

7. Must be willing to stick around for 4 or more years

[coloradocat]

1. Don't fix what isn't broken. Know your limitations and hire to address them. Continue to develop our WA/OR recruiting.
2. FCS experience. Rockies/West Coast experience for recruiting. Either a link to Montana or willingness to keep multiple current coaches on that are from here.
3. See 2.
4. Long enough to win FCS championship! (Or at least play in Frisco multiple times)

[catscat]

1.a. Recognize the strengths and weakness of the current players and scheme. (Don't try to run own system because he thinks he has to make his "mark" on the program). This includes keeping the coaches and players that have got us where we are and make the best use of their strengths.
1.b. Recognize that the players are students first - look out for them and challenge them to be better and the best they can be.
1.c. Recognize the importance of the "rivalry."
2.a. Be able to recruit (area not necessarily important as long as the players are good) and recruit the best players from Montana.
2.b. Be a winner and have an expectation of winning. Make the players and coaches, on the whole, greater than the individuals.
3. Not necessarily, but would be nice.
4. Stick around to win a championship or until it's determined he won't. (As soon as the program goes backward, he should be gone.

[superbobcat]

1. We do not need a rebuild, keep remaining staff in place as best we can and keep the philosophy and strategy in place the best we can.

2. Shiny names scare me. Montana State football has always, when successful, has always had toughness and defense as mainstays. When we struggled we got away from that, hence at the end of Ash's career and the Solomonson years.

3. Keeping player trust and confidence is huge. That is why I strongly support a guy like Jason McEndoo, he can hit the ground running with staff and players and we won't suffer a setback. The Riley's and Lubick's may want it more their way.

4. Keep Montana as our base recruiting ground. Choate did a masterful job at this, again new coach needs to put MT at the top of the list when recruiting.

[BigBruceBaker]

Love the answers guys. Very much on the same page as most of you.

[kennethnoisewater]

1. Energy (!), Engagement (must be able to fire up players, donors, fans, students, community), Willingness to build around current personnel
2. Proven recruiter, loved/respected by former players (that he's coached)
3. Don't care but needs to understand importance of getting the majority of the handful of Div-1 caliber players in MT
4. At least 4 years to keep some continuity, but I don't see a scenario where a really good coach stays more than 6 or 7 years.

[lutecat]

He has to be am effective leader with the interest of his players first and foremost with an eye toward continuing to cultivate a strong bond between all his players.

The rest is all secondary, tertiary, ect.

[Air Force Cat]

[bobcat99]

I want a beer swillin, drug dealin, mean son of a gun. Win at all costs.

[grizzh8r]

I want a beer swillin, drug dealin, mean son of a gun. Win at all costs.

So I take it Joe O'Brien would be on your short list? Dunno if he swills his beer, but he's a match for the rest of your qualifications...

[wbtfg]

As a member of the search committee, can Troy Andersen appoint himself as player-coach?

[coloradocat]

As a member of the search committee, can Troy Andersen appoint himself as player-coach?

Player-DC so that he can refuse any requests to borrow Troy for the offense.

[RobertoGato]

1. Ability to build a staff and rebuild it in the future.

2. Ability to recruit the region, especially MT and WA.

3. Ability to communicate effectively with players, coaches, boosters, school personnel, and the media.

[Bobcat4Ever]

1. He has to be about the student athlete and want to take care of them. Be a Players coach

2. He must have some ties to Montana and understand recruiting Montana and the importance of the rivalry.

3. Must be able to maintain our current culture

4. Must know how to recruit and have done it in our areas, Northwest, California, Texas ect.

5. He must be a winner.. Prove he wants to win

6. Must be a leader / advocate for the University, for boosters, for fans.

7. Must be willing to stick around for 4 or more years

Good list!

8. Must be willing to defeat the Grizzlies each and every year.

9. I’d prefer an FBS background. It paid off big-time for Choate in the transfers and recruits he was able to get. Higher-level connections.