Coaching Short List

BobCatFan · Post by **BobCatFan** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 1:57 pm

If it is true that Kramer is leaving, who are the potenial canidates?

Bailey
Kristeoff (SP) Sorry do not have time to look up
Van Diest
Wulff
Sampson

Others?

I would not take Bailey.......

Who would you take or remove from the list.

bcats · Post by **bcats** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:05 pm

Mike Van Diest would be a huge hire for MSU. His resume speaks for itself and it draws in-state interest. He should have the chance to accept or decline. It needs to happen soon and it should have already been in the works.

canyoncat · Post by **canyoncat** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:15 pm

You can take Samson off your list. He won't leave with his youngest son still playing at MSU Northern. Plus I have heard that he has a job waiting for him in Louisville to coach with his brother-in-laws in a couple of years.

I just can't see Wulff doing a lateral move to MSU.

Van Diest would be a great hire I think.

Christof would be risky given that he has no head coaching experience that I am aware of. But then again, neither did Hauck and he has done pretty well.

Bailey ???? Could he make a good HC? Don't know.

I am just glad I don't have to make the choice. I am sure there will be some suprise names surface that we haven't thought of if Kramer does take the Idaho job.

Hell's Bells · Post by **Hell's Bells** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:16 pm

Tech coach Bob Green

Post by **SonomaCat** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:22 pm

I know he's not an NAIA coach from MT (and when will somebody mention the poor dude at Rocky? It's not nice to leave him out), but how about a guy like John L. Smith?

El_Gato · Post by **El_Gato** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:22 pm

How about Pete Kwiatkowski?

We had some pretty good D's under Pete. He's no Kramer when it comes to schmoozing but then again, who is?

Bleedinbluengold · Post by **Bleedinbluengold** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:24 pm

Should we interview VanDiest first before we hire him?

I have a lot concerns about the transition from NAIA to a I-AA. These are two completely different organizations not to mention the vast difference in the complexity of offenses and defenses.

Ya, you can say it's all about blocking and tackling, but I don't think you just flip a switch and you can suddenly, and effecitvely evaluate I-AA talent versus NAIA talent. Let alone the fact that preparing a game plan in a division that has become increasingly more complex.

I guess I have just a few too many questions about VanDiest at this point in time. I need to learn more.

Peter already has a list of several names that I'm sure he's already checked and checked again.

I'll tell you who I think should get a phone call is Jim McElwain - but he may not be interested now, since he's at the Big Dance. Jim knows offense inside and out, and I thought he was an outstanding coordinator under Hys.

Cat Pride · Post by **Cat Pride** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:25 pm

El_Gato wrote:How about Pete Kwiatkowski?

We had some pretty good D's under Pete. He's no Kramer when it comes to schmoozing but then again, who is?

No personality, and we wont be seeing any Montana kids playing in Bozeman if Pete is hired.

Hell's Bells · Post by **Hell's Bells** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:26 pm

Bay Area Cat wrote:I know he's not an NAIA coach from MT (and when will somebody mention the poor dude at Rocky? It's not nice to leave him out), but how about a guy like John L. Smith?

i dont know, seems like he would be a 1 year then get a new gig kind of coach.

fwiw Van Diest is interviewing at Idaho State

1BadBobcat · Post by **1BadBobcat** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:28 pm

Bleedinbluengold wrote:Should we interview VanDiest first before we hire him?

I have a lot concerns about the transition from NAIA to a I-AA. These are two completely different organizations not to mention the vast difference in the complexity of offenses and defenses.

Ya, you can say it's all about blocking and tackling, but I don't think you just flip a switch and you can suddenly, and effecitvely evaluate I-AA talent versus NAIA talent. Let alone the fact that preparing a game plan in a division that has become increasingly more complex.

I guess I have just a few too many questions about VanDiest at this point in time. I need to learn more.

Peter already has a list of several names that I'm sure he's already checked and checked again.

I'll tell you who I think should get a phone call is Jim McElwain - but he may not be interested now, since he's at the Big Dance. Jim knows offense inside and out, and I thought he was an outstanding coordinator under Hys.

McElwain would be an excellent choice. Someone with Montana ties. Yes, he's in the bigs but just as an assistant. Excellent opportunity to become the main guy calling the shots.

Cat Pride · Post by **Cat Pride** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:29 pm

I just hope Fields doesnt conduct a 3 month coaches search with a secret committee of "yes men" so he can hire some good 'ol boy from Missouri.

Does a search need to happen, yes

Does a coach need to be signed before the first of the year, yes!

Hell's Bells · Post by **Hell's Bells** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:29 pm

1BadBobcat wrote:
Bleedinbluengold wrote:Should we interview VanDiest first before we hire him?

I have a lot concerns about the transition from NAIA to a I-AA. These are two completely different organizations not to mention the vast difference in the complexity of offenses and defenses.

Ya, you can say it's all about blocking and tackling, but I don't think you just flip a switch and you can suddenly, and effecitvely evaluate I-AA talent versus NAIA talent. Let alone the fact that preparing a game plan in a division that has become increasingly more complex.

I guess I have just a few too many questions about VanDiest at this point in time. I need to learn more.

Peter already has a list of several names that I'm sure he's already checked and checked again.

I'll tell you who I think should get a phone call is Jim McElwain - but he may not be interested now, since he's at the Big Dance. Jim knows offense inside and out, and I thought he was an outstanding coordinator under Hys.
McElwain would be an excellent choice. Someone with Montana ties. Yes, he's in the bigs but just as an assistant. Excellent opportunity to become the main guy calling the shots.

well yes but he is with the raiders...

El_Gato · Post by **El_Gato** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:30 pm

If Van Diest is interested enough to take an interview with ISU, I would think he'd be more interested in the MSU job.

BUT, I too have concerns about his jumping from NAIA to FCS. He has done a fantastic job at Carroll, but he's been able to do so without having to recruit outside Montana much; if he couldn't/didn't retain a lot of Kramer's coaches, I fear we'd be hurting in the out-of-state recruiting wars for a few years...

Cat Pride · Post by **Cat Pride** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:31 pm

Hell's Bells wrote:fwiw Van Diest is interviewing at Idaho State

MVD is the exact opposite of Larry Lewis. I think even he would have trouble corralling all the thugs down there.

Cat Grad · Post by **Cat Grad** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:32 pm

Who's staff was Van Diest on when he was let go?

Hell's Bells · Post by **Hell's Bells** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:32 pm

El_Gato wrote:If Van Diest is interested enough to take an interview with ISU, I would think he'd be more interested in the MSU job.

BUT, I too have concerns about his jumping from NAIA to FCS. He has done a fantastic job at Carroll, but he's been able to do so without having to recruit outside Montana much; if he couldn't/didn't retain a lot of Kramer's coaches, I fear we'd be hurting in the out-of-state recruiting wars for a few years...

just kinda tossing this out but how about Drew Miller as oc. he is OC at one of the directional washington schools *not eastern*

CARDIAC_CATS · Post by **CARDIAC_CATS** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:34 pm

1BadBobcat wrote:
Bleedinbluengold wrote:Should we interview VanDiest first before we hire him?

I have a lot concerns about the transition from NAIA to a I-AA. These are two completely different organizations not to mention the vast difference in the complexity of offenses and defenses.

Ya, you can say it's all about blocking and tackling, but I don't think you just flip a switch and you can suddenly, and effecitvely evaluate I-AA talent versus NAIA talent. Let alone the fact that preparing a game plan in a division that has become increasingly more complex.

I guess I have just a few too many questions about VanDiest at this point in time. I need to learn more.

Peter already has a list of several names that I'm sure he's already checked and checked again.

I'll tell you who I think should get a phone call is Jim McElwain - but he may not be interested now, since he's at the Big Dance. Jim knows offense inside and out, and I thought he was an outstanding coordinator under Hys.
McElwain would be an excellent choice. Someone with Montana ties. Yes, he's in the bigs but just as an assistant. Excellent opportunity to become the main guy calling the shots.

Excellent choice! McEwain should be DEFINATELY on the short list in my opinion. He has an excellent resume that includes taking teams to the post season.

bcats · Post by **bcats** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:38 pm

If Van Diest is interviewing at ISU then he would probably be extatic if the MSU job is open. I wasn't really sure he would be interested leaving Helena but this certainly brightens my day. Hopefully he has been contacted and is working out an interview time.

omahacat · Post by **omahacat** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:46 pm

Whoever mentioned McElwain and Bailey should think again. They are the main reason why the cats can't win the big games. Ask anyone who played for Mac, he was not the brains it was Orthman.

omahacat · Post by **omahacat** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:47 pm

Give the job to Van Diest so we can finally win the big one this century.