Wow! No coach Yet? That’s what fans seem to be feeling as silence emanates from the office of that Athletic Director Dave Heeke for Arizona Football.
The silence is deafening. As Athletic Director uses a search firm to help him hire a new Arizona Football Head Coach, no word on progress or lack thereof from the program.
Fans have been given such conflicting information or fake information from “sources” on the “inside” that they don’t know what to think.
Is it Athletic Director Dave Heeke’s search firm that is putting out names to media folks to see what the fans think, testing the water so to speak? Maybe.
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Are actual sources on the inside leaking information? Doesn’t seem like it because there are so many conflicting reports.
Do the Tucson Arizona Football beat writers have the best information? Doesn’t look like it because they are giving conflicting information.
How about the blogs? The social media accounts without blogs? Well, some are quoting sources themselves, giving out names of coaches who are either supposedly offered and or deciding or have declined an offer and more.
We cannot report anything unless a verified account has posted something or write something, or we have a direct source. But when the verified accounts disagree, then we have a major problem. What should we write about? How can we bring our fans the best information? We put together a timeline. Hopefully, you will find that helpful.
Fans seem to want Sumlin or a big named coach, or they will feel the search will be a bust. They are not taking into consideration that there are only a couple weeks left to recruit. And they did NOT want Rick Neuheisel who has a lot of Pac-12 experience and is currently a broadcaster on XM Radio’s ESPNU.
When fans heard about Navy Head Coach Ken Niumatalolo, they didn’t know what to think at first, but then the triple option offense he runs at Navy made the news. At Navy, Niumatalolo has to run the triple option due to the type of recruiting that Navy is limited to. But many have explained that the coach would run what made sense at Arizona.
If Ken Niumatalolo is going to take that Arizona job...HUGE loss for the Navy football program. He's had so much success in Annapolis.
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 12, 2018
Former Arizona coach and UCLA QB Mike Flores on Niumatalolo's offense: 'As to the fact that he runs the option offense, he runs this because that is what you need to run at the academies. He will easily transition to the spread offenses being run today'
— Greg Hansen (@ghansen711) January 12, 2018
You have to wonder why one verified source states Kevin Sumlin (Texas A&M) has been interviewed, but we haven’t been able to confirm it. Fans repeatedly requested Heeke give Sumlin an offer. As fans chime in on Sumlin, it seems some would put this sticker on the back of their cars: “Sumlin or bust!”
He's interviewed Sumlin
— stunna (@stunnaIo) January 10, 2018
As time ticks through the weekend, rumors of Coach Ken going back to his AD, possibly negotiating have surfaced.
Not only that, maybe Coach Ken has an agent who wants Arizona’s fans and players to be happy with him if he accepts. A lot is coming out today about why he is a great choice, and on the east coast, he is highly regarded. An ex-quarterback himself, it would be hard for him not to be interested in this job in my opinion.
If I could have my son play for anyone other than me it would be Ken Niumatalolo. @NAVYCoachKen https://t.co/CndkOt1Avs
— Matt Rhule (@CoachMattRhule) January 13, 2018
Another thing to consider is, the agents of these coaches get them in front of jobs. They stand to make money off of the hire, so they have every incentive to get media to throw out names to get pressure on the AD to interview their guy. Working in the Entertainment industry for a long time, I can tell you that you cannot underestimate the power of agents in this space and there aren’t that many who take care of football coaches.
This tweet made the most sense to us at the time from Adam Rittenberg (ESPN).
Arizona has not offered its head-coaching position to any candidates, nor have any negotiations started, according to a source close to the search process. Candidate interviews are still taking place. These things can move quickly but nothing is done,... https://t.co/Pb4eh3e8ea
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) January 12, 2018
If that falls through, then it is looking like maybe Marcel Yates will be the coach by default? Who knows, but the players and commits may be ecstatic about this pick.
One of the finalists for the #Arizona head coaching vacancy, I’m told, is DC Marcel Yates, who has a lot of support within the program... Expecting U of A to make its hire within the next 48 hrs.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 12, 2018
You want to apply? Here is the link:
Want to be the Head Coach of the University of Arizona Football team? Here's the link to apply!https://t.co/BGujFV6clc
— Kenny and Crash 🎤 🎥 (@KennyAndCrash) January 9, 2018