There's precious little news on the head coaching front, so I figured I'd make my own "odds" as to who the new Lehigh head coach will be. Please don't use these odds to make actual bets - these lines are purely for fun.
Harvard OC Dave Cecchini 2:1
Muhlenberg (D-III) HC Mike Donnelly 4:1
Penn OC Andy Coen 5:1
Former Buffalo (I-A) HC Jim Hofner 6:1
Former Gerogia Southern HC Mike Sewak 8:1
Chicago University HC Dick Maloney 8:1
Philadelphia Eagles LB coach Mike Spagnulo 10:1
Lehigh WR coach Adam Scheier 10:1
Lehigh OL coach John Powers 10:1
Vanderbilt RB coach Kenny Carter 15:1
Lafayette OL coach Bob Heffner 20:1
California (PA) (D-III) HC John Luckhardt 20:1
New Hampshire OC Chip Kelley 25:1
Field 30:1
I am hoping - hoping that the press conference will be called sometime this week. And I may be going to the press conference if all my cards fall right.
Hope we know soon.
Harvard OC Dave Cecchini 2:1
Muhlenberg (D-III) HC Mike Donnelly 4:1
Penn OC Andy Coen 5:1
Former Buffalo (I-A) HC Jim Hofner 6:1
Former Gerogia Southern HC Mike Sewak 8:1
Chicago University HC Dick Maloney 8:1
Philadelphia Eagles LB coach Mike Spagnulo 10:1
Lehigh WR coach Adam Scheier 10:1
Lehigh OL coach John Powers 10:1
Vanderbilt RB coach Kenny Carter 15:1
Lafayette OL coach Bob Heffner 20:1
California (PA) (D-III) HC John Luckhardt 20:1
New Hampshire OC Chip Kelley 25:1
Field 30:1
I am hoping - hoping that the press conference will be called sometime this week. And I may be going to the press conference if all my cards fall right.
Hope we know soon.
Comments
Believe me!
An Insider
Only one man makes the decision - Joe Sterrett. He must be comfortable with his choice. If the football program takes off, he's a hero. If he makes the wrong choice, he faces serious erosion of alumni support in terms of fans and money. I'm sure he is taking this decision very seriously - which is why he waited until after the holidays to decide.
The new coach will first need to be an inspirational leader - and have a socko interview. A major criticism of the recent stafff is a lack of "fire in the belly" of the team. Higgins was so good at this, and we need to "get our mojo back".
Second, the concept of "scholar athlete" in a Division 1 setting means that we are pretty much limited to hiring a coach with Patriot or Ivy League experience. No other league competes on this high a level without football scholarships, so the new coach will have to demonstrate experience in this arena. This elimiantes such coaches as Sewak - a good man, but not used to this environment.
Third, demonstrated leadership requires HC or coordinator experience. This eliminates the Lehigh position coaches. Moreover, since the current straff has shallow ties to Lehigh, it's quite probable that Joe will go outside for the new HC.
Fourth, prior Lehigh experience helps. From the day Pete left, my money has been on either Cecchini or Coen. Cecchini is an alum with many admirers, though it's rumored that he only left because of personality conflicts with Pete. Coen loved Lehigh, and only left because Penn doubled his salary. Nothing has happened yet to change my mind.
Luckhardt might be a sentimental choice, but he is now 60 yrs old and does not want to relocate. Kelley is a New Hampshire man and doesn't want to leave either. Ditto Maloney, although he might come if the money is right - he reminds me a lot of Dick Biddle at Colgate (and that's quite a good thing). Donnelly is a darkhorse - his resume doesn't leap over Cecchini and Coen.
Hofher has some baggage in his record - fair at Cornell, poor at Buffalo. No chance for him. Spags was at Lafayette, true, but nearly his entire career is a position coach - no leadership experience.
Summary: I still think it's between Cecchini and Coen - whichever one is more compatible to Sterrett.