Candidates

[DenverOfTheEast]

Obviously I have been the biggest #TeamClark fan on this board, documented many times.

That being said here is my morning intel of list of potential next man up after several phone calls - Some will not be candidates for different reasons but worthy of being on the list:

FBS list:

Stu Holt - Va Tech (he works Gillin really hard behind the scenes, he would walk to Boone)
Bryan Brown - Ole Miss (maybe depends on if Dale Jones pushes Sofield to convince Gillin to hire him)
Justin Watts - Duke (Not going to happen)
Mark Ivey - Louisville (too much like Clark)
Geep Wade - Ga Tech (not another OL Head Coach)
Shawn Elliott -South Carolina (No shot)
Kirby Moore - Missouri (His Brother is Kellen Moore, former Cowboy and current Eagle OC) This is the one boys!!!! fits Gillin and Ricks -- probably gets pushed by Drinkwitz
Taylor Lamb - Virginia (star QB at App State and UVA QB coach, currently 4-1 and has the family coaching genes)
Kade Bell - Pittsburgh (QB & OC coach) 5-0 for the Panthers, spent time at Western Carolina and Tusculum.

Cincy and Satterfield doesn't have anyone that looks like a fit
No one at UNC or NC State worthy of it.
No one on Clemson staff is taking the job or they would have in 2019, Dabo gets his guys top 25 jobs, current HC's at Oklahoma and UVA are in his tree.

1-AA candidates - I have already posted these before.

Tra Lamb - ETSU (so far been solid) - will be interesting.
Mike Jacobs - Mercer (currently 5-0) - not sure he's polished enough for Gillin.


Have a great day fellas!! Good Luck to #TeamClark this week, but got to start thinking ahead.

[Stonewall]

Trei Oliver. Mike Minter.

[DenverOfTheEast]

Trei Oliver. Mike Minter.

Mike Minter has a career record of 49-66 -- that's low hanging fruit Stonewall.

You don't fire a guy with Clarks resume to hire Minter losing record.

[Stonewall]

I won’t be hiring anyone. But I do know that he built a program from scratch , is well respected by those that will.

[ASUTodd]

Trei Oliver. Mike Minter.

Mike Minter has a career record of 49-66 -- that's low hanging fruit Stonewall.

You don't fire a guy with Clarks resume to hire Minter losing record.

Thoughts on Mike Jacobs from Mercer. 32-9 overall at Lenoir Rhyne, and now 5-0 at Mercer.... overall he's 79-17.

[appstatealum]

Kade bell and Kirby moore are interesting names

[Tru2ASU]

Bryan Brown, Tim Banks.

[ericsaid]

Obviously I have been the biggest #TeamClark fan on this board, documented many times.

That being said here is my morning intel of list of potential next man up after several phone calls - Some will not be candidates for different reasons but worthy of being on the list:

FBS list:

Stu Holt - Va Tech (he works Gillin really hard behind the scenes, he would walk to Boone)
Bryan Brown - Ole Miss (maybe depends on if Dale Jones pushes Sofield to convince Gillin to hire him)
Justin Watts - Duke (Not going to happen)
Mark Ivey - Louisville (too much like Clark)
Geep Wade - Ga Tech (not another OL Head Coach)
Shawn Elliott -South Carolina (No shot)
Kirby Moore - Missouri (His Brother is Kellen Moore, former Cowboy and current Eagle OC) This is the one boys!!!! fits Gillin and Ricks -- probably gets pushed by Drinkwitz
Taylor Lamb - Virginia (star QB at App State and UVA QB coach, currently 4-1 and has the family coaching genes)
Kade Bell - Pittsburgh (QB & OC coach) 5-0 for the Panthers, spent time at Western Carolina and Tusculum.

Cincy and Satterfield doesn't have anyone that looks like a fit
No one at UNC or NC State worthy of it.
No one on Clemson staff is taking the job or they would have in 2019, Dabo gets his guys top 25 jobs, current HC's at Oklahoma and UVA are in his tree.

1-AA candidates - I have already posted these before.

Tra Lamb - ETSU (so far been solid) - will be interesting.
Mike Jacobs - Mercer (currently 5-0) - not sure he's polished enough for Gillin.


Have a great day fellas!! Good Luck to #TeamClark this week, but got to start thinking ahead.

Many people said "I don't want someone who has to learn on the job" in regards to Tre Lamb.

The top two on my list are in fact, Tre Lamb and Frank Ponce. Tre Lamb has experience, and has had success everywhere he has been, almost immedietely. He turned Gardner-Webb around and laid a foundation that has enabled them to continue to build on the success that he had there. He then gets to ETSU who was horrible in 2023, played App close, and then had NDSU dead to rights.

Many people will say "he doesn't have the right experience", to which I reply, the last time App hired a Head Coach with previous Head Coaching experience was Jerry Moore, I believe. Many people will say "he doesn't have loyalty to App". That may be true, and maybe he bolts after a year, but that would be extremely unlikely unless some power program is already looking at him. Some will say "he just isn't it" to which I say, why do you hate winning?

Lamb is made in the Scott Satterfield mold. I doubt he could lure Taylor Lamb here to coach on staff with him but if he could, that would be a great get to perhaps bring in an heir apparent as an AHC to learn the ropes of leading an FBS program.

I would also like Ponce for the short and simple reason of I believe he has earned it. The offense has not been the issue this year, in total. You should never lose a game scoring 30+ points and this team has Clark's fingerprints all over it. I'd love to see what Ponce would have in mind for developing the program and moving forward. He is a great recruiter and statesman of the program. His offense would likely be more innovative without interference and I believe that he could build on the success of Joey, particularly if Joey gets to the NFL which I believe he will.

I don't really want anyone else, personally.

[Stonewall]

It won’t be Ponce unless the move is mid season and he turns it around.

[Appmountaineers19]

Joe Sloan OC LSU

Played at ECU. Was Interim HC at La tech before moving.

[ASUFan4863]

Tre Lamb is my number 1 personally for a few reasons.

1. He has the offensive ability to be successful in the new age of college football. Gardner Webb was always competitive under him against better competition. He can game plan to attack your weaknesses. He has also had success recruiting offensive playmakers.

2. Cheaper. We can't afford certain guys at P4 coordinator positions. Guys at top tier P4 schools will make more there than here. I think this means a G5 coordinator or FCS coach is the option.

3. Family & school ties. This is a requirement for some of the more experienced alumni.

4. Understands the area and what they are going through. He is experiencing the aftermath of the hurricane himself some. Not to the same effects but it is still an issue in eastern TN. His team was actually caught in a very dicey situation on their way to Citadel during the hurricane. I encourage everyone to watch his interview after the Citadel victory.

[ASUFan4863]

I do not want Mike Jacobs. He needs more time to prove himself. This is his first season after Lenoir-Rhyne. I think we can go bigger than someone 1 year removed from a D2 school down the road.

[Stonewall]

SEC coordinators likely out of our price range.

[Tru2ASU]

SEC coordinators likely out of our price range.

Browns at 750. Banks is at 1.4. I just like to start high, and not look cheap.

[Appmountaineers19]

SEC coordinators likely out of our price range.

Right now his base salary is 425,000. 550,000 total w/incentives. Get him to the 700,000 range with incentives and it could be doable.

He has a 3 year 1.8 mill total contract.

[ASUTodd]

I do not want Mike Jacobs. He needs more time to prove himself. This is his first season after Lenoir-Rhyne. I think we can go bigger than someone 1 year removed from a D2 school down the road.

Bob Chesney came straight from Holy Cross and is doing a phenomenal job at JMU. I think Jacobs would be along the same lines.

[Stonewall]

SEC coordinators likely out of our price range.

Right now his base salary is 425,000. 550,000 total w/incentives. Get him to the 700,000 range with incentives and it could be doable.

He has a 3 year 1.8 mill total contract.

Not as high as I thought . Thank you.

[ASUFan4863]

I do not want Mike Jacobs. He needs more time to prove himself. This is his first season after Lenoir-Rhyne. I think we can go bigger than someone 1 year removed from a D2 school down the road.

Bob Chesney came straight from Holy Cross and is doing a phenomenal job at JMU. I think Jacobs would be along the same lines.

Chesney rebuilt bad programs at Assumption College and Holy Cross from the ground up and spent 6 years in D1 FCS at Holy Cross. Jacobs took over a national championship program at LR, never achieved more than the predecessor and has only 1 season in Division 1 under his belt. One is program builder, one is a wave rider.

[DenverOfTheEast]

Joe Sloan OC LSU

Played at ECU. Was Interim HC at La tech before moving.

Why wouldn't he be the ECU choice then....he's probably got his eye on a return to Greenville.

[DenverOfTheEast]

Think fit and logic when making a choice guys...

1) Boone/App State fit -
2) Salary -
3) Staff salary affordable, etc.
4) Style of play - emphasis O or D side of the ball
5) Recruiting Plan