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Brent Venables (Clemson DC)
STRENGTHS: Defensive masterclass, culture/program fit, recruiting, almost certain longevity, toughness
WEAKNESSES: No glaring weaknesses to this hire. Possibly could consider first HC job at the age of 50 a weakness, different recruiting territory than what OU has been pursuing past decade may be small hiccup.
Brent is obviously the safest choice for us, with the lowest potential downside and a relatively high ceiling. Won championships with multiple programs, understands what it takes to win, obviously a huge program guy for us. New role as a HC at an older age, but you're going to be able to apply this to almost all of our candidates. Would be a fantastic hire for us and one everyone can be stoked about.
Dan Lanning (Georgia DC)
STRENGTHS: recruiting recruiting recruiting, youth, highest potential upside of any candidate, tutelage under defensive masterclass Kirby Smart, work horse, history shows that when the time comes this man will jump in the trenches and get to work no questions asked, extremely ambitious, players coach
WEAKNESSES: youth, lack of experience, not the most accomplished candidate, potential to be a flight risk, no immediate ties to program
Mr. Lanning is extremely tricky. He will end up as a HC at a program within 5 year, OU or otherwise. Spoken very highly of by everyone surrounding the Georgia program, and DC's under one of the best DCs to ever do it. He absolutely is a big part in calling the defense at Georgia, although probably defers to Kirby plenty in the preparation and scheme going into the games. The idea that he DoEsN't rUn HiS oWn DeFenSe though is laughable, you are essentially implying a school about to bag a natty led by one of the best defensive coaches in the modern era for college football has a DC that chews on crayons during defensive sessions, that is just not the case. He has been to know to be an extremely good recruiter and kids love him, he was the head recruiting coordinator making the pitch to CW who took multiple visits there so he has that connection going for him. In my mind he is the highest risk, highest reward coach of all probable candidates. He could be the second coming of Bob, he could flame out and be gone within three years. Swing on this 3-1 curve Mr. Castiglione and you could either be a hero or a zero.
Luke Fickell (Cincy HC)
STRENGTHS: Proven program builder, good recruiter in his territory, really high level Xs and Os coach, would offer stability, players coach
WEAKNESSES: Not the best program fit, more akin to a big 10 / notre dame coach, recruiting backyard no where near the one OU has tried to establish, personally believe he would take a ND / Elite tier big ten job if offered making him a small to medium flight risk
Theirs no getting around it, Luke is a fantastic coach. What he has done at Cincinnati is nothing short of amazing, he boot strapped the program into a very possibly playoff berth. His kids love him, he is a fantastic football CEO, will put you in a great position to be successful and stable. He just does not really fit the bill of the OU mold, we do not have a history of taking G5 HC's, and as a columbus ohio native it certainly calls into question where his loyalty would ultimately lay. I personally would prefer lanning over him, but I believe that would put me in the minority. We would be in safe hands here, but out of these three I would give him the lowest ceiling (still national champ contenders under him) but with a slightly higher risk than Venables.
Next would be Dave A., but due to lack of concrete sources on him I do not feel super confident he is being heavily pursued by us. Kiffin would be meme status but liveable, if we go the Heupel/Beamer route I would have to believe that we whiffed hard for whatever reason.
Thoughts?
Brent Venables (Clemson DC)
STRENGTHS: Defensive masterclass, culture/program fit, recruiting, almost certain longevity, toughness
WEAKNESSES: No glaring weaknesses to this hire. Possibly could consider first HC job at the age of 50 a weakness, different recruiting territory than what OU has been pursuing past decade may be small hiccup.
Brent is obviously the safest choice for us, with the lowest potential downside and a relatively high ceiling. Won championships with multiple programs, understands what it takes to win, obviously a huge program guy for us. New role as a HC at an older age, but you're going to be able to apply this to almost all of our candidates. Would be a fantastic hire for us and one everyone can be stoked about.
Dan Lanning (Georgia DC)
STRENGTHS: recruiting recruiting recruiting, youth, highest potential upside of any candidate, tutelage under defensive masterclass Kirby Smart, work horse, history shows that when the time comes this man will jump in the trenches and get to work no questions asked, extremely ambitious, players coach
WEAKNESSES: youth, lack of experience, not the most accomplished candidate, potential to be a flight risk, no immediate ties to program
Mr. Lanning is extremely tricky. He will end up as a HC at a program within 5 year, OU or otherwise. Spoken very highly of by everyone surrounding the Georgia program, and DC's under one of the best DCs to ever do it. He absolutely is a big part in calling the defense at Georgia, although probably defers to Kirby plenty in the preparation and scheme going into the games. The idea that he DoEsN't rUn HiS oWn DeFenSe though is laughable, you are essentially implying a school about to bag a natty led by one of the best defensive coaches in the modern era for college football has a DC that chews on crayons during defensive sessions, that is just not the case. He has been to know to be an extremely good recruiter and kids love him, he was the head recruiting coordinator making the pitch to CW who took multiple visits there so he has that connection going for him. In my mind he is the highest risk, highest reward coach of all probable candidates. He could be the second coming of Bob, he could flame out and be gone within three years. Swing on this 3-1 curve Mr. Castiglione and you could either be a hero or a zero.
Luke Fickell (Cincy HC)
STRENGTHS: Proven program builder, good recruiter in his territory, really high level Xs and Os coach, would offer stability, players coach
WEAKNESSES: Not the best program fit, more akin to a big 10 / notre dame coach, recruiting backyard no where near the one OU has tried to establish, personally believe he would take a ND / Elite tier big ten job if offered making him a small to medium flight risk
Theirs no getting around it, Luke is a fantastic coach. What he has done at Cincinnati is nothing short of amazing, he boot strapped the program into a very possibly playoff berth. His kids love him, he is a fantastic football CEO, will put you in a great position to be successful and stable. He just does not really fit the bill of the OU mold, we do not have a history of taking G5 HC's, and as a columbus ohio native it certainly calls into question where his loyalty would ultimately lay. I personally would prefer lanning over him, but I believe that would put me in the minority. We would be in safe hands here, but out of these three I would give him the lowest ceiling (still national champ contenders under him) but with a slightly higher risk than Venables.
Next would be Dave A., but due to lack of concrete sources on him I do not feel super confident he is being heavily pursued by us. Kiffin would be meme status but liveable, if we go the Heupel/Beamer route I would have to believe that we whiffed hard for whatever reason.
Thoughts?
