{"id":11975,"date":"2023-11-30T15:45:38","date_gmt":"2023-11-30T20:45:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=11975"},"modified":"2023-11-30T15:45:39","modified_gmt":"2023-11-30T20:45:39","slug":"jmu-seeks-5th-straight-awesome-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=11975","title":{"rendered":"JMU Seeks 5th Straight Awesome Coach"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Dukes have been through this before and we’ll go through it again. Being a coaching factory is stressful, but it means you’re winning. A lot. But here’s a snapshot of what the last four JMU coaches have done:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mickey – Built the program, won the first Natty<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Withers – modernized recruiting and fundraising; First Gameday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Houston – Won the second Natty. Locked the Gates! Second Gameday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cignetti – 52-9, 19-4 in FBS transition, Third Gameday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next coach has a program and a university that’s in an entirely different place than it ever was during any of those previous hiring cycles. So here’s an initial list of candidates, with notes but in no particular order (other than the categories themselves), to win the first official Sun Belt title and take the Dukes to the playoff!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Serious Internal JMU Candidates<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These guys should be serious candidates and are potential coaching stars. They would likely stablize the current underclassmen and recruits. Is that worth it long-term if you’re unsure on any of them as the head of the snake? Would they rather be a HC than go for $ w\/ CC?
Tino Sunseri – seems like a star candidate, \u2018cruitin\u2019, QB whisperer
Bryant Haynes \u2013 recruiting and D scheme, would need OC
Mike Shanahan \u2013 scheme great, not certain where he is on \u2018cruitin\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legitimate External Candidates<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of these should be taken seriously and have to be on any “long-list.” Question here is can\/will JMU afford them and will they take a chance without a boss since Bourne is leaving? JMU offered to make Cignetti the highest paid coach in the Sun Belt and increase the salary pool for assistants. If JMU is serious, that should be enough for most of these guys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Rich Rodriguez \u2013 HC Jax St., enormous track record, recruits this part of the country now
Chuck Martin \u2013 HC Miami, Oh \u2013 solid prospect, probably a better job but could we
actually pay him more than currently making?
Ja\u2019Juan Seider \u2013 PSU RB Coach \u2013 absolute beast recruiter in the Franklin mold, should be on all
short lists
Joe Harasymiak \u2013 Rutgers DC, former Maine HC \u2013 Probably one of our favorite candidates in terms of skill
(we know he can flat-out coach from Maine days), age, and potentially wanting the job
Jerry Mack \u2013 Tennessee RB Coach, former North Carolina Central Head Coach \u2013 HC experience and
recruiting prowess that took him to Tenn.
Drew Mehringer \u2013 Oregon TE Coach \u2013 former JMU assistant under Withers, offensive guru,
young, \u2018cruitin\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tony Gibson \u2013 NC State DC \u2013 Incredibly exciting prospect, does he want to be a HC now?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Josh Gattis \u2013 Maryland OC \u2013 local recruiter, good coach, is his agent planting his name though?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manny Diaz – PSU DC – definitely just wants to coach again. Great recruiter, will make Cig’s game mgmt look incredible though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trendy FCS Names<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting players up from FCS with something to prove has been a great plan the last two years. Could it work with a Coach or does it end up like ECU?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bob Chesney \u2013 Holy Cross HC<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clay Hendrix \u2013 Furman HC<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Willie Simmons \u2013 FAMU HC<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fringier External Candidates<\/strong>
Alex Atkins \u2013 FSU OC \u2013 arguably #1 choice (recruiting, creativity, etc.) but makes way more
already and could be positioned for a bigger job next year.
Jerry Kill \u2013 HC New Mexico St., former HC App, poor man\u2019s RichRod, gotta peek under the
hood, obviously has recruited the area and would piss off App sooo much!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bobby Hauck – Montana HC – proven great coach, baggage<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lunatic Fringe<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Someone will bring them up; they would be shocking for JMU<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dana Holgerson<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both Grudens<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other JMU-ties Candidates<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These guys are all going to be mentioned by JMU fans and boosters who know them and have an opinion. We mostly do not share those opinions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scott Lemm \u2013 HC Bridgewater, successful HC experience, bleeds purple, can he recruit at this level? Could another new guy convince him to come be OC\/OLine\/etc. first? Lots of other Dukes on his staff now\/past<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John Miller \u2013 JMU RB coach, time at Texas for \u2018cruitin\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Justin Rascati \u2013 Vikings Assistant OLine, was Chattanooga OC so has been in college<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John DeFilippo \u2013 USFL New Orleans Breakers HC; has been interested before; never recruited<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DeLane Fitzgerald \u2013 HC, Southern Utah (FCS), former Frostburg St. HC<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blaine Stewart \u2013 Tight Ends Coach, WVU<\/p>\n\n\n\n

D.J. Bryant \u2013 Penn St. Recruiting Coordinator<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dudzik, Schor, Hawkins are all starting out in the business<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stinespring – Roanoke College HC, for the 100th time, no.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Houston – results speak for themselves, particularly once forced to build a roster<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Personal and Early Uneducated Favorites<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Shanahan and\/or Haynes and\/or Sunseri<\/li>
  2. Harisymiak, Gibson, Mack, RichRod<\/li><\/ol>\n