Does Mike Leach just not do well in interviews?

[ouflak]

I mean I would think that a team that has struggled recently, that is trying to find a new coach, would rather like to get an experienced one with a pretty decent record from a strong conference (and a strong division). How many jobs is it now that Leach has not made past the interview process? Not that I want him to go. But it seems strangely odd....

[KingBarry]

Re: Leach's head coaching prospects, and not his abilities, I see two big marks against him.

The first is his obsession with their unique style of offense, and his lack of regard for defensive football. When he went to Tech, he had his contract drawn up so that all his performance bonuses were based on offensive milestones (leading the Big XII in passing, leading the Big XII in scoring). I think these are still in effect.

It's clear his defense are improving, and his offensive style is becoming more mainstream. So, that fact coupled with his greater on field success should help dispel the first mark against him.

The second one is still the one that I think hurts him the most, and that is his personality. Not that I am judging his personality, I think he is awesome and would love to hang out with him.

But he is not standard, buttoned-down CEO, and would never even try to pretend that he was.

I think when he sits down with ADs, Univ presidents and Regents, he probably acts just about the same way he does all the time, and that's going to scare off many folks. Plus, he's well known for kind of speaking off the cuff, and having a quirky personality.

I think those personality traits fit really well at Lubbock. But I think it will be a challenge for him to find a good fit at a bigger time program -- but I hope that he does.

[Flagstaffsooner]

Can you imagine him in an interview with some AD and starched collar U Prez?
They would think he was on drugs.

[swardboy]

And maybe Leach knows deep down his shtick won't work anywhere but Lubbock, and it affects his effort to impress....

[birddog]

any pac-10 team that thinks he's not good enough for them needs to have their heads examined.

wherever the guy goes, he wins. just hire the man and stay the hell out of his way.

[Jacie]

Actually, I think he would fit right in with some of those Pac 10 types . . .

[oudivesherpa]

Maybe, he is just using those interviews as leverage in his talks with Tech.

[yermom]

maybe he doesn't want them

they love him in Lubbock and just gave him more $$$

he still hasn't been to a conference championship or a BCS game

he does occasionally beat OU and Texas though

[Partial Qualifier]

Maybe, he is just using those interviews as leverage in his talks with Tech.

bingo.

[Oldnslo]

I like the guy and wish him nothing but success 51 weeks of the year. UCLA should've hired him instead of 'Weasel

[okiewaker]

The thing is, I think Leach could care less whether he impresses anybody in interviews. He is who he is, take him or leave him. I doubt he goes into an interview thinking that he needs to impress somebody. He's probably asking the AD, "do you know where the closest Starbuck's is and can I borrow a couple of dollars from ya?"

[Dan Thompson]

Just look how screwy the basketball coach is.

[JLEW1818]

He don't look like a good talker. ....

[badger]

My guess is that it would be comparable to the interview in Harold & Kumar Go to Whitecastle... NSFW!
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Fawning president, AD and donors: Your resume is so impressive, Mr. Leach.

Mikey: ...Thanks!

Fawners: We are ready to hire you right now and just need to ask you this as a formality: What does the term "student-athlete" mean to you?

Mikey: Well obviously there is a great load of responsibility put on these young men and women to perform in both the classroom and on the field... and (cell phone rings with pirate noises "ARRRRRGH! ARRRRGH!") ... excuse me.

(fawners look stunned)

Mikey: Arrrrrgh, matey! ...No, I'm doing nothing important!

(fawners look more stunned)

Mikey: Our students f***ing burned our stadium bleachers after removing them all by sledgehammers last night and you caught it on f***ing tape?! Dude, that is f***ing awesome! Give them all Jolly Rogers and bandanas and give them all keggers! Yes, even the underage ones!

(fawners are in utter shock and no longer fawning)

Mikey: Crabtree's roommate did WHAT?! Ehhh... tell the press that it's an internal matter and then take away his daily allowance for a week... f*** that, make it a day. The BCS already punished everyone enough. Arrrrggggh! (hangs up)

(fawners are no longer shocked, but angry)

Mikey: Oh! Sorry, as I was saying, the thing about student-athletes is that the word "student" comes first and as I said to BCS pollsters, our graduation rates are higher than that of Texas and Oklahoma! Further...

No-longer-fawning-president: Do you honestly think after what you just said we would give you this job?!

Mikey: I'll be honest, I'm only applying so Tech will give me a raise. I don't care about going to a bigger school with bigger fanbases and bigger reputation.

Angry president: But your resume! And your achievements!

Mikey: Yeeeah, just cuz you're hung like a moose doesn't mean you should do porn!

[oumartin]

I have mixed feelings.

I want him gone cuz they play OU close in Lubbock and the zebras like to give them phantom first downs and touchdowns.

I want him to stay cuz he can beat the big boys on occassion. Like Texas this year though nobody seems to remember that

[okiewaker]

If Leach goes Tech would be stupid not to hire KW.:pop:

[bluedogok]

I like the guy and wish him nothing but success 51 weeks of the year. UCLA should've hired him instead of 'Weasel
UCLA is not willing to pay much for coaches, they are under the perception that it is a "privilege" to coach there and you should be willing to sacrifice salary to coach there. Most of the Pac-10 (and Big-10/11) has this line if thinking, they just aren't willing to pay for coaches like the SEC or Big 12. As quirky as some of the student bodies seem to be I think the administrations out there are probably much more uptight than they are perceived to be.


Just look how screwy the basketball coach is.
Pat Knight doesn't seem that screwy, now his dad on the other hand....

[47Wins]

Probably shows up with an eye patch on and a cutlass in his belt.

[Frozen Sooner]

Washington didn't hire him because they didn't want to pay the kind of money he's going to require. The State of Washington has some fairly major budgetary problems and they just cut a ton of money from higher education.

There's also been some rumblings of non-work issues with Leach. I don't know if they're accurate or not, but I've heard several times that he has a reputation as a bit of a partier. Lubbock's been good for him in that regard.

[SicEmBaylor]

Can you imagine him in an interview with some AD and starched collar U Prez?
They would think he was on drugs.

That's what I was thinking.