UND-FB-FAN

We’ll take the winning head coach …

One extreme to the next; throw away modern quarterback play with that offense. Not a good idea in my opinion. With that said, most offenses nowadays have some triple option (albeit maybe spread option) concepts included. Even Fruechte ran some variations in 2024 for UND, although mostly RPO.

Schmidt hasn’t won a national championship as a head coach, but I understand your concerns. No perfect candidate, just need to get the best one.

Not sure, but he’s been a coach for a while, and been at FBS programs. I’m sure he’s networked and worked with several other coaches who know the Midwest and are from the Midwest.

I’m not this guy’s biggest cheerleader by any means, and there are definitely other potential candidates out there just as good and perhaps even better, but: - he coached the QBs and was OC at EWU from 2003-2006. He coached QB Erik Meyer who won the 2005 Walter Payton Award (for most outstanding player in FCS). - he then was head coach at EWU starting in 2008, and coached Bo Levi Mitchell, who won the national championship in 2010 and also the Walter Payton Award in 2011. - then coached Vernon Adam afterwards, an undersized , under-recruited quarterback (sound familiar to UND’s QBs?) to freshman of the year honors in 2012. Adams also was coached well by Baldwin and beat #25 Oregon State in 2014. A lot less accolades over the past 10 years unfortunately.

He’d have a much better OL/DL recruiting pipeline here in the Midwest compared to the West Coast … And he knows how to recruit and coach the quarterbacks, which last I checked is still a pretty damn important position.

It’s the right thing to do, football has never been more popular than it currently is

I’m okay with the others successful as a DII head coach or FCS/FBS coordinator. Need someone will proven track record and vision to elevate UND football to the next level.

A former FCS national champion head coach is pretty comical, huh? Okay then.

I am confident that the best candidate to apply, per our agreed upon criteria and the qualifications listed by the University, will not have UND connections. Let’s see if that’s who they ultimately select though.

Excuse me?

I’d be most excited for Beau Baldwin given what he accomplished at Eastern Washington, but I’m okay with one of the proven DII head coaches: - Bolte (Bemidji State) - Olszewski (Augustana) - Hoffner (Minnesota State) Pipe-dreams: - Tony Annese (Ferris State) - heck, why not Paul Simmons (Harding)

I’m sorry for again another personal connection you may or may not have here clouding your judgement, but Eric Schmidt has NEVER been a collegiate head coach and as a defensive coordinator his defenses have been mediocre to poor. His defenses at UND didn’t yield any playoff wins and his defense this year at San Diego State was awful. So, the facts are with Eric Schmidt: - never been a collegiate head coach - never been a defensive coordinator and produced; that is, did not win a playoff game or consistently have greater than 0.60 win percentage with his defenses. - UND only won 53% of their games when Schmidt was DC here from 2014-2019.

Let’s also not forget about Jerry Olszewski at Augustana. I mentioned his name about a month back, and would be worth mentioning since the job listing is heading towards division II head coach …

That’s the concern here on the forum, but doesn’t sound like that is being selected against per the job listing preferences. Historically, Chaves has hired current head coaches at the division II ranks, so the preferred qualifications are not surprising. This makes me think we will hire a current Division II head coach …

Brent Bolte, yes, but not much experience beyond Bemidji State. What about Todd Hoffner (his winning percentage at a Minnesota State is even more impressive)?

18-16 head coaching record is not good enough, but his record at South Dakota State as an assistant if factored in would raise the winning percentage.

Fair criticism, but did he not recruit central time zone when he was at EWU? Probably not, so you’re likely right.

That is sub-60 percent, so we’re raising the bar. I’d call that a win.

Would be my choice. No other candidate listed can claim to have won an FCS championship as a head coach, he knows what it takes, and he did it with inferior facilities to what he’d have here at UND. Plus, plenty, plenty of connections and experience (including FBS).

Both, they are not mutually exclusive. Coaching football is a bit more complicated than just recruiting the best players. You need to develop, communicate and put them in the best position to succeed (scheme) also, and make adjustments in real-time.

Better than less than 60%? Bubba wasn’t able to reach 60%, so this would suggest we’re raising the bar ….