ducktilldeath said:

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Cal88 said:

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sycasey said:

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BearoutEast67 said:

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Tosh was a terrible DL coach for the Jaguars (3-14) in 2021. Their DL was like a sieve, letting Trevor Lawrence get beat up each game. He has been a one-year hire in multiple sites, which smells like trouble.

---

As has been noted, the reason he was a one-year guy as an NFL position coach so often was because the head coach who hired him got fired every time. Maybe some of that is his fault, but more likely it's just the normal staff turnover that happens in that situation. I doubt the DL coach has that much impact on the whole team's record.

There are plenty of reasonable arguments for not hiring Tosh, but "his DL couldn't protect the QB" is not a good one.

---

You would think he could have been retained at least once out of the three times the HC was replaced, it's not uncommon for a HC to retain the better elements in a previous staff.

After 3 years of jumping around in the NFL, Tosh realized that his main football skill, recruiting, is confined to college ball.

---

What kind of logic is this? He got hired by another NFL team the first two times and then was off to Oregon.

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The incoming head coach gets first dibs at the previous staff. It is very common for new coaches to retain some of the better assistants.

Cal88 said:

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ducktilldeath said:

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Cal88 said:

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sycasey said:

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BearoutEast67 said:

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Tosh was a terrible DL coach for the Jaguars (3-14) in 2021. Their DL was like a sieve, letting Trevor Lawrence get beat up each game. He has been a one-year hire in multiple sites, which smells like trouble.

---

As has been noted, the reason he was a one-year guy as an NFL position coach so often was because the head coach who hired him got fired every time. Maybe some of that is his fault, but more likely it's just the normal staff turnover that happens in that situation. I doubt the DL coach has that much impact on the whole team's record.

There are plenty of reasonable arguments for not hiring Tosh, but "his DL couldn't protect the QB" is not a good one.

---

You would think he could have been retained at least once out of the three times the HC was replaced, it's not uncommon for a HC to retain the better elements in a previous staff.

After 3 years of jumping around in the NFL, Tosh realized that his main football skill, recruiting, is confined to college ball.

---

What kind of logic is this? He got hired by another NFL team the first two times and then was off to Oregon.

---

The incoming head coach gets first dibs at the previous staff. It is very common for new coaches to retain some of the better assistants.

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When Pete Carroll took over at SC the only assistant he kept from the previous regime was Ed Orgeron, for obvious reasons

DoubtfulBear said:

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Cal88 said:

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DoubtfulBear said:

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Cal88 said:

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BearSD said:

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Cal88 said:

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After 3 years of jumping around in the NFL, Tosh realized that his main football skill, recruiting, is confined to college ball.

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Not sure why you think this is an argument against him. Cal football desperately needs vastly better recruiting, if it is ever going to break out of the 5-to-7 wins a year rut. If it's not Tosh, it dam well better be someone else whose staff will recruit as well as Tosh has.

---

Better recruiting is good to have, but not the main skill I would look for in a HC. The problem with Tosh and the last 10+ years coaching college football is that he has been in very, very successful programs where his main contribution was in recruiting. I'm sure we would have been very successful with Tosh if he has people like Saban, Lanning or Will Stein handling every other part of the program.

The one time Tosh was in charge of running the defense at Alabama, they got outcoached and destroyed by Clemson and handed Saban his worst loss to date. That's why Saban let him go.

Typically, you hire a head coach based on his fundamental coaching skills, and if he's not a great recruiter, expect him to add some coordinators and assistants who are good recruiters to cover the slack.

Tosh doesn't strike me as a very bright guy, or someone who has the broader skill set of a good CEO, he is a top salesman.

He reminds me of Ed Orgeron, another former DL/position coach who is a top recruiter with average coaching skills, 33-38 record as a head coach in the SEC.

---

I would rather have a CEO head coach that hires strong coordinators than one who needs to micromanage the play calling

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You're not hiring a CEO with Tosh, you're hiring a salesman.

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the best CEOs are also salesmen. What evidence do you have that he doesn't have the ability to hire quality staff?

---

Lupoi has never been a head coach at the college level.
He's never run an entire program, built a staff from scratch, overseen recruiting strategy at scale, or managed long-term roster development.

Elite recruiters often struggle when they move into HC roles because:
1. they go from relationships & talent acquisition to CEO of a 120-person football organization
2. they must master clock management, game planning, metrics, donor/NIL politics, retention
3. mistakes at HC are amplified, public, and extremely expensive

Oh, no.

Lanning continued:

"He has a reputation of being a recruiter but that's not all he is, he's an unbelievable coach. He can coach every position on defense, when he gets his opportunity, he will kill it. I think it has to make unbelievable sense for him for it to happen."

— Thomas Dunn (@Thomasdunn24) November 25, 2025

Cal88 said:

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ducktilldeath said:

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Cal88 said:

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sycasey said:

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BearoutEast67 said:

---

Tosh was a terrible DL coach for the Jaguars (3-14) in 2021. Their DL was like a sieve, letting Trevor Lawrence get beat up each game. He has been a one-year hire in multiple sites, which smells like trouble.

---

As has been noted, the reason he was a one-year guy as an NFL position coach so often was because the head coach who hired him got fired every time. Maybe some of that is his fault, but more likely it's just the normal staff turnover that happens in that situation. I doubt the DL coach has that much impact on the whole team's record.

There are plenty of reasonable arguments for not hiring Tosh, but "his DL couldn't protect the QB" is not a good one.

---

You would think he could have been retained at least once out of the three times the HC was replaced, it's not uncommon for a HC to retain the better elements in a previous staff.

After 3 years of jumping around in the NFL, Tosh realized that his main football skill, recruiting, is confined to college ball.

---

What kind of logic is this? He got hired by another NFL team the first two times and then was off to Oregon.

---

The incoming head coach gets first dibs at the previous staff. It is very common for new coaches to retain some of the better assistants.

---

Knocking him for not being retained when 2 of the 3 times he was picked up by another NFL team is asinine.

Golden One said:

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okaydo said:

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Oh, no.

Lanning continued:

"He has a reputation of being a recruiter but that's not all he is, he's an unbelievable coach. He can coach every position on defense, when he gets his opportunity, he will kill it. I think it has to make unbelievable sense for him for it to happen."

— Thomas Dunn (@Thomasdunn24) November 25, 2025

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Maybe Lanning just wants him to leave.

---

Lanning know he's going to leave, he wants to build his own coaching tree like Saban so he can keep replacing great coaches. If both of his original coordinators at Oregon get HC jobs, he's going to have great candidates pounding on his door. It's only a matter of time for Will Stein as well, if that's what he wants.

This is basically like having players leave early for the NFL. You want that to be happening.

Golden One said:

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okaydo said:

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Oh, no.

Lanning continued:

"He has a reputation of being a recruiter but that's not all he is, he's an unbelievable coach. He can coach every position on defense, when he gets his opportunity, he will kill it. I think it has to make unbelievable sense for him for it to happen."

— Thomas Dunn (@Thomasdunn24) November 25, 2025

---

Maybe Lanning just wants him to leave.

---

It does seem a bit over the top except maybe the "I learned from him when I was a GA at Alabama" part, that is a bit backhanded.

TedfordTheGreat said:

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Cal88 said:

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Alkiadt said:

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Cal88 said:

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DoubtfulBear said:

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Cal88 said:

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BearSD said:

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Cal88 said:

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After 3 years of jumping around in the NFL, Tosh realized that his main football skill, recruiting, is confined to college ball.

---

Not sure why you think this is an argument against him. Cal football desperately needs vastly better recruiting, if it is ever going to break out of the 5-to-7 wins a year rut. If it's not Tosh, it dam well better be someone else whose staff will recruit as well as Tosh has.

---

Better recruiting is good to have, but not the main skill I would look for in a HC. The problem with Tosh and the last 10+ years coaching college football is that he has been in very, very successful programs where his main contribution was in recruiting. I'm sure we would have been very successful with Tosh if he has people like Saban, Lanning or Will Stein handling every other part of the program.

The one time Tosh was in charge of running the defense at Alabama, they got outcoached and destroyed by Clemson and handed Saban his worst loss to date. That's why Saban let him go.

Typically, you hire a head coach based on his fundamental coaching skills, and if he's not a great recruiter, expect him to add some coordinators and assistants who are good recruiters to cover the slack.

Tosh doesn't strike me as a very bright guy, or someone who has the broader skill set of a good CEO, he is a top salesman.

He reminds me of Ed Orgeron, another former DL/position coach who is a top recruiter with average coaching skills, 33-38 record as a head coach in the SEC.

---

I would rather have a CEO head coach that hires strong coordinators than one who needs to micromanage the play calling

---

You're not hiring a CEO with Tosh, you're hiring a salesman.

---

I see Dan Lanning, Lane Kiffin, Kirby Smart, James Franklin and even Curt Cignetti as very much salesmen of their programs.

---

Kiffin and Franklin do fit the bill.

Cignetti not so much, and he is the complete package in terms of coaching fundamentals and skills, his product on the field is what sells his program, a program he had built from the ground up. He didn't land Mendoza through his salesmanship, the results of his program spoke for themselves.

Lanning knows his football, and was very good at identifying and hiring one of the top football young minds in college football, Will Stein, who at the time was a 32yo with only 3 years of college coaching experience in a second rate conference.

---

this is funny

You give credit to Lanning because he knows football
You give credit to Will Stein because he is an up and coming top football mind

But Lanning also hired Tosh, and then retained him 3 years running

So does Lanning know football or not? If he does, then Tosh must be good

Thanks for selling us!

---

There's a reason people want Tosh for recruiting but not to be their DC. This has been his reputation in almost every stop he's been at.

MinotStateBeav said:

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TedfordTheGreat said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

Alkiadt said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

DoubtfulBear said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

BearSD said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

After 3 years of jumping around in the NFL, Tosh realized that his main football skill, recruiting, is confined to college ball.

---

Not sure why you think this is an argument against him. Cal football desperately needs vastly better recruiting, if it is ever going to break out of the 5-to-7 wins a year rut. If it's not Tosh, it dam well better be someone else whose staff will recruit as well as Tosh has.

---

Better recruiting is good to have, but not the main skill I would look for in a HC. The problem with Tosh and the last 10+ years coaching college football is that he has been in very, very successful programs where his main contribution was in recruiting. I'm sure we would have been very successful with Tosh if he has people like Saban, Lanning or Will Stein handling every other part of the program.

The one time Tosh was in charge of running the defense at Alabama, they got outcoached and destroyed by Clemson and handed Saban his worst loss to date. That's why Saban let him go.

Typically, you hire a head coach based on his fundamental coaching skills, and if he's not a great recruiter, expect him to add some coordinators and assistants who are good recruiters to cover the slack.

Tosh doesn't strike me as a very bright guy, or someone who has the broader skill set of a good CEO, he is a top salesman.

He reminds me of Ed Orgeron, another former DL/position coach who is a top recruiter with average coaching skills, 33-38 record as a head coach in the SEC.

---

I would rather have a CEO head coach that hires strong coordinators than one who needs to micromanage the play calling

---

You're not hiring a CEO with Tosh, you're hiring a salesman.

---

I see Dan Lanning, Lane Kiffin, Kirby Smart, James Franklin and even Curt Cignetti as very much salesmen of their programs.

---

Kiffin and Franklin do fit the bill.

Cignetti not so much, and he is the complete package in terms of coaching fundamentals and skills, his product on the field is what sells his program, a program he had built from the ground up. He didn't land Mendoza through his salesmanship, the results of his program spoke for themselves.

Lanning knows his football, and was very good at identifying and hiring one of the top football young minds in college football, Will Stein, who at the time was a 32yo with only 3 years of college coaching experience in a second rate conference.

---

this is funny

You give credit to Lanning because he knows football
You give credit to Will Stein because he is an up and coming top football mind

But Lanning also hired Tosh, and then retained him 3 years running

So does Lanning know football or not? If he does, then Tosh must be good

Thanks for selling us!

---

There's a reason people want Tosh for recruiting but not to be their DC. This has been his reputation in almost every stop he's been at.

---

Isn't his Oregon stint the counterpoint to that?

calumnus said:

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Golden One said:

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okaydo said:

---

Oh, no.

Lanning continued:

"He has a reputation of being a recruiter but that's not all he is, he's an unbelievable coach. He can coach every position on defense, when he gets his opportunity, he will kill it. I think it has to make unbelievable sense for him for it to happen."

— Thomas Dunn (@Thomasdunn24) November 25, 2025

---

Maybe Lanning just wants him to leave.

---

It does seem a bit over the top except maybe the "I learned from him when I was a GA at Alabama" part, that is a bit backhanded.

---

You're just the worst. It's pure honesty. He's not grandstanding or promoting an agenda.

sycasey said:

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MinotStateBeav said:

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TedfordTheGreat said:

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Cal88 said:

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Alkiadt said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

DoubtfulBear said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

BearSD said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

After 3 years of jumping around in the NFL, Tosh realized that his main football skill, recruiting, is confined to college ball.

---

Not sure why you think this is an argument against him. Cal football desperately needs vastly better recruiting, if it is ever going to break out of the 5-to-7 wins a year rut. If it's not Tosh, it dam well better be someone else whose staff will recruit as well as Tosh has.

---

Better recruiting is good to have, but not the main skill I would look for in a HC. The problem with Tosh and the last 10+ years coaching college football is that he has been in very, very successful programs where his main contribution was in recruiting. I'm sure we would have been very successful with Tosh if he has people like Saban, Lanning or Will Stein handling every other part of the program.

The one time Tosh was in charge of running the defense at Alabama, they got outcoached and destroyed by Clemson and handed Saban his worst loss to date. That's why Saban let him go.

Typically, you hire a head coach based on his fundamental coaching skills, and if he's not a great recruiter, expect him to add some coordinators and assistants who are good recruiters to cover the slack.

Tosh doesn't strike me as a very bright guy, or someone who has the broader skill set of a good CEO, he is a top salesman.

He reminds me of Ed Orgeron, another former DL/position coach who is a top recruiter with average coaching skills, 33-38 record as a head coach in the SEC.

---

I would rather have a CEO head coach that hires strong coordinators than one who needs to micromanage the play calling

---

You're not hiring a CEO with Tosh, you're hiring a salesman.

---

I see Dan Lanning, Lane Kiffin, Kirby Smart, James Franklin and even Curt Cignetti as very much salesmen of their programs.

---

Kiffin and Franklin do fit the bill.

Cignetti not so much, and he is the complete package in terms of coaching fundamentals and skills, his product on the field is what sells his program, a program he had built from the ground up. He didn't land Mendoza through his salesmanship, the results of his program spoke for themselves.

Lanning knows his football, and was very good at identifying and hiring one of the top football young minds in college football, Will Stein, who at the time was a 32yo with only 3 years of college coaching experience in a second rate conference.

---

this is funny

You give credit to Lanning because he knows football
You give credit to Will Stein because he is an up and coming top football mind

But Lanning also hired Tosh, and then retained him 3 years running

So does Lanning know football or not? If he does, then Tosh must be good

Thanks for selling us!

---

There's a reason people want Tosh for recruiting but not to be their DC. This has been his reputation in almost every stop he's been at.

---

Isn't his Oregon stint the counterpoint to that?

---

no, because lanning is the DC there, Tosh is wearing the title like a skinsuit.

MinotStateBeav said:

---

sycasey said:

---

MinotStateBeav said:

---

TedfordTheGreat said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

Alkiadt said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

DoubtfulBear said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

BearSD said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

After 3 years of jumping around in the NFL, Tosh realized that his main football skill, recruiting, is confined to college ball.

---

Not sure why you think this is an argument against him. Cal football desperately needs vastly better recruiting, if it is ever going to break out of the 5-to-7 wins a year rut. If it's not Tosh, it dam well better be someone else whose staff will recruit as well as Tosh has.

---

Better recruiting is good to have, but not the main skill I would look for in a HC. The problem with Tosh and the last 10+ years coaching college football is that he has been in very, very successful programs where his main contribution was in recruiting. I'm sure we would have been very successful with Tosh if he has people like Saban, Lanning or Will Stein handling every other part of the program.

The one time Tosh was in charge of running the defense at Alabama, they got outcoached and destroyed by Clemson and handed Saban his worst loss to date. That's why Saban let him go.

Typically, you hire a head coach based on his fundamental coaching skills, and if he's not a great recruiter, expect him to add some coordinators and assistants who are good recruiters to cover the slack.

Tosh doesn't strike me as a very bright guy, or someone who has the broader skill set of a good CEO, he is a top salesman.

He reminds me of Ed Orgeron, another former DL/position coach who is a top recruiter with average coaching skills, 33-38 record as a head coach in the SEC.

---

I would rather have a CEO head coach that hires strong coordinators than one who needs to micromanage the play calling

---

You're not hiring a CEO with Tosh, you're hiring a salesman.

---

I see Dan Lanning, Lane Kiffin, Kirby Smart, James Franklin and even Curt Cignetti as very much salesmen of their programs.

---

Kiffin and Franklin do fit the bill.

Cignetti not so much, and he is the complete package in terms of coaching fundamentals and skills, his product on the field is what sells his program, a program he had built from the ground up. He didn't land Mendoza through his salesmanship, the results of his program spoke for themselves.

Lanning knows his football, and was very good at identifying and hiring one of the top football young minds in college football, Will Stein, who at the time was a 32yo with only 3 years of college coaching experience in a second rate conference.

---

this is funny

You give credit to Lanning because he knows football
You give credit to Will Stein because he is an up and coming top football mind

But Lanning also hired Tosh, and then retained him 3 years running

So does Lanning know football or not? If he does, then Tosh must be good

Thanks for selling us!

---

There's a reason people want Tosh for recruiting but not to be their DC. This has been his reputation in almost every stop he's been at.

---

Isn't his Oregon stint the counterpoint to that?

---

no, because lanning is the DC there, Tosh is wearing the title like a skinsuit.

---

Not even remotely close to true. Tosh calls all the plays during the games and is the lead on personnel decisions. Just stop.

MinotStateBeav said:

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sycasey said:

---

MinotStateBeav said:

---

TedfordTheGreat said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

Alkiadt said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

DoubtfulBear said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

BearSD said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

After 3 years of jumping around in the NFL, Tosh realized that his main football skill, recruiting, is confined to college ball.

---

Not sure why you think this is an argument against him. Cal football desperately needs vastly better recruiting, if it is ever going to break out of the 5-to-7 wins a year rut. If it's not Tosh, it dam well better be someone else whose staff will recruit as well as Tosh has.

---

Better recruiting is good to have, but not the main skill I would look for in a HC. The problem with Tosh and the last 10+ years coaching college football is that he has been in very, very successful programs where his main contribution was in recruiting. I'm sure we would have been very successful with Tosh if he has people like Saban, Lanning or Will Stein handling every other part of the program.

The one time Tosh was in charge of running the defense at Alabama, they got outcoached and destroyed by Clemson and handed Saban his worst loss to date. That's why Saban let him go.

Typically, you hire a head coach based on his fundamental coaching skills, and if he's not a great recruiter, expect him to add some coordinators and assistants who are good recruiters to cover the slack.

Tosh doesn't strike me as a very bright guy, or someone who has the broader skill set of a good CEO, he is a top salesman.

He reminds me of Ed Orgeron, another former DL/position coach who is a top recruiter with average coaching skills, 33-38 record as a head coach in the SEC.

---

I would rather have a CEO head coach that hires strong coordinators than one who needs to micromanage the play calling

---

You're not hiring a CEO with Tosh, you're hiring a salesman.

---

I see Dan Lanning, Lane Kiffin, Kirby Smart, James Franklin and even Curt Cignetti as very much salesmen of their programs.

---

Kiffin and Franklin do fit the bill.

Cignetti not so much, and he is the complete package in terms of coaching fundamentals and skills, his product on the field is what sells his program, a program he had built from the ground up. He didn't land Mendoza through his salesmanship, the results of his program spoke for themselves.

Lanning knows his football, and was very good at identifying and hiring one of the top football young minds in college football, Will Stein, who at the time was a 32yo with only 3 years of college coaching experience in a second rate conference.

---

this is funny

You give credit to Lanning because he knows football
You give credit to Will Stein because he is an up and coming top football mind

But Lanning also hired Tosh, and then retained him 3 years running

So does Lanning know football or not? If he does, then Tosh must be good

Thanks for selling us!

---

There's a reason people want Tosh for recruiting but not to be their DC. This has been his reputation in almost every stop he's been at.

---

Isn't his Oregon stint the counterpoint to that?

---

no, because lanning is the DC there, Tosh is wearing the title like a skinsuit.

---

Complete BS.

Alkiadt said:

---

MinotStateBeav said:

---

sycasey said:

---

MinotStateBeav said:

---

TedfordTheGreat said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

Alkiadt said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

DoubtfulBear said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

BearSD said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

After 3 years of jumping around in the NFL, Tosh realized that his main football skill, recruiting, is confined to college ball.

---

Not sure why you think this is an argument against him. Cal football desperately needs vastly better recruiting, if it is ever going to break out of the 5-to-7 wins a year rut. If it's not Tosh, it dam well better be someone else whose staff will recruit as well as Tosh has.

---

Better recruiting is good to have, but not the main skill I would look for in a HC. The problem with Tosh and the last 10+ years coaching college football is that he has been in very, very successful programs where his main contribution was in recruiting. I'm sure we would have been very successful with Tosh if he has people like Saban, Lanning or Will Stein handling every other part of the program.

The one time Tosh was in charge of running the defense at Alabama, they got outcoached and destroyed by Clemson and handed Saban his worst loss to date. That's why Saban let him go.

Typically, you hire a head coach based on his fundamental coaching skills, and if he's not a great recruiter, expect him to add some coordinators and assistants who are good recruiters to cover the slack.

Tosh doesn't strike me as a very bright guy, or someone who has the broader skill set of a good CEO, he is a top salesman.

He reminds me of Ed Orgeron, another former DL/position coach who is a top recruiter with average coaching skills, 33-38 record as a head coach in the SEC.

---

I would rather have a CEO head coach that hires strong coordinators than one who needs to micromanage the play calling

---

You're not hiring a CEO with Tosh, you're hiring a salesman.

---

I see Dan Lanning, Lane Kiffin, Kirby Smart, James Franklin and even Curt Cignetti as very much salesmen of their programs.

---

Kiffin and Franklin do fit the bill.

Cignetti not so much, and he is the complete package in terms of coaching fundamentals and skills, his product on the field is what sells his program, a program he had built from the ground up. He didn't land Mendoza through his salesmanship, the results of his program spoke for themselves.

Lanning knows his football, and was very good at identifying and hiring one of the top football young minds in college football, Will Stein, who at the time was a 32yo with only 3 years of college coaching experience in a second rate conference.

---

this is funny

You give credit to Lanning because he knows football
You give credit to Will Stein because he is an up and coming top football mind

But Lanning also hired Tosh, and then retained him 3 years running

So does Lanning know football or not? If he does, then Tosh must be good

Thanks for selling us!

---

There's a reason people want Tosh for recruiting but not to be their DC. This has been his reputation in almost every stop he's been at.

---

Isn't his Oregon stint the counterpoint to that?

---

no, because lanning is the DC there, Tosh is wearing the title like a skinsuit.

---

Complete BS.

---

Lanning is a defensive-minded head coach, and Chris Hampton is co-defensive coordinator, so it's hard to say where the defensive coaching responsibilities start and stop within that organisation. I would also guess that Lupoi is one of the main recruiters on their staff.

Quote:

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this is funny

You give credit to Lanning because he knows football
You give credit to Will Stein because he is an up and coming top football mind

But Lanning also hired Tosh, and then retained him 3 years running

So does Lanning know football or not? If he does, then Tosh must be good

Thanks for selling us!

---

See above.

BearoutEast67 said:

---

Tosh was a terrible DL coach for the Jaguars (3-14) in 2021. Their DL was like a sieve, letting Trevor Lawrence get beat up each game. He has been a one-year hire in multiple sites, which smells like trouble.

At best, let's hire Tosh as a recruiter, but for Pete's sake, don't let him coach!

---

Is this some sort of joke? A sieve-like defensive line got the quarterback beat up?