Utexbear2;842259136 said:

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Diaz would be high risk/high reward. He had a miserable 2012 season and was gone after the disaster at BYU this season. Before that, he was the hottest DC name in the country and had success with MTSU and Miss. St. It all depends on whether you think that the dysfunction on the Texas coaching staff led to Diaz's downfall (like DB coach Akina telling his DBs to play his way instead of fitting into Diaz's scheme) or if Diaz just forgot how to coach. The fact that he didn't make a single adjustment while BYU racked up 504 rushing yards leads me to believe he was fed up with the Texas job. I know he was pulling about $800K at Texas but I cant remember if his contract ran out this season or next...

I will say this. Diaz runs a complex scheme with a heavy reliance on strong LB play. Just look at 2012 when Jordan Hicks went down injured, the Texas D fell apart with Edmonds in there. I don't think he's necessarily a fit at Cal because of the current roster but he [U]might[/U] be a great hire. Like I said, high risk/high reward.

FYI, excellent recruiter

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To follow up on this.. I don't think he suddenly forgot how to coach. The game against BYU was simple really. They were an option team, and the QB ran wild on them. I don't think it's difficult to scheme against that look, as a numbers game. It's very easy to coach, but very difficult to execute if your players are not disciplined. I don't know what adjustment could be made at halftime if the defensive scheme was sound, but your guys aren't executing it because the guy who is supposed to take the QB keeps screwing it up.

As I recall, a lot of former players rallied to Diaz's defense (including Sam Acho) after the firing, and called out the players for their lack of execution. I just don't think that this is an issue with his coaching chops. I think it was a systemic problem with the team and motivation, similar to what we are dealing with here.

And on that note, I don't know that he's proven that he can overcome that type of systemic issue of team moral and motivation to follow instruction, as his record suggests otherwise at this point. At the end of the day, I'm not convinced he's a terrible hire or anything. I'm not sure he's the right hire, and I would prefer others, but if somehow we hired him, I'm not in the camp of declaring it a travesty or anything. We could certainly do worse.

hanky1;842259138 said:

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Sorry but this isn't how most winning coaches think about things. It's how loser coaches think about things. Losers. "That Cal job looks risky. It'll ruin my career if I take it because I'm afraid I won't succeed." Losers.

Fortunately, there are many, many coaches interested in the Cal DC job. Some of these coaches have had great success elsewhere as a DC and managed to land HC jobs because of it. They are in the mix. For those winners, this is an opportunity to be a savior. "I'm good. I know I'm good enough to turn around that Cal defense. I'll be a hero there and will have the opportunity to move up again when I'm successful.

The question isn't whether or not there are excellent coaches who want the job...it's whether or not Dykes is smart enough to find them and hire them.

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Plus if you bumped the defense up to middle of the NCAA stat range you'd probably boost your stock higher than doing that somewhere else. There's nowhere to go but up for the defense statistically.

82gradDLSdad;842257493 said:

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Our only hope of landing a good DC is that he thinks he's HC material and believes that should Sonny be fired he would have a chance at the job. Maybe Walker is indeed that guy.

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No DC thinks like that unless he's already in a program that's going down hill and that's his last best hope/prayer. Coaches know that a new broom sweeps clean. How many DCs (or OCs for that matter) do you know of who were promoted to HC from within a failed program (of which they were a part)?

Rushinbear;842259178 said:

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No DC thinks like that unless he's already in a program that's going down hill and that's his last best hope/prayer. Coaches know that a new broom sweeps clean. How many DCs (or OCs for that matter) do you know of who were promoted to HC from within a failed program (of which they were a part)?

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I can think of one.

hanky1;842259138 said:

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Sorry but this isn't how most winning coaches think about things. It's how loser coaches think about things. Losers. "That Cal job looks risky. It'll ruin my career if I take it because I'm afraid I won't succeed." Losers.

Fortunately, there are many, many coaches interested in the Cal DC job. Some of these coaches have had great success elsewhere as a DC and managed to land HC jobs because of it. They are in the mix. For those winners, this is an opportunity to be a savior. "I'm good. I know I'm good enough to turn around that Cal defense. I'll be a hero there and will have the opportunity to move up again when I'm successful.

The question isn't whether or not there are excellent coaches who want the job...it's whether or not Dykes is smart enough to find them and hire them.

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That, to me, is a pretty pollyana-ish position you've taken. And I disagree strongly that "this isn't how most winning coaches think about things", I think this is exactly the opposite - that this is exactly how winning coaches continue to be winners, to continue to succeed. They evaluate the possibility of success in a given new opportunity. Winners win not because they blindly follow a path without giving it any thought. They win because they carefully consider what the opportunity has to offer and they make solid decisions. The solid decisions part also bleeds over as part of the skillset that they bring to the game each Saturday.

"Fortunately, there are many, many coaches interested in the Cal DC job."

ok, who is on record as being interested?? Hell, it doesn't even have to be "many", I'll take 2. Sources please.

And what current resources do you see them relying on in order to become winners here? The D side is a train wreck of lack of depth, injuries, low talent, low incoming talent, and past poor coaching. I'd think you could prob stir in a bit of poor attitude too, which is probably deserved given all these kids have been through. The cupboards are pretty bare here.

Look, I get that you are passionate about this, I am too. We all want to wish our way into the best outcome. But FFS lets get really real and honest here. There isn't much to work with, and you are talking about hitching your wagon to a guy in Dykes who is 1) known for poor defense, 2) just went 1-11 where the 1 win was a bit in question in the second half, 3) isn't demonstrating the greatest leadership in really being motivated with building the best staff (see: hiring the wrong people to begin with, and then sticking with clearly the wrong people for far too long), 4) seeing players bolt the program in record numbers, and 5) poor recruiting classes right now, and you could make a case for projecting that out into the near future as well given a lack of momentum/interest/cachet. As someone else noted earlier about "kids leave programs all the time". Of course they do Bucky, but show me a successful program with this much attrition. Really, show me. I'm happy to be wrong.

The Cal DC position is not one of the current glamor positions open in college football right now with high level, high success guys beating the door down to get in. Fact.

Any DC that has been floated here has a family to support. This is a job -- not some sort of gung-ho, college spirit, "we can DO IT! and if you dont think so then you are a loser" thing to do in ones life with total disregard for the impact on ones life and career. A job. A job that pays big money. Money that supports their wife and kids, and builds for their future. The job happens to be in sports and is situated on a college campus. In any other situation these guys don't give 2 shits about who graduates and who doesn't, but because academic criteria is part of the job they add this in to their duties. They care about winning, keeping their jobs, being successful, and having a shot at promotions to better their careers. How is this in any way different than you when you consider your career?

CaliforniaUberAlles;842259183 said:

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I can think of one.

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GrizzledBear;842259190 said:

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That, to me, is a pretty pollyana-ish position you've taken. And I disagree strongly that "this isn't how most winning coaches think about things", I think this is exactly the opposite - that this is exactly how winning coaches continue to be winners, to continue to succeed. They evaluate the possibility of success in a given new opportunity. Winners win not because they blindly follow a path without giving it any thought. They win because they carefully consider what the opportunity has to offer and they make solid decisions. The solid decisions part also bleeds over as part of the skillset that they bring to the game each Saturday.

"Fortunately, there are many, many coaches interested in the Cal DC job."

ok, who is on record as being interested?? Hell, it doesn't even have to be "many", I'll take 2. Sources please.

And what current resources do you see them relying on in order to become winners here? The D side is a train wreck of lack of depth, injuries, low talent, low incoming talent, and past poor coaching. I'd think you could prob stir in a bit of poor attitude too, which is probably deserved given all these kids have been through. The cupboards are pretty bare here.

Look, I get that you are passionate about this, I am too. We all want to wish our way into the best outcome. But FFS lets get really real and honest here. There isn't much to work with, and you are talking about hitching your wagon to a guy in Dykes who is 1) known for poor defense, 2) just went 1-11 where the 1 win was a bit in question in the second half, 3) isn't demonstrating the greatest leadership in really being motivated with building the best staff (see: hiring the wrong people to begin with, and then sticking with clearly the wrong people for far too long), 4) seeing players bolt the program in record numbers, and 5) poor recruiting classes right now, and you could make a case for projecting that out into the near future as well given a lack of momentum/interest/cachet. As someone else noted earlier about "kids leave programs all the time". Of course they do Bucky, but show me a successful program with this much attrition. Really, show me. I'm happy to be wrong.

The Cal DC position is not one of the current glamor positions open in college football right now with high level, high success guys beating the door down to get in. Fact.

Any DC that has been floated here has a family to support. This is a job -- not some sort of gung-ho, college spirit, "we can DO IT! and if you dont think so then you are a loser" thing to do in ones life with total disregard for the impact on ones life and career. A job. A job that pays big money. Money that supports their wife and kids, and builds for their future. The job happens to be in sports and is situated on a college campus. In any other situation these guys don't give 2 shits about who graduates and who doesn't, but because academic criteria is part of the job they add this in to their duties. They care about winning, keeping their jobs, being successful, and having a shot at promotions to better their careers. How is this in any way different than you when you consider your career?

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Become a part of the paid subscription and you will know of two names that want the job. It was in Chat last night.

Well Diaz certainly is familiar with game planning against high-powered offenses coming from the Big 12. That's a plus. He won't be learning on the job like Clancy and Buh either.

Vandalus;842259142 said:

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...And on that note, I don't know that he's proven that he can overcome that type of systemic issue of team moral and motivation to follow instruction, as his record suggests otherwise at this point. ..

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Just a feeling (=because I've been in like situations before), but I don't believe that the Cal team has a morale problem. Why? Because the "ship jumpers" (=like NegaBears, here :p) are virtually gone, which should leave a core of players raring to turn "this ship" around; and, because Sonny made this latest move to jump start our defense. This is a situation where true team leaders surfaceand good progress is made, etc.

:gobears:

GrizzledBear;842259190 said:

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Any DC that has been floated here has a family to support. This is a job -- not some sort of gung-ho, college spirit, "we can DO IT! and if you dont think so then you are a loser" thing to do in ones life with total disregard for the impact on ones life and career. A job. A job that pays big money. Money that supports their wife and kids, and builds for their future. The job happens to be in sports and is situated on a college campus. In any other situation these guys don't give 2 shits about who graduates and who doesn't, but because academic criteria is part of the job they add this in to their duties. They care about winning, keeping their jobs, being successful, and having a shot at promotions to better their careers. How is this in any way different than you when you consider your career?

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It is very, very different than a 'normal' job. Of course everyone wants to have job security and success. Everyone wants to be in a situation where they think they'll be successful. Who wouldn't? But the best coaches (and players) have one thing in common: they're ULTRA-competitive. They think they'll be successful anymore. And often times they have already experienced success in their careers to make them believe this. This is not the mentality of ordinary people. I've been around enough successful coaches to see this.

The mentality you cited is a defeatist one and is flawed. If it were true, than no struggling program would ever be able to turn things around. Fortunately there is ample evidence to the contrary. Not just in competitive sports, but in other arenas of business as well. Also, don't assume that everyone's appetite for risk is the same (and yes...I will admit that the Cal DC job is more risky than average). Some people are much more risk-averse. Otherwise see opportunity.

There is a huge opportunity here at Cal (albeit a risky one). DC positions at a Big-5 conference school don't grow on trees. But whoever is hired will probably get a contract similar to Buh's ($500k / year) and will have no where to go but up.

And yes there are 2 very prominent names who have reached out to Cal. I'm not going to violate the confidences of the Insider board but these are "name" coaches. I have no idea if they're the right fit for Cal...but there is strong interest.

hanky1;842259259 said:

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And yes there are 2 very prominent names who have reached out to Cal. I'm not going to violate the confidences of the Insider board but these are "name" coaches. I have no idea if they're the right fit for Cal...but there is strong interest.

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Would you be pleased, disappointed, or indifferent if either of the two who have allegedly expressed interest were hired? Thanks.

hanky1;842259259 said:

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...The mentality you cited is a defeatist one and is flawed. If it were true, than no struggling program would ever be able to turn things around. Fortunately there is ample evidence to the contrary. Not just in competitive sports, but in other arenas of business as well. Also, don't assume that everyone's appetite for risk is the same (and yes...I will admit that the Cal DC job is more risky than average). Some people are much more risk-averse. Otherwise see opportunity...

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As an example, look what Art Briles did with the Baylor Bears!!!

:gobears:

Ron Rivera, after he gets fired by the Panthers for yet another season of missing the playoffs -- oh, wait.

Vandalus;842259282 said:

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Would you be pleased, disappointed, or indifferent if either of the two who have allegedly expressed interest were hired? Thanks.

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One of the names I heard I would be happy with and one I would not.

I've never heard anyone say that Tiny Moala was a malcontent or a disruptive influence. I always viewed him as a high quality type guy.

If the DC position is so sought after under Dykes, then how did we end up with Buh (a mediocre/unproven DC and a former LB coach before Cal)? It seems to follow the line of logic that we would've ended up with someone much better for the 2013 season.

I would think that the 2014 season is in a worse position than 2013. A historically bad season, defensive staff is already picked out (so no control over changes), former DC is still on staff (how motivated will he be?) and a number of quality players that are no longer with the program.

I'd love to see a big name hire here and if Sonny can pull it off that would be awesome. I just wouldn't bet on it happening at this point. I'll gladly be wrong here.

jamonit;842259436 said:

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One of the names I heard I would be happy with and one I would not.

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One has got to be Walker...

It has been interesting reading the BI nation's listing(wishful) of DC names.

I wonder if Sonny has started his list. Did Sonny really dump/demote these coaches without some idea of whom he can bring on board?

A critical recruiting period is upon us and indecision regarding the coaching team
team sends a message.