That really looks like a decision of emotion. He is a great guy, you have to like him, but a program with this much success, you would think, could attract a little more interest from a national search. I'm here in WV. The potential list included nobody.
It is probably okay. If they think Stewart is the answer, then keep him. Look at Nebraska. Bo Pellini coached that one bowl game after the 2003 season when Frank Solich was shown the door. Many people thought Pellini should have gotten the job. Instead, Nebraska went with Bill Callahan. Fast forward a few years. Callahan bombed. Pellini is the new head coach.
From what I understand Stewart has been with the program for a number of years... as far back as Don Nehlons days? He has certainly paid his dues and did a great job holding the team together the last month. He deserves a shot at it imo. If he botches it up they can always look for a new guy.
He's been a WVU assistant since 2000. In 1998 and 1999 he was coaching in the CFL as a line coach or something. I don't know what he did prior to 1998.
Seven year stretch then... that is a pretty good length of time. He should be well indoctrinated in WVU football.
I watched the press conference today. He is much more personable than Rich Rodriguez. Stewart is definitely a more likable guy. He is very excited to be the head coach. Personality-wise, he comes across as a Joe Gibbs type. Hopefully, he's similar as a coaching talent.
they said last night on the broadcast that Stoops was speaking at the luncheon or something and he addressed WVU and said "It's about time you removed the 'interim' from his title."
I would agree from what little I saw of him. They had a quick sound byte asking if the team was ready before the game and I watched him accept the trophy. It also says a lot that the players were stumping for him openly as well.
Players stumped for Larry Coker, too. He was an interim who was promoted to HC and that was a horrible mistake. I hope for wvu's sake he is no Larry coker.
True, there is a fair amount of a gamble to appointing him, but he's the hero of the day. What the hell, sometimes you just gotta roll the dice.
Its probably also the best shot they have of keeping all the JR's on the team since they know everything will be kept the same.
"He is so overmatched it's not even funny," said Ken Kendrick, managing partner of baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks. "He's a nice guy and a father figure. But they had a wonderful architecht and they hired the painter to build the next house. I want Bill Stewart to win and I want our program to be successful. But I feel bad for our future. I'm very concerned." That's one of the primary WVU boosters trashing the hiring.
What is Rodriguez's Michigan contract? I am sure it is much better than Stewart's 5 year, $4 million deal.
Yes, and if he wins next year, like last night, he'll be winning with RichRod's players. He is going to have to recruit to keep the program at the same level three years from now. When Coker took over, it was all Butch Davis' players. I dont want to get into how badly davis effed Miami, which he did, but it is water under the bridge. The players there knew they were a phenomenally talented team, and didnt want a new outside guy to rock the boat. So they (Dorsey, Reed and a few others) went to the AD personally and lobbied hard for then OC Coker to be promoted.. The next year they went out and won the NC, but the real coach on that team was Ed Reed.
yeah I heard some boosters are mad because they think the team had the opportunity to hire a very big name. While that's true, maybe they're trying to end the 'hit it and quit it' mentality of their head coaches.
