🏈 In the arena of questionable coaching decisions...

[TerryP]

...and this has nothing to do with a school to the north despite the recent "Wildboys: UT" episode during Jr. day.

But, in a manner of speaking, it is somewhat UT related.

Back before UT hired Kiffin we had a thread about coaches that were possible replacements for Fulmer. One person suggested Jim Leavitt and while I thought he was a solid football coach the conversation took a bit of a turn when we started discussing how he was doing in this position.

I can't say I'm surprised considering my doubts on his thinking processes, but then again I am a little surprised he would try to handcuff his assistants from getting better jobs.

Now, this picture makes me think he's possibly related to Coach O...

But, I digress...

Here's the latest little blurb from fannation.com about Leavitt and South Florida.

Someone should tell University of South Florida head coach Jim Leavitt that spring football begins in less than two weeks. At some point -- and very soon -- he's going to need to find a defensive coordinator. Leavitt has been trying, without success, to fill the vacancy left by Wally Burnham, who left for the same position at Iowa State two weeks ago. But do you blame Burnham, or other assistants, for bolting from "General" Jim Leavitt's dungeon? Offensive coordinator Greg Gregory and defensive backs coach Troy Douglas have also gone elsewhere, taking the same roles at South Alabama and North Carolina, respectively. That's what happens when a head coach gets out of control. Imagine this: You're an assistant at a decent program like USF, but you get a look from a national power and interview for the job. The next day, you get demoted. That's what Leavitt did to Gregory. Just a couple days after Gregory interviewed for the tight ends job at Florida, Leavitt sent out a statement saying he had been demoted. He claimed he didn't want his assistants sniffing around for jobs at other schools.

 

[UAgrad93]

You would think that the head coach would want his assistants to have that desire to move up. It shows that the head man is grooming quality coaches with the chance of one day becoming a head coach themselves.

 

[BigAl]

I been watching this guy for a long time. I could tell something isnt quite right with him. He gets all bent outta shape over nothing and he seems like a heart attack waiting to happen. Now he demotes an asst coach for trying to better himself, seems a bit unethical to me.

 

[planomateo]

thats interesting...

 

[imported_porkchop]

You would think that the head coach would want his assistants to have that desire to move up. It shows that the head man is grooming quality coaches with the chance of one day becoming a head coach themselves.

Couldn't agree more. It's my opinion that a good head coach is one that gets his players and assistant coaches backs when at all possible. A good manager would want the people under him to be as successful as possible. Not only ethically, but in the grand scheme of things it would seem that this works in favor of the coach. It would (or should) make hiring assistants easier in the long run.

 

[bamafan4ever]

I still to this day can't get that USF woman's sound bite out of my head that said, "eat your heart out Alabama" when referring to this fruit loop. Couldn't stand him then, can't stand him now.

 

[Guest]

So who's the biggest tool, Kiffin or Leavitt?

 

[ghice]

So who's the biggest tool, Kiffin or Leavitt?

Kiffin, Leavitt has actually accomplished something at USF (creating a winning atmosphere out of a losing one).

Kiffin has just ticked everyone off.