Stew Mandel had an interesting question in his mailbag on The Athletic this week (paraphrasing): How would you allocate a $10 million budget to hire a staff, including on-field coaches, performance staff, recruiting coordinators, etc.?
He responded saying that instead of working within a budget, he would provide his order of priority:
- Strength coach
- personnel director (recruiting coordinator)
- offensive coordinator (preferably one who's also a really good QB coach)
- top recruiting assistants
- defensive coordinator
- training staff and other key support staff
- other position coaches.
I thought this was a fascinating answer - I don't think many fans would prioritize recruiting above the DC, and I think even fewer fans would prioritize behind the scenes staff over position coaches. Strength coach is a bit of a surprise, but I've heard enough media members assert that the strength coach spends significantly more time with a player than any coach, so I'm not as surprised to read that.
What say you?
Comments
1. $10 million to Coach Paul Johnson
T.O.P ALL DAY ERRRR DAY BABYYYY
Tough to win a national title without an elite DC. It's also tough to get to a national title game without elite talent littered throughout your roster. It makes that distinction a very interesting chicken/egg argument.
A simple look-back through the last title champs DC's...
2019 - LSU - Dave Aranda - elite DC for many years
2018 - Clemson - Venables - elite DC for many years
2017 - Alabama - Jeremy Pruitt - elite DC for many years
2016 - Clemson - Venables - elite DC for many years
2015 - Alabama - Kirby Smart - elite DC for many years
2014 - Ohio State - Luke Fickell and Chris Ash - two experienced and respected defensive minds
2013 - FSU - Jeremy Pruitt - elite DC for many years
2012 - Alabama - Kirby Smart - elite DC for many years
2011 - Alabama - Kirby Smart - elite DC for many years
2010 - Auburn - Ted Roof - longtime DC, known for being blitz heavy, I would consider a tier below the rest of these
Basically two times in the past decade the national championship was won by a team without an elite, established DC.
In contrast, two of Bama's least "Bama standard" defenses may have cost them championships in 2018 and 2019 with
2018 - 1st year DC Tosh Lupoi - known primarily as an elite recruiter, not for his defensive prowess
2019 - 1st year DC Pete Golding - only previous DC experience at UTSA (though to his defense, the defensive injuries in 2019 for Alabama were about as horrible as I've ever seen in a single season.)
Given how much two teams (Alabama and Clemson) have dominated the last decade of football, it's tough to identify trends and determine what is essential for success and what isn't. It's worth noting that neither 2019 LSU nor 2014 OSU had an 'elite' defense (20 and 24,respectively, according to SP+) - Don't forget 2010 Auburn with the 44th best defense.
At the end of the day, I think you have to be 'elite' (top 5) on one side of ball, and good (top 25 at worst) to have a chance at winning a title. I'm not sure it matters which you choose to excel at, but, as Mandel notes (can't share the link due to community guidelines) offense tends to sell more tickets, so it makes sense to make the investment there.
While 2019 LSU may have only had a Top 40 defense, their DC is the highest (known) paid assistant coach in the country (right ahead of Venables).
An important note on LSU's defense this year is that because they had an elite, established DC in Aranda, they actually improved their Defensive SP+ at the back half of the year, and were playing their best defense through the home stretch of late Novemeber, the SECCG, and the playoffs. When it mattered the most (Georgia, Clemson, etc>) Aranda had his guys playing sound, championship level defensive football, and successfully made Trevor Lawrence look completely bum average: 18-37 234 (48.6% and 6.3 ypa) for no TD's.
I agree about Fickell/Ash and Roof, I mentioned those in my original one as possible outliers. However, Roof is the only "true" outlier, and that is consistent with that 2010 Auburn team being an outlier in general. That was beyond doubt the worst team to win a championship in the decade, but they had an absolutely elite Cam Newton elevating that team into championship caliber. They were the first team in like 20 years to win a championship without a top 20 defense (this is not correct but it is something similar to this).
I also agree that offense is probably primary, especially for attracting recruits/elevating the program. Clemson, for example, revolutionized their offense in 2011 with Chad Morris, which changed their brand and perception from recruits. They got Venables in 2012, and by around 13 or 14 his defenses had caught up to the offense and they were a championship caliber team on both sides of the ball by 15.
I don't think my breakdown proves it one way or the other in regards to hiring recruiting coaches or a DC with higher priority (that was the only two I was attempting to compare though as they came one after the other on his tiers). Like I said I think you get some interesting chicken/egg arguments, and I think I could defend either position pretty well. I was just showing that as some additional info to consider.
Top dollar offensive, and defensive coordinators ($1.5m each, minimum)
$1m for strength coach
$1m training staff
Make job requirement for the remaining staff all assistants and support staff to have upper tier recruiting ability. Bundle those jobs and up the average price ($5m budget there)
Head coach should already be the recruiting coordinator. In fact, if I'm an AD, that's my #1 priority when hiring a head coach.
I'd spend a portion of that budget and hire this guy:
What's up guys. It's Jeff Cavaliere, AthleanX.com
Love his videos. Has really helped me fix my form on several key lifts, and has also helped with providing types of exercises to strengthen oft-ignored areas that can help avoid lots of gym injuries/daily pain.
To anyone that reads this comment and goes to watch his videos just turn the volume down quite a bit. He has a pretty distinct voice and talks incredibly loudly in some videos.
But he does a better job not only showing correct form but also showing you exactly why the correct form is beneficial.