Dublin Coffman Rocks 2020

thisisinsane said:
He should’ve been Mr. Football that season imo. I think it went to the murderer from Benedictine?

Rafferty was a one man show. I would argue with anyone that he is a top 10 QB in Ohio all time (only talking HS here).
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That one year was as good as it gets playing the QB position at the HS level . He had some nice receivers , and they had some talent that year but that kid was a flat out baller . An interesting article from years back in This week's news


When Rafferty was a freshman at St. Charles, he recalls getting three snaps at quarterback under then-coach Mark Crabtree.

At a glance
Below are the players named to the “All-Time ThisWeek Football” first, second and third teams (with school and final prep year in parentheses) along with the top ten coaches:
FIRST TEAM
QB -- Jack Rafferty (Dublin Coffman, 2003); RB -- Jeff Backes (Upper Arlington, 2000), Nick Goings (Dublin Scioto, 1995), Maurice Hall (Brookhaven, 2000); WR -- Lance Moore (Westerville South, 2000), Ernie Wheelwright (Walnut Ridge, 2002); TE -- Jake Butt (Pickerington North, 2012); OL -- Jacoby Boren (Pickerington Central, 2011), Justin Boren (Pickerington North, 2005), Marc Kielmeyer (Westerville South, 1995), Andrew Moses (Watterson, 2004), Adam Olds (Coffman, 2000); DL -- Grant Bowman (DeSales, 1998), Luke Fickell (DeSales, 1991), Simon Fraser (Upper Arlington, 2000), Roosevelt Nix (Reynoldsburg, 2009); LB -- Jayson Gwinn (Brookhaven, 1991), Brett Hughes (Upper Arlington, 1999), Andy Katzenmoyer (Westerville South, 1995), Lawrence Reid (Pickerington, 2000); DB -- Jordan Gafford (Worthington Kilbourne, 2005), Dominic Jones (Brookhaven, 2004), Keiwan Ratliff (Whitehall, 1998), Ryan Redd (Pickerington, 2000); K -- J.D. Detmer (Hilliard Davidson, 2010); P -- Ben Buchanan (Westerville Central, 2007); RETURN SPECIALIST -- Ryan Sprague (Kilbourne, 1998)
SECOND TEAM
QB -- Brady Quinn (Dublin Coffman, 2002); RB -- Derek Combs (Grove City, 1996), Ross Franklin (Johnstown, 2011), Jayshon Jackson (Westerville South, 2010); WR -- Tim Shadoan (Dublin Scioto, 2012), Jake Stoneburner (Coffman, 2007); TE -- Jeff Cumberland (Brookhaven, 2005); OL -- Phil Huff (Hilliard Davidson, 2009), Mark Jackson (Brookhaven, 2005), Kurt Murphy (DeSales, 1995), Patrick Omameh (DeSales, 2007), Josh Parrish (Westerville South, 1996); DL -- Gino Dunlap (Westland, 1997), Keith Heitzman (Davidson, 2010), Devon May (Watterson, 2002), Julian Miller (Beechcroft, 2006); LB -- Chase Blackburn (Marysville, 2000), Zach Boren (Pickerington Central, 2008), J.B. Strahler (Davidson, 2006), Ja’Wuan Woodley (Hartley, 2012); DB -- Eilar Hardy (Pickerington Central, 2010), Michael Hinger (Licking Valley, 2001), Matt Pusateri (Watterson, 1999), DeAngelo Smith (Independence, 2003); K -- Jimmy Gammill (New Albany, 2011); P -- A.J. Trapasso (Pickerington Central, 2003); RETURN SPECIALIST -- Terry Glenn (Brookhaven, 1991)
THIRD TEAM
QB -- Nathan Poole (Grove City, 1999); RB -- Erik Haw (Independence, 2003), Noah Key (Hartley, 2010), Jesse Kline (Upper Arlington, 1998); WR -- Adam Alderman (Granville, 2008), Drew Anderson (Granville, 2003); TE -- Chris Miller (Upper Arlington, 2000); OL -- Mike Adams (Dublin Coffman, 2007), Ray Ball (Westerville South, 2010), Damon Dillard (Marion-Franklin, 2012), Pat Elflein (Pickerington North, 2011) and Kyle Takavitz (Olentangy, 1999); DL -- Troy Brandt (Grove City, 1990), Ben Huddle (Dublin Scioto, 2003), Paris Long (Beechcroft, 1995), Torrance Nicholson (Marion-Franklin, 2005); LB -- Joey D’Andrea (Upper Arlington, 2006), B.J. Machen (Hilliard Darby, 2007), Marcus Ray (Eastmoor, 1993), Matt Stewart (DeSales, 1996); DB -- Dominic Clegg (Watterson, 2009), Ronnie Smith (DeSales, 2003), Rolland Steele (Dublin Scioto, 1995), Mike Young (Mifflin, 1996); K -- Kyle Turano (Worthington Kilbourne, 1999); P -- Jeff Mt. Joy (Westerville North, 1994); RETURN SPECIALIST -- Brandon Schoen (Olentangy Orange, 2011)
TOP 10 COACHES
10. Dan Bjelac (Watterson, 2003-present); 9. Bill Franks (Newark, 1997-2001; Newark Catholic, 2002-present); 8. Brad Burchfield (Centerburg, 2003-07; Hartley, 2008-present); 7. Scott Wetzel (Buckeye Valley, 1992-96; Big Walnut, 1998-2008); 6. Randy Baughman (Licking Valley, 1990-present); 5. Jay Sharrett (Pickerington Central, 2003-present); 4. Mark Crabtree (Fisher Catholic, 1995-98; St. Charles, 1999-2000; Dublin Coffman, 2001-present); 3. Mike Golden (Watterson, 1990-2002; New Albany, 2004; Upper Arlington, 2005-present); 2. Bob Jacoby (DeSales, 1990-2006; Hamilton Township, 2007-09); 1. Brian White (Dublin Scioto, 1997; Groveport, 1998; Hilliard Davidson, 1999-present).
All-Time ThisWeek Team
‒Week 1:Honorable Mention
‒Week 2:Third Team
‒Week 3:Second Team
‒Week 4:First Team
‒Week 5: Top 10 Coaches of the Last 23 Years
‒This Week: Top Offensive Player, Top Defensive Player and Top Coach in theThisWeekEra
About the series
The six-part “All-Time ThisWeek Football Team” series marks the fifth consecutive summer in which ThisWeek Community News has taken a look back at the greatest moments in central Ohio sports since 1990. The series began July 4 with an honorable mention list of 140 players and followed with the third team, the second team, the first team and a ranking of the top 10 coaches of the last 23 years. The final installment is devoted to the No. 1 offensive player, No. 1 defensive player and No. 1 coach of the ThisWeek era.
They weren’t exactly memorable.
“I think I had one incompletion and fumbled the other two snaps,” Rafferty said.
That wasn’t representative of what would occur over his next three seasons, which cemented Rafferty as the greatest offensive player of the ThisWeek era.
Jeff Liebert took over as coach the next season, and Rafferty completed 188 of 394 passes for 2,489 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2001. He was 153-for-322 for 2,419 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2002, and was named second-team all-state and the district’s Offensive Player of the Year in Division II.
The Cardinals went 5-5 in 2001 and 6-5 in 2002, when they made the playoffs for just the third time in program history.
St. Charles lost to DeSales 33-0 in a Division II, Region 6 first-round playoff game in 2002, and Rafferty transferred to Coffman about three weeks later.
At Coffman, Rafferty was reunited with Crabtree, who has been at the school since leaving St. Charles after the 2000 season.
During Rafferty’s final season, he completed 215 of 366 passes for 3,227 yards and 27 touchdowns with four interceptions and rushed for 1,378 yards and 20 touchdowns on 243 carries as the Shamrocks went 10-3. Rafferty suffered a separated shoulder in the third quarter of Coffman’s 24-14 loss to Dublin Scioto in the Division I, Region 3 final.


He was a finalist for Mr. Football.
“We had an awesome group at Coffman my senior year,” Rafferty said. ”(Running back) Kyle Ruhl got banged up and (wide receiver) Pat LaMonica broke his hand. I had already run the ball a decent amount and then almost by necessity I ran the ball a lot after that. If you can’t run the ball in Ohio, you can’t win.”
Rafferty spent two years as a backup quarterback at Western Kentucky and attended the University of Kentucky for a short time as a student before landing at Otterbein.
He was Otterbein’s quarterback in 2007 and 2008 and in his final season was a semifinalist for the Gagliardi Trophy, which is the equivalent of the Heisman Trophy in NCAA Division III. Rafferty threw for 1,990 yards and 22 touchdowns that season.
Rafferty, who is married to former Ready soccer player Kate Rowlands and has one child and one on the way, works in information technology sales.
“I’ve never seen a high school football player do the things Jack could do,” Crabtree said. “His ability was just unmatched. Without him we were very average and with him we were a very good team.”
*GREATEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER -- Andy Katzenmoyer (Westerville South, 1992-95).


During a prep career in which he helped South reach the 1994 Division I state championship game, the 6-foot-4, 245-pound linebacker, who could run the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds, learned from one of his earliest disappointments.
“My sophomore year I played defensive tackle, so (1994) was my first year playing linebacker and everything came together for us,” Katzenmoyer said. “We lost to Dublin, which had Nick Goings and Rolland Steele, (27-22) during the regular season and that was the only game I didn’t do my assignments. After that we came back and beat them (16-7 in a regional final) and got to the state championship game.”
South lost to Cleveland St. Ignatius 20-3 in the state final, but Katzenmoyer already was on his way to establishing himself as the greatest defensive player of the ThisWeek era.
As a senior, he recorded 126 tackles, including 53 solos and eight sacks with six forced fumbles.
Also used at times at fullback, Katzenmoyer is one of just three players from central Ohio to be named Mr. Football. He also was named the ThisWeek Super 25 co-captain in 1995 with Goings.
Katzenmoyer went on to a career at Ohio State that included winning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors and being named a second-team All-American in 1996 and the Butkus Award winner as a sophomore in 1997. As a junior he was a finalist for the Butkus, Lombardi and Maxwell Football Club’s Defensive Player of the Year awards.
Katzenmoyer started all 37 games of his college career and was ranked fifth on Ohio State’s all-time list in solo tackles (197) and sacks (18) when he left for the NFL after his junior year.


Katzenmoyer, who played two seasons with the New England Patriots before a neck injury ended his career, is in his second year as strength and conditioning coach at his high school alma mater. He also owns Katzenmoyer Performance, a gym in Westerville that specializes in reaching fitness goals.
Katzenmoyer previously served as defensive coordinator for three seasons at South.
“He was faster than most running backs,” South coach Rocky Pentello said. “You weren’t going to run away from him. Eventually he was going to run you over, and that’s why we put him right in the middle of our defense.”
*GREATEST COACH -- Brian White (Dublin Scioto, 1997; Groveport, 1998; Hilliard Davidson, 1999-present).
During his 14 seasons as Davidson’s coach, White never has made it a habit to talk about the end result of a season.
What’s in between, he says, will pay off in the long run.
“We talk about reaching our potential,” White said. “Certainly being a state champion is not something we talk about.”


The Wildcats have accomplished that feat -- and much more -- during White’s tenure, making him the all-time greatest coach of the ThisWeek era.
White didn’t break through with a playoff appearance until his fourth season as a head coach, but his knowledge base had been growing well before that.
White joined DeSales’ coaching staff in 1990, and that season the Stallions were Division II state runners-up. He stayed on staff through the 1996 season, serving as defensive coordinator his last three years. In White’s final season with the Stallions, they were Division III state runners-up.
White’s first head coaching job came in 1997 when he led Scioto to a 7-3 finish to just miss the playoffs, but he was a staff reduction casualty following the failure of a school levy. He spent the next year at Groveport, where his Cruisers went 3-7, before landing the coaching job at Davidson in 1999.
After the Wildcats went 3-7 in his first season, they improved to 7-4 in 2000 and to 12-1 with a regional runner-up finish in 2001.
Davidson was a regional runner-up in 2004 and a state semifinalist in 2005.
Then in 2006, the Wildcats beat Mentor 36-35 in two overtimes to capture the Division I state title. Davidson went for two on the game’s final play, with Bo Delande scoring on a pitch sweep for the winning points.


Davidson beat Cleveland Glenville 16-15 to win the 2009 state title, again using a two-point conversion to win the game. Quarterback Jake Trubiano lined up at running back and ran in a pitch from Jimmy Curtis for the winning points with 1 minute, 4 seconds left.
Davidson, which was a state semifinalist in 2010 and a regional runner-up each of the last two seasons, has gone 138-36 overall under White and 27-9 in the playoffs, with 11 postseason appearances.
“He doesn’t have an empty cupboard (at Davidson), but with the players he’s had I think he’s done a great job,” said former DeSales and Hamilton Township coach Bob Jacoby, who was named the second-greatest coach of the ThisWeek era.
 
Harrycrane said:
With Rafferty { 2003} they beat Marion Harding in round one by about 10 points I believe, then beat Davidson by about 20 and then lost the regional final to District rival Scioto who was D-1 then and that was the year before Jerome opened .a game where Rafferty got hurt third quarter and that kind of ended things for the Rocks chances . Competitive game that Scioto won in the second half. Rafferty was a do EVERYTHING QB, as the Rocks lost two running backs to injury early on and he kind of took care of the running game and passing game that year . The best most dominant performance in a year by any Rocks QB . Others did as well or better just passing but his combination was the best.
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refferty was a great player. Everyone knew when he was at Bexley he’d be great. Then at st Charles he was great. Then he followed Crabtree to Dublin he was great.

I was at that game vs scioto. Coffman was much better at every position. Shocking to see them lose.
 
I agree that Coffman was better than them and would have given Elder a better game the next week { If Rafferty was playing } Scioto lost 31-7 . Rafferty going down hurt them as they lost by 10 . Scioto played well though , maybe a bit over their heads . I wasn't here in Katzenmoyer's day but it was interesting that his WS team lost to " Dublin High" in their last year as a ONE HS district with Goings and Steele as Juniors in 1994 .They both went to Scioto in 95 when it opened and they won a state D-2 title in the school's first year of existence .
 
As an akron native I cringe when I hear the name Nick goings. Kid was a beast. Thing is Buchtel kept him in check- it was the punter and special teams that killed Buchtel in the title game
 
Did occ coach(es) have conversations fact finding about the job? Yes

but interviewing for this positionis getting in front of the committees live and in person. Not a screen. That is an interview. That’s the process. That is coming up this week. I have the times if you’d like them? You can stalk the parking lot to confirm who is and isn’t interviewing

sorry for confusion. I wanted to clarify.
 
I think some out here have heard some things about the coaching search , but not enough to may be go public with it . That's OK we will know in due time . Probably fairly soon . Crager will be given every consideration and deserves it. Not sure what AHM idea of a bad resume or where his opinion of Crager being basically just a 'nice man" { in other words not a good coach} comes from because he didn't elaborate . { His two years at West Jeff a different lifetime ago shouldn't be given a heavy weight when considering him IMO , although it isn't nothing}

Anyway , Rocks winter season is coming to a close and it's been pretty successful . Wrestlers are top dog in CO and came in third in the state D-1 duals , their best finish yet. Super coach Chance Van Gundy has built this program slowly into a powerhouse as he has developed homegrown kids and some top end kids who started at Coffman as Freshman from other areas and a couple who came in later{ Gartrell as a Junior from Davidson and Broskie as a Soph from Orange} . Wrestling is a mentor type sport where the relationship with the coach and trainers is HUGE . Coffman wrestling hit it big when it hired him , and he has a great staff as well . Rocks will do well at the state meet and have many guys qualify with a chance to have a few place in the top 3 [Shumate at 195 won as a Frosh and is a heavy fav this year } .


Girls basketball has a very interesting game tomorrow. vs. Reynoldsburg Losing their best all around player to Reynoldsburg who has joined forces to become a powerful force in girls hoops. As it was the Raiders were a regional level team last year and has had some good clubs and talent recently . Jr. Imarianah Russel who had been part of the Dublin Sells group that basically never lost back then spent her first two years at Coffman being a main contributor from day one playing with Ohio State starting guard Jacy Sheldon and being a leader last year decided to head over to R-Burg for her last two years .

Rocks had a great season and got to regional stage after losing three times in a row in the district finals. Final 8 in 2017 . A long successful program . Rocks caught a break when Gahanna was upset by Ye Olde TW early on adn that would have been a tougher district final perhaps{ Rocks did beat them earlier in the year, Marysville played a gritty game vs the Rocks and pushed them hard} The power is on the east side though. Burg got a kid back from Whitehall who was at Burg as a Frosh Alexia Mobely who is a top 5 player in the state in the Junior class. { Kids get to move back and forth I guess in certain situations and Russells brother Hammond played at Coffman this past year ? Hmm}, anyway the team is loaded . They got a third lower profile transfer from Liberty in Jr. Trinity Ramos .

They returned 4 players from a regional level team last year as it was { lost to PC by 6 in the semi} and add two of the top 5 Junior players in Ohio ? And anohter good player for depth ? Next year they will be nationally ranked from day one with a GREAT Senior class . Coffman is seeded 2nd in the region and Burg 3rd, but Burg is the clear favorite here . What would Coffman be with Russell and the really nice team they have this year? Probably still playing Burg in this spot as they would still be a top 4 team in the region, and it would be a battle that may be Coffman wins. But with Russell and Mobely joining an already very solid regional level team?

Not sure why Russell { or Dad} felt the need to transfer but there are a few reasons aside from the obvious 'Joining forces with players from AAU or similar , but may be the fit ? She had been in Dublin for a while and played with and knew the Dublin kids for a long while , but may be going over there seemed a better fit in a few ways which I feel is unfortunate . Whatever happened or whatever brought the girls to Burg ? They are a juggernaut . Newark handled them easily the first go round before the 'new mix" of players had bonded yet and developed any chemistry . The second game was much closer . Newark is the favorite no doubt, but the margin is slim . Burg is more familiar with each other now and it is hard to beat a very good team THREE times in a year. Rocks have some very talented young kids and some glue type girls who are older . They do the little tings, move the ball well are sound in most areas . They are the two seed in the region for a reason . They are really good . How much better if Russell hadn't left? Where would Burg be without her? Burg should waltz to the final four next year . This year it will be tougher. Coffman will give max effort and play smart . They have talent . But beating Burg seems a tall order here . Good luck Rocks . Boys play on Wednesday I believe also vs Burg in the round of 16 in CO . They are seeded 9th Burg 10th. More thoughts tomorrow .
 
AHM said:
Did occ coach(es) have conversations fact finding about the job? Yes

but interviewing for this positionis getting in front of the committees live and in person. Not a screen. That is an interview. That’s the process. That is coming up this week. I have the times if you’d like them? You can stalk the parking lot to confirm who is and isn’t interviewing

sorry for confusion. I wanted to clarify.
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So you are telling us that no one has had an actual interview yet for this job? in person or virtual because of covid issues?
 
The West Jeff coaches oldest son will be a Senior this year, he’s a 3 year starting QB whose thrown for over 6,600 yards. He also has a son in jr high. I doubt if he would leave WJ before this season.

The London coach is the brother of the current Ready & former UA coach. They graduated from Jonathan Alder. He has done a good job at London

I don’t know anything about the Bloom Carol coach but they had a very successful season last year. I would think Lancaster would have been inquired with him about their opening this year.

I have no idea what the pay differences would be from one school district to another. Often the head coach at smaller schools is also the AD or vice principal so they are getting more than just a teaching & coach salary. Also, Dublin lost quite a bit last year. They do not appear to be nearly as talented this coming year as the last couple of seasons and the classes coming up did not dominate. Sure Dublin Coffman will get a few move in’s/transfers but will it be enough for a new coach to survive a down year or two?
 
WJ-OSU-STEELERS said:
The West Jeff coaches oldest son will be a Senior this year, he’s a 3 year starting QB whose thrown for over 6,600 yards. He also has a son in jr high. I doubt if he would leave WJ before this season.

The London coach is the brother of the current Ready & former UA coach. They graduated from Jonathan Alder. He has done a good job at London

I don’t know anything about the Bloom Carol coach but they had a very successful season last year. I would think Lancaster would have been inquired with him about their opening this year.

I have no idea what the pay differences would be from one school district to another. Often the head coach at smaller schools is also the AD or vice principal so they are getting more than just a teaching & coach salary. Also, Dublin lost quite a bit last year. They do not appear to be nearly as talented this coming year as the last couple of seasons and the classes coming up did not dominate. Sure Dublin Coffman will get a few move in’s/transfers but will it be enough for a new coach to survive a down year or two?
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New coach 'should " be given 3-4 years to build { or rebuild} because for the first time in a while they won't have the same baseline of talent they have had . These things can be cyclical as we have seen in most successful programs in many states. This has been a 20 year run of consistently good to very good with a couple of what I would call 'great " teams . An ebbing is almost always in the cards at any public program . Cutler saw this first hand unfortunately at an extremely successful program { West Jefferson} . The league the Rocks are in is tougher top to bottom than the old Central as well . We saw what happened to Davidson this past year with the new { program coach who came back after going to the rival UA in a weird year long sequence} coach and a dip in talent .

League wins are going to be tough to come by the next few years. Liberty doesn't always have elite talent by any means , BUT they have NUMBERS , Orange has a good base of talent and some numbers, UA is rising a bit , Bradley is going to be solid again and even got Dublin's best MS kid who moved there and got some PT as a Frosh and isn't a QB LOL} , Davidson and Coffman who 10-15 years ago would be the top dogs most years will now be fighting for a couple wins in the conference in the near future. Coffman doesn't get impact transfers every year by any means , and some years it's NONE and this year might be none , although if you were thinking about it in terms or getting a chance to start this would be the year. Again as I always say, it is NEVER great idea to transfer just for a sport, without considering what a school or community has to offer.

Rocks got their first ever Columbus city league player in Bryon Threats who came after his Frosh year from Mifflin. We know his back story . He benefitted football wise no doubt BUT he benefitted more academically and in intangible ways and has become one of the better players and people in the program's history. A leader and a positive example to the kids still in the building .
No run of consistent success lasts indefinitely . It just doesn't . My own HS programs had 10- 20 year runs in various sports until dips , then revivals after a period of rebuilding . Fames HS programs , like CB West and legendary coach Mike Pettine { GB defensive coordinator { fired } and former Browns HC Mike Pettine's dad} it was a 30 year run , Berwick PA under George Curry was about 25 -30 years Odessa Permian 30 years and have been back to the quarterfinals ONCE since 1995's finals appearance. That was 1998 when they had NFL receiver Roy Williams . Davidson and Brian White had a close to 20 year run and won two state titles. Moeller has endured a few lesser periods , { may be trending up again but is still rebuilding } Coffman has been at the next tier down from championship level but for 20 years has been as consistent as you pretty much can be . They have developed kids over the 4 years to a higher level than they came in.

There has been a few classes or two near the same time period that didn't win much at all at the lower levels and did better than that as a Senior group { much better} . This should continue whoever the new coach is . The tradition is there , the support and resources are there , the kids will do the extra work and get better . Will want to get better . Talent always ebbs and flows a bit. Coffman will always have some athletes but no public program goes on year in and year out with top talent. Davidson had numbers { Pre Bradley opening } and a system with total buy in . Talent wasn't the main crucible . Odessa Permian was undersized many years they won at the highest levels by utilizing the talent they did have to the largest degree possible. . Good and great programs roll with rebuilding better than average programs . Tradition, trust and belief is worth a couple wins in many years,. The next coach needs to be the type of coach who can elevate players to do better than they think they are capable of in the rebuild with a vision for future excellence by having a sustainable model of success , and when this vision and plan is stuck with and sustained and believed in , bought in to along with an upsurge in talent? Some really good things will happen .

Coffman community and Dublin in general will ALWAYS be an attractive place for families whether the sports teams are special or not, the community is special and the kids in general do well in school and are prepared to do well at the next level academically . Some also want to be prepared for the next level or just achieve good things at the HS level athletically . Who is hired to be the top guy in football going forward will go a long way towards determining the future of the program and how effectively the rebuild of the program will be. Choose wisely .
 
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Down The Road said:
If they hire anyone but him this committee isn't qualified to...........
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he’s got the best resume.

Questions remain: the principal players and parents love Crager

The candidate with the best resume could get cold feet and turn it down.
 
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Pretty obvious to some who the 'Guy" being referred to as having the the best resume is here 'May be" . An interesting tidbit , ONE guy who has a really nice resume at a small school { BELOW D-4 is my def of a 'smaller school "} has a former DC player and coach in the building . London's Cutler I believe coached at Coffman in a previous life . The guy I have in mind and think would be really good n the LONG run IF NOT Crager is at that ripe age { 40 AND UNDER } but with HC experience and nothing but success. Has had some tough losses and competed well against the iron of the division in play-off situations and has won a awful lot of ballgames with ONLY ONE losing season { THE FIRST ?} after taking over a rebuild situation. Playoffs and success in the play-offs in year two .

Of course the Juniors and Seniors especially don't want to start over with a new coach . Learning a new system , trying to impress someone who hasn't worked with them before, parents feel the same way as the new coach may not like their kid the same as the established coaching staff . Principal has a relationship and respects Crager very much. So do most everyone who knows and has worked with him . AHM is right , really good candidates sometimes interview really well are under serious consideration and they know they have a very good shot and then bow out after re-thinking { Cold feet} .

I think some of us have felt that dynamic in our jobs , and as someone who has moved a handful of times over the years , sometimes you do just decline an offer or get cold feet about 'Moving " somewhere else to take another job.

Should be an interesting week but this needs to happen shortly because we are 5 months away from the start of camp .
 
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Yes he has a very impressive resume, and i'm hearing he could be the guy. The two local OC's had good interviews and will be head coaches some day, but it looks like a two coach race for the head job.
 
This type of hire involves some interesting dynamics to be sure . You look at the popular move of hiring your best Assistant. The DC and strength program coordinator. Popular with the kids parents and most of the administration. Did get a HC job many years ago and it went poorly . 3-17? LOOOOOONG time ago, but part of the permanent record no question. Old hand , part of the old regime. Defense had some impressive seasons no question. Got a lot out of some average players BUT had some top end talent at times as well and they were mostly solid to very good some years . Against top talent and teams sometimes gave up big plays. Was it just being overmatched or a bit of a scheme issue? Not using the available talent well enough ?{ Some years NO ONE played both ways for even a snap or situationally and as a result some kids in key situations were asked to do things they just weren't going to be able to do for 48 minutes .

Coffman fans know what I'm talking about here . But the player development , the attention to detail and the performance on the whole { bend but don't break philosophy at times } worked. But giving up big plays has been a thorn in the side at times. Liberty scoring multiple TD's off of more scripted plays early the last couple meetings , some of the plays being executed with wide open players and or with wide open spaces in which to operate.

One of the guys I like runs or favors more of a 50 defense , and really tries to cultivate the Offensive line culture within the overall culture. Sometimes a coach reaches a point where he has done pretty much everything he can do within a program and his own personal growth. He wants a challenge , a bigger challenge at a high level of competition . You make a decision. You either want to be a more lifetime legendary coach where your roots are ? Or after doing what you could , branch out and take on another challenge ? Stretch yourself a bit. Change of atmosphere and surroundings can really give you a jolt of energy. Forces you to focus even more and use all of your creative juices. Step out of the comfort zone .

Fear of the unknown and fear of failure is real. The best of the best in most fields feel that fear and doubt and take the next step into the unknown anyway. They know the beginning will be bumpy and unfamiliar but whatever happens, win or lose, succeed of fail, there will be no regrets because they gave it a shot and they will learn and grow from the experience. The plight of the 30 something early 40's coach and just employee overall. Make a move ? Take a chance ? Or stay and try to make the best of that situation and make it better? Sometimes you've done all you can as I said, grown as much as you could at a certain place and it's just time to make that move.

Another aspect of this is looking at where and athletic director may be in his career trajectory. Is he a long term guy? Are his kids close to being out of the school system? Is he looking to make a move himself in the near future? So is he going to choose to hire the guy that the kids parents and some of the administration really likes and wants? Or is he in it for the long haul and is willing to take a chance and make a tougher choice and be there with the new coach as he gets acclimated? If I was an AD and knew I might be moving on in a couple years if not sooner ? I vote for the long time assistant and appease the parents and administration who supported me . ?? If I am thinking at least a decade more ? May be I try to set the program up for long term success and don't want to miss a chance to get the right guy for the long haul and possibly miss out on a special coach.


All great coaches who have long term sustained success , start somewhere . They learn they move up . They get a program rolling and then either look to a greater challenge or coach at a higher level or they decide to stay where they are . When hiring , the hire from within or go outside for your talent dynamic is real . Happens all the time in all businesses . Who gets hired isn't just about the candidates themselves and how they may separate from the others or what separates them , but it can be the mind set and the circumstances of the people who are HIRING the candidate .

Tough decision to be sure , and it just may come down to as it frequently does , just what the mindset of the decision makers is . Where they are in their positions? Timing is almost never perfect in life. If offered ? Does the coach say " These jobs don't open up that often " and I should go for it ? Or Why would I leave a good situation where I am comfortable? Decision makers may ask ? Do we go for what we think is a potentially special coach who could be here for many years ? Make the tougher choice now? Or make the more comfortable short term choice where we pretty much know what we have? Good luck to all involved.
 
Hiring a coach who is from a small school seems risky for a place like Coffman. Especially with no experience at the D1 level. Not living or knowing the community. Doesn't mean it wouldn't or couldn't work out. Hard to compare coaching at London, Minster, Coldwater to Top Tier D1 program... different worlds. And its not the aspect of coaching football. It is all the things outside of football: parents, coaches, booster clubs, community, etc.

A place like Coffman which is a top 2 job in Central Ohio (Pick Central, 1)... they shouldn't have to hire a coach who has been running a D6 program.
I would think having someone like Crager who has been heavily involved in the program for 15 years seems to be an easy transition. Unless the admin think the culture of the program needs to change.... and want to shake things. If they do think they want to make a change... I would be making some calls to get the guy we want for the next 10-15 years.
 
I personally have no idea who has/is interviewing, but you never know where these small school coaches have had previous experience.

Example: New Bremen HC Chris Schmidt - Bellefontaine (HC), Delaware Hayes (Asst), Olentangy Orange (Asst). He has coached at three different school "sizes." He took a school with 24 straight losses to a state championship... Just because a coach is currently running a D6-D7 program doesn't mean they have never coached D1 or would not know/ be capable to handle the "different world -parents, coaches, booster clubs, community, etc."
 
The coach that left Jerome was an oc at a MAC school. He did his best for a while to get back to that size school. Choose carefully, or u could be doing this again in 3-5 years
 
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