Angelos talks about next coach/Leach and Shannon
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Wise Owl
Member since 2003
Florida Atlantic University plans to reach out to at least two familiar names in its search for Howard’s Schnellenberger’s successor: Randy Shannon and Mike Leach.
"Randy is a man of integrity, a first-class guy and first-class coach,” said FAU athletic director Craig Angelos, who worked at UM when Shannon was an assistant there. “I want to see if he’s interested.”
Angelos also has a good relationship with Leach: “I would consider Mike,” he said.
Angelos, who has been focusing on Saturday’s opening of FAU’s new stadium (against Western Kentucky), also plans to speak to former USF coach Jim Leavitt (who is now the San Francisco 49ers' linebackers coach) and several others. “I will cast a wide net,” Angelos said, adding there’s no front-runner to succeed the retiring Schnellenberger but that he wants a successor in place by December.
A close associate said Shannon prefers a higher-profile job, ideally out west, and would love the Arizona gig, which is open after Mike Stoops’ firing Monday. Shannon has received a few defensive coordinator offers, but no head coaching offers, since UM fired him last November after going 28-22 in four years. Shannon might have to decide whether to bite if FAU ultimately offers him the job or gamble on his chances of landing a more attractive job eventually.
“A lot of times when you give people a second chance they are better than the first time,” Angelos said. “They’ve learned from mistakes. They’re hungrier. That was the case with our basketball coach Mike Jarvis, and he won the conference here after three years. Randy can be better the second time around.”
Leach went 84-43 at Texas Tech, including 11-2 and 8-4 his last two seasons before being fired after 2009 amid allegations of improper treatment of receiver Adam James. Leach denied the claims and said, “I was a victim of a national smear campaign by Craig James and ESPN.” After Shannon’s firing, UM didn’t approach Leach partly because of those issues, but FAU has no major concerns.
Leach, who has received no offers since his dismissal, said he would be receptive to listening to FAU. “I do plan to coach,” he said. “Craig is a great man and FAU is a great program. Anything negative that happens to Miami can only help FAU and FIU.”
Read more: Sports Buzz | The Miami Herald
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VIP DONOR
Member since 2007
Re: Angelos talks about next coach/Leach and Shannon
GO OWLS!
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Wise Owl
Member since 2004
Re: Angelos talks about next coach/Leach and Shannon
Posted
Administrator
Member since 2006
Re: Angelos talks about next coach/Leach and Shannon
If Leach gets any sort of reasonable offer that trumps FAU, which he very possibly could, he's not even going to be yesterday's fantasy.
Don't get me wrong, he gets my vote for the next head man for a number of reasons.
But the "stigma" attached to him right now is going to have to stay in place for that to happen, IMHO.
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Wise Owl
Member since 2005
Re: Angelos talks about next coach/Leach and Shannon
bighooter said
My vote is for Leach…. "Shannon prefers a higher-profile job" he can have it. With that statement it tells me he doesn't think FAU has potential. I want a coach who is looking to turn our program into a high profile program not one who just want to coach for a bit than leave. I know it was one of his associate that claimed thats what he wants, but something tells me its an accurate statement.
If I'm Angelos that says enough for me on shannon to cross him off the list. Pretty much says even if he did coach here he would bail at 1st big offer and would always be shopping other openings.
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Wise Owl
Member since 2008
Re: Angelos talks about next coach/Leach and Shannon
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Wise Owl
Member since 2007
Re: Angelos talks about next coach/Leach and Shannon
FAU - We got Bowls!
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Wise Owl
Member since 2006
Re: Angelos talks about next coach/Leach and Shannon
Angelos talks about next coach/Leach and Shannon
I know some people bash Angelos on this board and want him gone, but in reality we really don't give him enough credit. Maybe he doesn't want to be here, who knows. But he's not just sitting in his office reading message boards and laughing at all of us. "I want to have a coach in place by December", get us Leavitt or Leach and then work on Jarvis and I'd be plenty happy with the job he's done so far.
My two favorite teams are FAU, and who ever is beating FIU!
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Wise Owl
Member since 2005
Re: Angelos talks about next coach/Leach and Shannon
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VIP DONOR
Member since 2007
Re: Angelos talks about next coach/Leach and Shannon
"I would consider Mike" (Leach) is less than a ringing endorsement.
Meanwhile Leach is being named for EVERY open coaching position because of his past success. It's going to be an interesting off-season.
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