Head Coach Opening/ Cecchini Departing

[VULB#62]

If that is true..........   Not knowing some of the other candidates (especially mystery guy 5) I still think that he might be the best choice and he's certainly well qualified.  Coach Snyder and Coach Moore were good candidates but lacked the pedigree Raeburn would bring to the program.  Coach Snyder left at the end of the season, so I assume he will not return in an asistant's role.  Coach Moore, is a good guy and liked by his players.  He might not continue in the DC role under a new coach, but he might stick around.  If he's the guy, I wish I knew more about Raeburn's offensive system and defensive philosophy. 

[IndyValpo]

If that is true..........   Not knowing some of the other candidates (especially mystery guy 5) I still think that he might be the best choice and he's certainly well qualified.  Coach Snyder and Coach Moore were good candidates but lacked the pedigree Raeburn would bring to the program.  Coach Snyder left at the end of the season, so I assume he will not return in an asistant's role.  Coach Moore, is a good guy and liked by his players.  He might not continue in the DC role under a new coach, but he might stick around.  If he's the guy, I wish I knew more about Raeburn's offensive system and defensive philosophy. 

The interim HC at Savannah was their DC so there may be an opening for Moore here.

[JD24]

If that is true..........   Not knowing some of the other candidates (especially mystery guy 5) I still think that he might be the best choice and he's certainly well qualified.  Coach Snyder and Coach Moore were good candidates but lacked the pedigree Raeburn would bring to the program.  Coach Snyder left at the end of the season, so I assume he will not return in an asistant's role.  Coach Moore, is a good guy and liked by his players.  He might not continue in the DC role under a new coach, but he might stick around.  If he's the guy, I wish I knew more about Raeburn's offensive system and defensive philosophy.

Raeburn's offense appears to be a read option offense. His QBs appear to carry the ball a significant amount in addition to being pretty good throwing the ball as well. I only looked at his last 3-4 years at Wabash which covered a few QBs so he may be flexible in gearing his offense to the personnel but it appears this is what he'd like to recruit to. I checked him out a few days ago when his name first came to mind. I'll look a bit more into it over the next few days and see if I can detect any trends. With current personnel, Seewald would be less of a factor. Duncan would have been more of a factor and Markoff should have stuck around. However we'll see.

[JD24]

If that is true..........   Not knowing some of the other candidates (especially mystery guy 5) I still think that he might be the best choice and he's certainly well qualified.  Coach Snyder and Coach Moore were good candidates but lacked the pedigree Raeburn would bring to the program.  Coach Snyder left at the end of the season, so I assume he will not return in an asistant's role.  Coach Moore, is a good guy and liked by his players.  He might not continue in the DC role under a new coach, but he might stick around.  If he's the guy, I wish I knew more about Raeburn's offensive system and defensive philosophy.

The interim HC at Savannah was their DC so there may be an opening for Moore here.

Hate to be negative but that's not necessarily a good thing. I've thought a change was needed there for a while.

[VULB#62]

If Raeburn believes in a certain defensive scheme/philosophy it will be up to his DC to install it and run it. And after so many successful seasons using the stuff he likes, I'm sure he knows exactly what his defense will be. If Raeburn is the guy and he interviews Ernest to see if he can do what he, ER, wants, and Ernest can go with it, I think he stays.  OTOH,  If ER wants a specific DC, then it will probably be Ernest's decision to stay in a position role or leave. There is something to be said for some carryover from staff to staff.

On another tack, it seems odd that Dave did not take Ernest with him and hired Manalac, who worked under Moore, as his new DC.  If Dave was not happy with the defense here at Valpo, he should have made a leadership change. But he didn't. 

[vu72]

I read that Raeburn's salary at SSU was $125,000.

[VULB#62]

That is correct, 72, according to newspaper accounts I also read.  That's what they hired him in with.  Don't know with annual increments and possibly some incentives, what it was when they fired him.  But I have to believe that is in teh Valpo balllpark, no?

[vu72]

That is correct, 72, according to newspaper accounts I also read.  That's what they hired him in with.  Don't know with annual increments and possibly some incentives, what it was when they fired him.  But I have to believe that is in teh Valpo balllpark, no?

I would think so.  Obviously the basketball coach makes a lot more but the head guy in football should be around that number at least to start.

[NWIGuy]

Take it for what it's worth, but... a friend of a friend says he heard that there is an HC candidate on campus today at Valpo. Did not have a name for me...

[valpofb16]

Year   Team          W   L   PPG   PAPG   NET
2018   Savannah St.   2   8   13.4   29.3   -15.9
2017   Savannah St.   3   8   19.5   31.6   -12.1
2016   Savannah St.   3   7   14.3   30.8   -16.5
2015   Wabash          12   1   38.9   11.9   27
2014   Wabash          10   2   38.3   14   24.3
2013   Wabash           9   1   46.6   11.3   35.3
2012   Wabash           8   2   29.7   13.1   16.6
2011   Wabash          12   1   31.9   12.9   19
2010   Wabash           8   2   33.8   14.3   19.5
2009   Wabash           9   2   38.8   14.7   24.1
2008   Wabash          10   2   39.4   18.3   21.1
2007   Coe College   7   3   22.5   14.9   7.6
2006   Coe College   7   3   28.1   16.1   12
2005   Coe College   9   2   30.1   15.2   14.9
2004   Coe College   7   3   24.4   19.3   5.1
2003   Coe College   5   5   29.2   24.4   4.8
2002   Coe College   10   2   30.7   14.4   16.3
2001   Coe College   6   4   21.3   16.2   5.1
2000   Coe College   6   4   27.8   19.6   8.2

[valpofb16]

#1 SR. K Dimitrios Latsonis is transferring according to his twitter

[JD24]

So we're going for it on 4th down and for 2 points every time now without a punter and a kicker.

[IndyValpo]

#1 SR. K Dimitrios Latsonis is transferring according to his twitter

The first job of the new hire should be to contact the punter and kicker and rerecruit them. Both are currently without a new home.

[VULB#62]

#1 SR. K Dimitrios Latsonis is transferring according to his twitter

The first job of the new hire should be to contact the punter and kicker and rerecruit them. Both are currently without a new home.

Will Latsonis graduate this spring?  If so, he can do the grad transfer thing and I'll bet there are scholarship schools that wpoul;d scoff him up in teh blink of an eye.

[JD24]

#1 SR. K Dimitrios Latsonis is transferring according to his twitter

The first job of the new hire should be to contact the punter and kicker and rerecruit them. Both are currently without a new home.

With both players having clear sailing to the fulltime job, it would appear that they just don't want to be on the Valpo football team or at the school or both...for whatever reason.

I just find it amazing that every school within a 100 miles can't be sent an email to find a kicker and punter who has the wherewithall to attend Valpo and have it be successful in finding a couple of players. There have been years when punter and kicker both go 3 deep in the not too distant past.

[valpofb16]

Agreed Carlson felt the need to have 5-6 specialist on team while Cecchini has trimmed that number to 2-3, It really comes down to not recruiting any for last class as I am sure they felt they were set for the near future.

[JD24]

Agreed Carlson felt the need to have 5-6 specialist on team while Cecchini has trimmed that number to 2-3, It really comes down to not recruiting any for last class as I am sure they felt they were set for the near future.

Being "set" should never have occurred to them. There was a game a few years ago, IIRC, in which Catrine ended up punting.

As an aside, Valpo's now 2 1/2 weeks without a HC, the interim HC on twitter begging for recruits and the program getting commitments from 6'4" 190lb "linebacker"s.
The good news? Assuming a coach is hired next week, he'll have just enough time to shake the hands of the players as they leave campus for 2 weeks for spring recess. Upon their return they'll be a week or so for the new coach to prepare the team for spring ball and ultimately the spring game.

[IndyValpo]

Agreed Carlson felt the need to have 5-6 specialist on team while Cecchini has trimmed that number to 2-3, It really comes down to not recruiting any for last class as I am sure they felt they were set for the near future.

Being "set" should never have occurred to them. There was a game a few years ago, IIRC, in which Catrine ended up punting.

As an aside, Valpo's now 2 1/2 weeks without a HC, the interim HC on twitter begging for recruits and the program getting commitments from 6'4" 190lb "linebacker"s.
The good news? Assuming a coach is hired next week, he'll have just enough time to shake the hands of the players as they leave campus for 2 weeks for spring recess. Upon their return they'll be a week or so for the new coach to prepare the team for spring ball and ultimately the spring game.

Moore's post on Twitter is no different from last years recruiting coordinator posts. In fact he recently put a similar post about Bucknell.

[VULB#62]

Yeah, that's standard recruiting operating procedure along with posting stuff about graduation rates, job placement ratios and how great the engineering department is, etc.  So at least the recruiting to-do list is being follwed while we are in the HC vacuum. But JD24 does point to the awkward timing cycle we are in due to the vacancy not being filled yet.  I wouldn't be surprised to hear that spring ball is pushed as far into spring as possble to allow for the transition to the new coach and his staff. Checking Bucknell twitter, DC is still completing his staff. Our new guy, whoever he may be, has to work fast.

[vu72]

Yeah, that's standard recruiting operating procedure along with posting stuff about graduation rates, job placement ratios and how great the engineering department is, etc.  So at least the recruiting to-do list is being follwed while we are in the HC vacuum. But JD24 does point to the awkward timing cycle we are in due to the vacancy not being filled yet.  I wouldn't be surprised to hear that spring ball is pushed as far into spring as possble to allow for the transition to the new coach and his staff. Checking Bucknell twitter, DC is still completing his staff. Our new guy, whoever he may be, has to work fast.

[/b

But, as with DC, the new guy will in all likelihood, bring a bunch of coaches with him, right?

[VULB#62]

Betcha some of his SSU guys who are no longer listed on teh SSU site are primed and ready to come over (oops! I divulged my preference  )  Thinking the new guy will just have sort out the guys DC left behind and see how it all comes together.  So much to do this spring  We are starting from scratch!

[IndyValpo]

Yeah, that's standard recruiting operating procedure along with posting stuff about graduation rates, job placement ratios and how great the engineering department is, etc.  So at least the recruiting to-do list is being follwed while we are in the HC vacuum. But JD24 does point to the awkward timing cycle we are in due to the vacancy not being filled yet.  I wouldn't be surprised to hear that spring ball is pushed as far into spring as possble to allow for the transition to the new coach and his staff. Checking Bucknell twitter, DC is still completing his staff. Our new guy, whoever he may be, has to work fast.

[/b

But, as with DC, the new guy will in all likelihood, bring a bunch of coaches with him, right?

Rarburn's top assistant (OC/OL) is the new HC at St Thomas Fla who is starting football. Between who he make plus the SSU holdovers there may be none left.

[JD24]

Agreed Carlson felt the need to have 5-6 specialist on team while Cecchini has trimmed that number to 2-3, It really comes down to not recruiting any for last class as I am sure they felt they were set for the near future.

Being "set" should never have occurred to them. There was a game a few years ago, IIRC, in which Catrine ended up punting. As an aside, Valpo's now 2 1/2 weeks without a HC, the interim HC on twitter begging for recruits and the program getting commitments from 6'4" 190lb "linebacker"s. The good news? Assuming a coach is hired next week, he'll have just enough time to shake the hands of the players as they leave campus for 2 weeks for spring recess. Upon their return they'll be a week or so for the new coach to prepare the team for spring ball and ultimately the spring game.

Moore's post on Twitter is no different from last years recruiting coordinator posts. In fact he recently put a similar post about Bucknell.

I'm aware of that. That wasn't the main focus of the post....or shouldn't have been.

At this point, it's probably best to hire the HC and have him focus on his offensive assistants initially and maybe go through spring ball with the current leftovers from the defensive staff and make any changes during the offseason. My concern is that the first choice was not able to agree and we're moving down the list. There should have been enough time to interview 1 and interview 2 candidates and hire from the moment Cecchini left assuming Valpo was really prepared for the situation which Valpo should have been.

[VULB#62]

For grins and something to do on a Saturday afternoon, if that is the case (couldn't come to agreement), I wonder what the deal breaker(s) would be.

+. Salary?  - proabbly not, cuz I think DC was in the 6 figures range and, as we mentioned earlier, if it was Raeburn, we know what he made at SSU and the thought was that it was in the ballpark.
+. Number of years?   - should be a minimum of 4, no?
+. Buy-out clause? - too onerous, after losing DC so abruptly?
+. Family moving costs? - don't know if that is part of the bargaining process in collegiate athletics.
+. Number of and salaries of assistants?  - could be an issue if the staff size was a hang up point and the guy knew he couldn't get who he wanted at the salaries offered.
+. Recruiting budget?  -  that's an unknown
+. Facilities improvement promises?  -  although new turf is going in before the 2019 season, perhaps upgrading of offices or replacementof the grandstand/pressbox to make the venue look more like a college stadium than a mid-sized HS facility.

Anything else that coiuld be a show stopper?

[JD24]

We'll also never know who the first choice was leaving all of those questions unanswered whether the first choice is hired or not.