Nixon And Nunzio

[UpstateSM]

It is being discussed in the presser thread a bit but thought the general topic might be worthy of its own thread.

The name I have heard and read the most associated with the UMass opening today has been Nunzio. Now I'm not sure (god I hope not) that their current AD will be around to make the hire so anything being floated until he's canned might be totally irrelevant. But it is definitely a somewhat logical fit, at the very least.

Unless he is promised drastic changes to their inner workings and funding I am sure that he would take a P4 OC gig, whether here or elsewhere rather than going there. But his name is all over the place today.

I think that there are very good arguments to be made both ways concerning Nixon being here next season or making a jump. But if Nixon does leave would Nunzio get a look at being promoted to OC?

Kind of a bunch of jumbled thoughts but I guess I'm curious to see what everyone and if anyone has heard Nunzio's name being floated today.

 

[kcsu]

It is being discussed in the presser thread a bit but thought the general topic might be worthy of its own thread.

The name I have heard and read the most associated with the UMass opening today has been Nunzio. Now I'm not sure (god I hope not) that their current AD will be around to make the hire so anything being floated until he's canned might be totally irrelevant. But it is definitely a somewhat logical fit, at the very least.

Unless he is promised drastic changes to their inner workings and funding I am sure that he would take a P4 OC gig, whether here or elsewhere rather than going there. But his name is all over the place today.

I think that there are very good arguments to be made both ways concerning Nixon being here next season or making a jump. But if Nixon does leave would Nunzio get a look at being promoted to OC?

Kind of a bunch of jumbled thoughts but I guess I'm curious to see what everyone and if anyone has heard Nunzio's name being floated today.

We've got some good coaches who are going to get looks

 

[two3zone]

We've got some good coaches who are going to get looks

And I'm guessing a bunch hungry ones waiting to join our staff.

 

[tep624]

It is being discussed in the presser thread a bit but thought the general topic might be worthy of its own thread.

The name I have heard and read the most associated with the UMass opening today has been Nunzio. Now I'm not sure (god I hope not) that their current AD will be around to make the hire so anything being floated until he's canned might be totally irrelevant. But it is definitely a somewhat logical fit, at the very least.

Unless he is promised drastic changes to their inner workings and funding I am sure that he would take a P4 OC gig, whether here or elsewhere rather than going there. But his name is all over the place today.

I think that there are very good arguments to be made both ways concerning Nixon being here next season or making a jump. But if Nixon does leave would Nunzio get a look at being promoted to OC?

Kind of a bunch of jumbled thoughts but I guess I'm curious to see what everyone and if anyone has heard Nunzio's name being floated today.

UMASS and Temple. I mean I get getting your first HC gig but man are those tough spots to be successful at.

 

[elimunelson]

UMASS and Temple. I mean I get getting your first HC gig but man are those tough spots to be successful at.

You are underestimating the power of the wife and the 2-3x pay increase, golf membership, courtesy car etc you get as hc

Being an assistant is low rent vs being top dude. I mean being OC at Clemson is top tier but these guys should try and become HC no matter where

If they run programs that are improving they’ll get better jobs. Marrone never won more than 8 and he was identified as a talent

 

[IthacaBarrel]

You are underestimating the power of the wife and the 2-3x pay increase, golf membership, courtesy car etc you get as hc

Being an assistant is low rent vs being top dude. I mean being OC at Clemson is top tier but these guys should try and become HC no matter where

If they run programs that are improving they’ll get better jobs. Marrone never won more than 8 and he was identified as a talent

Agree, but I would think UMass is a must take for Coach Nunzio not for Nixon, their resumes are not even remotely similar. I think the fans are more worried about what coaches are leaving than Fran.

I think Nixon will get some Bigger OC offers but not a P4 HC job offer yet if that is what he is looking for. A school like Nebraska or Wisconsin will be looking for an OC most likely

 

[orangemass]

Nixon has impressed me. He’s going to get a good job. Nunzio to umass may be his ceiling. That’s my take. Umass is a bad job. If I can win there u can win anywhere

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

I’ve heard a job like UMass referred to as a “lake house job.” Guys further along in their career take the gig to pay off a mortgage, maybe bank enough money for a retirement place in the future. If it works out, great. If not, they got a pay bump before going back to being a coordinator.

 

[elimunelson]

I’ve heard a job like UMass referred to as a “lake house job.” Guys further along in their career take the gig to pay off a mortgage, maybe bank enough money for a retirement place in the future. If it works out, great. If not, they got a pay bump before going back to being a coordinator.

Umass can be like Buffalo though. It can be a stepping stone if you succeed there in some way. It's a loser job for sure but still a HC job at the D1 level. 7 figures is 7 figures.

Nunzio should take that job. Nixon is probably looking at that Temple level for the time being. My concern is Fran becoming a commodity that teams throw stupid money at. These other guys don't worry me one iota. Schools are gonna come at Fran. I wouldn't be surprised if the NFL comes at some point too.

 

[kcsu]

Umass can be like Buffalo though. It can be a stepping stone if you succeed there in some way. It's a loser job for sure but still a HC job at the D1 level. 7 figures is 7 figures.

Nunzio should take that job. Nixon is probably looking at that Temple level for the time being. My concern is Fran becoming a commodity that teams throw stupid money at. These other guys don't worry me one iota. Schools are gonna come at Fran. I wouldn't be surprised if the NFL comes at some point too.

Agreed. 3 years at UMASS and you have saved 2m if your smart

 

[Niastri]

Agreed. 3 years at UMASS and you have saved 2m if your smart

Yup, debt free, paid off home wherever you want to live, and a couple extra million in the brokerage account, in exchange for being a coach somewhere for a while?

It's a nice capstone to a career, or the next team hiring a coordinator won't mind that head coaching experience at all.

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

Umass can be like Buffalo though. It can be a stepping stone if you succeed there in some way. It's a loser job for sure but still a HC job at the D1 level. 7 figures is 7 figures.

The MAC stepping stone doesn't exist anymore. That's why Jason Candle has been at Toledo for a decade and Sean Lewis had to OC at Colorado for a year to get to San Diego St and away from Kent St.

 

[PAcuse]

This is the first time I've not be worried if a coach leaves we will end up with a D2 or reject D1 coach as the replacement.
I'm sure Fran has a plan in place for any off season movement and he has already shown he can make really good hires.

 

[PAcuse]

The MAC stepping stone doesn't exist anymore. That's why Jason Candle has been at Toledo for a decade and Sean Lewis had to OC at Colorado for a year to get to San Diego St and away from Kent St.

Agreed with NIL and the protal no way you can keep your best players in place year after year.

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

Agreed with NIL and the protal no way you can keep your best players in place year after year.

Player retention is certainly part of it. The investment by the universities in the MAC in general is so small compared to P4 now, it's no longer seen as a direct path to a bigger job.

 

[elimunelson]

Player retention is certainly part of it. The investment by the universities in the MAC in general is so small compared to P4 now, it's no longer seen as a direct path to a bigger job.

how did chesney move up from the Patriot League?

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

how did chesney move up from the Patriot League?

This board loves to think one data point disproves a larger trend.

 

[cusefan88]

Fran Brown essentially said Nixon is going to stay and will leave if the HC job is Power 4. Nunzio to UMass would be interesting and I think that's a good fit.

Fran also said he's excited to build his coaching tree.

 

[elimunelson]

This board loves to think one data point disproves a larger trend.

Good coaches are good coaches. I think this data point is going to prove wrong. The power schools aren't just the test tubes for excellent coaching.

Nothing has changed the ability to coach up talent, no matter how much or little you have.

I think alot of guys will still come from the Northeastern schools because there's a brain premium up this way (as there has always been).

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

Good coaches are good coaches. I think this data point is going to prove wrong. The power schools aren't just the test tubes for excellent coaching.

Nothing has changed the ability to coach up talent, no matter how much or little you have.

I think alot of guys will still come from the Northeastern schools because there's a brain premium up this way (as there has always been).

The best coaches aren't taking lower end FBS jobs because it pays more to be a P4 coordinator, and that's now a better to a Sun Belt or AAC or low end P4 HC job without the blemish of struggling at a place where it's impossible to win more than 7 games.

And who cares about the Northeast? Regionality in college football was on life support when Cuse, Pitt, and Louisville joined the ACC and officially died in 2024 when the PAC-12 was killed off by the Big 10.

 

[NKR1978]

Fran Brown essentially said Nixon is going to stay and will leave if the HC job is Power 4. Nunzio to UMass would be interesting and I think that's a good fit.

Fran also said he's excited to build his coaching tree.

I think we have at least 3 more years with Fran, but I can see Nixon replacing him if he gets an offer he can't refuse.

 

[NKR1978]

Good coaches are good coaches. I think this data point is going to prove wrong. The power schools aren't just the test tubes for excellent coaching.

Nothing has changed the ability to coach up talent, no matter how much or little you have.

I think alot of guys will still come from the Northeastern schools because there's a brain premium up this way (as there has always been).

The MAC used to be a college football launching pad. Now it’s a dead end.

 

[kcsu]

Fran Brown essentially said Nixon is going to stay and will leave if the HC job is Power 4. Nunzio to UMass would be interesting and I think that's a good fit.

Fran also said he's excited to build his coaching tree.

If you do it right in business, you build a great tree. Fran is definitely one of those guys. He is genuinely focused on helping others. His success is based on the success of his staff, players, community, and the university. He realizes that his job is to set direction, set an example, Listen, Lead and allow others to grow and succeed. He is a true leader.

 

[orangenauburn]

I’ve heard a job like UMass referred to as a “lake house job.” Guys further along in their career take the gig to pay off a mortgage, maybe bank enough money for a retirement place in the future. If it works out, great. If not, they got a pay bump before going back to being a coordinator.

That's why they should buck conventional wisdom and hire a young guy, like late 20s early 30s

They are going to grind hard early on

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

That's why they should buck conventional wisdom and hire a young guy, like late 20s early 30s

They are going to grind hard early on

Any agent worth their pay isn't going to let that happen.