Friday, February 25, 2011

49ers football coach update

Here's what we know about Charlotte's search for a football coach:

-- It doesn't look like it will be Chuck Amato. Amato, the former N.C. State coach, hasn't been interviewed for the job although he has applied for it. In fact, he hasn't heard from 49ers officials at all, according to sources. If Charlotte is going to have someone in place by April 1, it would seem like Amato would have been contacted by now.

-- I spoke with someone who is familiar with several coaches who are interested in the job or who have been contacted by the 49ers (and the names of these guys are kept under wraps so as not to jeopardize the jobs they currently have). He said Charlotte seems to be interested in coordinators on the FBS level who have 15-20 years of experience.

Along those lines, I've heard Chris Cosh, Kansas State's defensive coordinator who had the same job at South Carolina in 2003, might be interested. Wake Forest defensive coordinator Brad Lambert could also be a possibility.

-- Reminder: The Charlotte job pays $175,000 per year. Although that's competitive with what many FCS head coaches around the country make, it's far less than what coordinators at big-time programs are making now.


-- Mike Minter, a former Carolina Panthers player who coaches at Concord’s First Assembly Christian, has taken his name out of consideration.
“I talked to their people and we agreed it wouldn’t be a good fit,” said Minter.

-- Also, Rod Broadway, who had interest at one time, left Grambling for N.C. A&T earlier this month.

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those names get me excited!! Where do I sign up for some FSLs??

49RFBN said...

David, no news on WHY they won't give Amato an interview? Hate this Stealth!

49RFBN said...

Or even speculation? The level of news and info from this athletics department does not match the fanbases' expectations! David, help these people help themselves!

Anonymous said...

It is time for Judy Rose to go. She is in over her head.

The constant "we don't know, what we don't know" from her just proves it. If you don't know, get someone who does know.

This hiring process is an absolute joke, I really don't think we know what we are doing.

Anonymous said...

Chuck Amato would pay for himself with FSL sales and corporate sponserships before he ever coached a game.
Brad Lambert would be a wet blanket. Is that what Judy/Dubois want? A wet blanket???

Anonymous said...

I was pro chuck Amato...

Wake Forest used to have very good defense, but now they suck. They also have a 13pg thread on their msg forum about how they hate us and don't want us getting football. I used to not care about Wake Forest, but now I hate them.

Anonymous said...

www.the49ergoldrush.com

This site takes a look at Lambert.

Anonymous said...

I am a UNC Charlotte graduate and have made payments on several FSLs but I may default on the remaining amount. I was excited to get a team but now, I really don't care. The way football has been handled so far at Charlotte is ridiculously pitiful. Little to no information/promotion to the general public has killed the program before they take the field. When Chuck Amato said he was interested in becoming the head coach, there was more buzz that week about 49er football than every other day combined since the plan was announced. Now, there is zero buzz in the community. Chancellor Dubois' comment that he would be dead before a 40,000 seat stadium was built proved to me that he really doesn't want it. With the current administration of Phil, Judy and their subordinates, who know nothing about football, this dream for many is now a nightmare.

49RFBN said...

Defaulting on your FSL payment won't hurt Judy or Phil but it will hurt the football program. At the end of the day you have to decide what's more important. Supporting the U or trying to send a message to two people who don't really care and are looking forward to retirement.

I'm disappointed that Amato doesn't appear to be getting a fair shake either but 49er Football will be around a lot longer than Phil and Judy.

Anonymous said...

Agree with anonymous 7:14. I am a Charlotte Grad as well and am TIRED of no real buzz. I am thrilled to have gotten this far, but geez, how long does it take?? Most schools fire and hire coaches in a months time.

I know this is an important decision, but there was a window there, that now seems to have passed. The community has been lulled into apathy and when we do announce a coach, it probably will come without much fanfare.

As far as the coach, a no name guy, will not generate the dollars and excitement we need. Yeah, you can have an experienced guy, but if most have never heard of him, you think they're going to pony up for the remaining fsl's?? I seriously doubt it.

Let's just hope Judy Rose knows what she's doing. Go Niners!!

NLP said...

I don't know where yall have been. I hear about the program every day, and I follow Ninernation.net, and www.the49ergoldrush.com. Use the world wide web, you can find tons of stuff, or get rid of your FSLs, because, you sound like the type I will punch in the face.

Anonymous said...

I just want to know what judy meant by big name that can carry the program. Lambert isnt even good at his job at a sub-par BCS"ish" football program in a sub-par bcs conference. Hey but thats what you get when you want to be everyone's homecoming and expand to 40000 once Chapel Hill Phil is dead. Any more words of encouragement from the AD? Thats why everyone thinks we are a joke. We act like it. We run out of the gate screaming fbs bcs and then retract our statement as we pay a proven loser record fcs salaries...and we're proud of that. Amato shows interest. The fans show support. The AD turns a cold shoulder. And this is going to bring excitement. You didnt even interview the guy. Phil, Judy? Do you even listen to the public outcry?

Anonymous said...

A couple things. The amount of money that was offered for a head coach was sub par for a FBS coordinator.

I also think you all should give Brad Lambert a chance. Because you don't know anything about him doesn't mean he is a bad coach. I actually played for him, and he is an absolutely great coach. If you don't believe that, ask the number of NFL players that he coached (Aaron Curry, Stanley Arnoux, Will Witherspoon, Chip Vaughn, Alphonso Smith, Hines Ward, Champ Bailey, etc, etc.).

He is a great guy with a ton of energy, that gets the best out of his players. If you look at USF or ODU they took the same approach. Bring in someone that is willing to get their hands dirty and build their program from the ground up, not a guy that has been at the top, and just brings excitement.

He will put together a staff that will be very diverse, with a bunch of guys that know his way of doing things.

I'm a coach, and the reality is that you can't blame a coordinator for poor personnel. If they players aren't that great, then the defense or offense isn't going to be great.

All I am saying is give him a chance, because I know that he will produce. Wake Forest has never been a football power, but what that staff has done in their tenure is unlike anything ever accomplished at the University.

Trust me, if Lambert is the guy, I will be a big time Charlotte fan.

Anonymous said...

I agree with anonymous 9:39. It might be smart to get a younger, more motivated coach who is willing to get his hands dirty and devote to building the system. The one HUGE difference I see in Amato compared to a younger guy...is the younger guy may WANT success more. He will do anything it takes to win and establish a name for himself. After all, his first few years will write his coaching career. This says he might be move driven than Amato, who already has a legacy written.

Also, Amato is 64 right? Worries over his age?

Anonymous said...

I am very disappointed in Judy and Phil, to have not even interviewed the clear fan favorite. Chuck Amato is ideal for our new program!

Anonymous said...

It's interesting to see why the clear favorite is Chuck Amato. If he hadn't come out and said he was interested would he even be a guy mentioned with any kind of credibility? No one is upset that Ralph Friedgen and Mike Leach didn't get interviews, are they? They are available.

If the reports are correct about Lambert being named Head Coach, and Jeff Mullen being named Offensive Coordinator, then that is a huge get for a start up FCS program.

There are disgruntled fans everyone, so it is easy to go on a message board and find other people to add to the fire of disappointment and disapproval that you want to illustrate. The reality is that these guys are great coaches, and you can find just as many fans, and more importantly, players, that will support those claims.

CLTDeac said...

I agree with anonymous 10:42. That would be pretty amazing to draw two BCS coordinators to Charlotte. I have been a huge Wake fan for years, and I have had some rough times and some great ones. I've been out to practices and seen Lambert (Lambo is what they call him up here) coach, and he has a ton of energy, and the guys love him.

Anonymous said...

PATHETIC

Anonymous said...

Whoever it is, please just hand them the reigns and get Judy Rose input out of this. Give him an office in the new field house, a completely separate building from her.

Her handling of this has been awful.

The quicker this is handled to anyone the better.

Anonymous said...

Amato wants the job but Dubois and Rose refuse to interview him? This announcement is great news. It just saved me $2000 on the 2 FSLs I was getting ready to buy.

Anonymous said...

Please don't abandon a program because of no Chuck Amato.

Anonymous said...

Amato will help promote and sell the program to the city. Perhaps that's why fans of other terams are opposed to him coming to Charlotte. Come to think of it, perhaps that is why Phil and Judy are opposed to him.

Anonymous said...

Phil must be trying to earn brownie points with the folks in chapel hill.

Dowless said...

If you folks buy your FSL's because Amato was the coach you would be very dissapointed in 2014 when he would leave for retirement. Both of the coaches that were mentioned on Niner Nation.net have some experience, but also come from good coaching trees.

Anonymous said...

We tried that tree thing with the basketball team

NinerBock said...

I'm still unclear why Amato was the favorite for any reason other then him mentioning he wanted the job? He is a guy that is on the tail end of his coaching career, and has been out of coaching for a three years.

Why not Randy Shannon, Ralph Friedgen, Mike Leach, Rich Rodriquez, etc.? They are all available.

The fact of the matter is that Judy wanted to get someone that was hungry to be a head coach, and those type of guys are the young up and comers, like Bobby Wilder at ODU.

I'm with everyone else though. If it's Lambert and Mullen, let us know!

And not buying PSLs because it isn't Amato is just silly. Isn't the point of buying them to support the University? Didn't know you purchased them to show your approval.

Anonymous said...

HIRE AMATO.
Fire Rose who makes too much at 239,000 a year and use the real name. Stop leaving off the most important part of the name UNC and get down on your hands and knees and beg forgiveness for this blasphemy. UNC is your universal god and this city will always bleed BLUE only. Stop looking so foolish and insecure. UNCC and UNCCH is confusing to noone. This is a lame excuse.
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Anonymous said...

You guys need to stop criticizing Judy. She has been great for girls' sports at UNCC.

Anonymous said...

You guys need to stop criticizing Phil. How do you expect him to take time to interview Chuck when he is so busy helping UNC-Chapel Hill put a med school in Charlotte?

Judy and Phil both need to go. I understand Judy actually called a long time Niner fan into her office and demanded they stop their criticism of Chapel Hill Phil.

NinerBock said...

Found this online from a state fan.

"Just for kicks, I did a quick unscientific look at the 2010 football rosters for Wofford, the Citadel, App St, Elon, and Western Carolina...

The Citadel had very few players from North Carolina, more were from South Carolina. I'd guess that's the strange attraction of "like father, like son" cause a big majority of Citadel grads really like their "boys" to go there so they can men out of them marching around in uniforms in the gutters and harrassing each other. I never understood the attraction of the Citadel..If I wanted to have a college experience, that would not be it. If it was a true military school like West Point, Annapolis, or the AF Academy, maybe..but they just like to harass each other at the Citadel.

Elon and Western had a larger number of North Carolineans on the roster which is also expected as did Wofford. All had a lot of players from other places than the Carolinas. Wofford had a lot of players from private schools in both Carolinas which would be expected because of SAT scores. App did too, but not as noticeable as Wofford.

I was thinking that Chuck had really ticked off a number of the North Carolina HS coaches so would that negatively impact his ability to recruit in NC?"

You can find anything online to support your claims.

Anonymous said...

What is laughable is that the article feels the need to mention Mike Minter. I love how they BOTH agreed that it wouldn't be a good fit. I bet the conversation went like this:
UNCC- "Mike, if we wanted to hire a HS coach for this college Division I job, we would go get someone who had years of experience at a competitive level. Not someone who has only coached a few years at a very low level Private school. So you are not a viable candidate."
Mike - "Ok, I think I will withdraw my name from consideration"

Anonymous said...

I guarantee you that if we hired Chuck we would have lights at the stadium our first season...
How about bringing him in as some sort of adviser? He would never coach a game but be there to raise capital and help get us off the ground!