Posts Tagged ‘jason gesser’

Early this morning the Spokane Spokesman-Review posted an interview with Idaho offensive coordinator and interim head coach Jason Gesser on his interest in retaining the Idaho head coaching job full-time.

In Gesser words, “I want to be here in the worst way. I love the place. I love the university. I love the community. I finally just got my family over this year and they love it. And so I don’t want to go anywhere else. I really don’t. If I had the opportunity of staying on as the offensive coordinator/quarterback coach again, that would be great. Or whatever it may be. That’s something that I hope if I’m not the guy selected that I do have that opportunity of still staying here.”

After a five-year career in professional football, Gesser is in just his second season coaching college football. He spent five seasons as a high school coach in Washington before becoming the running backs coach at Idaho in 2011. Gesser was promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach prior to this season before receiving the interim head coach tag on Oct. 21.

Sources tell us that Idaho athletics director Rob Spear is still conducting phone interviews and plans to speak with Wyoming defensive coordinator Chris Tormey, Montana State head coach Rob Ash, Cal Poly head coach Tim Walsh, along with Gesser, among several others. 

When asked for the ideal candidate, Spear said this, “Obviously we want somebody from a successful program. I want somebody that understands the Northwest and is going to be able to recruit the Northwest. I want somebody who’s going to be able to recruit a high character kid. I want them to hold them accountable. And I want discipline in the program. So those would be the characteristics. And I don’t think you need to say it has to be a former or current head coach. It could be an up-and-coming assistant. I think we’re going to be very open in this process.”

Several coaches have asked us if Dan Hawkins could wind up getting this job. We don't believe Hawk is involved with this one. 

In the coming weeks and months a new crop of assistant coaches should have the opportunity to become first-time head coaches. A group of successful assistant coaches that could graduate to head coaching positions in the not-too-distant future includes Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart (36), Alabama offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier (41), Ohio State defensive coordinator Luke Fickell (39), Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman (37), Ohio State defensive line coach Mike Vrabel (37), Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris (43), Oregon offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich (39), Texas offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin (35), Texas A&M offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury (33) and Texas Tech offensive coordinator Neal Brown (31). Jason Gesser (33), the interim head coach at Idaho, is also in close proximity to a full-time head coaching job.

The problem with those names, according to some, is that they're too young. As in "not old enough to run for president" young in some cases. 

But the question we have at FootballScoop is, is age really a valid concern?

Over the weekend we took a look at the youngest FBS head coaches, and our results indicate that the 40-and-under crowd is winning in a big way.

Overall, that group is 67-42 (.615) this season. If you consider that Fuente and McGee are in their first seasons in situations where Vince Lombardi would struggle to win, the record improves to a stellar 64-27 (.703). 

Expand the criteria to coaches in their early-40's and the youth movement looks even stronger.

As a whole, this group is 49-21 (.700). Coupled with the group above and young head coaches enjoy a composite 116-63 (.648) record. 

In college football, winning begins with recruiting better players than your opponent. With that in mind, imagine you are a 16-year-old recruit. Who are you more likely to relate to, a 35-year-old coach or a 65-year-old coach?

The success of young head coaches are having so early in their careers has to be making athletic directors across the country asking themselves if youth is really a bad thing. 

As first reported in The Scoop this afternoon and announced officially by the school this afternoon, Idaho has terminated the contract of head coach Robb Akey. 

“The President (Duane Nellis) and I believe it is important to make this move now so we can immediately begin the process of hiring a new coach for the 2013 season,” Idaho athletic director Rob Spear said in a statement. “We appreciate Coach Akey’s enthusiasm and dedication to the University of Idaho but this is the right move at this time.”

In his sixth season as head coach of the Vandals, Akey carried a 20-50 record. Idaho was beaten by Louisiana Tech 70-28 on Saturday night, dropping its record to 1-7 on the season. Akey's tenure reached a high point in 2009 as he lead Idaho to an 8-5 record and win in the Humanitarian Bowl. The program slipped steadily following that season as Idaho went 6-7 in 2010 and 2-10 last seson. 

Idaho's new head coach steps into a unique and challenging situation. Idaho and New Mexico State were left without a conference home after the WAC dropped football due to the sweeping changes of conference realignment. The Vandals will compete as an FBS independent in 2013; its recently announced schedule includes home dates with Northern Illinois, Temple, Fresno State, New Mexico State and Old Dominion with visits to North Texas, Wyoming, Washington State, Arkansas State, Ole Miss, New Mexico State in a home-and-home agreement and a to-be-determined BCS opponent. 

It all adds up to a tough task for a new head coach that inherits a team currently ranked 101st or lower in 12 of the 17 official statistics tracked by the NCAA. 

In the meantime, offensive coordinator Jason Gesser will serve as the interim head coach. Gesser played quarterback for Akey at Washington State a decade ago before a brief stint in professional football. In just his second year of coaching at the college level, Gesser was brought in from Eastside High School (WA) to serve as running backs coach in 2011 before being promoted to offensive coordinator this season.