Defense may wins championships, but offense puts fans in the stands - and lands head coaching jobs.
Offensive coaches leaping over their defensive counterparts is an ongoing trend, and one that we've touched on before.
According to data from @RedditCFB, former quarterbacks and wide receivers are by far the most overrepresented positions among current FBS head coaches.
Following a hiring cycle in which Pat Narduzzi was the only defensive hire among seven first-time FBS head coaches, Mississippi State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz - someone that could be on track for his own head job in the not-too-distant future - summed it up in a way I hadn't seen before but makes total sense in speaking to ESPN's Adam Rittenberg.
"When people watch and their team has the ball, they feel like that is a representation of them,” Diaz said. "When the other team has the ball, they feel like they’re watching the other team, even though their defense is out there, too. That’s why in a spring game, people clap when the offense catches a pass, even though they caught the ball against their own defense.
"So if we are stroking somebody on defense and holding them to very few points but can’t score points on offense, as a fan, you generally feel inept.”
We're living in an age where everyone wants to win... but most fan bases would rather win 42-28 than 17-3. For defensive coaches looking to make the next step, it takes the right athletics director and the right fan base to land that elusive head job.