Jim Leavitt out at USF

[Lucas Wiseman]

Multiple outlets reporting that USF has fired Jim Leavitt... as a die-hard USF fan, I can honestly say I'm OK with this given the way the team was underachieved in conference play the past three seasons. I'm glad Leavitt helped building the program from scratch, but it was time to move on anyway... whether he hit a player or not.

http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/01/08/findings-of-leavitt-investigation-will-be-announced-today/

 

[playthrough]

Ouch. He could have had any number of good jobs a couple years ago when USF was breaking through.

 

[Moderator1]

Tom Dienhart of Rivals hinted this could happen before their bowl and I was thinking, 'No way.'

That could be an incredible job for someone.

 

[Starman]

Yep, he was a hot, hot prospect 4-5 years ago. Not on the Brian Kelly/Urban Meyer level, but almost.

You'd have to think the USF investigation must have came up with some pretty damning stuff.

 

[Moderator1]

Is he as big a prick as he's made out to be?

 

[Lucas Wiseman]

I don't know that I'd classify him as a prick as much as I would just very intense. At least in my dealings with him.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I worry that this is one of those schools that could go downhill very quickly if the right coach isn't hired. Maybe they'll hire Mike Leach.

 

[Starman]

I worry that this is one of those schools that could go downhill very quickly if the right coach isn't hired. Maybe they'll hire Mike Leach.

They could go either way. If they make a real bad hire, they could slide off the end of the earth, but being in the heart of such a talent-saturated area, a good hire could turn them into the next Cincinnati.

 

[dixiehack]

I triple dog dare someone to tell Lucas we already have a coaching carousel thread. ;D

 

[Ace]

Bobby Bowden, come on down.

 

[Pancamo]

Bobby Bowden, come on down.

Fits right in with all the other geezers on the west coast of Florida.

 

[Ace]

Bobby Bowden, come on down.

Fits right in with all the other geezers on the west coast of Florida.

He might be a little bit of a young whippersnapper for the area, but they'll warm to him.

 

[DanOregon]

I've got to think the ADs at Kansas, Tech and South Florida all attended the same NCAA seminar or read the same legal journal article about coaches and school liability.
The last coach I can think of who was canned for mistreating people was Bob Knight. Before that it was Woody Hayes, maybe Frank Kush. And now three in one season? What gives?

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

Gruden has great respect for Leavitt.

 

[nmmetsfan]

I triple dog dare someone to tell Lucas we already have a coaching carousel thread. ;D

Serious breach of daring etiquette. Skipping dare and double dog dare is a big no no.

 

[Ace]

I triple dog dare someone to tell Lucas we already have a coaching carousel thread. ;D

Serious breach of daring etiquette. Skipping dare and double dog dare is a big no no.

But there is precedence in going straight from a double dog dare to a triple dog dare.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

You can tell this school doesn't know **** when it comes to operating a football program. Good luck (a) getting a coach in place in enough time to (b) hold onto whatever recruiting class you have left. Shoulda been handled a month ago.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

You can tell this school doesn't know **** when it comes to operating a football program. Good luck (a) getting a coach in place in enough time to (b) hold onto whatever recruiting class you have left. Shoulda been handled a month ago.

Agreed, but a school USF's size that has recently given Leavitt a pretty sizable contract had to make sure when they fired him, they had cause. Kansas and Texas Tech were banking on being able to reach a settlement.

 

[zagoshe]

I think this is a clear message that if you are an abrasive sort of guy, you better win at a very high level or you will be gone.

That is the one thing Leach, Mangino and Leavitt had in common was they had a lot of success, got big deals and then leveled off some and as a result their acts wore thin.

Administrations get tired of boorish acts quickly when they aren't producing championships, especially at a big price tag in a bad economy, that is why they fire them "for cause" (so they don't have to pay buy-outs or severance)

 

[linotype]

Agreed, but a school USF's size that has recently given Leavitt a pretty sizable contract had to make sure when they fired him, they had cause. Kansas and Texas Tech were banking on being able to reach a settlement.

A school USF's size -- you mean one with 35,000 undergrads?