Worst career coaching decisions?

[TommyMac]

Seeing Lance Thompson's name being mentioned in relation to the NCAA's current interest in the UcheaT program got me to thinking about Thompson's downright stupid decision to leave Coach Saban's staff in favor of going to work for a classless punk like Kiffin. I wonder how many times he's regretted that little gaffe? I don't know if that's the worst career coaching blunder of all-time, but it's definitely in the conversation. Thompson has to be seriously wondering where his career goes from this point on.

Another horrible decision has to be Fran's misguided and treacherous decision to leave Alabama for Texas A&M, especially in the manner that he did it. Still makes my blood boil when I think of it even though it's certainly worked out for the best for us, not so much for him. _green:

Maybe the worst of all though could be Paul Dietzel leaving LSU in 1961 after a 10-1 season to go to............ARMY? I figure Coach Bryant having just won the NC at Alabama played a big factor in his decision. He had been an assistant under Coach and probably saw the handwriting on the wall and correctly knew how the SEC was gonna shake out as long as Coach Bryant was there, but ARMY? As I said previously, he was coming off of a 10-1 season and had won the NC just 3 years before. Wouldn't you figure that he would have been able to go to a more competitive program?

What do y'all think, are there any other bone headed decisions that you think top these?

 

[ElephanTideis]

Rich Rod to Michigan.

 

[BamaFossil]

Mike Price's decision to visit a strip bar that fateful day. Although he's recovered his career since then.

Granted, Price's decision doesn't top Fran's A&M decision.

Interesting thread topic. Hope some readers with lots better memory/knowledge than I have will post their candidates for worst career coaching decisions.

 

[bamachile]

Brother Bill to Auburn.

 

[MegaVars]

Steve Spurrier to the Redskins.

 

[afadam07]

Seeing Lance Thompson's name being mentioned in relation to the NCAA's current interest in the UcheaT program got me to thinking about Thompson's downright stupid decision to leave Coach Saban's staff in favor of going to work for a classless punk like Kiffin. I wonder how many times he's regretted that little gaffe? I don't know if that's the worst career coaching blunder of all-time, but it's definitely in the conversation. Thompson has to be seriously wondering where his career goes from this point on.

Another horrible decision has to be Fran's misguided and treacherous decision to leave Alabama for Texas A&M, especially in the manner that he did it. Still makes my blood boil when I think of it even though it's certainly worked out for the best for us, not so much for him. _green:

Maybe the worst of all though could be Paul Dietzel leaving LSU in 1961 after a 10-1 season to go to............ARMY? I figure Coach Bryant having just won the NC at Alabama played a big factor in his decision. He had been an assistant under Coach and probably saw the handwriting on the wall and correctly knew how the SEC was gonna shake out as long as Coach Bryant was there, but ARMY? As I said previously, he was coming off of a 10-1 season and had won the NC just 3 years before. Wouldn't you figure that he would have been able to go to a more competitive program?

What do y'all think, are there any other bone headed decisions that you think top these?

Hiring DuBose.

 

[rollntider]

Saban to Miami
Butch Davis to Cleveland

 

[bamachile]

hmm... wait a minute...

Wallace Wade to Duke?

 

[bayoutider]

I guess all of these can fall into the bad coaching decisions category.

Steve Spurrier to the Redskins

Les Miles - I am not interested in the Michigan job

Mike Price - It's Rollin' baby

Urban Meyer - head coaches should never be caught crying on camera

Mike Leach - Go stand in that shed

Mack Brown - Pad Colt McCoy's stats

Lane Kiffin - I have read the reports and don't see anything to be worried about

Ed Orgeron - Yeow Yeow Yeow rip your shirt off Yeow

Auburn - Limos & Big Cat Prowl

Houston Nutt - Should have taken the $2M Nebraska offered and he wouldn't be stuck at Ole Miss.

Mike Shula - I bid four hearts

Bob Connelly - Nobody bull rushes in the SEC any more.

Trooper Taylor - where do you want me to start?

I have to ask Lance Thompson how he is coming along with that fence he is building around Memphis?

Mike Dubose - believe me Mike those voices you were hearing was not God speaking to you

LSU - Curley Hallman the next great LSU head coach

LSU - Mike Archer the next great LSU head coach

LSU - Gerry DiNardo the next great, oh for crying out loud he was coaching Vandy!

 

[RollinTider1335]

Fulmer to Krispy Kreme.

 

[afadam07]

Fulmer to Krispy Kreme.

:biggrin::biggrin: That's just wrong.... But I still gotta laugh at it!:biggrin::biggrin:

 

[CrimsonCarl]

Howard Schnellenberger leaving Miami for the USFL

 

[jthomas666]

Dennis Franchione.

 

[dayhiker]

Mike Shula - I bid four hearts

Bob Connelly - Nobody bull rushes in the SEC any more.

/snort

 

[bamahuey1]

Ray Perkins leaving Bama for Tampa Bay.

 

[kyallie]

Rick Petino, leaving Kentucky, for the NBA
Rick Petino boinking Karen Sypher

 

[AeroEngUA07]

Basically Watson Brown's entire career

 

[dWarriors88]

Not a coaching decision, but Jevon Sneed to the NFL an he didn't even get picked up after the draft...

 

[jeremy]

Rich Rod to Michigan.

I disagree. It was the best decision ever as far as Alabama is concerned

 

[rhunter]

Glen Mason accepting and then deciding to NOT take the UGA job on Christmas day 1996- he stayed at Kansas I think one more year and then onto Minn. before getting run off

Probably would not have done better than Donnan in Athens, but UGA is a heckuva lot better football job than KU.