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FOOTBALL Kennesaw Coach Fired

MidTennMtneer

All American
Nov 13, 2013
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Awful this year of course but 72-38 overall with 4 FCS playoff appearances in his first 7 years. Also their only coach ever.

 
Their AD told everyone that he just stepped down too.

C-USA is becoming a good G5 conference if MTSU can keep building up under Mason, so the Owls kinda need to hit on this hire.

Bright side: Insane amount of talented young coaches in the sport with resumes right now, everyone has ties to Atlanta
Not so bright side for the AD: Nobody gives a damn what you say now, every fan, alumni, social media presence already didn't respect you
 
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Awful this year of course but 72-38 overall with 4 FCS playoff appearances in his first 7 years. Also their only coach ever.

Just to add some background, KSU was one of the few FCS programs that scheduled A LOT of lower level teams and padded their wins. I think it was a little premature but I was expecting them to make a change.

Not as many as I thought but his time there these are wins he had:

15 D2 or lower
3 non-scholarship

54-38 still isn’t terrible but I wanted to make sure the full picture is being painted.
 
I read that too. So while I get it, as Shayne said, terrible optics in how it was handled. What is the point in doing it now as well with three games left? Should've announced together as AD and coach a change was coming at end of season.

He also was making under $400k according to CBS. They are going to have to raise that if they want anyone currently involved in FBS.
 
I would expect Willie Simmons to be lead dog in the search for a new coach. The AD was the one that hired him at FAMU.
I'd tell Willie to RUN.

This is seems like a situation where the school jumped too fast without the resources or leadership to navigate the jump. And then threw HC under the bus. Why waste a what COULD be your only shot to be a FBS HC on program that is underfunded & lacks the resources to compete?

Bohannon's salary was 50% less than MT. They'll need to almost double salary to attract people
 
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I'd tell Willie to RUN.

This is seems like a situation where the school jumped too fast without the resources or leadership to navigate the jump. And then threw HC under the bus. Why waste a what COULD be your only shot to be a FBS HC on program that is underfunded & lacks the resources to compete?

Bohannon's salary was 50% less than MT. They'll need to almost double salary to attract people
They do have a large budget and have a ton of students. I expect they will pay their new coach a lot more. Look for a retread FBS coach to fill this role. Chad Morris is a name I’m watching.
 
I'd tell Willie to RUN.

This is seems like a situation where the school jumped too fast without the resources or leadership to navigate the jump. And then threw HC under the bus. Why waste a what COULD be your only shot to be a FBS HC on program that is underfunded & lacks the resources to compete?

Bohannon's salary was 50% less than MT. They'll need to almost double salary to attract people
I said that from the beginning that they weren't ready.
 
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I don’t think anyone realized that Mason was going to instantly implement his schemes so harshly. Felt like this season was trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt this season but they need to clean some things up. Rebuild will be longer than I thought it would be with the harsh change tho. Wish he’d stop saying they’re going to compete right away tho. Don’t think he’s doing himself any favors there
 
I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt this season but they need to clean some things up. Rebuild will be longer than I thought it would be with the harsh change tho. Wish he’d stop saying they’re going to compete right away tho. Don’t think he’s doing himself any favors there
A few thoughts regarding Mason & the season :

1) Mason's enthusiasm & willingness to engage the fans / community was EXACTLY what MT needed after Stock. I see why the powers that be (aka McPhee) liked him.
2) I had some concerns re: Mason's hire. There's a reason he failed / got fired at Vandy & it's not just that every body gets fired at Vandy. It's that football evolved & Mason didn't. Based on watching MT this year & listening to Mason talk over the last year, it seems like Mason believes you can still win football games 21-17. You can't. You need to be prepared to win 34-27.

It's no longer trying to put together a 12 play 75 yard drive that drains the clock. You need to be dynamic and explosive ( on the outside with the threat of a consistent run game.

You don't need 6'3 250 inside backers. You need 6'3 225-230 pound inside backers that can drop & cover (FWIW, Stock's 215 pound LB don't work either. Too small). You gotta be able to play in space, especially when you're in a nickel isn't as sub package anymore. You're in nickel / dime 60-70% of the time.

3) As Shayne said, I'm not sure saying the "bones are good" & the potential to compete immediately was honest if you're gonna overhaul everything (offensive and defensive schemes, personnel, etc).

Recruiting has some bright spots. Can't wait to see some guys who RS / played smaller roles this year take the next step in 2025.

But Mason's seat starts to get warm if he doesn't do better than 6-6 in 2025.
 
I've said from the get go today's coaches need 3yrs.

- Yr 1 usually a disaster. Figure out what you have and what you need. Sometimes lightning strikes like Cignetti and Indiana. But he brought several from JMU and their championship team not to mention a super weak schedule. Not the same as our situation with a coach that was out of the game.

- Yr 2 is better. Bowl and win is the minimum. Off-season spent plugging final holes. A needed safety, returner, etc.

- Yr 3 is conference champ or bust.

If you are a G5 and have a coach longer than 5-6yrs tops that isn't poached (unless they are doing well and choose to stay), you have the wrong guy.

So we shall see. I'm expecting more next year, period.
 
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