re: Coaching Changes Discussion - Chief locked up, what about rest?

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And quite honestly, it probably all could have been avoided if Sumlin simply would have simply decided that he had a good defensive coordinator in Durkin (who is well thought of in SEC circles as both a coach and recruiter) and given his name to Jefferson. Instead, Sumlin apparently decided to see what he could do with Chavis. We’ve talked to people both inside and outside of LSU who told us that Chavis had indeed made contact over a week ago. However, Chavis apparently has already told people at LSU that he’s staying and another neutral person also told us that he would not be leaving. For one thing, Chavis makes $1.3 million at LSU and has been extended by the Tigers through the 2015 season. He doesn’t have to recruit and we’ve been told that if he had the opportunity to leave it would probably be for some place closer to the Carolinas where he’s originally from. In addition, why would Chavis want to coach at A&M when two essential prospects such as Jefferson and Mack may wind up elsewhere (and Chavis is competing strongly for Mack)?
Sumlin wanted total control of the A&M program and he’s been given carte blanche to run all aspects of the program and to make the defensive coordinator hire. Unfortunately, because of that, everything that’s happened in the past 48 hours is his responsibility.
In fact, what’s become apparent is that Sumlin has not made very good decisions about managing either situations or people related to the A&M program. Some of those issues have only come to light because of Jefferson’s very public decision to select Texas but they have been there beneath the surface during Sumlin’s tenure and also during the defensive coordinator search itself.
Sumlin’s desire to place a high emphasis on getting a “name” or make a “splash hire” at the defensive coordinator position means that A&M has chased people like Chavis, Will Muschamp, and Bud Foster even though they never had a realistic shot at those coaches. It’s a decision that’s inexplicable for the simple reason that in that no one (either Sumlin or the people above him) apparently seemed to have a feel for what was realistic in terms of whom to hire even though Snyder has been gone since at least the Alabama game and possibly even before that. However, it’s also inexplicable A&M was vulnerable with Jefferson because he was an early enrollee, had other schools pounding on them right up until he made a decision, and for whatever reason no sensed the danger that underlay that scenario.
Also, we’ve been told by multiple that Sumlin’s reputation among defensive coaches does not match his reputation among Aggies. For example, he is considered an up tempo offensive coach whose style of play does not lend itself to playing good defense or protecting defenses via time of possession.
In addition, the program as a whole is considered to lack discipline by outsiders and potential hires. For example, A&M reportedly wants a receivers’ coach who can get the most out of a unit that underachieved this season but there’s got to be consequences enforced on players by people above the position coach in order to make that happen. If there’s no consequences for the players, then it doesn’t matter what the position coach wants.
(By the way, we’ve been told but we haven’t verified it that former Houston head coach Tony Levine has talked to A&M about joining the staff. That’s probably one reason that we haven’t heard anything on former Texas and Oklahoma assistant Darrell Wyatt in recent days and perhaps why he hasn’t heard from Sumlin).
Sumlin wants to be a CEO and delegate items and people to his assistants but there are some things that you simply have to deal with in a timely manner or cannot delegate. We’ve talked about discipline but that starts with the head coach, not the position coaches.
In addition, communication is an issue as Jefferson himself referenced. There was a press release yesterday that offensive line coach B.J. Anderson would not coaching in A&M’s bowl game. We had heard back during the season that Anderson possibly would not be retained. If that was the case, then the time to announce his departure would be coincide with that of Snyder’s immediately after the season or after the bowl game or even signing day. Instead, a press release eventually has to be put out a few hours after a press conference with the head coach for the bowl game. Not only that, recruits were not informed prior to the press release that Anderson was gone.
Again, that goes back to communication and trust. There was no need for the situation for the situation to be handled like that (although this part was lost in the joy over Anderson’s departure). The fact that Anderson was not going to be retained or could not be retained (and he would have been under contract until after the bowl game) means that the situation was not properly handed internally or communicated to others both inside and outside of the program.
Up until this point in time, Sumlin’s recruiting and public persona have managed to overcome his inability to make the right hires, maintain discipline within the program, and communicate with people about the program. Now, with the loss of Jefferson, the decommitment of Mack, and the defensive coordinator position still unfilled, those issues are now out in the open and both Sumlin and the people above him has to deal with them.

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