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Coaching Success Is Hard To Call
Posted on 11/7/25 at 3:17 pm
Posted on 11/7/25 at 3:17 pm
I don't know who the next coach will be or they'll be successful.
We keep seeing this "fit" shite, and to be honest that's one of Auburn's biggest detriments. "Fit" should not be in the criteria at all. It's almost cultish.
Nick Saban was in essence a 6-win coach at Michigan St. He was there 5 years and won more than 7 games once. Same at LSU, he won more than 9 games twice. Who knew that he'd be the best EVER. It's because he was at the right place at the right time with resources and people starved to win again, so they gave him EVERYTHING he wanted and needed. On top of that, he worked hard, recruited like a bat outta hell and learned from past failures.
Whoever the next guy is, I just hope he works hard and is given every opportunity to be successful. Because we're at the starved place at this point.
We keep seeing this "fit" shite, and to be honest that's one of Auburn's biggest detriments. "Fit" should not be in the criteria at all. It's almost cultish.
Nick Saban was in essence a 6-win coach at Michigan St. He was there 5 years and won more than 7 games once. Same at LSU, he won more than 9 games twice. Who knew that he'd be the best EVER. It's because he was at the right place at the right time with resources and people starved to win again, so they gave him EVERYTHING he wanted and needed. On top of that, he worked hard, recruited like a bat outta hell and learned from past failures.
Whoever the next guy is, I just hope he works hard and is given every opportunity to be successful. Because we're at the starved place at this point.
6
Posted on 11/7/25 at 3:34 pm to thirdlawson
Well said third!
Posted on 11/7/25 at 4:05 pm to thirdlawson
I agree third. It’s not always that they weren’t a good fit, it’s that they were a crappy coach.
Posted on 11/7/25 at 4:18 pm to thirdlawson
quote:
“Fit” should not be in the criteria at all. It’s almost cultish
No, …not almost,…it IS cultish. The example of Saban that you bring up is instructive because he overcame his shortcomings in the “fit” category at LSU and Bama through good results and determination to succeed using his own approach. However, his “major domo” personality does fit at SEC schools because most SEC fans and power brokers like the HMFIC attitude that Saban had.
However there have been a couple of recent examples of “fit” At SEC schools that caused issues:
Brian Kelly at LSU did not “fit”
Bryan Harsin at Auburn did not “fit” and was dead on arrival (I blame the AD for that one)
Hugh Freeze at Auburn did “fit” with his schmoozing of boosters and good recruiting, but this caused him to hang on too long despite some horrendous on-field coaching.
Unfortunately “fit” is a real thing that has an impact on a coach’s longevity.
Posted on 11/7/25 at 4:19 pm to thirdlawson
You complain about fit, then you use Saban as an example, perhaps the most perfect fit in CFB history. The fanbase that would literally do anything to win - ask Logan Young - paired with an utterly amoral coach whose BFF was the head of the NCAA. He got literally every recruit he wanted for his entire tenure because everyone else was handing out $100 handshakes and the occasional hunting trip while bama was handing out Dodge Chargers and benefits worth $50k-$100k per year - Trent's mom's "housesitting", the Tagliovoa family's relocation and jobs, on and on.
We would have gotten the DP for a decade for even 1 year of that.
Yes, relentless matters. Now the recruiting field is level - somewhat - with NIL.
But anyone who has been a part of a company during their rise, from Dell to today's FANG's, will tell you that it feels like being part of a cult. That's what bammer felt like too under Saban, guaranteed. We need to be more cult-like, not less.
We would have gotten the DP for a decade for even 1 year of that.
Yes, relentless matters. Now the recruiting field is level - somewhat - with NIL.
But anyone who has been a part of a company during their rise, from Dell to today's FANG's, will tell you that it feels like being part of a cult. That's what bammer felt like too under Saban, guaranteed. We need to be more cult-like, not less.
Posted on 11/7/25 at 4:21 pm to thirdlawson
I agree. Hire the best coach who makes you believe he can be a long term home run and has some version of pedigree to show it. It might not work out but that is the best path.
Posted on 11/7/25 at 7:26 pm to thirdlawson
Yeah he wasn't a fit... 
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Posted on 11/7/25 at 7:28 pm to FlyDownTheField83
quote]Brian Kelly at LSU did not “fit”[/quote]
Also was an a-hole that thought he was better than everyone else.
Also did not work hard.
He was never the choice. Lane was. And he did what Auburn wanted him to do: Bolster the roster.
Like Lane Kiffin fit at Ole Miss? Lol The only thing that fits is winning.
Also was an a-hole that thought he was better than everyone else.
quote:
Bryan Harsin at Auburn did not “fit” and was dead on arrival (I blame the AD for that one)
Also did not work hard.
quote:
Hugh Freeze at Auburn did “fit” with his schmoozing of boosters and good recruiting, but this caused him to hang on too long despite some horrendous on-field coaching.
He was never the choice. Lane was. And he did what Auburn wanted him to do: Bolster the roster.
quote:
Unfortunately “fit” is a real thing that has an impact on a coach’s longevity.
Like Lane Kiffin fit at Ole Miss? Lol The only thing that fits is winning.
This post was edited on 11/7/25 at 7:35 pm
Posted on 11/7/25 at 7:37 pm to TheRealTigerHorn
quote:
You complain about fit, then you use Saban as an example, perhaps the most perfect fit in CFB history.
Nick was a fit out of DESPAIR. That man had been in Miami looking like cheeks. NO ONE expected what he did. I don't even think he did.
Posted on 11/7/25 at 7:40 pm to thirdlawson
quote:
NO ONE expected what he did. I don't even think he did.
We did expect him buying players & bama would push the money. When he was at Mich State he was the second highest bidder behind (I think Alabama) who got a little busted for it but he was definately in the bidding war. They did it at LSU as well
Posted on 11/8/25 at 7:21 am to thirdlawson
Yeah, I agree with you on your description of Brian Kelly.
I do not know how hard Harsin worked, but if he did work it was often on the wrong thing (recruiting…..?).
In terms of staying for the long term the bottom line is as you described it,…..winning overcomes all other shortcomings.
I do not know how hard Harsin worked, but if he did work it was often on the wrong thing (recruiting…..?).
In terms of staying for the long term the bottom line is as you described it,…..winning overcomes all other shortcomings.
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