OT: Best Coaching Hire So Far This Season?

Because he doesn't have to coach up north in the bitter August cold

Whoever Harbaugh picks for our new DC

1. Virginia (Mendenhall)

2. Miami, FL (Richt)

3. Virginia Tech (Fuente)

4. Georgia (Smart)

5. Maryland (Durkin)

Lot's of Cooridators are hyped as sure bets as HC until the Peter principle takes hold. I'll take real world success (Fuente) over potential  as a HC (Smart and Durkin). When it comes to potential Smart has a better body of work than Durkin amd walks into a better situation with better talent on-hand and a better pipeline.

Was Durkin's '15 defense really that much better than Mattison's '14 defense when you consider that Mattison's defense was constantly defending a short field and turnovers, didn't have Peppers and had a LB coaching the defenisive backs?

'14 offense averaged 20.9 ppg

'14 defense gave up 22.4 ppg

'15 offense averaged 30.6 ppg

'15 defense gave up 17.2 ppg

I'm not a member of the Ann Arbor pitchfork club calling for Durkin to be strung up for leaving Ann Arbor, nor am I on the Durking bandwagon. Need to see more.

Richt for Miami. Such a good dude, and will be so interesting to see how he shapes this team. I don't think there is another school in the nation that could field a top 15 team year in and year out just by recruiting with in a 75 square mile area.

The way Mark Richt fell into Miami's lap was just amazing. Maybe not the flashiest hire, but a few years from now this one will be seen as the clear #1

I'd be inclined to say Richt for Miami, but I'd probably wait a few years to see how he does.

Don't get me wrong, he'll do well and get them at least 8-9 wins a year, but he always had a nasty habit of underachieving at UGa and dropping 1-2 games a year that he should've won.

I think he'll do very well, and maybe throw in a conference title or two, but he'll still have to contend with FSU and Clemson.

Interested too to see how Mendenhall does at UVa. I think they could be very good in the next few years. Or at least not miss bowl games anymore.

Two answers: 1. Richt was a perfect fit at Miami. It fell into their laps and they made the right move. 2. One of the following hires will likely prove to be great, but we wont know for a few years: Durkin to MD Smart to UGA, Mizzou promotion of DC. I go with the path of least resistance and Mizzou. There won't be any drastic changes and they have a chance to be reasonably competitive. EDIT: I missed UVA hire of mendenhall yesterday. That is a GREAT hire. UVA will be competitive in the acc in the next three years. This is also a great hire for them looking forward to joining the B1G in coming years. That is fertile recruiting territory and if they do join a real conference that could be a formidable program. Great academics, nice campus, good alumni network.