Texas A&M Head Coach Hot Board
Dan Lanning is not coming to Texas A&M. Dan Campbell is not coming to College Station. Deion Sanders is not coming to Gig ‘Em. I say that not to be brash, but realistic. Texas A&M is used to buying what they want, but can they still afford it? Recently exiled Richie Rich Jimbo Fisher is staring at the following payments:
Within 60 Days: $19.4 million
Within 120 Days: $7.27 million
2025: $7.27 million
2026: $7.27 million
2027: $7.27 million
2028: $7.27 million
2029: $7.27 million
2030: $7.27 million
2031: $7.27 million
In the prophetic words of Coach Ed Orgeron after his $17.1 Million LSU buyout, “What time do you want me to leave and what door you want me out of brother?”
UTSA Head Coach Jeff Traylor, Georgia Bulldogs Co-Defensive Coordinator Glenn Schumann, and Duke Head Coach Mike Elko need to be your Head Coaching Hot Board and Rolodex for phone calls for the Aggie Athletic Department. Here’s why:
Jeff Traylor
***Since publication, it has been confirmed Traylor has Zoom interviewed for the position. An interview at the least was obviously coming***
A 37-13 record at UTSA is all you need to know that Traylor will get a program running. The man went 175-28 as a Texas 4A coach at Gilmer. Texas, Texas, Texas. There will be no shortage of recruiting Texas with Traylor at the helm. Born and raised in Texas before a 25-year high school coaching career that led to being a 4-time Texas 4A Coach of the Year before his transition to college football, Traylor having connections is an understatement. Add to that assistant coaching stops at SMU, Arkansas, and Texas and a degree from Stephen F. Austin, this area of the country is all he knows. It helps to explain his immediate success in Conference USA and it’d likewise be his key to success in College Station.
I’ll say this, Traylor isn’t exactly doing the coach-speak “I’m focused on my team” “I’m not going anywhere” etc. “It’s natural. It means when you’ve been winning a lot of ball games,” Traylor said. “… That speculation is going to always come up when you’ve had great players like I’ve had.” This quote from starting quarterback Frank Harris might have been even better, saying the Roadrunners have come to expect that Traylor’s name will surface “every time a Texas job comes open.” This isn’t A Texas job, this is THE Texas job along with the Longhorns obviously.
Closing statement: UTSA had never posted a double-digit win season in its history until Traylor arrived. UTSA has won back-to-back Conference USA titles and 11-win years. This guy is a winner. He will not say no if you pick up the phone and he interviews well.
Glenn Schumann
Here’s a brain-twister for you: Schu is a mere 33 years old and already has 14 years of SEC coaching experience as a student assistant (Alabama), graduate assistant (Alabama), position coach (Linebackers @ Georgia), and Defensive Coordinator (Georgia). He has six National Championship rings and counting (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2021, 2022).
You want to hang with Alabama Aggies fans? You want to hang with the Dawgs? Schu has been employed by Nick Saban and Kirby Smart since 2008 for a reason. Former Dawgs Defensive Coordinator Dan Lanning was 35 years old when he accepted the Head Coaching position at Oregon and he did not have the length of experience with Coach Saban and Coach Smart of Schumann, Smart even claiming Schumann as his “right hand man” dating back to Alabama. He has gone through interview rounds with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Baltimore Ravens in 2023 for defensive coordinator roles. Schumann is paid $1.9 million per year entering the 2023 season, a raise of more than $1 million from his salary in 2022 ($805,000). He’s paid $900,000 more than any other UGA assistant. For further perspective, Ohio State Defensive Coordinator Jim Knowles is the highest-paid assistant coach in college football with a $1.96 million salary.
Check these last two Dawgs' defenses with Schumann’s paws all over them:
2021 Georgia Bulldog defensive ranks:
1st in scoring defense - 10.2 points per game
2nd in rushing defense - 78.9 rushing ypg
2022 Georgia Bulldog defensive ranks:
5th in scoring defense - 14.3 ppg
1st in rushing defense - 77.1 ypg
Schu is a Top 10 recruiter in this country. He gets who he wants. Schumann’s head coaching break is coming soon.
Mike Elko
USA Today reported that Mike Elko made $2.1 million last year as Duke’s Head Coach. Elko’s departure from College Station to accept the Duke job started the two programs going in very different directions. Elko’s Blue Devils won nine games in 2022, his first season as a head coach, and was named ACC Coach of the Year. The Blue Devils are currently 6-4 with a backup quarterback. This is a program that won 10 games in previous Head Coach David Cutcliffe’s last three years. Elko’s time from 2018-2021 with the Aggies leaves obvious familiarity and obvious descent since his departure. “In 2020, A&M finished ninth nationally in total defense (317.3 yards per game) and second in run defense (99.1 yards per game). In 2021, the Aggies ranked 14th in total yards allowed (327.5) and third in scoring (15.3 points per game).”
This was a great quote from Elko when questioned recently about the A&M position: “When you’re doing the job well, everybody thinks you’re leaving. When you’re doing your job bad, everybody thinks you’re leaving.” He could be too comfortable in Durham, but you make a man say no to tripling his salary.
Any of these three would be a phenomenal and realistic hire for the Aggies. It is time to stop worrying about "flash" and get someone who is ready to work their tail off.
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