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| Bret Bielema |
Age: 44
Current position: Arkansas Razorbacks head coach
Salary: $2,950,000 per year
Head coaching experience: 9-15 at Arkansas Razorbacks (2013-2014), 68-24 at Wisconsin Badgers (2006-2012), 77-39 overall
History: Bielema grew up in Illinois and got a scholarship to Iowa as a defensive tackle. After a short playing stint in the Arena Football League, he latched on at Iowa as a graduate assistant and then the linebackers coach from 1996-2001. Kansas State hired him away as a co-defensive coordinator in 2002-2003, and then he was hired by Wisconsin head coach Barry Alvarez as the defensive coordinator for 2004 and 2005. After Alvarez retired from coaching, he handed over the reins to Bielema. The Badgers continued their string of highly productive running backs, starting with P.J. Hill (1,161+ yards from 2006-2008), John Clay (1,012+ yards from 2009-2010), and Montee Ball (1,830+ yards in 2011-2012). Bielema and Wisconsin had developed a reputation for producing big-time running backs and big-time offensive linemen. In a bit of a surprising move, he took the head coaching job at Arkansas after the 2012 season. The Razorbacks won their first three games of 2013 but then lost nine straight to end the year, and they are 6-6 so far this year with a bowl game against Texas pending. Meanwhile, his teams' rushing prowess has continued with two 900+ yards rushers in 2013 and two 1,000+ yard rushers this season.
My thoughts: I hate Bret Bielema. "Hate" is a strong word, because he's not a criminal or anything. But as far as coaches go, he's a notch below the likes of Bobby Petrino and Mark Dantonio in my book. Bielema is pompous and a little bit slimy, and he comes off like a meathead. All that aside, he appears to be a pretty darn good football coach. His offensive lines have typically been excellent, and his running backs have been outstanding (at least in college); his quarterbacks have been game managers, and his defenses have been solid (#24 in total defense in 2014, #15 his last year at Wisconsin). It's hard to argue with his success at Wisconsin, and his current Razorbacks program is headed in the right direction. Michigan is built like a Bret Bielema team - there are highly touted offensive linemen used to a pro-style offense, there are between-the-tackles runners in the stable, and there are pocket-style quarterbacks who should be able to manage games if the running component can improve. At the same time, a move from Arkansas to Michigan after only two years would indicate some instability and make me wonder what his long-term goals would be. Would a successful run in Ann Arbor lead to a jump to, say, Alabama or USC or possibly the NFL?
Likelihood of coming to Michigan: Between the lines, Bielema seems like a great fit at Michigan. His current salary is not steep enough to ward off the Wolverines. His personality might not exactly fit, but he's familiar with the Big Ten and surely recognizes the traditions, rivalries, etc. Arkansas is a step ahead of Michigan when it comes to their current programs, but he has to understand that Michigan's ceiling is significantly higher. However, unless he views Michigan as a dream job, it would be hard to jump at this point. I do think Bielema should be on Jim Hackett's list of potential candidates, and probably higher than just about any other reasonable option.
My wish list (updated):
1. Jim Harbaugh
2. Bob Stoops
3. Bret Bielema
4. Dan Mullen
5. Tom Herman
6. Jim Mora, Jr.
7. Les Miles
8. Greg Schiano
9. Pat Narduzzi
10. Mike Shanahan
11. Steve Addazio
This is probably the first time I disagree with where you're ranking a candidate. I think you're really under-appreciating how bad of a personality fit he'd be. He absolutely is an ass and a meathead, and it's no secret how he conducted himself in his off hours while at Wisconsin. He is one of the few coaches who seems to have success running an antiquated style of football many in the M fanbase seem to prefer, but I really think his personality and behavior are too big of a hurdle.
ReplyDeleteThere are coaches that are asses (Harbaugh and Dantonio definitely fit that mold) and there are who come across as slimy (Meyer and Miles come to mind), but then there are coaches that could been see as an embarrassment to the university, and I think Bielema would probably fall more under that last category that the former two. I just don't think M would pull the trigger on someone like that.
Winning cures everything. I'm not saying I would approve of his behavior, but the media wouldn't be so harsh on him if he was winning 10 games a year like he did at Wisconsin.
DeleteNo guarantees he would win or that another coach would not, but you can be very certain that Bielema would not fit culturally.
DeleteI don't think he's a legitimate candidate based on what Hackett said.
A good candidate with his attitude aside, but I doubt that he comes. He is still rebuilding the team, and Arky can (and should) give Bielma extra $ so that he stays put. You know, Bielma should've been a candidate back in 2011. He is a proven winner with great running game.
ReplyDeleteWe'll see what happens at Arkansas, but just like Wisconsin, he's playing from behind in the SEC. Arkansas has had some good teams over the years, but with Alabama, LSU, Florida, etc., they just don't have the same clout. I know Michigan is down right now, but they're within striking distance because of the tradition, facilities, money, etc.
DeleteAlso don't forget the buyout -- it should be very very big.
DeleteI'm surprised that you have such a low opinion of Mark Dantonio. Bobby Petrino? Really? And more than BB? What did Dantonio do to incur such wrath?
ReplyDeleteDantonio is extremely immature with some of the comments he has made over the years about Michigan, the incident with Jeff Hecklinski at the clinic, etc.
DeletePetrino is slimy and got in that stupid accident with his mistress.
Dantonio's good at what he does, but he apparently has an anger problem and inferiority complex vis-a-vis Michigan. I can't wait until Jim Harbaugh comes back and start owning him.
DeleteHow about not bothering to suspend players who go to jail?
DeleteI think you'll be waiting the rest of your life.
DeleteIt's even more than that, IMO. People will whine about glass houses, but Dantonio's personal handling of players who break the law is deplorable and yet he gets away with this "dean of discipline" moniker because he constantly looks like he has to take a shit.
DeleteHe made one semi-serious mis-step in his 7 going on 8 year career. Face it, you just don't like him because he flipped the script in the state of Michigan.
DeleteLOL. I'm certain the mere thought inspires Thunder to hurl.
ReplyDeleteI read Brian's post over at the other place and it has caused me to make the following adjustment to my list.
1 Harbaugh
2 Stoops
3 Herman ..... I like the Mensa thing, I dunno.
4 Mullin
I go from disinterested to disgust, leaning towards the later for most of the rest.
I hate him too. No thanks.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we're going to pull away an SEC coach unless there is some dissatisfaction on their end.
The SEC is no fun unless you are one of the bigs. If you're not one of the bigs, you're cannon fodder. Arkansas and MSU are definitely not among the top group and as such ..... doomed.
DeleteI think both Mullin and ..... Bielema ..... could be had ..... erp ..... excuse me ...... gotta hurl.
I agree with Roanman. I think anyone's poachable if they're not at the top of their game or their dream job. Jimbo Fisher is untouchable (except by the NFL). So is Nick Saban. Steve Sarkisian is good where he is. Otherwise, I think the vast majority of coaches could be had in the right situation. Bret Bielema is a Big Ten guy - born there, raised there, played there, coached there. He ended up at Arkansas for some reason, but he's probably not a guy who's going to build a dynasty and retire in Fayetteville. He's going to make another move at some point (maybe when Ferentz retires?). I don't know if it will be now, but it's going to happen.
DeleteWell, I've been having this debate for a while, but I think the Michigan job is a lot less attractive than Michigan fans seem to think. Don't get me wrong, I think it is still a fringe-elite job and that we have a good chance of landing an elite coach, but I don't think it's the no-brainer people make it out to be. There are so many examples of coaches that fall into the category of the Cutliff/Patterson "thanks but no thanks" rumors. People who have paid attention to recent performance, saw the environment around Rodriguez, and see the demographic shift (of talent) to the south.
DeleteI think Michigan people think people who have left the midwest want to come back -- most do not.
So, SOME people are going to see the Michigan job with the positive glory that we Michigan fans do. But many are not. The only reason Harbaugh and Miles are on the table is that they are alums.
If things are going well for Bielema in Arkansas (as they appear to be) why in the world would he skip town to come to AA? To be vaguely closer to his hometown? To go for an easier job? I don't think most coaches think in those terms ("let me make it easier for myself").
Of course I could be wrong, but there's not any examples I can think of of successful SEC coaches leaving for inferior conferences. [We can debate if Bielema is successful, I suppose.]
Bielema left Wisconsin for Arkansas by choice. I don't know why he would come back to the BIG for Michigan. The "some reason" he left is that he got an SEC job where he is paid more money and (He must feel) he is more likely to win a national title -- than Wisconsin, who right now is more likely to win a national title than Michigan.
I would be utterly shocked if Bielema leave ARkansas for Iowa or anywhere else in the Big 10 if he is successful in the SEC. Same goes for Mullen.
My best guess, in the event of success at Arkansas, is that Bielema would graduate to the NFL. If he fails, he'll probably reemerge as a coordinator somewhere.
This sucks man, rehire Brady hoke he's man enough to take the job and I think next year would have been totally different even if he didn't get fired.let's b realistic Michigan head football coach is one of the toughest jobs in the world its has to maintain excellence its started off good for hoke then got rocky but everyone seen the potential of what the team was gonna b dominant defense strong fun game and if anyone says we wasn't getting back to Michigan football they wasn't watching the games. Coach Hoke for rehire, LETS GO BLUE!!!
ReplyDeleteYeah, no. Not only did Michigan's record get worse every season but the TEAM itself looked worse and worse each season.
DeleteYou're either completely delusional or an amazing troll.
Mjs is not a troll. Just patient and smart. Our fans impatience is going to bite us in the butt when we hire a mediocre coach because Jim harbough says no. And don't get me started on those trajectory numbers. If you go by those Florida St will never lose again. Marshall and Arizona will play for the national championship. With a maturing young team, I think we were trending up
DeleteI agree with everyone that Bielema is a good coach, but an ass. My only worry about waiting for Harbaugh is that he takes too long to decide and we're left with a Hoke 2.0 coach. I have seen almost every decent coach mentioned except for Helfrich. Why do you think that is?
ReplyDeleteHelfrich is from Oregon and is running a very specific system. I don't think he would come, even for a significant raise.
DeleteI love Bielema as a candidate. Love him. Gets results, recruits are a perfect fit for the offense. He has had some "game manager" types, but he got excellent play out of his QB in 2010 (Stocco?) and then, of course, Russell Wilson.
ReplyDelete"Current Position: Arizona Razorbacks." What the hell is an Arizona Razorback, Magnus?
ReplyDelete