I found this article last night and found it to be a good read on how coaching searches go down.
https://landryfootball.com/taking-inside-jon-gruden-rumors-guy-thats/
I am not here to spoil anyone’s fun or say definitively that I know for certain what a school or coaching candidate will do as it is their decision, not mine. I only serve as a Coaching and Scouting Consultant around the College Football and NFL landscape but I am not in the position to make decisions for either party. I only provide advice when I am called upon to do so.
As rumors persist that Jon Gruden is calling coaches about potentially joining his staff at Tennessee, it must be noted that it is HIGHLY UNUSUAL for a potential assistant coaching candidate to share that information with the media as he is risking ruining the confidence of his potential head coach in him as a staff member.
It has been my experience that coaches who say they have been contacted by (insert HC candidate here), usually are trying to inflate their value on the coaching market through use of the media. So, just because a respected member of the media is telling the truth in their reporting, they may not be told the truth by their source as it’s virtually impossible to verify that information during this process.
And, in this age of competition media, you will see guys go for a story by saying things are in the works because if they don’t work they can always fall back on the “deal fell through angle”. People tend to believe what they want to believe and what makes sense to them. But if you have no experience INSIDE the coaching/coaching world, you can be easily fooled.
There is no way to confirm that a conversation DID NOT take place when you don’t have the source. With that being said, it is common place for head coaching candidates to reach out to several assistant coaching candidates to put out feelers and get a head start on the process IF a deal comes to frution.
It’s also a way for a head coaching candidate to perpetuate his candidacy for that job and, more importantly, announce to all of the football world (i.e.–administrators responsible for hiring anywhewre) that he is interested in moving on from their current position be it from inside the coaching profession or outside (like broadcasting).
This is what I sense is going on with Jon Gruden and his rumors about the Tennessee job.
I know the entire Gruden family very well on the football level as our careers have crossed and have shared various working relationships. I have not reached out to Jon or any other members of the family as discussing this topic would not be a comfortable situation either way.
However, I spoke with members of the Gruden camp and other coaching friends that know Jon better than I do. All believe that Jon wants badly to get back to coaching —-in the NFL. He prefers the NFL game and style but has not had a interest coming his way in the league for some time.
The rumors about a return to the Buccaneers comes from the Gruden camp, not from the Buccaneers. Would the Glazers be willing to bring back Gruden to Tampa? Perhaps. But the Glazer boys are close to the vest types who would never express any interest until they were ready to move on an offer.
By having his name constantly out in the public, it only serves as a public relations mechanism for Gruden to keep his name fresh and on the top of every NFL owner’s mind. If he is perceived to be “interested” in the Tennessee job, then it only encourages any interested NFL parties to check into his NFL interest.
While there has not been any NFL interest in Gruden, having his name floated out not only helps spread the word that he might be interested in coaching again, it fulfils his ego that all coaches have–commonly called the Kardasian effect in the coaching business.
If getting another NFL shot is not in the cards, would Tennessee provide the scratch to his coaching itch? Everyone in Gruden’s camp that I have spoken with have all expressed to me that he has no interest in the Tennessee job but he “hopes that it will lead to an NFL opportunity.”
There is no way for me to be certain that Gruden would be interested or not in Tennessee and vice versa because the only ones that truly know that would be Jon himself and U.Tennessee officials.
But, as I have also been told, if things do not work out for Gruden, expect him to say he’s not interested in coaching as he doesn’t want the appearance that he has been looked over. Image is very important to him as is to all coaches and giving the impression that he could have any job he wants is the image that he wants to continue to provide publicly.
From the University of Tennessee point of view, administrators don’t appear all that interested in Gruden as they are busy vetting other candidates. Yes, certain booster factions want him badly but the people handling the process led by AD John Currie don’t appear as interested. But, I am told that they don’t mind the perception that Gruden is a target as giving the impression that they made a run at him would appease both the booster faction and fan base who are hoping for him.
A similar thing happened when Michigan was reportedly interested in then LSU coach Les Miles. Certain booster factions wanted Miles but Michigan’s athletic director and President were not interested enough to make him an offer but were willing to let the public (through the media) think so as it solved two issues for them–satisfying big money boosters by making it seemed like he turned them down and still getting the candidate they wanted. They even went so far as to interview him in Baton Rouge but failed to make an offer during that time or any time thereafter. And, there is no chance the coach will admit to being turned down as he wants to give the impression to his current employer and fan base that HE turned THEM down.
https://landryfootball.com/taking-inside-jon-gruden-rumors-guy-thats/
I am not here to spoil anyone’s fun or say definitively that I know for certain what a school or coaching candidate will do as it is their decision, not mine. I only serve as a Coaching and Scouting Consultant around the College Football and NFL landscape but I am not in the position to make decisions for either party. I only provide advice when I am called upon to do so.
As rumors persist that Jon Gruden is calling coaches about potentially joining his staff at Tennessee, it must be noted that it is HIGHLY UNUSUAL for a potential assistant coaching candidate to share that information with the media as he is risking ruining the confidence of his potential head coach in him as a staff member.
It has been my experience that coaches who say they have been contacted by (insert HC candidate here), usually are trying to inflate their value on the coaching market through use of the media. So, just because a respected member of the media is telling the truth in their reporting, they may not be told the truth by their source as it’s virtually impossible to verify that information during this process.
And, in this age of competition media, you will see guys go for a story by saying things are in the works because if they don’t work they can always fall back on the “deal fell through angle”. People tend to believe what they want to believe and what makes sense to them. But if you have no experience INSIDE the coaching/coaching world, you can be easily fooled.
There is no way to confirm that a conversation DID NOT take place when you don’t have the source. With that being said, it is common place for head coaching candidates to reach out to several assistant coaching candidates to put out feelers and get a head start on the process IF a deal comes to frution.
It’s also a way for a head coaching candidate to perpetuate his candidacy for that job and, more importantly, announce to all of the football world (i.e.–administrators responsible for hiring anywhewre) that he is interested in moving on from their current position be it from inside the coaching profession or outside (like broadcasting).
This is what I sense is going on with Jon Gruden and his rumors about the Tennessee job.
I know the entire Gruden family very well on the football level as our careers have crossed and have shared various working relationships. I have not reached out to Jon or any other members of the family as discussing this topic would not be a comfortable situation either way.
However, I spoke with members of the Gruden camp and other coaching friends that know Jon better than I do. All believe that Jon wants badly to get back to coaching —-in the NFL. He prefers the NFL game and style but has not had a interest coming his way in the league for some time.
The rumors about a return to the Buccaneers comes from the Gruden camp, not from the Buccaneers. Would the Glazers be willing to bring back Gruden to Tampa? Perhaps. But the Glazer boys are close to the vest types who would never express any interest until they were ready to move on an offer.
By having his name constantly out in the public, it only serves as a public relations mechanism for Gruden to keep his name fresh and on the top of every NFL owner’s mind. If he is perceived to be “interested” in the Tennessee job, then it only encourages any interested NFL parties to check into his NFL interest.
While there has not been any NFL interest in Gruden, having his name floated out not only helps spread the word that he might be interested in coaching again, it fulfils his ego that all coaches have–commonly called the Kardasian effect in the coaching business.
If getting another NFL shot is not in the cards, would Tennessee provide the scratch to his coaching itch? Everyone in Gruden’s camp that I have spoken with have all expressed to me that he has no interest in the Tennessee job but he “hopes that it will lead to an NFL opportunity.”
There is no way for me to be certain that Gruden would be interested or not in Tennessee and vice versa because the only ones that truly know that would be Jon himself and U.Tennessee officials.
But, as I have also been told, if things do not work out for Gruden, expect him to say he’s not interested in coaching as he doesn’t want the appearance that he has been looked over. Image is very important to him as is to all coaches and giving the impression that he could have any job he wants is the image that he wants to continue to provide publicly.
From the University of Tennessee point of view, administrators don’t appear all that interested in Gruden as they are busy vetting other candidates. Yes, certain booster factions want him badly but the people handling the process led by AD John Currie don’t appear as interested. But, I am told that they don’t mind the perception that Gruden is a target as giving the impression that they made a run at him would appease both the booster faction and fan base who are hoping for him.
A similar thing happened when Michigan was reportedly interested in then LSU coach Les Miles. Certain booster factions wanted Miles but Michigan’s athletic director and President were not interested enough to make him an offer but were willing to let the public (through the media) think so as it solved two issues for them–satisfying big money boosters by making it seemed like he turned them down and still getting the candidate they wanted. They even went so far as to interview him in Baton Rouge but failed to make an offer during that time or any time thereafter. And, there is no chance the coach will admit to being turned down as he wants to give the impression to his current employer and fan base that HE turned THEM down.
