Gilbert Search Firm: Replacing Jimbo

I have long held that if you count agents as part of the competitive sporting landscape. The true GOAT in sports is baseball super agent Scott Boras. His players get PAID and teams who play ball with him win (see Texas Rangers) Now Boras has company. Jimbo Fisher’s agent Jimmy Sexton, go ahead and take a bow. Fisher is going to get over 75 million dollars not to work. Impressive, but I mention this only to highlight two major elements in the search to replace Jimbo.

1. Money isn’t going to matter
2. Neither is a little thing called—Logic

With that knowledge my esteemed search firm will conduct its work with a few trips to crazy town (YOLO) This is not a difficult job to identify the parameters. Win, and this being Texas— win BIG. Competing for national championships regularly is the starting point.

With these bare bones requirements. I’m going to break six candidates down into three categories. With the final two being the best options

The YOLO Duo

Urban Meyer (Fox TV Analyst) There are 133 teams playing Division I college football. I can think of 132 programs that Urban Meyer should not return with. Not Miami, not even UNLV. However this is one situation where it just might work. Aggie land showed during the Johnny Manziel saga that have a strong appetite for drama and scandal. That will come— book it. Along with the drama and scandal. Urban does check all the boxes. He wins, he has won in the SEC, and he has recruited Texas well in the past.

Unless you live in a cave. You probably know why this is not a good idea long term. If you want a more nuanced demerit. His brief Jacksonville tenure was an absolute train wreck. Additionally Ohio St has not missed a beat without him. He will be turning 60 during the next season. Perhaps the game has passed him in the time off. It is fair to wonder if A&M would be dropping 100 million dollars for the college version of Bill Belichick

Bobby Petrino (Texas A&M Offensive Coordinator) This might be even more far fetched than Urban. However you have to consider a few factors. Once again, I don’t think A&M really cares about scandal or baggage. If you remove those factors, you would be hard pressed to find a coach with a much better resume. High flying offenses, a Heisman trophy winner, and success in two major conferences. It’s all there.

Additionally the college football transfer portal opens up on December 4th. If you don’t think you can get your desired candidate before then. Petrino is already on staff. If he has forged a good relationship with the existing players. Hiring him could provide stability and continuity to the program (I can’t believe I just wrote that sentence)

The Safe Duo

Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss Head Coach) How bizarre has the college football world become? I just wrote that Bobby Petrino could stabilize the A&M program. Now I’m labeling Lane Kiffin as a “safe” option. In all seriousness, it speaks to the type of job Kiffin has done in Oxford.

He has built a consistent winner without the histrionics that accompanied him at Oakland, Knoxville, and USC. He has done it with the type of exciting and dynamic offense that has been missing in College Station. A&M athletic director Ross Bjork hired him at Ole Miss so there is also familiarity.

That being said. He hasn’t really contented for a national championship yet. Going back to our initial parameters. You will need to win big to placate this fan base. You will also need to pay a premium to get him. We don’t really know who soured on who in last years Auburn dalliance. If Lane had concerns about meddling boosters. Texas A&M probably isn’t the place for him. If you are going to bet the farm on a rehabilitated maverick. I would save the money and give the aforementioned Petrino a try.

Mike Elko (Duke Head Coach) Perhaps the most logical “fit” on the list. Has built a consistent winner in short order at Duke. Once again, another sentence I never thought I would write. Additionally he has recent experience working at the school with a successful four year stint as a defensive coordinator (2018-2021)

So where’s the problem? First and foremost. Most fans would agree the Aggie’s really need a jolt offensively. That is not Elko’s side of the ball. Secondly Elko’s four year stay marks his only time spent outside of the East Coast or Midwest. Texas football is a culture unto itself. A&M with the 12th man and the military component is even more unique.

More importantly, I think Elko knows this. He seems like a coach comfortable in his own skin. If he has an inkling that Penn St or even Notre Dame (where he also worked) will open. I wouldn’t be surprised if he shows patience and waits for one of those jobs. He has earned some serious job security already in Durham. At the end of the day that is what most coaches are ultimately concerned with.

the Dynamic Duo (the Best Choices)

It is often said that football is a “copycat” sport. What does that mean for this search? With Clemson falling off the pace a bit this year. If you want to win a national championship— you are plucking coaches from the Georgia and Alabama coaching trees. Those are really the only options. Which leads us to……

Glenn Schumann (Georgia Co-Defensive Coordinator) Who? I’m not going to try and act like some insider. I’m not entirely sure— but it doesn’t really matter. Search firms look at resumes and whittle down candidates. One thing I do know is that most successful hire of a recent cycle is Oregon head coach Dan Lanning. You could virtually copy and paste Schumann’s resume from Lanning’s.

Nick Saban and Kirby Smart are the ONLY two coaches Schumann has worked for. That is a good thing. He is quite young (34 by the time the season starts) Once again so was Lanning. Hasn’t seemed to have hampered him at all. Additionally he is a product of McKinney Texas, so the culture and fit should not be a problem. Probably won’t win the press conference. However I think A&M is tired of winning those and would prefer championships. This might be the best route to that path.

Bill O’Brien (Offensive Coordinator New England Patriots) Like others on this list. At first glance this seems like an odd fit. However after a closer look at the resume. You realize he really checks most of the boxes. Experience at a major program— check. While it seems like a lifetime ago. The job he did at a horrific situation at Penn St has really been underrated. He resuscitated a reeling program in two short years.

His professional experience was not the epic disaster many have made it out to be. He went to the playoffs in four out of his six full years. Where O’Brien faltered was as a GM. After his departure, it became clear the organizational issues probably stretched beyond him. Additionally while Texans culture is not exactly Friday Night Lights. He definitely has experience in the state of Texas. After leaving the NFL he returned to college where he successfully mentored a #1 overall pick in Bryce Young.

Yes, things are not going great in New England right now. There were also player/media relations issues with the Texans That being said. If you feel O’Brien has learned from those mistakes. Nobody on this list (sans Urban) has a better and more complete resume. A successful college and pro head coach. With offensive credentials and experience in the state. Experience with Nick Saban and coordinating a Heisman trophy winner. Like Petrino, that is pretty well rounded and tough to top.

Recommendation: Bring in Schumann for an interview. If he knocks it out of the park. Open up the wallet. If he doesn’t, perform due diligence on O’Brien. If by some chance he wants to stay in the NFL. You don’t want to go 0-3. Shut it down, save some money, and give Petrino a chance at redemption. It will definitely be interesting. As the Cowboys have shown— that matters in this state as well.