Sticking with the sports theme of today’s posts, Missouri’s surprisingly decisive victory over the Texas Tech Red Raiders last Saturday apparently prompted Tech head coach Mike Leach to channel the judge in OJ Simpson’s murder trial to explain the Raiders’ pratfall:
“What happens with players, [it’s] just like Judge Lance Ito gets in the middle of a big trial and decides it’s more important for him to be a movie star than it is to be a judge,” said Leach, referring to the 1995 O.J. Simpson trial. “He had problems doing his [job] from one snap to the next.
“So if it can happen to good old Judge Ito, I’m sure it can happen to 18-22-year-olds.”
It can happen to football coaches, too.
Leach has developed an idiosyncratic and generally effective offense at Tech, but he has largely ignored the development of a strong enough defensive component to make Tech a truly balanced, conference championship-caliber program. Earlier this season, immediately after Mike Gundy went batshit, Leach unceremoniously fired Tech’s defensive coordinator, who happened to be Tech’s most experienced and admired assistant coach. Leach elevated a position coach to defensive coordinator and Tech’s defensive limitations were disguised during its next three games, which were wins over teams with easily-defended offenses (Northwestern State, Iowa State and Texas A&M). However, when exposed to Missouri’s salty offense this past Saturday, the Red Raiders’ defense wilted, just as it did earlier in the season during the Oklahoma State game. The Red Raiders have suffered from a similar syndrome during each of Leach’s eight years at Tech.
Thus, Leach’s teams run up big scores and statistics against teams of inferior ability, but struggle against well-balanced teams of equal or better ability. Tech under Leach has never played in a Big 12 championship game. His treatment of assistant coaches is unlikely to result in the development of a strong coaching staff. Despite his relentless self-promotion, Leach’s Tech program appears to elevate form over substance and may well have peaked. If it has, the descent is not likely to be pleasant.
Update: Coach Leach has a selective memory, too.
Unsurprisingly (since their two primary Big 12 writers are terrible), several Chron stories before the Mizzou meltdown referenced the Tech defense’s improvement since the firing (with no reference to the quality of competition).
I guess the Chron writers will stop that now, although I’m sure they’ll produce more inanity before this season is done.
You pontificate convincingly, but you’re weak on facts. First, Lyle Setencich may have been the most experienced assistant, but he was not the most admired. The defensive players are happy with the change. Second, the “position coach” whom you said assumed the defensive coordinator duties is Ruffin McNeil, assistant head coach and special teams coordinator. McNeil has been a college defensive coordinator twice before: At Appalachian State (’93-’96) and UNLV (’97-’98).
True, he also coached the defensive tackles, however at Tech every coach coaches a position, including Leach (quarterbacks.)
I also question your insinuation that Leach treats his staff badly. He fights hard to keep them well-paid. Coaches stay with him for a long time and usually leave for head or coordinator jobs.
I see your point – Leach isn’t so great. But using erroneous statements to support your assertion makes you look like some kook who will say anything. They have these things called “websites” where you can read about a coach’s credentials.
I think your “facts” are open to debate.
Setencich is much admired within the coaching profession. You may be right about how the Tech players feel about Leach’s move. However, IIRC, McNiel’s special teams were ranked among the worst in the nation last year.
Other than Briles at Houston and Matsakis at Texas State (for one very unimpressive year), I don’t recall another Tech assistant coach from one of Leach’s staffs leaving to become a head coach of a college program. And Briles’ pedigree was well-established before his short stay on Leach’s staff. As far as assistants leaving Leach’s staffs for coordinator positions on the college level, Sonny Dykes going to Arizona this past season is the only one that I can recall off hand.
I didn’t mean to insinuate that Leach treats his assistants badly generally. Frankly, I don’t know. However, I do know from my many friends in the coaching profession that firing a long-time and admired (at least within the profession) assistant after a tough loss is not a way to win friends in the assistant coaching community.