Reader comments
Utah State football: Baer would welcome USU job

Observer | 8:42 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Now isn't the time for USU to hire another coordinator or lower division coach. They've been there, done that. They need to hire a proven D1 head coach. The only person mentioned as a possibility who meets that criteria is John L. Smith. If USU hires Baer over Smith, that will be the 4th bad hire in a row for the Aggies and they may as well give up their football program right now.

Why not | 10:31 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Hiring Baer wouldnt be such a bad choice. In my opinion the only coaches that wouldnt use USU as a stepping stone are coaches that have strong ties to the valley, they people and the university. I can see him be as loyal to USU as Stew has been. You wont find those kind of individuals every day. Stew could have gone to bigger and better but he chose to stay. I can see the same happen to Baer if he finds some success here.
Go Aggies!!!

Who Cares | 10:47 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Who cares if a coach uses us as a stepping stone. I didn't hurt Utah. I'd much rather have a coach that people wanted to hire than one that nobody wanted.

Comments continue below

new coach | 11:00 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

can the aggies afford a coach that has head coaching experience at the FBS level?

Guy was a great coordinator before getting his first head coaching job.

San Jose State? | 11:02 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Huh I certianly hope we would not take a d-cordinator from San Jose state over Gary Anderson merely because he played football at Sky View. Anderson is a great recruiter, with head coaching experience, whose players love him. And John L. Smith? Uh o.k are we really willing to accept those results? Or even worst hope for them?

Logan Cheese head | 11:18 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

The name of the game is "RECRUITING." and J L along with his network of coaches will bring in the right players who will turn this program around. FORGET THE REST AND HIRE J L SMITH NOW!

Baer sounds better than | 11:27 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

John L. Smith. I doubt Smith really cares about USU - he didn't thatgreat the first time, and jumped ship at first opportunity.

Anderson | 11:50 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Gary Anderson of Utah is twice the coach that either of those two are. Don't be stupid hire Gary Anderson. He has strong ties with Utah high school players as well as around the country. Put people back in the seats now. They have 14 local players on their roster. Utah has 38, BYU 39. That is why their seats are filled and they are successful on the field.

Whoever | 11:51 a.m. Nov. 20, 2008

can just win, baby!

Go Aggies!

Anonymous | 12:20 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

people do not come to games because local kids are or are not on the field. people come to games if the team is winning and the product is fun to watch.

Boise State has about 10 Idaho kids on the roster. They fill the stadium every week.

Just win. I don't care if the coach comes in and goes 24-24 over the next four years and then leaves. That's 16 more wins than Brent Guy has given us in the same time period.

One thing you can't do... | 1:23 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Is hire the long-time loyal assistant. What does that say about his motivation/aspirations. If he was head-coach material he would NOT have spent 30+ years as an assistant coach. Don't kid yourself!
If he was good enough he would have already taken a head job. The last reason you should ever hire someone is because they "want to come home"

Since it seems like the last thing USU should do, it is obviously the one decision they will make.

Hey!!! | 1:27 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

What to look for in a head coach to turn around a program:

1. Previous head coaching experience (or "HOT" coordinator)
2. Momentum from the last program (winning seasons, etc.)
3. Good media/public relations
4. Proven ability to recruit athletes and put them in the right place to make plays.

Now tell me if you think anyone with these credentials would want to take a job in Logan.

Number 9 | 2:07 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

What USU needs to turn program around is a YOUNG, ARTICULATE, fired-up coach who can RECRUIT!!! Talent is the name of the game in college football.
No more old, stuffy "football guys" who talk like farmers or leather helmet-wearing geezers.
You need someone who can sell talented athletes on coming to USU.
End of story. A lifetime assistant like Baer is the WORST idea in history. There is a reason he's never been a head coach. Think about it.
If you're good enough, you get a head coaching gig somewhere.

Kyle | 5:23 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Yeah little brother should hire Baer. He didn't want the job 4 years ago because the facilities were a mess. Now all of a sudden Willingham dumps him at Washington and he is at San Jose and the facilities are among the best in the country. Yeah ok, I believe that! USU has remodeled the end zone and now they are state of the country! If you think Weis really wanted him to stay at Notre Dame you should buy some stock now, it is going up like crazy! Make some mad money and buy Baer now!

Recruiting | 6:21 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Recruiting is about Facilities and Money To Build Facilities! A coach can sit in the living room and use smoke and mirrors but the kids have to come to Logan and "Buy IN." A stepping stone coach wont have the base to raise the money! Winning is all that matters! USU needs a "PROGRAM". John L Smith is not here to build a Program. We all know what he will do if he wins here. He will go after the $$$$. Cant blame him. USU is not UTAH, BYU, or Boise State (Soon to be in the MWC) We need a Stew Morrill. We need a guy who uderstands Cache Valley! Kent Baer is the logical and sensible choice. Every Head coach was an Assistant before they were a head coach.

I nominate... | 6:29 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Either Steve Coburn from Snow
or Steve Clark from SUU.

Steve Coburn has done a great job at snow and has improved upon an already great program.

Steve Clark, just because he already made the jump from GA at BYU to OC at SUU, why not make the jump to HC at USU?

Full House | 6:37 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

If you think Andersen in leaving Utah for Utah St. you need to think again... That would be akin to trading in your Lexus for a Kia.

Utes by 5 | 6:56 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Coburn leaving Snow to go to USU would be a step down - it would be career suicide.

Re: Recruiting | 8:05 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

If Baer is your logical and sensible choice for a head coach, then you deserve to win 1 or 2 games a year.

You are right on one point, every head coach was an assistant at one point, but no coach should get their first chance after 30 years. If you can't make that step in 30 years, you don't deserve it!

USU FOOTBALL | 8:25 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

USU FOOTBALL is pointless.

Put field turf in the stadium.

Let the local high schools play their games at the stadium including soccer and football.

It's time for the Aggie Faithful to put the football program out of its misery.

AggieFan | 9:56 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Canales is the best man for the job. He will give the Aggies the best opportunity to get to the next level.

Recruit | 6:16 a.m. Nov. 21, 2008

Personally I don't care if the next coach recruits heavily in-state, in the intermountain area, or in the Falkland Islands, as long as he puts a winning combination on the field! If he fields a quality product, the fans will be back in Romney Stadium and the program will revive.

loom | 6:12 p.m. Nov. 21, 2008

Canales is the one. great motivator and great offensive mind. reminds me of a mix between Norm Chow and Urban Meyer. bring on Canales!

Aggie | 8:58 p.m. Nov. 22, 2008

Why does everyone think Canales is such an impressive offensive genius? In three years at Arizona, he had one successful season offensively. It looks like the results from South Florida are moderately decent, but not outstanding. He may be the best we can do, and we end up hiring him to be a successful coach, but what are these amazing results everyone is talking about?

MG | 2:59 a.m. Nov. 23, 2008

USU needs an organizational leader. There is a difference between being a great assistant and technical coach and a great head coach. Head coaches set expectations and remove obstacles to the member for the organization and drive the team member to exceed the organization's goals.... So do not promote an assistant... two find some one that knows Cache Valley, the mormon culture, three find someone that will motivate the players... notice that there is not a lot of excitement from them... find someone with vision and makes the players unite and believe they can win... USU has talented athletes.. they are close.. just need the mental and emotional aspects of the game done better....I don't know who fits this description... but this is what they... need...

blake | 7:42 a.m. Nov. 24, 2008

k kent baer would be a great coach you guys dont know what you are tsking about

Baer Excellent Choice | 8:14 a.m. Nov. 24, 2008

John L Smith . . . gone in 60 seconds.
Gary Anderson . . . like one poster said, who said he is leaving Utah. And if he "leaves" Utah why would he not "leave" Utah State? Yes he would. Duh!
Baer's defenses were ALL that Willingham had when at Stanford and Notre Dame, take a look at the scores and the records.

Baer would actually build the program rather than being here for two years and bailing. I don't have illusions of being BYU or Utah but certainly feel we can be competitive in our conference. This year alone with a few tweaks we could have won 5 games, which is laughable at most programs but not at USU baby:)

HIRE BAER!!!

Ask SUU | 10:17 a.m. Nov. 24, 2008

Seems like no one can remember the "great" head coaching experience that Anderson had. Ask SUU how great he was for their program before he went crying home to Utah. Don't kid yourself about the "great" defensive coordinator either. Everyone knows that the true defensive genius at Utah is coming from the head coach. Anderson had his chance to move up. Please don't bring him in to Cache Valley.

USU! | 10:23 a.m. Nov. 24, 2008

Coaching experience:
Utah State, 1977-85
Idaho, 1986
California, 1987-91
Arizona State, 1992-94
Stanford, 1995-2001
Notre Dame, 2002-04
Washington, 2005-07
San Jose State, 2008
how is Baer not good for USU?? NOTREDAME... they also had the # 3 D in the Nation. the Team was 6-0 and didnt score 1 Offense TD! that means the D had to play pretty dang good.. come on now people of Cache Valley.. the choices of coaches you made before were really good right!? NOT.. usu hasnt done anything in along time and Baer can bring the Program back up! HIre Baer.. he played at USU he's going to be Loyal and be a Great Recruiter

GoAgs | 10:32 a.m. Nov. 24, 2008

Dan McCarney will be the first to be offered the job, don't know if he will take it but that is the inside info. Former Iowa St. head coach, current assistant for Urban at Fla. very good friends with Barnes.

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