There is fallout. And a lot of it is unseen.
So while things have settled some on the annual winter college coaching carousel, there are still many picking up the pieces. For others, that time of uncertainty has passed.
When a college coach is hired there is much hoopla. There is the excitement, in most cases, at the new destination, and often anger expressed by the departed school.
When Bryan Harsin left Arkansas State last month there was some of that. The thought here was not so much displeasure that Harsin was leaving but that the Red Wolves had to go through another coaching search.
Life is somewhat back to normal now. Harsin is at his alma mater and Blake Anderson, who was the offensive coordinator at North Carolina, is the new coach at Arkansas State.
Both coaches are putting together staffs.
And a lot of people are still wondering.
But as is often the case, you forget about those left behind. College coaching is not like most jobs: when the boss leaves the underlings still have their positions. Most assistant coaches work on one-year contracts as do the support staffs. When the head coach moves on, they are left wondering.
They start searching for information. And networking best they can. And texting and calling anyone they know. My phone records are evidence.
But it is not only the coaches who are often left in the lurch. Nothing like receiving a text from a high school senior who has been planning and dreaming of playing college football for a school then suddenly worrying if he still has a scholarship.
Before the A-State coaching search was complete the school announced all of its commitments (14) would be honored if they chose to stay with the school. So far they have stood firm.
As far as coaches, five staff members from ASU will join Harsin in Idaho. The others are looking for new opportunities.
It is a part of the game that goes unnoticed. Head coaches get fired or get new jobs and the fallout left behind is often big.
To the credit of former Arkansas State coaches – Ole Miss’ Hugh Freeze and Auburn’s Gus Malzahn — they found jobs for just about everyone on their A-State staffs. But that is the luxury of a Southeastern Conference school with their big budgets. They might not all be on the field coaches, but the support staffs are large.
Despite its recent success, Boise State does not have that of budget. So a lot of guys are scrambling.
And that is the sad part.
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Jeff Reed is editor of Astatenation.com
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