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Post by coachinghopeful on Jan 21, 2009 18:17:34 GMT -6
Syracuse's OC for the 2008 season just took a GA position at Tennessee. Has anyone ever heard of ANYTHING like this happening before? Thoughts? www.govolsxtra.com/news/2009/jan/20/ex-syracuse-coordinator-browning-set-join-ut-staff/Ex-Syracuse coordinator Browning set to join UT staff as GA By Drew Edwards (Contact) Originally published 07:36 p.m., January 20, 2009 Updated 07:36 p.m., January 20, 2009 Former Syracuse offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Mitch Browning is set to become a graduate assistant coach at Tennessee as early as next week, a source said Tuesday. Browning, who was a part-time coach at North Carolina State from 1980-81 when UT defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin was head coach there, must be accepted into a graduate program before he can officially begin work as a graduate assistant with the Vols. NCAA rules prohibit a school from having more than nine assistant coaches, and graduate assistants are not allowed to contact or evaluate recruits off campus. A graduate assistant can contact prospects by phone, as long as he has passed the NCAA’s certification test for recruiters. Browning would still be paid by Syracuse, where he signed a multi-year deal, according to Tom Dienhart of Rivals.com, which reported Tuesday that Browning was considering a move to Tennessee. Under NCAA rules, graduate assistants are not allowed to receive outside compensation beyond a full year’s grant-in-aid, four tickets to football and basketball games and any employee benefits offered by the school. Browning spent last season with the Orange, after working with former Minnesota head coach Glen Mason for most of his career. He did not coach during the 2007 season after Mason, now an analyst for the Big Ten Network, was fired. Browning spent seven of his 10 seasons at Minnesota as the Gophers’ offensive coordinator. At Syracuse, he worked primarily with guards and centers in addition to his role as offensive coordinator. |
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Post by mariner42 on Jan 21, 2009 21:02:44 GMT -6
Sounds like Lane Kiffin found someone who wanted to coach on his staff bad enough to do it for free. Sweet workaround on the NCAA rules, too.
I'm kind of scared of the monster that will be the UT coaching staff.
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moose18
Junior Member
"If it didn't matter who won or lost, they wouldn't keep score"
Posts: 284
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Post by moose18 on Jan 21, 2009 21:39:56 GMT -6
I believe he got a huge severance from SU, so money isn't an issue for this year. At least thats what I've heard from the Cuse people
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Post by coachjd on Jan 21, 2009 22:16:11 GMT -6
Coach Browning is good as they get. I have had the chance to talk football with him numerous times in his stay at Minnesota. They guy is a great coach.
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sin86
Sophomore Member
Posts: 111
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Post by sin86 on Jan 21, 2009 22:19:40 GMT -6
Not to mention the fact that if Tennessee is successful it may put him in place to step in and fill bigger shoes down the road. Besides maybe he just loves coaching so much that he doesn't really care about the pay. Just because there is no immediate reward doesn't mean he can't improve his position down the road.
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tarrant
Sophomore Member
Posts: 117
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Post by tarrant on Jan 22, 2009 3:08:53 GMT -6
To be fair though, how many coaches if they were in the same situation monetarily as him, would jump at the chance to work on/with the staff he's assembling at Tennessee? I know I'd be in line.
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Post by Coach JR on Jan 22, 2009 12:35:15 GMT -6
Sometimes buyouts can stipulate that it's only paid until you find employment, or that a portion be re-paid if you find employment. Good way around that if that's the case.
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Post by outlawjoseywales on Jan 22, 2009 12:47:59 GMT -6
Auburn, Tennessee's staff looks amazing on paper. There's a number of people that are upset that James Willis did what he did though. Anyway, I don't know the guy, he may be the salt of the earth, but I kinda' feel odd about Mitch Browning coaching at Tenn and being paid by Syracuse. Maybe that's not what's going to happen and I don't want to judge someone I don't know. But I just feel a little odd about it. But as a staff, this bunch looks amazing. If they have the players to match this staff, they could be a force in the SEC. Looks like the ol' SEC just gets stronger and stronger, at least with staffs. Mississippi State's new coach Mullen's is a great mind. Ol' Miss's NUTT is a proven winner Auburn's Coach Chizik has brought in Coach Malzahn Then the guys that are already in place with the other schools, man talk about a new "cradle of coaches."  OJW |
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Post by Coach JR on Jan 22, 2009 13:27:50 GMT -6
Auburn, Tennessee's staff looks amazing on paper. There's a number of people that are upset that James Willis did what he did though. Anyway, I don't know the guy, he may be the salt of the earth, but I kinda' feel odd about Mitch Browning coaching at Tenn and being paid by Syracuse. Maybe that's not what's going to happen and I don't want to judge someone I don't know. But I just feel a little odd about it. But as a staff, this bunch looks amazing. If they have the players to match this staff, they could be a force in the SEC. Looks like the ol' SEC just gets stronger and stronger, at least with staffs. Mississippi State's new coach Mullen's is a great mind. Ol' Miss's NUTT is a proven winner Auburn's Coach Chizik has brought in Coach Malzahn Then the guys that are already in place with the other schools, man talk about a new "cradle of coaches." OJW I agree OJW, on paper UTs staff looks very strong. There's some interesting debate locally about this "new business model" that UT and AU are trying out, with HC's that, at least from a W/L record standpoint or "on paper", weren't stong hires being surrounded by high paid strong staffs. It's not that Willis left, or even left for Bama, though that has a sting...it's what he said in leaving. He slapped the Auburn family in the face...there was obviously some resentment towards somebody at Auburn...lots of specualation, I don't know the truth. One thing seems consistent though, he's not welcome back. |
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Post by jgordon1 on Jan 22, 2009 14:49:14 GMT -6
OJW Anyway, I don't know the guy, he may be the salt of the earth, but I kinda' feel odd about Mitch Browning coaching at Tenn and being paid by Syracuse.
Why would you feel odd by that? What's the difference where he gets paid from. I sure it was in his contract that he couldn't take another full time job w/o losing benefits. Same thing happened to me when we got fired from a minor school. I "volunteered" at a school until my benefits ran out and then got on the payroll. No problem
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Post by outlawjoseywales on Jan 22, 2009 15:04:32 GMT -6
I don't know, I just do-that's about all I can say about that. Maybe it's just the amount of money these guys make-I don't know. I've never been in a position like you've had, so I guess I can't relate to it. Glad it all worked out well for you though. I'm guessing that it didn't include a 6-figure salary though.  OJW |
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Post by coachbilderback on Jan 24, 2009 10:15:35 GMT -6
I have heard this Jay Johnson former OC at Southern Miss was being paid by USM this year even though he was let go when the staff changeover occured... He took a spot on Kragthorpes staff as a volunteer assistant at Louisville while Southern was paying him... I think its funny thats what some of these university's get. Mike Collins did the same when he was let go as HC at ULM he took a GA job with LSU for a year.
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Post by outlawjoseywales on Jan 24, 2009 10:37:44 GMT -6
OK, I'm getting more the hang of it, I see the point.
I guess it's just what "world" you are in. Funny how that since I have no experience in that college world of "high finance" and only in the world of high school world "low finance" I got the wrong idea.
Funny how we can only see from our own experiences over the years. I guess if I was fired from a University that throws money around like yesterday's dishwater-I probably would see it differently.
Sorry about disagreeing with you there, jgorden1.
College IS a different world.
OJW
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Post by coachd5085 on Jan 24, 2009 11:08:39 GMT -6
OJW--high finance/low finance..doesn't matter. Say for instance, in the "low finance" High School world, your school gave you a contract in July, and then told you in October..oh, no, we no longer want you around. I assume you would be expecting your school to fulfill their contract correct? I also assume, that if other options were available, you wouldn't sign a contract stating they expect you to hold up your end of the bargain but they feel no obligation to hold up theirs...
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ram7gm
Sophomore Member
Posts: 133
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Post by ram7gm on Jan 24, 2009 19:57:56 GMT -6
While this doesn't happen a lot at the higher levels (at least that I know about), maybe we shouldn't be that surprised, because it - coaching for free/less money/lower status job/etc. - happens ALL THE TIME at the youth and high school levels. Heck, I've spent 2 of my 5 varsity coaching seasons as a volunteer coach and another 2 coaching for only $1800 TOTAL!
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ram7gm
Sophomore Member
Posts: 133
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Post by ram7gm on Jan 24, 2009 20:01:03 GMT -6
I know for a fact, that if a top D1 program or NFL team offered me a job/internship on their staff that paid jack squat, I would take it in a heartbeat - and I'm sure a lot of other coaches on here would too. Most great coaches I know would do what we do for free in a second (or already do!), so this ex-D1 OC, who is making TONS of money still, isn't necessarily a saint just because he's "settling" for a GA job at UT - just my 2 cents.
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newhc
Sophomore Member
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Post by newhc on Jan 24, 2009 20:05:49 GMT -6
UT's staff does sound really good though. Let's just see what they can do.
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ram7gm
Sophomore Member
Posts: 133
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Post by ram7gm on Jan 24, 2009 20:09:32 GMT -6
Absolutely. I certainly wouldn't mind being a go-pher/graduate asst in charge of coffee-making/fly on the wall in that staff room!
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begreat
Junior Member
I don't have a bunch of hobbies, football is my hobby. They just pay me to do it. ---Mike Tomiln
Posts: 293
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Post by begreat on Jan 24, 2009 20:56:59 GMT -6
Dang I wonder what their coaching meetings are like. Alot of knowledge around there.
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Post by phantom on Jan 25, 2009 11:14:01 GMT -6
When I first heard about this I was baffled about why a former OC at a BCS school would become a GA. The answer, that he was getting paid by his old school was still paying him, made it all clear.
I find it kind of worrisome, though. GA positions are traditionally entry level jobs that allow young coaches a chance to get into college coaching. If more affluent schools are manipulating the rules to circumvent staffing restrictions then not only do the rich programs get richer but you're denying young coaches an opportunity to break into the profession.
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begreat
Junior Member
I don't have a bunch of hobbies, football is my hobby. They just pay me to do it. ---Mike Tomiln
Posts: 293
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Post by begreat on Jan 25, 2009 11:20:34 GMT -6
I would like to coach college one day. Seems like a couple of moves like that make it hard for a 24 year old guy like myself.
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Post by coachd5085 on Jan 25, 2009 23:28:29 GMT -6
phantom, I do believe there is a limit on how long a GA can be a GA, so this isn't necessarily a long term thing for the coaches that do this. It is simply a way to keep them in the "Big time" circles before their next gig.
Yes, it is a bit cheesy
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Post by backsiderush on Jan 25, 2009 23:47:25 GMT -6
I would like to coach college one day. Seems like a couple of moves like that make it hard for a 24 year old guy like myself. the best way for you to get in at the college ranks is for you to go back to your old coach and ask to volunteer then move your way up from there. if you got questions send me a message |
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Post by phantom on Jan 26, 2009 0:15:37 GMT -6
phantom, I do believe there is a limit on how long a GA can be a GA, so this isn't necessarily a long term thing for the coaches that do this. It is simply a way to keep them in the "Big time" circles before their next gig. Yes, it is a bit cheesy Oh, sure. Three years at the same place. I'm also aware that this situation is a unique set of circumstances that may not be replicated often. If there's a way to cheat, though, some coaches will find it (not saying that Tennessee is doing anything wrong). |
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