The Coaching Career of Colin Gronk (NCAA 14)

[Gronk4M13]

2015 Coaching Carousel

HC-

Auburn fires Gus Malzahn after 5-7 season, hires Luke Fickell

Cal fires Sonny ****s after 4-8 season, hires Manny Diaz

Colorado fires Mike Macntyre after 2-10 season, hires Noel Mazzone

ECU fires R. McNeil after 2-10 season, hires Phillip Montgomery

FIU- Doug Martin leaves for new job, FIU hires Todd Orlando (second straight
time they've hired NMSU HC)

Georgia State fires Chuck Heater after 1-11 season, hires Kenny Edenfield

Hawaii fires Ron Turner after 2-10 season, hires Joe Trumpkin

Kentucky- Manny Diaz hired as HC at Cal, Kentucky hires Doug Martin

Marshall- Luke Fickell hired as Auburn HC, Marshall hires Todd Berry

Missouri fires Gary Pinkel after 4-8 season, hires Ted Roof

New Mexico-B.Davie leaves for new job, New Mexico hires former Rutgers HC
Sean Kugler

New Mexico State- Todd Orlando leaves for new job, New Mexico State hires Joe Deforest
**Yet again, NMSU didn't even consider their OC as a candidate for the HC job.

Northern Illinois fires Rod Carey after 2-10 season, hires Bud Foster

Ohio-HC F. Solich retires, Ohio hires Georgia Tech OC Bryan Cook

Old Dominion fires Mike Leach after 1-11 season, hires former NIU HC Rod Carey

Pittsburgh fires Jerry Kill after 1-11 season, hires Bob Davie

Purdue fires Darrel Hazell after 4-8 season, hires Rick Skrosky

Rutgers fires Sean Kugler after 3-9 season, hires Jay Bateman

South Alabama fires J. Jones after 2-10 season, hires former Hawaii HC Ron Turner

Stanford fires David Shaw after 5-7 season, hires Bill Legg

Troy- L Blakeney retires, Troy hires Wayne Bolt

UL Lafayette HC Bill Legg leaves for Stanford, ULL hires James Willis

UL Monroe HC T. Berry leaves for Marshall, ULM hires Bob Diaco

Vanderbilt W Bolt leaves for new job, Vanderbilt hires Chuck Martin

OC-

Alabama OC R. Skrosky leaves for HC job at Purdue, Alabama hires former Auburn HC Gus Malzahn

Baylor releases P. Montgomery, hires former Pitt HC Jerry Kill

Central Michigan fires M. Cummings, hires Mike Canales

Colorado fires B. Lindgren, hires former ODU HC Mike Leach
East Carolina fires B. Johnson, fires Jim Sims

Georgia State fires J. Klacik, hires former Houston OC Travis Bush

Georgia Tech OC Bryan Cook leaves for HC job at Ohio, Georgia Tech hires former Stanford HC David Shaw

Hawaii fires J. Rudolph, hires former Central Michigan OC Mike Cummings

Houston fires Travis Bush, hires former Minnesota OC Don Treadwell

Minnesota fires Don Treadwell, hires former Purdue HC Darrell Hazell

NC State fires M Canada, hires Bob Debesse

New Mexico releases Bob Debesse, hires Richard Owens


North Texas releases Mike Canales, hires Brian Lindgren

Northern Illinois fires Bob Cole, hires Matt Canada

Notre Dame OC Chuck Martin leaves for HC job at Vanderbilt, Notre Dame hires former Cal HC Sonny ****s

Old Dominion fires D Dickey, hires Nick McRae

Pittsburgh fires Nick McRae, hires Jason Phillips

Rutgers fires J. Sims, hires former Colorado HC Mike Macintyre

SMU releases J. Phillips, hires Joey Jones

South Alabama fires R. Matthews, hires Brian Johnson

Troy releases K. Edenfield, hires Jim Harding

UAB releases R. Owens, hires Chaz Singleton

UCLA Noel Mazzone leaves for HC Job at Colorado, UCLA hires former Missouri
HC Gary Pinkel

UTSA fires S. Houston, hires Keith Brown

Wyoming fires J. Harding, hires Sam Houston

DC-

Alabama DC J. Bateman leaves for HC job at Rutgers, Alabama hires DJ Elliot

Cal fires A. Buh, hires Jeff Mills

Colorado releases K. Baer, hires Dan Disch

Colorado State releases M. English, hires Andy Buh

ECU- R Smith retires, ECU hires Bobby Hauck

Florida releases DC Durkin, hires Adrian Robertson

Georgia State fires Tenuta, hires Kevin Sherrer

Georgia Tech T. Roof leaves HC job at Missouri, Georgia Tech hires DJ Durkin

Minnesota fires Whaley, hires Ruffin McNeil

Missouri fires Steckel, hires George Browne

New Mexico releases Mills, hires Lionel Washington

New Mexico State releases Elson, hires Alex Whaley

North Carolina fires Disch, hires Chris Thurmond

North Texas releases Skladany, hires Ed Pinkham

Northern Illinois fires Niemann, hires Marty English

Notre Dame-Diaco leaves for HC job at ULM, Notre Dame hires Ken Delgado

Ohio-Trumpkin leaves for new job, Ohio hires John Skladany

Old Dominion fires Nagy, hires Adam Mitchell

Pitt fires Bielema, hires Robert Williams

Rice releases Thurmond, hires Jay Niemann

Rutgers fires Hauck, hires Michael Stovall

South Alabama fires Sherrer, hires Joe Tenuta

Tennessee fires Jancek, hires Justin West

Toledo releases Matukewicz, hires John Jancek

Tulane releases Washington, hires Brett Bielema

UAB releases Johnson, hires Paul Singletary

UL Lafayette Willis leaves for new job, ULL hires David Elson

UL Monroe DC Eliot leaves for new job, ULM hires Chris Tormey

UTSA fires Mitchell, hires Ray Peterson

Virginia Tech- Bud Foster leaves for new job, VT hires Chuck Heater

West Virginia releases Deforest, hires Tom Matukewicz

[thesportsguru11]

I go away for a few days and you're 3 seasons in. Geez. Looks like I have to catch up. Hopefully you'll get a HC job sooner or later...

[Gronk4M13]

Chapter 2: A New Opportunity

UTSA Head Coach Larry Coker Retires, UTSA Hires New Mexico State Offensive Coordinator Colin Gronk as Program's Second Head Coach

Former National Championship Winning Head Coach Larry Coker has retired from his position as the first head coach of the UTSA Roadrunners. To replace him, UTSA has hired New Mexico State Offensive Coordinator Colin Gronk to be the program's second head coach. This will be Gronk's first opportunity as a head coach after serving as New Mexico State's offensive coordinator for three seasons.

At New Mexico State, Gronk led the team to results far above their expectations. The team went 5-7 in his first season, then finished 7-5 in his second season. The 7-5 record was not good enough for a bowl berth. In his third season, Gronk helped guide the Aggies to another 7-5 record, and the program qualified for its first bowl game since 1960, the longest such streak in the nation. The Aggies were obliterated by Baylor in the Beef O'Brady's Bowl, but the bowl appearance marked significant progress for a bottom dwelling team.

Turnovers (mainly interceptions) doomed Gronk's offenses throughout his tenure at New Mexico State, and Gronk has declared that he is committed to decreasing his team's number of turnovers. Gronk seemed very grateful for the opportunity to be a head coach, as he said in his introductory press conference.

Gronk- "I am truly honored and thankful for this opportunity. I had some offers last year, but I wanted to at least get New Mexico State to a bowl game. We fell short of our ultimate goal of winning a bowl game, but I feel confident in that program's direction.

Now, I get to mold a team in my image. I am excited, and looking forward to carrying UTSA to new heights."

Rumor has it that Gronk was offended that New Mexico State did not consider him for the head coaching position when Doug Martin left for the same position after 2014's 7-5 season. Gronk was subsequently bitter to the team's new head coach, Todd Orlando, and there was undeniably a power struggle between the two for the entire 2015 season. Gronk decided before the season that 2015 would be his last at New Mexico State.

Gronk reportedly feels jaded that UTSA was the first program to interview him for its head coaching position. Gronk watched program after program hire new head coaches, but none of them even considered Gronk as a candidate.

"I want to show everyone that didn't call me, that didn't give me a chance to be their head coach that they made a big mistake. I'm here to build a winner with UTSA."

Gronk's task will not be easy. Right now, the team is not a winner. However, Texas is a recruiting gold-mine. The biggest challenge will be fending off the larger in-state programs (Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, TCU.) If Gronk can't do that, he'll have to sort through what's left after the "bigger" programs have picked their recruits.

Job Profile: UTSA

-UTSA is arguably still in the early stages of being an "expansion" team. UTSA fielded a football team for the first time in 2011.

-UTSA plays its home games in the Alamodome, which seats 65,000-72,000 fans. That is a huge upgrade over New Mexico State's home stadium, which could fit ~10,000.

-UTSA is a member of the C-USA (West.) Arguably, the C-USA is a more prestigious conference than the Sunbelt.

-Including the results of this dynasty, UTSA has an all-time record of 18-30

-UTSA has never made a bowl game

-UTSA is rivals with Sunbelt member Texas State; the rivalry is called the "Battle of 1-35"-

"UTSA and Texas State faced off for the first time in the football continuation of the I-35 Rivalry between the two schools in the Alamodome November 24, 2012. The Roadrunners won the game against the Bobcats by a score of 38 to 31 and, thus hold an 1 - 0 advantage to in the series. The future of the rivalry was in question, as Texas State moved to the Sun Belt Conference in 2013 and UTSA moved to Conference USA. However, in 2014 it was announced by both schools that the rivalry will resume in 2017. An 8 game home and home agreement had been reached with 4 games each at the Alamodome and Bobcat stadium."

[Gronk4M13]

Quote: Originally Posted by thesportsguru11

I go away for a few days and you're 3 seasons in. Geez. Looks like I have to catch up. Hopefully you'll get a HC job sooner or later...

Haha, read on my friend.

[Gronk4M13]

2015 Player Declarations:

QB- Junior RS Jalen Overstreet, Texas, Junior RS Chad Kelly, Clemson, Junior RS Matt Davis, Texas A&M. Jameis Winston stays for senior year

HB- Sophomore RS Ty Isaac, USC, Junior Derrick Henry, Alabama

WR-Texas A&M Junior RS Edward Pope

TE- Evan Baylis, Junior RS, Oregon, Jalen C Fitzpatrick, Junior RS, USC, Zeke Pike, junior RS, Louisville, Marcus Baugh, Junior, Ohio State, Pharaoh Brown, junior RS, Oregon, Desean Smith, Junior, LSU

LT- Andrus Peat, junior RS, Stanford

RG- Jordan Simmons, Junior RS, USC

RE- Claudius Mbemba, Junior RS, Ohio State, Frank Herron, junior, LSU

DT- Faith Ekakite, junior RS, Iowa, Francis Kallon, junior RS, Georgia Tech, Jorren Kirven, junior RS, Alabama

LOLB- Alex Anzalone, sophomore RS,(All American) Florida, Ifeadi Odenigo, junior RS, Northwestern, Salamo Fiso, junior RS, Arizona State

MLB- Reggie Ragland, junior RS, Alabama, Aaron Porter, junior RS, UCLA

CB- Maurice Fleming, junior RS, Iowa

FS- Sean Davis, junior (RS) Virginia Tech, Colin Blake (FSU) stays for senior season

SS- Marcus Maye, junior RS, Florida (All American) Antonio Conner, junior, Ole Miss, PJ Williams (FSU) stays for senior season

2015 National Signing Day

**I barely did any UTSA recruiting, so 2016 will my first true recruiting class.

4 star Athlete Bradley Roberson, 6’0 196, Dumas, Arizona

3 star balanced DE Tony Richardson, 6’3, 267, Mission, Texas

2 star blocking TE Adrian Potts, 6’0 240, Wiggins, Mississippi

2 star pass rushing DT Dominique Robinson, 5’11 278, Noble, Oklahoma

3 star possession receiver Nick Tate, 5’10, 182, Mesquite, Texas

3 star balanced OLB Nate Chase, 6’4, 218, Bay City, Texas

3 star balanced WR Joe Edwards, 6’1, 182, Lufkin, Texas

2 star balanced SS Scott Clancy, 6’2, 201, Donaldsville, Louisiana

2 star blocking TE Kenneth Smith, 6’3 262, Weslaco, Texas

2 star JUCO balanced G Josh Jones, 6’2, 283, Hurst, Texas

2 star run stopping OLB T.J. Taylor, 6’2, 212, Vernon, Texas

1 star blocking FB Phil Thompson, 5’11,225,El Campo, Texas

1 star run blocking G Glenn Tolbert, 6’7, 327, Wharton, Texas

1 star run blocking G Greg Pierce, 6’3, 261, Sulphur Springs, Texas

1 star JUCO pass rushing DE John Smith, 6’3 238, Kerrville, Texas

UTSA's 2015 class ranked #106 in the nation....

Top Ten Classes (#1-10)-Notre Dame, Texas, Virginia Tech, Ohio State, Alabama, Miami, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Auburn, Oregon

[Gronk4M13]

2016 UTSA Schedule-Strength of Schedule-C-

(**My internet wasn't working at the time, so I couldn't look up UTSA's actual 2016 schedule. So, I went with what the game gave me.)

1 Bye

2 vs Texas State (rivalry)

3 Bye

4 at #24 Washington

5 at #5 Virginia Tech

6 at FIU

7 at Colorado State

8 at UTEP

9 vs Rice (Homecoming)

10 vs FAU

11 at Old Dominion

12 vs Western Kentucky

13 vs Louisiana Tech (Senior Day)

14 at Mid-Tenn State

**Thoughts-Texas State should be an easy game to start our head coaching career. Consecutive road trips to ranked opponents is tough. That should mean a 1-2 start. FIU is good in this dynasty, and it'll be Gronk vs his former HC at New Mexico State, Todd Orlando. UTEP tended to be good until year 3 when, with NMSU, I beat them handily. Rice could be tough, I don't know. FAU and Old Dominion should be easy. Western Kentucky and Louisiana Tech should be tough with a hopefully easy finale at Mid-Tenn State. I see five practically definite wins, and other than that, it'll be tough. A bowl is possible but unlikely.

Projected record-5-7

***I forgot to post this earlier, my contract is for five years and I'm expected to win 7 games per year.

2016 UTSA Depth Chart

Offense:

QB-senior (RS) Zach Conque (impact player)starts, backup junior (RS) Austin Robinson. If Conque struggles, Robinson will play, he’s faster and has stronger arm. Third-Sophomore (RS) Gary Woods

HB-senior (RS) impact player Brian Vaughn starts, narrowly gets the edge over sophomore RS Jack Pugh. 3rd-junior (RS) Jalen Rhodes

FB- freshman Phillip Thomas,backup freshman Kenneth Smith

WR- #1 freshman Bradley Robertson, #2 junior (RS) Aron Taylor, #3 sophomore Joe Brady, #4 freshman Nic Tate, #5 sophomore Marques Henderson, #6 freshman (RS) Bobby Carter

TE- senior RS Trevor Stevens, backup Kenneth Smith

LT- junior Kris Roach, backup senior Dallas McCarty

LG- junior RS Kyle McKinney, backup junior RS Juan Perez

C- sophomore RS Kyle Kemp, backup senior Dallas McCarty

RG- sophomore RS Larry Stevens, backup Juan Perez

RT- senior RS Zach Hester, backup McCarty

Defense-
LE-senior RS Luke Farmer, backup sophomore (RS) Maurice Witherspoon

RE- junior D’Juan Whitlock, backup Witherspoon

DT- senior (RS) Matthew Neal, senior (RS) Brian Price, sophomore (RS) Carlton Fritz, junior Tremayne Schneider

LOLB-junior RS Michael Egwuagu, backup sophomore Phil Billings

MLB-freshman Derrick McKinney, backup Phil Billings, sophomore RS Marlon Price

ROLB- senior RS impact player Tank O’Neal, backup Billings

CB- senior impact player Aneas Henricks, junior (RS) Dondre Dobbins, junior (RS) Jarveon Williams, sophomore RS Ryan Butler

FS- freshman RS Manuel Martin, backup Jarveon Williams

SS- Jarveon Williams, true freshman Scott Clancy

K-sophomore Aaron Cowan ( we actually have a kicker!)

P- sophomore Roman Peters

With Cowan, Gronk actually has a talented kicker, and a sophomore at that. At NMSU, Gronk had to convert a punter to a kicker, and thus field goals were a rare commodity outside the 15 yard line for the Aggies.

Freshman "athlete" Bradley Robertson will play as a receiver, and a good one at that. Robertson could have been a halfback, but Gronk felt the WR corps needed him more.

At QB, Conque is supposed to be the sure-fire, no controversy involved starter. However, Gronk is rumored to like Robinson, who reminds him of Trevaughn Colwell from NMSU. At HB, it'll be a close battle between Vaughn and Pugh. Gronk hopes to use a 1-2 punch at the position.

The WR group has a lot of youth (other than Taylor, which could be good down the line. Stevens reminds Gronk of Andrew Dean at the TE spot. However, Smith (and the freshman TEs) are blockers, which could spell trouble for Gronk's TE heavy passing offense.

The o-line isn't the youngest group, but it's not the most talented.

From LE to LOLB, the defense is experienced. True freshman McKinney starts at MLB. Redshirt freshman Martin starts at FS, and a cornerback (Williams) starts over true freshman Clancy at SS.

[Knickerbocker91]

Congrats on the head coaching job, looks like a tough season ahead for you though with that out of conference schedule. Good luck

[RoundingThird]

Just got caught up. Congrats on the new job! I love to see these slow moving tales about starting all the way down as a small school OC and working your way up. Looks like you just took the next step.