Steve RobertsonSTAFF
Posted on 2 hrs, V I P, User Since 266 months ago, User Post Count: 113448
The search to replace former Mississippi State head coach Zach Arnett is now in its second week and some names are beginning to rise to the forefront of the conversation. As shared yesterday, Mississippi State was rumored to be involved with some Power Five head coaches who had not been previously mentioned on our hot board. I have been able to confirm one of those candidates today.
I have learned that Mississippi State has made contact with Duke head coach Mike Elko. The level of his return interest remains a matter of conjecture at this point, but I am told that he is at the very least willing to listen. Elko has done a tremendous job at Duke and has been connected to multiple openings around the country. I am told that Elko is movable for the right opportunity and that he is in line for a serious payday from someone. We just don't know at this point who is going to be signing those checks.
Today, I was told that things between Mississippi State and FAU coach Tom Herman are not expected to mature. There was some chatter in the infancy of the search that Herman or his reps had been contacted to gauge his level of interest. I am told things have not moved beyond an initial conversation. I am also told that the fit between Herman and Mississippi State might not be a match for either side. He will be coming off of the hot board.
While I have reported this to be the case multiple times throughout the search, Dan Mullen is not a candidate for the job. We will be removing his name from the hot board in the next update. I am told Mullen was not contacted and that his name was connected through the search by some who simply saw it as long hanging fruit. My source shares that Dan is very comfortable with the lifestyle he can lead right now as a TV analyst rather than have to deal with all of the demands of college coaching and being away from his family for extended periods of time.
Finally, I have learned that Mississippi State officials are expected to meet with Tulane head coach Willie Fritz this evening if they have not already done so. Fritz is also expected to be a candidate for the Houston job that is expected to come open after the weekend. Fritz is a name that has been consistently mentioned to me throughout the search. It was more frequent last week, but things appear to be picking up once again with talk of a face to face meeting today.
I continue to hear the hope is to have a deal agreed to in the next few days with a possible announcement next week, but that Selmon will not rush the hire. If it takes a little longer, then it takes a little longer. A few days or another week is nothing when making a decision of this magnitude that will impact the entire athletic department for a matter of years.
Posted on 2 hrs, V I P, User Since 266 months ago, User Post Count: 113448
- 2 hrsVIP
- 266 months
- 113448
The search to replace former Mississippi State head coach Zach Arnett is now in its second week and some names are beginning to rise to the forefront of the conversation. As shared yesterday, Mississippi State was rumored to be involved with some Power Five head coaches who had not been previously mentioned on our hot board. I have been able to confirm one of those candidates today.
I have learned that Mississippi State has made contact with Duke head coach Mike Elko. The level of his return interest remains a matter of conjecture at this point, but I am told that he is at the very least willing to listen. Elko has done a tremendous job at Duke and has been connected to multiple openings around the country. I am told that Elko is movable for the right opportunity and that he is in line for a serious payday from someone. We just don't know at this point who is going to be signing those checks.
Today, I was told that things between Mississippi State and FAU coach Tom Herman are not expected to mature. There was some chatter in the infancy of the search that Herman or his reps had been contacted to gauge his level of interest. I am told things have not moved beyond an initial conversation. I am also told that the fit between Herman and Mississippi State might not be a match for either side. He will be coming off of the hot board.
While I have reported this to be the case multiple times throughout the search, Dan Mullen is not a candidate for the job. We will be removing his name from the hot board in the next update. I am told Mullen was not contacted and that his name was connected through the search by some who simply saw it as long hanging fruit. My source shares that Dan is very comfortable with the lifestyle he can lead right now as a TV analyst rather than have to deal with all of the demands of college coaching and being away from his family for extended periods of time.
Finally, I have learned that Mississippi State officials are expected to meet with Tulane head coach Willie Fritz this evening if they have not already done so. Fritz is also expected to be a candidate for the Houston job that is expected to come open after the weekend. Fritz is a name that has been consistently mentioned to me throughout the search. It was more frequent last week, but things appear to be picking up once again with talk of a face to face meeting today.
I continue to hear the hope is to have a deal agreed to in the next few days with a possible announcement next week, but that Selmon will not rush the hire. If it takes a little longer, then it takes a little longer. A few days or another week is nothing when making a decision of this magnitude that will impact the entire athletic department for a matter of years.
