ColoradoMooseHerd said:
Just some of my thoughts on your list and added a few.
Eric Bell, TCU HC - not sure if he would be interested but very solid coach that has built his own program into elite program.
Ben Waldrum, Pitt Associate HC - I know more about his dad than him. Not sure if his credentials stand up to what we need but really don't know him that well.
Nick Zimmerman, Miss St Associate HC - don't really know him. Looked him up and he does not have a lot of experience. So someone would need to tell me what he brings.
Michelle Lenard, Baylor HC - not sure why you would consider her. Not a fan.
Manny Martins, Utah State HC - don't really know much about him. Would have to see what would make him a good fit at a big school in SEC. He has definitely put Utah state on the map. Could be a good one.
Colby Hale, Arkansas HC - great coach that also built a great program. Not sure he would want to leave program he built and would need to consider his family. He might be a little older than what was hoping for
Bobby Shuttlesworth, FSU Associate HC - dynamic guy but does not have much coaching experience. He probably needs time to develop. Being at FSU great place to learn.
Ryan Higginbotham, TCU Associate HC - would prefer someone that is younger and up and comer if they are an assistant coach. Think he is a little old for me.
Jeff Hosler - Michigan State HC - really like this guy. He recruits top talent nationally and has made a big impact at MSU quickly. But he is an East Lansing native and has kids in school that might be touch to get him.
Katie Shields - St Louis HC - has built a good program at a mid-level conference program that might be interested in jumping to the next level.
Dean Ward - Xavier HC - relatively young head coach with good amount of success at two programs. Took Xavier to an elite eight last year. He has experience in the SEC as assistant coach at Tennessee and also west coast experience at Loyola Marymount. Also has experience with coaching top level girls at the ECNL level. He is originally from England so real footballer.
I didn't suggest Eric Bell, but I think he would THRIVE at A&M. He went to TCU from FSU when they were winning national championship in like 2010. He's a primo recruiter and has TCU producing NWSL talent every year. Ryan Higginbotham is his assistant there and has strong recruiting ties to Texas. Either one would be a quality hire at a "bigger" soccer program like A&M.
I think Ben Waldrum is a product of his dad. He's always been as asst to Randy and Randy is the big time coach. There's a reason Ben hasn't gotten a full-time HC job. There's some baggage there. If A&M could hire Randy away from Pitt, that would be amazing. He's done amazing things everywhere he's been, but he's on the older side. But if you can get a World Cup coach, you take it any time.
Michelle Lenard is an up-and-comer. She had teeny-tiny Dallas Baptist in the Sweet 16 or Elite 8 of the D2 NCAAs every year and plays a style that youth coaches are focusing on these days. They play on the ground and build nicely. She's gotta change over from the bully ball system that Baylor played for a long time but it's going to happen. She's connected to Texas youth systems as well.
Hale has been adaptable in style of play. I'm not a big fan but he gets players and wins in a soccer desert. something must be said about having success in Arkansas and recruiting the midwest. He'd kill it in recruiting Texas kids with some midwest additions.
I don't know anything about Martins, but if you've got Utah State in the top 10 then you deserve an interview at A&M cuz you're doing something right.
Shuttlesworth is fast-rising and a really good recruiter.
