Shannon is not a good coach. Period.
He's certainly not a good head coach. I'm as furious about the job he did here as HC as much as anyone, but lets not get emotional.
He was he national assistant of the year as a DC (yes, I know he had world class talent) and was well regarded when he was the LB coach with the NFL's Miami Dolphins.
If his head is on straight, and his ego is in check, it's a good hire at LB coach. You're getting a proven NFL guy at the position, a guy with success at coordinator, a lot of experience. I'm sure Beliema checked into how he was regarded this past year at TCU and he checked out.
He was a great player and assistant here. I wish him well, except when he's recruiting against us. Then he can diaf
For someone who is a "proven NFL guy at a position" (that's a stretch, by the way) and a "national assistant of the year as a DC," why is he bouncing around mid-level programs as a position coach? Seriously, that doesn't raise some significant red flags?
I don't think that's a stretch. I knew a few people there at the time through a work thing and he was well regarded. Remember that he was promoted internally when he was with the Dolphins, from a defensive asst to full time LB coach. JJ also vouched for him based on the job he did for the Fins.
And I don't think he's "bouncing around" as you said. Working under Patterson at TCU is no small gig, and then going to a good SEC staff? Those are good programs. And he most certainly improved his stature and no doubt his salary with this move, and has only made one move.
That said, I certainly agree with you that there are some red flags. Which is why he hasn't gotten a coordinator let alone a HC offer. He's certainly set himself back, as deservedly so. But as a LB coach? I think that's a great get, especially since you're not the Guinea Pig for his return to coaching as he just had a successful year at TCU.
@BFeldmanCBS: Good pick-up for Arkansas & Bret Bielema landing Randy Shannon as LB coach. Quite a staff Bielema has assembled.
So Randy Shannon, based on the people you met through a work thing, was a well-regarded NFL LB coach (by none other than Jimmy Johnson and his coaching tree types), yet voluntarily, 12 years later and with a lot more "experience," decides to take multiple college LB coach positions? Let's be real here, man. The proof is in the reality of it all: if Randy Shannon were anything close to a legitimate NFL LB coach, he'd be more likely to be an NFL LB coach than a college LB coach. Sure, you may say he "prefers the college game and just wants to get back into a top position," but this is now his second position coach job in college.
He can be the greatest LB coach in the history of college (he won't be, because he's a notoriously poor technical teacher, as many, many former players can attest), and it'd all look extremely weird to me anyway. Why? Because the guy was an NFL LB coach, defensive coordinator for the top team in College, and a college head coach.
In short, I think the market has spoken as to what it thinks about Randy Shannon's value. Forgive me if I don't have a soft spot for a guy that, intentionally or not, contributed to a deep wound this program is still recovering from.
