This is my take where things are at and they keep changing all the time. I thought I had a beat on things this morning but I talked to people this morning in the college football industry and they throw doubt into the process.
I believed all along and I still 100% am of the thinking that Travis Goff will have two coaches who have turned things around at programs in Jeff Monken and Lance Leipold high on the board.
The trail on Willie Fritz has gone cold. People who are close to him were talking early but not as much over the last three days.
One name I am not discounting is Mike Elko. I have talked with people close to Elko in the last 48 hours and he is described as a very intelligent coach who would interview well. One source said Brian Kelly did everything they could to keep him at Notre Dame and it basically got into a bidding war. And Notre Dame couldn't match the wallet of A&M.
One source also told me the word on Elko early on was he wasn't sure he wanted to get deep in the KU search. But this person has not talked to him in recent days.
Also a lot of people were surprised Elko didn't get in the mix for the Temple job. He was the odds-on favorite to get that job in 2019 when they hired Carey from Northern Illinois. Some believed he backed off because they couldn't commit financially to him. Carey is making about $2 million and Elko is currently making $2.1 million as a DC.
The feel is interviews will be over in 24 hours and Goff will start to go into decision-mode. One person I spoke with said when that happens you have to allow time for negotiations to begin. At that point there will likely be back and forth on money pool, number of staffing, coaches start asking for some extra, and you get some bargaining going on.
I don't know that I can name a leader but I do feel very confident in saying that I feel Monken, Leipold, and Elko are going to be in final consideration. I also can't confirm interviews are over.
When we get to this stage I always tell people you have to trust what the A.D. is hearing from the candidates. He's going to hear every plan and detail from everyone and he has more information than any of us do.
I've said this before and will say it again, I do trust Goff knows what KU needs. Don't ready anything into this update other than this is the latest of I believe where things stand.
I believed all along and I still 100% am of the thinking that Travis Goff will have two coaches who have turned things around at programs in Jeff Monken and Lance Leipold high on the board.
The trail on Willie Fritz has gone cold. People who are close to him were talking early but not as much over the last three days.
One name I am not discounting is Mike Elko. I have talked with people close to Elko in the last 48 hours and he is described as a very intelligent coach who would interview well. One source said Brian Kelly did everything they could to keep him at Notre Dame and it basically got into a bidding war. And Notre Dame couldn't match the wallet of A&M.
One source also told me the word on Elko early on was he wasn't sure he wanted to get deep in the KU search. But this person has not talked to him in recent days.
Also a lot of people were surprised Elko didn't get in the mix for the Temple job. He was the odds-on favorite to get that job in 2019 when they hired Carey from Northern Illinois. Some believed he backed off because they couldn't commit financially to him. Carey is making about $2 million and Elko is currently making $2.1 million as a DC.
The feel is interviews will be over in 24 hours and Goff will start to go into decision-mode. One person I spoke with said when that happens you have to allow time for negotiations to begin. At that point there will likely be back and forth on money pool, number of staffing, coaches start asking for some extra, and you get some bargaining going on.
I don't know that I can name a leader but I do feel very confident in saying that I feel Monken, Leipold, and Elko are going to be in final consideration. I also can't confirm interviews are over.
When we get to this stage I always tell people you have to trust what the A.D. is hearing from the candidates. He's going to hear every plan and detail from everyone and he has more information than any of us do.
I've said this before and will say it again, I do trust Goff knows what KU needs. Don't ready anything into this update other than this is the latest of I believe where things stand.
