lotsa said:
Coach Van Diest has always been a great choice and should have been given more serious consideration when the last alleged "search" was conducted. He has coached at big programs and done well. He is in Helena by choice. Six rings speak for themselves (with 8 national champtionship appearances--157-22 according to the web site). He can recruit with anyone and would adopt or bring in a top flight staff. The few vitriolic posters that go after him every time his name is mentioned dont know what they are talking about. He would maintain the highest quality program on and off the field. However, he is likely not interested given his loyalty, the timing and the way he was treated in the last search.
Just another Van Diest homer. Six rings, while a good job by him, his staff, and his players are not against this level of competition. Does anybody that wants him not realize that NAIA is 3 levels of football below FCS? Not to mention, look at what he is recruiting against at that level. Carroll being a private school has an unbelieveably advantage against schools like Tech, Western, Northern, etc. because of the funding they have put into the program. What happens when you bring a guy like that into a public University system where he is on a level playing field recruiting wise? Nobody knows exactly what would happen, but you can't tell me there are a million other coaches who are more prepared for the job. Just because he is geographically close to us and has won a bunch of games doesn't mean he is the right choice.