Baldwin to Cal? Official as OC

[footballdood]

The interesting part of this hire is that most HCs have a huge ego.. most would not want to go from HC to OC/DC, yet Baldwin decided to give up the power of being an HC to take a step backwards on the ladder to get the opportunity to maybe jump over his previously job..

For the most part, P5 OCs seem to be higher in the pecking order than FCS HCs. Or sometimes FBS HCs. Either way, although it is technically a demotion (HC to OC) it is still an upward move. If he has success at Cal, then he will have a lot of doors and even bigger contracts open to him. I don't begrudge him that move in the slightest and wish for him all the luck in the world (except when he plays OSU, but he doesn't need any luck with that one...).

Obviously he wasn't going to leave for just any job. He's been a candidate for quite a few. I'm sure he wouldn't leave to be OC for a MTN West team. This is Pac 12 level. He knows if he wants to be HC at a big school, this was the way to go. As good as he is, he was really maxed out at FCS. Contending year after year and repeat. Sometimes that leads to just going through the motions. This will energize him and he will learn from other coaches at this higher level. Friends of mine that are coaches tell me this all the time. the reality is, just like Bobby, he needs a challenge again. He's a young guy, so 2-4 years as OC gets him a head coach job somewhere.

At some point, Baldwin was going to have to leave to propel his career. You are right he pretty much maxed out at FCS and unless EWU jumps to FBS (not likely anytime soon) or non P-5/Group of 5 (I hate those terms) merges with the top of FCS (less likely IMO than EWU going FBS) he's just working to collect bigger paychecks.

Bohl is a great example of why Baldwin needed to go this route. Running a major FBS program is far different than an FCS (even a top tier one.) Even if a guy like Bohl or Baldwin can handle the X's and O's, there's still a lot to learn off the field. And with 1 million dollar salaries quickly becoming the norm for a major FBS coach, they're not paying that kind of salary to learn on job. And, don't get me wrong, Baldwin is a great coach - but I don't think he's quite ready to jump to HC at a major FBS program. Sure he won a NC in 2010 but look at his performance in the Semis in all his other years. Gotta consistently win those games to prove you're really top tier material.

Lucky for EWU they're in great shape (even Baldwin walked into a pretty good situation) and they don't have to necessarily strike lightening in a bottle. They're stacked for the foreseeable future and even if the change torpedoes this year's recruiting class, it'll just be a blip on the radar for them provided they get a coach who is capable (and knows) that the program just needs to be in sustain mode.

 

[argh!]

From this:

To this:

God, how long do you suppose it took him to say yes.

depends on whether he was informed of housing prices in berkeley first.