Coaching Question

[AppDub]

Tre Lamb. That’s what is missing.

Dude is 27-25 as a head coach in in FCS. Why is he the answer? I genuinely want to know, because if he is, let's get him here. I'm just not convinced yet.

He’s 27-25 because his first few years at Gardner-Webb saw them competing as a quasi-Division 2 program. By the end of his tenure, they were a playoff team, they played several FBS teams to one score, and elevated that program to the point where they are almost perennial playoff contenders.

He goes to a 1 win ETSU team, plays App relatively close, was up on NDSU by 12 with three minutes left and they let that one slip away. He improved ETSU’s win total by six in one off season. If you know anything about football, going from 1 win to 7 wins in one season is almost unheard of.

Lamb is built in the Satterfield mold of the offensive play caller head coach. His system is innovative and he squeezes all the juice from that fruit he’s holding.

If he could turn ETSU around in one off-season, and turn Gardner-Webb into a respectable program, I have no doubt he could elevate the standard at App State.

That is who I want. I don’t want a coordinator from an SEC school. I don’t want a position coach. I want a proven program builder who not only maintains continuity where he goes, but has proven himself to elevate it. He has proven himself to be a leader as nearly 30 kids followed him from GWU to ETSU.

Players play for him. Programs turn around under him. He may not be a hot name yet, but he will be at some point.

I appreciate the well thought out response. And yes I know enough about football to understand going from 1 to 7 wins is good. I like the kid, I just want as close to a slam dunk as possible. This program is a a critical point in its history. No room to fail.

[hapapp]

Tre Lamb. That’s what is missing.

Dude is 27-25 as a head coach in in FCS. Why is he the answer? I genuinely want to know, because if he is, let's get him here. I'm just not convinced yet.

He’s 27-25 because his first few years at Gardner-Webb saw them competing as a quasi-Division 2 program. By the end of his tenure, they were a playoff team, they played several FBS teams to one score, and elevated that program to the point where they are almost perennial playoff contenders.

He goes to a 1 win ETSU team, plays App relatively close, was up on NDSU by 12 with three minutes left and they let that one slip away. He improved ETSU’s win total by six in one off season. If you know anything about football, going from 1 win to 7 wins in one season is almost unheard of.

Lamb is built in the Satterfield mold of the offensive play caller head coach. His system is innovative and he squeezes all the juice from that fruit he’s holding.

If he could turn ETSU around in one off-season, and turn Gardner-Webb into a respectable program, I have no doubt he could elevate the standard at App State.

That is who I want. I don’t want a coordinator from an SEC school. I don’t want a position coach. I want a proven program builder who not only maintains continuity where he goes, but has proven himself to elevate it. He has proven himself to be a leader as nearly 30 kids followed him from GWU to ETSU.

Players play for him. Programs turn around under him. He may not be a hot name yet, but he will be at some point.

He's shown the ability to turn things around but where does he take them from there? Of there six FCS wins, only Western had a winning record and they lost to 3-8 Furman (to be fair that was the bus ride from Hell for them). His obvious advantage is his familiarity with the program and the area.

Again, his best record as a head coach at the FCS level is 7-5. At G-W he was 2-2, 4-7, 7-6, 7-5. He was 7-5 at ETSU this year. Big improvement from last year but what's next. In his three winning seasons, his teams were victorious against teams with a combined 90-124 record. His best win to date was against an 8-3 UT Martin team his last year with G-W. Of his 21 wins over the last three seasons, his teams beat six teams with a winning record. I just don't see anything that says he's the guy to run our program.

[t4pizza]

Tre Lamb. That’s what is missing.

Dude is 27-25 as a head coach in in FCS. Why is he the answer? I genuinely want to know, because if he is, let's get him here. I'm just not convinced yet.

He’s 27-25 because his first few years at Gardner-Webb saw them competing as a quasi-Division 2 program. By the end of his tenure, they were a playoff team, they played several FBS teams to one score, and elevated that program to the point where they are almost perennial playoff contenders.

He goes to a 1 win ETSU team, plays App relatively close, was up on NDSU by 12 with three minutes left and they let that one slip away. He improved ETSU’s win total by six in one off season. If you know anything about football, going from 1 win to 7 wins in one season is almost unheard of.

Lamb is built in the Satterfield mold of the offensive play caller head coach. His system is innovative and he squeezes all the juice from that fruit he’s holding.

If he could turn ETSU around in one off-season, and turn Gardner-Webb into a respectable program, I have no doubt he could elevate the standard at App State.

That is who I want. I don’t want a coordinator from an SEC school. I don’t want a position coach. I want a proven program builder who not only maintains continuity where he goes, but has proven himself to elevate it. He has proven himself to be a leader as nearly 30 kids followed him from GWU to ETSU.

Players play for him. Programs turn around under him. He may not be a hot name yet, but he will be at some point.

He's shown the ability to turn things around but where does he take them from there? Of there six FCS wins, only Western had a winning record and they lost to 3-8 Furman (to be fair that was the bus ride from Hell for them). His obvious advantage is his familiarity with the program and the area.

Again, his best record as a head coach at the FCS level is 7-5. At G-W he was 2-2, 4-7, 7-6, 7-5. He was 7-5 at ETSU this year. Big improvement from last year but what's next. In his three winning seasons, his teams were victorious against teams with a combined 90-124 record. His best win to date was against an 8-3 UT Martin team his last year with G-W. Of his 21 wins over the last three seasons, his teams beat six teams with a winning record. I just don't see anything that says he's the guy to run our program.

This 1000 times. The guy has not demonstrated next level ability in my book, not even close. I don't think he is even as good as the guy we just fired.

[The Rock]

If we are searching for a new coach, I would be interested to pursue the Offensive coordinator at Mizzou or DJ, co-D coordinator at Mizzou.
The OC has a nice offense. Just doesn't have the Jimmy and Joe's to compete against good teams in sec week in and week out.

Not being a smartass, but he also has Drinkwitz helping him. Drinkwitz was a really good offensive coordinator. Maybe he is good but it could be he is good with Drink.

Most head coaches are typically previous D or I coordinators. So every asst is assisted by the HC.. depending on whichever side of the ball they grew up

Do not want a former coordinator or position coach. Jerry Moore had HC experience. Satterfield was Co-HC for a couple of years and had proven himself capable of the job.

Tre Lamb. I’ll say it here until someone bans me. App needs someone to elevate the program, which has grown stagnant. Do you really trust a coordinator to do that?

I do not. There may be a decent coordinator with good chops, but we are not in an experimental phase. Eli was an outlier because he came in for one year. We do not know where things would have gone had he stayed longer. That said, he was a play caller, and he designed the offense.

You get that same set of skills and hunger with Tre Lamb. He’s proven he can not only elevate a program over time but he can elevate his teams performance on game day. Look at his games against FBS programs his last two years at GWU. Look at the NDSU and App game from 2024.

Give me that guy. He managed to recruit two FCS All-Americans to GWU, and keep them. They didn’t transfer until after he left. The guy can recruit in the mold that App has gone after before and he can design and call an offense. His offense would also fit Matthew Wilson to a T.

At this point, I also wish Ponce had gotten a shot to act as Head Coach during the season to see what he could do. You run a risk if he is the guy and doesn’t pan out, but I think he could elevate the program as well. He’s been stuck under the influence and decision making of others.

To me, it’s either Ponce or Lamb.

I’m probably wrong. And I’ll be destroyed for it. But if you’re not talented, you better be good at spotting talent.

Coming from the guy that thought David Baldwin Griffin was the next Armanti Edwards, I’m not surprised you think Ponce or Lamb will be the second coming of Nick Saban.
If we are conducting a national search, we better end up with a better choice than a .500 FCS coach and a glorified QB coach.

[Bootsy]

Ponce as our next HC? No. Just no.

[DenverOfTheEast]

If #TEAMCLARK would still be Head Coach - Frank Ponce was going to be let go.

Offense and Joey underachieved. Ponce will not be the Head Coach either.

It will be interesting to see which way DG goes with this search, his track record in other sports last been to hire lower level guys like Kerns and Kermit. But he found Drink from a HM staff.

But rest assure it will be someone that the Parker Search firm recommends, big ole buddies in the High Country Private Club scene with Ricks and Gillin.

[Pikapp79]

Tre Lamb. That’s what is missing.

Dude is 27-25 as a head coach in in FCS. Why is he the answer? I genuinely want to know, because if he is, let's get him here. I'm just not convinced yet.

He’s 27-25 because his first few years at Gardner-Webb saw them competing as a quasi-Division 2 program. By the end of his tenure, they were a playoff team, they played several FBS teams to one score, and elevated that program to the point where they are almost perennial playoff contenders.

He goes to a 1 win ETSU team, plays App relatively close, was up on NDSU by 12 with three minutes left and they let that one slip away. He improved ETSU’s win total by six in one off season. If you know anything about football, going from 1 win to 7 wins in one season is almost unheard of.

Lamb is built in the Satterfield mold of the offensive play caller head coach. His system is innovative and he squeezes all the juice from that fruit he’s holding.

If he could turn ETSU around in one off-season, and turn Gardner-Webb into a respectable program, I have no doubt he could elevate the standard at App State.

That is who I want. I don’t want a coordinator from an SEC school. I don’t want a position coach. I want a proven program builder who not only maintains continuity where he goes, but has proven himself to elevate it. He has proven himself to be a leader as nearly 30 kids followed him from GWU to ETSU.

Players play for him. Programs turn around under him. He may not be a hot name yet, but he will be at some point.

He's shown the ability to turn things around but where does he take them from there? Of there six FCS wins, only Western had a winning record and they lost to 3-8 Furman (to be fair that was the bus ride from Hell for them). His obvious advantage is his familiarity with the program and the area.

Again, his best record as a head coach at the FCS level is 7-5. At G-W he was 2-2, 4-7, 7-6, 7-5. He was 7-5 at ETSU this year. Big improvement from last year but what's next. In his three winning seasons, his teams were victorious against teams with a combined 90-124 record. His best win to date was against an 8-3 UT Martin team his last year with G-W. Of his 21 wins over the last three seasons, his teams beat six teams with a winning record. I just don't see anything that says he's the guy to run our program.

This 1000 times. The guy has not demonstrated next level ability in my book, not even close. I don't think he is even as good as the guy we just fired.

Agree if would be a super risky hire and the wrong one.

[AppSt94]

He isn’t being considered for the job at this time.

[MrCraig]

If #TEAMCLARK would still be Head Coach - Frank Ponce was going to be let go.

Offense and Joey underachieved. Ponce will not be the Head Coach either.

It will be interesting to see which way DG goes with this search, his track record in other sports last been to hire lower level guys like Kerns and Kermit. But he found Drink from a HM staff.

But rest assure it will be someone that the Parker Search firm recommends, big ole buddies in the High Country Private Club scene with Ricks and Gillin.

I'm curious as to why you think a team that finished the season 36th in the nation in total offense underachieved?

I'm not arguing that Ponce is the guy, but I've argued multiple times this year that the offense wasn't the problem, and the stats prove that.

[Saint3333]

If it's Ponce we will know a couple of folks turned us down.

[t4pizza]

If it's Ponce we will know a couple of folks turned us down.

Count me in the extremely underwhelmed camp if we end up with Ponce as our head coach. We need a regime change, not just a change of the head coach.

[BambooRdApp]

We went from 22nd to 36th in nation on offense with a returning QB and many skillset players back. Understand we had many new OL.
However, one would think the QB would get better...in terms of decision making. The QB is part of equation... however the OC is the mentor....
Maybe I will regret it...but I hope not Ponce. Seems like a great guy...but feel like we need a new voice and more variations (even if our base is the same)

[Cro-Magnon App]

Maybe Tre Lamb would be a great coach for Appalachian State - but sometime around 2030 after he proves he can do it somewhere else in the highest fashion. Give him more time.

[ericsaid]

If we are searching for a new coach, I would be interested to pursue the Offensive coordinator at Mizzou or DJ, co-D coordinator at Mizzou.
The OC has a nice offense. Just doesn't have the Jimmy and Joe's to compete against good teams in sec week in and week out.

Not being a smartass, but he also has Drinkwitz helping him. Drinkwitz was a really good offensive coordinator. Maybe he is good but it could be he is good with Drink.

Most head coaches are typically previous D or I coordinators. So every asst is assisted by the HC.. depending on whichever side of the ball they grew up

Do not want a former coordinator or position coach. Jerry Moore had HC experience. Satterfield was Co-HC for a couple of years and had proven himself capable of the job.

Tre Lamb. I’ll say it here until someone bans me. App needs someone to elevate the program, which has grown stagnant. Do you really trust a coordinator to do that?

I do not. There may be a decent coordinator with good chops, but we are not in an experimental phase. Eli was an outlier because he came in for one year. We do not know where things would have gone had he stayed longer. That said, he was a play caller, and he designed the offense.

You get that same set of skills and hunger with Tre Lamb. He’s proven he can not only elevate a program over time but he can elevate his teams performance on game day. Look at his games against FBS programs his last two years at GWU. Look at the NDSU and App game from 2024.

Give me that guy. He managed to recruit two FCS All-Americans to GWU, and keep them. They didn’t transfer until after he left. The guy can recruit in the mold that App has gone after before and he can design and call an offense. His offense would also fit Matthew Wilson to a T.

At this point, I also wish Ponce had gotten a shot to act as Head Coach during the season to see what he could do. You run a risk if he is the guy and doesn’t pan out, but I think he could elevate the program as well. He’s been stuck under the influence and decision making of others.

To me, it’s either Ponce or Lamb.

I’m probably wrong. And I’ll be destroyed for it. But if you’re not talented, you better be good at spotting talent.

Coming from the guy that thought David Baldwin Griffin was the next Armanti Edwards, I’m not surprised you think Ponce or Lamb will be the second coming of Nick Saban.
If we are conducting a national search, we better end up with a better choice than a .500 FCS coach and a glorified QB coach.

That was half a decade ago. I never said that he would be Armanti. Being hyperbolic to prove your point is one fallacy, attacking that ONE THING as an example of why I'm wrong about something completely different are two others.

Apparently you didn't pay attention in class or you would learn how to argue a point better.

Tell me why a coordinator from an SEC school would be a better fit than Tre Lamb? Tell me why they would be better than just hiring Ponce, who has turned down job offers to stay in Boone? Ponce has been under Clark, doing what Clark wanted and likely calling the game in the style that Clark desired.

Blaming Ponce for the defense constantly giving up 14 to 17 points in the first quarter and then chasing points the rest of the game is bad form.

As for Lamb, you may not like his overall record in W-L, but when you look at the programs he took over and how they fared once he got there, you will see why I want him. To go from 1-11 to 7-5 in one season at ETSU is a massive improvement. It's not Curt Cignetti turning around his alma mater good, but it's darn good. Turning GWU into a team that would actually scare FBS teams every time they played is a ridiculous accomplishment as well.

Again, it may not be up to your standard of SEC Coordinator, or coach at an established program who took over a well oiled machine, but I've got news for you, App isn't a well oiled machine right now. It will need to be fixed or App will become the next Troy or ECU. If App hired Drinkwitz after two .500 seasons or lower in the past three years, how do you think Drinkwitz would fare? It wouldn't be 13-1, I can guarantee you that.

Make the right hire, and you're back to respectability. I think Tre Lamb is the guy to do that.

Get upset at me and point out one mistake I made all that you want to try to distract from the point I'm making, but it dissuade me. The good thing for you is that i'm not an AD.

[DenverOfTheEast]

If #TEAMCLARK would still be Head Coach - Frank Ponce was going to be let go.

Offense and Joey underachieved. Ponce will not be the Head Coach either.

It will be interesting to see which way DG goes with this search, his track record in other sports last been to hire lower level guys like Kerns and Kermit. But he found Drink from a HM staff.

But rest assure it will be someone that the Parker Search firm recommends, big ole buddies in the High Country Private Club scene with Ricks and Gillin.

I'm curious as to why you think a team that finished the season 36th in the nation in total offense underachieved?

I'm not arguing that Ponce is the guy, but I've argued multiple times this year that the offense wasn't the problem, and the stats prove that.

when you have pre season POY back in Joey and he throws pick after pick, red zone decisions or play calling, another factor is Frank was a stand alone, stand offish type that wasn't totally connected to the rest of the staff as well.

Sometimes being ranked 36th doesn't always tell the story, App trailed in a lot of games early so therefore had to throw and some of those stats were misleading.

Doesn't really matter at this point.

[ericsaid]

Maybe Tre Lamb would be a great coach for Appalachian State - but sometime around 2030 after he proves he can do it somewhere else in the highest fashion. Give him more time.

Lamb won't be available in 5 more years. That much is clear. If he takes ETSU to 9 wins this coming year, he will be gone. His success at GWU is overlooked by many here but I can promise you that it isn't overlooked by administrators. Taking a 1-11 ETSU team to 7-5, while playing App tight for 3 quarters and having NDSU on the ropes just three weeks into the following season is ridiculous as well.

Again, he won't be around the next time. And if App makes the wrong hire and hires a coordinator that thinks they are taking over a well oiled machine, as Drinkwitz did, App becomes ECU for the next five years. The program would never recover from that, as ECU's hasn't, and won't.

App lost the Boise State trajectory and is trending to be more in line with the mortals and I don't think you all want that. You hire a coordinator, you run a huge risk of the unknown. The only coordinator I would be interested in is Ponce. He had opportunities to leave App for gigs other than Miami and didn't. He has been a Broyle's Award semi-finalist I believe. He has all the credentials of someone you would hire from somewhere else. What would give me hope about Ponce is that he will not be beholden to anyone else in terms of what he runs and what he develops. We know Clark had a massive amount of input into the offensive game planning and calls on gameday. The fact the defense was giving up 14 to 17 points three drives into a game was not on Ponce.


That said, I'm not the AD, and it won't be Ponce or Lamb. The people who write the checks will have their say. I just hope that they make the right choice. If they don't, you can kiss all of what has been built goodbye.

[AppSt94]

Maybe Tre Lamb would be a great coach for Appalachian State - but sometime around 2030 after he proves he can do it somewhere else in the highest fashion. Give him more time.

Lamb won't be available in 5 more years. That much is clear. If he takes ETSU to 9 wins this coming year, he will be gone. His success at GWU is overlooked by many here but I can promise you that it isn't overlooked by administrators. Taking a 1-11 ETSU team to 7-5, while playing App tight for 3 quarters and having NDSU on the ropes just three weeks into the following season is ridiculous as well.

Again, he won't be around the next time. And if App makes the wrong hire and hires a coordinator that thinks they are taking over a well oiled machine, as Drinkwitz did, App becomes ECU for the next five years. The program would never recover from that, as ECU's hasn't, and won't.

App lost the Boise State trajectory and is trending to be more in line with the mortals and I don't think you all want that. You hire a coordinator, you run a huge risk of the unknown. The only coordinator I would be interested in is Ponce. He had opportunities to leave App for gigs other than Miami and didn't. He has been a Broyle's Award semi-finalist I believe. He has all the credentials of someone you would hire from somewhere else. What would give me hope about Ponce is that he will not be beholden to anyone else in terms of what he runs and what he develops. We know Clark had a massive amount of input into the offensive game planning and calls on gameday. The fact the defense was giving up 14 to 17 points three drives into a game was not on Ponce.


That said, I'm not the AD, and it won't be Ponce or Lamb. The people who write the checks will have their say. I just hope that they make the right choice. If they don't, you can kiss all of what has been built goodbye.

Lamb isn’t on the list for consideration. Several folks would have to bow out for him to get a text. Let it go.

[BeauFoster]

Maybe Tre Lamb would be a great coach for Appalachian State - but sometime around 2030 after he proves he can do it somewhere else in the highest fashion. Give him more time.

App lost the Boise State trajectory and is trending to be more in line with the mortals and I don't think you all want that. You hire a coordinator, you run a huge risk of the unknown. The only coordinator I would be interested in is Ponce. He had opportunities to leave App for gigs other than Miami and didn't. He has been a Broyle's Award semi-finalist I believe. He has all the credentials of someone you would hire from somewhere else. What would give me hope about Ponce is that he will not be beholden to anyone else in terms of what he runs and what he develops. We know Clark had a massive amount of input into the offensive game planning and calls on gameday. The fact the defense was giving up 14 to 17 points three drives into a game was not on Ponce.

Boise lost the Boise trajectory for a couple years, too. Getting the best RB in CFB really put them back on top (they were getting there before him, of course). App is only a few years from hosting Gameday. We have not exited the convo at all, but we need to get back to the to quickly.

[MrCraig]

Not being a smartass, but he also has Drinkwitz helping him. Drinkwitz was a really good offensive coordinator. Maybe he is good but it could be he is good with Drink.

Most head coaches are typically previous D or I coordinators. So every asst is assisted by the HC.. depending on whichever side of the ball they grew up

Do not want a former coordinator or position coach. Jerry Moore had HC experience. Satterfield was Co-HC for a couple of years and had proven himself capable of the job.

Tre Lamb. I’ll say it here until someone bans me. App needs someone to elevate the program, which has grown stagnant. Do you really trust a coordinator to do that?

I do not. There may be a decent coordinator with good chops, but we are not in an experimental phase. Eli was an outlier because he came in for one year. We do not know where things would have gone had he stayed longer. That said, he was a play caller, and he designed the offense.

You get that same set of skills and hunger with Tre Lamb. He’s proven he can not only elevate a program over time but he can elevate his teams performance on game day. Look at his games against FBS programs his last two years at GWU. Look at the NDSU and App game from 2024.

Give me that guy. He managed to recruit two FCS All-Americans to GWU, and keep them. They didn’t transfer until after he left. The guy can recruit in the mold that App has gone after before and he can design and call an offense. His offense would also fit Matthew Wilson to a T.

At this point, I also wish Ponce had gotten a shot to act as Head Coach during the season to see what he could do. You run a risk if he is the guy and doesn’t pan out, but I think he could elevate the program as well. He’s been stuck under the influence and decision making of others.

To me, it’s either Ponce or Lamb.

I’m probably wrong. And I’ll be destroyed for it. But if you’re not talented, you better be good at spotting talent.

Coming from the guy that thought David Baldwin Griffin was the next Armanti Edwards, I’m not surprised you think Ponce or Lamb will be the second coming of Nick Saban.
If we are conducting a national search, we better end up with a better choice than a .500 FCS coach and a glorified QB coach.

That was half a decade ago. I never said that he would be Armanti. Being hyperbolic to prove your point is one fallacy, attacking that ONE THING as an example of why I'm wrong about something completely different are two others.

Apparently you didn't pay attention in class or you would learn how to argue a point better.

Tell me why a coordinator from an SEC school would be a better fit than Tre Lamb? Tell me why they would be better than just hiring Ponce, who has turned down job offers to stay in Boone? Ponce has been under Clark, doing what Clark wanted and likely calling the game in the style that Clark desired.

Blaming Ponce for the defense constantly giving up 14 to 17 points in the first quarter and then chasing points the rest of the game is bad form.

As for Lamb, you may not like his overall record in W-L, but when you look at the programs he took over and how they fared once he got there, you will see why I want him. To go from 1-11 to 7-5 in one season at ETSU is a massive improvement. It's not Curt Cignetti turning around his alma mater good, but it's darn good. Turning GWU into a team that would actually scare FBS teams every time they played is a ridiculous accomplishment as well.

Again, it may not be up to your standard of SEC Coordinator, or coach at an established program who took over a well oiled machine, but I've got news for you, App isn't a well oiled machine right now. It will need to be fixed or App will become the next Troy or ECU. If App hired Drinkwitz after two .500 seasons or lower in the past three years, how do you think Drinkwitz would fare? It wouldn't be 13-1, I can guarantee you that.

Make the right hire, and you're back to respectability. I think Tre Lamb is the guy to do that.

Get upset at me and point out one mistake I made all that you want to try to distract from the point I'm making, but it dissuade me. The good thing for you is that i'm not an AD.

I'm not sure why you're so hung up on Tre Lamb. I think he could be a good pick, but there are plenty of other good coaches available who would want to come to Boone who are arguably just as good if not better.
I also don't think head coaching experience is completely necessary. There are a LOT of coordinators who made the jump to head coach and did an excellent job.
Also, you say "we do not know how things would have gone had he stayed longer" about Eli Drinkwitz. I would argue that we definitely know what would have happened. App would have continued being very successful until another P4 team took him away. You can look at the job he's done at Mizzou. He's proven that he can develop talent and be a good coach because he's been very successful in the SEC.

[DenverOfTheEast]

DG - is going for safe former FBS Head Coach at this point, he's had two straight first time Head Coaches in Drink and Clark -- He can't risk the 1-AA guys, but hey if he gets turned down a few times you never know.

Who is over more salary money CLT or APP?

Who has more NIL CLT or APP?

The fan base and tradition are in favor of APP?

Easier conference to win most likely CLT's.

Where would you rather live and raise a family CLT or Boone?

Both schools going after same pool of candidates.