The problem with that move and most others is that a normal coach moves up to a destination job quickly.

Posted on August 6, 2026 at 10:37:13 AM by GritsGoBlue

Cooper had been at ASU for three years and was in his late 40s when he moved to OSU. That's a typical trajectory for a good coach who comes up from the lower ranks. Whittingham was at Utah for 22 years and is 66. What makes him hard to compare is that he spent so long at a lower tier that everyone thought that Utah would be his last job. I compared him above to Beamer in that respect. Bill Snyder would be another example. It's rare to find someone who is a program lifer at a middle tier school and then makes a move to a destination job in his 60s.

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Asked ChatGPT/Gemini what are the closest coaching move comparisons to Whitt to M (m) - By toffee August 6, 2026 at 09:51:30 AM
- Bryant from AM to Bama. Franchione from Bama to AM. Fisher from FSU to AM.* - By MasterBates August 6, 2026 at 11:22:51 AM
- Schnellenberger isn't close. He had a losing record in his last four years at Louisville. - By GritsGoBlue August 6, 2026 at 10:32:42 AM
  - And if Michigan wasn't in a somewhat desperate situation, they probably would not have hired him* - By Rich August 6, 2026 at 11:26:00 AM
- What about John Cooper ASU to OSU?* - By Rich August 6, 2026 at 10:00:17 AM
  - The problem with that move and most others is that a normal coach moves up to a destination job quickly. - By GritsGoBlue August 6, 2026 at 10:37:13 AM
    - Right. Tough comp. Schnellenberger seems like the best parallel but even his was not exactly the same* - By Rich August 6, 2026 at 11:24:18 AM
  - Bielema Wisconsin to Arkansas also comes to mind* - By Rich August 6, 2026 at 10:28:19 AM
  - Urban Meyer Utah to Florida?* - By ajs August 6, 2026 at 10:10:22 AM
    - Yes, please*** - By Craig August 6, 2026 at 10:25:21 AM

The Victors

The problem with that move and most others is that a normal coach moves up to a destination job quickly.