Justin Fuente is the talk of college football coaching searches
Nov. 05, 2015
HIGHLIGHTS
Memphis coach mentioned as candidate at South Carolina
Fuente helped develop QBs such as Andy Dalton at TCU
Fuente may have his pick of jobs if Memphis wins out
As perhaps the most promising young college football coach in the country, Justin Fuente of Memphis is not so naive as to think conversations about him aren’t taking place at some of the highest-profile programs in the country.
South Carolina, Southern Cal and Virginia Tech, for instance, are seeking head coaches. So are other Power Five schools such as Miami, Minnesota and Maryland.
Fuente’s stock has never been higher since transforming the Tigers (8-0, 4-0 American Athletic Conference), ranked 13th in the first College Football Playoff poll released Tuesday, from virtual irrelevance to national title hopeful. At 39, he has the energy and drive athletic directors covet as well as a youthful perspective in identifying with blue-chip recruits.
No wonder Fuente has been linked to just about each of the 10 vacancies in major college football. For his part though, Fuente indicated earlier this week he has little to no time to consider his future beyond the next game, which in this case is against Navy (6-1, 4-0) at home Saturday night in a showdown of undefeated AAC West Division opponents.
“We just have these big games that continue to come up week after week,” Fuente said. “I’m pretty insulated from the outside world, quite honestly, on a day-to-day basis. I get up and drive to work and stay at work until it’s time to go home and drive straight home, so it’s pretty easy at least for me, I’m sure everybody’s different, to block all that out and focus on the task at hand."
Although Maryland officials have not revealed publicly any names on their list of prospective head-coaching candidates, Fuente seems to make sense given how he has excelled in directing the spread offense. A lack of offensive creativity, particularly with regard to quarterbacks, in part was to blame for the Oct. 11 firing of Randy Edsall.
Fuente has been responsible for developing several notable quarterbacks, including Andy Dalton. The starter for the undefeated Cincinnati Bengals played at Texas Christian when Fuente served as offensive coordinator. Fuente’s current quarterback is 6-foot-7 redshirt junior Paxton Lynch, an NFL prospect who has thrown for 2,709 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Memphis, meantime, is third among 128 Football Bowl Subdivision schools in scoring (47.9 points per game), fifth in red-zone scoring efficiency (95.7 percent), sixth in total offense (560.3 yards per game) and seventh in passing (358). So prolific is the spread attack that the Tigers have managed to remain unbeaten despite ranking 101st in total defense (434.5), 120th in penalties (8.6) and 125th in penalty yards (88.6).
“If we look at football today, we want, the fans want exciting, wide-open offense,” Maryland Athletic Director Kevin Anderson said during a news conference announcing Edsall’s dismissal. “You look at some of the better the coaches, the great coaches, and they bring that kind of enthusiasm to the game, and that’s what I'll be looking for, and that’s what we'll get.”
Fuente may have his pick of jobs by season’s end, especially if Memphis wins out and, if circumstances break right, earns a berth in the CFP semifinals. The Tigers regardless are on track for the most wins in program history five years after going 1-11. This season Memphis also secured a signature victory by dispatching Southeastern Conference title contender Mississippi, 37-24, on Oct. 17.
Last season the Tigers went 10-3 and advanced to the inaugural Miami Beach Bowl, beating Brigham Young, 55-48, in double overtime. They were ranked 25th in the final Associated Press poll. On top of that, Memphis captured its first conference championship since 1971 as part of the Missouri Valley.
“Our focus is trying to win the conference,” Fuente said. “The things that come along with that are extra. The bottom line is we’re playing the first-place team in the conference. They’re undefeated in league play, and that’s a tremendous challenge, so we'll tackle this and move on.
“I don’t think it’s wise to talk about all that other stuff because it’s putting the cart before the horse, and I’m not a big believer in that.”
Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-football/article43211103.html#storylink=cpy
Nov. 05, 2015
HIGHLIGHTS
Memphis coach mentioned as candidate at South Carolina
Fuente helped develop QBs such as Andy Dalton at TCU
Fuente may have his pick of jobs if Memphis wins out
As perhaps the most promising young college football coach in the country, Justin Fuente of Memphis is not so naive as to think conversations about him aren’t taking place at some of the highest-profile programs in the country.
South Carolina, Southern Cal and Virginia Tech, for instance, are seeking head coaches. So are other Power Five schools such as Miami, Minnesota and Maryland.
Fuente’s stock has never been higher since transforming the Tigers (8-0, 4-0 American Athletic Conference), ranked 13th in the first College Football Playoff poll released Tuesday, from virtual irrelevance to national title hopeful. At 39, he has the energy and drive athletic directors covet as well as a youthful perspective in identifying with blue-chip recruits.
No wonder Fuente has been linked to just about each of the 10 vacancies in major college football. For his part though, Fuente indicated earlier this week he has little to no time to consider his future beyond the next game, which in this case is against Navy (6-1, 4-0) at home Saturday night in a showdown of undefeated AAC West Division opponents.
“We just have these big games that continue to come up week after week,” Fuente said. “I’m pretty insulated from the outside world, quite honestly, on a day-to-day basis. I get up and drive to work and stay at work until it’s time to go home and drive straight home, so it’s pretty easy at least for me, I’m sure everybody’s different, to block all that out and focus on the task at hand."
Although Maryland officials have not revealed publicly any names on their list of prospective head-coaching candidates, Fuente seems to make sense given how he has excelled in directing the spread offense. A lack of offensive creativity, particularly with regard to quarterbacks, in part was to blame for the Oct. 11 firing of Randy Edsall.
Fuente has been responsible for developing several notable quarterbacks, including Andy Dalton. The starter for the undefeated Cincinnati Bengals played at Texas Christian when Fuente served as offensive coordinator. Fuente’s current quarterback is 6-foot-7 redshirt junior Paxton Lynch, an NFL prospect who has thrown for 2,709 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Memphis, meantime, is third among 128 Football Bowl Subdivision schools in scoring (47.9 points per game), fifth in red-zone scoring efficiency (95.7 percent), sixth in total offense (560.3 yards per game) and seventh in passing (358). So prolific is the spread attack that the Tigers have managed to remain unbeaten despite ranking 101st in total defense (434.5), 120th in penalties (8.6) and 125th in penalty yards (88.6).
“If we look at football today, we want, the fans want exciting, wide-open offense,” Maryland Athletic Director Kevin Anderson said during a news conference announcing Edsall’s dismissal. “You look at some of the better the coaches, the great coaches, and they bring that kind of enthusiasm to the game, and that’s what I'll be looking for, and that’s what we'll get.”
Fuente may have his pick of jobs by season’s end, especially if Memphis wins out and, if circumstances break right, earns a berth in the CFP semifinals. The Tigers regardless are on track for the most wins in program history five years after going 1-11. This season Memphis also secured a signature victory by dispatching Southeastern Conference title contender Mississippi, 37-24, on Oct. 17.
Last season the Tigers went 10-3 and advanced to the inaugural Miami Beach Bowl, beating Brigham Young, 55-48, in double overtime. They were ranked 25th in the final Associated Press poll. On top of that, Memphis captured its first conference championship since 1971 as part of the Missouri Valley.
“Our focus is trying to win the conference,” Fuente said. “The things that come along with that are extra. The bottom line is we’re playing the first-place team in the conference. They’re undefeated in league play, and that’s a tremendous challenge, so we'll tackle this and move on.
“I don’t think it’s wise to talk about all that other stuff because it’s putting the cart before the horse, and I’m not a big believer in that.”
Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-football/article43211103.html#storylink=cpy
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