Dooley Coaching Issue

#1
govols2008

govols2008

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2009
Messages
449
Likes
323
#1
Let me start by saying I firmly believe Dooley needs to go, don't think that I think he should still be here next year.

As a fellow coach I see a problem in Dooley that I my self have as a young coach. I am a head baseball coach and assistant football coach here at a high school in West Tn. As a young coach I have found that one of my biggest obstacles has been trusting my assistants to coach. I trust my assistants, but it is very hard to trust someone else with a part of your team that you are responsible for. My last job as a head baseball coach I really didn't have much help and when they were there I didn't trust them with much. Now I have landed a job at a pretty big program and have some good, hungry assistants under me, and I am learning how to trust them and allow them to coach. Because I realize that I cannot be in all places at once and for us to reach the goals that we have I MUST allow my coaches to coach.

I honestly believe that Dooley shows signs of having this same problem. He came from a place where he was the Head Football Coach and Athletic director both, total control in every possible way. I think Dooley wants assistants that he can micromanage because he feels that he has to be involved in every area as much as possible, he doesn't trust anyone to do the job but him self. This could be a reason we saw an exodus of coaches from Tennessee this past season. No one wants to coach under someone like that..

Dooley had a great opportunity to hire a proven DC, but he went with someone who had never had experience as a DC. Honestly Lance Thompson would have been the choice if we were going with an unproven DC, but that might have been to much control because we know Lance would not be pushed around. That's also the reason I think that he didn't reach out to a Randy Shannon type, he wanted someone unproven that he could control.

I could be, and probably am totally wrong here. This is just something I have been thinking about for awhile now. Trusting other coaches is hard to do, especially when you are a young coach. Dooley will learn this skill eventually, but it will be somewhere else. I feel that we are honestly a few things away from being a very good football team. We have the talent now, they just need to be coached up.

I am excited for our future. We are better off before Dooley arrived, especially if our new coach and convince Tyler and JH to stay. My heart goes out to Dooley and his family. You can see in the mans eyes he is hurt, he is defeated and he knows he failed. But as many have pointed out, he was paid to do a job and didn't get it done. He grew up around SEC football and knew full well the rewards and the risks of success and of failure. Let's get behind who ever is hired and pray they bring glory back the Hill!!!!!!

:salute:
 
  • Like
Reactions: 18 people
#5
#5
I also agree with a lot of it. People can not be to rough on Dooley for taking Sal as a Def. Coordinator. He was pressured to make a good hire, and at the time Sunseri was the flavor of the week. Alabama off of two great seasons and Sal was hyped as the next big thing. The problem is that Dooley had a team that's defense was not built for the 3-4, and bringing in a new mind set does not work when your job is hanging in the balance. It shows a sign of desperation in the end.

Dooley, Tennessee Hit Home Run with Sal Sunseri | AthlonSports.com
 
#8
#8
If you break down Dooley's possible firing to strictly a business decision, we cannot afford to keep him. Virtually every athletic program and even some academic programs depend on the success of the football program. To be successful, the football program needs to be able to put 100,000 plus people in the stadium seats on a regular basis. More people means more concessions sold, more tickets sold and more money made. The more money made, the more every program at UT will share in the wealth. I like Dooley and he's a positive influence on the kids, but, the longer we keep Dooley coaching a less than mediocre program, the more money we will lose because nobody wants to watch a losing program. I doubt that UT has much of a surplus of funds right now. Raising ticket prices will scare even more people away from the games and further diminish our surplus of funds.
 
#9
#9
I totally agree we have to let him go. I really wish he had succeeded here, and he did in many areas. Just not the most important one and that is the wins column.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#10
#10
govols2008 said:
Let me start by saying I firmly believe Dooley needs to go, don't think that I think he should still be here next year.

As a fellow coach I see a problem in Dooley that I my self have as a young coach. I am a head baseball coach and assistant football coach here at a high school in West Tn. As a young coach I have found that one of my biggest obstacles has been trusting my assistants to coach. I trust my assistants, but it is very hard to trust someone else with a part of your team that you are responsible for. My last job as a head baseball coach I really didn't have much help and when they were there I didn't trust them with much. Now I have landed a job at a pretty big program and have some good, hungry assistants under me, and I am learning how to trust them and allow them to coach. Because I realize that I cannot be in all places at once and for us to reach the goals that we have I MUST allow my coaches to coach.

I honestly believe that Dooley shows signs of having this same problem. He came from a place where he was the Head Football Coach and Athletic director both, total control in every possible way. I think Dooley wants assistants that he can micromanage because he feels that he has to be involved in every area as much as possible, he doesn't trust anyone to do the job but him self. This could be a reason we saw an exodus of coaches from Tennessee this past season. No one wants to coach under someone like that..

Dooley had a great opportunity to hire a proven DC, but he went with someone who had never had experience as a DC. Honestly Lance Thompson would have been the choice if we were going with an unproven DC, but that might have been to much control because we know Lance would not be pushed around. That's also the reason I think that he didn't reach out to a Randy Shannon type, he wanted someone unproven that he could control.

I could be, and probably am totally wrong here. This is just something I have been thinking about for awhile now. Trusting other coaches is hard to do, especially when you are a young coach. Dooley will learn this skill eventually, but it will be somewhere else. I feel that we are honestly a few things away from being a very good football team. We have the talent now, they just need to be coached up.

I am excited for our future. We are better off before Dooley arrived, especially if our new coach and convince Tyler and JH to stay. My heart goes out to Dooley and his family. You can see in the mans eyes he is hurt, he is defeated and he knows he failed. But as many have pointed out, he was paid to do a job and didn't get it done. He grew up around SEC football and knew full well the rewards and the risks of success and of failure. Let's get behind who ever is hired and pray they bring glory back the Hill!!!!!!

:salute:
Click to expand...

This is almost verbatim what I heard a year ago from someone who knew one of the departing coaches. He felt like Dooley wanted to coach every position and didn't need any help from anyone else.

TIFWIW
 
#11
#11
I agree. There have been times on TV where the D would be huddled around Sunseri and Dooley would walk right into the huddle and just start speaking over Sal and Sal would just give him the death stare.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#12
#12
I think the real problem is Dooley had no expertise in no particular area. He needs to go back and earn a position as a coordinator of some type cause.he lacks knowledge with x's and o's. Him not.having any experience as a DC or OC really hurt him. He doesnt understand how micro-managing can aggravate a coach
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#13
#13
govols2008 said:
I totally agree we have to let him go. I really wish he had succeeded here, and he did in many areas. Just not the most important one and that is the wins column.
Click to expand...

I really enjoyed your first post. It's always a good thing to have a fresh perspective on the Vols. I really believe the micro manage/control freak issue and is one of Dooley's biggest weaknesses. I hope, whenever he gets fired officially, that the fans will have a little class and show him the respect he deserves. I truly believe he gave his all for Tennessee, but couldn't get it done. By the way VolNation, his family should ALWAYS be treated with respect.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#14
#14
2 images of how to deal with adversity:

1) Phil Fulmer - clapping, positive, supportive of his players

2) Derek Dooley - screaming, throwing his headset, slamming a cane to the ground

Edit: NOT a hire Fulmer argument.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#15
#15
It is really hard to trust others with your team. It is by far my biggest hurdle as a young coach that I try and work on daily. In baseball I can get away with it to a point, but football is such a huge animal there is just no way. Especially at a program like ours. Think about all the media appearances Dooley has to make, commercials, just everything that the HC has to do that has nothing to do with football.

I think this is a reason that Saban assistants generally do not do very well as HC's. He is so involved and over EVERYTHING that goes on in his program. The difference is Satan, I mean Saban is experienced enough, and simply has a brilliant football mind.
 
#16
#16
orangepeopleeater said:
I also agree with a lot of it. People can not be to rough on Dooley for taking Sal as a Def. Coordinator. He was pressured to make a good hire, and at the time Sunseri was the flavor of the week. Alabama off of two great seasons and Sal was hyped as the next big thing. The problem is that Dooley had a team that's defense was not built for the 3-4, and bringing in a new mind set does not work when your job is hanging in the balance. It shows a sign of desperation in the end.

Dooley, Tennessee Hit Home Run with Sal Sunseri | AthlonSports.com
Click to expand...

I did not even realize that Pittman was named in the ESPN Top 25 recruiter in 2011. Him and Graham have turned out to be great hires.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
#17
#17
dsimplified said:
I really enjoyed your first post. It's always a good thing to have a fresh perspective on the Vols. I really believe the micro manage/control freak issue and is one of Dooley's biggest weaknesses. I hope, whenever he gets fired officially, that the fans will have a little class and show him the respect he deserves. I truly believe he gave his all for Tennessee, but couldn't get it done. By the way VolNation, his family should ALWAYS be treated with respect.
Click to expand...


Thanks man! I love this site and have been coming here for a long long time. When I joined I didn't post much and still don't really. I generally just scroll through and see what everyone is thinking. Freak has an amazing site here and we are very lucky to have this resource
 
#18
#18
dsimplified said:
I did not even realize that Pittman was named in the ESPN Top 25 recruiter in 2011. Him and Graham have turned out to be great hires.
Click to expand...

Yes they have! This is a sign to me that Dooley is learning that he has to let his coaches coach. BUT, it is still to little to late.

I really hope we can keep those two guys but it's doubtful they will stay on with a new HC. Jay might because he is from here, but idk about Pittman.
 
#19
#19
Great post...as someone said, one of the best on the Dooley debacle. I, too, feel sorry in a way for him and his family...no one likes to see anyone fail, but it is what it is...He may be an awesome coach in the future...but it won't be at Tn and not until he learns this valuable lesson. Thanks for your perspective.
 
#20
#20
alavolfan said:
Great post...as someone said, one of the best on the Dooley debacle. I, too, feel sorry in a way for him and his family...no one likes to see anyone fail, but it is what it is...He may be an awesome coach in the future...but it won't be at Tn and not until he learns this valuable lesson. Thanks for your perspective.
Click to expand...


Thanks man!
 
#22
#22
Your post *potentially* makes alot of sense. I say potentially because what evidence do we have to make such an assertion? My thoughts, if anything Dooley is far less involved with his assistants than he needs to be. Consider how long it took for him to get involved with the defense. I think assistants can be much like players and unless they're really really good at what they do they need a supervisor to press them for results. Honestly who knows though. We're all just speculating at this point I think.
 
#23
#23
govols2008 said:
Let me start by saying I firmly believe Dooley needs to go, don't think that I think he should still be here next year.

As a fellow coach I see a problem in Dooley that I my self have as a young coach. I am a head baseball coach and assistant football coach here at a high school in West Tn. As a young coach I have found that one of my biggest obstacles has been trusting my assistants to coach. I trust my assistants, but it is very hard to trust someone else with a part of your team that you are responsible for. My last job as a head baseball coach I really didn't have much help and when they were there I didn't trust them with much. Now I have landed a job at a pretty big program and have some good, hungry assistants under me, and I am learning how to trust them and allow them to coach. Because I realize that I cannot be in all places at once and for us to reach the goals that we have I MUST allow my coaches to coach.

I honestly believe that Dooley shows signs of having this same problem. He came from a place where he was the Head Football Coach and Athletic director both, total control in every possible way. I think Dooley wants assistants that he can micromanage because he feels that he has to be involved in every area as much as possible, he doesn't trust anyone to do the job but him self. This could be a reason we saw an exodus of coaches from Tennessee this past season. No one wants to coach under someone like that..

Dooley had a great opportunity to hire a proven DC, but he went with someone who had never had experience as a DC. Honestly Lance Thompson would have been the choice if we were going with an unproven DC, but that might have been to much control because we know Lance would not be pushed around. That's also the reason I think that he didn't reach out to a Randy Shannon type, he wanted someone unproven that he could control.

I could be, and probably am totally wrong here. This is just something I have been thinking about for awhile now. Trusting other coaches is hard to do, especially when you are a young coach. Dooley will learn this skill eventually, but it will be somewhere else. I feel that we are honestly a few things away from being a very good football team. We have the talent now, they just need to be coached up.

I am excited for our future. We are better off before Dooley arrived, especially if our new coach and convince Tyler and JH to stay. My heart goes out to Dooley and his family. You can see in the mans eyes he is hurt, he is defeated and he knows he failed. But as many have pointed out, he was paid to do a job and didn't get it done. He grew up around SEC football and knew full well the rewards and the risks of success and of failure. Let's get behind who ever is hired and pray they bring glory back the Hill!!!!!!

:salute:
Click to expand...

I agree with this---we don't know all of Dooley's failings here. We pretty much see what we see on the field. What is pretty appalling to me is how a guy that fashions himself as being organized and in control of clock management can make so many mistakes game after game. It shows that he has a lack of control. I'd also add that he messed up handling the Da'Rick issue as well as some of the transfer issues (Arnett, etc). He might not be a total lost cause as a coach but it just goes to show that in this league you have to have your crap together day in and day out to win.
 
#25
#25
I think it's pretty unanimous.. I truly wish Coach Dooley and his family nothing but the best. I don't think Tennessee is a place you learn to "coach on the job". I am going to cheer for my VOLS to beat Vandy and Kentucky. Hell, I may even go to Memphis for some ribs.. GO VOLS!
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top