The Sark to interview Monday

[hawaiianboy]

Norm Chow's prize protoge and a Rich Gannon favorite a coming... It would be a little surprising if he gets the HC job, but IMO, he'd make a fine OC...

SARK"S BIO


Assistant coaches listening to offers

Sarkisian will interview for Raiders job; Kiffin might be bound for Minnesota.
By Gary Klein, Times Staff Writer
4:50 PM PST, January 6, 2007


USC's impressive Rose Bowl victory over Michigan has generated interest in Trojans assistants Steve Sarkisian and Lane Kiffin. Sarkisian, the Trojans' assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach, said Saturday that he will interview for the Oakland Raiders head coaching job on Monday.

"It's somewhat unexpected but a great opportunity and one I'm going to go for," said Sarkisian, 32, who was the Raiders' quarterbacks coach in 2004. "It's a tremendous organization, one that I'm familiar with.

"I know what's happening up there and I think I have a feel for it."Sarkisian said he had not been contacted by Florida State regarding its offensive coordinator position. Louisiana State's Jimbo Fisher was offered the job but had not accepted as of Friday.

Representatives from the University of Minnesota, which is seeking a head coach to replace fired Glen Mason, contacted Coach Pete Carroll in regard to Kiffin, USC's offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator for the last two seasons.

New Alabama Coach Nick Saban called Kiffin on Friday.

"Obviously, he is a great coach and that's a great program and I was willing to listen," Kiffin said. "But I realize what a great program we have here and I work for the best coach in America."

Kiffin, however, said he would be interested in the Minnesota opportunity.

Kiffin, 31, grew up in Minnesota and attended high school there.

"It's a job in a great conference…. It's obviously something I would look at," he said.

[email protected]

LINK

 

[SoCalRaider]

Hmm... I think I just posted this in another thread... oh well.

 

[TheNextStep]

So whaddya think? Rob Ryan as head coach with either Trestman or Sarkisian at OC?

 

[Limee]

I could certainly live with that. I would prefer Sarkisian over Trestman. I think we need to add some quality coaching on the offensive side of the ball. It might help us to execute more effectively and would make me feel more comfortable if we decide to pick a QB at No 1.

 

[Banter]

Add Sarkasian. Pick up that ex-USC line coach Tim Davis from the Dolphins. Claim BMW off waivers if Millen cuts him. I'd like it.

 

[jatfly]

I could certainly live with that. I would prefer Sarkisian over Trestman. I think we need to add some quality coaching on the offensive side of the ball. It might help us to execute more effectively and would make me feel more comfortable if we decide to pick a QB at No 1.

I would be REALLY COOL with this!!!!

Let's just hope it happens sooner not later....If Ryan does get the job I don't want it to be because no one else wanted it. If he is a canidate interview and other and offer it up......

 

[Madturk]

Maybe a bit young for a HC gig but I'd think he'd be an awesome OC. Comes from a high powered offense at USC and hopefully can mentor AWAL. I think a good opportunity for him to make a splash in the NFL. We need some young blood in here.

 

[hawaiianboy]

Sarkisian to interview Monday

Posted by Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer on Sunday at 12:02 am

Go ahead and laugh, but if Steve Sarkisian passes the chalkboard test with Al Davis, he could wind up being the head coach of the Raiders.

As reported in Friday's blog, Davis is very interested in Sarkisian, a co-offensive coordinator at USC and the Raiders quarterbacks coach under Norv Turner in 2004.

Sarkisian told the Los Angeles Times he would inteview for the Raiders head coaching job Monday.

"It's somewhat unexpected but a great opportunity and one I'm going to go for,'' Sarkisian said. "It's a tremendous organization, one that I'm familiar with. I know what's happening up there and I think I have a feel for it.''

And why not?

Sarkisian is 32 and considered a rising star in the coaching ranks. Davis hired Jon Gruden when he was 34.

Gruden factors into this equation.

When Sarkisian left the Raiders after the 2004 season to rejoin USC, he was hired as the assistant head coach and co-offensive coordinator. He worked on the sidelines, while Lane Kiffin, 31, called plays from the booth.

Kiffin is the son of Monte Kiffin, the longtime defensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

When Sarkisian and Lane Kiffin were selected by Pete Carroll to run the USC offense after the departure of Norm Chow to the Tennessee Titans, one of the first thing the co-coordinators did was schedule a visit to Tampa to visit with Gruden and pick his brain in terms of offensive philosophy.

You can safely assume that Sarkisian has a good idea of what Gruden's life was like as a 34-year-old coach of the Raiders under Davis.

And, as he told the Times, he is excited about the inteview and will aggressively seek the job.

WARNING: There is a rumor making the rounds that Rich Gannon was in Alameda recently interviewing for a position. I got a couple of e-mails on it, so I checked into it.

My information _ from someone who spoke to Gannon that very day _ was that Gannon was at home in Minnesota.

I've had the coaching conversation with Rich a few times. As a player, he laughed out loud at the very notion of working 60-plus hour weeks for what he considered minimal pay. Joked that it would be the end of his marriage and that he was looking forward to spending time with his family.

Brought it up again this year when he was doing commentary at the Steelers-Raiders game. He laughed again. Said he loved his gig at CBS and enjoyed his offseason.

If he's ever hired as an Raiders assistant, be sure to send me an e-mail reminding me how gullible I am.

 

[Freakshow]

I can't seem to think of Steve Sarkisian as anything more than the j.c. transfer quarterback who led BYU to victory in the Cotton Bowl about 10 years ago - but then again that's my "living in Utah" problem. He probably is a smart kid with lots of coaching potential and I know he's always been enthusiastic. He just seems so green...going from college "assistant o-coordinator" to Head Coach at the NFL level is a gigantic leap and I for one don't think he's prepared for the shit-storm that awaits him in Oakland.

I would be much more comfortable with Sarkisian as one of the candidates for the offensive coordinator position, which I believe isn't even technically available yet.

 

[SoCalRaider]

It's interesting that the Raiders have convinced the Sark that he's coming up to IV for the HC position, when they're really looking to fill the OC position. I don't get the feeling the Raiders are going to tell this guy he's IVing for the HC position, then turn around and offer him the OC position as some sort of consolation prize.

Didn't Gruden IV with Davis a year or so earlier before getting the nod the second time around? If so, Davis might just be picking his brain to see how far he's come along... I think.

 

[TheNextStep]

Didn't Gruden IV with Davis a year or so earlier before getting the nod the second time around? If so, Davis might just be picking his brain to see how far he's come along... I think.

Indeed he did interview Gruden more than once - three times, in fact. And, yes, Davis is notorious for bringing guys in for interviews and picking their brains without really having any intention of offering them the job.

 

[Crossbones]

I think Gruden interved with Al three times before he finally got the nod. I could be wrong there but yeah at least twice in different years.

As HBoy said to me...Al can't continue to fuck around with these HC candidates. Especially with a guy like Petrino or Tedford. You can't interview them and then say "we'll get back to you in a couple of weeks while we interview five more guys". That's not gonna get the job done with the top prospects. I really think you have to be ready to pull the trigger and not let a Tedford out of Alameda without making a deal.

 

[TheNextStep]

We're also forgetting that Martindale's contract was extended.

Here's what I'm seeing in my tea leaves:

HC - Rob Ryan
DC - Martindale
OC - Sarkisian or Trestman

 

[Madturk]

Well at least we have the fail safe in place this time around. We were getting pretty desperate last year. I do agree with Bones that if there is a qualified guy out there, and he passes the litmus test, due dilligence warrants that we at least make him an offer.

 

[Freakshow]

We're also forgetting that Martindale's contract was extended.

Here's what I'm seeing in my tea leaves:

HC - Rob Ryan
DC - Martindale
OC - Sarkisian or Trestman

I'd be down with that staff, although I don't know much about Martindale. What's his m.o.?

Trestman was decent the last time around for us, but not exactly a name I couldn't live without. I have a feeling he'll be taking the Minnesota job anyway. Surely there are more viabale o.c. candidates out there...

 

[hawaiianboy]

I can't seem to think of Steve Sarkisian as anything more than the j.c. transfer quarterback who led BYU to victory in the Cotton Bowl about 10 years ago - but then again that's my "living in Utah" problem.

BYU sucks...

He probably is a smart kid with lots of coaching potential and I know he's always been enthusiastic. He just seems so green...going from college "assistant o-coordinator" to Head Coach at the NFL level is a gigantic leap and I for one don't think he's prepared for the shit-storm that awaits him in Oakland.

I saw an interview with Norm Chow a couple of seasons ago where Chow called him the finest offensive mind he's come across... That, his familiarity with the structure of the Raiders and Gannon's praise of him may actually get a hard look as a head coach even if it's a little early... Al may see him as another Gruden as they share alot of the same attributes...

Sark has the assistant head coach title with SC and from what I understand, runs alot of practices with Carroll concentrating on the defense... Gruden fans should be happy to know he went and spent a bunch of time with Gru after getting the gig with SC after leaving us...

It may seem a few years too ahead of the curve with Sark, but he'll be just the kind of guy that would probably be out of our reach as a head coach in a few years... Most people would probably have a fit, but that he's held in high esteem by guys like Chow, Gruden and Gannon is enough for me to get behind him should we decide to take a chance on him as a HC...

 

[Madturk]

It may seem a few years too ahead of the curve with Sark, but he'll be just the kind of guy that would probably be out of our reach as a head coach in a few years... Most people would probably have a fit, but that he's held in high esteem by guys like Chow, Gruden and Gannon is enough for me to get behind him should we decide to take a chance on him as a HC...

Well the trendy thing these days is hiring young guys like Mangini, Payton. Look at Schottenheimer's kid on the Jets sideline. What's he, barely 30? I'm in favor of bringing in a young upstart as opposed to a Denny Green or Jim Fassell, especially since the defense is fairly set. I think it's really a no lose situation for Sarkissian. This team can't get any worse and we have a nice nucleus of young players, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

 

[Freakshow]

BYU sucks... I resemble that remark (alum 1990)

I saw an interview with Norm Chow a couple of seasons ago where Chow called him the finest offensive mind he's come across... That, his familiarity with the structure of the Raiders and Gannon's praise of him may actually get a hard look as a head coach even if it's a little early... Al may see him as another Gruden as they share alot of the same attributes...

It may seem a few years too ahead of the curve with Sark, but he'll be just the kind of guy that would probably be out of our reach as a head coach in a few years... Most people would probably have a fit, but that he's held in high esteem by guys like Chow, Gruden and Gannon is enough for me to get behind him should we decide to take a chance on him as a HC...

Chow coached him and mentor'd him so he should know...
I have to agree with you on this one though - getting the backing from these three cats means something. All of them have been extremely successful and do things the right way. I just wonder how much power a young 32-year old could yield. He'd be the youngest HC in the NFL, younger than some of his players, and guys like Ryan and Millard might get caught chuckling during team meetings. Sark for OC - and put him on the fast track to HC after a couple more seasons. Hopefully by then we would be able to retain his services.

 

[Crossbones]

Denny Green? Forget it. Guy is a loser at this point. Set in his ways and his ways aren't working. I happen to think Zona has a lot of talent, especially on offense and Green can't get out of his own way. Besides I remember Green making somme backhanded adverse comment about the Raider organization after he interviewed a few years back -- so back atcha Denny -- fuck you.

 

[hawaiianboy]

I resemble that remark (alum 1990)

Came this >< close to being a 87( or 88, or 89 or 90) alum at the much despised BYU...

At least he looks older than Gru did... Grun looked like he was 18 years old when he first took the job...