Starting To Also Think It’s Time

[HawkIowa44]

You are free to believe me or not, but up until a week and a half ago I'd have said the exact same thing.

It will never get described publicly as a push out, but I can tell you for certain that the Iowa athletic dept is pursuing a certain individual aggressively. That hasn't come from anyone on this board, btw. I have had one person here tell me something that's kinda sorta similar, but I don't take anything said by posters here seriously, myself included.

Whether that individual can be persuaded is up to them.

The only person I see in this scenario would be Pat Fitzgerald. Now that his Northwestern case has been finalized, he'll have a few decent offers out there and probably doesn't want to wait another year. I can't think of anyone else that Iowa could be tied too that's big enough of a name that would have mutual interest with. Plus his son plays here too.

 

[SwirlinLingerie]

The only person I see in this scenario would be Pat Fitzgerald. Now that his Northwestern case has been finalized, he'll have a few decent offers out there and probably doesn't want to wait another year. I can't think of anyone else that Iowa could be tied too that's big enough of a name that would have mutual interest with. Plus his son plays here too.

Not the worst thought, but I don't see it. Fitz would be a hire that you hope keeps you at 9-4 and 8-5; not someone you push Kirk out for. Plus, more importantly, I don't think Fitz would have anything to do with any conversation that he sensed might result in Kirk getting pushed out before he was ready.

 

[haydensly]

You are free to believe me or not, but up until a week and a half ago I'd have said the exact same thing.

It will never get described publicly as a push out, but I can tell you for certain that the Iowa athletic dept is pursuing a certain individual aggressively. That hasn't come from anyone on this board, btw. I have had one person here tell me something that's kinda sorta similar, but I don't take anything said by posters here seriously, myself included.

Whether that individual can be persuaded is up to them.

If this ends up being the case, will KF accept a lower buyout? Because otherwise he would be owed in the neighborhood of $25 million. And unlike Penn State, there would not be any offset (they ended up owing Franklin "only" $9 million). Seems like a lot for Iowa to raise.

If this individual passes on the opportunity, will we ever learn his identity?

 

[SwirlinLingerie]

If it is true that the athletic department is pursuing a candidate, and they don't pull it off this year, then I think there is a good chance Kirk quits in April-June. I think he'd tell his staff around March or so, ask them to stay quiet about it for the time being but give them a heads-up to start networking for a December 2026 job change. And then I think he'd go to the administration in April-June and say he is stepping down. At that point, they'd just need to roll with the staff in place and likely name Lester interim coach. That way Kirk would have bought about 9 months for his staff to think about their next move, vs. having no notice at all (which is what typically happens).

I don't see Kirk sticking around if this attempted coup is in fact underway.

 

[SwirlinLingerie]

Also, is it unreasonable to think the following? Kirk very discreetly let Wilson and Goetz know his thought process, that he is ready to step down after the season and he'd like to make his strong recommendation that Wallace be given the gig and that Kirk will help with the transition.

And Wilson and Goetz thanked him for his transparency, and said they'd certainly interview any internal candidates Kirk recommended, including Wallace. (And pretty much left it at that, giving him no assurance of what will go down). Behind the scenes, Goetz has a short list of coaches, with one particular candidate at the top. Wilson and Goetz have started very discreet, background convos with this person.

And somehow that bounces around through a game of telephone, makes it way to Hawkeye Nation, and what comes out is that Goetz is targeting an individual to replace Kirk?

 

[SCHawkeye2]

I think it will be Fitz.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

You're a lawyer. Don't try to convince me you read everything that comes in front of your eyeballs.

If someone doesn't know why Seth Wallace is a confirmed piece of amphibian shit, it's my duty to show them.

You think I want to root for nebraska if he gets hired? I'm out here doing the lord's work, brother...

Chuckling

 

[NorthKCHawk]

I think it will be Fitz.

I'd be fine with that and there is a lot of good things about that hire. He would be a fool not to take it. Cannot imagine Fitz gets a better job opportunity than Iowa. That said, he would not be the ilk of coach that would require me, as the AD, to force KF out the door when he does not want to. With respect, Fitz is a lateral hire, at best. But, if KF is ready to hang them up, Fitz is a very good replacement.

 

[SwirlinLingerie]

I'd be fine with that and there is a lot of good things about that hire. He would be a fool not to take it. Cannot imagine Fitz gets a better job opportunity than Iowa. That said, he would not be the ilk of coach that would require me, as the AD, to force KF out the door when he does not want to. With respect, Fitz is a lateral hire, at best. But, if KF is ready to hang them up, Fitz is a very good replacement.

Exactly. Lateral hire is optimistic, and WITH baggage (fair or not).

And while I think he is a good coach, three of his last four conference records were 1-8. That's in the Big Ten West! 3-24 combined in 3 of his last 4 years. By comparison, Kirk has only had one conference record that poor in 27 seasons. (His first!).

So there would be grumbling from your average fans, as well as indigestion from the administration (the scandal). I can't see Kirk getting pushed out for that. Or Fitz being willing to push him out.

 

[SwirlinLingerie]

Any chance we are talking Kalen DeBoer here?

My friend in the UW athletic department said his staff was super pissed at him for leaving. It was the one time they weren't excited to follow him. Everyone liked where they were and the stability. According to him, it sounded like DeBoer had mixed feelings shortly after making the decision.

It hasn't appeared to be a good fit. Dude looks miserable, and he's gotta know that it's not sustainable.

If he's burned out from Alabama, he's not jumping for another insane job. He'd be looking for stability.

Just spit-ballin' on outside the box home run hires here...

 

[trj]

Any chance we are talking Kalen DeBoer here?

My friend in the UW athletic department said his staff was super pissed at him for leaving. It was the one time they weren't excited to follow him. Everyone liked where they were and the stability. According to him, it sounded like DeBoer had mixed feelings shortly after making the decision.

It hasn't appeared to be a good fit. Dude looks miserable, and he's gotta know that it's not sustainable.

If he's burned out from Alabama, he's not jumping for another insane job. He'd be looking for stability.

Just spit-ballin' on outside the box home run hires here...

A lot of noise out there now that he is PSU’s number one target.

 

[HawkIowa44]

Exactly. Lateral hire is optimistic, and WITH baggage (fair or not).

And while I think he is a good coach, three of his last four conference records were 1-8. That's in the Big Ten West! 3-24 combined in 3 of his last 4 years. By comparison, Kirk has only had one conference record that poor in 27 seasons. (His first!).

So there would be grumbling from your average fans, as well as indigestion from the administration (the scandal). I can't see Kirk getting out for that. Or Fitz being willing to push him out.

I totally agree that hiring Fitz wouldn't be a hire to get Hawk fans excited. I think Lester has done enough for fans to at least not hate his hiring. DeBoer would be a home run in my mind.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

If this ends up being the case, will KF accept a lower buyout? Because otherwise he would be owed in the neighborhood of $25 million. And unlike Penn State, there would not be any offset (they ended up owing Franklin "only" $9 million). Seems like a lot for Iowa to raise.

If this individual passes on the opportunity, will we ever learn his identity?

So yeah if this is true why on Gods green earth would Iowa fire him? If Wisky is in no hurry to dump their shit show of a disaster hire then why would we do that? So no KF is gonna retire when he's good and ready. Maybe that's sooner then later but unless the bottom were to fall out for some reason Iowa can't fire him to shell out that kind of $ to replace him. Beth is a proactive AD she's shown us that. But not to this extent.

 

[Fryowa]

And somehow that bounces around through a game of telephone, makes it way to Hawkeye Nation, and what comes out is that Goetz is targeting an individual to replace Kirk?

That's not what happened in my case, I can't speak for anyone else here. For me it was two in-person conversations the weekend of the Oregon game and a text conversation with someone I trust big time, who's also never told me anything that wasn't true. This person is also definitely in a position to know first hand rather than through a rumor mill.

Like I said, I'm letting it play out because I'm not risking outing these people first of all, and second, it's not at all a done deal.

I'll repeat my disclaimer...if it doesn't happen, I said multiple times here it might not happen. But what I can say is there is one person being courted real hard. Remember, Bob Stoops was courted real hard before Kurt got the job.