Messing Up a Chance at USU job

The search to find a new football coach at Utah State was a case study in how to waste an opportunity to get hired.
According to sources close to the search, John L. Smith had a great shot at landing the job, but made mistakes that cost him his chance. A major drawback involved coming into the interviews without much of a sales pitch, other than his name. Meanwhile, other candidates showed up with portfolios and plans.
Smith was also widely reported to have been interested in the Wyoming job, which probably didn’t endear him to USU administrators.
According to at least one source connected with USU, the job had been Smith’s to lose since September. Though USU hadn’t made a firm decision at that point, it was no secret Brent Guy had to win more than two or three games to keep his job. Smith showed up in Utah, ostensibly to attend a Weber State alumni function, the week of the Utah game. But he also appeared at an Aggie football game. At least two knowledgeable sources told the Deseret News he was there to check out the USU job.
Smith was a front runner until the interview process began; then it started to slip. Which is strange, considering he had the backing of some of the most powerful members of the booster club.
So maybe it does pay to put your best foot forward.
But Andersen’s clear-headed plan to make USU a winner put him in the lead. San Jose State assistant Kent Baer and South Florida assistant Michael “Chico” Canales were never in the lead.
All of which brings up a point: Sometimes leading candidates can change as the search proceeds. For a time, Smith seemed a high profile, flashy possibility. If Andersen is named head coach, as expected, USU will have gone with a safer, lower-key candidate.

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The possibility of Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham leaving for Washington just got slimmer Tuesday when Texas Tech coach Mike Leach surfaced as a top candidate for the job in Seattle.
Whittingham has been reported as one of three top candidates for the Huskies’ job, but it’s unlikely Washington would choose the head coach of a Mountain West Conference team over the head coach of a Big 12 tri-champ.
And while Whittingham’s name could come up in Lubbock, should Leach leave the Red Raiders, it’s less likely Whittingham would go there than Seattle — even if a job were offered. Not only is Lubbock less scenic, but it’s harder for Whittingham’s family to travel to.
Also, the odds of competing strongly in the Big 12 on a regular basis don’t seem that good at Tech. This year was an exception.