Tech asst. Preston on Hawaii job
Greetings-
Hope you’re well. I spoke with Georgia Tech assistant coach Buzz Preston about the opening at Hawaii. He said he was encouraged to apply, but that even if he hadn’t been, he would have applied anyway.
“That kind of situation, opportunity, opens itself, you definitely are going to try to get yourself involved with it,” he said.
He makes a pretty good case to be considered.
First, the school is dear to him. He played there, graduated from there, met his wife Audrey there, coached there and returns there almost annually with his three children.
He’s coached at nine different schools over a 32-year coaching career, largely on offense but also defense and special teams. It has given him exposure to a variety of offensive and defensive schemes.
He describes the offense that he would coach as “hybrid, that you can exploit running and passing the ball and doing some things that would have West Coast concepts, run and shoot concepts and a little bit of the spread of what we’re doing here.” He coached at Hawaii (1987-93) at a time when it was highly successful. He helped Hawaii win the school’s first WAC title in 1992, helped Washington State win the Pac-10 in 1997, helped Stanford win the Pac-10 in 1999 and helped Tech win the ACC in 2009. That’s a little different than, for example, helping Ohio State win the Big Ten.
“I feel like at this point in my life and in my career, I’m more than ready to lead a program because I’ve been a part of programs that have won and won big,” he said.
Obviously, it won’t help him that he’s only been an offensive coordinator for one season (he was special teams coordinator for three seasons at Notre Dame). It may help him that he knows Hawaii athletic director Jim Donovan (who played at Hawaii when Preston was a grad assistant) and others in the athletic department.
I can say this: Coaching wide receivers at Tech is probably not for everyone given how infrequently the Jackets pass. But Stephen Hill and Tyler Melton, as well as Demaryius Thomas before them, block hard and well, which is a credit to Preston, and generally take advantage of their opportunities. I can also say that Preston is demanding, but also personable and enthusiastic with a positive personality.
Simply from a numbers standpoint, the odds are against him, in that 30 coaches have applied for the job, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. But it seems like he’d be worth strong consideration.
“I just really feel like I can bring a lot, especially understanding Hawaii and how Hawaii is and enjoying being there,” he said. “It would be a dream job for me.”
Thanks for reading.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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158 comments Add your comment
GT FAN IN PA
December 16th, 2011
10:58 am
For @GTVILLE- maybe you should read again- it stated he was encouraged to apply and would have applied even if he had not been encouraged.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 16th, 2011
11:00 am
912, the list is available for all to see, so why should Ken have to post it also? Do you want it so bad? I will get it and cut and paste it here if you are too lazy to look it up yourself —-
Below is a list of Georgia Tech student-athletes and managers graduating Saturday:
Yellow Jackets Graduating Saturday
Kristen Adkins, softball (STC)
Doug Allvine, former football (MBA)
Chandler Anderson, football (BSBA)
Sarah Anderson, women’s track/cross country (BMED)
Cy Avila, cheerleading (MGT)
Charles Blackmon, baseball (BSBA)
Zach Brewster, baseball (MGT)
Joseph DiDia, men’s track/cross country (BSBA)
David Duncan, baseball (BSBA)
Tiffany Eason, cheerleading (PUBP)
Alexander Erickson, men’s track/cross country (ME)
Samuel Freeman, former football (MGT)
Guillermo Gomez, men’s tennis (IE)
Joseph Hardy, former football (IE)
Cali Harrison, women’s swimming (MGT)
Christy Jones, softball (ME)
Aleksandra Krupina, women’s tennis (GEML)
Preston Lyons, football (HTS)
B.J. Machen, football (STC)
Joshua Martin, men’s track/cross country (ME)
William Miller, golf (IE)
Thomas Oatts, men’s track/cross country (ECE)
Dean O’Brien, men’s tennis (MGT)
Aleria Perry, cheerleading (MGT)
Paul Reese, former football (BSBA)
Charles Rohling, men’s track/cross country (MGT)
Matthew Simonds, baseball (BSBA)
Kevin Skenes, men’s swimming (ME)
Michael St. Denis, former football (PSYC)
Alexander Stephenson, men’s track/cross country (CE)
Kylie Stradley, cheerleading (BSBA)
Steven Sylvester, football (STC)
Duncan Thompson, men’s track/cross country (ECE)
Mary Ashley Tippins, volleyball (MGT)
Christian Townsend, cheerleading (MGT)
Jacob Tzegaebe, men’s swimming (CE)
Omoregie Uzzi, football (BSBA)
Conner Volpe, manager (AE)
Alexander Walker, former football (MGT)
Joshua Wallace, former football (MGT)
crackbaby
December 16th, 2011
11:05 am
Back to the topic. The University of Hawaii has acknowledged that 4 candidates have been contacted to interview with the search advisory committee for the Head football coach position.
These four do not appear to include Buzz Preston. They are Duane Akina (Texas Asst. HC), Kirk Koetter (Jacksonville Jags OC – talk about a guy who will need to find a job!), Mark Banker (Oregon State DC) and a fourth candidate who asked to remain anonymous.
Let’s just assume the anon. guy is Norm Chow. BTW Jacket fans, he is the OC at Utah – the Sun Bowl opponent. Chow’s resume is impressive – called the plays under LaVell Edwards for the 1984 national champs BYU and was OC for the 2004 National Champion USC Trojans.
Kinda interesting that Preston and Chow are involved in the Sun Bowl and the UH HC position.
juvenal
December 16th, 2011
11:10 am
Merry Christmas, Super-and thanks for giving the list more exposure-cut 912 some slack, it would be nice for Ken to do it, i’m assuming he must still be recuperating….you remember when he pondered us being snobs, you kuntry klub elitist?
Delbert D.
December 16th, 2011
11:17 am
Someone posted the other day about Tech players who graduated in 3 years. Let’s not forget Darryl Richard, DT.
“An outstanding student who graduated with high honors in three years and completed his MBA in December.”
Richard was drafted in the 7th round of the 2009 draft by the Patriots.
Honors
* 2009 East-West Shrine Bowl Invitee
* 2008 ACC Tatum Award
* 2008 First Team All-ACC (Rivals)
* 2008 Second Team All-ACC
* 2008 Second Team All-ACC (ACC Sports Journal)
* 2008 Team Tri-Captain
* 2008 ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week (Sept.
* 2008 Lowe’s Senior Class Award Candidate
* 2008 Draddy Trophy Finalist
* 2007 Second Team Academic All-America
* 2007 Academic All-District
* 2007 Wuerffel Trophy Finalist
DawginLex
December 16th, 2011
11:27 am
Question for ken, 5150, supersize, juvenal and other who have read my blog posts:
Have I ever been asked to leave the Tech blogs because I “ruin them”?
GTBob says that I have.
He is a liar.
dawgfan
December 16th, 2011
11:29 am
Oh you’re breaking my heart Supersize. I can guarantee you that if the same thing happened to Vince Dooley you and the rest of your dorky little Tech friends would be cracking jokes about it for years to come. That’s always what’s so hilarious about you Techies, you’re blatant hypocrisy.
Good luck with that lawsuit. Maybe some Tech grad with a law degree will take the case. Oh wait that’s right, there aren’t too many of those.
Good grief.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 16th, 2011
11:30 am
Lex, to my knowledge you have never been asked to leave, and you have seldom even been challenged on things you have posted. Now at one time, I think there was somebody using your name to post garbage, but it was obvious to all regulars that whoever was doing the posting was not you. I for one find most of your posts classy (with an occasional good-natured jab) and informed. As far as I am concerned, you are welcome here anytime, even though you are a dawg.
DawginLex
December 16th, 2011
11:31 am
Thanks for the confirmation
Big Ol Stinger
December 16th, 2011
11:33 am
Just try to ignore him DawginLex. He’s your version of our friend Headley/dawgfan/WnE etc etc etc.
I know you know better than to argue with an idiot. He’s embarrassing for true Tech fans, as hopefully Headley/dawgfan/WnE etc. etc. etc. is to you.
GTBob
December 16th, 2011
11:33 am
DawginLex, do you really want me to start with you on this blog also? You are fighting a losing battle.
wrecked wreck
December 16th, 2011
11:33 am
yellowjacket65, You should stop and tke a look at the teams tech beats under pj. Of this years 8 wins 5 came against teams that won a total of 10 games between them, the schedules Pj has faced are much easier than Chans were and as far as recruiting Chan had probation , reduction of scholarships , Chan recruited more all ACC players, PJ’s only recruited 3 thus far, In Chans 4th year there were 5 yellow jackets he recruited on 1st and 2nd team , and in 2006 he placed 7 of his recruits on all 1st or 2nd team , with 3 honorable mentions. Pj recruited 3 and thats if you consider Allen a PJ recruit.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 16th, 2011
11:34 am
dawgfan, you are FOS. I despised, and still despise, Vince Dooley. But I would NEVER want to see him falsely implicated for something as repulsive as sexual predatory behavior, when it is obvious to anybody and everybody that his personal life was exemplary. I don’t despise him as one of God’s creations; I despise him as a UGA coach I think he was one of the most unethical coaches around, but I think his life outside the world of college athletics was probably above reproach.
DawginLex
December 16th, 2011
11:34 am
GTBob-Shot by his own troops
Supersize that order, mutt
December 16th, 2011
11:36 am
GTBob, I hate to tell you, but YOU have already lost that battle.
Hello? Anybody home?
December 16th, 2011
11:37 am
What’s this I read in Bleacher about QB Justin Thomas switching his commitment from ‘Bama to Tech. Might make for interesting times next year with the ascent of Vad Lee. And what will happen to Days and Washington?
Hello? Anybody home?
December 16th, 2011
11:38 am
http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/26895818/33864664
GTBob
December 16th, 2011
11:38 am
GTBob, I hate to tell you, but YOU have already lost that battle.
Thanks supersize. When I care about your opinion ill ask for it.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 16th, 2011
11:38 am
wrecked wreck, very few underclassmen make all ACC. As you said, Gailey had 5 in his FOURTH year; CPJ had 3 in his FOURTH year. That’s not much of a difference, and I look for the number under CPJ to go up in every year to come. Allen transferred to Tech AFTER CPJ had been hired, so he would have to be considered a CPJ recruit.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 16th, 2011
11:39 am
GTBob, obviously you don’t care about anybody’s opinion except your own. Get a life
Supersize that order, mutt
December 16th, 2011
11:40 am
Hello? where have you been? That was reported on these blogs Tuesday
GTBob
December 16th, 2011
11:41 am
GTBob, obviously you don’t care about anybody’s opinion except your own. Get a life
I certainly don’t care about yours. There is no need for you to play the White Knight role here just because DawginLex is upset. Just stay out of it.
DawginLex
December 16th, 2011
11:42 am
Boo hoo. GTBob got his wittle feelings hurt supersize
He can’t call you a mutt though!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello? Anybody home?
December 16th, 2011
11:42 am
Clearly I’ve not been paying attention! Thanks!
GTBob
December 16th, 2011
11:43 am
Boo hoo. GTBob got his wittle feelings hurt supersize
He can’t call you a mutt though!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes DawginLex, im the one who is upset. Not you who is going to every blog begging people to ignore me and begging Tech fans to come to your side. Nah, you aren’t desperate at all.
DawginLex
December 16th, 2011
11:44 am
Later boys
Enjoy arguing/ignoring GTBob.
It makes for a real special day.
DawginLex
December 16th, 2011
11:44 am
I’d suggest deep breaths and anger management classes
Supersize that order, mutt
December 16th, 2011
11:46 am
GTBob, sorry, bubba, but when somebody attacks an innocent person, then I stand up for him or her. I don’t know why you have an axe to grind with Lex, but he is one of the nicest and classiest and most informed posters on here, even if he is a dawg. So no, I will not stay out of it. I HATE UGA as much as anybody, but even I recognize the fact that all their fans are not ignorant trash-talking azholes
Today's AJC headline...
December 16th, 2011
11:46 am
“Anti-cancer vaccine developed by UGA researchers” – na-na, boo-boo….you Techies…
GTBob
December 16th, 2011
11:46 am
I was never even over here DawginLex until you started running your mouth about me. Everyone here can thank you for crapping up this blog for no reason.
GTBob
December 16th, 2011
11:48 am
Supersize, how long have you been on these blogs if you don’t mind my asking? It seems to not be long enough to remember the old DawginLex who wasn’t quite what he is now.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 16th, 2011
11:52 am
GTBob, I have been on these blogs for at least 3 years, and YES, I do remember the “old” Lex, but I promise you he has changed, and changed considerably. I guess that’s why what you have been saying bothers me so much, because he really has turned into a class act over the past year. If you are remembering the past, then all I can say is try to forgive and give him a chance to prove to you that he has indeed changed.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 16th, 2011
11:54 am
@ Today’s AJC headline, I think a better wording would have been “is developing,” rather than “has developed,” since clinical tests won’t start till 2013. But regardless, what’s your point? More power to them if it works; it’s certainly not something to use as a “weapon” in comparing the comparative worth of the two schools, and it definitely has nothing to do with athletics or recruiting.
1 4 GT
December 16th, 2011
12:09 pm
Paul in RDU….the list I based my Nobel number was Universities. Your list “Nobel Laureates” refers to individuals affiliated and their university affiliation. At least that is the way I read the two different lists.
1 4 GT
December 16th, 2011
12:17 pm
And since it was a comment by a Georgie poster stating that UGA had discovered a cure for cancer that got the Nobel stats started, I offer a backhanded apology to him. But with that being said, he did misrepresent the facts (unintentional or misinformed????). There is a story on the front page about Georgie being involved with another institution working on a vaccine treatment for cancer. This vaccine has shown much promise in lab animal tests. It will likely go into clinical (human) tests sometime in 2013. So, the Georgie poster was somewhat correct. It is not yet classified a CURE.
TampaDawg
December 16th, 2011
12:31 pm
Real quick, especially since there are a lot of regulars on here ..
To Supersize, juvenal, 1 4 GT, Delbert and any of the other true CFB fans, even you GTBob, have a Great Christmas if you don’t hear from me between now and then. I may be a little sparse in my attendance on here so I wanted to let you guys know I appreciate the banter.
1 4 GT
December 16th, 2011
12:35 pm
Back atcha TampaDawg..All the best to you and yours!
1 4 GT
December 16th, 2011
12:44 pm
I see another Georgie guy trying to claim that a cancer treatment (vaccine) has been developed by the University of Georgie. That’s partially true. I won’t diminish their role in the “research”. It is important work. No one has ever said UGA doesn’ t have good schools of “whatever” and that they don’t turn out good work and grads in their field of study. But the cancer research is just that, it is still in testing stages and is being done in conjunction with the Mayo Clinic of Arizona. The AJC headline is also misleading. I would suggest reading the story before popping off about the headlines. NAHNAHNUNU!!
Supersize that order, mutt
December 16th, 2011
12:47 pm
TampaDawg, the same to you—-have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
December 16th, 2011
12:49 pm
1 4 GT, I doubt very seriously that that poster read anything beyond the very misleading headline. I’m sure we all hope they come up with a cure for cancer, but it’s still a LONG WAY OFF.
1 4 GT
December 16th, 2011
12:53 pm
Supersize–how very true. The story reads as very promising. Kudos galore to the researchers and both institutions.
TampaDawg
December 16th, 2011
12:53 pm
OH, and in all seriousness (seriously, no jab here) good luck in El Paso, take out Utah and beat them up bad and don’t step on the grass outside the stadium (joke, there is no grass outside the stadium).
1 4 GT
December 16th, 2011
12:56 pm
I’m outa here. Need to finish Christmas shopping. Going to Conyers. Big mall, big Supercenter, several places to pick from for supper.
1 4 GT
December 16th, 2011
12:58 pm
Heck, green grass is a true rarity out there in nowhereville west Texas.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 16th, 2011
1:01 pm
Probably depends on what kind of “grass” you are talking about. LOL
Supersize that order, mutt
December 16th, 2011
1:02 pm
1 4 GT, have fun. And you really don’t have to spend too much on my gift. It’s the thought that counts
TampaDawg
December 16th, 2011
1:11 pm
NIIIICE!!! And from my Army training there, I couldn’t agree more. The “natives” usually have the munchies.
yellowjackt65
December 16th, 2011
1:13 pm
@wrecked wreck While I would certainly appreciate the team having large numbers of All-ACC and All-American players I don’t think that it is a statistic to judge a coach by. To me the total number of wins and losses (i.e. win percentage) is a much better metric. You can claim weaker opponents all that you want but how many top 10 teams did Chan beat in his first 4 seasons (this is an actual question, not rhetorical)? I will be the first to admit that CPJ has his faults (who among us doesn’t) but I think that he is far and above the best coaching fit for GT. He maximizes his talent to win as a team instead of playing with a bunch of showboats. I think our current troubles lie with what I consider to be our shoddy defense. I don’t care how good or bad your offense is it is very tough to win games when you are spotting the other team almost 26 pts/game.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 16th, 2011
1:15 pm
Tampa, I bet they do. lol
Technically Correct
December 16th, 2011
1:46 pm
Interesting how much of this blog has had to do with the Buzz Preston application for the Hawaii job…