In keeping with the blogger style writing, let’s throw speculation out the window and flat-out say that Bill Doba is finished at WSU. In that thinking, it’s time to look ahead and who we might want to see as our next head coach. I mean what the heck is there to write about otherwise? How bad the defense is? How poor our special teams are? How is it we can lead the conference in passing yards yet still only score about 15 points per game in conference games???
Today, we’ll profile a guy who is regarded as one of the top assistant coaches in the Pac-10, and has to be one of the first guys Jim Sterk talks to once this is all said and done…..or has he already made a phone call!?!? Hmmm…..
Bob Gregory – D-coordinator – CAL
Regarded as one of the top assistants in the conference, Gregory’s defenses have been very good at Cal. He won a national assistant coach award last year for his defense against Oregon, and this year again his D held the Quack Attack to only 24 points in the Cal victory at Autzen. Just 44 years old, he’s already coached in nine bowl games. He cut his teeth in the Pac-10, at Oregon’s DB coach from 1998 – 2000 before being the DC at Boise State for a year in 2001. He was hand-picked by Tedford when he took the job in 2002, and they haven’t looked back. He’s got one hell of a track record already. Consider:
In 2006, Gregory’s defense allowed just 19.3 points per game while forcing 28 turnovers, including 21 interceptions (fifth in the nation).
• The Bears held Texas A&M to a Holiday Bowl-low 10 points, including just 349 yards of total offense (146 in the second half).
• Cal’s 2005 defense led the Pac-10 in pass efficiency defense, while ranking second in the league in scoring defense (21.2 ppg), rushing defense (119.2 ypg) and total defense (359.6 ypg).
• Finalist for the 2004 Frank Broyles Award, which is given to the nation’s top assistant coach.
• His 2004 defense ranked in the Top 25 nationally in three categories: rushing defense (2nd, 82.5 ypg), scoring defense (8th, 16.0 ppg) and total defense (24th, 320.9 ypg).
• Cal’s 2004 defense blanked Arizona (38-0) and Arizona State (27-0) in back-to-back games – a first for the Bears since the 1968 season.
• In 2002, Cal ranked second in the country in fumble recoveries (21) and seventh in both turnover margin (+21) and total takeaways (36).
• His 2001 Boise State team finished second in the WAC in both scoring defense and rushing defense.
• As defensive backs coach at Oregon, the 2000 Ducks led the NCAA in pass efficiency defense.
• In 11 seasons as a Division I-A coach, Gregory’s teams have never had a losing record and have participated in nine bowl games.
• Named the American Football Quarterly Defensive Coordinator of the Year after the 1997 season when his Willamette squad led the NAIA in scoring defense and total defense.
Oh yeah, HE’S ALSO A COUGAR. That’s right, he played DB and linebacker for our Cougs back in the mid-80’s under Jim Walden, graduating in 1987. He’s a Spokane boy, graduating from Gonzaga Prep. In the absolute prime of his coaching life, with Pac-10/NW/WSU roots, I can’t imagine a better candidate for WSU!
The question is, can we get him? How much would it take to hire him away? You’d think he would be interested in coming home to be the head coach and lead the Cougs into a new era. And maybe he’d bring a few offensive assistants with him and we could run a version of the Cal offense. But what other schools will be after him once the season is over? There might be a line of suitors when the hiring season begins, but Jim Sterk sure as hell better have him at the top of the short list immediately.
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