Leaves Maryland after a successful tenure in College Park to take over the Vols' program. This is a big coup for Tennessee and a major blow to Maryland. I have little doubt this has something to do with the massive financial problem at Maryland; they are eliminating several sports including Men's Track & Field, Men's and Women's Swimming, Men's Tennis, and Women's Water Polo. They just can't match the resources of an SEC school like Tennessee. I have to wonder who Maryland will be able to attract as a replacement? There should still be some good candidates, none the less. At the very least, the ACC affiliation should be a draw.
Update, there has been speculation around Dave Nolan of Georgetown as a possible candidate for the Maryland job -- no idea if it is for real or not.
This has and is being discussed in the Hot Seat thread... More interesting and specific question is which MD 2012's may sign at Tenn? With no coach currently at MD, who may or may not sign there and would it be a good idea to sign without knowing who the coach is? Initial answer probably should be yes, sign - it is MD and the ACC but are we sure MD won't screw this up? Lots to like about Tenn....like a $7.5 million facility for women's soccer only. MD doesn't have that...
Here's an article which claims to have "sources" and which disputes the Dave Nolan rumor - http://www.potomacsoccerwire.com/news/700/20500 If the author's sources are accurate, they expect an announcement next week. That would be a quick turnaround.
With typical commitment to whatever it is that UMD athletics is committed to (being the worst run state institution in the nation?), they're not even advertising the job. I don't know how many sources you really need - they're going to dink around with Salmon (or Izzo or both), offer a lowball salary and when they get turned down, hire the assistant. There, and I have NO inside info, just experience following the Kevin Anderson (UMD AD) stupid train through several hires. The only big concern is that these guys can't organize a 1 car funeral, so they CAN screw up hiring the inside candidate.
From the article: "...several Pensky-recruited 2012 recruits postponed signing of National Letters of Intent earlier this week to wait to see who is named." Smart kids (or parents, more likely). Tough on them to have this happen right before signing day, though. Let's hope Maryland puts someone in place that can maintain the program's current upward trajectory.
I don't know any background on Maryland soccer (actually follow TN, so have sort of backed my way into this with Pensky coming south), but was curious, so read up on some of the candidates... The Maryland AC only has a "B" license......does that factor in? Also, just because someone was a good AC, doesn't mean they will automatically be a good HC...to have never been a HC anywhere and then to have your inaugural run be in the ACC (I mean, I get he is familiar with the program, but is that enough?) ? Seems like it would be best suited to have him join a program as a HC that is not so prominent as a first stepping stone, so to speak. I don't know how you hang on to that stellar list of recruits by promoting the Assistant Coach. Izzo-Brown.....seems like she has it too good at WVU....from what I have read on her, the year she had in 2011, and the salary that was quoted her to be earning (190k), don't know why she would leave. Seems like a pretty good gig.. Salmon.....has had coachin success in the past, but has struggled a bit at UC. Don't know how hard it is to recruit to that region...She has a long resume of work with US Soccer and the fact that she is a former All-American at Maryland certainly can't hurt. Will be interesting to see......any other names out there? Think Georgetown would be out for same reasons as Izzo.....
Morgan's license means absolutely nothing and being an AC doesn't matter. Did anyone see Pensky's resume before being named Maryland HC? Also, ACs do most of recruiting legwork and Morgan seems to have answered the bell there. The only question is the one that goes to any candidates, HC or AC. CAN HE COACH SOCCER? Being a HC doesn't mean you can coach and being an AC doesn't mean you can't. Folks seem to put too much stock in that....same as looking "down" on DII and DIII coaches. There are many, many people that can succeed at MD that some would never guess. Will Maryland find one of those? More so, is Morgan one of those? Salmon has not done well at a BCS school and Izzo-Brown's track record v ACC teams lately isn't good. Half full or half empty? Lots of people scratched heads with the Pensky hire at MD. Enough said.