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Candidate Profile: Jon Gruden
UHND.com - Frank Vitovitch
12/3/2001
The Jon Gruden File:
Coaching Experience:
|
Year
|
Position
|
Team/School
|
Team
Record
|
| 1998-present | Head Coach | Oakland Raiders | 2001: 9-3
(as of 12/02/01) 2000: 12-4 (lost in Balt. AFC Champ.) 1999: 8-8 1998: 8-8 |
| 1995-1997 | Offensive Coordinator | Philadelphia Eagles | 1997: 6-9-1 1996: 10-6 (lost to San Fran. in 1st rd) 1995: 10-6 (lost to Dallas in 2nd rd) |
| 1992-1994 | WR Coach | Green Bay Packers | 1994: 9-7 1993: 9-7 1992: 9-7 |
| 1991 | WR | Univ. of Pittsburgh | n/a (email record if you know it) |
| 1990 | Offensive Assit. to George Seiftert | San Francisco 49ers | 1990: 14-2 (lost to NYG in NFC Champ.) |
| 1989 | WR Coach | Univ. of Pacific | n/a (email record if you know it) |
| 1988 | Passing Game Coordinator | SE Missouri State | n/a (email record if you know it) |
| 1986-1987 | Graduate Assistant to Johnny Majors | Univ. of Tennessee | 1987: 10-2-1
(won Peach Bowl over Indiana) 1986: 7-5 (won Liberty Bowl over Minnesota) |
Biography:
Gruden
is currently the head coach of the Oakland Raiders, but his name has been mentioned
the most in relation to the vacancy at head coach of Notre Dame. A web site
has even been made to try to lure him in (www.irishgruden.com). With the Raiders
he has taken a team with a lot of pride and history and brought them back among
the elite of the NFL (sound like a familiar situation?).
In 1997, the year before he came to Oakland, the Raiders were 4-12. In one year he got them back to .500 with an 8-8 record. He followed that up with another 8-8 year in 1999 before exploding with a 12-4 regular season mark and a trip to the AFC Championship against eventual Super Bowl winner Baltimore.
Prior to taking the job with Oakland he was the offensive coordinator for Ray Rhodes in Philadelphia. Gruden's offenses with the Eagles always played better than the talent level there. Consider this, in three years the Eagles were 26-21-1 (take out the dismal 1997 record of 6-9-1 and they were 20-13) with the likes of Ty Detmer and Rodney Peete taking the majority of the snaps for the Birds. He also dealt with former Domer Ricky Watters which lead to several public disagreements. Gruden didn't back down from Ricky when Watters complained about not getting the ball enough.
Gruden's Eagles offenses ranked highly in his three years. They lead the NFC in total offense in 1996, fourth in rushing offense in 1995, and 2nd overall in 1997.
Throughout his career he has coached under some of today's top coaches and some legends as well. In the NFL he has coached under George Seifert and Mike Holmgren and in college he was a graduate assistant to Johnny Majors at Tennessee.
His impact has been felt everywhere he has been, especially his last two jobs, Philly and Oakland. The year after Gruden left Philly, the Eagles offense fell apart as the Eagles limped to 3-13 in Ray Rhodes last year. The Eagles went from the #2 offense to ranking 30th in pass yards and TDs and 14th in rushing. With Oakland he has the Raiders primed for a Super Bowl run with his team appearing to be the AFC's strongest team.
Why he might
come to Notre Dame
His father
was an assistant under Dan Devine. He wakes up to the Notre Dame fight song.
He has publicly made statements about how watching Notre Dame gives him "goosebumps."
Notre Dame would be another rebuilding project where he could leave as a legend.
He has not had the great relationship with owner Al Davis. He played high school
football in the South Bend area. He has made other statements about how much
he likes Indiana.
Why he might
not come to Notre Dame
Timing.
The Raiders should be playing well into January, possibly later. How would he
handle recruiting? distractions to his Raider team?
Money.
He could make a ton of money if he waits until his contract is up in Oakland
from other NFL teams. Contract. Will Al Davis let him out of his contract? Would
he leave the NFL for Notre Dame?
What I think
Money
won't be an issue. If Gruden wants Notre Dame and vise verse, money won't be
a problem. The money Notre Dame would make from a renewed interest in the team
and possible BCS games would more than make up for any contract they offer him.
I don't think Al Davis will be much of an obstacle in the way either. If it
was another NFL team, there would be no way he could get out. Because he would
be leaving for a college team though, he should be able to get out of it. The
main obstacle I see is timing. He really wants a Super Bowl ring and this could
be a big distraction for his team. He loves Notre Dame, but he also loves winning.
If they can work out a deal where he comes after the season and maybe places
a few assistants in place to handles recruiting, I think it is very possible
to see him roaming the sidelines for Notre Dame. There have been a lot of rumors
going around, but as Morris has posted, there is a very real chance he will
coach at Notre Dame. He is the fans consensus top pick and would be an outstanding
get for the Irish. Many people thought the Irish's top recruit would be Larry
Dibbles, Maurice Stovall, or maybe Gavin Dickey, but it is now clear the #1
recruit for Notre Dame this year is Jon Gruden.