As the Tennessee administration goes looking for a new coach to succeed The Papa, fans and media everywhere are compiling their lists of potential candidates. Only a few folks, though, have actually devoted much time to determining exactly what factors on which such a major decision should be based.
The Tennessean has identified a few: "the ability to recruit top talent from across the country, a marketable personality to reenergize the fan base, and someone with a long-term plan to maintain stability." Clay Travis has a six pronged suggestion (because lawyers always prong things): (1) pay whatever it takes to get somebody who is (2) younger than 50 years old with (3) head coaching experience who is both (4) intelligent and (5) a great recruiter and who (6) strikes fear into the hearts of opponents. Others have suggested that getting a Tennessee alum who loves his alma mater is of the utmost importance. I would like also like to see somebody who puts a premium on molding kids into responsible adults.
So I ask you:
1. What do you think are the primary characteristics Tennessee should be looking for in a head coach?
2. What do you think is the relative importance of those characteristics?