What's next for Valparaiso football?
FB: The Victory Bell Search Firm offers five candidates for consideration
Thanksgiving Break is over and members of the Valparaiso football team are returning to a completely different campus than the one they left just nine days ago.
Many of the players went straight from a Brown Field celebration following Valpo’s last-second win over Davidson to pack up their dorms and head home on Saturday, Nov. 23.
Some of the older players may have stayed back to celebrate with their families at a local establishment or two before departing the next morning.
The majority of the roster was away from campus when word came down that Landon Fox’s contract wasn’t going to be renewed and the Beacons were suddenly in the market for a new head football coach.
While the players were adjusting to a new reality at home between helpings of turkey and stuffing, Valparaiso athletic director Laurel Hosmer was likely making her list and checking it twice as expediency is the order of the day when it comes to replacing Fox.
Hosmer and Valparaiso’s latest search firm - Bowlsby Sports Advisors - undoubtedly know the transfer portal officially opens for business on Monday, Dec. 9. Several Valparaiso players, notably star freshman receiver Gary Givens III and former starting quarterback Mikey Appel Jr., have already announced intentions to enter the portal. If Valparaiso wants to head off a mass exodus of players (not to mention enrolled students), then having a coach in place sooner rather than later is of vital importance.
Bowlsby Sports Advisors lists Valparaiso among its 44 candidates and its mission is rooted in the mission statement of “We form teams, foster talent, and forge innovation strategies for executive excellence.”
Here’s hoping that translates to “We can recommend a football coach that will form a roster, retain talent, and forge innovation ways to win in the Pioneer Football League.”
Or simply one that beats Butler on a yearly basis.
Knowing that time is of the essence and that Bowlsby might have their hands tied with some of their other clients, The Victory Bell Search Firm (TVBSF) is back to offer suggestions for a handful of candidates that Valparaiso should consider for the vacant football position. TVBSF specializes in this kind of work as evidenced by holding a Masters Degree in Sports Administration from Valparaiso University as well as correctly suggesting that Roger Powell Jr. would be the choice for the men’s basketball opening.
TVBSF operates free of charge and inclusion on this list doesn’t mean the individual is a candidate or has been contacted by Valparaiso/Bowlsby. These are just five names that seem to make a lot of sense.
Potential Valparaiso Football Coaches (presented in alphabetical order)