What's Next?
Four days after the season ending loss to Western Kentucky, Rick Stockstill remains the head coach at Middle Tennessee. And let’s be honest, there were 6.6 million reasons for him to stay.
At this point, I’m not convinced anything less than a total rebuild - one led by a new staff - can bring a conference championship to Murfreesboro. But that's not happening this offseason. It's not likely that it will take place after the 2020 season. So, what will it take for the Blue Raiders to avoid another 4-8 season in 2020?
It starts with the coaching staff.
After 14 seasons in Murfreesboro, it’s time to realize Rick Stockstill isn’t a motivator, leader, and speaker like PJ Fleck. He’s not going to outscheme and outcoach like Nick Saban. It’s not who he is. And that’s fine. At this point in his career, he knows this. Under Stockstill, the Blue Raiders’ success will be determined by surrounding himself with better coaches, not his best friends.
That’s why - after fourteen years in Murfreesboro - it’s time for Stockstill to get serious about revamping his staff. And it begins with offensive line coach Rick Mallory and defensive line coach Tommy West. After all, football is won - and lost - in the trenches.
The Blue Raiders offensive and defensive lines struggled in 2019. And 2018. And 2017.
It’s time for Stockstill to find someone new to lead these two units in 2020.
Mallory’s offensive line hasn’t been successful with the inside run game, nor have the done an effective job of protecting Blue Raider quarterbacks. On the other side of the ball, Tommy West’s defensive line struggled to pressure quarterbacks in 2019, finishing the season with 11 sacks. They weren’t much better against the run, giving up an average of 194 yards per game.
It’s time for defensive line coach Tommy West and offensive line coach Rick Mallory to enjoy a well-earned retirement.
Stockstill should also encourage running back coach Jeff Beckles and director of football operations Brent Brock to seek employment elsewhere this offseason. With the exception of I’Tavius Mathers, Beckles’ running backs haven’t rushed for more than 750 yard since his arrival in 2016.
Middle Tennessee’s struggles on the recruiting trail call for a fresh eyes in the football operations office to improve recruiting weekends in the future.
No coach on Stockstill’s staff spends more time with players than strength and conditioning coach Matt Hickman. Under his guidance, the Blue Raiders lost speed, power, and some thirty players to injuries in 2019. His approach to strength and conditioning hasn’t worked and it’s time to move on for the health and development of the players.
It’s never easy to call for someone’s resignation or termination. It’s their passion and livelihood. But leaders, like head coach Rick Stockstill, are called to do the difficult. It’s time for Rick Stockstill to make some difficult changes on his staff to move the program forward.
Middle Tennessee must work quickly to upgrade their outdated facilities that have remained practically the same since the move to FBS twenty years ago. Plans for an end-zone facility, indoor facility, and a new locker room with players lounge should have been announced ten years ago and completed five years ago.
With each passing day, Middle Tennessee falls further behind North Texas, Alabama-Birmingham, and Western Kentucky. They’ve hired - and fired - coaches. Importantly, they’ve dreamed big, won championships, and built new facilities.
It’s time for the university, athletic department, and staff to get serious about competing for conference championships and earning the support of the community. It’s time for the university to commit itself to excellence.
The time for change is now.