Arizona State named Todd Graham as its new coach on Wednesday.
I was shocked but not shocked – at the same time – when I heard the news of Todd Graham’s quick departure from Pittsburgh.
The former Tulsa coach has always been a good salesman, especially to those who matter the most to him. He targeted recruits to get him wins, boosters to build him nice things and schools willing to shell out big bucks to him. Arizona State is the latest.
One prominent TU booster once told me, “Todd is the type of coach that, after you talk to him, you are reaching in your back pocket for your checkbook. Some coaches aren’t like that.”
I remember talking to Graham during the 2005 season, Tulsa’s Conference USA championship year. Then a defensive coordinator, Graham told me his goal was to be a Division I head coach.
On that day, I never thought he would have four head coaching jobs in the next seven years.
Graham did well at Rice in 2006, taking the Owls to their first bowl game in 40-plus years. Rice received a ton of breaks that year with close wins (including the Owls’ only victory over Tulsa in the past seven seasons). M.K. Bower, formerly of the Houston Chronicle, said that luck and sheer will fell Rice’s way that year and, “it was almost like 50 years of Karma paid off in 2006.”
He parlayed that one season into a head coaching job at Tulsa, where he was defensive coordinator between 2003-05.
The Rice community was stunned when he departed after only one season. Graham left right after agreeing to a contract extension.
Shortly before the 2007 Rice game (the same contest where the Marching Owl Band mocked him with a derogatory name at halftime), Graham addressed his departure from Rice.
His statement now proves he doesn’t listen to his own words.
In a 2007 interview with the Tulsa World before the Rice game, Graham said “Should you go to a place one year and leave? No, you probably shouldn’t.”
Tulsa fans still have to give Graham credit. The Hurricane had three 10-win seasons (including an 11-victory campaign in 2010) under Graham. TU had three bowl wins in dominant fashion.
But each year, Graham’s name also came up for a number of jobs. Rumors circulated that it wasn’t a two-way street at times as Graham continuously looked for greener pastures.
When he accepted the Pittsburgh job, it was no surprise. It came after days of speculation and it was a parting that seemed to be a relief to both parties. Graham was ready to go and Tulsa didn’t seem anxious to stop him.
Now, after one season, the Pitt fans are angry and deservedly so. Will Graham go after Pitt’s recruits just like he did Tulsa’s recruits last year? That’s yet to be seen.
What’s also yet to be seen is if Graham can find success without a top-flight offensive coordinator. Tulsa’s best seasons came when Gus Malzahn and Chad Morris were calling plays. The 2009 season – which ended at 5-7 – occurred when Graham was calling the shots on offense.
There’s no denying that Graham helped carry over a strong foundation started by Steve Kragthorpe at Tulsa. He signed some quality recruits while head coach, which anchored TU’s success. He led the Hurricane to a monumental win at Notre Dame and a national ranking in 2008 and at the end of the 2010 season.
What will happen to Graham at Arizona State? It’s hard to say. But, then again, it was hard for me to say when he was hired at Pittsburgh just 11 months ago.
