Former UTC football coach Russ Huesman talks to the media in December 2016 during his last news conference at McKenzie Arena. Huesman, a former Mocs football player, is now at Richmond.
Mark WiedmerTwo words for University of Tennessee at Chattanooga athletic director Mark Wharton as he swiftly seeks to replace football coach Tom Arth: Russ Huesman.
Yes, I know the line about you can’t go home again. I also know that no UTC football coach over the past 50 years other than the coach for whom Huesman played – the late, great Joe Morrison – enjoyed similar sustained success to the man who preceded Arth.
Beyond that, with Huesman thus far struggling to find that same success following his second season at Richmond – where his Spiders have won 10 games and lost 12 – he might be willing to return to the Scenic City that he and his family seemed to love deeply during their eight years, 59 wins and three straight NCAA playoff appearances.
Then there’s that not-so-little matter of this week’s early signing period for college programs, Wednesday through Friday. From a recruiting standpoint, it’s hard to imagine anyone being able to step in and prop up an awful situation more than the coach who was still recruiting for the Mocs as late as early December 2016.
Huesman probably already knows the names and games of half of UTC’s commitments and targets. Just as important, most of those players’ coaches already know Huesman. They know of his integrity, decency and discipline. They know that while he might not always be the easiest guy to play for, he gets results both on and off the field.