UAB coach Bill Clark opens up on talks with Auburn, identifies potential 'hindrance' to landing job
Before Auburn hired Byran Harsin, UAB head coach Bill Clark was reportedly a candidate for the Tigers head coaching job.
On Wednesday, Christian Chambers of WBRC FOX 6 Birmingham shared a clip from a recent interview with Clark. The Blazers head coach acknowledged that he had talks with AU and even shared what, in his opinion, might have hindered his chances of landing the gig.
“I basically said the interest I would have is to do it right and everybody has their own version of what right is, for me, is complete control of my staff and all those things that go with it,” Clark said. “I think maybe that was a hindrance. Once again, how far did we get down the path I won’t really say because I’m happy at UAB and this is where I’m at.
“For me, I said I would listen. That’s kind of where I’ll leave it. They’ve got a great place and a lot of these people are family to me.”
Clark’s “complete control” comment is sure to get the attention of fans of the Tigers and their rivals as Harsin begins assembling his new coaching staff on The Plains.
“For me it’s complete control of my staff” – UAB’s @CoachBillClark on his conversations with #Auburn this past week .
Clark on UAB: “I’m happy where I’m at”
Blazers finish the season with their 2nd conference title in 3 years.
Next up, @ProtectiveStdm ! @UAB_FB @WBRCnews pic.twitter.com/VyWuwULr5Z
— ChristinaWBRC (@ChristinaWBRC) December 23, 2020
What I interpreted from that is that he really didn’t get into a process. Probably a lot like many of the others. As for Venables, I am not sure why or how his name even came up – he has been adamant for quite some time that he isn’t interested in HC jobs or leaving Clemson. Now that can mean a lot and used as a smokescreen but it seemed to genuine to me when I saw the interview.
Right? Only 1 person was offered other than Harsin: Napier.
Allen Greene states that there were only 3 names on his shirt list. Napier, Harsin, and Venables.
Napier wasn’t even offered. Only interviewed.
That is precisely the problem. No one of the list is qualified to take the job. Neal Brown had those qualifications. Auburn does what it does…loose
What does auburn “loose”? Give me a break
The three names on my “shirt list” are Lands End, Polo, and L.L. Bean. LOL!
I tend to wear more Russell Athletic, and surprisingly few are a sports topic.
Lol *short list
Put I prefer the $8 shirts from the Banana Republic Outlet.
…sounds like Mr. Clark is trying to save his job at UAB and doesn’t want the Bryant Family to know that he tried to step out and was denied an interview by the barn…
Clark has class and that is an anathema to the people at Auburn calling the shots.
Clark’s reps called Auburn, not the other way around. Are you sure you’re an AU fan? On the surface, Harsin looks like Gus 2.0. But he very well could build a program the Auburn faithful have been hoping for. I think it unwise to write the guy off before he even steps on the field.
This is more moonshining. You AU people just can not take it that AU’s first few choices turned them down. I am happy Bama’s first choices turned them down.
I doubt that. I think every school in the G5 knows if they have any success that a P5 will come calling. And in a way, you may want them to come calling because its a result of success. I say that Clark’s biggest issue is playing in CUSA which is right down at the bottom, pasted up by the AAC and even the Sun Belt. The Sun Belt has moved up so many HCs in recent years I cant count em. UAB stated last year they wanted in the AAC. Wont happen.
You WarTiglesMen are so absolutely in denial. You were turned-down by no less than three coaches, and the reason why you were turned down is because you have a booster control problem.
Everyone knows it. Even y’all know it though you’ll never admit it here.
Clark was told he would have to keep Steele (who was part of Lowder’s coup to get Malzahn fired with the understanding that HE would be head coach until fans got wind of it and stopped it from happening) and Garner. Period.
Clark wanted control over his staff. The Auburn Boosters led by Yellawood and Lowder in his skulking corner, want “their people” on the next staff. If y’all just can’t admit that, you’re truly too far gone to get help.
He aint lying! I admit it!
Actually it was Lowder and Harbin in the Steele camp. They finally dropped the requirement to keep Steele when Clark backed out and they were getting to the bottom of their list and were looking bad. If Harsin hires him it will be because he wanted to do so. Though Steele wouldn’t take it, I am pretty sure.
Steele has two years and $5 million left on his contract. Is there a buyout? Who is going to pay him more?
Yes there is a buy out as with all the assistant coaches. The boosters will pay it. With Steele it may be short lived though because he may end up back at LSU. What do you think of that and his chances of doing it. What is your opinion of getting rid of so many coaches and experience at LSU at one time?
The coaches that were let go earned their dismissals. Johnson retired after his DL performed poorly and Ensminger is moving to an analyst role. He was the only one worth keeping. I don’t really want a DC that has been away from the position for a long time. I like Steele as a DC. I also like the possibility of Strong or MacIntyre. Muschamp and Mason haven’t been a DC in a while. That gives me pause.
Thanks for your views. Though Muschamp has been a DC since Strong. Don’t forget Will’s year as the AU DC between UF and USC.
That wasn’t a good Auburn defense under Muschamp. That’s what gives me pause there. Definitely got better with Steele.
Dang, your connections within the Auburn network must run pretty deep as you seem to know it all. Given ESPN is running off any talent they have, you actually may have a shot to be an insider for them in the near future.
As for the boosters, there is clearly an issue and hopefully this started to change that moving forward. As for the coaches offered positions, I tend to fall on the side that the truth is somewhere in the middle. I don’t believe I have seen one of these folks state outright that they were offered a position. I may have missed that on Napier, as that is always possible given how many articles came out by the minute on this subject.
They do. Deeper than at UA, which is my Alma Mater, or LSU and I lived in Louisiana for many years. Family knows no university divisions. Thus why I was telling people in here on the Friday before Miss State that Gus was gone. You ought to be at one of our family gatherings during the Iron Bowl. We have more mixed marriages than any family I have ever heard of. I bet there are not 4 in the entire family that are not mixed. It makes for interesting observations LOL.
Read my post below for an explanation.
I’ve never met an Auburn fan who didn’t think Lowder, Raines, and Sexton were problems. I personally don’t like the fact that Tim Jackson is involved. He did more to politicize the ticket buying process than anyone. As soon as you politicize what the boosters get for their money, you’ve politicized what they expect.
I also think Clark speculating that this was the sticking point is a long way from a smoking gun that this was actually the issue. I think the bigger problem is he coaches in one of the worst conferences in the country and would be asked to consistently compete in one of the best.
You can compete at UAB with kids that aren’t recruited by Auburn, Alabama, or Georgia. You can’t be successful at any SEC school with players who aren’t being recruited by the other schools.
Seems like a lot of the media are mad because they missed out on this hire.
They didn’t investigate or check sources just followed social media.
Mistake. Guilty of it myself.
I, for one, am glad we hired this guy. Finally got outside the box and the SEC footprint. Seems like you have to have a victory over Saban to qualify as a candidate.
This may blow up in our face in a few years. But I don’t think so. The current criteria of hiring Saban clones doesn’t appear to be working any where. Why not do this?
Glad I was WRONG.
Lets get behind this guy.
I hate to say this but Clark is too good for the likes of Auburm.
Asking for complete control of the staff is pretty standard. Some schools will try to force an Asst on you but not many. I expect auburn mandated Steele. I don’t think either one of these guys are a huge step above the other. Auburn has their man. He may or may not take them where they want to go. Only a few years will tell.
I think a lot of schools have booster bangin going on. I dont know if Auburn is any worse than most others. And as Tidefan said, if Steele is cut loose, expect to see him back at LSU.
AU is among the worst in the SEC, though there is now a split between the boosters. My uncle has a fancy box and has donated 8 figures to AU for academic, athletic, and infrastructure needs, my cousin on the other side of my family has the same but is probaly just in the high 7 figures. When Gus got that big raise it was the doing of 2-3 BIG money boosters. People such as my uncle were not even consulted, and this made a lot of them mad. Then after the very next season, my uncle was contacted and asked if he would be willing to help buy out Gus. He said HE!! no, as did many of the others, thus Gus stayed and the split widened. This year my uncle agreed with the understanding that there would be a search for an established coach to replace Gus. Then Lowder nd Harbin started to try to force Steele down everyone’s throat and the split became the Grand Canyon. The media has it pretty much correct. These fans that want to say this coach or that coach was not interviewed or offered the job are prevaricating. That is the way of college football for everyone to save face. But they were interviewed though not in person, and there WAS the understanding that they would be hired, IF they hired Steele. They all refused and AU was becoming a laughing stock. The Steele group finally gave in to the football group and Harsin is who they hired. He may be great but he is at this time unprepared for the SEC or the kind of interference he is going to get at AU. Time will tell how it turns out. Just remember, you could roll the dice and hire a high school coach and get a winner, no matter the odds against it.
At the end of the day, it’s the continually and constant booster meddling at Auburn that makes what should be a great job only a good job.
It’s been a long time since Auburn actually was “Bama’s little brother.” I mean, the relationship is nothing like, say, Georgia-Georgia Tech.
But the boosters are a huge problem and I think you’ve nailed it. It’s not just the SEC grind in recruiting and on the field that Harsin isn’t prepared for. He’s not prepared to deal with the Auburn boosters which are the worst, most meddlesome group in all of the CFB. Those guys make Don Leebern look like a teddy bear.
Turns out Bill Clark’s statements are nothing but bs.
Yup, I would say Jay just called out Clark for his comments. One of them is telling the truth; right now, I am going with the Pres on this one.