Louisville football: Comparing the tale of two completely different staffs

Head Coach

The old – Bobby Petrino

There isn’t much I can type about Louisville’s former head coach that hasn’t already been written.

Being a few years shy of 30, I have experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows in my football fandom with Bobby Petrino at the helm. Petrino’s first stint at Louisville brought with it many firsts for the program – top 10 national rankings, the first 12 win season, a BCS Bowl victory, and even the schools first Heisman winning quarterback – to name a few.

I could write a page worth of stats, detailing how potent Petrino’s offenses at Louisville were throughout the years – but you know that already.

You’ve seen it. You’ve lived it – just like me.

However, even the greatest of minds have an Achilles heel.

Over time, Petrino’s greatest strength ultimately led to his downfall. His meticulous obsession of the game meant controlling almost every aspect of his team – alienating coordinators and position coaches alike. The trend was more evident in Petrino’s second term as Louisville’s head coach, with the Defensive Coordinator position becoming a revolving door of overpaid, underwhelming hires.

What was once a strong, stable, and defining part of Louisville’s team – the defense turned into Petrino’s biggest challenge. A challenge he would not be able to overcome.

I’m sure you’ve heard the old saying: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’

That’s a simple way to summarize Petrino’s coaching mentality, you can only go so far as a one-man show. Bobby Petrino is still very much a conflicting topic amongst Louisville fans.

How is one supposed to feel about a man who gave your program so much, only to leave it with so little? It’s tough.

However, Louisville’s new head coach has embraced that old saying as well – just in the complete opposite way Petrino did. Satterfield understands that in order for a program to reach new heights of success and maintain that success consistently – you need great coaches around you.

If you want to go far, you must go together.

The new – Scott Satterfield

A majority of Louisville Football fans initial reactions upon hearing Scott Satterfield was hired, was that it was not Jeff Brohm.

I get it. I was one of those frustrated and dejected fans.

However, the more you read and research about Satterfield – the more you can’t help but be encouraged, optimistic, and excited. Words Louisville fans only thought could come with Brohm.

Although a majority of his coaching success is associated with only one program, there are plenty of signs that Satterfield is the perfect coach for the job. Here are a few reasons why:

• Satterfield made history, leading App State to three consecutive bowl victories in the schools first three years as an FBS team – the only program to accomplish this feat. 

Going to college at Western Kentucky University, I was able to see first hand how difficult it can be for a program to transition from FCS to FBS – losing 26 games in a row before getting a win (they went 2-10 that year). Transitioning a program to compete at a higher level is very difficult – something you wouldn’t know looking at App States FBS record.

• Satterfield has an eye for talent that fits his system, producing more with less. 

Another quality Satterfield brings with him, is his ability to find the players and athletes that perfectly fit his system. It’s becoming more clear that in his final years as head coach, Petrino had massive roster mismanagement. Recruiting the best athlete available might give you a top-40 signing class on paper, but it also can give you an extremely thin offensive line and an overcrowded receiving core. Satterfield’s recruiting classes weren’t the best in the conference when he entered the Sun-Belt, but that didn’t stop him from winning three consecutive conference championships.

But there is one thing that stands out even more about Satterfield, something Louisville fans should be instantly optimistic about.

• Satterfield recruits excellent assistant coaches.

Scott Satterfield understands better than anyone what it takes to not only revive a program – but to make it thrive. He understands creating long-term success is not done by an individual, but individuals. He knows his staff must be on the same page, preaching the same message, hell-bent on the same mission. Unlike Bobby, Satterfield delegates authority and decision-making power to his coaches and coordinators, emphasizing the ‘we’ – not ‘me’ mentality.  Simply put, he trusts the guys he hires.

And for good reason – They’re experienced and talented. They excel at their positions.

Let’s compare what has ultimately contributed to the success of one head coach, and the demise of another.