Cardinals announce Kliff Kingsbury as their next head coach
Kliff Kingsbury has been hired as the next head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. Six weeks ago that would have been unthinkable, but for some reason the NFL has gone insane during this year’s hiring spree.
A new King in the Nest.#KardsGotKliff
[https://t.co/bI2zAkAiPh] pic.twitter.com/d6kN6SR41c
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) January 8, 2019
Kingsbury basically failed his way into a head coaching gig at the highest level. His only experience as a head coach was a disaster. Kingsbury went 35-40 (.466) in six seasons at Texas Tech. He went 8-5 in his first season (2013), then was only above .500 once (7-6 in 2015). In those six years he also went 19-35 in the Big 12. The guy got fired at his alma mater…do you know how hard that is to do?
These facts are also worth noting:
Kingsbury went 16-21 w/ Patrick Mahomes in the B12
He chose Davis Webb over Baker Mayfield
His only 8-win season in 6 years was with Tubberville’s recruits
NFL fans: Don’t be sheep. The Ryan Gosling thing wears off after enough losses. Ask Tech, his alma mater, which fired him
— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) January 8, 2019
The Red Raiders have only had two head coaches with a lower winning percentage than Kingsbury in their history. Texas Tech started playing football in 1925.
Since 1986, the school’s coaches have won consistently. David McWilliams (.636), Spike Dykes (.550), Mike Leach (.661) and Tommy Tuberville (.541) all produced better results than Kingsbury. That should tell you something.
Read: Karl-Anthony Towns and Derrick Rose Mourn Thibodeau Firing
Kingsbury was hired as USC’s offensive coordinator in early December and the move was universally lauded. He repeatedly produced stellar offenses during his time in Lubbock. The Red Raiders finished in the top 15 in total offense in six consecutive years.
The Cardinals clearly believe they needed that kind of offensive mind to guide young quarterback Josh Rosen, who was awful as a rookie in 2018. Rosen completed just 55.2 percent of his passes for 2,278 yards, with 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
His quarterback rating (66.7) and Total QBR (26.0) both ranked dead last in the NFL and he fumbled seven times. The kid needs help.
The Cardinals are taking a huge risk on a guy who failed spectacularly at his alma mater. They’re betting big on a guy who hasn’t succeeded as a head coach.
