Sideline To Sideline: Utah's Sharrieff Shah Goes From Reporter (And Lawyer) To Coach

A pretty good article from Yahoo! Sports on the hiring of Sharrieff Shah.

3 months ago JazzyUte 7 comments 0 recs |

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Nice,,,,

Thanks for linking to that, Jazzy.

Always liked him on the sideline reports. Definitely an upgrade on the coaching side.

What is best in life? To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women. Especially BYU. - Conan the Barbarian (ok, maybe he didn't say the BYU part)

by U of Uman on Feb 14, 2012 10:02 AM MST reply actions

Definitely an upgrade???

Really.

He may or may not work out, but I don’t think you can ever say that someone with no coaching experience is Definitely an upgrade

by UnHoly Ram on Feb 14, 2012 10:15 AM MST up reply actions

I hops Shaw is a huge success. I like the idea, I like the passion, I like having Utes on the staff because they’re easier to keep around, and I’m very hopeful that Shaw can be a monster position coach, but he’s a high-risk hire just like Brian. Color me nervous but excited.

Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.

by displacedute on Feb 14, 2012 11:42 AM MST up reply actions

I think he's the more high risk of the two.

by UnHoly Ram on Feb 14, 2012 12:50 PM MST up reply actions

Depends.

Shaw played the position he’ll be coaching, has been a sideline reporter for a decade (so close to the program), and he’s a position coach with lots of guys to watch over him (Kyle, Kalani, Morgan, even Hill will be around). Sure, he’s got even less experience than Brian, but he’s also got more people to lean on for the x’s and o’s, and recruiting and stuff are all about personality and willingness to work.

OTOH, Brian has 3 years coaching experience, and with Davis and Schramm gone, his only resource is the guy who didn’t get the job this time, AROD. That’s not exactly the same kind of safety net.

Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.

by displacedute on Feb 14, 2012 1:05 PM MST up reply actions

Yes, except for one thing....

… The DB’s are arguably the most important position in Whit’s defense. Even if he has to rely on something, the DB’s have little room for error. If Shah can’t coach these guys to do their job, which requires them being on an island in a press man-to-man scheme, the entire philosophy of the Utah defense changes to a zone defense (Utah doesn’t do well in zone).

Simply playing the position doesn’t mean you can coach it. Especially if you played it over a decade ago. Being a media guy, also doesn’t mean you can coach.

Recruiting is arguably the most important job for assistant coaches, and for all intents and purposes, Shah may have that covered, but that doesn’t mean he can shirk his actual x’s and o’s duties.

Where Shah does have some leniency, is that for the first time in what feels like forever, but is actually only about 3 years, we don’t have to fully rebuild our secondary.

by UnHoly Ram on Feb 14, 2012 1:36 PM MST up reply actions

Keep in mind, he's the CB coach, not the DB coach.

Morgan still coaches the safeties, and last year’s CB coach (Hill) will be on the other side of the field coaching running backs or tight ends, depending on who the last staff hire is. So he’s only got to coach a couple of guys, and there’s a lot for him to rely on.

I agree, he’s a risky hire, but I still think BJ is the higher-risk hire in my mind.

Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.

by displacedute on Feb 14, 2012 2:54 PM MST up reply actions

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