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Potential Coach: Get to know Steed Lobotzke

On the basis of name alone I like the next candidate in line. But Steed brings a lot more to the coaching position than his name. Football Scoop is reporting that he will be interviewing for the job, that's slightly more certain the the list coming from football coaching scoop. There has also been a little chatter on the Wake Forrest bulletin boards.

There something appealing about a graduate of the armed services grad who not only did his tour but returned to the Air Force Academy to coach at his Alma mater when his service was finished. Serving as an officer trumps 'coached at x school' in terms of leadership skills.

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Lobotzke attended the Air Force Academy and was a lettered offensive lineman in both 90 and 91. He earned second team All-Western Athletic Conference honors as a junior and was named to the first team as a senior. He played in three liberty Bowls and was invited to play in the East-West Shrine Football Classic.

After his service was over he joined the staff of Mid American Conference member Ohio. Lobotzke offensive lines anchored four of the top five rushing seasons the Bobcats have ever fielded. In 2000 squad finished the year ranked second nationally in rushing offense (323.0 yards per game), leading the MAC in rushing for the fifth straight year, and shattering the school record with 3,553 total rushing yards.

In 2001 moved onto Wake Forest along with Jim Grobe. At Wake he, and the Demon Decons, have produced some of the most consistently impressive offenses in the ACC. Over the last eight years, Wake Forest has led the ACC in rushing four times, scored 183 rushing touchdowns and gained 17,991 yards on the ground -- more than 183 yards per game.

In 2007 The Deacons compiled 4,425 yards of total offense, the second-highest total in school history. Wake's 71.2 team completion percentage was a school record and ranked second in the nation behind only Texas Tech's 71.3.

During his tenure a Deacon offensive lineman has earned All-ACC honors in seven of eight years under Lobotzke's watch. Lobotzke has sent six offensive linemen to the NFL, including Michael Collins (Baltimore), Blake Henry (Atlanta), Tyson Clabo (Atlanta), Blake Lingruen (Detroit) and Steve Vallos (Seattle).

The Positives of Lobotzke
  • Experience in the MAC
  • Has produced solid offensive lines
  • Sustained productive quads in a BCS confernece
  • Bowl Experience and success
The Negatives of Lobotzke
  • His philosophy of QB does not match UB's current personnel
  • A pretty weak 2009 exposed some execution issues on his most recent line
Would this be a good hire for UB?

He has shown he is willing to stick around and work a program which is good in that it both is something UB will need and in that his offensive philosophy has typically been one that does not fit with UB's skill personnel so it may take a bit to get his recruits.

Of course there is a chance he has never had the opportunity to have a Quarterback like Maynard and he may very well find a coordinator who can deliver with the personnel that UB has.