Ten days... That's all it took for University of Memphis Athletic Director R.C. Johnson to name current defensive coordinator and former Clemson University head coach Tommy West the new head football coach of the Tigers.
Around 4 p.m. Thursday afternoon, Johnson announced West would become Memphis's 21st head coach, replacing Rip Scherer.
He receives a five-year contract with a base salary of about $140,000 and an additional $110,000 for radio, television and public relations appearances. There are also bonus possibilities if West meets certain incentive clauses within the contract which could drive its value up to $400,000 a year.
"We have talked to numerous applicants over the past 10 days," Johnson said, "But when you compare their resumes, look at where they have been and what they have accomplished, it became obvious that Tommy West was the right choice for the Tigers."
"I have received ringing endorsements from athletic officials at Clemson, from other coaches, from players and supporters of this University," Johnson added. "They were all complimentary of Coach West and the program he ran at Clemson and of the work he has done for our football team."
West, who coached Memphis's defense this season to a sixth-ranked finish nationally, credited Scherer with giving him an opportunity to resume his career in football after his departure from Clemson in 1998, where in five seasons he led the Clemson Tigers to four bowl appearances and a 30-25 regular season record.
"These guys have busted their tails," West said of the Memphis Tigers, which finished the 2000 season 4-7. "They've done everything that we've asked them to do, and I'm real excited about the opportunity to work with them."
West said he has already begun the search for a new staff, including an offensive coordinator, and will begin recruiting players this weekend.
The Tigers are already a week behind in the recruiting wars, part of the reason Johnson came to a decision so quickly.
"I've got plans for what I'd like to do," West said. "I can't go into it right now because all of the parties haven't been talked to. We don't want to make change, we want to build on it. That will be our challenge and that's we will get accomplished."
Another challenge for West will be revamping Memphis' 111th-ranked offense. When asked what kind of offensive scheme he'd like to run next year, West replied, "Productive. I know the popular thing is to stand here and say we'll throw it 70 times a game. I don't want to throw it 70 times a game and lose. But on the other hand, I don't want to run it 70 times a game and lose. We have to be able to take advantage of what the defense gives us."
Tiger players had not yet met with their new coach late Wednesday afternoon, but sophomore wide receiver Derrick Harmon said he was confident in West's abilities as a head coach.
"I feel pretty good about the situation," Harmon said. "I think we'll be a much better football team actually, offensively and defensively, because of his whole attitude towards football. He's a pretty aggressive person as far as his play-calling."
Harmon said although Memphis is losing several key seniors, including All-Conference USA first-teamers Marcus Bell, Kamal Shakir, Michael Stone and Billy Kendall, the team is full of potential.
"We lose some pretty good seniors," Harmon said. "But we've got (freshman lineman) Eric Taylor and we've got Derrick Ballard, who started as a true freshman, coming back. We'll probably be pretty good next year."
