Candidate Tier #3

Category: Intriguing Possibilities

Who Is He?

38 years young and a former NFL wide receiver, Scottie Montgomery is in his first year as East Carolina’s head coach. Montgomery, a Duke receiver, spent time as a WR assistant at Duke (ufornder Ted Roof and David Cutcliffe), and for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers ability to develop seemingly nobody wide receivers into stars

After two seasons as Cutcliffe’s associate HC, Montgomery was tapped to succeed Ruffin McNeill as East Carolina’s head coach.

Why would he be successful at Purdue?

He’s an intriguing developer of talent, and hiring a young coach with a bit of energy could be good for Purdue’s program. And everyone at the BS Headquarters has a fascination with David Cutcliffe, and would love any little bit of his magic in West Lafayette.

Why could he flop at Purdue?

After starting a promising 2-0, with wins over Western Carolina and NC State, ECU has lost four straight to South Carolina, VT, UCF, and South Florida. He’s got no Midwest connections, and recruiting against the Big Ten could be rough for such an inexperienced candidate.

Would he come to Purdue?

Yes, but he’s in no way ready to be a Power 5 coaching candidate quite yet. I’m buying Montgomery stock, and think he’ll eventually be a very good coach, but not in 2016.