Big East just a minor league for coaches

A dream job for a dream job.

That’s what Rich Rodriguez traded when he left West Virginia, his alma mater and the best team in the Big East for a chance to coach Michigan, arguably one of the most attractive jobs in the country.

But for the Big East, Rodriguez’ departure should serve as a reality check. Even the coach of a school that will have a stranglehold on the entire conference for the foreseeable future found a better job.

Face it Mike Tranghese, you might run a BCS conference, but it’s still the minor leagues for coaches. Essentially, it’s just a feeder for the major conferences.

And if Rodriguez was willing to leave that job, all the other coaches will have no problem bolting either It’s already started to happen. Last year, Bobby Petrino and Mark Dantonio parlayed successful seasons into head jobs with the Atlanta Falcons and Michigan State respectively.

This season, aside from Rodriguez, Randy Edsall considered Georgia Tech, before realizing that another successful year at UConn will make one of the hottest commodities in the country. And let’s not forget Greg Schiano, who everyone thinks is just waiting out Joe Paterno, however long it may take.

Now the league’s best team, with a major Heisman candidate at both quarterback and running back returning, plus another running back that was featured in ESPN The Magazine’s “Next” issue, finds itself without coach during a major recruiting period.

It’s a great job that might just land some coach in the National Championship game next year.

And then, of course, he will become the most sought-after coach in the country. And he’ll leave. For a major job.

Rinse and repeat.