1) Yurcich - applying the caveat that Herman actually works with him to construct thoughtful gameplans and then let's him call the game and tempo.
2) Hutzler - there are folks who believe this guy is an up and comer and a strong recruiter.
3) Boulware - I like taking this guy from OU and bringing him home. He's got a good ST rep along with recruiting acumen.
4) Ash - comfort hire and a lunkhead, but Herman has proven he could do a lot worse. I'm at the point of viewing mediocrity as valued progress within the Texas football/AD program. Orlando became a frightening fucking joke, kind of like Ash as a personnel manager and head coach. I'm hoping the theory that bad HCs can still be amazeballs coordinators proves itself out with this guy.
5) Coleman - this hire could have happened quickly if this was who Herman wanted. It wasn't. In reality, Herman whiffed multiple times on other targets, then farted promptly into his own closed hand, lifted it up to his nose as he closed his eyes, released the odor bomb and saw Coleman's name through the mist. Blech, meh, eh. Those claiming he's some sort of solid recruiter are wishcasting. We have no fucking idea whether or not this guy can recruit, but I'm crossing my fingers with everyone else.
6) Hagen - 27 years of proven mediocrity is quite the standard in which we're now aspiring within the program. On the other hand, if this guy is the replacement for, say, Derek Warehime, then, uh, sign me up? At least we now have 5 assistants on defense. So, in effect, this guy matters in the form of having mass and taking up space.
7) Valai - there is no justification whatsoever for this hire that makes any sense except for the premise that he's going to be an aggressive bag man. That's hopefully what's going on. If it is, however, the early results aren't promising. He shows up and decides to recruit Ennis Rakestraw, who then sprints immediately into the waiting arms of ... Missouri? Holy fucking shit. (Charlie) Strong start for this guy.
People can say what they like, but if OU had a defensive staff of Smoldering Ash, Hustle Never Sleeps, Mother Hutzler, J'ai Alai, and Tom Hagen, we'd all be high-fiving and proclaiming our intellectual superiority.