[toussaints]

This isn't your typical “you make the call” scenario where you pick the play to win the game. However, this is something most coaches have to deal with in their career. Here's the story:

You're a young head coach at a very strong small-school program. You've been a coach for 7 years, the last 2 as the head coach. Your team just is coming off a great season that ended with a loss in the state championship. You've won a couple state titles at this school as a coach and you have a lot of experienced players returning next season. You're a part-time teacher at the school and it's the only job you've had after college.

You have several offers to leave and become a head coach at a larger school. You've also been offered a job as a full-time position coach at the college you played at and graduated from. To make this more interesting, your college sweetheart just said yes, so now you're engaged.

You've narrowed it down to 4 options, each one with details and a few pros and cons. Here are your options:

1. Stay at your current job. You have a great shot at winning a state championship with all the experience you're returning. The school and community love you, but can't afford to give you a full-time teaching job. Academics are average, discipline is good. The community supports their team through thick and thin. Facilities are your football field and a garage with some weights.

2. Head coach at the big local county school. The school can give you and your future wife full-time teaching positions. This school has a decent football program, but hasn't beaten your small school and made a deep playoff run in a decade. The facilities are good, average for a big county school. Academics and discipline are average, the community shows up for the playoffs.

3. Head coach at a big county school in a different part of the state. This school has one of the best, if not the best, football programs in the state. They just fired their coach for losing in the 3rd round of the playoffs. The school will give you a full-time teaching position and has better facilities than some small colleges. The community loves to support their football team, but will turn on the coach fast if they don't win state. Academics are great, discipline is tough to tell. Seems like most issues are covered up.

4. College position coach at your Alma mater. This is a full-time job at the school where you met your fiancee. You'd be working for your college coach so you already know the system. Significant increase in pay with many hours of practice, games, and recruiting. Job security doesn't exist unless you win. Speaking of money, this option pays you the most. The program is a conference power, but I wouldn't expect a national championship anytime soon.

Which one do you pick and why?