We broke down some of Rugby ATL’s options in their sudden coaching search yesterday. We think one choice stands up above the rest.
Nate Osborne, are your bags packed?
Osborne was the last of the original MLR coaches to be relieved of his duties. While he never made a playoff, his teams were constantly on the edge of qualification. His Gold side would’ve qualified under the revised playoff format.
Osborne is not a sexy pick, but this is an organization in need of direction. A team that went to a Final last year suddenly looks like a bubbling pot of dysfunction at risk of boiling over. Handing the keys to Nate Osborne won’t win the race, but they’ll stay on the road.
For Osborne, its a sudden opportunity after his surprise dismissal just before New Year’s. The timing of his sacking left him without a seat in Major League Rugby. While he may be a professional, he could see an opportunity to lead a division rival against his former club as an intriguing revenge prospect.
Osborne would immediately take command of the locker room. Neither of the current assistants have been listed as serious head coaching candidates up to this point. However, ATL would need to find a true GM to replace that half of Lawrence’s former role. Bringing Nate Osborne in on a one year deal, potentially with a cheap team option for a second year, would allow the club to reevaluate the situation when the coaching market is deeper.
There is a situation that could give Osborne pause. He needs to be assured of the amount of control he’ll have. Even more importantly, he needs to gauge the rugby community and figure out everything that led to Rugby ATL’s very bad day.
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