Michigan DC Scott Schafer has resigned.

No idea who will take over.

Dola, on the radio there is a rumor there is a replacement already lined up, and he is already a current DC somewhere.

Michigan DC Scott Schafer has resigned.

No idea who will take over.

I bet Auburn's pissed they didn't think of interviewing Schafer.

I think he probably takes it too far, but when there are only 4 black head coaches in division 1, then I think there is a problem, and I understand why he's upset. I certainly don't think that's the correct representation of talent.

Player talent and coaching talent are two very distinctly different things. If you did a study of all the grad assistants and volunteers on the staffs around the nation, jobs where you simply cant say race comes into factor for hiring decisions, I think you would find that minorities are still vastly outnumbered. And thats not because jobs arent available to all the talent on the rosters after graduation. In my humble opinion, you cant work your way up the ladder without first taking your lumps at the bottom of the food chain. This is where i see the fundamental breakdown. From what i can tell, and you can say im wrong all day, is that not enough minorities are willing to stick around after college and be a grad assistant or volunteer. They get paid like shit and work long hours, but its still the way to bigger and better jobs. I think the head coaching ranks are actually quite indicative of the talent pool, but people have trouble separating the player and coaching talent pools IMO.

3 year extension for JoePa

Well, Gill is off the market this year and will be back at UB for at least another season (he also extended his contract one year through 2013).

I think UB could be strong again next year with only 19 seniors leaving. Leading rusher James Starks (he is very gifted) and leading receiver Naaman Roosevelt return; and most of the defensive starters will as well. As long as they can find a quality replacement for senior QB Drew Willy, they should be pretty strong. Not to mention that they'll be able to recruit a higher quality of player (UB is a top-notch school from an academic standpoint as well).

Player talent and coaching talent are two very distinctly different things. If you did a study of all the grad assistants and volunteers on the staffs around the nation, jobs where you simply cant say race comes into factor for hiring decisions, I think you would find that minorities are still vastly outnumbered. And thats not because jobs arent available to all the talent on the rosters after graduation. In my humble opinion, you cant work your way up the ladder without first taking your lumps at the bottom of the food chain. This is where i see the fundamental breakdown. From what i can tell, and you can say im wrong all day, is that not enough minorities are willing to stick around after college and be a grad assistant or volunteer. They get paid like shit and work long hours, but its still the way to bigger and better jobs. I think the head coaching ranks are actually quite indicative of the talent pool, but people have trouble separating the player and coaching talent pools IMO.
The percentage of minority assistant coaches is quite a bit higher than the percentage of minority head coaches. I think we're on the path of getting there, but there's a lag. I'd bet a decade from now, this is going to be far less of an issue.

Well, Gill is off the market this year and will be back at UB for at least another season (he also extended his contract one year through 2013).
I'm rather surprised Gill didn't get another job this year. Hopefully for him he can post another winning record next year at Buffalo and stay high on everyone's radar.

Michigan DC Scott Schafer has resigned.

No idea who will take over.

Have you seen a picture of this guy?

He is the HRG (aka Noah Bennett) from Heroes. :)

Someone on one of the messageboards said that he must have quit because he was making more money from doing the show.

Have you seen a picture of this guy?

He is the HRG (aka Noah Bennett) from Heroes. :)

Someone on one of the messageboards said that he must have quit because he was making more money from doing the show.

No kidding..

http://www.mgoblue.com/uploadedImages/Sports/Football/Coaches/Seasons/2000s/2008-2009/fbl-coach-shafer_scott.jpg

I'm rather surprised Gill didn't get another job this year. Hopefully for him he can post another winning record next year at Buffalo and stay high on everyone's radar.

Yeah. I'm guessing his stock would be even higher if he can keep UB winning and he'll have more options.

I read that UW might name Scott Loefler QB coach .. What an unreal get if true.

Guy recruited and coached guys like Brady and Henne, and is considered one of the rising stars in college coaching.

Tom Brady basically names him the reason he became as good as he did in the NFL.

Tom Brady is good?

Tech's Johnson gets 53 percent pay raise | ajc.com (http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/gatech/stories/2008/12/18/georgiatech_johnson.html)

Even before Georgia Tech approached coach Paul Johnson about renegotiating his contract only a year into the deal, he said he was happy at his job.

A 53 percent raise should remove any doubt.

Georgia Tech dug deep into its wallet to apparently make Johnson the highest-paid coach in the ACC. A year after he signed a seven-year contract worth about $1.6 million annually, Johnson received a new deal that was made official Thursday. It added another year and increased his pay to an annual average of about $2.45 million.

Said Johnson, “I’m very appreciative to [athletics director Dan Radakovich] and everybody involved.”

After the Jackets beat Clemson, Florida State, Miami and Georgia on the way to a 9-3 season, Tech has made a statement about its confidence in and commitment to Johnson only a year after arriving from Navy.

Johnson will earn more than Florida State’s Bobby Bowden (33 seasons as head coach, 27 consecutive bowls, 12 ACC titles) and Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer (22 seasons as head coach, three ACC titles, three Big East titles).
...
In the amended contract, Johnson will be required to pay Tech $1 million if he leaves after the first year of the contract, increased from $750,000. The buyout in remaining years was raised from $500,000 to $750,000.

Considering the salary increase, it was not a steep hike. North Carolina coach Butch Davis makes a reported $2.2 million, and his initial buyout is $2 million, for example.

Said Radakovich of the buyout price, “It’s OK for me, it’s OK for our president, it’s OK for Paul.”

The contract doesn’t necessarily mean that ticket prices at Bobby Dodd Stadium will increase in 2009. Athletics department officials have been considering different pricing models for tickets and requisite Tech Fund donations for several months. The total of tickets and donation might actually decrease in certain parts of the stadium but increase in others.

However, Radakovich said, “We’ve got to go out and hustle a little bit and do some things, but that’s part of my job.”

Johnson’s assistants also will receive raises. Radakovich said he believed that the budget for assistant salaries will increase about 10 to 15 percent, from about $1.4 or $1.5 million.

Johnson is a long way from his days at Lees-McRae College in 1981, when he made $100 a week in his first college coaching job. Tech is likewise entering a new era. Radakovich said he had lunch Thursday with Homer Rice, Tech’s longtime AD and a former coach.

Said Radakovich, “I think he said he was going to see if he could get a coaching job.”

Giving a coach a raise and an extension less than a season into his deal when he lost 3 games, just after they fired their last coach? What kind of university does that?

(Just kidding, I think Johnson has been one of the best coaches in the country since his GSU days, and it's probably good to lock him up long-term.)

Giving a coach a raise and an extension less than a season into his deal when he lost 3 games, just after they fired their last coach? What kind of university does that?

(Just kidding, I think Johnson has been one of the best coaches in the country since his GSU days, and it's probably good to lock him up long-term.)


But it worked so perfectly well for ND and Weiss,....oh wait maybe thats a bad comparison

I just saw that June Jones has settled with Hawaii. I forgot that he left to go coach SMU. I looked up SMU's record and left to wonder if he/they will have the patience to rebuild that program? Sounds like Hawaii would want him back.

I read that UW might name Scott Loefler QB coach .. What an unreal get if true.

Guy recruited and coached guys like Brady and Henne, and is considered one of the rising stars in college coaching.

Tom Brady basically names him the reason he became as good as he did in the NFL.

I've seen that rumor as well - glad to hear that endorsement from Brady. Another rumor is that Kennedy Pola is also going to join the staff as RB coach. If true, count me very impressed so far with the staff Sarkisian is assembling. Michalczik from Cal was a huge get.

I've seen that rumor as well - glad to hear that endorsement from Brady. Another rumor is that Kennedy Pola is also going to join the staff as RB coach. If true, count me very impressed so far with the staff Sarkisian is assembling. Michalczik from Cal was a huge get.

Loeffler also has a lot of ties to the PA area. He was the main reason Henne came to Michigan. I really like that hire if it happens.

Phil Snow is another name that's come up from the Lions' staff, as a possible DC candidate. He spent a couple years at the UW in a similar capacity before Ty came on board.

Iowa State hires as their next head coach.......Auburn DC Paul Rhoads.

FOX Sports on MSN - COLLEGE FOOTBALL - Iowa State hires Rhoads as football coach (http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/8968842/Iowa-State-hires-Rhoads-as-football-coach?MSNHPHMA)

Iowa State hires as their next head coach.......Auburn DC Paul Rhoads.

FOX Sports on MSN - COLLEGE FOOTBALL - Iowa State hires Rhoads as football coach (http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/8968842/Iowa-State-hires-Rhoads-as-football-coach?MSNHPHMA)


*snort*

Iowa State hires as their next head coach.......Auburn DC Paul Rhoads.

FOX Sports on MSN - COLLEGE FOOTBALL - Iowa State hires Rhoads as football coach (http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/8968842/Iowa-State-hires-Rhoads-as-football-coach?MSNHPHMA)

Hilarouis.

I just saw that June Jones has settled with Hawaii. I forgot that he left to go coach SMU. I looked up SMU's record and left to wonder if he/they will have the patience to rebuild that program? Sounds like Hawaii would want him back.

I think he needs at least three or four years. I've heard that he and the SMU staff are recruiting quite well.

Hilarouis.

You know, I've never disliked Auburn. They are much more a "respected rival" to me. But I hope over the next couple of years Iowa State has more wins than Auburn does. If there is any justice in the world, make it so.

I hope Iowa State goes 0-12 for the rest of eternity. But thats the Iowa fan in me talking.

ESPN - Sources: Miami of Ohio Redhawks to hire Mike Haywood as football coach (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3789838)

Miami of Ohio hired Mike Haywood, the Notre Dame OC as their new coach.

E. Michigan hires Ron English as football coach - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081222/ap_on_sp_co_ne/fbc_e_michigan_english)
Eastern Michigan hires old Michigan DC Ron English.

The MAC now has 3 of the six black coaches in FBS college football. All these articles do is talk about them being black, not being coaches. Yeah, that's gonna make a school hire these guys...

and i'm blaming the "media." the coaches do a great job of deflecting it.

ESPN - Sources: Miami of Ohio Redhawks to hire Mike Haywood as football coach (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3789838)

Miami of Ohio hired Mike Haywood, the Notre Dame OC as their new coach.

E. Michigan hires Ron English as football coach - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081222/ap_on_sp_co_ne/fbc_e_michigan_english)
Eastern Michigan hires old Michigan DC Ron English.

The MAC now has 3 of the six black coaches in FBS college football. All these articles do is talk about them being black, not being coaches. Yeah, that's gonna make a school hire these guys...

Good hires?

Good hires?

Hmm...I'd say Ron English was a few years ago, a guy mentioned by many schools looking for a coach. As for the UND OC guy, I don't believe so. I think he's gonna end up as Ty Willingham, Jr., but at a school like Miami, I don't think they care. (The Ty reference comes from 1) Haywood worked for him and 2) Willingham was plucked from obscurity to become a big-time HC and he was clearly in over his head. I feel like this guy is the same way. He didn't call the plays there, Weis did. But for him, I say you have to go. No one else was going to hire him to be their head coach and really, he was smart to get out of there now, not knowing what next season will be like for them.)

They just wanted a guy who would recruit decent students to their school and who the program won't recede under and you'd have to think he could do better, but it'll probably depend on his staff.

EMU hasn't won in a long time though, so that's what their barrier is. They were 3-9 and Miami was 2-10. EMU was 4th in the MAC in points scored this year and so, if Ron English can shore up the defense, they might be able to get to a winning record in a few years. Meanwhile, Miami is pretty terrible in all areas and there is nowhere to go but up for that program. I don't see that Notre Dame guy pulling a Turner Gill-esque turnaround there.

So if I had to pick which one would do better over the next 3-5 years, I'd probably say Ron English. He was at Michigan when they were successful and so, he could probably do good enough there to parlay it into something bigger, maybe.

English was a good hire. His D was exposed at UM a few times but as time has worn on, a lot of it has proven to be the talent just wasn't as good as many fans thought.

He knows the area, but also is an amazing recruiter out West which is what EMU needs, to try and get a kid or two from there a year who can come in and make an impact.

He has all the tools as a person to be a good coach, and now EMU is finally putting money into the program.

No reason EMU can't get to a CMU/WMU level of competing for MAC titles yearly.

As for the UND OC guy, I don't believe so. I think he's gonna end up as Ty Willingham, Jr., but at a school like Miami, I don't think they care. (The Ty reference comes from 1) Haywood worked for him and 2) Willingham was plucked from obscurity to become a big-time HC and he was clearly in over his head. I feel like this guy is the same way. He didn't call the plays there, Weis did. But for him, I say you have to go. No one else was going to hire him to be their head coach and really, he was smart to get out of there now, not knowing what next season will be like for them.)

They just wanted a guy who would recruit decent students to their school and who the program won't recede under and you'd have to think he could do better, but it'll probably depend on his staff.I don't really get the Ty Willingham comparison with Haywood, or even part 2) of your Willingham reference. He didn't appear to be over his head at Stanford (not great either, but respectable for a Stanford coach), and considering the academic similarities I wouldn't call a PAC-10 school ND plucking a coach from obscurity.

Anyways, Haywood was hired from U Texas with a reputation as a great recruiter and the assumption Weis would run the offense, which is exactly what happened the first 3 years. After last year's abomination, Charlie handed over play-calling duties to Haywood and there was marginal improvement - although I'd argue entirely based on talent improving (90% of our decent pass plays were jump-ball fades to Tate or Floyd - we seemingly didn't run seam or crossing routes until week 8/9 at least) before the downturn happened and Weis retook over play-calling duties before Navy. Some speculated this was a ploy by Weis because we were coming up on 2 easy opponents and the offense would obviously look better, but anyone watching the 2nd half/OT of the Pitt game or the BC one wanted Haywood demoted.

The coach any MAC school should be targeting is Corwin Brown, who is a good DC and has Chicago recuiting ties. (While Tenuta is also a good DC I don't think he has the Midwest ties.) All that said, Haywood is supposedly a good recruiter and I haven't heard anything bad about him as a person, but the reaction from ND fans is somewhere between "hopefully this leads Weis to hire a competent OC" to "hopefully he takes John Latina (the O-Line coach) with him."

[/URL][URL="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081222/ap_on_sp_co_ne/fbc_e_michigan_english"]E. Michigan hires Ron English as football coach - Yahoo! News (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3789838)
Eastern Michigan hires old Michigan DC Ron English.

Also an obvious hire since Lloyd Carr was a unpaid consultant for EMU.

ESPN - Army tabs Rich Ellerson as new head football coach (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3793546)

Great hire by Army - this is the Cal Poly coach who runs the option, lost by a point to Wisconsin in OT. He also has Army ties, with a father and two brothers who all graduated officers from West Point. Perfect hire, and I'd love to see Army make strides forward.

... I'd love to see Army make strides forward.

I suppose, but only to a point. Let's not get carried away here.

I suppose, but only to a point. Let's not get carried away here.

Well, strides for Army would include a bowl appearance.

As for the UND OC guy, I don't believe so. I think he's gonna end up as Ty Willingham, Jr., but at a school like Miami, I don't think they care. (The Ty reference comes from 1) Haywood worked for him and 2) Willingham was plucked from obscurity to become a big-time HC and he was clearly in over his head. I feel like this guy is the same way. He didn't call the plays there, Weis did. But for him, I say you have to go. No one else was going to hire him to be their head coach and really, he was smart to get out of there now, not knowing what next season will be like for them.)

Haywood was a great RB coach and recruiter at LSU and Texas. At LSU he did a great job recruiting talent under Dinardo, considering Dinardo isn't the type to endear himself to parents or recruits. He also played a large part in Saban's early recruiting success, and coached a string of future NFL RBs from the mid 90's until he left for Texas around '03.

Looks like Auburn has hired Gus Malzahn as OC. Look out.

Looks like Auburn has hired Gus Malzahn as OC. Look out.

Uh oh! Drama comes to Auburn!

Certainly not off-the-field drama. Malzahn is one of the most professional coaches out there, in addition to being a pretty brilliant OC. This hire does a lot to make up for the Chizik nonsense if you ask me.

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Patrick Nix was fired Monday after two seasons as Miami’s offensive coordinator, the first of what could be plenty of significant changes to the Hurricanes this offseason.

Nix packed up his office Monday evening after a brief meeting with Miami coach Randy Shannon.

“It’s time to part ways, but I really enjoyed my time here,” Nix told The Associated Press as he and his family prepared to leave the football complex for the final time. “I loved these players to death. I loved these coaches to death. But in the long run, it’s probably better that we make this change.”

Miami was 7-6 this season and sputtered at times offensively, yet showed sporadic improvement in some areas during the second half of the year. Ultimately, it wasn’t enough to keep Nix in place.

Nix said he and Shannon simply had different styles on how to best run an offense.

“I enjoyed it here. I appreciated Randy giving me the opportunity,” Nix said. “I’d like to have gone with something more wide-open and more no-huddle. He and I had a philosophical difference on that.”

Shannon released a statement announcing the dismissal, without revealing what went specifically into the decision.[/i]

Looks like LSU and Chavis is all but official.

Still looking to bring in Orgeron from the Saints as DL/recruiting coordinator and Vance Joseph from the 49ers as DB coach. Its hard to exceed NFL money enough to bring NFL assistants to college so those negotiations are on going. (Tennessee is still looking to throw boat loads of money at coach O as well. He supposedly wants to stay in Louisiana though.)

Looks like Walker to NMSU.

Nix also claimed that Chan Gailey stifled him too much with Gailey's conservative offensive philosophy when Nix was fired..err...left Tech. Could be some truth to that, or it could be that Nix absolutely blows at calling plays and developing offensive talent.

As an aside, I totally support Miami hiring Jeff Bowden!

it could be that Nix absolutely blows

Simplified that for you.

He's still the only person I've ever seen be ejected from a high school sideline when he wasn't even on staff and be escorted from the stadium by two armed police officers.

He's very much his father's son.

Looks like Walker to NMSU.

This is a good day for Walker and for New Mexico State. I think it's a terrific hire. He's a natural head coach, and I think he'll do well there. Like Gill hopefully will soon, I am certain Walker will take this job and use it to move on to a hire profile, likely BCS school in the near future.

I know NMSU probably isn't Walkers ideal choice, but it's getting to that point where he needs to get out on his own and prove himself. Not getting the UW job proves that because they wanted a more "Wow" hire then Walker. Not getting the SDSU job probably bothered him pretty big, but Hoke was coming off of a good year and turned it into a bigger payday.

UCLA is better off after having Walker as their DC for the past couple of years. I don't think any coordinator in UCLA history ever lived so much off of one win

It was pretty humiliating as a Canes fan when I went to the Ga Tech game and all the Tech fans "thanked" me for taking Nix off their hands.

Ed Oregeron has apparently backtracked and after agreeing to head to LSU, will be headed to Tennessee as originally rumored.

Very odd.

This is a good day for Walker and for New Mexico State. I think it's a terrific hire. He's a natural head coach, and I think he'll do well there. Like Gill hopefully will soon, I am certain Walker will take this job and use it to move on to a hire profile, likely BCS school in the near future.

Think he'll be able to recruit good players (at least for WAC standards) in the Southern California region?

Think he'll be able to recruit good players (at least for WAC standards) in the Southern California region?

I think this is very likely, especially if New Mexico State has somewhat low admission standards. A ton of low 3 star/high 2 star kids in the LA City area every year that the WAC and MWC schools battle over, which I believe is where Walker did most of his recruiting (along with Eric Scott). Interesting to see if they get on some of the kids that don't have offers from Pac-10 schools right away, like Melvin Richardson from Poly (good looking running back, academics are scaring some of the bigger schools away but I think he has a decent chance of qualifying)

Here is an interesting rumor:

Browns DC Mel Tucker may be next in line to be the Wolverines DC. He was on OSU's staff and has ties to Ohio power GLenville, coached by Ted Ginn Sr, a school UM never gets talent from (with some expections)

I give it a small shot, but OSU fans have heard rumblings as well.

Ed Oregeron has apparently backtracked and after agreeing to head to LSU, will be headed to Tennessee as originally rumored.

Very odd.

He's a used car salesman type and Tenn offered him more money. He is telling friends he wanted to be at LSU, but money talks. I think he will regret it. LSU offered him a stable job as Assistant head coach/Recruiting coordinator/DL coach with more money than almost all college coordinators make. UT is giving him more money and an extra title, DC in waiting. O should take coordinator money and be an assistant coach/recruiter as long as possible, because he will never have the organizational mind to be DC. So he will either be a poor DC when Monte retires, or he will have to find a way to work well with God knows who when Monte retires and Tenn hires a new DC.

As a LSU supporter, I wanted him mostly for his motivational ability but we should be ok. We are fine with recruiting without him, and still have a couple of NFL positional coaches that we will go after for the open defensive positions.

Sounds like Sarkisian was finally able to convince Nick Holt to leave USC and come to the UW to be his defensive coordinator. Press conference scheduled for 3PM Pacific time.

Even considering how much control Carroll has over the USC defense, this is a pretty impressive hire for Sarkisian to go with his earlier poaching of Jim Michalczik from Cal to be his Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line coach.

Sounds like Sarkisian was finally able to convince Nick Holt to leave USC and come to the UW to be his defensive coordinator. Press conference scheduled for 3PM Pacific time.

Even considering how much control Carroll has over the USC defense, this is a pretty impressive hire for Sarkisian to go with his earlier poaching of Jim Michalczik from Cal to be his Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line coach.

Great hire for UW. I'm sad to see Holt go.

Jacksonville Jaguars assistant Tom Williams reportedly will be Yale's new head coach...

Apparently the Lions and a few other NFL teams, along with the Raiders, are interested in interviewing Jim Harbaugh.

Interesting.

Jacksonville Jaguars assistant Tom Williams reportedly will be Yale's new head coach...
Congrats to Williams! He was briefly on staff at the UW and was one of the few real "bad-asses" working for Neuheisel. He has experience at Stanford as well which should help prepare him for working an Ivy League school. I'll be obligated to root for Harvard in their yearly matchup due to my fiance being an alum, but otherwise I'll wish Williams success.

Apparently the Lions and a few other NFL teams, along with the Raiders, are interested in interviewing Jim Harbaugh.

Interesting.
It wouldn't surprise me if Harbaugh knows he's a hot commodity now and figures there's only so much better he can make Stanford, so why not strike while the iron is hot?

Supposedly Harbaugh doesnt get along with many people in the AD and both sides almost want him to leave

Supposedly Harbaugh doesnt get along with many people in the AD and both sides almost want him to leave
If that's true, I wonder when Stanford is going to be relevant again in football. Harbaugh is a coach they should be very happy to have if they care about competing in football.

Harbaugh seems more like a college football guy than an NFL coach to me. In any case, I cannot see any promising, current head coach in college leaving for the Raiders' job.

Harbaugh seems more like a college football guy than an NFL coach to me. In any case, I cannot see any promising, current head coach in college leaving for the Raiders' job.
No kidding - who would want to deal with that mess? That said, by nature coaches usually have big egos, so maybe Harbaugh's is big enough that he thinks he can succeed in spite of Davis. And regardless, it didn't really end up hurting Lane Kiffin that much to have taken that job (though I suppose the lure of bringing Monte Kiffin in as a package deal was part of it...)

Hey, Terry Bowden jumped back in the coaching mix.... At Division II North Alabama no less.

Wow.

To nobody's surprise, Carl Smith was officially named Assistant Head Coach of the Offense and QB Coach at USC today.

Harbaugh seems more like a college football guy than an NFL coach to me. In any case, I cannot see any promising, current head coach in college leaving for the Raiders' job.

His brother is a head coach in the NFL, and if their anything like most brothers i know, that means he thinks he can be a head coach in the NFL.

Tough day for Minnesota who loses both coordinators.

Hey, Terry Bowden jumped back in the coaching mix.... At Division II North Alabama no less.

Wow.

Quite a splash. What happen to the former head coach?

Kind of sad that a Division II program did better than big-time Auburn in its coaching search.

No official statement, but it sure seems like Jags is gone from BC, as he interviewed with the Jets.

I actually think Auburn will turn out ok since they got a heck of an offensive coordinator to go with Chizik, whose strength is defense.

School spokespersons just passed out a press release to reporters titled, "Boston College Terminates Employment of Football Coach Jeff Jagodzinski," meaning the firing is official.

Jagodzinski, who is not present, made a statement in the release




Defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani likely will be named the interim head coach at some point, sources told ESPN's Wendi Nix. Spaziani has been a Boston College assistant for 12 years, the past 10 as defensive coordinator



Yay! Bring on the Spaziani era!!

Sounds like Jags didn't even bother to show up to have a face-to-face meeting and get fired. Little weasel.

Huh?

I actually think Auburn will turn out ok since they got a heck of an offensive coordinator to go with Chizik, whose strength is defense.

I don't know... Good coordinators can make an average coach look good, but Chizik looked SO horrid at ISU, and the other coaches/coaching staffs are so good in the SEC... I just find it hard to believe that this will go well for Auburn. I hope I am wrong though, the rest of the teams in the West are better off when Alabama and Auburn are on the same level.

In reference to DeTox's comment about Minnesota, Auburn has hired Ted Roof as their DC.

Yay! Bring on the Spaziani era!!

Sounds like Jags didn't even bother to show up to have a face-to-face meeting and get fired. Little weasel.

Frankly, if my employer was being an asshat and I already knew he was going to fire me, I sure as hell wouldn't bother to meet up with him either.

Tough day for Minnesota who loses both coordinators.

Not the best of days. Losing Roof could hurt as he seemed to do a solid job last year with a defense that's still lacking a lot of talent. Word is Kevin Cosgrove, who was a candidate last year for DC, is the likely replacement. Not exactly an exciting hire, hopefully he's been studying how to stop the spread. He could wind up as Co-Defensive Coordinator with current DL coach Tim Cross.

As far as Dunbar, not exactly sure if he was pushed out, but it was likely at least somewhat mutual after Tim Davis was brought in as run game coordinator. A lot of fans weren't happy with Dunbar for the offensive production this season, but hard to put all the blame on him when the offensive line was terrible and there wasn't much after Decker at WR for most of the season.

USC promoted Seto to Defensive Coordinator, Norton to Assistant Coach of the Defense, and have hired Jethro Franklin as Defensive Line Coach. Franklin was in Houston for Mario Williams turn around which should be a nice selling point. Furthermore, Laurence Jackson and Sedrick Ellis comment very positively on his development of their abilities.

Former Michigan State and Louisville head coach John L. Smith is about to be announced as Lorenzo Ward's replacement as secondary coach at Arkansas. Wow.

Get Ryan Leaf up there, and maybe they can fill out a staff full of head cases.

Rumors are Greg Robinson is the top choice for Michigan DC. He interviewed for the job but might be waiting to hear about an NFL gig.

Greg Robinson will be named Michigan DC.

Abjet failure as a head coach, decent resume as a DC.

Will be interesting.

For the love of god make sure he has no recruiting responsibilities.

For the love of god make sure he has no recruiting responsibilities.

The position coaches will handle the recruiting. Robinson will just do visits, both at school and in home, and I am sure he won't be alone so I don't worry there.
Hell, Shafer didn't recruit here either, so yeah, that isn't a concern.

I think he'll be okay. His one year at UT was good, and I suspect with similiar athletes he can do here what he did there.

UMass just hired the ex-OC Kevin Morris. Consensus reaction among fans is somewhere between abject failure and a capitulation and acknowledgment UMass won't be trying stay nationally competitive in the future.

The man went 24-32 at (local D3) WPI and was essentially fired for cheating after his team forfeited games. Since then he's been an OC who has done nothing but call for halfback passes in the pouring rain and in critical situations and hold the team back. Our offensive success was entirely in spite of him, and it's a disgrace that he was even considered for the job, let alone hired.

Former Broncos WR coach Jed Fisch is Minnesota's new offensive coordinator.

I love this comment by Jay Cutler about USC's new Assistant Head Coach of Offense/QB Coach Jeremy Bates:

“Jeremy is one of the best offensive minds in football. He was extremely innovative with our offense and took our playbook to the next level with some of the things he did, keeping defenses off balance and changing our look but at the same time keeping it simple for us players. Some of the things he did were amazing to watch. He was always watching other teams and coming up with new ideas for our offense. He helped me grow into my third NFL season and helped me reach the Pro Bowl along with some of the other goals I set for myself. As a unit, our offense became one of the most productive in the league with Jeremy calling plays. He brought a lot of excitement to the meeting room and on the field. He made me want to come to work every day and get better. Jeremy will do great things in his new role, and USC couldn’t have picked a better guy.”

Miami could target Martinez for defensive coordinator opening | [email protected] (http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/012009/foo_379580612.shtml)

Miami has an opening for a defensive coordinator and is expected to target Georgia assistant coach Willie Martinez for the position, according to a published report in South Florida.

As of this evening, however, Georgia coach Mark Richt said no one from Miami has contacted him about Martinez, associate athletic director Claude Felton said.

Martinez, 45, the Bulldogs defensive coordinator since 2005 and its secondary coach since 2001, played defensive back for the Hurricanes' 1983 national championship team and was a graduate assistant in 1985-86.

Miami has a vacancy to run its defense after Oklahoma State announced Tuesday that Bill Young was hired as defensive coordinator after one season with the Hurricanes.

The Hurricanes are "expected to have interest," in Martinez, according to the Miami Herald story. Martinez was born in Coral Gables, Fla.. and went to Hollywood Hills High School.

Georgia's defense ranked in the top 20 in scoring defense and total defense from 2005-07 but Martinez was heavily criticized by fans during this past season when the Bulldogs finished 59th in scoring defense and 22nd in total defense in 2008. Opponents averaged 24.5 points per game against Georgia.

Miami finished 7-6 this past season, ending with three straight losses. The Hurricanes are 12-13 in two seasons under head coach Randy Shannon.

Martinez did not return a message left Tuesday afternoon. Richt is out of town recruiting.

Martinez interviewed for the head coaching job at Florida International in Miami in November of 2007 before withdrawing his name.


On behalf of the rest of the ACC I can only say please make this hire.

Although some Georgia folks say the only way they'll let Martinez go without a fight is if Miami also takes Dennis Felton in the deal.

Looks like Mark Whipple is going to Miami-FL as Offensive Coordinator.

He did a great job resurrecting Brown's program in the 90s and was known for his high-falutin' "Whip-lash" offense. I think his offense will put up the points, but the downside is that he's had a reputation for being a bit mercenary and for running a loose ship when it comes to his players' disciplinary problems.

He did a great job resurrecting Brown's program in the 90s and was known for his high-falutin' "Whip-lash" offense. I think his offense will put up the points, but the downside is that he's had a reputation for being a bit mercenary and for running a loose ship when it comes to his players' disciplinary problems.

Forgive me but I'm having a tough time picturing the thug life at Brown.

Yeah, I know, there's other types of disciplinary problems. But given Miami's history, it just seemed as though there might be at least a couple of different scales of disciplinary problems.

Forgive me but I'm having a tough time picturing the thug life at Brown.

Yeah, I know, there's other types of disciplinary problems. But given Miami's history, it just seemed as though there might be at least a couple of different scales of disciplinary problems.

Yeah, it's all relative I guess. The number of incidents involving athletes at Brown is probably much lower relative to other schools. But under Whipple's watch, there were more problems (including assaults). I am a Whipple fan, and I hope it's just unlucky coincidence, but disciplinary problems weren't as much of an issue at Brown before he came or since he left...

Looks like Mark Whipple is going to Miami-FL as Offensive Coordinator.

He did a great job resurrecting Brown's program in the 90s and was known for his high-falutin' "Whip-lash" offense. I think his offense will put up the points, but the downside is that he's had a reputation for being a bit mercenary and for running a loose ship when it comes to his players' disciplinary problems.He also won a national championship at UMass in 1998. He didn't come off as a mercenary around here - the fallout was over UMass refusing to make the necessary movement up to D1A. It does sound like he desperately wants to be a D1A head coach, but its coaching - what do you expect? Plus Shannon seems like a disciplinarian, so I don't think Whipple even needs to get involved in that aspect. The only bad rumor I've heard is that part of the reason Patrick Nix sucked was because Shannon thought his playbook was too complex and made him cut it in half. I think it's a fantastic hire if they can compartmentalize the team well enough (Whipple has sole power over the offense, Shannon can work with the defense and be the head coach.)

Bad news for the UW coaching staff today as offensive coordinator and O-line coach Jim Michalczik is leaving to take a job with Tom Cable and the Oakland Raiders.

Michalczik was one of the key hires to Sarkisian's staff at the UW - replacing him will be difficult.

So the powers that be at Texas Tech set a deadline of last night for Mike Leach to sign his contract extension. Leach replied that he'll be happy to coach the remaining two years on his contract. Will be interesting to see if he gets canned for not signing an extension.

So the powers that be at Texas Tech set a deadline of last night for Mike Leach to sign his contract extension. Leach replied that he'll be happy to coach the remaining two years on his contract. Will be interesting to see if he gets canned for not signing an extension.

Canning him would be just as bad a move as Boston College firing their coach for interviewing for a NFL HC job. Dangerous precedent to set as a program.

It sets an interesting and uneasy precedent. According to the news, they added a 1.5M buyout clause, can fine him for talking to other teams, only guaranteed 10% should they fire him, and get all the money from any speaking fees he gets. All seemingly added at the last minute. And if he doesn't sign it they are going to fire him? I never knew somebody could get fired for not liking the terms of an extension offer.

It sets an interesting and uneasy precedent. According to the news, they added a 1.5M buyout clause, can fine him for talking to other teams, only guaranteed 10% should they fire him, and get all the money from any speaking fees he gets. All seemingly added at the last minute. And if he doesn't sign it they are going to fire him? I never knew somebody could get fired for not liking the terms of an extension offer.

Well, I'm sure he'll be fired under the terms of his existing contract. It's unlikely to be "for-cause" so there will be some kind of buy-out (or not) depending on the terms of their previous agreement. I'm sure that at default, Texas is an at-will employment state.

Word on the street is that Tech has already approached Arizona's OC Sonny Dykes to be head coach. His dad, Spike Dykes, was coach at Texas Tech before being replaced by Leach.

In a twisted way, I can see Leach actually wanting to be fired. Next year is going to be a rebuilding year at Tech, and I don't see them coming close to their level of success next season. In fact, I see them fighting it out for 4th in the Big 12 South with Baylor. If he gets fired, he'll have to sit out a year, and the hiring folks with short memories will think back to their 2008 run, and figure without him, that's why the 2009 team struggled. If he stays at TT next year and struggles, then his "hot coach" Q drops.

Talk about stupid by Tech.

The guy has taken the Red Raiders to 9 bowls in his 9 seasons and put the program on the map.

Too bad the East Carolina job wasn't open...the Leech could really be a Pirate.

I just read a sourceless post on a different board that said Tech has caved and is negotiating a new deal with Leach as we speak. Take it for what it's worth...

Yeah, the deal was just announced. Evidently Leach sat down with the school's chancellor and they worked everything out, leaving the agents and the AD out of the meeting. 3 more years, no buyout, and he has to inform the AD if he is going to interview for another job, but the AD cannot stop him from interviewing.

Can't believe that Bellotti's stepping down as the head coach hasn't been discussed here. Kelly was already in place, though, and while this move was ready to be made...did anyone believe it would be made so quickly?

Does this hamper their recruitment of Bryce Brown any? Surely Brown knew the writing was on the wall.

Oh, man, I saw this thread was bumped, and Ardent was the most recent poster, and I thought, OMG UT already broke off Kiffin!!!@1!

Thank goodness I was wrong.

Can't believe that Bellotti's stepping down as the head coach hasn't been discussed here. Kelly was already in place, though, and while this move was ready to be made...did anyone believe it would be made so quickly?

Does this hamper their recruitment of Bryce Brown any? Surely Brown knew the writing was on the wall.

Chip Kelly is the one who has had any contact with.

Oh, man, I saw this thread was bumped, and Ardent was the most recent poster, and I thought, OMG UT already broke off Kiffin!!!@1!

Thank goodness I was wrong.
:lol:

Personally, I believe Lane Kiffen was a much better coach/coordinator than Sarkasian has ever been. Kiffen was instrumental in the development of the college level success of Mike Williams, Steve Smith, and Jarrett. Kiffin was the offensive coordinator in 05 when USC had one of its best offensive years ever. I still think he may struggle as a head coach, but I'd love to have him back at USC as an offensive coordinator/coach again. On the other hand, Sarkasian has been much worse than expected and should be let go ASAP IMHO.
Amazing what a year can do for you. :)

Amazing what a year can do for you. :)

Thanks for the bump. The more I review Crompton's stats and how Lane helped develop him, the more my elation grows. This staff has me so excited. I don't know how I'm going to get to sleep.. already up an hour later than I planned.