The Coaching Tree: December 2010

Friday, December 31, 2010

Carolina Panthers Head Coach

John Fox has been fired as head coach of the Carolina Panthers. Going into his last game, Fox has a record of 73-72 in 9 seasons with the Panthers. The coaching tree has come up with the following potential replacements:

Russ Grimm - Arizona Cardinals Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line Coach

Played for the Washington Redskins from 1981-91. Panthers general manager Marty Hurney was a reporter who covered the Redskins in the 1980s before joining the team's public relations department in 1988.

Jim Harbaugh - Stanford Head Coach

57-27 record in 7 years as head coach at the University of San Diego and at Stanford.
Played quarterback for the Panthers in 2001. Marty Hurney worked with the Panthers as a salary cap specialist from 1998-2001 before becoming general manager.

Mike Tice - Chicago Bears Offensive Line Coach

33-34 record in four seasons as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings (2002-05).
Played tight end for the Washington Redskins in 1989, which was Hurney's last year working for the Redskins.

Jack Del Rio - Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach

65-62 record going into the last regular season game of his 8th year with the Jaguars.
Defensive coordinator for the Panthers in 2002, which was Marty Hurney's first year as GM.
Wouldn't leave Jacksonville for the Panthers, but may be on the hot seat if he fails to make the playoffs this season.

Michigan State Off. Coordinator/WR Coach

Don Treadwell has left Michigan State to become the new head coach at Miami (Ohio). Treadwell was the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. There is the possibility that Mark Dantonio will promote someone from the current staff to offensive coordinator, most likely OL coach Dan Roushar. If not, the Spartans will be looking for a coordinator who can also coach receivers. The coaching tree has come up with the following potential replacements:

* = candidate for offensive coordinator position

Charlie Baggett* - Tennessee Assistant Head Coach/Wide Receivers Coach

WR coach at Michigan State from 1995-98, while Mark Dantonio coached the defensive backs ate MSU from 1995-2000.
Coached running backs and receivers at Michigan State from 1983-92. DB coach Harlon Barnett was a player for the Spartans from 1986-89.
Played quarterback at Michigan State from 1972-75.

George McDonald - Cleveland Browns Wide Receivers Coach

WR coach at Northern Illinois in 2002 and '03. He coached with both Dan Roushar and Pat Narduzzi in 2002, as both were assistants with the Huskies.
Played receiver at Illinois from 1995-98. Roushar was an assistant for the Illini in 1995 and '96.

Reggie Mitchell - Kansas Running Backs Coach

RB coach at Michigan State from 2000-04 after starting as receivers coach in '99. Spent two years on staff with Mark Dantonio (1999-2000).
Coached at Kansas from 1988-96. Dantonio was the defensive backs coach at KU from 1991-94 and QB coach Dave Warner coached the Jayhawk quarterbacks from 1988-96.
WR coach at Kent State in 1987, where Dave Warner was in his last year as QB coach.

Adam Gase - Denver Broncos Wide Receivers Coach

Student assistant at Michigan State from 1996-99, at the time when Mark Dantonio was coaching the Spartan DBs.

Other names in consideration: PJ Fleck*, Rutgers; Shane Montgomery*, Youngstown State; Brian Daboll*, Cleveland Browns.

Purdue Linebackers Coach

Mark Hagen has left to become the defensive line and special teams coach at Indiana under new head coach Kevin Wilson. The coaching tree has come up with the following potential replacements:

Kurt Van Valkenburgh - Florida Atlantic Defensive Coordinator

Became defensive coordinator at FAU in 2010 after twelve seasons coaching linebackers and special teams. Purdue OC Gary Nord coached at FAU from 2004-08.
Coached defensive backs at Purdue in 1996.
Defensive coordinator at Oklahoma in 1995. Danny Hope was the offensive line coach and Gary Nord was the offensive coordinator at OU.
Defensive backs coach at Louisville from 1992-94. Hope and Nord were also on that staff at Louisville.
Florida Atlantic head coach Howard Schnellenberger is rumored to be retiring, which could leave Van Valkenburgh looking for a new job.

DJ Eliot - Florida State Defensive Ends Coach

Graduate Assistant at Houston in 2000 and '01, when Purdue RB coach Cornell Jackson was the Cougars' linebackers coach.
Played linebacker at Wyoming from 1995-97. Danny Hope was the OL coach at Wyoming in '96.

Chuck Bullough - ex-UCLA Defensive Coordinator

Linebackers coach at Western Michigan in 2005. Purdue WR coach Brian Rock coached at WMU from 1992-2005.

Kyle Nystrom - Central Michigan Linebackers/Special Teams Coach

Coached at Western Michigan from 1989-2001. He spent ten of those seasons on staff with Brian Rock.

Other names in consideration: Johnny Frost, Florida Atlantic; Reggie Johnson, Arkansas; Osia Lewis, Hartford Colonials (UFL); Larry Hoefer, Baylor; Rick Lantz, Omaha Nighthawks (UFL).

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Ohio State Wide Receivers Coach

Darrell Hazell has left Ohio State to become the new head coach at Kent State. Known for great staff continuity, Jim Tressel shouldn't have much trouble finding a high quality assistant to add to the mix. The coaching tree has come up with the following potential replacements:

PJ Fleck - Rutgers Wide Receivers Coach

Graduate assistant at Ohio State in 2006.

AJ Pratt - Western Kentucky Tight Ends/Offensive Tackles Coach

Graduate assistant at Kent State in 1999 before becoming the WR coach in 2000. He eventually was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2008. He coached with Paul Haynes, who was the defensive backs coach at Kent State in 1999 and 2000.

Shane Montgomery - Youngstown State Offensive Coordinator

Offensive coordinator at Miami (Ohio) from 2001-04 before becoming head coach. Coached with both John Peterson and Taver Johnson during his tenure with the RedHawks.

Mike Sullivan - New York Giants Quarterbacks Coach

Defensive backs coach at Youngstown State in 1997 and '98 under Jim Tressel.

Other names in consideration: Charlie Baggett, Tennessee; Billy Lynch, Indiana; Adam Gase, Denver Broncos.

West Virginia Offensive Line Coach

Offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen and offensive line coach Dave Johnson will not return in 2011. Dana Holgorsen has been named offensive coordinator and will take over as head coach in 2012. Assuming Holgorsen will be given the choice of an offensive line coach, the coaching tree has come up with the following potential replacements:

Robert Anae - ex-BYU offensive coordinator

Offensive line coach at Texas Tech from 2000-04. Dana Holgorsen was the QB coach at Texas Tech from 2000-04 before becoming the OC in '05.

Brandon Jones - East Carolina Offensive Line Coach

Graduate assistant at Texas Tech in 2007 and '08. Holgorsen was in his last year as offensive coordinator at Tech in '07.
Played offensive line at Texas Tech from 2002-05, with Holgorsen as the OC/QB coach.

Matt Moore - Texas Tech Offensive Line Coach

OL coach at TTU from 2007-present. Coached with Holgorsen in '07, his last year as OC at Tech.
Played offensive line at Valdosta State from 1991-94. Holgorsen was the QB coach at Valdosta State from 1993-95.

BJ Anderson - Houston Offensive Line Coach

OL coach at Houston in 2009 and '10. Holgorsen was the offensive coordinator at Houston in 2008 and '09.

Boise State Wide Receivers Coach

Assistant head coach/wide receivers coach Brent Pease has left Boise State to become the new offensive coordinator on Kevin Wilson's staff at Indiana. The coaching tree has come up with the following potential replacements:

Robert Prince - ex-Colorado Wide Receivers Coach

WR coach at Boise State from 2001-03.
WR coach at Portland State from 1998-2000. Chris Strausser was the offensive line coach at Portland State in 2000.

Eric Kiesau - ex-Colorado Offensive Coordinator

WR coach at Colorado from 2006-08. Chris Strausser was the offensive line coach at CU in 2006, Dan Hawkins' first year as head coach.
WR coach at Cal from 2002-05. Linebackers coach Bob Gregory was the defensive coordinator at Cal from 2002-09.
Played quarterback at Portland State from 1992-95. Chris Petersen was his position coach in 1993 and '94.

Damon Griffin - Boise State Graduate Assistant

GA at Boise State since 2009.
Played receiver at Oregon from 1994-98. Chris Petersen was his position coach from 1995-98.

Darryl Jackson - Florida Atlantic Offensive Coordinator

WR coach at Arizona State from 2001-06. Tight ends coach Scott Huff was a graduate assistant in 2004 and '05.
WR coach at Boise State from 1998-2000.
Florida Atlantic head coach Howard Schnellenberger is rumored to be retiring, so Jackson may be looking for work.

Other names in consideration: Dan Ferrigno, San Diego State; Luther Carr, Idaho.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Nebraska Linebackers Coach

Mike Ekeler has left Nebraska to become the co-defensive coordinator on Kevin Wilson's new staff at Indiana. The coaching tree has come up with the following potential replacements:

Ross Els - Ohio Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers/Special Teams Coach

Coached at Ohio since 2005. Carl Pelini was the DL coach at Ohio from 2005-07.
Coached at New Mexico from 2001-04 as defensive backs coach and eventually defensive coordinator. Barney Cotton was the offensive coordinator at NMSU in 2001 and '02.
QB coach in 1995 and defensive coordinator in '96 at Hastings College, where Barney Cotton was the head coach. Els took over as HC when Cotton left.

Scott Downing - ex-Northern Colorado Head Coach

Tight ends coach at Nebraska from 2003-2005. During that span, he worked with six of the nine coaches currently on staff at Nebraska.
Coached at Wyoming from 1987-96. Ted Gilmore was a graduate assistant at Wyoming from 1994-96. Gilmore also played at Wyoming in 1988 and '89, when Downing coached LBs.
GA at Nebraska from 1984-86.

DJ Eliot - Florida State Assistant Defensive Line Coach

Graduate assistant at Houston in 2000 and '01. Ted Gilmore was the WR coach at Houston in 2000.
Played at Wyoming from 1995-97 and was a student assistant in '98. Gilmore was a GA at Wyoming from 1994-96 and coached receivers in 1997 and '98.

Doug Colman - Tulane Linebackers Coach

Quality control assistant at Nebraska in 2008 and '09.
Played linebacker at Nebraska from 1991-95.

Other names in consideration: Fred Pagac, Vikings; DeMontie Cross, Buffalo Bills; William Inge, Buffalo.

Texas Tech Defensive Coordinator

Texas Tech defensive coordinator James Willis has left "to pursue other opportunities" after one season in Lubbock. Between a possible job in Florida and a domestic dispute, it is hard to say what is going on with Willis, but regardless, Tommy Tuberville needs a new coordinator. The coaching tree has come up with the following potential replacements:

John Lovett - ex-Miami Defensive Coordinator

Defensive coordinator under Tommy Tuberville at Auburn from 1999-2001.
Defensive backs coach at Ole Miss from 1995-98, when Tuberville was head coach.

Randy Shannon - ex-Miami Head Coach

Started coaching at Miami in 1991 as a graduate assistant, while Tommy Tuberville was the linebackers coach. Shannon became DL coach in '92 and LB coach in '93, when Tuberville took over as defensive coordinator.
Played LB at Miami from 1985-88. Tuberville came to the "U" in '86 as a GA before becoming LB coach in 1988.

Willie Martinez - Oklahoma Defensive Backs Coach

Worked with Tommy Tuberville as a graduate assistant in 1986.

Art Kaufman - North Carolina Linebackers Coach

Defensive coordinator under Tommy Tuberville at Ole Miss from 1995-98.

Other Names in consideration: Terry Price, Ole Miss; Dave Wannstedt, ex-Pitt; Chuck Pagano, Ravens; Rick Petri, ex-Miami.

UCLA Defensive Coordinator, WR Coach

Defensive coordinator Chuck Bullough and wide receivers coach Reggie Moore were fired. Bullough was on the Bruins staff four four years, and Moore, a former UCLA player, was with the team for three years. The coaching tree has come up with the following potential replacements:

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Tim Hundley - UCLA Defensive Backs Coach

DB coach at UCLA since 2009.
Defensive coordinator at Washington under Rick Neuheisel from 1999-2002.
DC under Neuheisel at Colorado from 1996-98.
DC at UCLA from 1990-95. Neuheisel coached receivers at UCLA from 1990-93.

Chuck Heater - Florida co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach

Coached at Washington from 1999-2003, spending four of those seasons working under Neuheisel.
Coached at Colorado from 1993-98. Neuheisel was at CU from 1994-98.
Defensive backs coach at Ohio State from 1985-87. OL coach Bob Palcic was the OL coach at Ohio State from 1986-91.

Randall McCray - Middle Tennessee Defensive Coordinator

Coached at Wisconsin from 2006-09. Bob Palcic was the OL coach at Wisconsin in 2006 and '07.

WIDE RECEIVERS COACH

Brent Brennan - San Jose State Wide Receivers Coach

Graduate assistant at Washington in 1999 when Neuheisel was the head coach.
Played receiver at UCLA from 1991-95. Neuheisel was his position coach for three seasons.

Conroy Hines - ex-North Texas Wide Receivers Coach

Coached at Louisiana Tech from 1992-2009. Worked with DL coach Todd Howard, who coached linebackers at LT from 2000-02.

Mike Sheppard - Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receivers Coach

QB coach/Offensive coordinator with the New Orleans Saints from 2002-05. OL coach Bob Palcic coached the Saints' tight ends from 2000-05.
Graduate assistant at BYU in 1977 and '78. Norm Chow coached at BYU from 1973-99.

Other names in consideration: Chris Wiesehan, Winnepeg (CFL); Mike Johnson, San Francisco 49ers.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Pitt Coaching Staff

Mike Haywood is the new head coach at Pitt after two seasons as head coach at Miami (Ohio), where he went from a 1-11 season in 2009 to 9-4 and a conference championship in his second year. Haywood will bring Morris Watts with him as offensive coordinator, and Bill Elias, who was his assistant head coach and inside linebackers coach at Miami. The coaching tree has come up with the following potential candidates for the Panthers' new coaching staff:

RUNNING BACKS COACH

KiJuan Ware - Miami (Ohio) Running Backs Coach

RB coach at Miami under Mike Haywood the last two seasons.
Intern at Notre Dame in 2008, Haywood's last year as offensive coordinator.

Skip Peete - Dallas Cowboys Running Backs Coach

WR coach at Michigan State in 1993 and '94, when Morris Watts was the offensive coordinator.
Coached at Pitt from 1988-92.

Dennis Springer - ex-Indiana Running Backs/Special Teams Coach

Graduate assistant at Ball State in 1993 and '94. Mike Haywood coached receivers at Ball State in 1993 and RBs in '94.

WIDE RECEIVERS COACH

Alex Wood - Miami (Ohio) Wide Receivers Coach

WR coach at Miami in 2010 under Mike Haywood.

Adam Gase - Denver Broncos Wide Receivers Coach

Graduate assistant at LSU from 2000-02. Haywood was at LSU from 1995-2002.
Student assistant at Michigan State from 1996-99. Morris Watts returned to MSU for his third stint in 1999.

David Kelly - Central Florida Wide Receivers Coach

WR coach at LSU from 1996-99. Haywood, Watts, and Bill Elias were all on staff with Kelly while he was at LSU.

TIGHT ENDS COACH

JD Vonderheide - Miami (Ohio) Tight Ends Coach

Worked with Mike Haywood at Miami the last two seasons.

Charlie Coiner - North Carolina Defensive Line Coach

Special teams coach at LSU in 1999, when Haywood coached RBs.
Coached special teams at Vanderbilt from 1991-93, with new Pitt coach Bill Elias.

Shane Waldron - Hartford Colonials (UFL) Wide Receivers Coach

Graduate assistant at Notre Dame from 2005-07. Haywood was the OC at Notre Dame from 2005-08.

OFFENSIVE LINE COACH

Bill Mottola - Miami (Ohio) Offensive Line Coach

OL coach at Miami the last two years under Mike Haywood.
OL coach at Vanderbilt from 1991-93, when Bill Elias was the defensive ends coach.

Dave Magazu - Carolina Panthers Offensive Line Coach

Offensive line coach at Eastern Michigan in 1982. Elias was a graduate assistant at EMU in 1981 and '82.

Pat Morris - Minnesota Vikings Offensive Line Coach

OL coach at Michigan State from 1987-94. Morris Watts was the offensive coordinator from 1986-90, 1992-94, and again from 1999-2002.

DEFENSIVE LINE COACH

Antoine Smith - Miami (Ohio) Defensive Line Coach

Coached DL under Mike Haywood the last two years at Miami.

Jappy Oliver - Buffalo Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach

Defensive line coach at Notre Dame from 2005-08, the same time Mike Haywood was the offensive coordinator.
DL coach at Vanderbilt from 1991-93, where he worked with new Pitt LB coach Bill Elias, who coached defensive ends at Vandy.
Coached running backs at Eastern Michigan in 1981 and '82. Elias was a graduate assistant at EMU at the same time.

Brian George - ex-Indiana co-Defensive Coordinator

Played at Ohio from 1990-94. Mike Haywood coached outside linebackers at Ohio in 1991 and '92.

LINEBACKERS COACH

Sal Sunseri - Alabama Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers Coach

LB/Special teams coach at Michigan State in 2001, where Morris Watts was the offensive coordinator.
LB/Special teams coach at LSU in 2000, where Mike Haywood was the RB coach.
Coached DL and LB at Pitt from 1985-92.
Played at Pitt from 1978-81.

Chuck Bullough - ex-UCLA Defensive Coordinator

Played at Michigan State from 1988-91. Morris Watts was the OC there from 1986-90.

Carl Reese - Miami (Ohio) Defensive Coordinator

DC at Miami under Mike Haywood the last two seasons.
Defensive coordinator at Texas from 1998-2003. Worked with Mike Haywood in 2003, his first season as the Longhorns' RB coach.
Defensive coordinator at LSU from 1995-97, where he worked with Haywood, Morris Watts, and new Pitt assistant coach Bill Elias, who were all on the LSU staff together.
Defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt from 1991-94. Bill Elias was the defensive ends coach at Vandy from 1991-93.
Defensive coordinator for the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL from 1982-85. Morris Watts was the Stallions QB coach in 1984 and '85.

DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH

Demetrice Martin - Washington Cornerbacks Coach

Played at Michigan State from 1992-95. Morris Watts was the Spartans' offensive coordinator during Martin's first three seasons.

Lance Guidry - Miami (Ohio) Defensive Backs Coach

DB coach at Miami (Ohio) the last two seasons under Mike Haywood.

Carlton Buckels - ex-North Texas Cornerbacks Coach

Graduate assistant at LSU in 1999 and 2000, when Haywood coached the running backs in Baton Rouge.