The Coaching Tree: November 2011

Monday, November 28, 2011

Kansas Head Coach

Turner Gill has been fired after two seasons and a 5-19 record with the Jayhawks. The coaching tree has come up with the following potential replacements:

Mark Stoops - Florida State Defensive Coordinator

Coached defensive backs at Wyoming from 1997-99. Kansas athletic director Sheahon Zenger Was the recruiting coordinator for the Cowboys from 1997-2000.
Spent the 1996 season as the defensive backs coach at South Florida. USF didn't actually start playing football until the '97 season, but Stoops was on staff the year before in the planning and preparation stages of the program under head coach Jim Leavitt. Zenger was also on the staff as the team's recruiting coordinator.

Jim Leavitt - San Francisco 49ers Linebackers Coach

Head coach at South Florida from 1996-2009. Coached with Sheahon Zenger in '96, when Zenger was his first recruiting coordinator.
Coached linebackers at Kansas State in 1990 and '91 before becoming defensive coordinator (92-95). Zenger was the Wildcats' recruiting coordinator and director of football operations from 1989-92.

Brent Venables - Oklahoma Defensive Coordinator

Played linebacker at Kansas State in 1991 and '92 after transferring from Garden City Community College. Sheahon Zenger was the recruiting coordinator at K-State during Venables' playing career with the Wildcats.

Dave Doeren - Northern Illinois Head Coach

9-3 record in his first season as head coach at NIU.
Coached linebackers at Kansas from 2002-05.

Other names in consideration: Justin Fuente, TCU; Mike Stoops, ex-Arizona.

Howard Schnellenberger is retiring after 11 seasons as head coach at Florida Atlantic. He recorded a record of 58-73 (one game remaining) and a career coaching record of 158-151-3. The coaching tree came up with the following potential candidates based on the connection with FAU athletic director Craig Angelos, who worked at the University of Miami and crossed paths with each of the following coaches:

Randy Shannon - ex-Miami Head Coach

Head coach at Miami from 2007-10
DC at Miami from 2001-06
Position coach (LB/DL) at Miami from 1992-97
Graduate assistant at Miami in 1991
Played linebacker at Miami from 1985-88

Rob Chudzinski - Carolina Panthers Offensive Coordinator

Offensive coordinator at Miami from 2001-03 after coaching the tight ends from 1996-2000.
Played tight end at Miami from 1986-90 and was a graduate assistant in 1994 and '95.

Curtis Johnson - New Orleans Saints Wide Receivers Coach

WR coach at Miami from 1996-2005.

Arizona State Head Coach

Dennis Erickson has been fired as head coach at Arizona State after five seasons and a record of 31-30. The coaching tree has come up with the following potential replacements:

Ron English - Eastern Michigan Head Coach

Has built up EMU from an 0-12 season his first year (2009) to 6-5 and bowl eligible with one game left to play in the regular season.
Coached defensive backs at Arizona State from 1998-2002. He was also a graduate assistant for the Sun Devils in 1994 and '95.

Mark Helfrich - Oregon Offensive Coordinator

QB coach at Arizona State from 2001-05.

Ohio State Coaching Staff

UPDATED 12/9

Urban Meyer has been hired as the new head football coach at The Ohio State University. Meyer has a career coaching record of 104-23, including two national championships at Florida. While the rumors of potential assistant coaches such as Mike Stoops are out there, he wasn't on our radar. If in fact he is hired as defensive coordinator, we'll certainly make some adjustments to our projections, but for now, take a look at our projected 2012 Ohio State football coaching staff:

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Tom Herman

RUNNING BACKS COACH

Stan Drayton - Ohio State Wide Receivers Coach

Coached running backs under Urban Meyer at Florida from 2005-07 and again in 2010.

WIDE RECEIVERS COACH

David Beaty - Kansas Wide Receivers Coach

Coached wide receivers at Rice in 2006 and '07. New OSU offensive coordinator Tom Herman was the OC at Rice in 2007 and '08.

TIGHT ENDS COACH

John Peterson - Ohio State Tight Ends Coach

Has coached tight ends at Ohio State since 2004.
Played offensive line for the Buckeyes. Urban Meyer was a GA during Peterson's freshman season with the team.

OFFENSIVE LINE COACH

Blake Miller - Memphis Co-Offensive Coordinator

OL coach at Rice in 2007 and '08 where he worked on staff with new OC Tom Herman.
Was also the OL coach under Herman at Texas State in 2005 and '06.

DEFENSIVE LINE COACH

Mike Vrabel

LINEBACKERS COACH

Luke Fickell

DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH

Taver Johnson

SPECIAL TEAMS COACH

DJ Durkin - Florida Linebackers/Special Teams Coach

Coached linebackers and special teams under Urban Meyer at Florida in 2010.
Graduate assistant at Bowling Green under Meyer in 2001 and '02.

2005 Florida Coaching Staff

Urban Meyer, in his introductory press conference as head coach at Ohio State, mentioned that his coaching staff at Florida was the "best coaching staff in college football history." So, for those wondering, here is the full coaching staff from the 2005 Florida Gators football team and where those coaches are now:

HC: Urban Meyer (Ohio State HC)

OC/QB: Dan Mullen (Mississippi State HC)

DC/LB: Charlie Strong (Louisville HC)

RB: Stan Drayton (Ohio State WR)

WR: Billy Gonzales (LSU WR)

TE: Steve Addazio (Temple HC)

OL: John Hevesey (Mississippi State OL)

DL: Greg Mattison (Michigan DC)

CB: Chuck Heater (Temple DC)

S: Doc Holliday (Marshall HC)

Not bad huh?

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Illinois Head Coach

Ron Zook, after beginning the season with a promising 6-0 start, has been fired after finishing the season with six straight losses. The coaching tree has come up with the following potential replacements:

Pat Narduzzi - Michigan State Defensive Coordinator

Defensive coordinator at Cincinnati from 2004-06. New Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas came from Cincinnati, where he was the AD from 2005-11.

Butch Jones - Cincinnati Head Coach

Was hired at Cincinnati by new Illini AD Mike Thomas in 2010.

Dan Roushar - Michigan State Offensive Coordinator

OL coach at Cincinnati in 2005 and '06, Mike Thomas' first two years as AD.
Coached at Illinois in 1995 and '96 and again in 2003 and '04. Spent the 2004 season as the Illini offensive coordinator.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

2 MAC Openings

The University of Massachusetts will join the FBS and the MAC conference starting in 2012, and they are looking for a new head coach to lead them into that transition. Looking at coaches who have history with UMass, we found some solid names who were at one time the head coach for the Minutemen. Browns QB coach Mark Whipple, UConn defensive coordinator Don Brown, and Virginia defensive coordinator Jim Reid all had stints as the HC at UMass. While I would typically look past anyone who has been a head coach at the school in the past, each of the three had a winning record as head coach and have gone on to solid careers as assistants since. If any of the three, Whipple seems to be the most realistic possibility. In addition, I did come across one intriguing name that would fit quite well into the high scoring MAC:

Neal Brown - Texas Tech Offensive Coordinator

Played at UMass in 2001-02 after transferring from Kentucky, where he played for head coach Hal Mumme.
After his playing career, he stayed on the UMass staff as the tight ends and assistant offensive line coach.

We also looked into the anticipated opening at Akron. Unfortunately, we weren't able to find many head coach ready candidates who we could link back to the Zips. We did find one possibility that seems very reasonable:

Luke Fickell - Ohio State Interim Head Coach

Was the defensive line coach at Akron in 2000 and '01.
It's looking more and more everyday like Fickell will not have a chance to be OSU's permanent head coach, so he would be making the choice between head coach at Akron or probably being retained as linebackers coach at Ohio State.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Arizona Coaching Staff

COACHING BIO:

2008-10 Michigan, Head Coach

2001-07 West Virginia, Head Coach

1999-00 Clemson, Offensive Coordinator

1997-98 Tulane, Offensive Coordinator

1990-96 Glenville State, Head Coach

1989 West Virginia, Outside Linebackers

1988 Salem College, Head Coach

1987 Salem College, Defensive Coordinator

1985-86 West Virginia, Student Assistant

PLAYING CAREER:

1981-84 West Virginia Defensive Back

Rich Rodriguez is the new head football coach at the University of Arizona. One of the most important things a new coach must do (in addition to recruiting duties) is assemble a staff. The defensive struggles at Michigan were well documented, so hiring a good defensive coordinator is key. The coaching tree struggled finding any solid candidates for the DC position, so that will be a very interesting hire. That being said, we were able to put together a decent list of position coaches. Once coordinators are hired, we'll have an updated list for you based on their connections. For now, here are our possibilities for Rich Rodriguez' new staff for the 2012 Arizona Wildcats:

* = potential candidate for coordinator position

QUARTERBACKS COACH

Frank Scelfo* - Arizona Quarterbacks Coach

QB coach at Arizona in 2010 and '11.
TE coach at Tulane from 1996-98. Worked with Rich Rodriguez in 1997 and '98 and replaced him as offensive coordinator at Tulane in '99.

Rod Smith* - Indiana Offensive Coordinator

QB coach at Michigan from 2008-10.
QB coach at West Virginia in 2007.
Played quarterback at Glenville State from 1993-96, where Rodriguez was his head coach.

RUNNING BACKS COACH

Jahmile Addae - Cincinnati Running Backs Coach

Graduate assistant at Michigan in 2008 and '09.
GA at West Virginia in 2007.
Played defensive Back at WVU from 2001-05.

Willie Simmons - ex-Middle Tennessee State Offensive Coordinator

Played QB at Clemson from 2000-02 (Rodriguez was his OC his freshman year).

Calvin Magee* - Pitt Offensive Coordinator

Offensive coordinator at Michigan from 2008-10.
Coached at West Virginia from 2001-07, starting as RB coach and becoming OC in 2005.

WIDE RECEIVERS COACH

Tony Dews - Pitt Tight Ends Coach

WR coach at Michigan from 2008-10.
WR coach at West Virginia in 2007. Was a graduate assistant for the Mountaineers in 2000 and '01.

Garret Chachere - Arizona Inside Wide Receivers Coach

Coached at Arizona since 2009.
LB coach at Tulane from 1999-2006. Never worked on staff with Rodriguez, but did work with Frank Scelfo each of those years. Scelfo was an assistant under Rodriguez at Tulane, so will likely be retained on staff.

OFFENSIVE LINE COACH

Bill Legg - Marshall Offensive Coordinator

Played offensive line at West Virginia from 1981-85 and was a graduate assistant in 1986 and '87.

Herb Hand* - Vanderbilt Offensive Line Coach

TE coach at West Virginia from 2001-06.
Graduate assistant at Clemson in 1999 and 2000.
Defensive coordinator at Glenville State from 1994-96.

Greg Frey - Indiana Offensive Line Coach

Offensive line coach at Michigan from 2008-10.
OL coach at West Virginia in 2007.

DEFENSIVE LINE COACH

Bruce Tall - Charlotte Defensive Coordinator

DL coach at Michigan from 2008-10.
Coached safeties at West Virginia from 2003-07.

Bill Kirelawich - West Virginia Defensive Line Coach

Has been on staff at West Virginia since 1979. Worked with Rodriguez from 2001-07 and was an assistant during Rodriguez' playing career in the 80's.

LINEBACKERS COACH

Ron West - Illinois Outside Linebackers Coach

Coached outside linebackers at Clemson from 1999-2008 (1999 and '00 w/Rodriguez).
OL coach at Tulane in 1997 and '98.

Jeff Casteel* - West Virginia Defensive Coordinator

Coached at West Virginia since 2001 (DL in '01, LB in '02, DC since '03). Coached with Rodriguez from 2001-07.

Jay Hopson - ex-Memphis Defensive Coordinator

LB coach at Michigan in 2008 and '09.

DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH

Tony Gibson - Pitt Defensive Backs Coach

Coached defensive backs and special teams at Michigan from 2008-10.
DB coach at West Virginia from 2001-07.
DB coach at Glenville State in 1996, where he also played DB from 1990-93.

David Lockwood - West Virginia Cornerbacks Coach

Graduate assistant at West Virginia in 1989.
Played DB at WVU from 1985-88. Rodriguez was a DB for the Mountaineers from 1981-84 and was a student assistant in 1985 and '86.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

New Mexico Coaching Staff

Bob Davie is the new head football coach at New Mexico. He is back after 10 years away from coaching after he was the head coach at Notre Dame from 1997-2001. The coaching tree has compiled a list of some potential assistant coaches for Davie's staff based on past relationships at former coaching stops. The list will surely change when Davie hires his coordinators, but here is a preliminary set of names for now:

* = candidate for coordinator position

QUARTERBACKS COACH

Bob Toledo* - ex-Tulane Head Coach

Offensive coordinator at New Mexico in 2006 before becoming the HC at Tulane in '07.
OC at Texas A&M from 1989-93, when Bob Davie was the team's defensive coordinator.

Kevin Rogers* - Boston College Offensive Coordinator

Offensive coordinator at Notre Dame under head coach Bob Davie from 1999-2001.

Ron Powlus - Akron Quarterbacks Coach

Played QB at Notre Dame from 1994-97. Bob Davie was the DC at Notre Dame from 1994-96 before taking over as head coach in '97.

RUNNING BACKS/WIDE RECEIVERS COACH

Mike Sanford* - ex-Louisville Offensive Coordinator

QB coach at Notre Dame in 1997 and '98, working under head coach Bob Davie.

Chris Wiesehan - Winnepeg Blue Bombers (CFL) Wide Receivers Coach

Graduate assistant at Notre Dame in 1997 and '98 under HC Bob Davie.

Larry Edmondson - Rice Quarterbacks Coach

Graduate assistant at Texas A&M from 1984-86. Bob Davie came in as the Aggies LB coach in '85.

OFFENSIVE LINE COACH

Dave Borbely - Louisville Offensive Line Coach

OL coach at Notre Dame from 1998-2001 under head coach Bob Davie.

Tony Wise - ex-Pitt Offensive Line Coach

Assistant offensive line coach at Pitt in 1977, where he worked on staff with Bob Davie, who was a GA at Pitt in '77.

DEFENSIVE LINE COACH

Terry Price - Ole Miss Defensive Line Coach

Graduate assistant at Texas A&M in 1993, when Bob Davie was the Aggies defensive coordinator.
Played defensive line at Texas A&M from 1986-90. Davie coached linebackers until becoming DC in 1989.

Todd Howard - Washington State Defensive Line Coach

Graduate assistant at Texas A&M from 1991-93, where he worked under DC Bob Davie.
Played LB at A&M from 1983-86. Davie came in as his position coach in '85.

Bert Hill - SMU Defensive Line Coach

Strength & conditioning coach at Texas A&M from 1983-87 and in '89, working with Bob Davie each of those years.

LINEBACKERS COACH

Kirk Doll* - San Jose State Running Backs/Special Teams Coach

LB coach at Notre Dame from 1994-2001, working under Bob Davie each season with the Fighting Irish.
LB coach at Texas A&M, working under Davie, who was on the Aggies' staff from 1985-93.

Kevin Fouquier* - ex-Louisiana-Lafayette Defensive Coordinator

Graduate assistant at Texas A&M in 1991 and '92, where he worked with Davie, who was the defensive coordinator at the time.

Johnny Holland* - Virginia Destroyers (UFL) Linebackers Coach

Played linebacker at Texas A&M from 1983-86. Bob Davie was his position coach in 1985 and '86.

DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH

Taver Johnson* - Ohio State Cornerbacks Coach

Graduate assistant at Notre Dame in 1999, Davie's 3rd season as head coach.

Mike Woodford - New Mexico Defensive Backs Coach

Played DB at Arizona from 1978-81. Bob Davie was the linebackers coach at Arizona in 1978 and '79.

Jerry McManus - ex-Kent State Running Backs/Special Teams Coach

Coached defensive backs at Pitt in 1982 and at Tulane in 1983 and '84. Bob Davie coached linebackers at Pitt in '82 before becoming the defensive coordinator at Tulane in '83.