Source Report Sources: Durkin to Maryland
[Bryan Fuller]
In seemingly done but not official news that would have been way more disappointing last week:
Source: D.J. Durkin will be the next coach at Maryland.
— Pete Thamel (@SIPeteThamel) December 2, 2015
I think we all assumed that Durkin would be a head coach sooner or later, but not after one year, and not in Michigan's division. At least Durkin gets away from Ohio State's offense, though. Yeah.
Unless there's an 11th-hour switch here, Michigan needs a new DC and/or a LB/DL coach. Mattison can handle either unit in the front seven and could get bumped back up to the main job; Greg Jackson might be a DC possibility as well—the job he and Zordich did with Michigan's DBs was terrific.
Steve Lorenz has three DC names to watch that includes a familiar name: former Michigan DC and Syracuse HC Scott Shafer. Shafer did get a really raw deal here the first time around.
December 2nd, 2015 at 2:54 PM ^
December 2nd, 2015 at 2:56 PM ^
Maryland's schedule the next two years includes:
2016: @Penn State, Michigan State, @Michigan, Ohio State, @Nebraska.
Then in 2017 they have: @Texas, @OSU, @Wisconsin, Michigan, @MSU, Penn State.
Good luck man. If John U. Bacon ever wanted to be on the ground floor of a Three and Out sequel, he should contact the Maryland AD.
December 2nd, 2015 at 3:05 PM ^
That's a brutal schedule. Even in 2018... they have to play: Texas, @Michigan, @Iowa, MSU and end the season with games against OSU and @PSU. Now I understand why Brian thinks Maryland is a terrible job.
December 2nd, 2015 at 3:11 PM ^
If you're Durkin, you're basically hoping to go undefeated against the rest of your schedule to get to bowl eligibility.
Honestly, this just reminds me of the kid who jumps to the NBA/NFL a year too soon.
December 2nd, 2015 at 2:56 PM ^
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December 2nd, 2015 at 3:00 PM ^
Was that an option? I don't remember him being considered.
December 2nd, 2015 at 3:11 PM ^
I doubt it. He actually won their bowl game as interim coach, but Florida fans wanted to clean house after Muschamp. There was some questions if Durkin was that good since Muschamp was a defensive minded coach.
December 2nd, 2015 at 2:56 PM ^
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December 2nd, 2015 at 2:58 PM ^
December 2nd, 2015 at 3:02 PM ^
I'm using coaches' salaries as a proxy for resources a school has available and is willing to commit to support the program. As we painfully know, Maryland joined the B1G because they were basically broke and wanted to get some of that BTN money.
If he can get them to 7-5 territory, he can parlay this job into a higher profile P5 job, but let's make no mistake about it, this is a stepping stone, not a destination job.
December 2nd, 2015 at 2:58 PM ^
One year in, and one of Harbaugh's assistants is already hired away as a power-5 head coach. I may be mistaken, but I don't think a single one of Brady Hoke's assistant coaches has moved up the ladder. It was pretty much lateral moves or demotions for all those guys.
I think having coordinators and assistants that other people want is a good probelm to have.
December 2nd, 2015 at 10:36 PM ^
December 2nd, 2015 at 2:59 PM ^
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December 2nd, 2015 at 3:10 PM ^
coaching tree has sprung early! I'm sure Harbaugh will find a great replacement. Odds are that Durkin has told him a month ago about possibly getting a HC job. Harbaugh may have been calling people high on his list to be DC. I would not be surprised if the new DC is announced before the Holidays!
December 2nd, 2015 at 3:17 PM ^
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December 2nd, 2015 at 3:23 PM ^
December 2nd, 2015 at 3:22 PM ^
Good luck to him...however it was total BullShit move if he interviewed in the OSU week as was reported. If that happened, he probably had Harbaugh's blessing to do so...however it was a strong tactical error and sent a bad message in a week when Unity was greatly needed.
December 2nd, 2015 at 3:25 PM ^
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December 2nd, 2015 at 3:24 PM ^
I was bummed for a second, but then realized MSU lost their "genius DC" Narduzzi, replaced him with 2 first-time co-coordinators and are a win away from the college football playoff.
This is a Harbaugh operation, not a Durkin operation. Thanks for the 12 games, coach. Take care.
December 2nd, 2015 at 3:35 PM ^
Also, OSU lost their offensive coordinator (might lose their d-coordinator to Rutgers this year) and they were just fine on Satruday. They had a better game plan than when they had the great Tom Herman.
December 2nd, 2015 at 5:58 PM ^
...because of a massive imbalance of talent. If OSU still had Herman they'd be in the playoffs, instead theyre not even playing in the B1G championship game. That's a pretty big difference.
MSU's D was a lot worse this year, the only reason theyre sniffing the playoffs is because OSU forfeited, they barely snuck by everyone else on the schedule, and they got a once in a generation lucky play to beat us.
December 2nd, 2015 at 7:55 PM ^
Well, MSU's D was also variously injured almost the entire year, I'm not sure there was the opportunity until just now to see what they do without Narduzzi. We'll see what they do against Iowa. I think the point above stands about coordinators.
December 2nd, 2015 at 3:23 PM ^
F*** it this sucks.
How about one more year where he stays and figures out how to stop the OSU offense?
December 2nd, 2015 at 3:26 PM ^
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December 2nd, 2015 at 10:57 PM ^
Was thinking that too socrking. While I trust in Coach Harbaugh, and want to believe Coach Durkin has kept JH in the loop throughout, feels like he is leavingga little early, having interviewed before the OSU game. If he has success at Maryland, he may have a hard time recruiting top talent if people think he will move up again the first chance he gets. While I like Coach Durkin and agree he is charismatic and energetic, don't feel great about him interviewing to leave to go to another school in our division before this season was over and before the Big Game. With money these days in college coaching, hard to fault Coach Durkin even if it does not feel that good many Michigan fans and alumni, including me.
December 2nd, 2015 at 7:51 PM ^
It is hard to find 7 winnable games on their schedule even their non-conference slate is putrid.
December 2nd, 2015 at 3:27 PM ^
Great program and big salary available.
We'll get a great DC....Just has to like steak!
GO BLUE!
December 2nd, 2015 at 3:34 PM ^
I didnt think he would take this job. And its more surprising since he was in Gary's house this week..was he recruiting for Maryland?
Why he would take a job in this division is a big head scratcher. I say give it back to Greg.
December 2nd, 2015 at 4:02 PM ^
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December 2nd, 2015 at 4:05 PM ^
DCC: God?
December 2nd, 2015 at 4:08 PM ^
December 2nd, 2015 at 4:55 PM ^
Talent level is a bit different at this point.
December 2nd, 2015 at 6:01 PM ^
Um, we ran press last year until it became obvious Countess was awful at it, probably because we had a newbie linebacker coaching DBs. What's been so great about this year's defense? Lewis who was great last year, the DL who was coached by Mattison, and Peppers who is Peppers. I'm perfectly fine with Mattison if we can't get a slam dunk hire to replace Durkin. I'm actually perfectly fine with whatever Harbaugh chooses to do since he always has amazing assistants.
December 2nd, 2015 at 7:44 PM ^
I have a feeling that JH is going to have a say in what type of defense the DC is going to run. If JH wants a press defense, his DC will run it.
December 2nd, 2015 at 3:46 PM ^
See ya...
Michigan needs someone who is more able to game plan for our toughest games. He frickin' choked against OSU.
December 2nd, 2015 at 3:48 PM ^
I bet Jim and Shafer have already been talking. He'll get a chance to be the DC at Michigan for real this time.
December 2nd, 2015 at 3:49 PM ^
December 2nd, 2015 at 3:50 PM ^
Let Zordich take over the safety job by himself and hire a new LB coach.
December 2nd, 2015 at 3:51 PM ^
So much for loyalty to the team...
Good luck convincing recruits to be loyal to a program when you walk out on a 3 year contract after 1 year.
December 2nd, 2015 at 5:04 PM ^
December 2nd, 2015 at 6:33 PM ^
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December 2nd, 2015 at 4:00 PM ^
I am with everyone here, it seems, about wanting him to stay for more than one season. On top of that, I believe he needed to prove more before truly being considered for a HC job. Young, fiery, all good... however, how much can be attributed to other assistant coaches like Mattison. Can we really say Durkin developed people? Is it impossible to tell after one year? How much of his perceived success really belonged to JH will show next year I guess, and like everyone I hope we can keep the recruiting up without Durkin, as he was vital to the south. Swiping Pruitt would be huge!
The thing that bothers me the most is that Durkin was taking interviews instead of prepping for the biggest game of the year. The conclusion was foregone, but I still would want to max prep for that game. It will be funny to beat up on Maryland now, instead of it being sad to do so. Screw the Terps, In Harbaugh we trust!
December 3rd, 2015 at 12:26 AM ^
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December 2nd, 2015 at 4:00 PM ^
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December 2nd, 2015 at 4:27 PM ^
December 2nd, 2015 at 7:26 PM ^
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December 2nd, 2015 at 4:41 PM ^
I dont blame the guy from watning to be HC someplace. However, I think I would have rode it our at DC here a couple years longer and waited for a better job to come along.
I sure as hell wouldnt want my first HC gig to be in the same division as Harbaugh, Dantonio and Meyer.
Although...honestly, football expectations at a schoo like Maryland arent sky high, so a 7-5 record every year is acceptable....8-4 and youre gettting a contract extension.
December 2nd, 2015 at 5:53 PM ^
December 2nd, 2015 at 4:46 PM ^
OSU game aside, please, just bring in someone who will run a similar scheme.
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