coaching changes
dj durkin

Source Report Sources: Durkin to Maryland Comment Count

Brian

[Bryan Fuller]

In seemingly done but not official news that would have been way more disappointing last week:

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.

Comments

westwardwolverine

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. 

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westwardwolverine

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. 

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ST3

December 2nd, 2015 at 2:58 PM ^

someone wrote that Durkin should take the Maryland job because it is an above average P5 program. I think it is average at best and probably below average. In the B1G, better programs include: Mich, MSU, PSU, OSU, Neb, Wis, Iowa, NU After that, it's debatable. The only program they are clearly better than is Rutgers. The entire SEC is better, just ask them. Maryland is better than Vandy. In the Big 12, I'd say Maryland is better than Kansas. In the PAC12, Maryland is better than Colorado, Wazzou, and OSU. In the ACC, they are better than WF, and on par with a few schools. Not that money is the be all and end all, but look at this study's results: http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/sec-rules-coaches-salarie… Top 2015 average coaches’ salaries among Power 5 conferences AVERAGE 2015 COACHING SALARY BY CONFERENCE Conference Average 2015 Salary SEC $4.13 million Big 12 $3.28 million Big Ten $3.09 million Pac-12 $2.99 million ACC $2.33 million Coaching a below average program in an average (at least salary-wise) conference makes your program below average. I guess.

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ST3

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.

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Michigan Difference

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.

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Blue in Fishers

December 2nd, 2015 at 10:36 PM ^

Agree wholeheartedly with this. My only issue with all of this is the lack of respect for responsibilities to one's current employer. I don't mean that specifically towards Durkin. I simply don't appreciate that a current employee can't tell a prospective new employer that they are not available for an in-person, out of town interview until after they complete the most important project in their tenure with their current employer - especially when that project would be complete later that same week. It seems a prospective employer would appreciate that.

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uminks

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!

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CoverZero

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.

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Steve333

December 2nd, 2015 at 3:25 PM ^

I don't think Coach Harbaugh would have let him go interview during Ohio week. I'm sure Maryland contacted or leaked it, but pretty sure the higher ups nixed it at least til this week. Buckeyes were just too darn good and must have studied the Indiana game film. Good Luck to Coach Durkin.



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Pepto Bismol

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.

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look up see blue

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. 

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Jonesy

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.

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AmazinDC

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.

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SD Larry

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.

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UofM Die Hard …

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.  

 

 

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CoachBP6

December 2nd, 2015 at 4:02 PM ^

Why do you say give it back to Greg? Do you have selective memory? I say this bc i have studied Mattison's defense for several years now. GMatt runs a bend but don't break scheme. GMatt does not press the WR's, and seldom attacks the QB but on long distance situations. The # of times Michigan allowed 3rd and 8+ conversions under him had to be some kind of record. GMatt also plays off the WR's by 8-10 yards on 3rd and short to medium, and was often crushed by the bubble & WR quick screens. I'm sorry but GMatt is not God enough to be a DC under Harbaugh.



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Jonesy

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.

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Blue in PA

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.

 

 

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seksdesk

December 2nd, 2015 at 3:49 PM ^

Meyer knows how Durkin thinks. He knows his tendencies because he taught him his tendencies. Maybe at least facing Ohio State this is a good move for Michigan in the long run.

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Blue_Masshole

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!

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bluewoody

December 2nd, 2015 at 4:27 PM ^

Does anyone think Durkin is selling himself short? Maryland is sort of like a graveyard of coaching. Seems if Durkin stayed 2-3 years he could have secured a higher profile opportunity. Anyway, good luck Durkin, nice knowing you.

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TGoose74

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.

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Esterhaus

December 2nd, 2015 at 5:53 PM ^

 
Maryland makes scant sense for Durkin unless he's anxious to leave A^2 or truly believes he can elevate lesser talent. The Terps just cannot seem to draw the talent, and I have to question how Durkin could possibly assemble a winning staff in College Park.
 
Candidly I had expected Durkin to land at LSU several years from now and with Harbaugh's blessing. Maryland, really?!

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