DC Search: Mark Hagen
Just got let go from Texas with Herman. Co-DC. Can't say I know much about him besides he's coached in the midwest a lot over a 20 year career. Supposedly a very good recruiter. I was looking for a gif of Hagen doing a Brian Kelly impression on the Indiana sideline against us in 2018 or 2019. Couldn't find one but this will serve as a poor substitute:
Wouldn't it be nice to see some intensity and bulging neck veins on the sidelines? Someone with a Bill Cowher level scowl. Who occasionally loses his shit. Harbaugh gave that all up after Ohio State 2016.
I know, I know. Great coaching and sideline histrionics are by no means correlated. But sideline histrionics and entertainment value are correlated. And Michigan football has been as uninspired and complacent as the Detroit Lions. And if Hagen isn't a DC candidate he would work fine as a D Line or linebacker coach.
January 2nd, 2021 at 1:48 PM ^
Not sure why the picture did not copy. I'll try again:
So much for that. Your just gonna have to trust me...
January 2nd, 2021 at 1:50 PM ^
Looks like his online pictures also got fired so here's a picture of of our old ex UM DC Gerg yelling
January 2nd, 2021 at 2:48 PM ^
1a) Dennis Allen would be a MONSTER hire IMO
1b Mason
1c Freeman
1d Muschamp
2) Strong + Jean Mary + Banks
(my order of wish list with a reasonable chance of actually happening)
Cheers
January 2nd, 2021 at 2:54 PM ^
Freeman would tell Harbaugh the same thing Vrabel told Harbaugh in 2015.
January 2nd, 2021 at 3:03 PM ^
Cool story dude time:
In the 2014 Orange Bowl Urban Meyer walks past Mike Vrabel while entering the locker room at half time, and says some smart ass comment along the lines of "is your defense going to stop anyone"? Vrabel grabbed Urban by the collar and slammed him up against a locker, it took more than 5 coaches to get Vrabel off him. Clemson closed the Buckeyes out that night 31-0 and Vrabel has not spoken to Urban since.
<EDIT had my years screwed up>
Cheers
January 2nd, 2021 at 3:17 PM ^
ha, I like Mike Vrabel a little more after that story.
January 2nd, 2021 at 3:19 PM ^
Didn’t Vrabel work for the Texans in 2016?
January 2nd, 2021 at 3:26 PM ^
The bowl game happened in 2016 (January), which means the alleged incident took place at the end of the 2015 season.
January 2nd, 2021 at 3:31 PM ^
Right, but Wikipedia shows Vrabel worked for Houston starting in 2014.
January 2nd, 2021 at 5:02 PM ^
Appreciate the fact check, was taking what the above poster stated as accurate.
January 2nd, 2021 at 4:15 PM ^
Huh? Vrabel had already been gone from OSU several years at that point.
January 2nd, 2021 at 4:32 PM ^
Sorry, wrong date. I did a quick google search and realized I was wrong, thank you for spotting.
cheers
January 2nd, 2021 at 4:24 PM ^
Sounds perfect to me.
January 2nd, 2021 at 4:30 PM ^
Your dates might be off but some of the details match...
https://247sports.com/Board/30/Contents/Mike-Vrabel-beat-up-Urban-Meyer-26764616/
January 2nd, 2021 at 3:16 PM ^
Dennis Allen would be an interesting hire. Aside from his chops as an NFL coach (which are significant), why do you think he is is option 1a?
Doesn't look like he has coached in the college game for almost two decades. Certainly doesn't mean he can't do it. Just curious if you have reason to believe he would translate well to the college game.
January 2nd, 2021 at 4:29 PM ^
I know nothing about Dennis Allen, that is my list of who I would like. I think NO has had great DB coaching and that he's going to be a head coach one day. Sorry for confusion.
Cheers
January 2nd, 2021 at 4:15 PM ^
Great list. Do you know something about Dennis Allen? Why would he leave the pros for Michigan?
January 2nd, 2021 at 5:05 PM ^
2) Strong + Jean Mary + Banks
You want to promote the guy that coached this year's LB squad? You thought that performance warranted a promotion?
January 2nd, 2021 at 3:09 PM ^
Just to clarify, do we have an opening at DC? I’m still confused.
January 2nd, 2021 at 1:50 PM ^
May as well make one for Jim Schwartz too while we are at it. He is leaving the Eagles tomorrow.
January 2nd, 2021 at 1:58 PM ^
I have this funny feeling that Harbaugh and Schwartz wouldn't end up on the same staff...
January 2nd, 2021 at 2:00 PM ^
Now wouldn’t that be something if Harbaugh brought in Schwartz to coach on his staff. It almost seems logical based on the last six years.
January 2nd, 2021 at 2:04 PM ^
There may be a handshake deal already in place between them!
January 2nd, 2021 at 3:26 PM ^
Well played sir
January 2nd, 2021 at 3:11 PM ^
This is probably the only circumstance in which I would watch football next season if Harbaugh is still the coach.
January 2nd, 2021 at 2:07 PM ^
Sure. But first, whose the next Head Coach? It's sure not Harbaugh!
January 2nd, 2021 at 2:10 PM ^
Was Texas' defense any good this year? Honest question. They just fired Herman so something wasn't good.
January 2nd, 2021 at 2:17 PM ^
We can blame sad face Chris Ash for the bad part
January 2nd, 2021 at 2:56 PM ^
What wasn't good was the no-National-Championship part.
January 2nd, 2021 at 2:11 PM ^
Yes, let's take a crack at a career assistant coach who was part of (checks notes), the nation's 40th-ranked defense because I'm sure that'll be better than (checks notes again) the nation's 39th-ranked defense we just saw.
January 2nd, 2021 at 2:24 PM ^
What? Where are you getting your rankings? Texas D wasn’t good according to the metrics I’ve seen at ncaa.com, but they came in 26 spots heights than Michigan’s 89th ranked D.
January 2nd, 2021 at 2:53 PM ^
I mean, the rankings I linked to are SP+. Per FEI the difference is more stark (36th to 84th), but then again that's the best ranking I've seen for Texas in FEI going back a couple of years, while Michigan is consistently a top-15 outfit by that metric.
And in terms of total defense, Texas gave up around 400 yoga while UM have up 430 ypg. So it's not like either was particularly dominant.
January 2nd, 2021 at 2:25 PM ^
Yeah...but what sideline presence. I'm all about style over substance. Isn't everyone?
January 2nd, 2021 at 2:54 PM ^
I'm all for a guy who looks like a veiny, circumcised Penix screaming on the sidelines, I just don't want him calling defensive plays. Like, if they want to import him for the sideline commentary I'm all for it.
January 2nd, 2021 at 3:40 PM ^
Thank you for helping me remember Indiana's starting quarterback's name. I was blanking.
January 2nd, 2021 at 2:23 PM ^
Nothing I have seen from Texas' defense makes me think he would come in and make a significant upgrade.
He may be a better recruiter at Texas than Brown was at Michigan. Frankly, anyone that made an effort to recruit would probably be a better recruiter than Brown was at Michigan.
With Mason off the board, I'd take a serious look at Charlie Strong, followed by Muschamp. Assuming both those guys are looking to reset their career in a DC role and then take a head coaching position afterwards, I'd also bring in a guy like Tony Banks or Clinkscale with a pay-raise and Co-DC title to groom as your next defensive play-caller after the former head to their next gig.
Lance Anderson (Stanford DC) is also a name I've heard thrown out there that I wouldn't hate, that is of course if you can get him.
January 2nd, 2021 at 3:45 PM ^
Mason is off the board?
January 2nd, 2021 at 2:25 PM ^
Wouldn't you want to go after a DC with a proven record as a opposed to a DC that was just let go. I did a google on him, and not much has come up.
Yes he was only there for one season, but what did he do before that?
If he was that good, why would he have left Indiana (up and coming team) to coach at Texas (yes I know, a "better" opportunity.)?
I don't know....Maybe, but probably not.
His picture comes up as a Film Producer on Google. I know it doesn't need to be a popularity contest as a coach, but...Film Producer.
January 2nd, 2021 at 2:28 PM ^
Can he bring Alfred Collins with him?
ATHLETICISM ON ? pic.twitter.com/hCTKPCoixo
— ESPN (@espn) December 30, 2020
January 2nd, 2021 at 2:32 PM ^
FWIW, according to 247, Hagen doesn't appear to be a real force in recruiting.
https://247sports.com/coach/Mark-Hagen-405/
He's got previous coaching stints at IU and TA&M.
January 2nd, 2021 at 2:37 PM ^
If he comes, maybe his brother Tom can also come and be a consultant.
January 2nd, 2021 at 2:39 PM ^
What Harbaugh needs is a wartime consigliere.
January 2nd, 2021 at 2:46 PM ^
Sam Webb put out a cryptic tweet about the DC hire.
connection perhaps?
January 2nd, 2021 at 2:53 PM ^
Where the tweet?
January 2nd, 2021 at 2:53 PM ^
What about Lehnerd at Wisky? Seems to me he'd be at the top of anyone's shortlist.
January 2nd, 2021 at 2:58 PM ^
In today's college football it seems it takes a supersonic offense and competent defense to win big-time.
January 2nd, 2021 at 3:08 PM ^
He’s got a good name for a consigliere. DC is kinda of like a consigliere.
January 2nd, 2021 at 3:47 PM ^
I know coaches have always yelled but I wonder how much knowing they're on TV encourages them to go ballistic?
It seems to me very obvious that Chris Collins wouldn't have been crawling on the floor except for TV, and I suspect the standing-the-whole-game-to-prove-your-dedication didn't happen before TV cameras, and TV commentators praising standing students for being so keen.
January 2nd, 2021 at 5:27 PM ^
for the love of god, stop. i’m begging you.