Hoke announces new coaching roles

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

EDIT: LINK


ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan head football coach Brady Hoke announced today (Thursday, Feb. 20) the following coaching responsibilities for the defensive staff in 2014:

Greg Mattison - Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Curt Mallory - Safeties
Roy Manning - Cornerbacks
Mark Smith - Defensive Line

Additionally, graduate assistants Jerry Milling and Ernie Lawson will work with the linebackers and defensive line, respectively.

"Everyone on the staff and the kids are really excited about these changes," said Hoke, the J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach. "Greg and I met and felt this was the best for everyone, including him and his ability to coach a position group and run a defense from the middle. When you look at Mark's experience on the defensive line, then being able to split the secondary, where you have five positions and 20-plus guys, and with the way offense and passing has changed in college football, I think it balances our staff on that side of the ball."

Offensive staff responsibilities will remain the same with the addition of offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier.

Doug Nussmeier - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Dan Ferrigno - Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
Darrell Funk - Offensive Line
Jeff Hecklinski - Wide Receivers
Fred Jackson - Running Backs

Graduate assistant Kevin Koger will continue to work with the tight ends, while new offensive graduate assistant Michael Switzer will assist with the offensive line.

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Wiseguy

February 20th, 2014 at 7:33 PM ^

Amazing how far we have fallen that we are doing this shit. Does anyone still honestly think the Big House will stay unsponsored for another 5 years? It's like we're accepting that we are not an elite program anymore so we're looking for reasons to stay in the press

Joined: 01/18/2014

MGoPoints: -92

Wolverine Devotee

February 20th, 2014 at 8:43 PM ^

I was pointing out to the Bolivian, that blaming donors for the problems in the football program is ridiculous.

You want someone to blame for "how far we've fallen"? Blame the stooges who conducted not one, but two "coaching searches" and put their selfish agendas ahead of what was best for Michigan Football.

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: 31528

NRK

February 21st, 2014 at 12:04 AM ^

He never said UM was doing it because Stanford did; he was pointing out, by example, that the naming of the HC position was not a correlation with irrelevance. Reading comprehension.

Joined: 02/20/2009

MGoPoints: 6411

543Church

February 20th, 2014 at 8:04 PM ^

We should do a kickstarter to name the Athletic Director position the "TacoPants University of MIchigan Athletic Director Position Brought to You by MGoBlog".  For the right price Brandon would roll over and take it.

Joined: 03/09/2012

MGoPoints: 10554

elm

February 20th, 2014 at 8:34 PM ^

Clearly, Tacopants should be the endowed position for the WRs coach, which has the added benefits of being available and, probably, cheaper than endowing the AD.

My guess, you could get your name on a position coach job for around 1-2 million.  Surely we have some deep pockets round these parts that could put up much of that sum.  I'm willing to kick in $20 for the sheer entertainment value.

Joined: 05/11/2011

MGoPoints: 1956

youn2948

February 21st, 2014 at 11:18 AM ^

If you donate over $50 you should get a T-Shirt.  Not super familiar with these things but I could see it happening, you get refunded if the KickStarter doesn't succeed right?

Wow would we get some headlines, lol.  A crowd-sourced mass-donation would be very cool though, and could start a new precedent amongst college fan bases.

A kickstarter raising $5million to "Hire Narduzzi at any other program as HC for 2 years", for example.  Okay totally kidding on this one but imagine a fan base hating a coach so much that they organized with the AD to pay/buy for the next one?

We really should be investing or giving said money to charity though #selfguilttrip

Joined: 05/28/2010

MGoPoints: 4192

Coldwater

February 20th, 2014 at 8:34 PM ^

These changes by The Ira Harris Brady Hoke whatever-he's-called better work because it's put up or shut up time. These changes seem weird to me. At least he realized changes needed to be made because he finally figured out you don't win just because "This is Michigan"

Joined: 12/14/2008

MGoPoints: 11234

BayWolves

February 20th, 2014 at 8:44 PM ^

I would have preferred a cpouple coaching changes rather than reshuffling the deck like this. I am interested to see how changing these position coaches like this will lead to improvements.  Were these people in the wrong place for the last 3 years?  If so, I would call that very interesting.

Joined: 06/21/2011

MGoPoints: 11056

I Bleed Maize N Blue

February 20th, 2014 at 9:31 PM ^

I think that Thurston Howell III & Lovey Howell Head Football Coach Brady Hoke needs to show improvement this season.  Nussmeier was an important hire, but we'll see if shuffling other coaches' responsibilities has any effect.

If things aren't too different from last year, then I think 2015 is going to be hot seat time for J.R. & Sue Ellen Ewing Head Football Coach Brady Hoke.

Joined: 09/27/2008

MGoPoints: 58859

Roc Blue in the Lou

February 20th, 2014 at 11:35 PM ^

Seems our Dave "Branding" Brandon was close to finalizing some "endowment ideas" of his own...

Selling the National Realtor's Association on The "Hoke Is Where The Heart Is" UM Head Football Coach 

Suggesting the NAACP go with The "Keep Hoke Alive" UM Head Football Coach

and trying to lure Marvel Comics with The "Incredibe Hoke" UM Head Football Coach.

Guess 'ol IJ and NH Family just plain outbid him.

Joined: 12/09/2013

MGoPoints: 2107

I dumped the Dope

February 21st, 2014 at 12:35 AM ^

Replacing the head coach and hence the entire staff every couple of years is a surefire recipe for bottom dwelling.   Patience. Is A. Virtue.   Fergodsakes we just got the depth chart up to the point where freshman don't have to play the field.  While on one hand it seems like they're uber talented, I view it as a last vestige of desperation.  Kids playing HS football last year suddenly playing against players with a couple years on them isn't a good thing.

I view it as an extreme positive that Hoke isn't coaching the DL.  Specifically Not because I think Hoke is an average, mediocre or poor DL coach.   Its just that I think it dilutes his focus from being the HC.  Its already diluted enough having to monkey with the media and placate alumni groups and make social appearances.  But I feel like a leader's best use is to help analyze where his organization needs help, and exert assistance there.  Having Hoke tied to the DL really limits his ability to work on both sides of the ball.

I truly believe all the public pressure on Lloyd Carr was somewhat unjustified.  I will call myself out as I was a very vocal critic.  But in hindsight I see the alternative was not as glossy as I thought.  Rebuilding the program sucks.  Repeat after me.  Rebuilding the program sucks.  Things are going to get better.  Give it time.

 

Joined: 09/22/2013

MGoPoints: 2342

CriticalFan

February 21st, 2014 at 7:14 AM ^

for Brady Hoke gets him fired.

The same record for new 2015 head coach is chalked up to the "transition", "learning the new system", "cupboard being bare", etc. Etc.

Same result, but different spin.

 

Joined: 10/14/2009

MGoPoints: 1807

youn2948

February 21st, 2014 at 11:13 AM ^

I'm  curious if the Endowment was

A:  To keep Hoke
B:  Look for replacement "if" needed
C:  "Hey look my name is in front of a coach, lol".

I'm not a fan of coach roulette personally, it says a lot of things and most of them are bad.

I'm curious how many of these endowments come non-enforcable, or even actual contractual wink wink, special handshake deals made by AD or whomever.

Joined: 05/28/2010

MGoPoints: 4192

MinWhisky

February 21st, 2014 at 11:30 AM ^

What does every organization do when they're in trouble and don't know why?  They reorganize.  That's what this is; a reorganization. This move basically indicates there is recognition that problems exist, but management doesn't really know how to fix them. 

Blaming the results of the last two years on thing like "it's RR's fault, it because of a "transition" from one coach to another, "the cupboard was bare", the players are "young", "wait until Hoke has his own players", etc. have grown old and are no longer acceptable to most people.

I guess my biggest concern is that I believe in  the old axiom that a boss doesn't hire someone to work for them who is smarter than they are and I don't see Hoke as being at the head of the current class of head coaches.

Personally, I think Brandon is behind the moves to fire Borges and to hire Nussmeier, and I think Nussmeier has a much better track record than Hoke at a similar point in his career.   

Joined: 10/17/2011

MGoPoints: 1261