New coach official
Michigan has promoted former quality control coach Adam Braithwaite to coach the safeties.
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February 11th, 2010 at 1:45 PM ^
Not saying it's a bad hire, but it's tough to get excited over an internal promotion. I'm sure he'll do a fine job but I was hoping for somewhat of a bigger name with recruiting ties to someplace we aren't strong.
February 11th, 2010 at 1:48 PM ^
Well there was a time when all Michigan seemingly did was promote internally, and it led to some pretty great things. We shall see though.
February 11th, 2010 at 2:11 PM ^
I don't think the problem with this hire is so much that it's an internal hire. For me, the problem is that he wasn't the coach of anything really. If we're going to hire someone to coach for us, I would hope that they have experience coaching that position at someplace that I've actually heard of. Or that maybe he was a defensive coordinator somewhere that didn't work out. I don't know, but his resume just isn't impressive in the least.
February 11th, 2010 at 2:42 PM ^
FWIW, I am internally promoting this hire.
February 11th, 2010 at 4:11 PM ^
It is hard for me to say that being in charge of "Quality Control" for the two worst defenses I have seen in my lifetime would be really great on his resume. Not really sure what he actually did before as the QC, I wouldn't have minded a guy that actually 1) has had known recruiting success and 2) been a safety position coach for a while. Don't know on this one.
February 11th, 2010 at 4:16 PM ^
Braithwaite WHO?
February 11th, 2010 at 1:47 PM ^
Never heard of this guy. Hopefully he can make something of our safeties
February 11th, 2010 at 4:45 PM ^
coaches have most people heard of? Do you know OSU's? Penn State's? Bama's? Texas's? I don't.
Not trying to bag on this reaction, per se, but there was a high likelihood of "who?" all along, in my opinion. Most brand name coaches are at the coordinator level or higher, obvs. If a position coach is a household name, it's likely because he made a name as a player (Tee Martin taking the Kentucky WR coaching job this week, for example, or Wheatley going to 'Cuse).
But this is often how a lot of young coaches cut their teeth. They pay their dues, many times at little schools, and hope to latch onto a staff at a bigger program. It's a highly competitive business, and I trust the current staff thought highly enough of Braithwaite to give him the nod. I'm sure it wasn't for a lack of candidates.
February 11th, 2010 at 1:48 PM ^
Congrats on the promotion.
Lets hope hes a fan-fucking-tastic recruiter.
February 11th, 2010 at 1:48 PM ^
umm did not see that hire coming, but looking at all of the circumstances, mainly job security, I guess it kind of makes sense.
February 11th, 2010 at 1:48 PM ^
Quality Control is always better then the Waste Management guy.
February 11th, 2010 at 1:56 PM ^
At least GERG will be coaching the LB's now.
February 11th, 2010 at 1:49 PM ^
My early analysis tells me he's a young dude man broseph. His age is not advanced. He is not old and he seems pretty young. I think he'll be not old for a few years at Michigan until he becomes no longer young, or old.
February 11th, 2010 at 2:00 PM ^
He also seems not particularly advanced in years. Did you notice?
February 11th, 2010 at 2:41 PM ^
As he gains experience he will continue to get more less young.
February 11th, 2010 at 5:23 PM ^
word.
February 11th, 2010 at 1:49 PM ^
I like it. Doesn't bother me one bit - shows stability in the program and he is young...could appeal to recruits.
February 11th, 2010 at 1:53 PM ^
the three biggest things that appeal to recruits are wins, liquor, and women...and he doesn't look like any of those things
/sarcasm
February 11th, 2010 at 1:52 PM ^
And, if the DB play improves, that will appeal to recruits as well.
February 11th, 2010 at 7:23 PM ^
Well lets hope this happens then
February 11th, 2010 at 1:53 PM ^
Ha isnt this the QC guy who was at the 7-7's.
February 11th, 2010 at 2:04 PM ^
He should probbly shred all the files before he leaves his old job.
Oh wait.
February 11th, 2010 at 1:54 PM ^
He went to my high school (John Handley High in Winchester, VA) and either graduated 2 or 3 years ahead of me. My sister is 2 years older, so I'm seeing if she is still in contact with him (small school, graduating classes under 150... Basically, everyone knew everyone).
Not that it matters if she does, but would be nice if she did!
February 11th, 2010 at 1:55 PM ^
Cohesion with the rest of the staff is obviously a high value to RR. Since Braithwaite has been around the staff a decent amount, it's safe. There really isn't an adjustment for the players either. This may not be a blockbuster "hire" but what the team needs is consistency. I think we're learning we need to trust RR's ability to assess talent. The same goes for hiring coaches too.
February 11th, 2010 at 5:38 PM ^
I think we're learning we need to trust RR's ability to assess talent. The same goes for hiring coaches too.I agree with you in principal, but for every good hire I think Rich has made (Magee, GERG) he has a bad one on his resume too(Hopson, Shafer). I'm sure this is a move that let's him keep the staff in his comfort zone, but considering how poorly the Safety position has been for us the past few years, I hope Braithwaite is up to the task. Myself, this hire makes me a bit uneasy.
February 11th, 2010 at 1:56 PM ^
was he partly responsible for the practice logs not being completed or immediately available (pertaining to the ongoing NCAA investigation)?
February 11th, 2010 at 2:19 PM ^
If the coaches have faith in him, I believe its a good promotion. In this type of situation we needed an individual with prior knowledge of the system. He is a younger guy, so he could be groomed for an eventual expanded coaching role.
Possible Defensive coordinator once Greg Robinson retires?
February 11th, 2010 at 2:03 PM ^
his previous coaching stints? From a pure resume-power standpoint it's not an impressive hire—I can't get all that excited given the small-college parts of his resume—but maybe he's a great teacher.
However, the biggest question to me is whether or not Robinson had any input on this hire. If he did, OK. If RR said to GERG, here's your safeties guy and you'll shut up and like it, then not so OK.
February 11th, 2010 at 3:35 PM ^
that Greg wanted the guy promoted. I mean, why would RR promote an unknown assistant, without consulting the rest of the staff.
If this were an outside hire of someone who was not at Michigan the past 2 years, then maybe RR shoved him down Greg's throat.
February 11th, 2010 at 2:38 PM ^
I hear Hampden Sydney was awesome in 2007!
February 11th, 2010 at 2:51 PM ^
"He worked with the linebackers and coordinated the special teams for the program's conference championship team and Division III National Playoff run. Prior to accepting his position at Hampden-Sydney, Braithwaite was a defensive graduate assistant for Rodriguez at West Virginia (2005-06). He assisted with the secondary and linebackers and helped the Mountaineers win a pair of bowl games (2006 Sugar and 2007 Gator) and the 2005 Big East title."
So, coached defense on a team that made an MNC run (Albeit Div III), knows Rodriguez system, and clearly not the only candidate. So long as they didn't just say, "Okay, you're it", but looked around a bit first, then I think he could be excellent.
February 11th, 2010 at 4:23 PM ^
making a run. And the conference they play in is really bad, even for D-III.
http://www.hsc.edu/athletics/football/2007/schedule07.html
February 11th, 2010 at 4:15 PM ^
if RR and Greg are willing to promote him despite the astronomical pressure on their shoulders to produce this fall, he's probably a decent coach. I'm cool wit it.
February 11th, 2010 at 4:21 PM ^
Familiarity, stability, youthful enthusiasm, successful (albeit short) history. Works for me.
February 11th, 2010 at 7:30 PM ^
what this thread needs is a CHART.
February 11th, 2010 at 8:11 PM ^
Although his home town of Winchester isn't close to the Tidewater/VA Beach area (where a lot of the football talent comes from) at least he knows the territory and probably has some contacts established. Good luck young man - make us proud.