New DC?: Mike Hankwitz
OK. Hankwitz is old; he graduated with me. But some old people aren't old for no reason and they didn't get there for nothing; they scrape up some barnacles of value. The scars and bruises may be unappealing on the surface, but, sometimes, there is a residue competence born in history, if not the more ordinary creativity of youth.
Hankwitz played at UM and was a grad assistant for Bo from 70-72 when they lost 2 games by a total of 4 points. He was 58-11-4 at Colorado as DC. From 97-2002 he ran the successful "wrecking crew" at TAM. He had a terrific year as DC at Wisconsin in 2006 and, since then, has been the DC at NU. Northwestern's defenses, most every year IMO, have been objectively good, or have just plain over achieved.
Hankwitz just retired. But might not a chunk of change and the chance to stabilize his alma mater (and, maybe, groom a replacement) be compelling to him?
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:39 AM ^
It's too early in the day to be this drunk.
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:44 AM ^
Now wait a minute. You can’t drink all day if you don’t get started first thing in the morning.
December 23rd, 2020 at 11:39 AM ^
Little known fact, that is the State of Wisconsin's motto.
December 23rd, 2020 at 11:55 AM ^
Wisconsin's motto is a burp.
December 23rd, 2020 at 12:00 PM ^
Close, comrade, that's their state song.
December 23rd, 2020 at 8:24 PM ^
Burp there, eh?
December 23rd, 2020 at 1:30 PM ^
Stuff like this is proof that this board can turn into a bunch of douchebags at any time.
You probably didn't realize this was Craig Ross posting it. The guy knows the program inside and out better than anyone except maybe Bacon, and he knows the game of football better than 99% on this board. His opinion deserves respect.
December 23rd, 2020 at 3:43 PM ^
Thanks for having my back.
You over-value my expertise and the value of my opinion.
However, I am touched.
December 23rd, 2020 at 4:48 PM ^
Craig, I always greatly value your opinion and expertise, but Michigan lost three games in the ‘70-‘72 seasons by a total of 15 points. I think you missed the ‘70 game against OSU that we lost 20-9.
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:40 AM ^
He is retired! You can get someone who is a good Xs and Os guy who is also not super old. Plus as good as Hankwitz could be as a coach, you're going to have a real tough time recruiting talent when they don't know who could be their DC through their tenure at Michigan.
December 23rd, 2020 at 12:41 PM ^
Agree. I have no issue with his resume or his age, but he’s retired. Plenty of decent options should be available to us without having to be desperate and lure people out of retirement. If this was the case then we should’ve just kept brown.
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:41 AM ^
WTF??? Didn't we already have this discussion about 72 times?
December 23rd, 2020 at 12:08 PM ^
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:48 AM ^
We had this discussion as the Ohio State / Northwestern game was happening and the resounding opinion of the board was basically that nowhere does recency bias reign as it does in football...
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:48 AM ^
I just put together that CR is (the venerable) Craig Ross because I'm clearly slow as hell
December 23rd, 2020 at 11:33 AM ^
That is correct and he makes some good points. Under certain circumstances, such as not being able to get what we want for the job this year, I could see this as a viable short-term option.
Also, this is a tough crowd.
December 23rd, 2020 at 1:28 PM ^
A tough crowd. Yep.
Posting that the sky is blue would get scorned for being obvious, downvoted for being wrong, slammed for a misleading title, and attacked for not including a link.
December 23rd, 2020 at 1:47 PM ^
You're not the only one! It just occurred to me as well after reading his opening joke. I listen to wayyyy tooo much of the WTKA podcast apparently to be able gather a poster's identity by their humor. I will definitely pay more attention CR's post in the future.
December 23rd, 2020 at 1:50 PM ^
Hey, I JUST hit the magic100 MGO number! After a long 8 years since sign up, and even longer without an account, I can finally make my own OP. Downvote away to save me from myself!
December 23rd, 2020 at 4:28 PM ^
About time. You will be receiving your milestone watch in the mail by next week. But do not tell anyone, as it is sworn secret amongst the board members that have hit the century mark. Congrats!
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:50 AM ^
He's 73 and just retired. No.
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:52 AM ^
Maybe as a consultant. We need a solid DC with excellent recruiting chops!
December 23rd, 2020 at 11:21 AM ^
pretty much the only scenario.
Generally, when people leave good programs by way of retirement, that means that they are done with the churn...
who knows where he is even retiring too? maybe he has a nice setup in Arizona or New Mexico. At 73 why would you suddenly change up your plans when he clearly made plans to stop working and kick back?
December 23rd, 2020 at 12:09 PM ^
Yes, this all day. The guy can be an analyst from anywhere in the country. Assign him the task of following every OSU offensive play for the whole year leading up to the game.
In the early Harbaugh years, it seemed like there was a bigger support staff. I think we need to upgrade there among other staff fixes. Alabama has the reputation of having half an army for a support staff. Let’s give the coaches all of the help that we can.
December 23rd, 2020 at 1:08 PM ^
+1 I could definitely get on board with this.
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:53 AM ^
I think it's worth giving him a call. Jim Harbaugh needs to start winning now. A candidate's age is irrelevant. Harbaugh isn't going to be here five years from now if he doesn't turn things around soon.
December 23rd, 2020 at 11:30 AM ^
He’s like 75 years old. I can totally picture Hankwitz texting recruits from his rotary dial phone.
Harbaugh needs some young fresh blood to the lead the defense, not a shelter in place high risk Covid candidate. So, basically, the DC and safeties coach will both be virtual coaching. Yeah sign me up for that.
December 23rd, 2020 at 11:51 AM ^
Hankwitz's defense just held OSU to 22 points. He's not in his basement.
December 23rd, 2020 at 12:15 PM ^
As always, Erik, you see the big picture. At this juncture, IMO, you are trying to stabilize the program, and that's it. JH is likely to be the coach next year; if he turns it around, great, MH is on board for the short haul and for the purpose of finding and helping a successor. MH is here for the short run---out the door with JH if it doesn't pan out and the grease in the system if it does.
Nothing to do with recency bias. Hankwitz has been as good as it gets as a DC for a long time.
December 23rd, 2020 at 1:58 PM ^
I think the main thing is that the next DC hire needs to prioritize recruiting.
Hankwitz would obviously be a short term rental, but it could work in a very specific scenario where Michigan wants to hire a young up and coming position coach who is an elite recruiter but doesn't have the proven experience you would normally want at DC.
In that case you could pair Hankwitz and the young guy as co-DCs for a year or two. Hankowitz gets to be the brains and mentor the young guy without worrying about recruiting, and the young guys gets to learn from a top defensive mind while killing it on the recruiting trail.
But I dont think Hankwitz works as a solo DC. I don't seem them firing Don Brown simply to swap him with another old guy who doesn't know how to use Twitter.
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:54 AM ^
CR, you're gonna get crushed by the board on this one. But I appreciate the idea we could use some stability with so much in flux. Maybe a high floor option like Hankwitz isn't the worst idea if we also brought on a young guy who can recruit to be groomed for the role. I say you make the haters suffer through a protracted Hankwitz discussion with Brian and Sam on WTKA!
December 23rd, 2020 at 12:20 PM ^
Bingo.
And I am always comfortable with people who think my ideas are not so good.
Some, I concede, have been idiotic. And, I recall a few that were laughed at that panned out. In the end, I am always willing to be wrong.
December 23rd, 2020 at 11:05 AM ^
Craig. You tell me. Would you feel energized to do all that a DC needs to do, including recruiting etc.?
With that, its a not bad idea if its positioned in the way you mentioned.
December 23rd, 2020 at 12:26 PM ^
Yes. I still put in 60 per week and some part of it is the hardest work there is. Other parts, not so much.
But MH wouldn't be a long-term solution, of course. As I noted, if JH reverses the course, MH is the grease in the system to the new DC. If not, well , MH can go out the door knowing he did his best for UM, something that might appeal to him.
December 23rd, 2020 at 12:49 PM ^
Gotcha! Thanks Craig. Happy holidays. Looking forward to the WTKA roundtable into the new year.
December 23rd, 2020 at 11:09 AM ^
F IT!!! I have solved it! Just go out and hire MGrowold, you know he’s a proven self assuming commodity and you can ask anyone about him. He’s recruited before and loves the guys!!! He’s an alum and he has it all. I’m all in!!! Warde get your check book ready! He’s known by everyone and he knows the game!!!
December 23rd, 2020 at 11:31 AM ^
I'm pretty sure he's already on the Penn State staff in some capacity because his wife is hot.
December 23rd, 2020 at 11:18 AM ^
How about, no!
December 23rd, 2020 at 11:20 AM ^
He’d be a fantastic consultant.
December 23rd, 2020 at 11:29 AM ^
Like, I agree Don Brown needed to go but it is funny the names people are trotting out to replace him with at least as many question marks/red flags as Brown. There are absolutely good DCs out there but not that many who seem like an improvement.
Hankwitz seems like a good coach, and if this was 10-15 years ago I'd be 100% behind it. But a guy who is in his 70s and retired doesn't feel like a good first option.
December 23rd, 2020 at 11:29 AM ^
Guys, Craig is never gonna post again if you all keep destroying him like this... but yeah its a bad idea. lol
December 23rd, 2020 at 12:29 PM ^
Not true. I am willing to take all criticisms. I still think it is a good idea, but don't mind the commentary that it is idiotic.
It won't stop my occasional posts.
December 23rd, 2020 at 11:36 AM ^
Maybe. Long shot, but maybe, he might dedicate some time as an analyst. As far as coaching he seems to be quite retired.
December 23rd, 2020 at 11:45 AM ^
This has got to be an attempt at trolling.
At this point, Hankwitz retiring is up there with other great MGoBlog memes like “Keith Jackson died,” “Oakland is still in play,” and “Ok cool, hook ‘em”
December 23rd, 2020 at 12:13 PM ^
Since we are going after retired coaches I thought we should throw Jacks name in the ring.
Pros: played DB and QB
Jims dad
Jays grandpa
DC experience
can also coach RBs and QBs
cheap hire
Cons: 81 years old
retired
Might not be able to connect with recruits
December 23rd, 2020 at 12:18 PM ^
I would take him a second, especially watching how they came out against OSU. Bring him in for a few years and start working on a successor.
December 23rd, 2020 at 12:28 PM ^
Craig, I think Hankwitz would be a phenomenal analyst on the next staff and could or should have a hand in choosing the next DC. But at his age, we would never get more than a couple years out of him, and you can’t recruit without the perception of continuity.