(now official) OSU's co-DC Chris Ash to be named HC at Rutgers / UNC's OC Seth Littrel named HC at North Texas

Submitted by Mr. Yost on

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/14294027/north-texas-mea…

 

Didn't make a new thread for Chris Ash because it says "expected" and I didn't feel it was threadworthy until it was confirmed. Plus, I've already made two threads for the last two hires around the country.

SI reports Ohio State co-DC Chris Ash is expected to be named Rutgers head coach. https://t.co/vZgFaSjJOJ

— CoachingSearch.com (@coachingsearch) December 5, 2015

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Edit #3: *Official: Ash to be named HC on Monday*

http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2015/12/rutgers_official_ch…

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schreibee

December 5th, 2015 at 12:35 PM ^

Congratulations to Ash! Hopefully Urbz leaves Fickell alone to coach the D next year - he don't need no co-coordinator! Dude's solid........

And just for the shark jumpers:

/s

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Scarlatina

December 5th, 2015 at 12:36 PM ^

Fickell got a bad rap for OSU's poor defense in 2012 and 2013. A lot of problems with the defense those seasons was due to the dissonance between Co-DC Withers and DC Fickell. Withers runs a very risky, big play focused defense (i.e. encouraging DBs to go for the interceptions instead of making the sure tackle), whereas Fickell is very much of the "bend, don't break" school of thought (i.e. play it safe and conservative, and don't give up the big plays). This meant the front 7 and secondary were never on the same page defensively, and it resulted in a poorly managed defense. I think Urban realized that the two coaches would not be able to mesh, which is why he encouraged Withers to find a new job as JMU's HC. Fickell and Ash both come from very similar defensive background, and work better together. Urban obviously still trust Fickell because the latter is still the head DC that calls plays instead of Co-DC Chris Ash.

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Scarlatina

December 5th, 2015 at 12:49 PM ^

That's pretty much my point, the years Fickell got thrown into the HC role and ran a defense with a co-DC that didn't mesh with his philosophies has ruined his reputation on a national level. The rest of his career as an asst. coach has been impeccable. Served as OSU's recruiting coordinator when they had like 3-4 straight top-10 recruiting classes, served as a LB coach with AJ Hawk, Bobby Carpenter, James Laurinaitis, Larry Grant, Shazier and etc., and served as the main DC for the last 2 seasons of pretty great defenses.

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LJ

December 5th, 2015 at 12:56 PM ^

I don't doubt any of that, but I guess the question is, if everyone thinks he's so great when he's able to organize his own staff to his liking, why are no other schools looking at him as an HC candidate, when he won't be stuck with a DC that doesn't mesh with him?

I just think it's a bit of wishful thinking on your part to think that Fickell was responsible for the last two years' defensive improvement, when that perfectly coincides with the time Ash has been on the staff.  The same way it's wishful thinking on Michigan fans' part to think that Durkin was not responsible for a big chunk of the defensive improvement this year.

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Scarlatina

December 5th, 2015 at 1:03 PM ^

I'm not crediting the improvement completely to Fickell. Ash obviously has a hand in it because he is the DC in charge of the secondary and that's where the most improvement has been. I'm merely saying that Fickell is a solid DC on his own as well, and I don't think he will tank the defense if he was asked to run it by himself. Even with the years OSU had Withers', the units Fickell was responsible for (DL and LB) were still solid.

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Mr. Yost

December 5th, 2015 at 12:41 PM ^

or Matt Rhule?

They're getting boxed out.

I bet Rhule waits for Franklin to get fired and tries for the PSU job. He's from State College, PA and played LB at PSU. It's probably smart for him to stay.

Schiano though...I just KNEW he'd be at Syracuse, UVA, Rutgers or Maryland. I mean c'mon all 4 of those jobs SCREAM Greg Schiano.

WROONG.

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Mr Miggle

December 5th, 2015 at 1:52 PM ^

How likely does someone like him think the PSU job will be open? The general opinion of Franklin around here did a quick 180, but that's the nature of fans. Going in to this season no one had that job open any time soon. Rhule should be next in line there and that would make me leery of hiring him now. I'd think any AD would need strong assurances that he'd stay for 3+ years.

I thought Rutgers should re-hire Schiano and that he should jump at the chance. I heard he interviewed at Miami, so maybe he has his sights set too high. But if Rutgers isn't interested, other schools must wonder why.

 

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Mr. Yost

December 5th, 2015 at 12:47 PM ^

Are the only openings that feel like they could hire a current HC (even though there's a chance that none of them will). 

USF's Willie Taggert has interviewed for the S. Carolina job --- Schiano stays in Tampa, Schiano to USF!!!

-------------------------------------------

Article on S. Carolina

http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/south-carolina-gamecock…

Expect the South Carolina coaching vacancy to be filled this weekend sources tell FOX Sports.

Among the coaches South Carolina interviewed earlier in the week were former interim coach Shawn Elliott, former Florida coach Will Muschamp and Oklahoma offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley. As FOX Sports first reported Thursday afternoon, Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez also has emerged as a candidate and interviewed for the job. Rodriguez, USF head coach Willie Taggart and former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano all interviewed on Friday in North Carolina, where the meetings took place. Cal's Sonny Dykes also is considered a candidate for the job. 

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Mr. Yost

December 5th, 2015 at 1:36 PM ^

That's their only saving grace.

But Fox is reporting that they're going to make a decision this weekend. But I don't see why you wouldn't put a huge deal and even overpay Mork. Right now they're alternative is Willie Taggert and Will Muschamp (and yes, Schiano).

So yea, I go after Mork with deep pockets. 

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Scarlatina

December 5th, 2015 at 3:23 PM ^

A pretty popular rumor was that South Carolina had a verbal agreement with Tom Herman, and the latter asked for the hire to be kept unwraps until after the season had ended. Herman wanted Houston to be focused and ready to win the AAC Championship.

Someone in the South Carolina's athletic department leaked the hire, and Herman backed out in anger.

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Mr Miggle

December 5th, 2015 at 2:39 PM ^

They look like good, but not amazing hires. They have higher ceilings and success at high profile programs, but successful coordinators often struggle as head coaches.

Edsall looked liked a pretty good hire at the time, arguably better than Durkin does now. He wasn't terrible there. Flood did pretty well until everything fell apart this seaon. He had to go, but will Ash do a better job that the 2014 Flood?

 

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Mr Miggle

December 5th, 2015 at 2:39 PM ^

They look like good, but not amazing hires. They have higher ceilings and success at high profile programs, but successful coordinators often struggle as head coaches.

Edsall looked liked a pretty good hire at the time, arguably better than Durkin does now. He wasn't terrible there. Flood did pretty well until everything fell apart this seaon. He had to go, but will Ash do a better job that the 2014 Flood?

 

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go16blue

December 5th, 2015 at 2:41 PM ^

An assistant taking a job as a head coach?! What an asshole, amirite guys?

In all seriousness, this is pretty cool. Seeing how the Meyer/Harbaugh coaching tree continues to bloom so close to us will be very interesting.

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TheReal_GR3

December 5th, 2015 at 2:59 PM ^

This is why I made the post months ago about the advantage of having top flight coaches in our conference. The talent on the coaching and support staffs is increasing. No matter what we all think about the situations or how things could play out, I think we all agree that this is moving in the right direction. The Big Ten is an ascending football conference and the future is increasingly bright. Look at how Urban's coaching tree has helped the SEC, obviously Satan's tree has made a huge impact. His coordinators and assistant coaches all over including at Florida. Soon the same will be said for Meyer, Harbaugh and others in the SEC. *please excuse typos I am on my phone.

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