Per Sam Webb: Jerry Montgomery leaving for Oklahoma

Submitted by Trauber19 on

https://twitter.com/SamWebb77/status/305411332541390848

Apparently, Jerry Montgomery has left for Oklahoma...he was our primary recruiter for our three current commitments.

From the Scout article that isn't paywalled: "Contract details weren’t available at press time, but sources indicate that Michigan offered a competitive compensation package to Montgomery, but ultimately he felt the opportunity at Oklahoma was clearly one he couldn’t pass up." 

I'm guessing they made him recruiting coordinator, which is something we couldn't match with Hecklinski here.

Leaders And Best

February 23rd, 2013 at 4:36 PM ^

but disappointed he moved laterally and decided to leave this late in the coaching hire process (although who knows how significant a pay raise he got). Why I am not shocked: If you look at Montgomery's resume, he hasn't held a job for more than 2 years, and he was the one coach on the staff who didn't have a lot of ties to Hoke or Michigan. He actually left Indiana after less than a month after being hired to come to Michigan.

http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/jerry_montgomery_744092.html

Ron Utah

February 23rd, 2013 at 5:43 PM ^

We'll find out when this is all said and done that there is more to it than just heading to Oklahoma for the same job.  He's been promised something else.  You don't leave a rising program that is gaining national recognition and has a chance to start competing for national titles without some other reason...Oklahoma is a good program, but an inferior school and is currently stuck in an unimportant conference.

Somehow--and I don't know how yet--this move benefits Montgomery beyond putting a few more bucks in his pocket.

Elmer

February 23rd, 2013 at 5:44 PM ^

Great point about him leaving Indiana right after being hired by them.. He's a hired gun.

His coaching will be easily replace since we will still have Hoke and Mattison in addition to his replacement.  The recruiting loss might be a little more difficult.

 

Lucky Socks

February 23rd, 2013 at 3:25 PM ^

I'm betting he's getting a hefty raise and more responsibility, but on paper it seems like a lateral move.  Punch to the gut.  

I don't think it'll have much impact on our on the field play (no offense to Jerry, more of a Hoke, Mattison compliment) but recruiting hurts.  We need to find another young guy with energy to fill the void.  It wouldn't hurt to hire an African-American coach either.  I'm just calling it how I see it and this leaves 65+ Fred Jackson as the only African-American member of our core coaching staff.

 

Lucky Socks

February 23rd, 2013 at 3:45 PM ^

Roy Manning

2004 graduate.  Former Linebacker.  Saginaw Native.  Current RB Coach at Cinci, and prior defensive assistant.  I'm sure he knows plenty about coaching the DL from his experience as a player and defensive assistant.  And I'm sure Hoke and Mattision can give him a little help as he "masters" the position.  

There's no rumor here.  Just one man's opinion on a good fit.  

EDIT:  Apparently the current RB coach at NIU, as of mid-January.  I'm pretty sure we lured Bacari out of WMU weeks after he accepted a job so it wouldn't be unheard of.  

bdsisme

February 23rd, 2013 at 3:26 PM ^

Answer me this: Montgomery was one of the last hires by Hoke, and was coaching at Wyoming prior to Michigan.  Do you think we'd be able to hire a better young, up-and-coming assistant coach in 2011 right after the RR era, or right now after we've had all this recruiting success and winning seasons?

gwkrlghl

February 23rd, 2013 at 4:14 PM ^

You rarely hear about a coach making a better impression than Montgomery. I can't recall who exactly, but I feel like I've heard multiple times that people loved Jerry because he was right up front with them. I seem to recall someone saying to the effect of 'Michigan had better not let him get away' because they were so impressed with him

In reply to by Wolverine Devotee

M-Dog

February 23rd, 2013 at 4:27 PM ^

If so, he remains my favorite Michigan QB to this day.  He threw such a pretty long ball.  '88 was my favorite team.  Should have won it all.

WMUgoblue

February 23rd, 2013 at 3:27 PM ^

Well its certainly not good news, but its still early in the recruiting period to recover. Any ideas on a replacement? Maybe a chance Roy Manning comes back?

ish

February 23rd, 2013 at 3:27 PM ^

this is horrible.  we have to be viewed as the last destination.  oklahoma?  what could they possibly be offering other than money?  DB has to step up.

I Like Burgers

February 23rd, 2013 at 3:32 PM ^

For a guy like Montgomery who doesn't have the long ties to Hoke, it makes sense.  Oklahoma probably opened up the bank for him, gave him a better title, and like it or not, the Big 12 is a better conference than the Big Ten right now.  Hopefully, Michigan starts paying its assistants better and we're able to attract a good replacement.

BlueUPer

February 23rd, 2013 at 3:27 PM ^

But...I don't see this affecting Speight or Ferns in the least. Mone attends the same HS as Houma so I think we' re alright. Oh ya and we still have a D line coach.

Bo Knows

February 23rd, 2013 at 3:28 PM ^

I don't know much about Oklahoma's staff, but I wonder if he is making the move so that he has more control over the D-line.  Here he had Hoke and Mattison also helping out, and although I'm sure he appreciated it, he learned what he learned and has moved on.  I'm wondering how the staff chooses to replace the position on the staff.  Another DL coach?  A QB coach?

bdsisme

February 23rd, 2013 at 3:41 PM ^

Soup Campbell has got to be in the running.  He's in the CFL coaching now (but not a HC).  When Hoke first got here, according to Sam Webb back then (if I recall correctly), Soup was his first choice for WR coach.  Soup turned him down to stay at Iowa.  His answer might be different now.