Who are the potential replacements for Courtney Morgan?

Submitted by nmumike on December 9th, 2021 at 11:14 AM

When the news broke I was unsure how much of a hit it would be to our recruiting, and it seems like it is not ideal, based on timing, but not devastating either.

I was just curious as to who are some potential replacements, and how instrumental this person will be as we capitalize on our on-the-field success. 

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Berger04

December 9th, 2021 at 11:19 AM ^

Albert Karschnia CMU player personnel. 

Harbaugh reached out to him and asked if he wanted to come back to MI. They are going to split up duties in the recruiting department with Aashon Larkins.

This is all according to Chris Balas.

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ak47

December 9th, 2021 at 12:30 PM ^

I predicted we would go 9-3 in football and think the basketball team will be very good at the end of year. I'm a generally optimistic person on the field! Off the field I'm honest about recruiting mattering which is where most people see me as a negative. Courtney Morgan is a former player who worked at numerous schools up and down the west coast building relationships and experience. This guy graduated in 2015, didn't play football, and has only worked at Michigan and CMU. From a resume stand point it is objectively a step down. I don't know how anyone could argue that.

 

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matt1114

December 9th, 2021 at 12:21 PM ^

CMU seems to be recruiting pretty well in 2021 and 2022 for a MAC school. 2020 would've been Jim McElwains first full recruiting class and they were 8th in the MAC, then jumped to 2nd in 2021, and are currently 3rd in 2022. Not sure if McElwains name still holds any value to recruits, but according to CMU's site Karschnia is in his 4th year there.

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1VaBlue1

December 9th, 2021 at 2:23 PM ^

"Not sure if McElwains name still holds any value to recruits..."

How could it not be at a MAC school?  He won a couple of SEC East titles at Florida and is generally well regarded as having greatly improved Michigan's WR group in his one year here.  He was also pretty good at CSU (Mt West CoY) - where he earned his UF gig.  CMU has played in the MAC CG under him, and he was MAC CoY in 2019.  They're currently 9-3 and playing Boise St in a bowl game.

I'm not surprised CMU is recruiting pretty well...

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JonnyHintz

December 9th, 2021 at 2:22 PM ^

I don’t know why people continue to suggest former players that have no experience in the job that’s open…

 

Denard has never headed a recruiting department, never been part of a college recruiting department, and never recruited high school kids. Putting him in charge of an entire department at a major school is a huge leap that he’s probably not prepared for. I love the guy, but just like whenever Woodson gets brought up for a secondary coaching vacancy, I’d rather have somebody qualified to do the job. 
 

As for the “own Florida” part, I don’t think Denard’s name holds much cache in Florida. He was a fan favorite here, but high school kids in Florida either don’t know who he is or don’t care. He’s just another former college player from Florida to them. One of thousands. 
 

 

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DMack

December 9th, 2021 at 10:13 PM ^

I disagree. Denard loves Michigan he was a star here, he played in the NFL and the parents of the recruits will know who he is and recruits will identify with him and respect his pedigree. This could go a long way and he could even lend a hand with evaluating talent. I think he's smart enough to learn the job with help from the staff in that department just like these other guys have learned it. He would probably do a better job selling Michigan than the guy from CMU who is basically unknown. Somebody gave that guy a shot 3 years ago, why not give a guy who did tons more for Michigan football a shot? At least until they find a homerun replacement or find him a coaching position. They may find that his smile and winning personality is just the kind of face you want to put in front of a recruiting pitch. It's B.S. to believe he can't do the job 

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JonnyHintz

December 10th, 2021 at 5:37 AM ^

Parents HERE know who Denard is. Random Florida kid who didn’t grow up rooting for Michigan does not. His parents maybe know his name and that he had a short career with the Jags. What separates Denard in their minds from any other Florida high school athlete that went on to play D1 football? His name means something to US because he played here. It doesn’t hold the same weight to other people. 
 

This isn’t a “learn on the job” type of deal. You start at a small school (like the CMU guy did) and you earn your spot at the major D1 level after learning the ropes down there. P5 schools aren’t really known for taking shots in the dark. They being proven guys up through the ranks. You’re suggesting hiring an entry level worker to a managerial type position. And that’s just not the way you build a successful organization. 
 

It’s the same reason you pretty much NEVER see a guy go from being a grad assistant at a major school to coaching at a major school. They always get a job at a small school first and earn their spots on a major program. Denard would need to do the same. A school like Michigan is not the “give the unknown guy a shot” kind of school. 
 

The only reason he’s being suggested is because he played here. That’s it. No qualifications, no previous experience, nothing. If a random Penn State player from a decade ago were suggested as the replacement and he had zero prior experience, it would be immediately shot down and laughed at. You see the problem?
 

Just quit suggesting former players for every opening. It’s not hard. Go get the best guy for the job. There are tons of qualified candidates out there who have actual experience doing this job. 

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DMack

December 10th, 2021 at 3:05 PM ^

Not to dismiss the point you're making. I get it and it's a great point. I don't know the guy from CMU personally nor do I know Denard but I think Denards personality resonates well with people. He's very likable and seems to have a charisma about him. Having stayed around the game and being an evaluator in the NFL , are qualities that transfer well for the position. Players can relate to him and parents may see his experience as useful as they decide where to send their kid. Sure he may not have actual experience doing THIS job but he was recruited and probably knows how recruitment works being in and around the sport.

There are a lot of head coaches who are simply great managers but they don't actually do most of the on field coaching because they have a good staff that does that. bottom line, there are many people who get jobs they aren't really qualified to do. the good ol boy network has been alive and well for centuries. IJS with the support staff in place, he could be brought along. Michigan is a brand that recruits itself and if you bring personality and other intangibles I've mentioned, He might make a better first impression than a person who doesn't connect to the game in a way that a former star does.    

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JonnyHintz

December 11th, 2021 at 10:57 AM ^

But what you’re describing is Denard being PART of the support staff. Not heading the entire department. There’s a vast amount organizational and logistical duties involved here that go way beyond having a good personality and vague past evaluating talent (evaluating college players is vastly different than evaluating high school sophomores and juniors). He simply doesn’t have the experience doing it to run a whole department. And again, Michigan isn’t the place to learn on the job. 

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jhayes1189

December 9th, 2021 at 11:26 AM ^

If they can find a way to somehow make another run at Vince Marrow on staff that would be awesome, is it possible to be a director of personnel and some kind of position coach as well? He is the reason UK has had the recruiting success they have had and is pretty beloved down here in Lexington. 

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Wolverine91

December 9th, 2021 at 11:32 AM ^

Off topic, but it’s interesting that umbig11 is no where to be found. I’d figure that all the shit he talked about Harbaugh and the program he’d at least show some humility and be happy 

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