Defensive Position Coach Candidates
With the Mattison and Washington departures, we now have vacancies at LB coach and DL coach. Who are the top candidates to replace them? Any "likely" candidates you expect JH to interview for the vacancies? What about pipe dreams that just might have a chance?
Would you prefer someone with more experience (maybe an NFL position coach) or an up-and-comer with a tireless work ethic who maybe is less well known?
Would you prefer candidates with a strong regional scouting impact (what region....And be realistic if you're gonna say FL, GA, TX, CA - how much does that apply when recruiting to MI?) or someone who is not known as a recruiter but is a great X's and O's coach?
I have no insider info and no clue who they will bring in, but want to have a thread looking forward at potential fits instead of backwards/negative. Personally, I would LOVE them to get Charles Woodson on staff regardless of the role, and groom him to become a DC in the future. No clue if he has any interest, but even without any coaching experience I think he could be an instant difference maker as a LB coach and elite recruiter. (yeah, I know, he was not a LB, but that's the spot that's open. Maybe Partridge goes back there and Woodson would take Safeties?)
January 8th, 2019 at 1:48 PM ^
What about Mike Elston? I know he may be a longshot since he's been at ND so long, but is young-ish, a decent recruiter (#32 this cycle according to 247), and former Wolverine.
Is an associate head coach in South Bend, so we'd probably need to give him some strong title.
January 8th, 2019 at 2:24 PM ^
Lorenz said that if it were him, Elston would be first guy he would call. According to him he is more than a decent recruiter, Steve called him ND's best recruiter.
January 8th, 2019 at 2:51 PM ^
He would be my pick on the DL. Hell of a coach and a great recruiter. Just what we need.
January 8th, 2019 at 4:43 PM ^
I am in agreement here. And I know this is an unpopular opinion, but i feel CP should drop back down to linebackers. And here's where I really get stupid. Zordich is not a great recruiter. I say let him leave and give the entire secondary to Vance Bedford. This leaves open a spot for a stand-alone offensive coordinator like... Larry Fedora? All according to 24/7 results and memory are good recruiters and developers.
EDIT: Forgot to mention that Pep is the assistant head coach right now so Elston would merely be "coming home" for the lateral move.
January 8th, 2019 at 1:49 PM ^
DJ Durkin, to watch this board implode even more...
January 8th, 2019 at 1:56 PM ^
Discipline sure wouldn't be a problem....
January 8th, 2019 at 1:49 PM ^
I think GERG is still available....just saying....
January 8th, 2019 at 1:50 PM ^
Roy Manning - Alumni and current UCLA LB coach
Jerry Montgomery - Former Michigan D line coach currently with the Packers
Larry Foote - Alumni and St Louis Cardinals LB Coach
January 8th, 2019 at 1:56 PM ^
The St. Louis Cardinals have a football team again? I must be living under a rock.
January 8th, 2019 at 2:12 PM ^
He obviously meant the STL Rams dude
January 8th, 2019 at 2:28 PM ^
I actually made the St. Louis Rams slip-up just this morning talking to a co-worker. Perhaps it's a sign that we need to search the greater St. Louis area for our position coach hires. Who's Missouri got?
January 8th, 2019 at 3:02 PM ^
I am old and sometimes forgetful :-(
January 8th, 2019 at 2:00 PM ^
+1 for the St. Louis cardinals freudian slip
January 8th, 2019 at 2:19 PM ^
These are all GREAT suggestions. I think Devin Bush Sr. should get a look at LB coach as well or move Partridge back to LBs and have Bush Sr. coach safeties.
That said, I've been saying all year, fire Pep Hamilton and hire Brandon Streeter from Clemson before he gets an OC job and its too late.
January 8th, 2019 at 3:10 PM ^
My fear is Jimmy won’t give up the reigns on offense. I pray that I’m wrong but I’m hopeless that this offense will change much moving forward.
January 8th, 2019 at 1:50 PM ^
(spins the MICHIGAN MAN™️ wheel)
Survey says... Mike Trgovac!
January 8th, 2019 at 2:10 PM ^
Larry Foote would be a strong hire as a LB coach. I’m not going to pretend like I know a bunch of d-line coaches by name. Just hire someone who has a strong track record with developing D-Linemen and can recruit. Also would prefer that person to not be 70 years old and a traitor.
January 8th, 2019 at 2:27 PM ^
Bravo!!!
January 8th, 2019 at 1:51 PM ^
Interview Chris Spielman for LBs Coach...just to create a firestorm on Eleven Warriors.
January 8th, 2019 at 2:04 PM ^
I love this idea. Won’t happen, but I love the idea. He would make a great coach.
January 8th, 2019 at 4:30 PM ^
Wasn’t he fired from an Arena League team? Being a good player doesn’t always equate to being a good coach.
January 8th, 2019 at 2:08 PM ^
He hasn't coached in a long time, and he didn't coach for long, but I'd have no problem adding him to the staff. He'd probably recruit the fuck out of ohio.
Plus he's a Michigan Man at heart.
January 8th, 2019 at 11:44 PM ^
It was always his dream to be at Michigan. Dad wouldn’t let him.
January 8th, 2019 at 1:52 PM ^
Starting with the 247 recruiter ranking and then looking for position, past schools, commits and hometown is as good a place as any to start.
DL - Mike Elston (ND)
LB - Dan Lanning (Georgia)
January 8th, 2019 at 2:55 PM ^
Thought the same thing.
DL - Tray Scott ($420k, Georgia), Ikaika Malloe ($355k, Washington), Dennis Johnson ($180k, 30, LSU)
LB - Glenn Schumann ($325k, 29, Georgia), Antonio Pierce ($300k, 40, ASU), Tommy Thigpen ($405k, 47, UNC)
Some of those guys have to be available. I guess Dennis Johnson is a former LSU walkon so hes probably a no.
January 8th, 2019 at 5:58 PM ^
Malloe at Washington specializes in those PAC12 Polynesian kids that make up huge chunks of those teams. I don't see any way to pry a guy like him to the B1G.
January 8th, 2019 at 1:54 PM ^
Great players don't always make great coaches. It amazes me when people suggest all-time great players to be coaches.
January 8th, 2019 at 2:12 PM ^
Tom Snow I totally agree with you about great players not always translating to great coaches. I truly think Woodson would though because he's a very bright guy and played numerous positions in numerous schemes, all at a very high level. Even when his athleticism waned or he had a cast on his arm he was always in the right position making plays. I also tend to agree with pretty much everything he says publicly about UM, the praise and the criticisms, and he keeps an even keel. Sadly, as someone else pointed out above, he has said he's not interesting in coaching because of recruiting.
January 8th, 2019 at 1:54 PM ^
Question for the board. How much input does the DC (brown) have in hiring position coaches? Do brown and Harbaugh interview candidates together? I would assume the DC would have just as much a say with who he'll eventually lead right?
January 8th, 2019 at 1:55 PM ^
I'm totally fine with Hoke at this point. Although I doubt it will happen. He was a good recruiter for the defense. He's not going to be HC or DC.
January 8th, 2019 at 2:14 PM ^
Please, please, please...NO!
An up and comer. Not a has been.
January 8th, 2019 at 2:46 PM ^
but outside of brown, isn't everyone else kind of young and an up and comer? i want at least one experienced proven teacher from these vacancies. not saying hoke but someone similar.
January 8th, 2019 at 1:58 PM ^
I wish Michigan was smart enough to hire Charles Woodson. That would be like a Buckeye move..
January 8th, 2019 at 2:02 PM ^
Please read the board comments before posting. This is already being discussed in several portions of this same thread
January 8th, 2019 at 2:11 PM ^
'Always one; I did read the previous comments. You just made my point. 'Not enough creative or comprehensive thought around here.. A smart hire of Charles Woodson would be an analyst or advisor role; anything to keep him around the team. His attitude would filter into the team mentality, is my view.
January 8th, 2019 at 2:22 PM ^
I'll guess he makes more currently, than what he would at Michigan as an analyst or adviser. Keep trying to be cutting edge though.
January 8th, 2019 at 2:28 PM ^
But, what about Woodson /s
January 8th, 2019 at 1:59 PM ^
Mike Elston and Larry Foote.
January 8th, 2019 at 2:00 PM ^
Devin Bush Sr to Linebacker Coach (secure his recruiting prowess for Florida)
Maybe Chris Partridge to D-Line coach (secure his recruiting prowess on the east coast)
January 8th, 2019 at 2:01 PM ^
Yeah right, like Charles Woodson is going to give up his lucrative ESPN job and cushy life to be a college position coach and work 70+ hours a week.
January 8th, 2019 at 2:02 PM ^
Woodson was too good of a player to be an effective coach. It would be like Beethoven teaching 3rd grade music.
January 8th, 2019 at 2:04 PM ^
I know nothing about coaching, so take this with a grain of salt, but maybe this guy?
- Chris Marve - Linebacker Coach - Vanderbilt: Played linebacker and was a team captain at Vandy when he played, coached multiple linebackers into NFL draft picks, from Texas and seems to be a regional coordinator for them there, and is young (29).
January 8th, 2019 at 3:24 PM ^
Might be hard to pull a former team captain away from his alma mater. Unless his salary is ridiculously low.
January 8th, 2019 at 2:04 PM ^
Honest questions....What kind of cred does Bush Sr. have? What would be his position if offered a promotion? Would he provide strength in recruiting?
January 8th, 2019 at 2:11 PM ^
How many other D1 LB coaches can claim they sired a first round pick at LB?
January 8th, 2019 at 2:05 PM ^
I took a couple hours break from the blog after the Washington news and planned on coming back to find the news, DB took a Defensive analyst job for the Buckeyes, Harbaugh to the Browns, Partridge to Michigan State as DC, and all past, current, and future players have immediate approval to leave our program whenever they want.
I am pleasantly surprised and pleased to know these things have not come to fruition yet.
January 8th, 2019 at 2:05 PM ^
It's almost too late as the real gets are gone. First we need to open up our wallets and do our best to hang on to Don Brown and Partridge (long term). Then, because most of the college field is gone, perhaps we should be looking at the NFL for talent that has won something and has charisma. Because we need help with recruiting especially since our #1 and #4 recruiter has just went to help our sworn enemy.
That's just on Defense. We need to move Pep out of the way because although I don't have anything bad to say, I don't have anything good either, after all the time he's been here. Move him upstairs and bring in an offensive mind who will put up numbers and make opponents work.
January 8th, 2019 at 2:10 PM ^
Utterly silly. There are plenty of coaching moves that happen after (the second) signing day.
Harbaguh has until mid Feb at the earliest before he might have any concerns on coaches not being available.
I am deeply concerned that Harbaugh won't change the offense / offensive playcalling much.
I am not at all concerned that Harbagugh (and Brown) can find good D coaches.
January 8th, 2019 at 2:08 PM ^
Lawrence Taylor. Pay him in hookers and powder.
January 8th, 2019 at 2:24 PM ^
We just got Rick Pitino to head overseas and now your are trying to attract him back.