OT: Jim Leavitt leaving Oregon
I recall people wanting Leavitt when Willie Taggart snagged him and we took Don Brown.
https://www.kptv.com/news/oregon-football-defensive-coordinator-jim-leavitt-leaving-the-ducks/article_2fbbe1f4-308c-11e9-8cf2-53df1be7ce96.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_FOX_12_Oregon&fbclid=IwAR1ouwNyIp7j1i4PkZA8NtY8jdo5go_YfE3OqNzfoWsqd89I2xO5Dmkgu0o
February 14th, 2019 at 4:11 PM ^
Leavitt be
February 14th, 2019 at 4:31 PM ^
Gold Jerry, gold.
February 14th, 2019 at 5:21 PM ^
Lovette or Leavitt
February 14th, 2019 at 11:48 PM ^
Lovette was a great performer back in the day. But as...ahem...adventurous as her performances were, I'd go with Leavitt for that defensive analyst position. She's more of an offensive analyst.
February 14th, 2019 at 5:50 PM ^
I'm just really happy this was the first comment. Really set the tone.
February 15th, 2019 at 12:36 PM ^
I was going to comment how the OP missed a golden opportunity to write a great headline. Comments made sure to fix that.
February 14th, 2019 at 4:12 PM ^
I sense an analyst offer coming, even if it's just because Leavitt is Harbaugh's pal and Jim will want to give him a home (but Leavitt has also fielded good units in the past).
Edit: Additionally, Leavitt runs a 3-4, and Nua coached strictly a 30 front last year at ASU. Our personnel might lend itself to an odd front this year, or more odd fronts than past years, this coming season, and Leavitt would be a hell of an analyst to help with that (not that Brown knows nothing of 3-man fronts, but adding another good mind and that value would be great).
February 14th, 2019 at 5:12 PM ^
Also, compensation won't apparently be an issue as he received a $2.5 million buy out.
February 14th, 2019 at 5:23 PM ^
It's honestly an ideal situation for him. Come help us be a top ten defense again with absolutely zero pressure, while still being a millionaire, and take the credit and get a good gig next year.
February 14th, 2019 at 5:59 PM ^
Listen to Mantis, Jims. Make this happen.
February 14th, 2019 at 7:19 PM ^
Yeah, mid February is too late to get a decent asst job, he's better off getting paid buyout money, being an analyst and re-entering during next year's coaching carousel
February 14th, 2019 at 9:33 PM ^
Honestly don’t see it. Leavitt is a top flight coach and could find another DC position at a lot of colleges if he’s interested. The payout is over several years so I would think he would want a decent paying job for a few more years
February 14th, 2019 at 9:22 PM ^
I think he’s headed to Oregon State.
Leavitt to Beavers
February 14th, 2019 at 4:16 PM ^
Don't want him at Michigan. He assaulted a player and it's a disgrace he's been allowed back into the coaching profession.
February 14th, 2019 at 4:19 PM ^
Leavitt to Beaver...
February 14th, 2019 at 6:28 PM ^
He got hired away by the Oregon State Beaver?
February 14th, 2019 at 4:30 PM ^
Harbaugh was the next person to hire Leavitt after he was dismissed at USF, so either nut up and call our coach a scumbag or move along.
Harbaugh has taken swift and unequivocal action on misdeeds far more mild than criminal battery - I'm of the belief that if Jim thought Leavitt was a bad person who had done something unforgivable, then he wouldn't have hired him in San Francisco.
February 14th, 2019 at 5:28 PM ^
Jim Harbaugh ain't perfect, and he shouldn't have hired him then. There is a big difference around hiring someone like that in the pros versus college though, because if you attacked a player in the pros who makes more money than you and is a grown ass man, he'll just get you fired or beat you up himself. Mark Schlereth told a story about his old OL coach telling his guys as much.
If we can't draw the line at hiring someone who assaulted a player, then we can't be shocked if we wake up and find out something worse has happened.
February 14th, 2019 at 5:40 PM ^
The kid's own dad wouldn't take the son's side in this. The whole incident reeks of a kid who doesn't understand what is acceptable and unacceptable in football, and tried to play getting his helmet or his shoulder pads smacked into a national scandal because his feelings were hurt.
Jim's not going to hire someone who will abuse players. Leavitt has worked many other places without a whisper of impropriety, and I trust Jim's evaluation in 2015 and today.
Also lol @ that last line. Don't be a drama queen, it's not a good look.
February 14th, 2019 at 9:24 PM ^
“Jim’s not going to hire someone who would abuse players”......
have you forgotten DJ Durkin and Jabrill’s comments about him?
February 14th, 2019 at 6:40 PM ^
Harbaugh has DJ Dickhead on staff for multiple seasons. If anyone thinks that there weren’t at least a few instances of something shitty going on under harbaugh’s leadership, you’re in need of entering adulthood.
Harbaugh is an old school “toughness” coach. I’m sure stuff happens that isn’t pleasant (including the treatment of injured players).
February 14th, 2019 at 8:09 PM ^
If you have proof of Durkin doing bad things at Michigan that’d be great to hear. If not, and you’re just basing your assumptions on the death of his player due to the negligence of his medical staff at a different school where he was the head guy instead of an underling, well call me a child I guess. I must not understand the workings of your galaxy brain.
February 14th, 2019 at 10:33 PM ^
child
February 15th, 2019 at 9:11 AM ^
Is that you, Lt. Weinberg?
February 14th, 2019 at 4:48 PM ^
I hear that there’s nothing more exhilarating than pointing out short comings in others - can you confirm? Is it like a runner’s high? It sure must be swell to have never made a mistake.
February 14th, 2019 at 5:35 PM ^
If any Big 10 was thinking of hiring him this board would be all over them decrying the declining standards of college football.
February 14th, 2019 at 6:41 PM ^
Yes. There are many irritating pearl clutchers on here - apparently it’s your turn to be one today.
February 14th, 2019 at 8:28 PM ^
February 14th, 2019 at 11:04 PM ^
I can confirm
February 14th, 2019 at 4:53 PM ^
The situation with the player was a strange one. Player and his dad said he was hit by the coach at halftime. Later his dad walked it back saying "I stand behind the university and coach Leavitt 100 percent. I truly believe there was no malicious intent to hit anyone. He grabbed his shoulder pad, but it was like a motivational thing. After talking with Joel, he was satisfied there was not a slap, not at all."
Then the U investigated and Leavitt got canned. Whatever exactly happened there it wasn't exactly clear.
Certainly not condoning his actions but this was a less-than-clear-cut situation.
February 14th, 2019 at 5:32 PM ^
There was nothing unclear bout it. There was pressure put on the kid and the family to help save his job and try to walk things back once it became clear this was going to end up being a firing offense for USF.
He did what he did. If he wants to coach in the pros where if you pull that shit you'll get your shit kicked in by the player, fine. He doesn't belong around amateur athletes who can't so much as holler back without risking everything.
February 15th, 2019 at 7:48 AM ^
So what do we know he did exactly? What is the story and what is the truth?
February 15th, 2019 at 6:06 AM ^
WOTS around the USF area when it happened was that it was bullshit that he got fired. He is a darn good coach and I would be happy to have him at Michigan.
February 14th, 2019 at 4:55 PM ^
Why don't you make like a tree and get out of here?
February 15th, 2019 at 12:11 PM ^
I believe the saying is actually:
Why don't you make like a tree and fuck off.
February 14th, 2019 at 4:57 PM ^
If Harbaugh hired him a year after it happened he wont have a problem hiring him a decade after it.
February 14th, 2019 at 4:36 PM ^
Oregon players are NOT happy about this according to twitter. Apparently Leavitt is seen as one of the few coaches on staff and not just a slick recruiter in Oregon gear. Fans are split on it as there were rumors of tension between Leavitt and Christobal and Leavitt interviewed for some head coaching positions this offseason. Going to be interesting to watch this year play out in Eugene as I don't know that they should be that excited about Hayward taking over as DC.
February 14th, 2019 at 4:44 PM ^
May be a good person to stash in an analyst position in case Brown ends up taking a HC gig in a year or two.
February 14th, 2019 at 5:04 PM ^
I don't understand the analyst at Michigan speculation in this thread. Why would a P5 DC step down to an analyst job? My guess is he's going to the Bengals or some other DC gig.
But if he did come here in that capacity? Whoa boy. Not only is that great but what does it say about Oregon football? They got a lot better on defense under him.
February 14th, 2019 at 5:11 PM ^
The speculation is there because 1. it's February and there aren't many jobs out there, so it might make sense to take a job with a big program and a friend and wait for next year when you know there will be openings, and 2. JH and Leavitt are friends and Leavitt has worked for JH in the past.
The Bengals are going to look at Saints DB coach Aaron Glenn, former Atlanta DC Marquand Manuel, and (Michigan ties alert) Rams CB coach Aubrey Pleasant. Dom Capers rejected the Bengals before Grantham did - it seems like other than Grantham they are focusing on NFL guys.
February 14th, 2019 at 5:58 PM ^
It seems like there are several examples of coordinators and even head coaches - good ones at that - hiding out in other capacities until certain jobs or better jobs opened up. It's such an insular world that I personally wouldn't be shocked if Leavitt did this himself.
February 14th, 2019 at 6:08 PM ^
He was the DC for Colorado in 2016. It was his 2nd and last year at CU. The 2016 team was the best Buff team in a loooooooong time. The defense was ranked 28th by S&P+ and 7th by DFEI (Michigan was 3rd and 8th respectively). After Leavitt left for Oregon, the Buffs fell back off the cliff and Jim MacIntyre was fired.
I guess there is only room for one Coach Mac at CU.
February 15th, 2019 at 9:18 AM ^
I don't know why I think this, but I like it when Colorado is a strong program .
February 14th, 2019 at 6:22 PM ^
Oregon, He's going to Leavitt
February 14th, 2019 at 7:40 PM ^
And Brady Hoke heads back to San Diego State as DL coach
February 16th, 2019 at 12:13 PM ^
No Leavitt to Beaver (oregon) jokes ?