ND Coaching Search Megathread

GoldenAura

GoldenAura

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NDFAN420 said:
Gotta root for Day as the next coach of the Bears, Fickell not replacing him, and Hartline not getting an OC gig. That's what I'm rooting for at least. Hartline would be epic.
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Seems like the only plausible scenario that could get him here and even that one is pretty unlikely. I'd be shocked if Fickell went to OSU and didn't keep him.
 
IrishLax

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The one position where I give zero shits about someone being a "great recruiter" is OL. You need the best teacher you can get, period. And you need a coach that aligns with your offensive scheme -- you don't want someone who has only taught assignment blocking to come in and have the OC tell them they need to coach zone blocking.

We proved this year and last that you can sign an ELITE class regardless of the coach. I'm not saying Frye will be a bad coach, but someone smarter than me needs to explain why he is perpetually viewed as a "top" candidate. If it were up to me, I would probably try to re-tread an NFL coach with zone blocking pedigree. Give me anyone from the Shanahan or Callahan coaching trees.
 
OCIrish

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Lax, I'm not gonna go out on a limb and claim being smarter than you, as you generally have way too much info in any particular conversation, but......Frye is young, and while he played his ball at IU, he's from Elwood Indiana, which is east/northeast of Kokomo Indiana. South Bend is a stones throw from where he grew up, so conceivably he could of very well grew up an Irish fan.

You mentioned his stint @ BC......I believe in 4 of his 5 yrs there, his lines averaged over 200 yds on the ground. I'd have to go back and look up the stats again. His OL produced on the ground with lesser talent than what he'll have to work with at ND, you and I can both agree on that. I don't recall off the top of my head how they did pass blocking.

So.....he's 38, has done well in past jobs, from central Indiana......I'm not making a case for or against, just some of the things I've read about him. I'd be ok with him or a combo of Watts and HH as a hands on analyst if it came to that. HH has proven he knows what he's doing, and I do know he doesn't care to go out on the road pandering to 17-18 yr old kids. If that's the case, then bring in Watt to learn coaching techniques and nuances while doing the heavy load of recruiting on the road.
 
IrishLax

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OCIrish said:
Lax, I'm not gonna go out on a limb and claim being smarter than you, as you generally have way too much info in any particular conversation, but......Frye is young, and while he played his ball at IU, he's from Elwood Indiana, which is east/northeast of Kokomo Indiana. South Bend is a stones throw from where he grew up, so conceivably he could of very well grew up an Irish fan.

You mentioned his stint @ BC......I believe in 4 of his 5 yrs there, his lines averaged over 200 yds on the ground. I'd have to go back and look up the stats again. His OL produced on the ground with lesser talent than what he'll have to work with at ND, you and I can both agree on that. I don't recall off the top of my head how they did pass blocking.

So.....he's 38, has done well in past jobs, from central Indiana......I'm not making a case for or against, just some of the things I've read about him. I'd be ok with him or a combo of Watts and HH as a hands on analyst if it came to that. HH has proven he knows what he's doing, and I do know he doesn't care to go out on the road pandering to 17-18 yr old kids. If that's the case, then bring in Watt to learn coaching techniques and nuances while doing the heavy load of recruiting on the road.
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Great info, seems to make sense why he would be interested and how he could be a "long term" hire if he works out.
 
Dale

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Basic just opportunity rates for Frye:

Boston College (didn’t go further than 2014)
2014: 42
2015: 100
2016: 128
2017: 82

UCLA
2018: 21 (94 in 2017)
2019: 64
2020: 11*
2021: 12
 
NDFAN420

NDFAN420

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GoldenAura said:
Seems like the only plausible scenario that could get him here and even that one is pretty unlikely. I'd be shocked if Fickell went to OSU and didn't keep him.
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I have to be more precise. I meant Fickell not replacing Day. If Fickell did replace Day, I'd expect Hartline to stay, if he didn't get an OC job somewhere.
 
NDdomer2

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I certainly am not going to pretend to understand nuances of line play, but when you read his bio it does seem like rushing success/improvement has followed him. Always hard to say how much of that is line play vs maybe a good RB or two for instance.

He was around the pouncey bros as a GA in florida and put a couple in NFL from BC.

Maybe this is the wrong train of thought but, lets say he is equal to or better OL coach than Quinn, hes highly like to be more effort on the trail than Harry, and he provides some experience outside of OL that Harry cant offer. Wouldnt that make him the better candidate?
 
NDdomer2

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Dale said:
[TWEET]https://twitter.com/tomloy247/status/1473469645416026117?s=21[/TWEET]

- Expects Hiestand

- UC staff of Mason the ST coach and Eliano the CBs coach are candidates for ST and DC respectively

- MYSTERY CANDIDATE FOR DC SZN
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Who coaches LBs?
 
NDdomer2

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Does potential of two UC staff leaving indicate Day to NFL/Fickell to OSU?

​​​​​​Or would those hires hit a snag if Fickell asks them to OSU with him?
 
Dale

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The rest of the staff doesn’t line up with Nick L coaching LBs, just doesn’t fit. He’s more likely for ST coach IMO. If Elston, Mickens, and O’Leary stick at DL, CB and S, you can’t bring in a DC and promote a LBs coach.

That is unless he’s literally LB/ST, but while not impossible, that’d be uncommon and leave the DC with no position group lol
 
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Dale

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Someone brought up as the mystery DC candidate, who Loy respected keeping private, Steve Clinkscale. He’s in Year 1 as Passing Game Coordinator/DBs at Michigan (Playoff being reason to possibly keep under wraps). Coached DBs at UK from 2016 - 2020. DBs at UC from 2013 - 2015. Ohio native. Good recruiting reputation. No direct link to Freeman but certainly indirect links. As reasonable a mystery guess you’ll find. Does kinda hire over Mickens in a sense though so would be a bit odd there.
 
chicago51

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Dale said:
The rest of the staff doesn’t line up with Nick L coaching LBs, just doesn’t fit. He’s more likely for ST coach IMO. If Elston, Mickens, and O’Leary stick at DL, CB and S, you can’t bring in a DC and promote a LBs coach.
That is unless he’s literally LB/ST, but while not impossible, that’d be uncommon and leave the DC with no position group lol
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You're probably right about Nick L if they go with an outside hire for DC.

Are they definitely going with an outside hire for DC though? I can see a scenario where they promote Elston. I don't see Elston as a play caller, but maybe he'll be fine with it.

I can also see though Elston as DC overseeing the D at practice, leading the D meeting room (MF is still going to be in the D meeting room as well), and MF continuing to call the plays; maybe grooming Mickens to play call down the line.

I wouldn't be surprised if they are trying this for the bowl to see how it goes.

The big questions with this scenario though are 1) obviously can MF handle play calling as HC (interestingly you see a lot of offensive play calling HCs but not so much defensive play callers), and 2) is being DC and recruiting coordinator too much for Elston (I'd say so but do they make a change with recruiting coordinator title as they revamp their recruiting operation under Freeman)??
 
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NDIrish88

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I think that Freeman should make Mickens or Elston DC, if they want it. Then fill the spots accordingly.
 
IrishLax

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Pretty surprised on the HH news. Guess time heals all wounds and none of the offended players are in CFB anymore. Personally, I think it's a mistake to go to assignment blocking after this young line just spent a year learning how not to suck while doing zone blocking. But I don't know shit about OL play.
 
rtrn2glory

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IrishLax said:
Pretty surprised on the HH news. Guess time heals all wounds and none of the offended players are in CFB anymore. Personally, I think it's a mistake to go to assignment blocking after this young line just spent a year learning how not to suck while doing zone blocking. But I don't know shit about OL play.
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From my experience all OL play is assignment blocking. Zone blocking takes time and reps, which is probably why it took so long for the young line this year to gel. If we were more of a gap team it wouldn't be as big of an issue, but we don't run as much power or counter to dig into that heavy enough.
 
Irish#1

Irish#1

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Harry appears to be the leading candidate over Justin Frye. George Barnett, Mike Devlin and Joe Rudolph are more long shots. For ST's Brian Mason looks to be the leader at the moment. Marty Biagi currently at Purdue is the other. Don't be surprised if Eliano is your next DC if MF[SUP]2[/SUP] doesn't promote from within.

I don't think Freeman is different than any other HC when it comes to hiring. He's going to reach out to those he's familiar with and thinks can do the job. That's why you're seeing some of these names. Clinkscale was at Cincy, but before Freeman arrived IIRC.
 
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Irish#1

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chicago51 said:
Doesn't Freeman like Nick Lezinski? He's been coaching LBs a lot during the bowl prep, was with Freeman and LBs all year. I figured he's auditioning for the job.
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He's a candidate for ST coach and LB coach.
 
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NDFAN2008

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I’m going as my dark horse DC Charlie Strong. Currently with the Jaguars and they fired Urban
 
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