Huskies fire Baer, Simmons
2007 defense ranked 102nd in nation
By MOLLY YANITY
P-I REPORTER
Washington Huskies defensive coordinator Kent Baer and tight ends/special teams coach Bob Simmons were fired Monday morning after a meeting with coach Tyrone Willingham.
There was no immediate word on the status of the other defensive assistants, but it is believed they will be retained. When asked if he still had his job, linebackers coach Chris Tormey said he had no comment.
Baer, 56, spent 13 seasons working under Willingham, including the past three at Washington.
"I consider Kent Baer and Bob Simmons excellent coaches and consummate professionals," Willingham said in a statement released Monday afternoon.
"Making changes such as this is never easy, nor is it done without careful thought and consideration. I believe we are continuing to build this football program into a national contender and I truly appreciate the contribution Kent and Bob have made toward our progress both on and off the field."
The Huskies' defensive woes were easy to single out both statistically and in the win-loss column.
Baer's defense gave up an average of 446.4 yards per game -- more than any team in Huskies history. That number shattered the previous high of 419.1 set in Willingham and Baer's first season at Washington.
Opponents averaged 31.6 points per game this season.
To further agitate, the Huskies led or were tied at halftime in nine of their 13 games but allowed eight teams to rack up more than 400 yards of offense to steal games back.
Fourth-quarter defensive collapses contributed greatly in losses to Arizona, Washington State and Hawaii.
Simmons, 59, coordinated the special teams and coached tight ends. He had coached linebackers at Notre Dame under Willingham and was previously the head coach at Oklahoma State from 1995-2000.
The Huskies special teams unit was inconsistent and several blatant gaffes had negative repercussions on games. Kickoff coverage ranked ninth in the Pac-10.
Three tight ends underachieved this season, combining for only 20 catches. There has not been one consistent starter among that group in three seasons.
Not coincidentally, two of the Huskies' highest-rated recruits in the past two classes have been tight ends -- Chris Izbicki, who sat out this season as a redshirt, and Lakes High senior Kavario Middleton. Middleton is the state's highest-ranked recruit and orally committed on Nov. 30. He is scheduled to sign a national letter of intent Feb. 6.
Willingham himself was under fire after a 4-9 season, but received a boost of confidence from university President Mark Emmert and athletic director Todd Turner on Dec. 5.
Turner, however, resigned Dec. 11. The team was 11-25 in Willingham's three seasons, and the university is preparing for a massive stadium renovation that could cost upward of $400 million.
Tormey, who has served at the UW for 13 seasons, is the Huskies' recruiting coordinator and it had been thought that any staff changes would wait until the end of the recruiting contact period. It ended on Dec. 16 after the Huskies secured 23 oral commitments for a class that Scout.com ranks 16th in the nation.
Randy Hart (defensive line) and J.D. Williams (secondary) are the other defensive assistants. Hart has been at Washington for 20 seasons and served as defensive coordinator from 1995-98. Williams, the older brother of former Huskies safety Curtis Williams, was hired away from California before the '06 season.
Williams and Tormey were both on campus Monday.
Willingham has two years remaining on a five-year contract, but Emmert put the writing on the wall -- if the Huskies don't win in 2008, Willingham likely will be gone. That could make a coaching search difficult, but a subject on which Willingham would not speculate.
The Huskies are also in the process of filling the running backs coach position after Trent Miles left to become the head coach at his alma mater, Indiana State.
Willingham and his remaining staff will head to Anaheim, Calif., Jan. 5-9 for the American Football Coaches Association's annual convention, which also serves as somewhat of a job fair.
The recruiting season's contact period resumes Jan. 13 and runs through Feb. 2.
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR WISH LIST
This position is not going to be easy to fill despite the university's attributes and the program's tradition. With coach Tyrone Willingham all but told to win in '08 or lose his job, the possibility of this being a one-year job is out there. But listed below are some likely candidates or, at the very least, interesting names.
JIM L. MORA
Secondary coach, Seahawks (May 2007-present)
The likelihood that the former Huskies defensive back would accept the position is slim since the BCS programs are reportedly courting him for head coaching jobs. What is even slimmer is the idea of Willingham hiring a coach-in-waiting. Mora compiled a 22-26 record in three seasons as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
ED ORGERON
Head coach, Mississippi (2004-07)
Orgeron's coaching résumé is impeccable and includes four national championships with USC and Miami. His stint as head coach at Ole Miss was a fiasco, though, with a three-year record of 10-25 and two near-violations. Orgeron was also embroiled in a '91 domestic violence issue and a '92 bar fight.
CHRIS TORMEY
Linebackers coach/recruiting coordinator, Washington (2004-07, '84-94)
If Tormey isn't fired along with Baer, he could be considered a candidate because of his recruiting prowess -- especially with this year's top-20 class. Tormey's linebackers, however, have not played particularly well over the past few seasons and the Huskies have been schooled when playing the spread offense.
MARK BANKER
Defensive coordinator, Oregon State (2003-present)
Having spent 11 years with the easygoing Mike Riley, it is hard to see Banker making a move up north. Still, his defenses have been stout. The Beavers ranked 12th in the nation in total defense this season, giving up 313 yards per game. All 11 starters earned some kind of All-Pac-10 honor (first, second team or honorable mention.)
GARY ANDERSEN
Defensive coordinator, Utah (2004-present)
After 10 sporadic years at his alma mater, it is again unlikely Andersen would leave, but a Pac-10 job might entice the 43-year-old. He also serves as the assistant head coach and defensive line coach. The Utes allowed just 15.6 points per game this season and have led the Mountain West in turnovers gained two years in a row.
BOB DAVIE
Head coach, Notre Dame (1997-2001)
Davie has been out of coaching for six years and served as a broadcaster on ESPN and ABC. He is a 3-4 specialist and that is a scheme that could serve the Huskies well since they are light on defensive linemen. If Davie is looking to get back into coaching, this could be an attractive job.
We can defend the spread. 
