Notre Dame Hires Mike Brown as WR Coach

[FDNYIrish1]

I am going to to try to be fair and give him an opportunity but this want a lot of people were saying. Another limited search because Freeman knew him.

That’s very kind of you to give him an opportunity. I’m sure he appreciates it.

 

[Irish#1]

I am going to to try to be fair and give him an opportunity but this want a lot of people were saying. Another limited search because Freeman knew him.

Just because they worked together before doesn’t mean he’s not going to be very good.

 

[irishff1014]

Just because they worked together before doesn’t mean he’s not going to be very good.

It was the biggest complaint in the BK era that he continued to hire his friends. So far Freeman has shown to be no different.

 

[arrowryan]

It was the biggest complaint in the BK era that he continued to hire his friends. So far Freeman has shown to be no different.

MF had no prior working experience with Golden, Stuckey, Ludwig, or Klein

 

[Giddyup]

kelly hired MF who he didn’t know. It’s silly to complain about this. Most guys are going to hire guys they know/believe are competent through experiences with them first. MF has shown enough flexibility and so did BK. It’s a fact of the coaching world. You’re not going to hire a bunch of strangers if you don’t have to, based on your Rolodex.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

It was the biggest complaint in the BK era that he continued to hire his friends. So far Freeman has shown to be no different.

I think a lot of ND fans have PTSD from Van Gorder. He was an abject failure despite his previous stint in CFB but he was a BK friend so looked like a lazy hire. MF has hired both friends & outside his network.

As arrowryan stated, Golden, Stuckey, Ludwig/Klein were outside his network. So was Joe Rudolph. It’s fine to be critical of Parker’s performance as OC (we all are) but he wasn’t MF’s first or even second choice. Those choices were outside his network. It wasn’t his fault that they didn’t work out. Stuckey was out side his network & eventually didn’t work out. Golden has gone from a questionable hire to “do whatever it takes to retain this guy!”

 

[NDdomer2]

MF had no prior working experience with Golden, Stuckey, Ludwig, or Klein

He gets credit for interviewing someone?

 

[Giddyup]

Parker is definitely a MF guy that is questionable at his position. At such an important position MF should have branched out more and did a national search last year and maybe even this off season.

 

[notredomer23]

Even if you don’t like Freeman staying in his network, I don’t think it’s fair to compare to BK because most the time the guys in Freeman’s network are up and comers with limited bodies of work and are rising the ranks. BK’s network was often bland retreads with an extensive history where you’d typically know what you’d get. Not saying one or the other is better or worse, but I think Freeman’s choices have had much higher ceilings of success than Kelly’s

 

[NDFAN2008]

I have no issue with Freeman having previous experience with Brown. Brown has proven success and even if Freeman was comfortable he probally didn’t have time to wait around for big name coaches they needed to make a good higher fast for the sake of the WR room and to get guys in the portal.

 

[indianamouse]

I have no issue with Freeman having previous experience with Brown. Brown has proven success and even if Freeman was comfortable he probally didn’t have time to wait around for big name coaches they needed to make a good higher fast for the sake of the WR room and to get guys in the portal.

This. To add, we have all been pretty happy with most Freeman hires so far. Let's give the guy the benefit of the doubt.

 

[stlnd01]

Parker is definitely a MF guy that is questionable at his position. At such an important position MF should have branched out more and did a national search last year and maybe even this off season.

Freeman did a national search for OC. But it started late b/c Rees didn't leave until February and a lot of good candidates were off the board. Then Klein and Ludwig didn't work out but that (esp Ludwig) dragged on for a couple of weeks. Then spring practice was approaching, he needed an OC and he decided to go with someone in-house.
It's rather different than the situation when BK hired Rees by conducting a national search that extended no further than going down the hallway at the Gug.

 

[indianamouse]

Freeman did a national search for OC. But it started late b/c Rees didn't leave until February and a lot of good candidates were off the board. Then Klein and Ludwig didn't work out. Then spring practice was approaching, he needed an OC and he decided to go with someone in-house.
It's rather different than the situation when BK hired Rees by conducting a national search that extended no further than going down the hallway at the Gug.

To add to this. I like giving Parker an extra year. He was installing his system in year one. There were predictably ups and downs. Even Golden's system for defense was up and down year one. If things don't improve next year it's fair to be critical. Give it time, let's see what happens.

 

[IrishLion]

If Mike Brown is here for four years, and finds a Tre Tucker and/or Tyler Scott during that time, and gets them to actually stick around instead of transfer, the hire is a success. The WR room desperately needs continuity and reliable depth.

The portal is nice, and it's great that MFMF and Co. seem to know how to target their guys early and grab them quick... but you need at least two frosh in each recruiting class that will stick around and develop. The ND WR room hasn't had that in a long time, it feels like, and it could be the key to helping Carr/Knight be the playoff-caliber QB's we've been waiting for.

 

[arrowryan]

He gets credit for interviewing someone?

It’s not his fault Swarbrick didn’t want to open the checkbook.

But, the list goes on. DMC and Joe Rudolph, too

 

[dublinirish]

 

[Irish#1]

It was the biggest complaint in the BK era that he continued to hire his friends. So far Freeman has shown to be no different.

BK liked to hire his buddies from lower level programs and he filled a lot of positions with his buds. MF isn’t targeting the same. And it still doesn’t mean this guy won’t be successful.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Freeman is hiring all of his buddies, but let's throw all kinds of money at Golden, McCullough and Mickens so none of them leave to further their careers.

Am I getting this right?

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Freeman is hiring all of his buddies, but let's throw all kinds of money at Golden, McCullough and Mickens so none of them leave to further their careers.

Am I getting this right?

Nobody wants to acknowledge it's a double-edged sword so fans just complain about the parts they don't like.

Freeman hires Mickens, a friend, it was a great hire.

He hires Al Golden, a stranger, it was a great hire.

He hired Stuckey, a stranger, wasn't a great fit.

He hired Parker, a friend, thus far it's not been great.

We can at least be grateful for the entertainment and engagement during the offseason.

 

[pumpdog20]

He gets credit for interviewing someone?

I mean he hired or wanted to hire 3 of the 4.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Nobody wants to acknowledge it's a double-edged sword so fans just complain about the parts they don't like.

Freeman hires Mickens, a friend, it was a great hire.

He hires Al Golden, a stranger, it was a great hire.

He hired Stuckey, a stranger, wasn't a great fit.

He hired Parker, a friend, thus far it's not been great.

We can at least be grateful for the entertainment and engagement during the offseason.

Assistant coaches come and go, especially this time of year. It is a painfully obvious part of the profession and business that I fail to understand why people fail to understand.

These guys are not married to these programs the way us fans are. They're just jobs to them.

 

[NDdomer2]

Nobody wants to acknowledge it's a double-edged sword so fans just complain about the parts they don't like.

Freeman hires Mickens, a friend, it was a great hire.

He hires Al Golden, a stranger, it was a great hire.

He hired Stuckey, a stranger, wasn't a great fit.

He hired Parker, a friend, thus far it's not been great.

We can at least be grateful for the entertainment and engagement during the offseason.

Yeah there's a lot of no context with these posts recently about how we're supposed to feel, etc.

I think pointing out that there are similarities in hiring practices between new and old is fair. It doesn't mean someone's labeling it as a bad hire immediately.

As you have pointed out there are positives and negatives on both sides of hiring within and outside his circle.

To me I think most people are pointing out the hypocrisy that exists on the hard supporters/haters of each coach.

Kelly haters liked to use the hiring of friends consistently to why ND never got over the hump but dismiss any similarities for Freeman and point to the fact he picked up the phone to guys outside as some strange proof he's different. Meanwhile everyone acknowledges Parker was biggest inhibitor to the 2023 team who is of course Freemans friend.

Pointing out hypocrisy and an independent conclusion on someone being a good or bad hire are not the same thing.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Yeah there's a lot of no context with these posts recently about how we're supposed to feel, etc.

I think pointing out that there are similarities in hiring practices between new and old is fair. It doesn't mean someone's labeling it as a bad hire immediately.

As you have pointed out there are positives and negatives on both sides of hiring within and outside his circle.

To me I think most people are pointing out the hypocrisy that exists on the hard supporters/haters of each coach.

Kelly haters liked to use the hiring of friends consistently to why ND never got over the hump but dismiss any similarities for Freeman and point to the fact he picked up the phone to guys outside as some strange proof he's different. Meanwhile everyone acknowledges Parker was biggest inhibitor to the 2023 team who is of course Freemans friend.

Pointing out hypocrisy and an independent conclusion on someone being a good or bad hire are not the same thing.

I don't disagree and can explain it via the inverse and arrive at the same conclusion.

Freeman is not 'tied to his rolodex', it looks like he's consistently opened up his searches even if they didn't result in the hire some people wanted.

Even with Parker, it was his 3rd choice(?) and it was incredibly late to be hiring an OC. I'm still giving Freeman the benefit of the doubt because he's so damn charismatic. He's authentically engaged in the university and promoting other teams/coaches with his attendance. He really walks the walk in terms of character. He's learning on the job rapidly and I still have high hopes.

Talent acquisition - HS recruiting/portal is the biggest piece to the puzzle but not the only one and Freeman is slowly transforming the program into his vision. He has FUND backing him, they are overhauling the training facilities and he's completely overturned the coaching staff after Kelly's departure. He's going into year 3, with a roster he's been building for 3.5 years. I'll start grading more harshly after next year. And every year there after, expectations will remain elevated.

It's truly his program moving forward as he's rebuilt it how he wants.

 

[NDdomer2]

I don't disagree and can explain it via the inverse and arrive at the same conclusion.

Freeman is not 'tied to his rolodex', it looks like he's consistently opened up his searches even if they didn't result in the hire some people wanted.

Even with Parker, it was his 3rd choice(?) and it was incredibly late to be hiring an OC. I'm still giving Freeman the benefit of the doubt because he's so damn charismatic. He's authentically engaged in the university and promoting other teams/coaches with his attendance. He really walks the walk in terms of character. He's learning on the job rapidly and I still have high hopes.

Talent acquisition - HS recruiting/portal is the biggest piece to the puzzle but not the only one and Freeman is slowly transforming the program into his vision. He has FUND backing him, they are overhauling the training facilities and he's completely overturned the coaching staff after Kelly's departure. He's going into year 3, with a roster he's been building for 3.5 years. I'll start grading more harshly after next year. And every year there after, expectations will remain elevated.

It's truly his program moving forward as he's rebuilt it how he wants.

Agreed.

Ultimately hiring practices in almost all situations (even in non-football) have some aspects of who you know. It's to be expected.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Parker just got hired as a head coach because two of his former college teammates at UK were head coaches there previously.

As the saying goes, "youse do youse."

 

[irishff1014]

Nobody wants to acknowledge it's a double-edged sword so fans just complain about the parts they don't like.

Freeman hires Mickens, a friend, it was a great hire.

He hires Al Golden, a stranger, it was a great hire.

He hired Stuckey, a stranger, wasn't a great fit.

He hired Parker, a friend, thus far it's not been great.

We can at least be grateful for the entertainment and engagement during the offseason.

I believe BK hired Mickens then the following year Freeman was hired as DC.

 

[stlnd01]

I believe BK hired Mickens then the following year Freeman was hired as DC.

Yep. Mickens was here before Freeman. They were close friends from Cincy and the story at the time was that Mickens played a large role in selling Freeman on coming here and explaining what Notre Dame was about. So, yeah, Mickens is pretty awesome.

I think O'Leary was also here as an analyst before Freeman, though obvs Freeman elevated him to a full assistant.

Really, aside from Parker and I guess Stuckey, it's hard to complain about Freeman's assistant hires thus far. But of course, we will.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I believe BK hired Mickens then the following year Freeman was hired as DC.

Right. Thanks for the correction.

Freeman retained Mickens, his friend.

 

[Luckylucci]

Mickens actually played at UC for BK.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Mike Brown being hired now looks like a really smart hire if they can lure Denbrock back into the fold. Denbrock back in the room with Brown and Gino makes for a lot of comfortability.

Those 2019-2021 Bearcat teams were not slouches.