Mike Mickens ND CB’s Coach

[Dale]

Valai played for Ash as a senior. He then got his first job as a CBs Coach at Rutgers under Ash. He then followed him to Texas.

That is when his resumes takes a detour to Saban/Golding before Venables. He was previously on Kirby’s inaugural staff as a quality control coach.

Bro was created in a lab to be a diverse candidate of scheme knowledge that he could bring to the table.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

The Richardson thing feels like a smokescreen. I have a feeling he’s closer to 4 or 5 on the list than the top choice.

I agree with this.

The truth of it all is nobody really knows shit. It's all fun tracking and discussing, but in the end, I could have never seen Charlie Partridge coming to ND and now here he is. I don't think they can make a hire here that I'm going to absolutely hate. I am expecting them to make a really good hire, actually, because that's been the case with Freeman more often than not since he got the big seat.

 

[rtrn2glory]

I hope it's legit interest and not just interested in getting a pay raise from his current employer

 

[jprue24]

I am so happy Brian Kelly brought Mike Mickens to ND and I'm grateful Mickens stayed for longer than I thought he would. When he arrived ND's cornerbacks were below avg for the team's ambitions.

Even more so than Elston, Mickens turned a position of weakness into arguably the strongest on the team. Doing so has helped change perspectives and stereotypes.

I have no concerns about who MF hires, I'm not sure he's really missed on one yet.

 

[Irish8248]

General reminder -- the beat DOESNT KNOW SHIT ABOUT ANYTHING --

Just a reminder, let's carry on pissing ourselves

 

[NDWarrior]

Valai played for Ash as a senior. He then got his first job as a CBs Coach at Rutgers under Ash. He then followed him to Texas.

That is when his resumes takes a detour to Saban/Golding before Venables. He was previously on Kirby’s inaugural staff as a quality control coach.

Bro was created in a lab to be a diverse candidate of scheme knowledge that he could bring to the table.

I've seen a number of outlets mention him now and that he should be top of the list of MM replacement targets. Does anyone have any (inside) information re: whether there is interest on his end? I don't think we'll know anything about anyone until the new hire is about to happen, as Irish8248 just reminded us.

 

[Huntr]

General reminder -- the beat DOESNT KNOW SHIT ABOUT ANYTHING --

Just a reminder, let's carry on pissing ourselves

What, like they don't know he's going to the Ravens?

 

[GoldenAura]

General reminder -- the beat DOESNT KNOW SHIT ABOUT ANYTHING --

Just a reminder, let's carry on pissing ourselves

This. They can throw out names and maybe one of them will actually come to fruition. But I think it’s just as likely if not more so that a random name we haven’t heard yet gets announced and we end up quite pleased with it.

 

[allenm5333]

Valai played for Ash as a senior. He then got his first job as a CBs Coach at Rutgers under Ash. He then followed him to Texas.

That is when his resumes takes a detour to Saban/Golding before Venables. He was previously on Kirby’s inaugural staff as a quality control coach.

Bro was created in a lab to be a diverse candidate of scheme knowledge that he could bring to the table.

I watched some Valai clinics on Glazier. Really good stuff and seems intense but in a good way.

 

[laughingirish92]

Yikes

don't follow NFL much with the colts stinking so are you saying he isn't a good DBs coach

 

[BoredIrish]

The bigger questions, however, are on defense. There is already a report from ESPN that pins Broncos pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard as a leading candidate to be the Bills’ new defensive coordinator. If that happens, the entire defensive staff could see an overhaul from last season. Bobby Babich, who was McDermott’s defensive protege since the former head coach arrived in 2017, might be gone if the Bills get Leonhard. And if Babich is gone, there could be a lot of positional coaching changes, too. Brady may want to hang on to some, with impressive coaching from cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae and safeties coach Mike Danna. There could be others, but the defensive coordinator will likely have full autonomy and will want his own people.

 

[GATTACA!]

View attachment 3062593

What lol

 

[Dale]

Allegedly (was posted on 247) the USC On3 site says Mickens was headed to USC if he didn’t take the Ravens job.



This makes sense since Golden is the DC and so many former players followed Chad to SC too.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Said it before, will say it again:

Assistants and coordinators leaving is acceptable attrition. It is the price of a good program. Stinks, but better than nobody wanting your guys, because they stink.


The head coach is the crown jewel, and we will survive/be just fine with our head coach.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[rtrn2glory]

Poaching Mickens to USC would've been a great move for them. Top of the line recruiter and talent developer and honestly, they couldn't be much worse on defense the past few years so giving him a shot as a first time play caller wouldn't be a bad move.

 

[Dale]

Poaching Mickens to USC would've been a great move for them. Top of the line recruiter and talent developer and honestly, they couldn't be much worse on defense the past few years so giving him a shot as a first time play caller wouldn't be a bad move.

Not as DC, as a lateral move

 

[smw6230]

Not as DC, as a lateral move

A lateral move made no sense whatsoever. The man is managing his career with the goal of becoming a HC. His professional standing is at the highest point that it's ever been.

Making a lateral move would demonstrate exactly what? That he can do it? But he's already done it and built perhaps the best secondary in college football at ND. The money wouldn't be the prime motivator for Mickens to move. He is already extremely well compensated.

Mickens leaving ND for SC entails more risks than rewards. A bad season and Riley could get fired. Riley might not devote enough energy to the defensive side of the ball. Riley may start to meddle. The DC may have views that conflict with Mickens views.

At ND Mickens was King of his Castle and had a 20yr relationship with the HC. No way he was throwing all that away for a lateral move that posed large downside risks without any realistic early reward.

In sum leaving ND for SC would have been a dumb career move. None of career moves have been dumb so far.

I guess the SC narrative would be Mickens moves to work for Chad Bowden. Not sure that's a motivating force for Mickens as he never worked under Bowden and was at ND years before him.

My guess is what we have here is USC Fanfic.

 

[GoldenAura]

Congrats to SC on their imaginary win vs ND

 

[BoredIrish]

USC has pissed away more DB talent than any other school in the country.

 

[The Backer]

Keep in mind that Chad Bowden is really chatty with the media behind the scenes and will pretty shamelessly push whatever, particularly if it'll tweak ND/Freeman. Some of the NFL rumors with Freeman (the "second wave of interest" during transfer portal week) was almost certainly Bowden.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

The bigger questions, however, are on defense. There is already a report from ESPN that pins Broncos pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard as a leading candidate to be the Bills’ new defensive coordinator. If that happens, the entire defensive staff could see an overhaul from last season. Bobby Babich, who was McDermott’s defensive protege since the former head coach arrived in 2017, might be gone if the Bills get Leonhard. And if Babich is gone, there could be a lot of positional coaching changes, too. Brady may want to hang on to some, with impressive coaching from cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae and safeties coach Mike Danna. There could be others, but the defensive coordinator will likely have full autonomy and will want his own people.

Addae was on staff with Gerad Parker at WVU in 2020.

 

[irish2104]

K

Keep in mind that Chad Bowden is really chatty with the media behind the scenes and will pretty shamelessly push whatever, particularly if it'll tweak ND/Freeman. Some of the NFL rumors with Freeman (the "second wave of interest" during transfer portal week) was almost certainly Bowden.

Wow is that true? Where did you hear that? Unreal

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

Keep in mind that Chad Bowden is really chatty with the media behind the scenes and will pretty shamelessly push whatever, particularly if it'll tweak ND/Freeman. Some of the NFL rumors with Freeman (the "second wave of interest" during transfer portal week) was almost certainly Bowden.

Why does this dude hate us?

 

[tirishman505]

Why does this dude hate us?

I mean strategically it makes sense: 1) SC competes with ND for a lot of the same profile-type kids 2) Chad has always made it a priority to do his own PR, from being the inside guy for Loy to message board posting to inviting in Josh Pate. 3) Since he spent so much time w/ Freeman, anything he says is going to be given weight by outside media, who frankly need very little to run with a ND story as engagement bait. And I suppose 4) ego can be a hell of a thing.

 

[IrishFanForever23]

Prister saying it's not a done deal, but he thinks it will be Valai.

Defensive Backs Coaches To Consider (Updated 11:30 Tues./pg. 5)

Defensive Backs Coaches To Consider (Updated 11:30 Tues./pg. 5)

247sports.com

 

[NDPhilly]

Damn, that would be a big time get.

 

[irish2104]

ISD was saying something similar

 

[KPENN]

ND with the most 5 stars in the 2026 class. Preseason Natty favorite, heisman favorite and getting whatever fucking assistant they want. My head is spinning

 

[Huntr]

Prister saying it's not a done deal, but he thinks it will be Valai.

Defensive Backs Coaches To Consider (Updated 11:30 Tues./pg. 5)

Defensive Backs Coaches To Consider (Updated 11:30 Tues./pg. 5)

247sports.com

That would be a fantastic hire.

 

[greyhammer90]

Weird that for him being a co-DC and apparently highly thought of, I can't find any discussion about the potential move on the Oklahoma board.