Clark Lea - Defensive Coordinator

[Circa]

I can't believe we're actually talking about this. Seriously does anyone have a single legitimate source on any side that points to Lea even being interested in another job?

Everything I've heard about Lea was that he was extremely appreciative of getting his first DC opportunity, loves ND and has loved ND since he was a kid, is very happy in his current role and optimistic about the roster, and has a high opinion of his assistant coaches.

Weirder things have happened, but it would be the most surprising ND coaching news of the Kelly era to see him leave this offseason.

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[IrishLax]

Good catch. Mistook them for another acronym. Go Roadrunners...



I would be a little surprised, not shocked, if Lea left.

Tosh was Co-DC the year before as well.

DL NFL vs Co-DC is debatable (from a career perspective), but I'd be surprised if Tosh is making more than he was at Bama. He was making 950k in T Town. Golding was making 650k. That's more than most position coaches make. I'd guess his Browns contract is about .5M.

So.... let's say Lea is making 300ish... if offered 950ish...

Would love to know the back story. I really doubt Tosh was pushed out, just because his recruiting prowess, but who knows.

lol what the fuck

 

[Irish YJ]

lol what the fuck

how much do you think he is making? i'd bet it's not 950

 

[IrishLax]

how much do you think he is making? i'd bet it's not 950

Well, every DC in the Kelly era has made over a million dollars, soooo........

I don't have his tax returns, but I'm extremely confident $950k wouldn't be some sort of crazy cash incentive for him to change locales.

 

[Irish YJ]

Well, every DC in the Kelly era has made over a million dollars, soooo........

I don't have his tax returns, but I'm extremely confident $950k wouldn't be some sort of crazy cash incentive for him to change locales.

yup, 300 was really low lol.

What was Elko making. Couldn't find anything as ND doesn't disclose. I know TAMU gave him 1.8M IIRC. I would be a little surprised though if ND gave a first year DC over 1M though.

 

[T-Boone]

The way things are going, coordinators should make announcements that they are coming back at this time of year...the way players eligible for the draft do.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

There's an interview with Coney on The Athletic* which included this answer about his feelings on Clark Lea:

That’s an amazing guy. I really, truly honor him. I look up to him just with the way that he carries himself. One day I want to be the father figure that he is for his kids. How important it is to live your life right. How important it is to have your priorities right in your life. That’s something that I truly learned when he got there my junior year, how to live my life the right way and to put the things that I wanted in my life first. Those have been the priorities in my life. The consistency that he holds in his life in all areas is also something that I learned, that it’s important to be consistent in everything I do. I can’t choose one day to be great and the next day to be average. I tried to push to be great every day. That guy is amazing for sure.

*Definitely worth the sub.

 

[IrishLion]

Soooo, the next ND head coach?

 

[NDIrish88]

YESSS!!!

 

[ab2cmiller]

Soooo, the next ND head coach?

Don't ask us, half of us had anointed Mike Sanford worthy of that consideration a few years back, and we see how that worked out for Western Kentucky.

 

[Irish YJ]

Don't ask us, half of us had anointed Mike Sanford worthy of that consideration a few years back, and we see how that worked out for Western Kentucky.

While I was never on that train (Sanford the next ND HC), I think he'll rebound and get another shot. I think WK pulled the trigger a little early TBH. Filling Brohm's shoes was going to be a tough challenge.

 

[GowerND11]

While I was never on that train (Sanford the next ND HC), I think he'll rebound and get another shot. I think WK pulled the trigger a little early TBH. Filling Brohm's shoes was going to be a tough challenge.

Especially when all the production left when Brohm left. It isn't coincidence that he went to Purdue when he did...

 

[Luckylucci]

And there is a little bit of difference in performance as well. I think Clark has shown himself to be a better recruiter than Sanford was. I also think the results, though it's only been 1 year, Lea has a top 5 defense under his belt. That's an elite category. Sanford never had that type of success as an OC. So, if Lea can keep this defense in the top 10-15 nationally for a couple of years, that success will be superior to the resume Sanford had when that conversation was taking place.

 

[Irish YJ]

Especially when all the production left when Brohm left. It isn't coincidence that he went to Purdue when he did...

While a lot of talent did graduate the year Brohm left, I doubt that had anything to do with Brohm leaving. His leaving was simply a product of a p5 opportunity and a bigger paycheck. It is a career after all. He gave them 4 good years, did better than his one and done predecessor, and gave them more success than anyone since their move up to the big leagues.

 

[IrishLion]

Don't ask us, half of us had anointed Mike Sanford worthy of that consideration a few years back, and we see how that worked out for Western Kentucky.

While I was never on that train (Sanford the next ND HC), I think he'll rebound and get another shot. I think WK pulled the trigger a little early TBH. Filling Brohm's shoes was going to be a tough challenge.

Guilty.

I thought Sanford was the next coming, and heard a couple of times that he was brought to ND in-part because he was a promising young coach that might be considered as "Next Man In" with appropriate seasoning.

In retrospect, it appears that he either wasn't as instrumental to running the offense as we all thought, or maybe that BK's reinvention coincided with Sanford deciding a different opportunity was best for his own career trajectory.

 

[Redbar]

I have always preferred a head coach that was a defensive position coach earlier in his career.

 

[Irish YJ]

I have always preferred a head coach that was a defensive position coach earlier in his career.

I'm getting more and more like this. I think I just might be getting old.

Guilty.

I thought Sanford was the next coming, and heard a couple of times that he was brought to ND in-part because he was a promising young coach that might be considered as "Next Man In" with appropriate seasoning.

In retrospect, it appears that he either wasn't as instrumental to running the offense as we all thought, or maybe that BK's reinvention coincided with Sanford deciding a different opportunity was best for his own career trajectory.

No doubt he was an up and comer. I just wasn't in awe of his resume to start. And it just never got to the point with me where I was uber impressed. I mean, he only spent 1 year at OC for BSU before taking the ND OC job. I think life came at him too fast lol. I think he'll rebound and get another shot.

On the other hand, Clark's resume didn't blow me out of the water either, but he himself has left me uber impressed.

 

[T-Boone]

Is he too composed to be a HC? All the successful ones seem to be crazy on the side lines.

 

[Irish YJ]

Is he too composed to be a HC? All the successful ones seem to be crazy on the side lines.

I don't think his composure translates into lack of passion.
I could photo shop in some purple tint to his face if it makes you feel better

 

[T-Boone]

I don't think his composure translates into lack of passion.
I could photo shop in some purple tint to his face if it makes you feel better

haha, to clarify I certainly am not saying he lacks passion. Guys got a great balance of passion but keeping it outwardly composed.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I have always preferred a head coach that was a defensive position coach earlier in his career.

Hell yes, just like Bob Davie!

 

[ulukinatme]

Hell yes, just like Boob Davie!

FIFY

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

FIFY

So looking forward to Sep. 14.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

So looking forward to Sep. 14.

Evidently New Mexico is in full tire fire mode and is going to be even worse than their 3-8 season in 2018.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Evidently New Mexico is in full tire fire mode and is going to be even worse than their 3-8 season in 2018.

I think I've said it before somewhere on another thread, and not to derail Lea's thread, but I have no clue how on earth he is still employed there. Underwhelming is the nicest way to put it.

He's got a record of 33-54 (0.379) since they hired him in 2012, and only had one solid year at 9-4 in '16 w/ a bowl W. Only one other winning season (7-6, bowl loss). He's 24-50 outside of that season in '16. Plus he has a player mistreatment allegation against him to boot. Blows my mind. But it'll be fun to kick his ass this fall.

 

[GowerND11]

I think I've said it before somewhere on another thread, and not to derail Lea's thread, but I have no clue how on earth he is still employed there. Underwhelming is the nicest way to put it.

He's got a record of 33-54 (0.379) since they hired him in 2012, and only had one solid year at 9-4 in '16 w/ a bowl W. Only one other winning season (7-6, bowl loss). He's 24-50 outside of that season in '16. Plus he has a player mistreatment allegation against him to boot. Blows my mind. But it'll be fun to kick his ass this fall.

Where would New Mexico turn to for a better coach? I'm not saying you need to just settle, but we're talking about New Mexico. They are over 100 games below .500, only 9 winning seasons since 1990 (none of them 10 win seasons), and Boob came in after the dumpster fire of MIke Locksley.

 

[NewBrunswickIrish]

Where would New Mexico turn to for a better coach? I'm not saying you need to just settle, but we're talking about New Mexico. They are over 100 games below .500, only 9 winning seasons since 1990 (none of them 10 win seasons, and Boob came in after the dumpster fire of MIke Locksley.

Yeah, I was about to write something similar. They are New Mexico not Alabama. It’s good that they have some self-awareness that they aren’t a top tier or even mid-tier destination for coaches. Even if they were looking they may not get an improvement over Davie.

 

[ulukinatme]

I think I've said it before somewhere on another thread, and not to derail Lea's thread, but I have no clue how on earth he is still employed there. Underwhelming is the nicest way to put it.

He's got a record of 33-54 (0.379) since they hired him in 2012, and only had one solid year at 9-4 in '16 w/ a bowl W. Only one other winning season (7-6, bowl loss). He's 24-50 outside of that season in '16. Plus he has a player mistreatment allegation against him to boot. Blows my mind. But it'll be fun to kick his ass this fall.

How soon we forget about Alabama's former OC and Maryland's new coach, Mike Locksley. Prior to Boob going to New Mexico, Locksley went 1-11 in 2009, 1-11 in 2010, and 1-11 in 2011. After enduring that, Boob Davie getting them to bowl games again in 2015 and 2016 is like night and day. 33-54 isn't horrible for New Mexico honestly, but his seat will certainly be a bit warmer this year since the team has regressed the last two seasons.

Keep in mind New Mexico was a door mat for a long time before Rocky Long started coaching them in the late 90s. They've been to 12 bowl games since 1939, with 2 of those coming from Boob and 5 coming from Long. They didn't go to a bowl once between '47 and '61, and there was an even bigger gap between bowls from '61 to '97!

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Where would New Mexico turn to for a better coach? I'm not saying you need to just settle, but we're talking about New Mexico. They are over 100 games below .500, only 9 winning seasons since 1990 (none of them 10 win seasons), and Boob came in after the dumpster fire of MIke Locksley.

Yeah, I was about to write something similar. They are New Mexico not Alabama. It’s good that they have some self-awareness that they aren’t a top tier or even mid-tier destination for coaches. Even if they were looking they may not get an improvement over Davie.

The biggest reason I disagree with both points above, albeit both are fair, is that he was never successful as a head coach. Sure, big name as a former ND guy, great DC in the 80's and 90's, but that all still just screams washed up after ND and now NM. And again, I'd like to reiterate the player mistreatment allegations. Shouldn't that have been the straw that broke the camel's back after a 3-9 season (following a 9-4 bowl victory year to boot)?

Wouldn't they be better off trying to find their Jeff Brohm or Matt Campbell? Sure, they might leave for greener pastures, but not until they have sustained success over multiple seasons and put your program on the map. Just food for thought.

It's just Boob Davie, it's not like they hired Mark Dantonio after a falling out in East Lansing.

 

[dublinirish]

How soon we forget about Alabama's former OC and Maryland's new coach, Mike Locksley. Prior to Boob going to New Mexico, Locksley went 1-11 in 2009, 1-11 in 2010, and 1-11 in 2011. After enduring that, Boob Davie getting them to bowl games again in 2015 and 2016 is like night and day. 33-54 isn't horrible for New Mexico honestly, but his seat will certainly be a bit warmer this year since the team has regressed the last two seasons.

Keep in mind New Mexico was a door mat for a long time before Rocky Long started coaching them in the late 90s. They've been to 12 bowl games since 1939, with 2 of those coming from Boob and 5 coming from Long. They didn't go to a bowl once between '47 and '61, and there was an even bigger gap between bowls from '61 to '97!

Locksley was at NMSU which is even worse than NM