Clark Lea - Defensive Coordinator

[Wild Bill]

Vandy's 2021 schedule set's up to be (assuming Covid doesn't interfere) :

ETSU - W
Colorado State - W
Stanford - L
UConn - ?
Florida - L
Ole Miss - L
South Carolina - L
TN - L
GA - L
KY - ?
Missouri - ?

In 2022.... Bama, GA, KY, Missouri, FL then Ole Miss all Back-to-Back and the only home game is FL & Ole Miss......

I hope Lea knows what he is in for.....

Stanford, UCONN, Ole Miss, South Carolina and TN are all winnable games. I don't necessarily think that they will win but a few of these teams are dumpster fires at the moment.

Lea will never have the success that Fitz has had NW, BIG title games, Rose Bowl, etc, but he could win enough to keep that job for a decade or more. He needs six wins a year to qualify for a bowl - find four shit OOC opponents and beat two in conference teams. Far from an impossible task. If he's in a bowl game more often than not, he'll keep the job for a while. Maybe that's what he wants. Five million a year to live in Nashville and coach football wouldn't be a bad life.

 

[Blazers46]

Congrats to the coach.... tough spot to land in Vandy.

 

[Mavericknyc1980]

Congrats coach. Let’s win a Natty then next man up

 

[Rogue219]

Lea will never have the success that Fitz has had NW, BIG title games, Rose Bowl, etc, but he could win enough to keep that job for a decade or more. He needs six wins a year to qualify for a bowl - find four shit OOC opponents and beat two in conference teams. Far from an impossible task. If he's in a bowl game more often than not, he'll keep the job for a while. Maybe that's what he wants. Five million a year to live in Nashville and coach football wouldn't be a bad life.

Fitzgerald hasn't been to a Rose Bowl as a coach so far and only won his division once, which was last year. I do think that is probably Vanderbilt's bar for Lea, but Northwestern got off the ground in the 90s under Gary Barnett (35-45-1) and stayed respectable by Northwestern standards under Gary Walker (37–46) until his sudden passing. Fitzgerald has been there ever since and there have been facility upgrades during that time. The school is landlocked by it's location because of the area around it and because it is right on top of Lake Michigan. I don't know Vanderbilt's situation, but Fitzgerald had some football groundwork when he got there from Barnett and Walker not to mention some good A.D.s

(NU AD Jim Phillips just got hired today as the new ACC Commish, as it turns out.)

This is probably what Lea can hope for. Harbaugh and Shaw at Stanford is probably asking too much.

 

[notredomer23]

If ND goes external for defensive coordinator my list would begin and end with Marcus Freeman at Cincy.

 

[Irishnuke]

He should have at least called Auburn to gauge their interest. Good luck at Vandy. He'll need it. Wish this could have waited a few weeks but I guess Vandy has to have some positive news to tell recruits.

 

[Blazers46]

He can't coach there alone, possible he takes anyone else from NDs staff to Vandy?

 

[ab2cmiller]

If ND goes external for defensive coordinator my list would begin and end with Marcus Freeman at Cincy.

Supposedly had a chance to double his salary and jump to MSU at the beginning of the year and declined. Got a contract extension and his salary is now around 600k. Previously around 425k.

Loyal to Fickell

Certainly there might be a possibility to pry him away, but it certainly won't be all about the Benjamins.

 

[Rogue219]

He can't coach their alone, possible he takes anyone else from NDs staff to Vandy?

How DARE you....

 

[BeauBenken]

He can't coach their alone, possible he takes anyone else from NDs staff to Vandy?

I would guess Nick Lewzynski. Unless Nick stays here.

 

[Rogue219]

If ND goes external for defensive coordinator my list would begin and end with Marcus Freeman at Cincy.

He has turned down the DC job at Michigan State, an LB coaching job with the Tennessee Titans and an LB job at Ohio State.

He's making $600K a year at UC right now after a raise and extension.

Illinois would be crazy not to at least call him and see if he'd be interested in their HC job, but this guy has shown to be pretty selective already.

 

[Riddickulous]

I would guess Nick Lewzynski. Unless Nick stays here.

I bet he'll be promoted to LB coach if we go with an internal hire.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

I would guess Nick Lewzynski. Unless Nick stays here.

I'll throw out a guess that Joseph is Vanderbilt's next DC.

 

[ab2cmiller]

I bet he'll be promoted to LB coach if we go with an internal hire.

Then you would have to get rid of an assistant coach somewhere else I believe, as we would be over the max.

 

[NewBrunswickIrish]

Then you would have to get rid of an assistant coach somewhere else I believe, as we would be over the max.

He would just replace Lea essentially if the DC was an internal hire. So Lea out, Lewzynski in.

 

[Rogue219]

Seth Wallace is the assistant DC/ LB Coach at Iowa. 41 years old and makes $500K a year. Started out in 2016 as their recruiting coordinator.

This might be Kelly's man.

 

[ab2cmiller]

He would just replace Lea essentially if the DC was an internal hire. So Lea out, Lewzynski in.

Yes, if it's an internal hire that would be fine. External hire, someone would have to go if you elevated the grad assist.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Good luck Coach.

 

[Huntr]

Pretty sure Lewzynski goes with Lea to Vandy

 

[dublinirish]

Pretty sure Lewzynski goes with Lea to Vandy

everything been written/said previously about their working relationship indicates this.

 

[Huntr]

everything been written/said previously about their working relationship indicates this.

yep

 

[Rogue219]

Seth Wallace is the assistant DC/ LB Coach at Iowa. 41 years old and makes $500K a year. Started out in 2016 as their recruiting coordinator.

This might be Kelly's man.

Only thing I found on this guy is he was the first or one of the first coaches to start recruiting Rylie Mills.

Some Iowa boards seem to be worried that ND could come asking about him. The irony there should not be lost on anyone.

 

[T-Boone]

Bummer.
Good luck to him.

 

[ulukinatme]

Wait, I just realized something if Lea isn't our next coach...Knute was 32 when he took the reins of the Irish in 1918. You know who else will be 32 when BK retires? REESUS.

 

[Greenore]

Good luck Coach Lea and thanks for all your efforts and fine work at ND.

Feeling a little anxious with this news but I trust in all you have done and the legacy you have left for our next DC.

Cheers and Go Irish!!

 

[irishff1014]

I'm kinda on bored with keeping things in house and continuing the defensive philosophy. I like both Elston and Joseph as DC.

I like Joesph. But what has he brought to the table? Other than Kyle Hamilton who is a stud and would have been good anywhere our safeties haven’t been anything other than average.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I like Joesph. But what has he brought to the table? Other than Kyle Hamilton who is a stud and would have been good anywhere our safeties haven’t been anything other than average.

I wouldn't call Alohi average, nor Jalen Elliot for that matter

 

[Irish du Nord]

I like Joesph. But what has he brought to the table? Other than Kyle Hamilton who is a stud and would have been good anywhere our safeties haven’t been anything other than average.

Is this in regards to recruiting? Because our safety play has been pretty great since his 2018 arrival.

 

[andre784]

Absolutely deflating to lose coach Lea. It took so many years to find the right guy for DC. Recruiting wise he was so impactful..horrible timing as well.

 

[irishtrooper]

First DC since the early 90’s that I’ve had almost total and complete confidence in with planning and if that failed or not-adjustments.

Wish him well. As much as it stinks hoping to find another gem, the cupboard is pretty stocked and this is a GOOD problem for programs. Success is good and this is one of the consequences. Rising water lifts all ships or something. Our program is in a better place than it has been in almost 30 years. We’ll be fine