Clark Lea - Defensive Coordinator

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Should things not work out at Vanderbilt, Lea is going to have a lot of opportunities and probably not limited to just college ball.

 

[irishff1014]

He seems to be pretty smart guy. I wonder if he would come back if Al gets another head coaching opportunity if he is available. His scheme with more talented players would be interesting.

 

[IHateMarkMay]

Isn't he lacking in the recruiting aspect of things, or am I thinking of someone else?

 

[zelezo vlk]

No it's absolutely true that he wasn't the best recruiter. But he found plenty of guys at his position and would coach them up, that's why none of us were really worried about bringing in Bertrand, Kiser, and Liufau in '19. We knew that Lea would get them coached up and playing to the very top of their ability. Who's to say that Lea with Chad Bowden and Marcus Freeman helping out wouldn't get dynamite defensive recruiting classes?

Regardless, I don't think he'll be available for years. Vandy is gonna give him a long leash. Heck they gave Derek Mason 7 years

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

He's a very smart guy and I do think that Vanderbilt will, and should, give him time.

Either way he has a lot of nice connections going for him with Kelly at LSU, Elko at Duke and I'm sure ND would not be out of the realm of possibility. I think Freeman, however, is going to demand his lieutenants recruit so Lea would have to step it up.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I mean. Is Al Golden really a Plus on the recruiting trail right now? I'm sure Lea could at least equal that.

 

[CanadalovesND]

I mean. Is Al Golden really a Plus on the recruiting trail right now? I'm sure Lea could at least equal that.

Good DL haul, Great LB haul, Great DB haul.... no bonafide 5-star in the front seven, but Lea never came close to what Golden has contributed to in his first class.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Good DL haul, Great LB haul, Great DB haul.... no bonafide 5-star in the front seven, but Lea never came close to what Golden has contributed to in his first class.

I'm not saying that this Defensive class isn't a good haul, but are we sure that's on Golden and not overwhelmingly the position coaches + Freeman?

 

[Luckylucci]

I'm not saying that this Defensive class isn't a good haul, but are we sure that's on Golden and not overwhelmingly the position coaches + Freeman?

This would be my perspective. This is Freeman and Bowden's work. 3 of the top 4 defenders, in this class, were committed before he was even on staff. He gets credit for that?

 

[bumpdaddy]

Good DL haul, Great LB haul, Great DB haul.... no bonafide 5-star in the front seven, but Lea never came close to what Golden has contributed to in his first class.

But has Golden been integral in recruiting those players? As DC last year, Freeman was integral in upping the recruiting level and was ranked as a top 10 recruiter in all of CFB. Golden isn't ranked in the top 100 - Al Washington is at #11, O'leary is 34, Freeman is 86. No Golden.

This isn't anything new. Some coordinators are much better when they primarily focus on coaching and let the rest of the staff pick up the slack in recruiting. This is Golden's first year as DC, so he might get a lot better at recruiting, but I agree that I'd be more than happy if Lea came back as DC someday even if he isn't an elite recruiter. For his sake, though, I'm still rooting for him to succeed at Vandy.

 

[Luckylucci]

That doesn't include Zinter and Shuler also being commits before he was on campus. So, 5 of 12 defensive commits were verballed before Golden ever spoke with them.

 

[Dale]

It’s all relative to the situation. Lea needed to be a better recruiter for us than he was at the time. If Lea 1 - 1 swapped with Golden he would not be asked as much. Washington, Bowden and Laurintias to a lot of the personal work. Recruits like Golden on visits but I don’t think he’s talking to many day to day.

That being said, Golden may need to do more in the future. Laurintias won’t be a GA forever and Washington happened to have a pre existing relationship with Ausberry and other LB targets since he was already on them at OSU.

 

[Rockin’Irish]

I think we would be foolish to think that Al Golden hasn’t been an important element in keeping commits as well as attracting new ones. He seems to have an excellent personality/demeanor not to mention a plethora of experience. I’d anticipate that MF, AW, MM and CB do most of the heavy lifting but Golden is still an asset that can sell himself, the program and the school. Just listening to him talk this year gives a glimpse of how he can handle himself with the prospective players.

 

[CanadalovesND]

Vandy is up 28-12 on Florida heading into the 4th quarter.

Lea and Vandy have had a tough middle of the season, but they’ve been playing their hearts out the last two weeks.

 

[Rockin’Irish]

Vandy is up 28-12 on Florida heading into the 4th quarter.

Lea and Vandy have had a tough middle of the season, but they’ve been playing their hearts out the last two weeks.

They held on to win……breaking Vandy’s losing streak to UF.

 

[CanadalovesND]

They held on to win……breaking Vandy’s losing streak to UF.

Truly wonderful for him.

As he said last week after beating Kentucky "...it's hard to build a program."

He's on his way.

I highly doubt they manage an upset of Tennessee to end the year, but to finish 5-7 in his second year would be excellent for coach Lea and that program.

 

[WilliamWallace]

If ND can play at a high level, so can Vandy! I think working for ND absolutely gives Lea a blueprint for how to take a high academic institution to another level, even in the SEC. Believe it or not academics are important to many players, and parents here in the south. Good for Vandy.

 

[stlnd01]

If ND can play at a high level, so can Vandy! I think working for ND absolutely gives Lea a blueprint for how to take a high academic institution to another level, even in the SEC. Believe it or not academics are important to many players, and parents here in the south. Good for Vandy.

Yep. SEC means they play a tougher schedule than most, but Vandy has potential to at least be a Northwestern or Stanford-level program. A tough out, and occasionally ranked. There's lots of nearby talent for them to draw.

 

[ulukinatme]

If Vandy manages to beat Tennessee next week they could be bowl eligible. Tall task, but if South Carolina can get it done there's a chance.

I'm surprised that Vandy has only been invited to 9 bowl games in their history, and 5 of them have been in the last decade.

 

[greyhammer90]

If Vandy manages to beat Tennessee next week they could be bowl eligible. Tall task, but if South Carolina can get it done there's a chance.

I'm surprised that Vandy has only been invited to 9 bowl games in their history, and 5 of them have been in the last decade.

If Hooker is out it could happen. Milton can't hit the broad side of a barn.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Just signed an extension with Vandy.

 

[dublinirish]

 

[calvegas04]

What's his buy out?

 

[DONTH8]

What's his buy out?

Doesn't matter. ND won't pay.

 

[greyhammer90]

Good for Coach Lea!

 

[forkbeard3777]

Good for Lea. You always want the home-town, alum to do well.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

After two seasons. Good for him on cashing in.

Timing is interesting in light of all the Northwestern news two weeks ago and the fallout last week. Likely coincidence.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Doesn't matter. ND won't pay.

Honestly, I don't think Lea would leave anyhow.

 

[greyhammer90]

Honestly, I don't think Lea would leave anyhow.

I think we'd be going for Elko as well.

 

[zelezo vlk]

After two seasons. Good for him on cashing in.

Timing is interesting in light of all the Northwestern news two weeks ago and the fallout last week. Likely coincidence.

I was kinda surprised his initial contract was for 6 years. Vandy must have known this would be a long rebuild.