Defensive Coordinator Search 2020

[Luckylucci]

Me too. I think I would go for Freeman, Wallace, and Heacock and if none work out, then keep it in house.

I understand the benefit of consistency. But you have to really believe in the internal hire. If they do (like with Rees), then fine. But you can't hire internally just to hire internally. It has to be that the consistency plus the experience and ability is greater than the experience and ability of the outside hire.

This is kind of where I’m at. Go after a couple top hires and if you don’t get them, keep it in house. I love Freeman. Make him an insanely rich man and get him. Or go with Elston.

 

[Rogue219]

This is kind of where I’m at. Go after a couple top hires and if you don’t get them, keep it in house. I love Freeman. Make him an insanely rich man and get him. Or go with Elston.

Kelly is going to know if the next DC is already at The Gug. If not, he'll find the guy.

I thought at the time hiring Lea was a stretch. I'm going to trust CBK in this instance. He's earned that from me in the last few years with his hires.

He even saw that Chip Long was not working out and cut him loose, which is an even tougher decision to make IMO.

Curious to see where he goes next.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

If the OC hire of Rees is any indicator of what to expect for DC, it'll be Elston. I'm on board with Elston as DC/Ascoc Head Coach and then trying to lure in Marcus Freeman as a co-DC/LB coach. That's my ideal scenario.

 

[rtrn2glory]

If the OC hire of Rees is any indicator of what to expect for DC, it'll be Elston. I'm on board with Elston as DC/Ascoc Head Coach and then trying to lure in Marcus Freeman as a co-DC/LB coach. That's my ideal scenario.

would need to pony up some dough to lure Freeman for that one imo

 

[phork]

Elston, Freeman, Bateman in that order.

 

[IrishLion]

Added to the OP:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The tenor of the search could be dictated by an internal desire to keep the Elko/Lea system. ND associate HC Mike Elston and Terry Joseph would be top internal candidates. Others who know it are Wake DC Lyle Hemphill and A&M LB coach Tyler Santucci.</p>— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/1338932948515557384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Thamel was the first to confirm that Lea was getting the Vandy job, I think, so he may have a good source in the program for some of the names he's added outside of the usual suspects.

 

[phillyirish]

Our defensive recruiting has been down the past two cycles, might need an outside presence to rejuvenated that a bit.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

would need to pony up some dough to lure Freeman for that one imo

How much is he making at Cinci? I'm not familiar with ND staff salaries either.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Added to the OP:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The tenor of the search could be dictated by an internal desire to keep the Elko/Lea system. ND associate HC Mike Elston and Terry Joseph would be top internal candidates. Others who know it are Wake DC Lyle Hemphill and A&M LB coach Tyler Santucci.</p>— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/1338932948515557384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Thamel was the first to confirm that Lea was getting the Vandy job, I think, so he may have a good source in the program for some of the names he's added outside of the usual suspects.

Didn't know much about him. He started as safeties coach for Wake in 2017, the year after Elko and Lea came to ND from Wake. (As an aside, I did not realize Tommy's dad Bill also came over from Wake that year) Anyway, perhaps in a stroke of irony he was promoted to defensive coordinator after a 56-27 loss to ND in 2018, after they fired Jay Sawvel.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Added to the OP:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The tenor of the search could be dictated by an internal desire to keep the Elko/Lea system. ND associate HC Mike Elston and Terry Joseph would be top internal candidates. Others who know it are Wake DC Lyle Hemphill and A&M LB coach Tyler Santucci.</p>— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/1338932948515557384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Thamel was the first to confirm that Lea was getting the Vandy job, I think, so he may have a good source in the program for some of the names he's added outside of the usual suspects.

That seems like a reach. He has been a LB coach for 2 years: 2019 at Wake, 2020 at TAMU. Prior to that he was a defensive analyst for ND in 2017 then went over with Elko to be a defensive analyst at TAMU in 2018.

 

[ab2cmiller]

How much is he making at Cinci? I'm not familiar with ND staff salaries either.

Signed extension earlier in the season that raised him up to 600k. Although it sounds like he may have turned down MSU at the start of the year which would've been just under a million.

Translation ...... he's not chasing the $$$$'s.

 

[Irish YJ]

Signed extension earlier in the season that raised him up to 600k. Although it sounds like he may have turned down MSU at the start of the year which would've been just under a million.

Translation ...... he's not chasing the $$$$'s.

or he's getting sideways money

 

[NDohio]

or he's getting sideways money

The $600K does include $75K in private funds. Could be more I suppose...

 

[Irish YJ]

Hey Lion, or any mod....

Once the names mature in a week or so, can we get a poll?

 

[Irish YJ]

The $600K does include $75K in private funds. Could be more I suppose...

I know BK gets a lot of non-school $.
I've always wondered how much exactly, and also if the assistants get that type of money at all.

 

[Rogue219]

Added to the OP:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The tenor of the search could be dictated by an internal desire to keep the Elko/Lea system. ND associate HC Mike Elston and Terry Joseph would be top internal candidates. Others who know it are Wake DC Lyle Hemphill and A&M LB coach Tyler Santucci.</p>— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/1338932948515557384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Thamel was the first to confirm that Lea was getting the Vandy job, I think, so he may have a good source in the program for some of the names he's added outside of the usual suspects.

Yikes.

I mean, if all these names are viable, holy hell. I seriously doubt that's the case, but still.

Grinch would be my top choice strictly from a fan's standpoint.
Leonhard second
Walters third
Freeman fourth
Bateman fifth
Wallace sixth

Brad White from UK being this far down shows how good a list this is.

 

[Irish YJ]

Yikes.

I mean, if all these names are viable, holy hell. I seriously doubt that's the case, but still.

Grinch would be my top choice strictly from a fan's standpoint.
Leonhard second
Walters third
Freeman fourth
Bateman fifth
Wallace sixth

Brad White from UK being this far down shows how good a list this is.

I think Grinch's 3-3-5 system might be a barrier, if they truly want to stick with the current system.

 

[Irishize]

I could see Cincy naming Freeman as Head Coach in Waiting b/c they know Fickell is leaving sooner or later. They know Freeman is a hot candidate at P5 schools as DC or even as HC at G5 schools. I don’t see ND landing him...just my gut feeling.

I heard Sampson mention an Elston/Joseph co-DC scenario.

 

[ulukinatme]

Wow, is Tyler Stockton really getting looks already as a DC at a big time program? I didn't even realize he's been a DC at Western Illinois already for a year, and now a year as DC at Ball State (Year before that he was Co-DC). Would be cool to have another ND guy if he's good, I just don't know enough yet. Looks like Testicle Tech has one of the better MAC defenses this year giving up 27.5 points a game. Among the teams that played at least 5 games only Toledo and #23 ranked Buffalo had stingier defenses. Maybe it's a pay bump thing?

 

[stpeteirish]

Anyone know anything about this Tyler Santucci guy? Looks like a badass.

Elko brought him to A & M from ND. Was he a GA at ND?

 

[ab2cmiller]

Wow, is Tyler Stockton really getting looks already as a DC at a big time program? I didn't even realize he's been a DC at Western Illinois already for a year, and now a year as DC at Ball State (Year before that he was Co-DC). Would be cool to have another ND guy if he's good, I just don't know enough yet. Looks like Testicle Tech has one of the better MAC defenses this year giving up 27.5 points a game. Among the teams that played at least 5 games only Toledo and #23 ranked Buffalo had stingier defenses. Maybe it's a pay bump thing?

Stockton is a 3-4 guy. Has said, that he's been 3-4 his whole life and doesn't really know anything else.

 

[ulukinatme]

Stockton is a 3-4 guy. Has said, that he's been 3-4 his whole life and doesn't really know anything else.

So...not a take?

 

[ab2cmiller]

So...not a take?

I suppose if you thought he was "the guy" and you thought you had the personnel and you were willing to go through some growing pains ......... just seems like he would have a bunch of extra hurdles.

 

[Irish8248]

So...not a take?

Not unless you want to throw the whole system we burnley have out the window. It takes an entirely different group of players to run that... really you're looking for someone who can run a 4-2-5, make adjustments, and recruits well...


... soooo Elston

 

[Ndaccountant]

Signed extension earlier in the season that raised him up to 600k. Although it sounds like he may have turned down MSU at the start of the year which would've been just under a million.

Translation ...... he's not chasing the $$$$'s.

To be fair, the MSU thing is completely understandable. The situation was/is a mess with everything going on at the school, Dantonio pulling a fast one to retire and landing Mel Tucker. If you were a rising star, would you go there or continue to ascend and aim higher?

 

[317Irish]

Wow, is Tyler Stockton really getting looks already as a DC at a big time program? I didn't even realize he's been a DC at Western Illinois already for a year, and now a year as DC at Ball State (Year before that he was Co-DC). Would be cool to have another ND guy if he's good, I just don't know enough yet. Looks like Testicle Tech has one of the better MAC defenses this year giving up 27.5 points a game. Among the teams that played at least 5 games only Toledo and #23 ranked Buffalo had stingier defenses. Maybe it's a pay bump thing?

That would be a sad day if we signed Tyler Stockton to be our DC this year over Mike Elston...

 

[Luckylucci]

To be fair, the MSU thing is completely understandable. The situation was/is a mess with everything going on at the school, Dantonio pulling a fast one to retire and landing Mel Tucker. If you were a rising star, would you go there or continue to ascend and aim higher?

Agreed.

Also, the difference between 600k, 900k, and 1.2-1.5M starts to matter. Money may not matter when it's 300k and MSU.

But, it could start to matter when it's 500k+ and ND. I don't think it's likely but it's a different conversation altogether.

 

[ab2cmiller]

Agreed.

Also, the difference between 600k, 900k, and 1.2-1.5M starts to matter. Money may not matter when it's 300k and MSU.

But, it could start to matter when it's 500k+ and ND. I don't think it's likely but it's a different conversation altogether.

Freeman was making 425k at the time. So it was significant. Maybe Cincinnati told him a raise was coming or as NDaccountant pointed out it wasn’t a good situation.

Certainly ND would be an immensely better situation. I was just pointing out that Freeman obviously is rightfully considering a lot more than just the money. Maybe our situation and money would be enough to pull the trigger, but it certainly wouldn’t surprise me if it’s not.

 

[rtrn2glory]

How much is he making at Cinci? I'm not familiar with ND staff salaries either.

I'm not aware but I'm just referring to his relationship with fickell....I believe they're pretty tight so unless we blow him away with a ton of money I don't see him leaving

 

[Edge]

Why is it assumed anyone already on staff will play Lea’s defense? Coaches have enormous egos....

Wallace brings baggage....look it up

Expect Kelly to go with unproven coach again

Lea, Rees, ....next