Defensive Coordinator Search 2020

[ThePiombino]

An article and the podcast over at II has mentioned Elko as a candidate. Nothing serious, but they mentioned him and Kelly are still on good terms and you would at least have to call him to get a feel for what is going through his head right now. They all agreed ND would not pay what he's making at A&M, but he may not like it enough at A&M to stay.

Had no idea. I'm genuinely surprised by this.

Marcus freeman has like 6 kids under 12, not saying that he can’t be hired away but might not be that easy.

Good news is we can convince him to come here via an upgrade in prestige and income, odds are he won't be so easy to steak away short of a promotion.

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[SoIll]

Long list of candidates from ISD

https://irishsportsdaily.com/s/13795/potential-dc-candidates-for-notre-dame/1

"Maybe Elston will be a candidate, but it's not a likely choice IMO.

 

[IrishRazor82]

Marcus freeman has like 6 kids under 12, not saying that he can’t be hired away but might not be that easy.

Doesn't believe in contraceptives? Shoe in for the ND job.

 

[IrishRazor82]

Marcus freeman has like 6 kids under 12, not saying that he can’t be hired away but might not be that easy.

Doesn't believe in contraceptive? Shoe in for ND job.

 

[Crazy Balki]

I'd say that ND could always just trade coaches with Vandy and hire Mason.

But I'm pretty sure he runs a 3-4 and I don't think that would translate well.

That being said, nowadays, DC's can't really be married to a dedicated scheme anymore. They need to be able to mix and match their personnel and fits to match the offensive firepower and variety faced in today's game.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Why does anyone think this is even a remote possibility? Has this become a joke I'm unaware of?

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Loy mentioned earlier today

But I just finished listening to today's Irish Illustrated Pod (with Prister, O'Malley, and Sampson (Athletic)).

Pete said that he thinks "the conversation" should/will happen...He claims Elko and BK are still close. He implied that Elko doesn't love it down in College Station. He also mentioned that if it's "just a money thing" they may be able to work around that.

It seems crazy, but what if. Lol

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Lovie Smith?

 

[Ndaccountant]

Forgot about Mo Crum. Would Kelly go hire from within again with Joseph and backfill Lea with Crum? There may be worse options....

 

[BabyIrish]

Just another deserved shout out to Elston. We had two of our best DT’s out for a while in Jayson Ademiola and Jacob Lacey and it wasn’t discussed once on the board. It’s pretty incredible what he’s doing on the Dline. And I all for one would love to have him as DC

 

[Ndaccountant]

Lovie Smith?

Mason before Lovie, but I personally am not the biggest fan of hiring recently fired head coaches to be coordinators. I just am suspicious of their intent and whether or not they would be "all in" from a cohesive staff perspective.

 

[Irish du Nord]

Lovie Smith?

I'd take a shot at Mike Zimmer, if we're going the former NFL guys route. Probably a long shot, as he's not even a former NFL guy yet. I love his defenses though

 

[NDdomer2]

Stephen Belichick, why not

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I know someone joked about it before, but I'll bring it back

Tony Dungy knows his away around a defense...and campus...

 

[drayer54]

Bob Diaco?

Why not? It worked last time.

 

[NDMIA]

Kevin Steele at Auburn would be worth a phone call. Don’t think he’d leave the SEC cause he’ll get hired in the SEC and I’d bet if they hired an offensive guy they might even keep him. But he actually runs a 4-2-5. The line has a Buck instead of Vyper and the DB’s have a Star instead of Rover. It can more go into a 3-3-5 defense so idk if that matches up but he’s a super well respected DC in the south.

 

[Luckylucci]

Long list of candidates from ISD

https://irishsportsdaily.com/s/13795/potential-dc-candidates-for-notre-dame/1

"Maybe Elston will be a candidate, but it's not a likely choice IMO.

Seth Wallace is an interesting name from this list.

 

[Irish YJ]

Tyler Stockton is very interesting. He's hit a home run at Ball State in terms of improving their points allowed in only one season as DC. Too soon for him probably to make a jump like ND, but his name popping is interesting. At minimum, great to see him even mentioned.

Didn't realize Grinch ran a 3-3-5

 

[BoredIrish]

Loy mentioned earlier today

But I just finished listening to today's Irish Illustrated Pod (with Prister, O'Malley, and Sampson (Athletic)).

Pete said that he thinks "the conversation" should/will happen...He claims Elko and BK are still close. He implied that Elko doesn't love it down in College Station. He also mentioned that if it's "just a money thing" they may be able to work around that.

It seems crazy, but what if. Lol

The aspect of this which no one is mentioning is that Eko also wants to be a head coach and he is similar to Lea in that he would be best suited at more of an academically inclined school.

Lea worked under Elko and surpassed him in terms of consideration for a HC position. Can't help but think that if Elko had stayed at ND, he would have been the one jumping to a HC position.

TAMU might offer more money, but not many schools can offer the exposure that ND can.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Lovie is an interesting name.

I will say this, I would not be in the least bit concerned about the transition from a personality perspective. His ability as a HC aside, I remember those Bears teams loved playing for the guy. He's just a great person and similar in a lot of ways to Lea, in that he's reserved and constructive.

Problem is, I'm not sure Lovie is flexible enough in his scheme. The common notion is that he's married to the old Tampa 2, and while ND could adapt to it fairly easily personnel wise, ND needs somebody who can adjust their scheme and tendencies to match their personnel.

 

[ThePiombino]

Why not? It worked last time.

Until he sniffed success and subsequently lost all interest in recruiting...

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[ThePiombino]

The aspect of this which no one is mentioning is that Eko also wants to be a head coach and he is similar to Lea in that he would be best suited at more of an academically inclined school.



Lea worked under Elko and surpassed him in terms of consideration for a HC position. Can't help but think that if Elko had stayed at ND, he would have been the one jumping to a HC position.



TAMU might offer more money, but not many schools can offer the exposure that ND can.

If A&M had the 4-year run ND is currently on, he'd already be gone.

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[Luckylucci]

I’d be fairly surprised by an Elko/ND reunion but I wouldn’t be opposed to it. Keeping a system that the players know and fits what we’ve recruited seems very important. Elko is also a pretty damn good recruiter.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Lovie is an interesting name.

I will say this, I would not be in the least bit concerned about the transition from a personality perspective. His ability as a HC aside, I remember those Bears teams loved playing for the guy. He's just a great person and similar in a lot of ways to Lea, in that he's reserved and constructive.

Problem is, I'm not sure Lovie is flexible enough in his scheme. The common notion is that he's married to the old Tampa 2, and while ND could adapt to it fairly easily personnel wise, ND needs somebody who can adjust their scheme and tendencies to match their personnel.

I don’t think Lovie would happen for a variety of reasons but did they run the Tampa-2 at Illinois? I don’t think I ever saw them in the Lovie era.

 

[Irish YJ]

The aspect of this which no one is mentioning is that Eko also wants to be a head coach and he is similar to Lea in that he would be best suited at more of an academically inclined school.

Lea worked under Elko and surpassed him in terms of consideration for a HC position. Can't help but think that if Elko had stayed at ND, he would have been the one jumping to a HC position.

TAMU might offer more money, but not many schools can offer the exposure that ND can.

pros and cons to both sides.

TAMU is easier to recruit, has $, fanbase, facilities, etc. That said, the SEC, and specifically the SEC-W is tough to play in. Plenty of exposure though at TAMU. Perhaps not nationally like ND, but they have a huge fan base, 100k butts in seats weekly, and let's face it, the SEC are ESPN's favorites.

I think it might be easier to be successful coaching D at ND than the SEC right now.

 

[Junkhead]

Is VanGorder available? /s Seriously this sucks, but what can you do?

 

[rtrn2glory]

I might test the waters on Marcus Freeman and then if that doesn't feel right or he is uninterested, keep it in house.

I think this would be a good path....and exactly what could happen imo. I don't see Freeman leaving.

 

[rtrn2glory]

In regards to Elston, isn't he already an Asst head Coach on staff? personally I have no idea what is a better title, Defensive Coordinator or Asst Head Coach? anyone want to shed some light on this??

 

[Ndaccountant]

In regards to Elston, isn't he already an Asst head Coach on staff? personally I have no idea what is a better title, Defensive Coordinator or Asst Head Coach? anyone want to shed some light on this??

No on the titles, but I have an interesting hypothetical for the board.

Of the two options, which one would you prefer?

1) Promote Elston, but lose Joseph

2) Promote Joseph, but lose Elston

 

[Henges24]

No on the titles, but I have an interesting hypothetical for the board.

Of the two options, which one would you prefer?

1) Promote Elston, but lose Joseph

2) Promote Joseph, but lose Elston

I think #2 is unlikely to happen, both ways.

 

[Ndaccountant]

I think #2 is unlikely to happen, both ways.

Understand the Elston part, but what about Joseph? I thought he was the defensive passing game coordinator already?