Deland McCullough - RB Coach (2022-2024)

stlnd01

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There is a tie for longest tenured MAC HC right now: Chris Creighton at Eastern Michigan AND....

The one and only Chuck Martin of Miami OH. Both hired in 2014.

Other than McCullough's one year at USC, he's been pretty centered in the Midwest. A MAC job might well be his best bet, but he's probably taking a pay cut and would be getting a job that would be difficult as most of those are.

If he can navigate the portal well enough he could have a shot.
Yeah. Maybe it comes to how bad does he want to be a head coach?
To land a P5 he probably needs something more on his resume, but he could probably get a MAC job, especially with a couple years as AHC at Notre Dame under his belt. Maybe that’s a great fit, and who knows from there. Or maybe it’s a pay cut and a dead end and he’s Bob Diaco in seven years.
 

Jiggafini19Deux

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Yeah. Maybe it comes to how bad does he want to be a head coach?
To land a P5 he probably needs something more on his resume, but he could probably get a MAC job, especially with a couple years as AHC at Notre Dame under his belt. Maybe that’s a great fit, and who knows from there. Or maybe it’s a pay cut and a dead end and he’s Bob Diaco in seven years.
The MAC jobs don't really give you the golden parachute money when things go bad and they fire you. An AAC job would give him more money and weekend exposure versus a six figure salary playing MACtion on Tuesday.
 

Giddyup

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Any word on how Jadarian Price is doing? Those Achilles injuries can be tough to come back from.
 

Veritate Duce Progredi

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It's really going to hurt when Deland leaves. He is obviously a huge attraction to these RBs. This is the best RB recruiting I've ever seen and I'm not sure it's close.

We have 4 really good RBs right now. We have 2 more really good RBs in 24 and Deland is putting the bow on '25 recruiting (the kids who are gearing up for their junior season).
 

arrowryan

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It's really going to hurt when Deland leaves. He is obviously a huge attraction to these RBs. This is the best RB recruiting I've ever seen and I'm not sure it's close.

We have 4 really good RBs right now. We have 2 more really good RBs in 24 and Deland is putting the bow on '25 recruiting (the kids who are gearing up for their junior season).
DMC has had the best combination of recruiting, player development, and results on the field.

Autry Denson lacked recruiting skills. Lance Taylor was a better coach than recruiter. I don't remember much of Tony Alford, but I don't think he ever had the RB room looking like it does now.
 

Reaper97

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DMC has had the best combination of recruiting, player development, and results on the field.

Autry Denson lacked recruiting skills. Lance Taylor was a better coach than recruiter. I don't remember much of Tony Alford, but I don't think he ever had the RB room looking like it does now.
I will have to go back & check, but Alford had like 3-4 top 100 kids in the RB room.

Edit:
Alford was the RB/WR/slot and recruiting coordinator over the years at ND.

At RB, he recruited Kavari Russelll (who was an APB) coming out.
Folston & Bryant in the same class. CJ Procise. Josh Adams & Dexter Williams signed under Denson, but we’re recruited & committed to Alford.
That 2015 RB room was loaded.
You had Folston, got hurt first drive of season against Texas after running through them. Procise comes in, rushes for over a 1000 in only 10 games because he gets hurt, then Williams & Adams come in and rush for close to another 1000 in relief.
 
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arrowryan

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I will have to go back & check, but Alford had like 3-4 top 100 kids in the RB room.

Edit:
Alford was the RB/WR/slot and recruiting coordinator over the years at ND.

At RB, he recruited Kavari Russelll (who was an APB) coming out.
Folston & Bryant in the same class. CJ Procise. Josh Adams & Dexter Williams signed under Denson, but we’re recruited & committed to Alford.
That 2015 RB room was loaded.
You had Folston, got hurt first drive of season against Texas after running through them. Procise comes in, rushes for over a 1000 in only 10 games because he gets hurt, then Williams & Adams come in and rush for close to another 1000 in relief.

The 2015 RB room was really good. Although, Dex was not ready yet. The 2023 group just seems deeper. Running backs 1-5 all could have a role in the offense, and that’s without Diggs lol.
 

Reaper97

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The 2015 RB room was really good. Although, Dex was not ready yet. The 2023 group just seems deeper. Running backs 1-5 all could have a role in the offense, and that’s without Diggs lol.
I don’t think you will have multiple RBs get near that 1000 yard mark this year. The third stringer got 1000 if you count receiving too.
It was a crazy year.
We really don’t know what this year’s room will do? We are all hopeful, but only one RB has done anything up to this point.
 

Veritate Duce Progredi

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DMC has had the best combination of recruiting, player development, and results on the field.

Autry Denson lacked recruiting skills. Lance Taylor was a better coach than recruiter. I don't remember much of Tony Alford, but I don't think he ever had the RB room looking like it does now.
Exactly. Deland has inherited and then maximized his room. I've not seen RBs sign this early, doubled up, across classes.

I guess we could ding Deland for losing 1-2 of his RBs last year but he is still stockpiling talent. I really hope we find a way to keep in a few more years while Freeman continues to build this thing up.
 

Old Man Mike

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No dings. Our RBs are REALLY good and deep. Previously great rooms had previously great OLines to thump and rip on the opponents.
If our OLine is great this year so will they. Our underachieving RBs in the last decade or so, underachieved mainly because they did not trust and hit the hole savagely --- this group will.
 

Jiggafini19Deux

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He's a good coach and a good man. I'll cross the bridge of his departure when we get there, and that could be in four months, but for now I'm not even remotely concerned about it. I remember when Tony Alford left to go coach with Pope Ohio and the world was ending then. Life moved on, ultimately.

Just a great hire in the end.
 

Jimmy3Putt

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This guy didn't need a rainbow to convince me there's a pot of gold in this pic... but it was a nice touch.

I thank me lucky charms he came to ND.


You talking the coach or Price?

imo, Price is going to be a star next year.
 

Rizzophil

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I finally saw Show Me the Father

I recommend everyone watch / rent / buy that movie. Deland is in it quite a bit and it's inspiring. Watch it with your family...especially sons.
 
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