Harry Hiestand Named OL Coach

[ulukinatme]

I think people forget what our OL was like for a long time under Weis and Willingham. Harry turned this into OLU, and it seems odd that he would come back for just one year unless he was being forced out. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm glad he gets to spend time with his family all the same. Just wish he had another year with Alt and the big boys. This year is going to be big, would have been nice to send him out with another playoff run.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Can anyone confirm if this is Harry retiring or Ludwig wanted to bring his own guy? I can’t see Harry deciding to retire a few weeks before spring ball

Reports indicate Harry retiring

I'm thinking both. Harry was leaning towards retirement but wanted to meet with Ludwig and see the fit. Ultimately, Harry, MF and Ludwig felt it was better to go in a different direction.

My guess.

 

[BabyIrish]

I’m not happy HH is retiring but I’m certainly not upset or think the sky is falling with the program. It’s kind of absurd to think that. Plenty of other coaches out there that can effectively coach an o line. Congrats on the retirement HH, enjoy it. You’ve earned it!

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Concerning no?

Absolutely yes

 

[StPaul_Irish]

Someone start a New Oline coach thread.

I'd screw it up

 

[Irish#1]

Yeah. I’ve noticed there’s almost like a cult following for him on boards. Never understood it.

When you don’t understand O-line coaching I could see why you never understood it.

 

[Irish14]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Has anyone checked on Driskell about this news?

 

[Irishdrunk]

Has anyone checked on Driskell about this news?

Yes he is not doing well. He pounded a case of Dew.

 

[ColinKSU]

Looks like it was one of those “I’m too old to learn a new trick” situations for Harry once Tommy left. Frustrating that we passed on someone like Frye for a one-year rental.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Looks like it was one of those “I’m too old to learn a new trick” situations for Harry once Tommy left. Frustrating that we passed on someone like Frye for a one-year rental.

Do we honestly think Frye would spurn Ohio State for us? Me thinks no, unless we decided to make him OC.

 

[calvegas04]

Should be able to upgrade the position

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

Harry was a phenomenal developer of the individual player and had some good olines, but against the best of the best the whole of his lines didnt show as well as the sum of their parts… 2022 Clemson not included.

 

[ab2cmiller]

Harry was a phenomenal developer of the individual player and had some good olines, but against the best of the best the whole of his lines didnt show as well as the sum of their parts… 2022 Clemson not included.

Fair amount of truth here. Hiestand was never as bad as some complained during some parts of his tenure. The first 3 or 4 years I remember lots of complaining. But as you point out, he probably wasn't the Messiah that some on the board like to remember either. He was always very good. But when you look at the individual talent that he helped develop and put into the NFL, it always felt like the O-lines (as a whole) should've performed better.

I think Tommy leaving and HH having to adjust to a new OC and possibly implementing new blocking schemes might've just been a bit of hurdle when he had retirement within sight.

 

[Giddyup]

A guy who has worked with Ludwig before at Wisconsin is TJ Woods. Just spitballing cause he’s currently at Georgia Southern.

 

[CANONIZEFATHERSORIN]

well the nfl is literally fixed so any NFL OC who wants to get out of there before the lid explodes on the cover up there should just come down to south bend

 

[Plankton]

Sampson said that Hiestand made the decision a week ago, so they knew it was coming. Strange time to dump the news out there, but there you go.

 

[mango4]

Sampson said that Hiestand made the decision a week ago, so they knew it was coming. Strange time to dump the news out there, but there you go.

Perfect time to dump it. Right at kick of the Super Bowl? That’s an ideal time for a news dump because most people aren’t paying attention.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Irish Envy when a coaching change occurs.

 

[NDRock]

Irish Envy when a coaching change occurs.

Thank God you’re here to be the calm voice of reason. Appreciate your service and the untold amount of lives you’ve saved.

 

[Irish#1]

Perfect time to dump it. Right at kick of the Super Bowl? That’s an ideal time for a news dump because most people aren’t paying attention.

True about people not paying attention, but we're talking about a line coach. Does this even move the needle outside of the ND fanbase?

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

True about people not paying attention, but we're talking about a line coach. Does this even move the needle outside of the ND fanbase?

Doubtful.

 

[notredomer23]

Knowing how Freeman wants aggressive recruiters, I suspect he’s not too beaten up about Harry retiring. I know it’s considered a weaker line class, but there’s been some perplexing recruiting moves in the 2024 class so far IE who gets an offer and and who doesn’t

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Look at the OL roster for this spring. They won't be short of candidates to replace Harry.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Thank God you’re here to be the calm voice of reason. Appreciate your service and the untold amount of lives you’ve saved.

The commercial with Sarah McLachlan and the fake actor Damar Hamlin is forthcoming.

 

[Irishdrunk]

Look at the OL roster for this spring. They won't be short of candidates to replace Harry.

For all the supposed talent the OLine didn't perform much better last year over the prior year.

I think he just enjoyed ND and Tommy probably let him be. All that changed with Tommy leaving.

 

[Ndaccountant]

I know what happened. Harry wanted to move back his stuff to South Bend, but couldn't as he wasn't collecting Social Security yet. When ND called about the OL gig he thought...WWKD (what would Koon do). Then it came to him, take the ND job so they could relocate his stuff and then he would retire first chance he gets.

It all makes sense now.

 

[Giddyup]

They probably told Harry to hit the bricks if we’re being honest. Surprised he survived the Marshall game.

 

[ab2cmiller]

They probably told Harry to hit the bricks if we’re being honest. Surprised he survived the Marshall game.

Epically bad take. He was a very good OL coach. He wasn't some kind of OL savior, but this is just stupid.

 

[Giddyup]

Fine. Harry wanted to retire and would never be fired at ND. Everyone happy.