Max Bullough - Linebackers Coach

[IRISHDODGER]

I do not care if it’s your Alma mater and you’re a school legend,… imagine leaving current Notre Dame for current Michigan State,… absolutely a potential career killer

Agreed but it worked out well for Clark Lea. Even if MSU implodes deeper w/ Fitz, Bullough would land on his feet.

 

[Dale]

Does coming to ND to be LB coach benefit Crum or Stockton's career trajectory is the question. Are their ambitions more than just coming back to ND to coach?

It all seems like win win for ND and for us as fans, but I'm curious to see what kind of reach Freeman has here. Does it extend further than Buh and a couple of former ND players.

I mean basically every ND assistant in the last 5 years besides grossly incompetent ones (even then….) would say yes

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I mean basically every ND assistant in the last 5 years besides grossly incompetent ones (even then….) would say yes

I hope they cast a wider net. Still don't understand why the immediate recommendations are former players.

 

[Dale]

I hope they cast a wider net. Still don't understand why the immediate recommendations are former players.

Nobody suggested they shouldn’t or won’t cast a wider net. Also won’t pretend I specialize in LB coaches across the country so naturally anyone could name a former player before a non affiliated coach.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Nobody suggested they shouldn’t or won’t cast a wider net. Also won’t pretend I specialize in LB coaches across the country so naturally anyone could name a former player before a non affiliated coach.

No, just multiple posters suggesting multiple former players. "Hell, give Justin Tuck a call" literally tugged at my heartstrings. It's the Holidays.

Yes, clearly none of us are NCAA LB Coach savants. I'd hope for Kinnon Tatum with Lyron Cobbins as the ast. LB coach and Bertrand Berry as the LB analyst.

My money is on Andy Buh. Cheers.

 

[NorthDakota]

Nobody suggested they shouldn’t or won’t cast a wider net. Also won’t pretend I specialize in LB coaches across the country so naturally anyone could name a former player before a non affiliated coach.

I really hate when people hype up former players to be coaches. If the guy is qualified, go for it I guess but I'd prefer if someone actually has a track record

 

[GrangerIrish24]

I really hate when people hype up former players to be coaches. If the guy is qualified, go for it I guess but I'd prefer if someone actually has a track record

So don't suggest Prince Shembo? Got it

 

[Dale]

I really hate when people hype up former players to be coaches. If the guy is qualified, go for it I guess but I'd prefer if someone actually has a track record

Stockton was a DC for 5 years and Co-DC now for two at a premier G5 program, Crum has been a Co-DC at a P4 school for 3 years. Kuntz has been one of the top DL coaches in the country for two years now.

Not only are these names qualified on paper, they are closer to overqualified.

The only possible hyped up name one could realistically say would be Greer Martini. But he has more experience than either Laurinitias or Bullough had.

 

[NorthDakota]

Stockton was a DC for 5 years and Co-DC now for two at a premier G5 program, Crum has been a Co-DC at a P4 school for 3 years. Kuntz has been one of the top DL coaches in the country for two years now.

Not only are these names qualified on paper, they are closer to overqualified.

The only possible hyped up name one could realistically say would be Greer Martini. But he has more experience than either Laurinitias or Bullough had.

If they are qualified as coaches im on board! Like I said, my beef is more the "oh former good player for us? Let's bring him on" energy. Thats how you end up like the University of North Dakota, a deeply incestuous program from top to bottom, hiring 40 year old guys from the glory days because they were on the team 20 years ago.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Tyler Santucci, Baltimore Ravens LB coach.

Randy Shannon, Tampa Bay Bucs

Mark Ivey, Louisville LB coach.

James Laurinaitis, Ohio State LB coach.

I really like Archie McDaniel at Illinois.

 

[OhioIrish]

Is it so fucking hard for Fortuna to do his job and not constantly try to make ND look bad? On3 and FootballScoop reporting as Co-DC. Fortuna makes it seem like he left for a lateral move. Unless he’s saying the other reports are wrong, it’s just stupidity

I’ve started to notice this on the podcast — perhaps I am late to the party. It’s obnoxious though. He can’t help himself.

 

[Padomer9]

He is a legit name compared to most of these other ones, but he also holds a Co-Dc title.

Seems like a lot of LB coaches are DC or Co-DC.

I like Manalac at Pitt. Played LB at UC, so there's that Bearcat connection again.

I like Manalac as well. I've listened to him at some PSFCA Clinics and he seems like a really solid coach. Plus, he is good at player development as well.

 

[rtrn2glory]

I wonder if we could entice Laurinaitus to come back with a "promotion" of Co-DC (Run Game Coordinator) or something along those lines.

Doubtful, but worth a shot maybe.

 

[allenm5333]

Tyler Santucci, Baltimore Ravens LB coach.

Randy Shannon, Tampa Bay Bucs

Mark Ivey, Louisville LB coach.

James Laurinaitis, Ohio State LB coach.

I really like Archie McDaniel at Illinois.

Santucci was a DC at G Tech. If he wanted to come back as a LB coach...please

 

[dublinirish]

gotta think Ash deserves to hire his own guy now

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Santucci was a DC at G Tech. If he wanted to come back as a LB coach...please

For one year. Doesn't stay in one place very long, either.

John Harbaugh's coaching tree tends to do pretty well. He might be on his way in the NFL. Harbaugh has spoken highly of him this year on more than one occasion.

 

[pumpdog20]

Tyler Santucci, Baltimore Ravens LB coach.

Randy Shannon, Tampa Bay Bucs

Mark Ivey, Louisville LB coach.

James Laurinaitis, Ohio State LB coach.

I really like Archie McDaniel at Illinois.

Randy Shannon would be a great pick as well.

 

[Dale]

FWIW I don’t think Shannon has been considered a good coach in awhile. IIRC he was hired at FSU mainly due to his recruiting potential and failed rather miserably.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Randy Shannon would be a great pick as well.

He hasn't left Florida in ten years. His last job anywhere else was Arkansas.

I've always liked the guy. Not your typical 80s Cane.

 

[dublinirish]

anytime i try and picture Randy Shannon my inner eye shows me Carlton Banks in a Miami golf shirt and headset on

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Just looking back at some guys Ash worked with to keep in mind. No idea whether these are realistic.

• Andy Buh has followed Ash around. He was Ash's LB coach at Wisconsin and his DC at Rutgers, and he's currently on ND's staff as a senior analyst.
• Coleman Hutzler was Ash's LB coach and co-DC in Texas in 2020. Currently a DL coach at Auburn.
• Dave Huxtable worked with Ash at Wisconsin in 2011 when Huxtable was the LB coach. He’s now an assistant with the Atlanta Falcons working with their OLB. He looks pretty fun, and there might be some turnover in Atlanta this offseason.
• Jay Niemann worked with Ash at Rutgers for a few years as DC/LB coach. He’s now an DL coach and recruiting coordinator at Iowa.

This is easily the best post and list so far.

Hutzler just got hired by Auburn. Seen an SEC guy now for a bit. He was Mississippi State DC this last season.

Niemann and Huxtable are both pretty experienced guys. Nobody leaves Iowa, man. It's weird.

 

[tirishman505]

I’ve started to notice this on the podcast — perhaps I am late to the party. It’s obnoxious though. He can’t help himself.

You probably also notice the number of times he'll come up with some hypothetical like "I was just thinking, what if <something happened that would negatively affect ND> then essentially laugh. I've given up thinking it's unintentional.

 

[Hammer Of The Gods]

Tyler Santucci, Baltimore Ravens LB coach.

Randy Shannon, Tampa Bay Bucs

Mark Ivey, Louisville LB coach.

James Laurinaitis, Ohio State LB coach.

I really like Archie McDaniel at Illinois.

I think you go all in on Laurinaitis. Friends with Freeman, has worked at ND before. Would take some big bucks and a CO-DC Title. Plus, good headlines that we took a Ohio State legend from Ohio State

 

[pumpdog20]

anytime i try and picture Randy Shannon my inner eye shows me Carlton Banks in a Miami golf shirt and headset on

Not sure why, but I'm reading this in Cal Naughton Jr's voice.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I think you go all in on Laurinaitis. Friends with Freeman, has worked at ND before. Would take some big bucks and a CO-DC Title. Plus, good headlines that we took a Ohio State legend from Ohio State

I would think this isn't necessary. He has four years of coaching experience and two of them are as a GA. Wash and Mickens do not have this in their title. He just got bumped from $350k to $500k. They could conceivably beat tOSU and get him more money.

A raise for a lateral move seems right.

If I'm taking a guess it's either Laurinaitis or Buh in the end.

 

[Dale]

Washington is already Run Game Coordinator and Mickens Pass Game Coordinator, I don’t see them giving someone a Co-DC title for this job short of Washington leaving.

 

[Dale]

Pretty good confirmation of the Co-DC title

 

[TorontoGold]

I would think this isn't necessary. He has four years of coaching experience and two of them are as a GA. Wash and Mickens do not have this in their title. He just got bumped from $350k to $500k. They could conceivably beat tOSU and get him more money.

A raise for a lateral move seems right.

If I'm taking a guess it's either Laurinaitis or Buh in the end.

Laurinaitis made 35M in the NFL, not sure an extra ~200k or so would be material to him making a lateral move. Of course, if Washington gets the BC job and Mickens takes a DC job too then he could be in line for co-DC type role.

 

[CanadalovesND]

View attachment 3061725

Pretty good confirmation of the Co-DC title

Photoshopped the MSU hat on!

 

[DCDomer]

They will be a tough out in the Big 10 sooner rather than later. At the very least you'll be in a fist fight with them every week.