ND Coaching Changes 2016

[dublinirish]

Couple sources on twitter reporting 'I'm told nothing is confirmed/accepted'. Probably protocol so Denbrock can reach out to those he's recruiting to ND to let them know before they find out on elsewhere.

cincy running background checks on denbrook

 

[irishff1014]

Some food for thought.... the opening a couple series that all worked so well this year were basically scripted by Denbrock a collaboration with Sanford and Kelly. The watch-Kizer-struggle-to-throw-it-all-over-the-field in the middle/end of every game was Kelly overruling Denbrock and taking over play calling. Denbrock and Kelly had a falling out mid-season over this... Denbrock wanting to run it more, Kelly not trusting the OL to get it done (despite obvious success when committed to the run early in some games). And that's why Denbrock is leaving for what is almost a certainly a significant pay reduction... autonomy to run the offense. Much more than other stuff, it's things like this that convinced me that Kelly was a problem and needed to be replaced, but oh well.

Not saying this is true or false but I am gonna need to hear this from a source. This has hear say written all over it.

 

[IrishLax]

Football scoop added this:

Last night Pete Thamel of SI reported that Notre Dame associate head coach / wide receivers coach Mike Denbrock was expected to be the new offensive coordinator at Cincinnati for Luke Fickell. It is our understanding that Denbrock has not decided to accept another position at this time. Will update as more is clear.

It's been a poorly kept secret for about 2 weeks now, but they (Kelly/Denbrock) supposedly met recently about keeping him... I took it as confirmed he was gone with how it was reported today but this gives me hope it's still the same status quo. He's had Cinci offer on table for awhile and it hasn't been formalized.

 

[OCIrish]

Some food for thought.... the opening a couple series that all worked so well this year were basically scripted by Denbrock a collaboration with Sanford and Kelly. The watch-Kizer-struggle-to-throw-it-all-over-the-field in the middle/end of every game was Kelly overruling Denbrock and taking over play calling. Denbrock and Kelly had a falling out mid-season over this... Denbrock wanting to run it more, Kelly not trusting the OL to get it done (despite obvious success when committed to the run early in some games). And that's why Denbrock is leaving for what is almost a certainly a significant pay reduction... autonomy to run the offense. Much more than other stuff, it's things like this that convinced me that Kelly was a problem and needed to be replaced, but oh well.

Thanks for sharing, Lax.......If true, confirms my problem with Kelly and his ego, but......as you stated, oh well. Another year at least with him at the helm.

 

[kmoose]

Some food for thought.... the opening a couple series that all worked so well this year were basically scripted by Denbrock a collaboration with Sanford and Kelly. The watch-Kizer-struggle-to-throw-it-all-over-the-field in the middle/end of every game was Kelly overruling Denbrock and taking over play calling. Denbrock and Kelly had a falling out mid-season over this... Denbrock wanting to run it more, Kelly not trusting the OL to get it done (despite obvious success when committed to the run early in some games). And that's why Denbrock is leaving for what is almost a certainly a significant pay reduction... autonomy to run the offense. Much more than other stuff, it's things like this that convinced me that Kelly was a problem and needed to be replaced, but oh well.

Not being combative, but........ you KNOW all of this, or this is your best guess about how the season played out?

 

[koonja]

If Denbrock does go, ND seriously needs to consider hiring Coach Driskel from Rivals. Former WR coach and brilliant football mind. He could develop diamonds out of dirt.

 

[greyhammer90]

If Denbrock does go, ND seriously needs to consider hiring Coach Driskel from Rivals. Former WR coach and brilliant football mind. He could develop diamonds out of dirt.

Lol ok that was funny.

 

[dublinirish]

If Denbrock does go, ND seriously needs to consider hiring Coach Driskel from Rivals. Former WR coach and brilliant football mind. He could develop diamonds out of dirt.

Humble guy too, he can get along with anybody

 

[koonja]

Humble guy too, he can get along with anybody

People person, will click with families.

 

[BoredIrish]

I've heard the name Joker Phillips being bandied about through baseless speculation as a possibility to coach WR's. I didnt realize that he has already coached receivers at ND.

Although I have no reason to believe that there is any substance to the rumor, I think it might be a great fit. He has coached receivers at the NFL level and would be a great recruiter.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Didn't Joker have to resign from Florida due to a recruiting violation?

 

[NDdomer2]

Denbrock would be missed. Not for play calling or recruiting. But for WR development. One of the couple positions we have been consistently good at since BK.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Not saying this is true or false but I am gonna need to hear this from a source. This has hear say written all over it.

You did.

 

[dang227]

This sucks. He is a good recruiter and a good coach IMO. Leaving ND with for Cincy OC job is a down grade.

I agree. I always liked Denbrock and he seems to be more level headed than Kelly. It's was a good balance. This one will hurt if you ask me.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Kelly needs denbrock more than denbrock needs Kelly

 

[BoredIrish]

Didn't Joker have to resign from Florida due to a recruiting violation?

He did. It was a secondary violation which was later revealed to be that he bumped into a junior during a dead period.

 

[ND NYC]

looks like pouncey not coming: not sure if denbrock is final straw, a single straw or not.

 

[Irish#1]

Thanks for sharing, Lax.......If true, confirms my problem with Kelly and his ego, but......as you stated, oh well. Another year at least with him at the helm.

I don't disagree that BK has an ego, but I think he's seen the writing on the wall and has checked his ego to try and save his job. He's responsible for the staff that just led the Irish to a piss poor season. Making changes is something of an acknowledgement of failing which is hard on the ego.

I like Denbrock and hope he stays.

 

[BoredIrish]

looks like pouncey not coming: not sure if denbrock is final straw, a single straw or not.

I think Denbrock was the excuse Pouncey was looking for to follow his heart to Miami.

Not sure what effect it might have on Oliver Martin.

 

[PANDFAN]

I think Denbrock was the excuse Pouncey was looking for to follow his heart to Miami.

Not sure what effect it might have on Oliver Martin.

denbrock was ONE of the main reasons we were in it with him despite getting into it with him late

 

[PANDFAN]

calvin had some pretty direct words when asked about denbrock leaving....“Me and him didn’t have a super close relationship,” said Calvin. “We were cool, don’t get me wrong, but he wasn’t much of a recruiter like most coaches. It was all business. No emotion to it. So, it doesn’t really bother me any"

he did go on to say ND sells itself and coaches etc don't need to so it's different but man wish it seemed a bit more positive in regards to relationships...but it doesn't matter i guess going fwd as neither look to be at ND
Notre Dame target Jamire Calvin on Mike Denbrock

 

[NCND]

So much for the "Great Recruiter" tag line..

 

[koonja]

If getting 1 good player every 2 years from California gets you called great cali recruiter, sign me up for the gig, I can get two good players from cali every 4 years.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

If getting 1 good player every 2 years from California gets you called great cali recruiter, sign me up for the gig, I can get two good players from cali every 4 years.

That's twice as good!

 

[dublinirish]

If getting 1 good player every 2 years from California gets you called great cali recruiter, sign me up for the gig, I can get two good players from cali every 4 years.

aha yeah i always scoff at stuff like that when coaches are described as being experienced recruiters in certain geographical areas. As if there is much difference, it's still America.

When Matt Rhule took the Baylor job you'd swear by the media reaction he was headed to Tajikistan such was BS written about his lack of experience in Texas.

 

[PANDFAN]

aha yeah i always scoff at stuff like that when coaches are described as being experienced recruiters in certain geographical areas. As if there is much difference, it's still America.

When Matt Rhule took the Baylor job you'd swear by the media reaction he was headed to Tajikistan such was BS written about his lack of experience in Texas.

texas is completely different from ALL other areas in america when it comes to their HS Football....it is very real and the coaches of the high school will steer the athletes and coaches who are NOT in the texas coaching circle are viewed as outsiders....it's a huge clique...ur either in or out of it...blackballed would be another word that would come to mind

 

[dublinirish]

texas is completely different from ALL other areas in america when it comes to their HS Football....it is very real and the coaches of the high school will steer the athletes and coaches who are NOT in the texas coaching circle are viewed as outsiders....it's a huge clique...ur either in or out of it...blackballed would be another word that would come to mind

that might be true but he solved that issue in 15 seconds of getting the job by hiring TX HS coaches to his staff as analysts.

 

[PANDFAN]

that might be true but he solved that issue in 15 seconds of getting the job by hiring TX HS coaches to his staff as analysts.

exactly! but he had to otherwise he wasn't getting in the doors or having calls returned....different breed down there...

 

[NDdomer2]

Yeah I didn't think his loss in recruiting would be that impactful. We lost what many considered or best recruiter and recruiting coordinator in Alford and it hasn't showed much impact, if any.

Hell if you asked LAX a year or two ago he prolly would have told you it's a complete waste of ND's resources to recruit California anyways.

He developed WR at an above average level. That will be missed if not properly replaced.

 

[ND Fan Vancouver]

My summary, Denbrock was a great WR coach and recruiter. He was a poor play caller as it seems but that's murky given BK and Sanford had their hands in it and we'll never truly know the whole story there. His departure will hurt us with '17 recruits. We'll probably lose Pouncey and I doubt we'll get Martin or Calvin. That sucks. That being said I'm certain we'll get a solid WR coach hire who's good at recruiting plus we now have Polian to help with Cali. Things will move on without much loss in the long term. These things happen, it's CFB. I'm not too concerned.