ND Coaching Search Megathread

[Irish#1]

You know the great thing about this? This is usually the time of year where we're trying to figure out how to kill time before spring ball rolls around.

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

Holtz coached somewhere else after leaving ND.

Yeah. After being pushed out. He didn’t voluntarily transfer. [shrug]. We’re having a lot of trouble with important details on this board lately….

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

Well he's covering ND football on his own podcast. I don't blame him for leaving after the way he was treated by BK. He graduated and still loves ND. I don't see the issue.

No issue. But imo you give up “we/us” when you xfer away voluntarily. Nothing worth discussing further, but I just find it unsavory.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

No issue. But imo you give up “we/us” when your xfer away voluntarily. Nothing worth discussing further, but I just find it unsavory.

Once you've graduated, you're an alum, and "we/us" is entirely appropriate. Grad transferring to make one final shot at the NFL isn't some sort of betrayal.

 

[BoredIrish]

I dunno about that. He still has an assistant coaching spot available and probably like $2M to spend on salary to replace his own former salary as DC. Mason and O'Leary also have experience at LB and could split responsibilities there.

If there is one thing I have learned in life, its to not try and do it myself. Spend the money and hire someone to do it. Make your own life easier.

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

Once you've graduated, you're an alum, and "we/us" is entirely appropriate. Grad transferring to make one final shot at the NFL isn't some sort of betrayal.

I respect that opinion. And I disagree.

 

[Grahambo]

I dunno about that. He still has an assistant coaching spot available and probably like $2M to spend on salary to replace his own former salary as DC. Mason and O'Leary also have experience at LB and could split responsibilities there.

In the above scenario, he would hire a LB coach.

 

[chicago51]

The football program ought have more $$$ for assistant coaches. Marcus Freeman isn't making as much as Brian Kelly did, and LSU had to pay Notre Dame for BK's buy out.

 

[Free Manera]

I just listened to the II Instant Analysis on the coaching status and feel so good about the Washington hire. They were basically like ehh maybe Washington isn't as good of a teacher as Elston (maybe he is we just don't know yet). But he won't need to be because he won't rely on turning the #640th recruit into a starter; he is going to bring in high 4 and 5 stars all over the place.

 

[Rogue219]

It's gotta be Belk right? Then either he or COL move to LB?

Best case scenario right now, yes. I really hope they get Belk, knowing full well he could leave in a few years to be an HC or perhaps even go to the NFL because that's what career trajectories are supposed to be about. Upward mobility. We have people in this fanbase that simply cannot grasp this concept.

Belk DC/S
Washington DL
O'Leary LB
Mickens CB

 

[BoredIrish]

Best case scenario right now, yes. I really hope they get Belk, knowing full well he could leave in a few years to be an HC or perhaps even go to the NFL because that's what career trajectories are supposed to be about. Upward mobility. We have people in this fanbase that simply cannot grasp this concept.

Belk DC/S
Washington DL
O'Leary LB
Mickens CB

Wouldn't surprise me to see Mason take the Rovers in this sort of setup.

 

[Rogue219]

Wouldn't surprise me to see Mason take the Rovers in this sort of setup.

Based on what? Has he ever coached linebackers?

 

[Grahambo]

Wouldn't surprise me to see Mason take the Rovers in this sort of setup.

I’d have to pull the article back up but in Pete’s article this morning, it might have been under Mason, he said COL would move to LBs. My guess is if the DC is tied to the secondary, COL is moving to LBs and if the DC is tied to LBs then COL stays at S.

 

[NEIIrish]

Based on what? Has he ever coached linebackers?

He coached rovers at Cincy.

 

[Dale]

Mason I believe has coached Snipers at UC longer than COL was the Rovers coach here (1 year as GA). I haven’t heard the timeline on how long he did it, for some reason it’s not in his title many places, but it’s been at least a few years.

 

[Dale]

I’d have to pull the article back up but in Pete’s article this morning, it might have been under Mason, he said COL would move to LBs. My guess is if the DC is tied to the secondary, COL is moving to LBs and if the DC is tied to LBs then COL stays at S.

He was referring to if you’re putting Belk as DC and Safeties, COL as LB, Brian Mason would coach Rovers.

 

[chicago51]

If ND actually hires Al Golden he better at least wear a snazzy tie on the sidelines at every game.

If I can't get a good DC, I'll settle for a very well dressed DC.

 

[IrishRazor82]

Trying to figure out what/who "COL" is.

 

[General Colon Bowel]

Trying to figure out what/who "COL" is.

Coach O'Leary

 

[317Irish]

Trying to figure out what/who "COL" is.

Chris O’leary

 

[IrishRazor82]

If the rumors are true that MF wants input on running the defense (IMO he shouldn't) - why not give Elston the title and run it with him in the background?

Makes me think more and more MF is fine letting Elston walk.

 

[IrishLax]

If the rumors are true that MF wants input on running the defense (IMO he shouldn't) - why not give Elston the title and run it with him in the background?

Makes me think more and more MF is fine letting Elston walk.

What I heard after Elston left is that MF was entirely prepared to lose him and it's really not a problem in his book at all.

 

[bumpdaddy]

No issue. But imo you give up “we/us” when you xfer away voluntarily. Nothing worth discussing further, but I just find it unsavory.

This is a ridiculous take. If an ND alum chooses to go to NW Law School over ND Law School they aren't "giving up on ND" and it isn't "unsavory." They are looking for the best fit for them. MZ had nothing to gain by staying at ND.

Also, do you find it unsavory when coaches don't offer to bring back other 5th-year players who want to come back, or is this just a one-way street for you?

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

What I heard after Elston left is that MF was entirely prepared to lose him and it's really not a problem in his book at all.

Was Elston encouraged to look elsewhere? Perhaps implicitly?

 

[andre784]

Was Elston encouraged to look elsewhere? Perhaps implicitly?

I wonder at this point if they did or didn't get along. Elston might've gotten jealous along the way he got bypassed again so it could've been envy thing.

 

[ulukinatme]

“Our”? Zaire ditched ND. Lolz

Really bad take. Kid was the #3 Dual Threat QB coming out of his class, patiently waited behind Golson instead of transferring like many of our QBs have. Got his shot and then broke his ankle, leading to the offense getting revamped under Kizer. The offense wasn't the same and neither was he after the injury. He graduated and only then did he consider leaving to get a 2nd chance for his career, there was nothing unclassy about his exit. He's still very much in ND's corner though. His podcast is often Irish focused and he's always pulling for them on social media. He also started a whiskey company in South Bend along with Te'von Coney and another ND student. The kid is still Irish. Take a lap.

 

[chicago51]

I wonder at this point if they did or didn't get along. Elston might've gotten jealous along the way he got bypassed again so it could've been envy thing.

Based on everything I've read and seen:

Freeman and Elston did get along.

I can't speak to Elston's potential jealousy.

But Elston was not pushed out or encouraged to leave. BUT when Elston said he was interviewing and eventually leaving Marcus Freeman did not beg him or really try that hard to convince him to stay either.

 

[DONTH8]

Zaire had his pro day at ND. Meaning the last reps he took were in South Bend.

It’s where he finished.

 

[StPaul_Irish]

Based on everything I've read and seen:

Freeman and Elston did get along.

I can't speak to Elston's potential jealousy.

But Elston was not pushed out or encouraged to leave. BUT when Elston said he was interviewing and eventually leaving Marcus Freeman did not beg him or really try that hard to convince him to stay either.

Not questioning it as in don't think it's not a possibility, but where is this info from? Genuinely curious

 

[Grahambo]

What I heard after Elston left is that MF was entirely prepared to lose him and it's really not a problem in his book at all.

That’s what it sounds like. UM was the only job he’d leave ND for and when they came, MF didn’t try to convince him to stay.