ND Coaching Search Megathread

[Grahambo]

Yeah an experience offensive line coach can actually tell RBs how to follow their blocks, and how to pass protect.

A WR coach can teach RBs how to run good routes and catch the football.

Good GA can go over ball security stuff.

Which leaves recruiting. Since you are typically signing only 1-2 RBs, a good recruiter at RB can recruit 1-2 extra guys a cycle.

Yup. Lance Taylor is a great coach but was only a good recruiter. He missed out on nearly all the top backs ND had on their board. And Chris Tyree was a Chip Long recruit.

 

[SBirishlawyer]

That's a fine move I think. Would much rather get a stud DC and a good RB coach than the other way around.

They can certainly afford both. I would certainly appreciate having Alford’s steady hand back closer to the wheel.

 

[chicago51]

They can certainly afford both. I would certainly appreciate having Alford’s steady hand back closer to the wheel.

They should be able to afford both. Freeman probably ain't making what BK was and LSU also had to give ND cash to buyout BK's deal.

 

[T-Boone]

Yup. Lance Taylor is a great coach but was only a good recruiter. He missed out on nearly all the top backs ND had on their board. And Chris Tyree was a Chip Long recruit.

He screwed up with focusing too much on Shipley but I cant think of any other mistakes he made. He nearly got Singleton.
He was better than good. If he got Singleton he would have been great.

 

[irishjet34]

So much to chew on here.... I really like the idea of Belk, but Lukabu seems super legit. Just you tube him, some cool videos. I would be SUPER happy with him. He is an IVY League guy so understands the value of education. Played and coaches LB's. His D's have shown improvement, he worked under Hafley. He was off my radar, but now I have him neck/neck with Belk for those of you keeping score.

I do not talk on here often but always following. Tem Lukabu is an amazing person. My first year playing football at Colgate, Tem was the captain of the team. He was such an inspiration to the younger players and never put seniority over helping/teaching the younger players. He was an amazing lb but an even better person. what I have heard here in the Northeast is that that he is a good recruiter that can relate with people. If you have not heard of him, look him up as it is an interesting story of his life. I am not sure if he is the right fit for ND in their situation they are in currently as I favor someone with more experience on the staff with how young it is but could do much worse than Tem.

 

[irishjet34]

Ivy League? I think you may be confusing Colgate with Cornell.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Btw we did beat Cornell that year by 30.

 

[Grahambo]

I do not talk on here often but always following. Tem Lukabu is an amazing person. My first year playing football at Colgate, Tem was the captain of the team. He was such an inspiration to the younger players and never put seniority over helping/teaching the younger players. He was an amazing lb but an even better person. what I have heard here in the Northeast is that that he is a good recruiter that can relate with people. If you have not heard of him, look him up as it is an interesting story of his life. I am not sure if he is the right fit for ND in their situation they are in currently as I favor someone with more experience on the staff with how young it is but could do much worse than Tem.

Good stuff! Post more!

 

[Grahambo]

He screwed up with focusing too much on Shipley but I cant think of any other mistakes he made. He nearly got Singleton.
He was better than good. If he got Singleton he would have been great.

He nearly cost us Logan Diggs. There were a few other misses. He wasn’t a bad recruiter but he wasn’t great either. He was good. But we need better then good.

 

[chicago51]

I do not talk on here often but always following. Tem Lukabu is an amazing person. My first year playing football at Colgate, Tem was the captain of the team. He was such an inspiration to the younger players and never put seniority over helping/teaching the younger players. He was an amazing lb but an even better person. what I have heard here in the Northeast is that that he is a good recruiter that can relate with people. If you have not heard of him, look him up as it is an interesting story of his life. I am not sure if he is the right fit for ND in their situation they are in currently as I favor someone with more experience on the staff with how young it is but could do much worse than Tem.

In Terms of Tem. Yes amazing human being. Football wise the BC defense was just average, granted it is improving. I'm not sure though that is Lukabu's doing or Hafley's doing; or Hafley recruiting better. So I guess I'm not overly impressed with the resume.

 

[chicago51]

In terms of getting more experienced . Those of you harping for experience know who you are!

I'm sort of with you and sort of NOT. I'm sorry I don't want someone with a long resume that is a mediocre to average resume. I'm sorry I don't want that.

You keep saying we need experience. Show me someone with experience that 1) is available 2) fits our style of play and 3) actually has a resume that isn't ho hum with just average to mediocre results.

Heacock would have met that criteria but he would rather be comfortable with his coaching staff and practice setup than have an opportunity to coach Freeman's 4 and 5 star guys at Notre Dame, so be it.

But don't shout experience and then give a ho hum average coach. I rather get someone with a chance to be really good than someone I know is just okay.

 

[T-Boone]

In terms of getting more experienced . Those of you harping for experience know who you are!

I'm sort of with you and sort of NOT. I'm sorry I don't want someone with a long resume that is a mediocre to average resume. I'm sorry I don't want that.

You keep saying we need experience. Show me someone with experience that 1) is available 2) fits our style of play and 3) actually has a resume that isn't ho hum with just average to mediocre results.

Heacock would have met that criteria but he would rather be comfortable with his coaching staff and practice setup than have an opportunity to coach Freeman's 4 and 5 star guys at Notre Dame, so be it.

But don't shout experience and then give a ho hum average coach. I rather get someone with a chance to be really good than someone I know is just okay.

Tom Herman

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Originally posted by IrishLax View Post
"ISD reported yesterday that Freeman is OK letting the dust settle a little bit on the DC hire because he's had a bit of a "change of heart" about how hands on he wants to be with the defense. Basically, he may want to go so far as calling the defense himself, or at least putting his stamp on that side of the ball and running things his way a la Lincoln Riley, Kirby Smart, etc.

Reading between the lines, I wouldn't be surprised if the Oklahoma State debacle where Elston had no feel for how to call the game or adjust to tempo + negotiating with Heacock where he wanted a tremendous amount of control over that side of the ball changed his perspective on how he's going to be most successful as HC. So he's probably looking for someone who wants to adapt to him and collaborate, not the other way around."

IF he can manage it, this make all the sense in the world to me. I said it before/during/after the Fiesta bowl, that Freeman not calling plays and having a heavy roll in defensive game plan basically eliminated his best asset and the entire reason he got hired at ND in the first place last year....his defense....HIS. Why on Earth would you ride the coat tails of what made you successful all the way to the top and then once you get there, abandon it? I'd be perfectly fine if they bring in another good-to-great recruiter to coach a position group but has a wealth of experience who's willing to take a co-DC or assistant coach of defense type tag. Meanwhile, it's MF's defense and he calls the plays on game day.

As far as RB coach....has to be ace recruiter. Period. I love Sampson's sliding scale that he used when mentioning OL coach versus RB coach search: OL needs 85% technical teaching, 15% recruiting. RB coach is the complete inverse.

 

[arrowryan]

Phil Parker is not in the mix, per Loy

 

[Rogue219]

https://nusports.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/lou-ayeni/3038

Have heard a handful of talking heads mention Lou Ayeni from Northwestern as a potential RB coach candidate. He is the NU RB coach and recruiting coordinator. Early 40s but he's been around.

 

[GoldenAura]

Phil Parker is not in the mix, per Loy

Bummer

 

[NDdomer2]

In terms of getting more experienced . Those of you harping for experience know who you are!

I'm sort of with you and sort of NOT. I'm sorry I don't want someone with a long resume that is a mediocre to average resume. I'm sorry I don't want that.

You keep saying we need experience. Show me someone with experience that 1) is available 2) fits our style of play and 3) actually has a resume that isn't ho hum with just average to mediocre results.

Heacock would have met that criteria but he would rather be comfortable with his coaching staff and practice setup than have an opportunity to coach Freeman's 4 and 5 star guys at Notre Dame, so be it.

But don't shout experience and then give a ho hum average coach. I rather get someone with a chance to be really good than someone I know is just okay.

theres alot to these sort of things. Heacock isnt "available" just like alot of these folks. They are employed for the most part.

Do we have a true style of play. By all accounts MF isnt even running his true defensive scheme as he adjusted to what already existed at ND and the personnel. Most other DC's are likely able to adjust to scheme/personnel/"style of play". It's more are they willing vs ability.

If they have 1 and 2 and 3, they likely arent looking to move on. This type of candidate is probably already at a top tier program getting paid very well. It would be an unique set of circumstances for them to leave their current situation.

I think what youre hoping for at this time is someone with 1/2 and 3 being average to above average results with dog shit talent, where you can project much better results with better players.

 

[Irish Cedar]

Phil Parker is not in the mix, per Loy

If Parker is not in the mix, then it's time to swing for the fences with a young potential rockstar IMO. It's more risky, but what the hell? I would have selected Parker even ahead of Heacock, but if neither are happening then give me Belk.

 

[Ndaccountant]

https://nusports.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/lou-ayeni/3038

Have heard a handful of talking heads mention Lou Ayeni from Northwestern as a potential RB coach candidate. He is the NU RB coach and recruiting coordinator. Early 40s but he's been around.

 

[arrowryan]

If Parker is not in the mix, then it's time to swing for the fences with a young potential rockstar IMO. It's more risky, but what the hell? I would have selected Parker even ahead of Heacock, but if neither are happening then give me Belk.

Belk and Mason are the two names I consistently read about. Unless another Stuckey-like interview happens or Freeman finds someone from the NFL, I would guess it’ll be one of those two.

Each coach would have a different benefit. Mason has a lot of experience at high academic schools and could be that experienced coach many are asking for. For Belk, people describe him as the next Freeman. A DC who had success and non P5 schools and is a great recruiter. If Belk is the guy, I would expect Freeman’s fingerprints to still be all over the defense.

 

[arrowryan]

https://nusports.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/lou-ayeni/3038

Have heard a handful of talking heads mention Lou Ayeni from Northwestern as a potential RB coach candidate. He is the NU RB coach and recruiting coordinator. Early 40s but he's been around.

I would like this hire. At NW, you’re not going to have a lot of future NFL talent in the backfield so you can’t really use that against him.

I believe he identified Kareem Hunt at Toledo and David Montgomery at Iowa State. That’s certainly worth putting on your resume.

 

[chicago51]

Belk and Mason are the two names I consistently read about. Unless another Stuckey-like interview happens or Freeman finds someone from the NFL, I would guess it’ll be one of those two.

Each coach would have a different benefit. Mason has a lot of experience at high academic schools and could be that experienced coach many are asking for. For Belk, people describe him as the next Freeman. A DC who had success and non P5 schools and is a great recruiter. If Belk is the guy, I would expect Freeman’s fingerprints to still be all over the defense.

Has Mason signaled a willingness to change his style with the d-line? Because my understanding is Freeman told Foskey and the A twins that things wouldn’t be too different for them if they came back?

Because all this talk of a coach being base 3 down, or 4 down, is not as significant because teams are multiple anyway. But 1 gap vs 2 gap play for the interior guys, and the big end is actually a big contrast, and big change that requires starting from scratch technique wise.

 

[stlnd01]

In terms of getting more experienced . Those of you harping for experience know who you are!

I'm sort of with you and sort of NOT. I'm sorry I don't want someone with a long resume that is a mediocre to average resume. I'm sorry I don't want that.

You keep saying we need experience. Show me someone with experience that 1) is available 2) fits our style of play and 3) actually has a resume that isn't ho hum with just average to mediocre results.

Heacock would have met that criteria but he would rather be comfortable with his coaching staff and practice setup than have an opportunity to coach Freeman's 4 and 5 star guys at Notre Dame, so be it.

But don't shout experience and then give a ho hum average coach. I rather get someone with a chance to be really good than someone I know is just okay.

I'm not sure experience being a DC is necessarily so important. Freeman has that and can be as engaged as he wants in schematics on that side of the ball, much like BK often was on offense. So, agree a mediocre retread isn't worth much just because he's been a DC.

But having someone on the staff with experience as a head coach, or even with program-wide responsibilities at a major P5 program, that could certainly be valuable in all sorts of ways, including to serve as a sounding board for our first-time head coach (assuming they get along). That makes Mason intriguing.

 

[Rogue219]

I would like this hire. At NW, you’re not going to have a lot of future NFL talent in the backfield so you can’t really use that against him.

I believe he identified Kareem Hunt at Toledo and David Montgomery at Iowa State. That’s certainly worth putting on your resume.

Saw that too in his bio.

Freeman wants guys who are going to step it up a notch in addition to having the ND brand behind them. If this guy can be recruiting coordinator at Northwestern, he could do the job at Notre Dame with the additional resources and football brand ND is going to have over Northwestern in that respect.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I still want a coach from a big time program (even if there earlier in career as a GA or analyst). I want a coach who has had experience in HS and living rooms of 5 stars like Al Washington.

 

[arrowryan]

Saw that too in his bio.

Freeman wants guys who are going to step it up a notch in addition to having the ND brand behind them. If this guy can be recruiting coordinator at Northwestern, he could do the job at Notre Dame with the additional resources and football brand ND is going to have over Northwestern in that respect.

Notre Dame/Marcus Freeman has a couple of solid candidates for recruiting coordinator. Brian Mason was the recruiting coordinator at UC, Chad Bowden, Prister believes Stuckey is made for the position, and Lou Ayeni if he ends up being hired.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Give me Belk over Mason.

 

[pumpdog20]

Phil Parker is not in the mix, per Loy

I've been saying it... the state of Iowa hates Notre Dame.

 

[tko]

Please Lord Jesus, do not allow Derek Mason to be employed by the University of Notre Dame!

 

[Rogue219]

Give me Belk over Mason.

Same.

If not, call Ryan Walters at Illinois.

 

[andre784]

Even if Mason is the guy, hard to imagine this being a long term thing. I would imagine it would go one season most likely. If its Belk I can imagine him being like three year guy like Lea. Mason would just get the ND job to have HC opportunity in a year but checks the box of a experience candidate Freeman can probably learn from a lot.