ND Coaching Search Megathread

[chicago51]

Freeman is not tossing Chris O'Leary out on the curb.

 

[chicago51]

Who do you want then

Mike Tomlin

 

[NDFAN2008]

Don’t like the hire. We are building literally the youngest staff in college football. Belk has a thin resume and if he succeeds he’s just going to move on immediately to an HC job somewhere else.

Belk would be a home run hire, and didn’t our previous two DC move on for head coaching jobs elsewhere after two years?

 

[irish o'phile]

It is a lot of youth.maybe it pays off in this new era. The staff is definitely not the stereotypical bunch of crusty old white football dudes (outside of Harry).

 

[T-Boone]

I love the idea of a DC from Texas especially Houston. Although I guess everyone who is good is going to aTm.

 

[T-Boone]

Nick Saban

losingest HC in NC history

 

[T-Boone]

Belk's positional experience seems to be all in the secondary.

Anyone know how the positional responsibility will work out?

We need all hands on deck in the secondary.

 

[arrowryan]

Don’t like the hire. We are building literally the youngest staff in college football. Belk has a thin resume and if he succeeds he’s just going to move on immediately to an HC job somewhere else.

My sources want to know if we should start the “Doug Belk is a Gangster” thread yet?

 

[Dale]

I mentioned earlier, GA under Saban/Smart. Stuckey under Dabo. It’s clear when Freeman is not looking under the Tressel or Irish tree, he’s seeking someone under someone else’s elite coaching tree. That’s the only thing that gives me some confidence after the pauses due to inexperience. I did think the Heacock type hire was preferable though.

 

[notredomer23]

Recruiting should see a massive boost with this staff. I worry there are going to be some major head scratching decisions and losses in Freeman’s first couple of years from this lack of experience on the staff though. What type of analysts can he hire? Absolutely need a Stoops like analyst with HC experience IMO.

 

[arrowryan]

In all seriousness, I don’t think a veteran DC is necessary. Freedman is going to have his hands on that defensive game plans. From his opening press conference, we got the vibes that Freeman was giving Rees 100% control of the offense. Meaning that Freeman will be focusing more on the defense still.

 

[IrishLax]

Belk would be a home run hire, and didn’t our previous two DC move on for head coaching jobs elsewhere after two years?

Ok so when you say it’s a home run, why is that? He had one good year at a non-power 5 school. He has no track record good or bad to point at besides that.

HC = zero experience
OC = 2 years of experience
DC = 1 year of experience

Honestly, I think the odds lean more towards “train wreck” than “home run.”

 

[IrishLax]

My sources want to know if we should start the “Doug Belk is a Gangster” thread yet?

Premature. He has zero sideline fist pumps on his resume.

 

[IrishTusker]

Ok so when you say it’s a home run, why is that? He had one good year at a non-power 5 school. He has no track record good or bad to point at besides that.

HC = zero experience
OC = 2 years of experience
DC = 1 year of experience

Honestly, I think the odds lean more towards “train wreck” than “home run.”

Blame Swarbrick for hiring an OC before a HC.

 

[T-Boone]

Belk was more exciting when he'd be able bring Early with him.

why wouldn't he bring him? Don't we need a DL coach any more?

 

[chicago51]

Gave up 13 points to Auburn in the bowl game sounds a lot better than giving up 600 effing yards from what we saw with Elston lol.

Belk's performance was better.

My question is though did Freeman even try to rescue Elston??? OR did Freeman let Elston drown out there???

My guess is maybe Freeman tried to rescue things but not till 4th quarter. He was talking into the headset and looking at the call sheet a lot more in the 4th quarter on tv. To be fair the D only gave up 2 FGs in the 4th quarter, albeit with some timely fortunate turnovers .

 

[GoldenAura]

why wouldn't he bring him? Don't we need a DL coach any more?

Lots of chatter about Al Washington coming on board for DL but nothing confirmed yet as far as I know.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

why wouldn't he bring him? Don't we need a DL coach any more?

I assumed Washington was taking that position. But if he ends up coaching LBs, it's still a possibility.

 

[ACamp1900]

Don’t like the hire. We are building literally the youngest staff in college football. Belk has a thin resume and if he succeeds he’s just going to move on immediately to an HC job somewhere else.

Even I think this is being overly negative

 

[T-Boone]

I like the idea of getting a young hungry coaching staff that then pressures the powers that be at ND to copy aTm (legally).

 

[Dale]

From a quick search Belk runs a 4-2-5 is known as a great recruiter. Wants players playing fast and aggressive but he is the bright mind players coach type.

Freeman’s basically hiring himself it sounds like.

 

[Dale]

I like the idea of getting a young hungry coaching staff that then pressures the powers that be at ND to copy aTm (legally).

I’d wait to see results before copying anything A&M does. They are still just another SEC West team till then

 

[Irish Cedar]

It is a lot of youth.maybe it pays off in this new era. The staff is definitely not the stereotypical bunch of crusty old white football dudes (outside of Harry).

Harry is definitely going to be Santa Claus for the Coaching Staff Family Christmas Party.

 

[Dale]

From a quick search Belk runs a 4-2-5 is known as a great recruiter. Wants players playing fast and aggressive but he is the bright mind players coach type.

Freeman’s basically hiring himself it sounds like.

Highlights of their edge guys (Anenih and Parrish) from last year show a lot of traditional 4-2-5 with their hands in the ground. This year it seemed like they stood up more which was popular around the country in a more 2-4-5 type look. Both shorter 250 types like Justin A.

 

[chicago51]

Harry is definitely going to be Santa Claus for the Coaching Staff Family Christmas Party.

I was going to say this staff is Harry Hiestand and his millennial grandkids. Mike Elston and Jamarcus Shephard could have been the gen X dads on the staff but not anymore.

 

[Dale]

I was going to say this staff is Harry Hiestand and his millennial grandkids. Mike Elston and Jamarcus Shephard could have been the gen X dads on the staff but not anymore.

Shep isn’t even a year older than Stuckey haha

 

[Dale]

It’ll be funny when we have a staff full of young super recruiters and McNulty/Hiestand sign 6 kids all Top 250 or higher who are the foundation of the class.

 

[T-Boone]

Just listened to an interview of Belk from last year on youtube (20minutes). He sounds impressive. I can see him and Freeman recruiting at a high level together.

 

[ulukinatme]

I was going to say this staff is Harry Hiestand and his millennial grandkids. Mike Elston and Jamarcus Shephard could have been the gen X dads on the staff but not anymore.

I posted this in another thread, but here's a live shot of our new coaching staff:

 

[ulukinatme]

I would go back to Taylor and offer him the co-offensive coordinator role and a pay rise. We are putting too much faith in Rees. I also think Rees would be sensible enough to accept that.

Rees just put together 550 yards of offense against a very good defensive team, and that was with an incredibly thin and mostly inconsistent WR group, a beat up OL, and a statue at QB. Explain to me why we shouldn't have faith in Rees.