ND Defensive Coordinator search- 2025

[rtrn2glory]

Anybody care to try to decode what those three coaches being "pissed off" at him might refer to?

 

[Hautian Domer]

Knowles was offered 3.2 million I saw I doubt we pony up that money for a DC

Then we offer $3.3 million. Chip Kelly's base salary was $4.8million (overall annual pay rate at $6.1 million).

Now is not the time to go or bargain hunting....

 

[NDMatt91]

I know some don't like him...but, I hesitantly bring up Jimmy Lake? Has DC, NFL, and head coaching experience. Coaches DBs and recruits....

If he wants to coach Safeties and Mickens as DC and coaching corners, sure. Dude knows how to recruit/evaluate. I counted 9 CB/S draft picks in 6 years before he became HC.

 

[stlnd01]

Anybody care to try to decode what those three coaches being "pissed off" at him might refer to?

I just took it as he's not telling them what they want to hear ("yes please let me take your wonderful job, I'm so excited!")
Dude wants to take a minute and evaluate his options? More power to him. Only one with actual grounds to be tweaked might be Day. But then, Day doesn't win the national championship without Knowles, so...

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Dude was a disaster at Washington and was fired after one year on the job with Atlanta. If you make a list of possible bad hires/fits, he'd top it.

Agreed. Very hard pass. Way too much baggage and not at all what they should be looking for.

Raheem Morris hired him to the Falcons because they worked together in Tampa. FO and FA.

 

[Giddyup]

Jim Leonard or Mickens FTW

 

[Hammer Of The Gods]

didn’t Washington leave Ohio State when Knowles was hired? Was that just how things panned out or was that because Knowles didn’t want him?

 

[dublinirish]

Gotta know who this gf he has who's demanding he come back to the state of Oklahoma lol

 

[IrishFanForever23]

didn’t Washington leave Ohio State when Knowles was hired? Was that just how things panned out or was that because Knowles didn’t want him?

Maybe Knowles didn't want him, but I think it had more to do with OSU not wanting to lose Johnson more than losing Washington.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

didn’t Washington leave Ohio State when Knowles was hired? Was that just how things panned out or was that because Knowles didn’t want him?

They lost to Michigan in 2021 and had a little clean out. The OL Studwara was not retained either along with Coombs and Matt Barnes the secondary coach.

 

[Hammer Of The Gods]

They lost to Michigan in 2021 and had a little clean out. The OL Studwara was not retained either along with Coombs and Matt Barnes the secondary coach.

Ah, makes sense. I just forgot about all that. Well, I’m pro Knowles and wanted to make sure there wasn’t any “issues” currently on the staff.

 

[FU BK]

I heard Andy Ludwig retired, any chance he could come here and coach defense? I heard he's a fan of the hockey team.

Ty chan at safety?

 

[IAIrish]

Gotta know who this gf he has who's demanding he come back to the state of Oklahoma lol

Beer flavored nipples will get em every time.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Ah, makes sense. I just forgot about all that. Well, I’m pro Knowles and wanted to make sure there wasn’t any “issues” currently on the staff.

Right now, in an ideal world, I think he's the best hire.

But the Tem Lukabu train seems to be leaving the station in my mind already.

 

[IrishWayDomer]

Mike, ISD minutes ago - surprised if it's Mickens at this point.

Ty Chan?

 

[spoonidentity]

Dude was a disaster at Washington and was fired after one year on the job with Atlanta. If you make a list of possible bad hires/fits, he'd top it.

Respectfully, I think you are mixing up Head Coach Jimmy Lake with Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach Jimmy Lake.

Dude was Mike Mickens before Mike Mickens, with a legacy of draft picks to go with the development. If you look at all of the players he recruited to UW and/or developed it's insane. Seriously, unreal.

Budda Baker, Sydney Jones, Kevin King, Byron Murphy, Ezekiel Turner, Taylor Rapp, Jordan Miller, Elijah Molden, Keith Taylor, Trent McDuffie, Kyler Gordon, Dominique Hampton. All guys from 2018-2024 draft classes that were selected in the NFL draft or started for NFL teams. A lot of these players were recruited heavily by ND, too.

I wouldn't write him off as a candidate if he wants back in to college one day and would be ok with coaching DBs.

 

[ViewsFromTheDome]

Has anyone mentioned Elston. To me he would be the ideal hire

 

[Irishokie]

Has anyone mentioned Elston. To me he would be the ideal hire

Elston called the Oklahoma State loss for us in basically his audition for the DC position. We moved on and he’s still a position coach today, though in the NFL.

 

[ViewsFromTheDome]

Respectfully, I think you are mixing up Head Coach Jimmy Lake with Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach Jimmy Lake.

Dude was Mike Mickens before Mike Mickens, with a legacy of draft picks to go with the development. If you look at all of the players he recruited to UW and/or developed it's insane. Seriously, unreal.

Budda Baker, Sydney Jones, Kevin King, Byron Murphy, Ezekiel Turner, Taylor Rapp, Jordan Miller, Elijah Molden, Keith Taylor, Trent McDuffie, Kyler Gordon, Dominique Hampton. All guys from 2018-2024 draft classes that were selected in the NFL draft or started for NFL teams. A lot of these players were recruited heavily by ND, too.

I wouldn't write him off as a candidate if he wants back in to college one day and would be ok with coaching DBs.

I would be happy with Lake but I feel like it would encroach on Mickens so I don't think Freeman would do it

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Has anyone mentioned Elston. To me he would be the ideal hire

I would be happy with Lake but I feel like it would encroach on Mickens so I don't think Freeman would do it

What Dome are your Views from specifically?

 

[choo choo]

Anyone hearing Pete Carroll?

 

[ViewsFromTheDome]

Elston called the Oklahoma State loss for us in basically his audition for the DC position. We moved on and he’s still a position coach today, though in the NFL.

I think after a national championship and #1 NFL defense he deserves another shot

 

[anarin]

Anyone hearing Pete Carroll?

To the raiders? Absolutely

 

[choo choo]

To the raiders? Absolutely

Ok. Just got a txt from someone who's very reliable and it just said Pete Carroll? Whew

 

[FDNYIrish1]

I don’t trust Knowles decision making. Guys like 70 years old with a fiancé

 

[stlnd01]

I don’t trust Knowles decision making. Guys like 70 years old with a fiancé

He's 59, FWIW.

 

[stlnd01]

Mike, ISD minutes ago - surprised if it's Mickens at this point.

Ty Chan?

This feels a bit like the QB portal discussion of a few weeks ago.
If we can get a proven stud from outside (Klubnick, Knowles), go for it. If not, we've got good options in house (Carr/Angeli/Minchey, Mickens or maybe Washington). No need to force a bad fit, but do your diligence, look around and see what might be possible.

 

[thekid33]

Re: Mickens vs. Not Mickens

If it's not Mickens, what do we think is the reason(s)?

• Freeman thinks he's not ready?
• Freeman doesn't doubt that he could do it, but thinks it's better for him to stay with current responsibilities?
• Mickens thinks he's not ready?
• Mickens isn't interested and is happy as is?
• Wanting new perspective/ideas from outside of the program?

 

[allenm5333]

This feels a bit like the QB portal discussion of a few weeks ago.
If we can get a proven stud from outside (Klubnick, Knowles), go for it. If not, we've got good options in house (Carr/Angeli/Minchey, Mickens or maybe Washington). No need to force a bad fit, but do your diligence, look around and see what might be possible.

Do anything to enhance the program you can. Explore all options

 

[The Backer]

This feels a bit like the QB portal discussion of a few weeks ago.
If we can get a proven stud from outside (Klubnick, Knowles), go for it. If not, we've got good options in house (Carr/Angeli/Minchey, Mickens or maybe Washington). No need to force a bad fit, but do your diligence, look around and see what might be possible.

If it's true we're willing to go into the $3-3.5 million range, then that puts a whole lot of DCs in play, guys like Haines, Kwiatkowski, Golding, or Parker. Absolute floor on this hire should be Leonhard.