ND Defensive Coordinator search- 2025

[KPENN]

ND is “showing interest” in Knowles

 

[Hammer Of The Gods]

ND is “showing interest” in Knowles

Am I reading that correct…he had Day, Franklin, Venables, and FREEMAN pissed him at 3pm today?

 

[Ndaccountant]

Am I reading that correct…he had Day, Franklin, Venables, and FREEMAN pissed him at 3pm today?

I can't imagine he would come to ND. OSU or OU. Anything different doesn't make sense

 

[NDPhilly]

I assume we’re doing our DD on top names similar to the QB transfers - if we can get a top guy, great, but if not we’re happy with what we have in house (Mickens).

 

[Dale]

The slam dunk hire is Co-DCs Leonhard and Mickens IMO

If the defense is good, don’t make Leonhard even promise 2 or 3 years. Gives Mickens one more year and another voice to learn from. Let Leonhard bounce if he wants after successful season

And I’m not even a huge Leonhard guy

 

[Luckylucci]

Coaching searches are also good times to just talk ball, scheme, other assistant coaches, etc. Bring in other top minds and pick their brains on what they are doing or might do. It makes sense to have something of a process even if it’s going to be Mickens.

 

[NDWarrior]

Coaching searches are also good times to just talk ball, scheme, other assistant coaches, etc. Bring in other top minds and pick their brains on what they are doing or might do. It makes sense to have something of a process even if it’s going to be Mickens.

I wonder if MF and ND actually used a process to hire WR coach Mike Brown? Or, was it simply the old "you from Cincy? Cool, you hired! When can you start?"

 

[T-Boone]

Coaching searches are also good times to just talk ball, scheme, other assistant coaches, etc. Bring in other top minds and pick their brains on what they are doing or might do. It makes sense to have something of a process even if it’s going to be Mickens.

That’s why they should ALLOW Saban an interview for DC.
Edit: then maybe offer him the opportunity to coach safeties.

 

[IrishWayDomer]

If you're ISD, Mike Frank has a fairly optimistic view in terms of our shot with Knowles, posted at midnight last night. Skepticism anyone would want to go to PSU and Venables may be fired any time.

https://irishsportsdaily.com/forums/1/topics/102917

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

That’s why they should ALLOW Saban an interview for DC.
Edit: then maybe offer him the opportunity to coach safeties.

Mickens is a better secondary coach than Saban
Pass

 

[IrishTusker]

If you're ISD, Mike Frank has a fairly optimistic view in terms of our shot with Knowles, posted at midnight last night. Skepticism anyone would want to go to PSU and Venables may be fired any time.

https://irishsportsdaily.com/forums/1/topics/102917

That's an interesting point. Day won't be fired now even if he keeps losing to Michigan. Same with MF.

 

[NDFAN2008]

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

 

[NDFAN2008]

I saw that Knowles fiance lives in Oklahoma, but like someone said he doesn't have much to work with at Oklahoma they aren't anywhere close to having the talent we do. ND is set up to have a great team for the next 2-3 years. Day could bounce and head to the NFL at any point he won a title already. Knowles also went to Cornell so he knows the value of a degree.

 

[Irish#1]

The slam dunk hire is Co-DCs Leonhard and Mickens IMO

If the defense is good, don’t make Leonhard even promise 2 or 3 years. Gives Mickens one more year and another voice to learn from. Let Leonhard bounce if he wants after successful season

And I’m not even a huge Leonhard guy

Not a fan of "Co-DC's or Co-OC's". Pick one and lets go.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Knowles is a mad scientist at times they were playing a 3-2-6 against Texas you need talented DB's to do that at times.

 

[StPaul_Irish]

I really wanted to Win one with Golden. What a great guy, coach and DC. I get it though.

 

[StPaul_Irish]

Not a fan of "Co-DC's or Co-OC's". Pick one and lets go.

I'm not either, but it can work.

 

[HouseofPain]

Day could bounce and head to the NFL at any point he won a title already.

How do you go from hot seat, no one likes you, win or you are out to being considered NFL coaching material? Especially since the only reason you were successful is that your school spent the National debt on players and the opposing teams players were hurt????

 

[IrishTusker]

How do you go from hot seat, no one likes you, win or you are out to being considered NFL coaching material? Especially since the only reason you were successful is that your school spent the National debt on players and the opposing teams players were hurt????

That's not true, they soundly beat everyone they played in the playoffs, including us at least for awhile. His record is very good at OSU. Every program that wins recruits well- Saban signed top classes too, so what? That's part of your job. The reason he was on the hot seat is that OSU fans are obsessed with the Michigan game and he is 1-4.

 

[Free Manera]

The slam dunk hire is Co-DCs Leonhard and Mickens IMO

If the defense is good, don’t make Leonhard even promise 2 or 3 years. Gives Mickens one more year and another voice to learn from. Let Leonhard bounce if he wants after successful season

And I’m not even a huge Leonhard guy

That would be awesome. I wanted Leonhard last time (or two times maybe).

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Coaching searches are also good times to just talk ball, scheme, other assistant coaches, etc. Bring in other top minds and pick their brains on what they are doing or might do. It makes sense to have something of a process even if it’s going to be Mickens.

Correct. Hence why the hapless Bears wanted to speak to 43 people when they knew they were hiring Ben Johnson all along.

They owe it to themselves, and Mickens, to cast a wide net and do interviews. Conduct a real search. Unless somebody was already promised something.

 

[PolishDomer]

"Hey guys..im available"

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I saw that Matt Fortuna mentioned Nevada HC Jeff Choate as a possible candidate? It was in a subscriber article. That's interesting.

Also Carolina Panthers OLB Coach Tem Lukabu. He was DC at Boston College prior to that.

Here is where it gets good: in 2019 Lukabu coached LB for the Bengals. When he left for BC to be DC, his replacement with the Bengals as LB coach in 2020 was...

Al Golden.

 

[NDFAN2008]

I saw that Matt Fortuna mentioned Nevada HC Jeff Choate as a possible candidate? It was in a subscriber article. That's interesting.

Also Carolina Panthers OLB Coach Tem Lukabu. He was DC at Boston College prior to that.

Here is where it gets good: in 2019 Lukabu coached LB for the Bengals. When he left for BC to be DC, his replacement with the Bengals as LB coach in 2020 was...

Al Golden.

Lukabu would be interested he has DL experience too and is fairly young.

 

[StPaul_Irish]

Lukabu would be interested he has DL experience too and is fairly young.

Before you get any dumb ideas...

NO, he can't play DT

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Lukabu is 43, played at Colgate and has 7 years of NFL coaching experience.

Seems like a good fit on paper for a lot of reasons.

The 2022 finalists Freeman came down to were Golden, Belk, Lukabu and Rossi.

 

[JamIrish]

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....

 

[allenm5333]

Knowles is a Pennsylvania guy. Coached at Cornell and Duke...

 

[Bane]

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

 

[Katzenboyer]

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....

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.