Notre Dame Coaching Changes

[AvesEvo]

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I'm buying what he's selling.

 

[ThePiombino]

Until Notre Dame makes a commitment to running the ball in a pro-style offense, I doubt we'll be producing any 1st round RBs....

Considering NFL teams rarely select RBs in the 1st round these days, I'd hardly consider it an issue.

 

[EddytoNow]

Then it's completely objective. You can't say a guy is a dynamic recruiter if there is no basis around it. He has never landed a blue chip player or beat out an elite recruiter for a prospect they really wanted. So what metric are you using for him being a good recruiter? I hope it's not perceived effort, because that's even more counterintuitive to him being an ace. As his hard work should have led to some better pickups or at least been in some major battles. I don't see that.

There is plenty of evidence that the guy can coach, but he certainly doesn't seem to be a recruiting expert.

While I agree that there is no evidence that he can recruit at the level Notre Dame needs, there is also no evidence that he can't. He has been trying to sell Indiana University as a football destination. Indiana has been a bottom feeder in the Big 10 for many years. What serious football player wants to buy that product?

Notre Dame football is a much better product to sell to recruits. Four and five star players are more willing to buy into the product Notre Dame is selling. If he's hired it will take two or three years to see how successfully he can sell the Notre Dame brand. If there is evidence he can coach running backs, we could use an improvement in that area.

 

[NDinL.A.]

If we actually end up with Lyght, Denson and Quinn, how is that not an improvement over what we had, from a coaching standpoint?

Does anyone seriously think our DBs, QBs and even RBs, had good seasons last year?

What is wrong with a real DB coaching our DBs, and a real RB coaching our running backs?

And why do we just assume that the three of them, as a team, can't recruit as well, or even better, than the three who just left?

How is it not outstanding for two coaches, WHO ACTUALLY RECEIVED THEIR DEGREES FROM NOTRE DAME, to talk to players and parents about the merits of graduating from Notre Dame (but not one ND can't get over).

I, for one, am pretty pumped, assuming we actually get these three.

And I also think that Kelly will now have a staff which will be pretty darn loyal to him, and Notre Dame.

Off-topic, I know (which is funny considering it's the thread starter):

Kerry Cooks did an absolutely outstanding job with our CB's the past few years. He turned a 3 star WR into a draft pick (Jackson), a WR into a possible AA and a possible first day pick (although I think 2nd day), and Cole Luke was phenomenal last year, save for the USC game. How can you even subjectively say he didn't do a good job?

Plus he recruited the hell out of Texas, a state we couldn't touch for years. He's the biggest loss this off-season IMHO.

 

[Corry]

There is evidence he can coach running backs, we could use an improvement in that area.

FIFY

 

[Irish#1]

A part of me is sceptical of McCullough. His main praise seems to come from the year IU's RB had last year. To me that seems like assuming RGIII's QB coach would be a good hire as well.

IU's O-line was less than impressive. I think he had a lot to do with Coleman's success this year and the year before.

Junior Year
Indiana's new single-season rushing champion, Coleman rushed for 2,036 yards on 270 attempts, a 7.5 average, with 15 touchdowns. He lost only 26 yards overall. Coleman also made 25 receptions for 141 yards.

Sophomore Year
Rushed for 958 yards on 131 carries (7.3 average) with 12 touchdowns ... caught 19 passes for 193 yards, returned six kicks for 124 yards and finished with 1,275 all-purpose yards

 

[PANDFAN]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Said <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indiana?src=hash">#Indiana</a> RB coach Deland McCullough of what he can do for his players: "I will make you the man." Says he wants his RBs to "play angry"</p>— Tim Prister (@timprister) <a href="https://twitter.com/timprister/status/565847976904765440">February 12, 2015</a></blockquote>
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[Irish#1]

Then it's completely objective. You can't say a guy is a dynamic recruiter if there is no basis around it. He has never landed a blue chip player or beat out an elite recruiter for a prospect they really wanted. So what metric are you using for him being a good recruiter? I hope it's not perceived effort, because that's even more counterintuitive to him being an ace. As his hard work should have led to some better pickups or at least been in some major battles. I don't see that.

There is plenty of evidence that the guy can coach, but he certainly doesn't seem to be a recruiting expert.

I'm sure you haven't heard much about IU football, but living in Indy, they come up on sports talk radio. The running joke for decades has been, "IU football? I didn't even know they had a football team!".

Landing 3 star kids at IU is like landing high 4 star kids at ND.

I personally don't know if Denson or McCullough would be better overall. I like Denson's ties to ND, but I want the guy who can recruit the best.

 

[EddytoNow]

IU's O-line was less than impressive. I think he had a lot to do with Coleman's success this year and the year before.

Junior Year
Indiana's new single-season rushing champion, Coleman rushed for 2,036 yards on 270 attempts, a 7.5 average, with 15 touchdowns. He lost only 26 yards overall. Coleman also made 25 receptions for 141 yards.

Sophomore Year
Rushed for 958 yards on 131 carries (7.3 average) with 12 touchdowns ... caught 19 passes for 193 yards, returned six kicks for 124 yards and finished with 1,275 all-purpose yards

And how many stars did Coleman have as a recruit? I would argue that Coleman was a better recruiting haul than any running back Notre Dame has brought in during the Kelly or Weiss regimes, including any of our current players.

So the question remains: "Are we more enamored with the number of stars behind a recruit's name or their ability to produce on the football field?" Recruiting is as much about recognizing talent as it is landing recruits with four or five stars after their name. Indiana works hard to identify diamonds in the rough. They don't get many, but their coaching staff has shown the ability to develop the few they do get. We could use a coach with both the ability to identify talent and the ability to coach them up. Solid hire if we can pull it off.

 

[woolybug25]

I'm sure you haven't heard much about IU football, but living in Indy, they come up on sports talk radio. The running joke for decades has been, "IU football? I didn't even know they had a football team!".

Landing 3 star kids at IU is like landing high 4 star kids at ND.

I personally don't know if Denson or McCullough would be better overall. I like Denson's ties to ND, but I want the guy who can recruit the best.

Again... what metric are people using to say he is a great recruiter? I fully understand that its harder to recruit there, but that doesn't change the fact that he didn't recruit anyone of merit in his time there. He certainly coached up some players, but that's not a metric relevant to the actual job of recruiting. One he would be dealt with at Notre Dame.

You guys are also acting like IU football is Southern New Mexico State or something. When Wilson was there, a great recruiter, he pulled in FIVE 4-star recruits in his 2013. So lets not act like getting those kids to come to IU is impossible, because its not. It just was for McCullough.

The more I thought about it, the more I want Denson over McCullough.

 

[OrlaNDomer]

Could someone break down the coaching staff openings and who the candidates are to fill those spots in one post?

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Again... what metric are people using to say he is a great recruiter? I fully understand that its harder to recruit there, but that doesn't change the fact that he didn't recruit anyone of merit in his time there. He certainly coached up some players, but that's not a metric relevant to the actual job of recruiting. One he would be dealt with at Notre Dame.

You guys are also acting like IU football is Southern New Mexico State or something. When Wilson was there, a great recruiter, he pulled in FIVE 4-star recruits in his 2013. So lets not act like getting those kids to come to IU is impossible, because its not. It just was for McCullough.

The more I thought about it, the more I want Denson over McCullough.

Wilson was hired at the end of 2010 and he's still there. That haul in 2013 represents 5/7 of the four stars they've signed in his 5 full classes plus the one partial class he finished up.

 

[yankeeND]

Again... what metric are people using to say he is a great recruiter? I fully understand that its harder to recruit there, but that doesn't change the fact that he didn't recruit anyone of merit in his time there. He certainly coached up some players, but that's not a metric relevant to the actual job of recruiting. One he would be dealt with at Notre Dame.

You guys are also acting like IU football is Southern New Mexico State or something. When Wilson was there, a great recruiter, he pulled in FIVE 4-star recruits in his 2013. So lets not act like getting those kids to come to IU is impossible, because its not. It just was for McCullough.

The more I thought about it, the more I want Denson over McCullough.

Yeah I am with you on this one. If McCullough is who we get I will be happy, but I do not understand not bringing in a coach that just so happens to be the all-time leading rusher, a winner, somebody that embodies the spirit of ND, great ties to FL, which we just took a big hit with, and so on. It just makes so much sense to me to add Denson, which this will help one of our own build his resume while also I beleive would give us someone who will work tirelessly for us on and off the field. Pair him up with Lyght and we have two all-time greats giving back to a place that they were very successful at, and we all know many have tried and failed to be successful at ND. These two guys have already done that in some capacity which gives them a leg up on everybody else imo. Then add these two with this home run hire in Sanford and we have a young up and coming, successful core of coaches on the road attacking Cali and FL. Where do I sign lol.

 

[PANDFAN]

Could someone break down the coaching staff openings and who the candidates are to fill those spots in one post?

http://www.irishenvy.com/forums/notre-dame-football/249008-notre-dame-coaching-changes-6.html

 

[woolybug25]

Wilson was hired at the end of 2010 and he's still there. That haul in 2013 represents 5/7 of the four stars they've signed in his 5 full classes plus the one partial class he finished up.

Just kinda mistyped with the "when" comment, I am aware that Wilson is there.

Again... what metric can anyone use for McCullough being a good recruiter? You guys are acting like you can't use actual results as a metric. Considering McCullough had large recruiting responsibilities and never actually headed the recruitment of any of the four star players in his tenure, I find that belief system quite convenient for him...

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Just kinda mistyped with the "when" comment, I am aware that Wilson is there.

Again... what metric can anyone use for McCullough being a good recruiter? You guys are acting like you can't use actual results as a metric. Considering McCullough had large recruiting responsibilities and never actually headed the recruitment of any of the four star players in his tenure, I find that belief system quite convenient for him...

Not that this is directed at me but I'm not arguing with your conclusions; just wanted to clarify.

Really, I don't think we CAN know. Young assistants are probably not given free reign to be lead recruiters on top prospects where the team feels they have a shot; and even if they are the lead guy, recruiting takes a village.

 

[PANDFAN]

his biggest recruit prob is jordan howard from uab

his biggest recruit prob is jordan howard from uab

In a Twitter exchange Wednesday with Hawkins, Howard said he was meeting with Indiana running backs coach Deland McCullough "right now." McCullough not only has charisma but credibility: he turned Tevin Coleman into a 2,000-yard rusher.

It is a stressful and emotional time for Howard and other players who were stunned at the news UAB is dropping its football program.

he chose IU following this meeting

 

[NDdomer2]

McCullough is essential one job ahead of Denson. He has ST and Recruiting Coord on his resume.

Denson has neither of those. It could be that simple.

 

[PANDFAN]

Man malik needs to lay off Twitter

 

[GoldenDomer]

I want this kid to be our starter, but someone tell him to stop tweeting.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>What if coaches had to sit out a year like student athletes do if they wanna leave. Lol <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JustAThought?src=hash">#JustAThought</a></p>— Malik Zaire (@LuckyLefty8) <a href="https://twitter.com/LuckyLefty8/status/565909071493341185">February 12, 2015</a></blockquote>
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[Nick Setta]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Man anyone can go</p>— Malik Zaire (@LuckyLefty8) <a href="https://twitter.com/LuckyLefty8/status/565903996926570496">February 12, 2015</a></blockquote>
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[kmoose]

It's Indiana.

If they can sell more ice cream in Alaska than any other state:

12 DAYS OF ICE CREAM (DAY 9): WHICH STATE EATS THE MOST ICE CREAM? « Ice Cream Journal

Then a great recruiter should be able to convince a 4* football player to come to Indiana.

 

[BeauBenken]

I want this kid to be our starter, but someone tell him to stop tweeting.

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I don't think that's such a bad tweet. It just seems bad because of what has happened recently.

What if coaches DID have to sit a year? Holy shit that'd be an awful profession. (But I'd still want to do it.)

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[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Does this indicate another defection????

If so, my wild guess would be Denbrock.

 

[Luckylucci]

I want this kid to be our starter, but someone tell him to stop tweeting.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>What if coaches had to sit out a year like student athletes do if they wanna leave. Lol <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JustAThought?src=hash">#JustAThought</a></p>— Malik Zaire (@LuckyLefty8) <a href="https://twitter.com/LuckyLefty8/status/565909071493341185">February 12, 2015</a></blockquote>
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He just seems to be a very emotional person. Which if you can't control or harness that, it can become a problem.

 

[#1rish]

Malik seems to get riled up fairly easily

 

[CraigKrenzel]

Malik seems to get riled up fairly easily

He should join the board.

 

[yankeeND]

He just seems to be a very emotional person. Which if you can't control or harness that, it can become a problem.

I agree, but I can also relate as I have kind of always worn my emotions on my sleeve also, but these are kids caught up in an adult's game. Lots of relationships with promises thrown around by people that these kids are supposed to be able to trust. I'm not saying that coaches don't have the right to progress in their career because they absolutely do, but from the player's perspective it has to be difficult sometimes to move on. A tough but good lesson to be learned if they want to further progress in a very cutthroat profession of collegiate and professional athletics.

 

[GoldenDomer]

I don't think that's such a bad tweet. It just seems bad because of what has happened recently.

What if coaches DID have to sit a year? Holy shit that'd be an awful profession. (But I'd still want to do it.)

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The tweet itself is not bad, but he's sent out a couple controversial tweets and should consider keeping things to himself and his teammates rather than put it out for the public.

 

[kmoose]

I don't see a single thing wrong with his tweet, and neither do I read any anger or strong emotion in it. In fact, I think the idea is worth some consideration. What about making a coach sit(without pay) for a year, if he breaks a current contract? Perhaps there could be waivers for guys who have already fulfilled their original contract with their current school and are leaving to take a step up? I don't think it is all that outrageous a thought.