Silly Season 2014/2015 (Coaching Changes)

[dang227]

That's a pretty huge "except."

True, but I think Eiffert was a great talent. Position as a whole was meh.

 

[ThePiombino]

True, but I think Eiffert was a great talent. Position as a whole was meh.

Did we already forget about what he managed to do with LINEBACKER Troy Niklas? I'll give you ST though...

 

[OCIrish]

I hope so. ST's and TE's have largely underperformed except for Eiffert.

Really????? ST's I get, however, they've done a damn fine job in terms of TE's.......

 

[dang227]

Eiffert, was great Niklas was okay. Koyack and the rest of the position underwhelmed me. Especially blocking at the point of attack. I get what you all are saying though. Points can be made for the TE's. If he moves to CB's hope he does a good job. Know a few people who coached with him at Kent St. And they think he is a hell of a guy.

 

[NDRock]

Eiffert, was great Niklas was okay. Koyack and the rest of the position underwhelmed me.

Agree. Our TE production is trending down, coinciding with Booker coaching the players longer.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Agree. Our TE production is trending down, coinciding with Booker coaching the players longer.

If you're saying that Koyack isn't as good as Eifert, that's true. I would guess that we'll have a few more TEs who aren't as good as Eifert.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Agree. Our TE production is trending down, coinciding with Booker coaching the players longer.

How do you trend upward from an All-American and 1st Round draft pick?

Niklas left a year on the table yet was still one of the best TEs in the country when he left (Mackey semifinalist); he was a shoo-in for preseason All-American in 2014. His five touchdowns in 2013 are good enough for second-most ever in ND history.

If anyone watched Ben Koyack constantly whiff as an underclassmen, his 2014 season (in which he played the most snaps of anyone on the team, no?) would be considered a drastic improvement. I don't know how one could pin Koyack's lack of receiving yards on Booker, especially when it was said that Golson missed him open down the seams repeatedly.

Booker is a young coach and Notre Dame is his first stop at the P5 level, so I'm not saying he's a stud coach. But to shit on him for some drop in TE production is odd. TE just hasn't been an issue for this team.

 

[NDRock]

If you're saying that Koyack isn't as good as Eifert, that's true. I would guess that we'll have a few more TEs who aren't as good as Eifert.

I'm saying Eifert's numbers were better his Junior year ( before Booker) than his Senior year (Booker's first). I also thought our TE production was poor this year. Seemed like the only guy who saw the field was Koyak and he wasn't that impressive. He was also very highly rated coming out of HS and never seemed to develop. Couple that with our poor STs and I haven't been that impressed with Booker (I don't recall him being referred as a great recruiter).

I have no doubts that some or the issues with the TEs and STs are bigger thanBooker's coaching. It just seems like the areas he is responsible have not been great under his watch. If he stays I hope he does a great job, from everything I've read, he's well liked.

 

[BGIF]

COOKS COACHING CAREER

2003 Kansas State Graduate Assistant
2004 Western Illinois Defensive Backs/Assistant Special Teams
2005 Minnesota Defensive Backs
2006-09 Wisconsin Defensive Backs/Assistant Special Teams
2010 Notre Dame Outside Linebackers
2011 Notre Dame Cornerbacks
2012-13 Notre Dame Co-Defensive Coordinator/Cornerbacks
2014 Notre Dame Secondary

 

[irishff1014]

I don't recall BVG having a huge impact in recruiting.(could be wrong though) And his best games schemes other then FSU weren't against good teams. So he has to improve this season. We need someone to help TA out in the recruiting world or next seasons class could be bad.

 

[NDRock]

TE just hasn't been an issue for this team.

Im just a believer that ND cosistantly recruits TEs and OL as good or better than any position group on the team. In order for ND to be elite, our production at those positions needs to be elite. If the standard is "hasn't been an issue" than we won't be elite.

I know Koyack played a lot but where were are other TEs? Are they not getting developed? Is it offensive scheme?

 

[Buster Bluth]

I know Koyack played a lot but where were are other TEs? Are they not getting developed? Is it offensive scheme?

You sound unsure and that you're looking for someone or something to blame.

Im just a believer that ND cosistantly recruits TEs and OL as good or better than any position group on the team. In order for ND to be elite, our production at those positions needs to be elite.

And I think it's fair to say that TE hasn't been an issue, ie it hasn't prevented Notre Dame from being elite.

If the standard is "hasn't been an issue" then we won't be elite.

How about "Booker has had more TEs drafted than any other school in the country since he's been the TE coach at Notre Dame," because that'd be true too. No other school had a TE picked in both 2013 and 2014, and it looks like Koyack will get picked in 2015.

As far as production at Notre Dame, yeah I'd like to see the offense exploit the seam more often in 2015. I'm hoping that as the team runs the ball more in 2015 that they'll go there. But I'm not rushing to point the fingers at the guy who develops the position, a TE coach isn't calling the plays.

 

[NDRock]

You sound unsure and that you're looking for someone or something to blame.

Truth is, I'm not privy to everything that goes on with the ND program. I am unsure why we don't use the TE more, don't run more, etc... We'll just agree to disagree. I've not been very impressed with the STs and TEs and recruiting under Booker. You seem to be more so. Obviously Kelly agrees with you as he's still on the staff. He's young, appears energetic and hopefully is working his butt off. Hope he becomes a great coach for us, just don't think he's anywhere close to that now. Good discussion, gonna be a long offseason.

 

[ulukinatme]

I hope so. ST's and TE's have largely underperformed except for Eiffert.

That's a pretty huge "except."

True, but I think Eiffert was a great talent. Position as a whole was meh.

Really????? ST's I get, however, they've done a damn fine job in terms of TE's.......

Agree. Our TE production is trending down, coinciding with Booker coaching the players longer.

Eifert was very good, but I wonder how much of that can be attributed to Booker and how much can be attributed to the coach he was originally recruited under, Bernie Parmalee. Parmalee essentially made ND "Tight End U" with the guys he coached: Fasano, Carlson, Rudolph, and for one season Eifert. Since Parmalee left, ND kind of peaked at TE and has dwindled somewhat under Kelly since. Obviously Eifert was very good for 3 seasons, but he was also very gifted and perhaps some of it was Parmalee's work as well. I have a hard time believing Eifert flourished because of Booker, because Eifert was pretty good from the get go and no other TE under Booker has been quite as good as the guys from Fasano to Eifert.

 

[EddytoNow]

No worries here, a ton of assistants under Holtz moved on. Kelly's been coaching for 25+ years so he has his contacts for who he'll want to bring in. I just hope they can recruit.

You are correct. A number of Holtz assistants moved on to other coaching positions. At least three would have have made excellent head coaches at Notre Dame: Urban Meyer, Barry Alvarez, and Charlie Strong. Alvarez took Wisconsin from a Big 10 bottom feeder to a perennial Big 10 contender. Meyer just won his third national championship, and irregardless of what one thinks of the man's integrity (myself included), the man can flat out coach. Charlie Strong made Louisville a Top 10 team, and, if given time, he will do the same for Texas.

Does anyone think any of Kelly's assistants will reach that level of success as head coaches? Charlie Molnar anyone? How about Bob Diaco or Chuck Martin?

 

[Bubbles]

You are correct. A number of Holtz assistants moved on to other coaching positions. At least three would have have made excellent head coaches at Notre Dame: Urban Meyer, Barry Alvarez, and Charlie Strong. Alvarez took Wisconsin from a Big 10 bottom feeder to a perennial Big 10 contender. Meyer just won his third national championship, and irregardless of what one thinks of the man's integrity (myself included), the man can flat out coach. Charlie Strong made Louisville a Top 10 team, and, if given time, he will do the same for Texas.

Does anyone think any of Kelly's assistants will reach that level of success as head coaches? Charlie Molnar anyone? How about Bob Diaco or Chuck Martin?

irreproachable.

 

[stlnd01]

Cooks turned down promotions to stay at ND when Diaco had one foot out the door and Cooks was the most obvious in-house replacement. ND passed him over to hire Van Gorder from outside. That tells Cooks he's hit his ceiling in South Bend.

I'm quite skeptical this has anything to do with money.

This one.
And as BGIF pointed out, he basically got demoted last year.

 

[arrowryan]

Both Todd Lyght and Jeff Burris could get a look for the new DB's coach, per Pete Sampson

 

[tko]

Both Todd Lyght and Jeff Burris could get a look for the new DB's coach, per Pete Sampson

love Jeff Burris.

 

[IrishFanJMercy]

Either one would be a great hire.

 

[woolybug25]

If we have to hire a new coach and it's not Quinn, i'm gonna blow my lid.

 

[BoredIrish]

Eifert was very good, but I wonder how much of that can be attributed to Booker and how much can be attributed to the coach he was originally recruited under, Bernie Parmalee. Parmalee essentially made ND "Tight End U" with the guys he coached: Fasano, Carlson, Rudolph, and for one season Eifert. Since Parmalee left, ND kind of peaked at TE and has dwindled somewhat under Kelly since. Obviously Eifert was very good for 3 seasons, but he was also very gifted and perhaps some of it was Parmalee's work as well. I have a hard time believing Eifert flourished because of Booker, because Eifert was pretty good from the get go and no other TE under Booker has been quite as good as the guys from Fasano to Eifert.

I think you are forgetting that Denbrock also coached TE's. I think Denbrock is a great teacher.

 

[BoredIrish]

If we have to hire a new coach and it's not Quinn, i'm gonna blow my lid.

Only way I want Quinn on the coaching staff is if there are other changes.

ND has had trouble recruiting Cali since Denbrock stopped recruiting the area. If it wasnt for Cook's work in Texas and Lousiana, this class would be extremely unimpressive. ND hasn't been able to recruit Texas and Louisiana since Holtz left... and now finally when they appear to be making inroads, you cant just replace the guy responsible for some mediocre recruiter with no ties outside the mid-west.

I think (hope) Elliot is going to retire too. Diaco and Cooks were the reasons he was here in the first place, because of their old school Iowa ties. Let's let BVG bring in some of this old SEC type guys with connections down south.

Can we please hire someone who didn't once coach at Grand Valley state?????

 

[BoredIrish]

love Jeff Burris.

Turns out Burris coached under Charlie Molnar at UMASS.

Also, Lyght coached at Bishop Gorman for a while.... interesting.

 

[koonja]

Wow, either one I'd be satisfied with.

Take them both and let Elliot retire.

 

[arrowryan]

Kyle McCarthy has decided to pursue a career in the sports agency business. Maurice Crum is replacing him. Per II

 

[Luckylucci]

Wiltfong is hearing this morning that he expects Cooks to be the next DC at OK. Doesn't specify when that would be.

 

[tko]

What did I miss? Where is that redheaded stepchild Stoops? Did he get moved out of there?

 

[ND NYC]

freebie on II:
https://notredame.rivals.com/barrier_noentry.asp?sid=961&script=/content.asp&cid=1732161


Hot Board: Defensive Backs coach


Andrew Ivins & Andrew Owens
BlueandGold.com


Notre Dame is expected to announce on or shortly after National Signing Day on Wednesday that defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks will depart South Bend to join Bob Stoops' staff in Oklahoma.

Blue & Gold Illustrated staff writers Andrew Ivins and Andrew Owens examine possible replacements for Cooks at Notre Dame. Will the Irish shuffle members of their current staff to hire a coach at a different position group? Will they hire from within? Here is our list of possibilities, ranging from realistic to longshots.

Realistic
Scott Booker, Notre Dame tight ends coach
Current salary: N/A
Notre Dame ties: Booker has served on Brian Kelly's staff during the head coach's entire tenure, as an intern in 2010 to a tight ends coach in 2012.
Why it makes sense: He played safety at Kent State and coached defensive backs from 2005 to 2009 at Kent State and Western Kentucky. A move to the defensive side of the ball would create an opening for former Kelly offensive coordinator Jeff Quinn on offense.
Why it wouldn't make sense: Notre Dame needs to add a dynamic recruiter to the defensive side of the ball, and Booker has yet to prove he is exactly that.
Recruiting notes: He has spearheaded Georgia and Mid-Atlantic recruiting efforts the past few years for Notre Dame. The top commitment he was ever involved with came last month when four-star tight end Aliz'e Jones flipped from UCLA to Notre Dame.

Bob Elliott, Notre Dame outside linebackers coach
Current salary: N/A
Notre Dame ties: Has served on Kelly's staff since 2012 as the safeties coach and now the outside linebackers coach
Why it makes sense: He has extensive experience coaching defensive backs. Perhaps the Irish would rather add a linebackers coach to the staff and let Elliott return to the defensive backfield, as he did in 2012-13.
Why it wouldn't make sense: He just moved to outside linebackers last season and it's possible they don't want to put too much on Elliott's plate with recruiting and the defensive backfield as the lone coach back there
Recruiting notes: Elliot might not be the recruiting bulldog the Irish desire at the position at this point in his career, but he's worked California well over the years. He assisted with the recruitment of five-star safety Max Redfield back in 2013.

Jeff Quinn, Unemployed, former Buffalo head coach
Current salary: N/A
Notre Dame ties: His tie to Notre Dame is Kelly and the experience the two have coaching together.
Why it makes sense: Kelly's offenses were at their best when Quinn was directing them. He was rumored to be a candidate for the offensive coordinator position last offseason, but Buffalo still employed him as a head coach then.
Why it wouldn't make sense: Quinn might be reluctant to take the job if he is not the offensive coordinator and playcaller. With Mike Denbrock's promotion to coordinator last offseason, Notre Dame might be reluctant to ask him to relinquish that role.
Recruiting notes: Quinn recruited Michigan, Ohio and Illinois when he was the the offensive coordinator at Cincinnati. He signed back-to-back last place classes in the MAC at Buffalo in 2012 and 2013. Has over 8,000 posts on Irish Envy, and a trillion vbucks.

Willie Martinez, Tennessee cornerbacks coach
Current salary: $355,000
Notre Dame ties: None to Notre Dame, but his ties to Kelly and Brian VanGorder run deep. Martinez worked with VanGorder at Auburn (2012), Georgia (2001-2004), Central Michigan (1998-1999) and UCF (1995-1996). He also was on Kelly's staff at Grand Valley State.
Why it makes sense: Martinez has worked with VanGorder at four different schools, but the last time the two were together at Auburn, Martinez handled the entire secondary. That was the case with Cooks this past season at Notre Dame.
Why it wouldn't make sense: A chunk of Martinez's career has been spent in the SEC. Would he make the move to Notre Dame at the age of 51?
Recruiting notes: He gets the job done. His top commitment ever came back in 2005 when he pulled defensive tackle Geno Atkins out of South Florida. Martinez is a Florida native, but has recruited Georgia and Tennessee for the Vols. He also has done some work in Texas.

William Inge, Indiana co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach
Current salary: $307,000
Notre Dame ties: Nothing directly to the school. He was the linebacker coach at Cincinnati from 2008-2009, while Kelly was the head coach there. He also played at Iowa while Bob Elliott was the defensive coordinator from 1993-1996, and was a graduate assistant for the Hawkeyes from 1998-2000 working alongside the current Irish outside linebackers coach.
Why it makes sense: Inge has NFL experience. He was the Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator from 2010-2011. He also worked with Kelly prior to that. Indiana went from having the 123rd ranked total defense in 2013, to the 95th ranked unit this past season.
Why it wouldn't make sense: Inge has never coached in the secondary.
Recruiting notes: Inge was named one of the Big 10's Top 10 recruiters by Rivals.com in 2014. He was able to lock up one time Tennessee four-star wide receiver commit Dominique Booth and pull him out of Indianapolis (Ind.) Pike High. Inge has recruited Florida - from Orlando to the Panhandle - Ohio and the St. Louis area.

Jessie Minter, Georgia State defensive coordinator
Current salary: $144,000
Notre Dame ties: Minter was a football intern at Notre Dame during the 2006 season.
Why it makes sense: Kelly likes his "guys", and Minter falls into that category. He spent two years as a defensive graduate assistant at Cincinnati under Kelly and then left to take a job at Indiana State. He was the Sycamores defensive coordinator for two years and moved with head coach Trent Miles to Georgia State. He's the son of former Cincinnati head coach Rick Minter.
Why it wouldn't make sense: Georgia State's defense wasn't very good this past year. He also young, and hasn't coached much in the secondary.
Recruiting notes: Minter's is the Panthers' top recruiter. He works the state of Georgia and will frequent the junior college ranks in both Texas and California.

Ron Cooper, Unemployed, former South Florida assistant
Current salary: N/A
Notre Dame ties: Coached in South Bend under former head coach Lou Holtz in 1991-92.
Why it makes sense: Cooper was let go by USF head coach Willie Taggart in December, but has NFL, SEC and Big Ten coaching experience. He was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012 and prior to that served as LSU's defensive backs coach from 2009-2011.
Why it wouldn't make sense: Cooper was let go for a reason. The Bull's secondary ranked 106th in pass efficiency defense last season.
Recruiting notes: Was the primary recruiter for current San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid while at LSU. He would give Notre Dame a guy that has contacts in Louisiana and also has experience making the rounds in Florida.

Jon Carpenter, Ohio State graduate assistant
Current salary: N/A
Notre Dame ties: Carpenter was a graduate assistant at Notre Dame from 2010-11.
Why it makes sense: He falls into the same category as Minter. Carpenter played for Kelly at Cincinnati. He was then a graduate assistant for two seasons before following Kelly to Notre Dame. He was an assistant coach at Northern Colorado for two seasons and left to become a graduate assistant at Ohio State.
Why it wouldn't make sense: While he's learned from Kelly and Buckeyes' defensive coordinator Luke Fickell, he doesn't have much experience coaching in the secondary. He has primarily worked with linebackers throughout his career.
Recruiting notes: He hasn't recruited much, but when he did at Northern Colorado, he tapped into Texas.

Longshots

Kerry Coombs, Ohio State cornerback coach
Current salary: $412, 950
Notre Dame ties: None to the school. He was hired by Kelly at Cincinnati back in 2006 and coached the Bearcats' secondary for four years before making the move to Ohio State.
Why it makes sense: He has ties to Kelly.
Why it wouldn't make sense: It would be a lateral move at best and money would be an issue.
Recruiting notes: Ohio - primarily the Cincinnati area - is his one stop shop. He's the a former high school coach in the state, and has also been active in Indiana and Michigan. He courted Detroit four-star running back Mike Weber this year and is the primary recruiter for 2016 four-star tight end Jake Hausmann, who pledged to the Buckeyes last month.

Tommy Thigpen, Tennessee linebackers coach
Current salary: $375,000
Notre Dame ties: None to the school, but he coach worked current Irish defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder at Auburn in 2012.
Why it makes sense: Thigpen is a former NFL player who has spent the past five season coaching in the SEC. Prior to that, he had coaching stints at both Illinois and Bowling Green, which gives him some midwest exposure. While at Auburn he was VanGorder's linebackers coach during the Tigers' dismal 2012 season.
Why it wouldn't make sense: He hasn't coached cornerbacks since 2003 and he's an recruiting asset at Tennessee.
Recruiting notes: Thigpen is an ace salesman. He was recignized by Rivals.com in 2014 as the National Recruiter of the Year after helping the Volunteers sign the No. 5 class in the country. He has ties to Alabama, Georgia, and has dabbled in both Florida and Texas.

Kyle McCarthy, Notre Dame graduate assistant
Current salary: NA
Notre Dame ties: Suited up for Notre Dame from 2005-09 and played in the NFL after graduation. He returned to South Bend as a graduate assistant last spring.
Why it makes sense: He is already on staff and is familiar with the system and Notre Dame
Why it wouldn't make sense: McCarthy lacks experience. He has one year under his belt as a graduate assistant. While he was given a significant amount of opportunity with the safeties, it might be a stretch to expect the Irish to add him as a coach this offseason.
Recruiting notes: McCarthy is a Youngstown, Ohio, native, so his efforts in the state could go a long way. With Urban Meyer at Ohio State and fresh off a national championship and Jim Harbaugh likely to assert his recruiting success in the state as well, Notre Dame will need every bit of help in the state it can get.

Ernest Jones, Unemployed, former Connecticut running backs coach
Notre Dame ties: Served as Notre Dame's Director of Player Development and Engagement prior to accepting a position on Bob Diaco's staff at Connecticut. He resigned last February due to a religious conflict.
Why it makes sense: He's another possibility with whom Kelly is familiar. Although he left before VanGorder's defensive system arrived, he understands Notre Dame and the coaching staff.
Why it wouldn't make sense: He likely lacks the experience Notre Dame desires. He was the Director of Player Development and Engagement, not an assistant or graduate assistant while in South Bend. Making this leap would be difficult.
Recruiting notes: He has served as an assistant coach with recruiting responsibilities for much of the past 10-15 years, so he would not be new to this area, only to the level at which Notre Dame recruits.

Donte Williams, San Jose St. secondary coach
Age: 32
Current salary: $102,968
Notre Dame ties: None.
Why it makes sense: Williams is an unknown name, but that is about to change. He was responsible for a San Jose State secondary last season that finished with the nation's top-ranked pass defense. The Spartans gave up just 117.8 yards passing per game and surrendered a total of just six touchdown passes in 12 games.
Why it wouldn't make sense: He has no connections to Kelly at all, and he's only been an assistant coach for two seasons. Prior to his time at San Jose State, he was a graduate assistant at Washington and played at Syracuse.
Recruiting notes: If Notre Dame wants to boost it's Southern California recruiting efforts, Williams would be the guy. He has five commitments from four three-star prospects in the area and was able to get Long Beach Poly three-star wide receiver Kanya Bell on campus for an official visit - which is an impressive feat for a Mountain West school. He's young, can relate to players and doesn't need a map to navigate his way to schools like Jserra Catholic and Mater Dei.

 

[koonja]

Maurice Crum to replace Kyle McCarthy per twitter.