http://emueagles.com/news/2015/12/22/FB_1222150715.aspx

National search to begin immediately.

I see this as one of the least attractive jobs out there. I hope that some way we can persuade a quality coach with D1 experience, but that will be difficult. We may need to woo someone out of retirement or try to get a younger low level position coach from the NFL.

I think this a telling move from Creighton. He recognized the DC wasn't getting done, and canned him, regardless of the long-time professional and personal relationship they had with each other. I was worried Creighton would be too attached to 'his guys,' leading to some under-performing hanging around here too long.

I'm impressed. I'm sure it was a tough decision.

Also, I wouldn't be surprised if they already had a couple people in mind. We'll see if we get any updates from Football Scoop on interviews.

Pete Lembo is also leaving Ball State to take an assistant spot at Maryland.

McCaslin was hired in the first place because Creighton didn't have much luck finding anyone else to take it. Hopefully things go better this time.

Dear Friends,
I also congratulate Coach Creighton for making this decision. Will this be a warning to the remaining assistants to work harder if they haven't, or to realize that they could be next if they don't? I do not mean to imply that there is chaos among the coaching staff. Just suggesting that as FrankAnderson said above, Creighton knows that changes have to be made, and one should not count on friendships to guarantee ones job.

Also begs the question, was this truly a Creighton decision or was this made for him from above? Only a few weeks ago Creighton said there would be no staff changes.

(12-22-2015 01:56 PM)EagleHawk Wrote:  Also begs the question, was this truly a Creighton decision or was this made for him from above? Only a few weeks ago Creighton said there would be no staff changes.

It's possible it wasn't decided upon at that time. Maybe he and the department needed to finalize some things before letting him go.

Or maybe not.

(12-22-2015 01:56 PM)EagleHawk Wrote:  Also begs the question, was this truly a Creighton decision or was this made for him from above? Only a few weeks ago Creighton said there would be no staff changes.

That was the first thing that came to my mind when I saw this. Well, whether Coach Creighton made this decision or not it was obvious a change was necessary.

We didn't have the players. A different coach each would have produced similar results.

(12-22-2015 03:05 PM)ljmhurons Wrote:  We didn't have the players. A different coach each would have produced similar results.

Very true but last year's squad wasn't much better. If you don'e have the players for the scheme you want to run then you have to modify the scheme for the players you do have.

This was 100% Creighton's decision, and a very difficult one at that, on a personal level. He could have easily used the injury excuse, or the fact that it was only year 2, to give him 1 more year.

Instead, I think he realized McCaslin's preferred 3 man front was not going to work, and made a pretty bold move to cut his losses quickly on that side of the ball. McCaslin is definitely a good guy, and the players liked him as a person, just not sure he has the typical DC temperament or personality to really inspire and get the most out of his guys.

Give Creighton a lot of credit, I honestly didn't think it would happen. Should quiet the haters a bit as well.

The other advantage that should come of this, is a clean slate. New leader, new eyes and ears, no preconceived notions or biases about current players. Open competitions at all positions, and let the best players play.

First, I wish McCaslin all the best in his future endeavors, and I feel a tremendous amount of sadness for anyone who loses their job, especially right before Christmas. I think it was fairly obvious that he was in over his head here at EMU. That doesn't mean he couldn't be successful at another college, lets face it EMU is most likely the biggest rebuild with the worst defense in America. That being said; he should have switched to a four man front a long time ago, his inability to recognize that need, most likely sealed his fate. Good Luck to him and God Bless

(12-22-2015 01:21 PM)EAGLE KING Wrote:  http://emueagles.com/news/2015/12/22/FB_1222150715.aspx

National search to begin immediately.

I see this as one of the least attractive jobs out there. I hope that some way we can persuade a quality coach with D1 experience, but that will be difficult. We may need to woo someone out of retirement or try to get a younger low level position coach from the NFL.

I kind of think the EMU DC Job will appeal to many candidates. There's nowhere to go but up for the defense and the table is set for improvement. If the new guy can take them from dead last in the conference and country to being just a little better it would look good on his resume.

I wonder if any of the current assistants would be a candidate.

Jay Peterson has been a DC here before, and Jimmy Williams was also a DC for a couple years. But I think they'll both keep their spots. I think every coach on the staff has experience coaching the position they're in here. I expect Creighton will want somebody whose been a coordinator before.

(12-22-2015 04:58 PM)FrankAnderson Wrote:  Jay Peterson has been a DC here before, and Jimmy Williams was also a DC for a couple years. But I think they'll both keep their spots. I think every coach on the staff has experience coaching the position they're in here. I expect Creighton will want somebody whose been a coordinator before.

Is english still available?

(12-22-2015 05:02 PM)emussuperfan Wrote:  

(12-22-2015 04:58 PM)FrankAnderson Wrote:  Jay Peterson has been a DC here before, and Jimmy Williams was also a DC for a couple years. But I think they'll both keep their spots. I think every coach on the staff has experience coaching the position they're in here. I expect Creighton will want somebody whose been a coordinator before.

Is english still available?

Lol. I think he's available and still lives locally.

(12-22-2015 04:20 PM)emdypo Wrote:  First, I wish McCaslin all the best in his future endeavors, and I feel a tremendous amount of sadness for anyone who loses their job, especially right before Christmas. I think it was fairly obvious that he was in over his head here at EMU. That doesn't mean he couldn't be successful at another college, lets face it EMU is most likely the biggest rebuild with the worst defense in America. That being said; he should have switched to a four man front a long time ago, his inability to recognize that need, most likely sealed his fate. Good Luck to him and God Bless

I agree. I have heard he's a good guy. I also don't want to see anyone lose their job and, like you, especially this time of year. It is sad. Yet, this team is preparing for 2016 and we are in the midst of recruiting. The new Defensive Coordinator is going have have to be able to have some input into the recruits that he will be coaching. It was asserted earlier in the thread that McCaslin was about the only one who would take the job when offered. If I recall correctly, Coach Creighton didn't have a whole lot of time to put together a staff and make a decent run at recruiting. That all came down about the same time of year in 2013 - during recruiting season.

(12-22-2015 04:58 PM)FrankAnderson Wrote:  Jay Peterson has been a DC here before, and Jimmy Williams was also a DC for a couple years. But I think they'll both keep their spots. I think every coach on the staff has experience coaching the position they're in here. I expect Creighton will want somebody whose been a coordinator before.

I wouldn't mind seeing either of those guys get the job, or make them co-DC's, if they've got a really good working relationship. Keeping the staff together, and continuity, isn't a bad thing.

Looking at the resumes of guys like Peterson, Williams, Haygood and Bullocks, these guys know what they're doing. They have all played high level college football, and 3 have played in the NFL. I'm thinking more and more that McCaslin just wasn't the right guy to lead this group of coaches. Probably not all on the same page because of his scheme, etc.

Looking at these guys bio's closer, the other thing that doesn't make sense, are the apparent recruiting struggles. They should be selling playing time, and their NFL experience, and landing some better players.

Wondering if the resources just aren't there, or they just aren't putting in the effort?

Doesn't add up from the outside looking in.

Anybody remember the Peterson DC years at EMU?

I will post four candidates I would like to see tomorrow hint they are all fcs coaches