Not going to directly pin next year’s record on the coaching staff falling apart right now…

But if this is what happens in the NIL/Portal era of college football, at least it’s happening to us after a disastrous 4 win season and not a 10-win conference championship season like our boys in Huntington.

I was talking with someone and they noted that Keeler must have been incredibly impressed with Smith's defense that gave up 34 points to his SHSU offense in August...

Joking aside, Smith and Calhoun are big losses, especially from a longevity standpoint. I do get the appeal for Smith though. Get close to home and tie yourself to a coach that is probably retiring in five years and potentially parlay that into the HC job at Temple.

That said, Smith is not irreplaceable. His defenses gave up 29 PPG across his six years as DC (2019: 25 PPG, 2020: 10 PPG, 2021: 36 PPG, 2022, 34 PPG, 2023: 28 PPG, 2024: 25 PPG). This last year was his best year, but obviously 25 PPG is not Belichick/Ryan levels of dominance.

Abell needs to get on his bike and round out his staff. Thus far, I've just seen a few hires from his Davidson staff and Charlotte's linebackers coach (who was formerly a coach under Abell at Davidson).

(12-14-2024 02:52 PM)OwlWKIF Wrote:  Not going to directly pin next year’s record on the coaching staff falling apart right now…

But if this is what happens in the NIL/Portal era of college football, at least it’s happening to us after a disastrous 4 win season and not a 10-win conference championship season like our boys in Huntington.

True. We've hit rock bottom. Things can't get much worse.

(12-14-2024 11:55 AM)Ourland Wrote:  Is John Kay qualified to take over the DC position? He has been at Rice for two years coaching the linebackers, and learning the defense. Could this be his time to shine? Our next DC may be right under our noses. Give him the reigns.

Voilà !!

Abell names the staff today officially - someone else can post the link maybe?

Munch is OC/OL
Kay is DC/LB
Abell’s son is pass game coordinator/QB
Austin Eisenhower is run game coordinator/inside receivers
Kerry Cooks - safeties
Mark Hogan - OLB/special teams
Adrian Mayes - RB
Jeremy Modkins - Cornerbacks

Are we missing some still?

Press release didn’t mention it but we also hired the strength coach from Charlotte (Lewis Carella). Oh wait my mistake - it does.

(12-20-2024 06:58 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Abell names the staff today officially - someone else can post the link maybe?

Munch is OC/OL
Kay is DC/LB
Abell’s son is pass game coordinator/QB
Austin Eisenhower is run game coordinator/inside receivers
Kerry Cooks - safeties
Mark Hogan - OLB/special teams
Adrian Mayes - RB
Jeremy Modkins - Cornerbacks

Are we missing some still?

Press release didn’t mention it but we also hired the strength coach from Charlotte (Lewis Carella)

I believe the release said there were at least 2 more to be named soon.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

https://riceowls.com/news/2024/12/20/abe...ball-staff

Here is the RiceOwls.com link.

A balance of new and old.

“The eight coaches include four who previously worked with Abell at Davidson, three who were on the staff at Rice last season, and one who began his career at Rice.”

I think its a good mix at least for the first year. I think
Bloom only kept one or two coaches from the Bailiff staff. However,
is eight coaches the average and more will be coming ?

(12-20-2024 07:26 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  https://riceowls.com/news/2024/12/20/abe...ball-staff

Here is the RiceOwls.com link.

A balance of new and old.

“The eight coaches include four who previously worked with Abell at Davidson, three who were on the staff at Rice last season, and one who began his career at Rice.”

(12-20-2024 08:57 PM)Texasowl Wrote:  I think its a good mix at least for the first year. I think
Bloom only kept one or two coaches from the Bailiff staff. However,
is eight coaches the average and more will be coming ?

(12-20-2024 07:26 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  https://riceowls.com/news/2024/12/20/abe...ball-staff

Here is the RiceOwls.com link.

A balance of new and old.

“The eight coaches include four who previously worked with Abell at Davidson, three who were on the staff at Rice last season, and one who began his career at Rice.”

The Roost says more to come.

(12-20-2024 09:21 PM)markbrindley Wrote:  

(12-20-2024 08:57 PM)Texasowl Wrote:  I think its a good mix at least for the first year. I think
Bloom only kept one or two coaches from the Bailiff staff. However,
is eight coaches the average and more will be coming ?

(12-20-2024 07:26 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  https://riceowls.com/news/2024/12/20/abe...ball-staff

Here is the RiceOwls.com link.

A balance of new and old.

“The eight coaches include four who previously worked with Abell at Davidson, three who were on the staff at Rice last season, and one who began his career at Rice.”

The Roost says more to come.

So does the article. 2 more to come.

A little concerned that special teams aren’t getting the focus many of us on this board think they need. This appears to be the extent of the special teams coach’s resume. “Hogan has assisted on all phases of special teams throughout his career at Texas State, Davidson and Charlotte.”

Maybe he’s amazing. But the resume doesn’t show it.

(12-20-2024 09:28 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(12-20-2024 09:21 PM)markbrindley Wrote:  

(12-20-2024 08:57 PM)Texasowl Wrote:  I think its a good mix at least for the first year. I think
Bloom only kept one or two coaches from the Bailiff staff. However,
is eight coaches the average and more will be coming ?

(12-20-2024 07:26 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  https://riceowls.com/news/2024/12/20/abe...ball-staff

Here is the RiceOwls.com link.

A balance of new and old.

“The eight coaches include four who previously worked with Abell at Davidson, three who were on the staff at Rice last season, and one who began his career at Rice.”

The Roost says more to come.

So does the article. 2 more to come.

(12-20-2024 07:26 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  https://riceowls.com/news/2024/12/20/abe...ball-staff

Here is the RiceOwls.com link.

A balance of new and old.

“The eight coaches include four who previously worked with Abell at Davidson, three who were on the staff at Rice last season, and one who began his career at Rice.”

More on new S&C coach Lew Caralla:

Was at Charlotte under Biff Poggi the last 2 years. Former two-time D-III all conference running back. Caralla also previously was in charge of strength and conditioning at Georgia Tech under Geoff Collins. IF we could keep that GT connection pipeline opened up, maybe we could get a Home and Home going with them? (it's been a while)

Rice has played Georgia Tech 3 times (1960-61, 1972). The Owls are 0-2-1.

1960 Georgia Tech 16, @Rice 13
1961 @Georgia Tech 24, Rice 0
1972 @Georgia Tech 36, Rice 36

(12-22-2024 05:16 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  1961 @Georgia Tech 24, Rice 0

The thing I remember about that game is the confusion over uniforms. Rice packed their away white uniforms only to discover that Georgia Tech wore white at home. So Rice wore borrowed Tech black jerseys.

(12-20-2024 06:58 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Abell names the staff today officially - someone else can post the link maybe?

Munch is OC/OL
Kay is DC/LB
Abell’s son is pass game coordinator/QB
Austin Eisenhower is run game coordinator/inside receivers
Kerry Cooks - safeties
Mark Hogan - OLB/special teams
Adrian Mayes - RB
Jeremy Modkins - Cornerbacks

Are we missing some still?

Press release didn’t mention it but we also hired the strength coach from Charlotte (Lewis Carella). Oh wait my mistake - it does.

Quote:Pete Thamel
@PeteThamel

Sources: UNLV is expected to hire veteran assistant coach Adrian Mayes as the school's new tight end coach. He coached at Tulsa since 2023 and has been at James Madison, Texas State and North Texas. He's a former Ohio State GA and director of recruiting at Houston.

(12-27-2024 04:20 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  

(12-20-2024 06:58 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Abell names the staff today officially - someone else can post the link maybe?

Munch is OC/OL
Kay is DC/LB
Abell’s son is pass game coordinator/QB
Austin Eisenhower is run game coordinator/inside receivers
Kerry Cooks - safeties
Mark Hogan - OLB/special teams
Adrian Mayes - RB
Jeremy Modkins - Cornerbacks

Are we missing some still?

Press release didn’t mention it but we also hired the strength coach from Charlotte (Lewis Carella). Oh wait my mistake - it does.

Quote:Pete Thamel
@PeteThamel

Sources: UNLV is expected to hire veteran assistant coach Adrian Mayes as the school's new tight end coach. He coached at Tulsa since 2023 and has been at James Madison, Texas State and North Texas. He's a former Ohio State GA and director of recruiting at Houston.

So that’s now three assistant coaches that have bailed after being announced as part of Abell’s staff…

(12-28-2024 10:04 AM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  

(12-27-2024 04:20 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  

(12-20-2024 06:58 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Abell names the staff today officially - someone else can post the link maybe?

Munch is OC/OL
Kay is DC/LB
Abell’s son is pass game coordinator/QB
Austin Eisenhower is run game coordinator/inside receivers
Kerry Cooks - safeties
Mark Hogan - OLB/special teams
Adrian Mayes - RB
Jeremy Modkins - Cornerbacks

Are we missing some still?

Press release didn’t mention it but we also hired the strength coach from Charlotte (Lewis Carella). Oh wait my mistake - it does.

Quote:Pete Thamel
@PeteThamel

Sources: UNLV is expected to hire veteran assistant coach Adrian Mayes as the school's new tight end coach. He coached at Tulsa since 2023 and has been at James Madison, Texas State and North Texas. He's a former Ohio State GA and director of recruiting at Houston.

So that’s now three assistant coaches that have bailed after being announced as part of Abell’s staff…

Weird - do we have any insight into why?

One time an assistant coach bails you say, 'ok..can understand. Things happen'. Second one, raise the eyebrows, shrug shoulders and say 'possible two unique circumstances' but third one now has some now has some smoke that there is a problem. Hopefully no fourth one for a real fire.

(12-28-2024 03:42 PM)owl40 Wrote:  One time an assistant coach bails you say, 'ok..can understand. Things happen'. Second one, raise the eyebrows, shrug shoulders and say 'possible two unique circumstances' but third one now has some now has some smoke that there is a problem. Hopefully no fourth one for a real fire.

Change is hard. Especially when it is not by choice, and you are used to the "usual" ways of doing things. Possibly there are new requirements being implemented by Abell. Definitely there will be different personalities to adapt to. Perhaps a rule of expectations has been laid out for everyone. OR, perhaps these three simply received an increase in pay to go elsewhere. I guess what I'm saying is, I wouldn't read anything into it. Everyone has their reasons for staying or leaving when there is a major change.

Best friends become strangers.

Losing Smith is a legitimate nuisance but we will move forward. Everyone else from the staff is highly replaceable if needed.