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I agree recruiting has to be a part of it but I think we caught lightning in a bottle to have a guy that eneded up on a high level on both the coaching and recruiting ends. See Notre Dame's $2.5M in coin per year. With our budget, I'm not sure who we can get of "notoriety" but it would make sense that it is someone with midwest roots and shares a similar philosophy as Fick. I posted the Ohio coach just as an example and I noted his linebacker coaching acumen. I don't care where the guy comes from but we need to make it a solid hire.

Do any of you gents have a subscription to Cincinnati.com? I don't blame you if you don't...

Anywho, I noticed they have an article about potential replacements for Freeman but you have to have a paid subscription. I was curious what names they were throwing out there.

Ker - ry Coombs!! Ker-ry Coombs !!!

... not funny?

I’ve been hearing that Fickell thinks Mason is a star in waiting. I generally don’t do the in coach we trust thing some fans reflexively do so let’s look at Mason objectively for a second.

His resume probably wouldn’t get him an interview for a DC position at a FCS school. Looking at his bio, the only full time on field coaching position at any level he held before he got the Special Teams gig here in 2018 was a couple years at D3 Blufton College as the DL coach (likely also on the grounds crew - I don’t even know if that school is still open).

In 13 years in the game he was a grad assistant for 7 years and the director of recruiting in CLF’s first season.

I’ve heard people say he’s smart and is a rising star...those kinds of guys normally get identified and promoted from the mailroom sooner than this. Not saying he wouldn’t be good but the hire wouldn’t exactly instill a lot of confidence and frankly, schools would probably use it against UC in recruiting.

(01-09-2021 09:46 AM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Do any of you gents have a subscription to Cincinnati.com? I don't blame you if you don't...

Anywho, I noticed they have an article about potential replacements for Freeman but you have to have a paid subscription. I was curious what names they were throwing out there.

Mike Mickens, Colin Hitschler, Perry Eliano, Chad Wilt, Larry Johnson, and Willie Martinez.

(01-09-2021 10:18 AM)catcane Wrote:  

(01-09-2021 09:46 AM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Do any of you gents have a subscription to Cincinnati.com? I don't blame you if you don't...

Anywho, I noticed they have an article about potential replacements for Freeman but you have to have a paid subscription. I was curious what names they were throwing out there.

Mike Mickens, Colin Hitschler, Perry Eliano, Chad Wilt, Larry Johnson, and Willie Martinez.

My top 5:
1) Larry Johnson
2) Mike Mickens
3) Chris Ash
4) Chad Wilt
5) Perry Eliano/Willie Martinez

Willie Freaking Martinez? Lol

That UCF secondary he coaches is worse than any thing Kerry Coombs did here and he had more contact from attorneys and the NCAA than he did recruits while at Tennessee.

(01-09-2021 10:24 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Willie Freaking Martinez? Lol

That UCF secondary he coaches is worse than any thing Kerry Coombs did here and he had more contact from attorneys and the NCAA than he did recruits while at Tennessee.

Yeah...we need to stay away from that.

Then again, if we get down to 5th on that list, we've got a big ******* problem.

He got fired from Georgia for having a bad secondary. He got fired from Tennessee for having a bad secondary. UCF wouldn’t be sad to lose him.

(01-09-2021 10:14 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  I’ve been hearing that Fickell thinks Mason is a star in waiting. I generally don’t do the in coach we trust thing some fans reflexively do so let’s look at Mason objectively for a second.

His resume probably wouldn’t get him an interview for a DC position at a FCS school. Looking at his bio, the only full time on field coaching position at any level he held before he got the Special Teams gig here in 2018 was a couple years at D3 Blufton College as the DL coach (likely also on the grounds crew - I don’t even know if that school is still open).

In 13 years in the game he was a grad assistant for 7 years and the director of recruiting in CLF’s first season.

I’ve heard people say he’s smart and is a rising star...those kinds of guys normally get identified and promoted from the mailroom sooner than this. Not saying he wouldn’t be good but the hire wouldn’t exactly instill a lot of confidence and frankly, schools would probably use it against UC in recruiting.

Yea, i think folks are going to be disappointed if they expect a big name guy. Not Fick's m.o,. and i'd say amplify that given it's defense which is his own resume. Freeman only had 6 years in as an assistant as well, and his lone year as co-d coordinator at Purdue they were 3-9 including Senator TT lighting them up for 38 in their own house. My guess is they stay in house and add another assistant unless someone comes out of the woodwork for the job and wows Fick. Let's face it, did anyone ever in their wildest dreams believe a UC coordinator would get 10mm/2.5 per season? That's crazy money. He was in the right place at the right time(Nd needs the pr), and he's a head coaching insurance policy. If he does really well, he's likely to be a prime candidate to get their head job in 2 or 3 years when Kelly bolts or they fire him. He'll be near 40, and a great long term prospect not to mention continuity. I'm more curious to see the next couple years of both Fick and Freeman's coaching without each other. Uc isn't going to pay a d-coordinator 1mm bucks.

I do think Mickens is an interesting outside possibility given his roots here and similar pedigree to Freeman. Given Fick has had him on staff he does have some exposure to know if he is coordinator worthy at this point. It would also be a touchee moment to bring him back from Nd. Probably the most interesting of the outside guys unless Fick has an mystery candidate.

To put what Nd gave him into perspective:

Osu

Tony Alford, Assistant Head Coach for Offense/Running Backs – Term: 2/1/2020 to 1/31/2021 2019 Salary: $600,000; 2020 Salary: $618,000; Increase: $18,000
Matt Barnes, Special Teams Coordinator/Assistant Secondary – Term: 2/1/2020 to 1/31/2022; 2019 Salary: $350,000; 2020-2021 Salary: $450,000; Increase: $100,000
Kerry Coombs, Defensive Coordinator – Term: 2/1/2020 to 1/31/2022; 2020-2021 Salary: $1.4 million
Corey Dennis, Quarterbacks – Term: 2/1/2020 to 1/31/2022; 2020-2021 Salary: $300,000
Brian Hartline, Wide Receivers – Term: 2/1/2020 to 1/31/2022; 2019 Salary: $360,000; 2020-2021 Salary: $550,000; Increase: $190,000
Larry Johnson, Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line – Term: 2/1/2020 to 1/31/2022; 2019 Salary: $900,000; 2020-2021 Salary: $1.133 million; Increase: $233,000
Greg Mattison, Co-Defensive Coordinator: Term: 1/7/19 to 1/31/2021; 2019 Salary: $1.1 million; 2020 Salary: $1.133 million; Increase: $33,000
Greg Studrawa, Offensive Line – Term: 2/1/2020 to 1/31/2022; 2019 Salary: $600,000; 2020-2021 Salary: $700,000; Increase: $100,000
Al Washington, Linebackers – Term: 1/9/2019 to 1/31/2021; 2019 Salary: $500,000; 2020 Salary: $515,000; Increase: $15,000
Kevin Wilson, Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends – Term: 2/1/2020 to 1/31/2022; 2019 Salary: $950,000; 2020-2021 Salary: $1.2 million; Increase: $250,000

(01-09-2021 10:46 AM)dsquare Wrote:  

(01-09-2021 10:14 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  I’ve been hearing that Fickell thinks Mason is a star in waiting. I generally don’t do the in coach we trust thing some fans reflexively do so let’s look at Mason objectively for a second.

His resume probably wouldn’t get him an interview for a DC position at a FCS school. Looking at his bio, the only full time on field coaching position at any level he held before he got the Special Teams gig here in 2018 was a couple years at D3 Blufton College as the DL coach (likely also on the grounds crew - I don’t even know if that school is still open).

In 13 years in the game he was a grad assistant for 7 years and the director of recruiting in CLF’s first season.

I’ve heard people say he’s smart and is a rising star...those kinds of guys normally get identified and promoted from the mailroom sooner than this. Not saying he wouldn’t be good but the hire wouldn’t exactly instill a lot of confidence and frankly, schools would probably use it against UC in recruiting.

Yea, i think folks are going to be disappointed if they expect a big name guy. Not Fick's m.o,. and i'd say amplify that given it's defense which is his own resume. Freeman only had 6 years in as an assistant as well, and his lone year as co-d coordinator at Purdue they were 3-9 including Senator TT lighting them up for 38 in their own house. My guess is they stay in house and add another assistant unless someone comes out of the woodwork for the job and wows Fick. Let's face it, did anyone ever in their wildest dreams believe a UC coordinator would get 10mm/2.5 per season? That's crazy money. He was in the right place at the right time(Nd needs the pr), and he's a head coaching insurance policy. If he does really well, he's likely to be a prime candidate to get their head job in 2 or 3 years when Kelly bolts or they fire him. He'll be near 40, and a great long term prospect not to mention continuity. I'm more curious to see the next couple years of both Fick and Freeman's coaching without each other. Uc isn't going to pay a d-coordinator 1mm bucks.

I do think Mickens is an interesting outside possibility given his roots here and similar pedigree to Freeman. Given Fick has had him on staff he does have some exposure to know if he is coordinator worthy at this point. It would also be a touchee moment to bring him back from Nd. Probably the most interesting of the outside guys unless Fick has an mystery candidate.

If they like Mickens, ND can offer him as much as we can, and Freeman and him are buddies back to friggin Junior High. I'm thinking it'll be Mason, we'll find some other guy to pick up ST, and we'll have to replace Enos too.

I understand the realities but I’m so sick of being the AAA affiliate.

I wouldn't be so sure of that. Nd is not known as a big dollar player in the assistant coach market. This is clearly a departure, but i think it has head coach overtones. They may not disclose their asst. salaries or i couldn't find a list, but this on their top paid employees:

https://www.onefootdown.com/2020/5/20/21...sation-irs

Interesting that 2 of the 2mm plus guys i think are gone(Lsu and Auburn), and one is a head coach(Sarkasian)

https://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/salarie.../assistant

(01-09-2021 10:26 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-09-2021 10:24 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Willie Freaking Martinez? Lol

That UCF secondary he coaches is worse than any thing Kerry Coombs did here and he had more contact from attorneys and the NCAA than he did recruits while at Tennessee.

Yeah...we need to stay away from that.

Then again, if we get down to 5th on that list, we've got a big ******* problem.

Did you all know that Martinez had a cup of coffee at Cincy? i totally didn't know this: https://gobearcats.com/sports/football/r...tinez/1495

ed: i'll speak for myself

Also, i tend to hate all things sparty but any thought to Mike Tressel? i know little about him save for what is on his resume. Anyone have thoughts on him?

(01-09-2021 11:29 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  I understand the realities but I’m so sick of being the AAA affiliate.

This isn't AAA affiliate stuff, he got head coach money. It's usually our head coaches who get poached, not the assistants. You do not get that at the AAA level, typically only high p5 coordinators get poached for that kind of cheddar. However, i do think this is part of bigger ND pr move to distract from negative publicity from big game losses, and their standing particularly as an indy.

(01-09-2021 11:50 AM)eroc Wrote:  

(01-09-2021 10:26 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-09-2021 10:24 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Willie Freaking Martinez? Lol

That UCF secondary he coaches is worse than any thing Kerry Coombs did here and he had more contact from attorneys and the NCAA than he did recruits while at Tennessee.

Yeah...we need to stay away from that.

Then again, if we get down to 5th on that list, we've got a big ******* problem.

Did you all know that Martinez had a cup of coffee at Cincy? i totally didn't know this: https://gobearcats.com/sports/football/r...tinez/1495

ed: i'll speak for myself

Also, i tend to hate all things sparty but any thought to Mike Tressel? i know little about him save for what is on his resume. Anyone have thoughts on him?

He!! To The No! After the way that douche ran around Clifton shouting about goin to the Big Ten when he left with Dantonio? F that guy.

I have a close friend who worked for Brian Mason. Can confirm that he is extremely well regarded within the program.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

(01-08-2021 11:38 PM)Billy_Bearcat Wrote:  

(01-08-2021 11:27 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  

(01-08-2021 10:34 PM)Billy_Bearcat Wrote:  Mason knows the defense and he knows the recruits. He’s built relationships with these kids. I’d say he’s the odds on favorite.

Could be but promoting him to DC from Special Teams after like 6 years of being a D1 GA at several schools would be a little unsettling on the surface...to fans and perhaps recruits. I’m not sure if he was ever an on field coach before this special teams promotion in 2018.

I’m sure he’s a rising star or something but he’d be skipping several resume stops on the way to this job.

I don’t disagree with you. But I would say this is the most likely of all the possible moves.

Mason sounds like the kind of hire that would get Tubs blasted around here had he done it.

I guess I'm mostly "in Fickell we trust", but I'm a lot more comfortable with Ash's resume than Mason's. I also wouldn't mind us making a move for one of Marcus' position coaches at ND starting with Mickens or even Elston. Terry Joseph from ND is also interesting but the latest rumor is he's leaving to take the DB job at Texas.

On the other hand, a truce might be in order lest Marcus make a move to fill Joseph and/or other slots with UC position coaches like Eliano or even Mason.

(01-09-2021 12:02 PM)Billy_Bearcat Wrote:  

(01-09-2021 11:50 AM)eroc Wrote:  

(01-09-2021 10:26 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-09-2021 10:24 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Willie Freaking Martinez? Lol

That UCF secondary he coaches is worse than any thing Kerry Coombs did here and he had more contact from attorneys and the NCAA than he did recruits while at Tennessee.

Yeah...we need to stay away from that.

Then again, if we get down to 5th on that list, we've got a big ******* problem.

Did you all know that Martinez had a cup of coffee at Cincy? i totally didn't know this: https://gobearcats.com/sports/football/r...tinez/1495

ed: i'll speak for myself

Also, i tend to hate all things sparty but any thought to Mike Tressel? i know little about him save for what is on his resume. Anyone have thoughts on him?

He!! To The No! After the way that douche ran around Clifton shouting about goin to the Big Ten when he left with Dantonio? F that guy.

Done and done. Thx.