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(12-16-2022 11:45 AM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  

(12-16-2022 11:20 AM)WMU2013 Wrote:  Eric Evans and David Denham are being retained.

Very interesting. I'm surprised how much of the staff he's keeping. I do think we had some good assistant coaches, so I think I'm okay with a mix of new and old. Denham is a good keep, DTs have been great and he's a good recruiter. Evans I don't really have an opinion. Maybe someone with more knowledge of the situation can chime in.

I like Evans. He's done a good job with the RBs. Obviously did some good things with Eleby

(12-16-2022 11:45 AM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  

(12-16-2022 11:20 AM)WMU2013 Wrote:  Eric Evans and David Denham are being retained.

Very interesting. I'm surprised how much of the staff he's keeping. I do think we had some good assistant coaches, so I think I'm okay with a mix of new and old. Denham is a good keep, DTs have been great and he's a good recruiter. Evans I don't really have an opinion. Maybe someone with more knowledge of the situation can chime in.

I don't have particular insight, other than Evans has a lot of experience here. It's hard to evaluate the offensive staff given the offensive line this year.

It sounds like as a first-time head coach he did not have a grand vision with specific guys he wanted to bring in. It seems he's having them all interview to keep their jobs, gathering feedback, and keeping them if he has confidence in them.

I don't think that's a bad thing. Again, we're not a perennial 3-9 team. I will agree with the majority here that Lester didn't deliver in his overall responsibility, and this sounds like an excellent way to test that theory: keeping most things intact but changing the overall leadership style.

Basically, what UM eventually did with Harbaugh, rather than going the RichRod route of reinventing themselves.

Nothing will be for sure on the offensive side of the ball until an OC is hired. Most likely these guys are being told they are not being let go right now, but there is no guarantee on them being retained either until the OC is hired. The OC will probably have the opportunity to bring in who he wants and let go of who he wants. If they have a better opportunity to go with a sure thing they may jump at that (Whalen) instead of waiting to see if the new OC decides to retain them or clean house. I wouldn't be surprised to see some of the "retained" offensive coaches jumping ship before the OC is hired and I wouldn't be surprised to see some or all let go after the OC is hired.

(12-16-2022 07:06 PM)Mcsc03 Wrote:  Nothing will be for sure on the offensive side of the ball until an OC is hired. Most likely these guys are being told they are not being let go right now, but there is no guarantee on them being retained either until the OC is hired. The OC will probably have the opportunity to bring in who he wants and let go of who he wants. If they have a better opportunity to go with a sure thing they may jump at that (Whalen) instead of waiting to see if the new OC decides to retain them or clean house. I wouldn't be surprised to see some of the "retained" offensive coaches jumping ship before the OC is hired and I wouldn't be surprised to see some or all let go after the OC is hired.

I really doubt this.

No way I’m a position coach at WMU and told “hey you wanna stick around and MAYBE we keep you if the OC wants you”. I’m the F out the door pursuing my next opportunity now.

These retained coaches are likely a buffer to keep continuity…. Told they have an extension and paid well. The new OC whoever that may be will be able to coach these guys up on the philosophy. If they don’t buy in they likely leave on their own.

I really like the coaches Taylor has so far retained. All out doing recruit visits…. Staying the course.

Some coaches might end up leaving still. I remember Fleck retaining AJ Ricker, but he ultimately left in the off-season. Worked out fine for him, and us in the end. I’m sure the OC hire will have some impact on that.

Jeff Thorne has been fired.

Now that Louisville season is over with their new head coach arriving I expect more Louisville to Kzoo moving vans.

WMU will be third option for Louisville assistants.

(12-17-2022 02:38 PM)okgc Wrote:  Now that Louisville season is over with their new head coach arriving I expect more Louisville to Kzoo moving vans.

Yep, let's go get Josh Stepp as OC RIGHT NOW!!!!

(12-17-2022 04:10 PM)Doo Wrote:  WMU will be third option for Louisville assistants.

Probably depends more on the pool of $$$ negotiated by Coach Taylor for assistants.

Any chance Taylor can snag Mark Ivey from Louisville? DL coach…. Had those guys fired up yesterday. Maybe assistant DC/DL.

WR coach Chris Chestnut also has been let go according to my sources.

Greg Whalen is the new OC at Dayton

(12-18-2022 08:16 PM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  Greg Whalen is the new OC at Dayton

This is an example I gave in my post above about the coaches who could have stayed but had a for sure opportunity so they went with the sure thing rather than hoping they were retained when the OC is hired.

I'm kind of surprised it has taken this long to name an OC. I really thought Taylor probably had his guy and was just waiting for him to be done coaching in a bowl game to announce it. Maybe still the case and whoever it is hasn't played their bowl game yet, but I was thinking it would have likely been someone from Louisville. Similar recruiting area as WMU, but maybe he has someone else in mind. Wouldn't be bad to bring someone in from a different school, and then maybe he can lean on his Louisville connection in the transfer portal and the new OC can bring some people in the portal from wherever he is coming I guess. I'm just ready to hear who it is.... and my fingers are still crossed that it is Josh Stepp

(12-19-2022 09:07 AM)Mcsc03 Wrote:  

(12-18-2022 08:16 PM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  Greg Whalen is the new OC at Dayton

This is an example I gave in my post above about the coaches who could have stayed but had a for sure opportunity so they went with the sure thing rather than hoping they were retained when the OC is hired.

I'm kind of surprised it has taken this long to name an OC. I really thought Taylor probably had his guy and was just waiting for him to be done coaching in a bowl game to announce it. Maybe still the case and whoever it is hasn't played their bowl game yet, but I was thinking it would have likely been someone from Louisville. Similar recruiting area as WMU, but maybe he has someone else in mind. Wouldn't be bad to bring someone in from a different school, and then maybe he can lean on his Louisville connection in the transfer portal and the new OC can bring some people in the portal from wherever he is coming I guess. I'm just ready to hear who it is.... and my fingers are still crossed that it is Josh Stepp

Could be targeting someone coaching a bowl game…. And has had some closed doors meetings but no announcements until after the bowl…. Etc….

Unrelated, but our old friend David Duggan will be the new DC at Kent State.

Coaches currently listed under the roster: Lance Taylor, Lou Esposito, Eric Evans, David Denham, Donald Celiscar. We know Trevor Mendelson is joining, too.

Coaches no longer listed: Trevor Andrews (HC at Dayton), Greg Whalen (OC at Dayton), Joe Palcic, Bill Kenney, Chris Chestnut

Per WMU FB twitter…Big Lou retained as D Coordinator (no news there) and Grant Geib (“G2”) retained as Strength and Conditioning Coach (sorry if this has already been noted). Not surprised G2 retained based on the positive reports/feedback noted in recent years.

Apparently we are bringing in someone to be our Football GM whatever that job is. I assume that’s an off field role designed to navigate the portal.

(12-20-2022 05:49 PM)Broncos83 Wrote:  Per WMU FB twitter…Big Lou retained as D Coordinator (no news there) and Grant Geib (“G2”) retained as Strength and Conditioning Coach (sorry if this has already been noted). Not surprised G2 retained based on the positive reports/feedback noted in recent years.

Donald Celiscar retained as well per LT twitter posting.