Any word on Defensive side coaches ? | The Boneyard

Any word on Defensive side coaches ?

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any rumors out there? I gave up reading the long one. Is it me or did it seem like we still had some big holes on defense coaches.
 
Nothing yet in the twitter-verse....this week we'll know the rest
 
Don't forget the rumor of NCU DC Zach Shay joining Coach D's staff. http://www.greeleytribune.com/sports/9335175-113/shay-defensive-coordinator-university

He also has a connection to Ernest Jones from Alcorn State years ago.

Along with playing for Iowa this little snippet gives him a connection to QB Coach Patterson? Don't know if the years overlap.

Edit: Apparently Shay was a student at Western Illinois while Patterson was HC.

Double edit: Looks like a Cummnigs, or at least CMU connection....

He began his coaching career as a defensive graduate assistant at Georgia (2003-04) and also had stops at Western Illinois University, St. Joseph’s College (Ind.) and at Central Michigan.


Shay earned his undergraduate degree from Iowa in 1998 and his master’s in sports management from Western Illinois University in 2001.

This will go over like a fart in church should he be the DC, which I'm guessing he will be.
 
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You'd have to be blind if you don't see a pattern here. HCBD has chosen the 6 degrees of separation coaching staff. Experience, success, common bonds, recruiting ability and head coaching experience.

A team that can work as a team. I like it. I have no doubt he had advice from Mr Kelley at ND as well.

I can moan about the unknown or I can be hopeful for the future. Not hard to guess my choice.

One thing I do know...it can not, I repeat, can not be worse that 2013. Quote me if you like.
 
Along with playing for Iowa this little snippet gives him a connection to QB Coach Patterson? Don't know if the years overlap.

Edit: Apparently Shay was a student at Western Illinois while Patterson was HC.

Double edit: Looks like a Cummnigs, or at least CMU connection....
He began his coaching career as a defensive graduate assistant at Georgia (2003-04) and also had stops at Western Illinois University, St. Joseph’s College (Ind.) and at Central Michigan.

Shay earned his undergraduate degree from Iowa in 1998 and his master’s in sports management from Western Illinois University in 2001.

This will go over like a fart in church should he be the DC, which I'm guessing he will be.

Not sure about being the DC - he doesn't have the "3 years NFL playing experience" preferred qualifications or 10 years FBS coaching experience from the posted job description. They have been spot on so far. My guess is secondary coach.
 
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Shay's 1st year 0-11
Shay's 2nd year 5-6
Shay's 3rd year 1-11

None of his recruits in a bad program. NCU looks to be a perennial bad football team.
 
Not sure about being the DC - he doesn't have the "3 years NFL playing experience" preferred qualifications from the posted job description. They have been spot on so far. My guess is secondary coach.

I have to believe you are right. He really doesn't have the credentials for a DC. But, you know me, trying to find the good. :cool:
 
Shay's 1st year 0-11
Shay's 2nd year 5-6
Shay's 3rd year 1-11

None of his recruits in a bad program. NCU looks to be a perennial bad football team.
If I'm not mistaken, NCU beat New Haven for the D2 National Title in the nineties. They were a power house back then. I know a few dudes of that UNH team, if NCU was the team, I remember them telling me about a DEnd they had that went on to the NFL that was rag dolling their Olinemen. I camped at UNH during those days, their Oline was HUGE.

Has nothing to do with out coaching hire, but I thought I'd share anyways.
 
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If I'm not mistaken, NCU beat New Haven for the D2 National Title in the nineties. They were a power house back then. I know a few dudes of that UNH team, if NCU was the team, I remember them telling me about a DEnd they had that went on to the NFL that was rag dolling their Olinemen. I camped at UNH during those days, their Oline was HUGE.

Has nothing to do with out coaching hire, but I thought I'd share anyways.

100% correct - thumped Tony Sparano's 1997 team 51-0.
 
100% correct - thumped Tony Sparano's 1997 team 51-0.
Do you remember the De nd? He went on to play for the steelers. Was good too. Just can't remember his name. One of the guys on the UNH team told me they all thought he was on the juice heavy. Had nasty ass body hair everywhere, but he later shaved his arms when he was on the steelers. Aaron Smith maybe.
 
Pretty sure that Diaco ran some solid defenses... he's not just going to turn over the reigns to any ol bum, and he's certainly going to implement his defensive philosophy. Wouldn't sweat it one bit. Not yet, anyway.
 
Do you remember the De nd? He went on to play for the steelers. Was good too. Just can't remember his name. One of the guys on the UNH team told me they all thought he was on the juice heavy. Had nasty ass body hair everywhere, but he later shaved his arms when he was on the steelers. Aaron Smith maybe.
Looks like this is him:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Smith_(American_football)
 
Well, my self-made Todd Orlando rumor made it all the way to the New Haven Register's Malafronte, so I'm feeling like I gave it enough legs to begin the talks between agents, etc. C'mon back home, Todd! ;)
 
Its been years since I heard that story but remember it well. Football roots run deep on this board.
 
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Well, my self-made Todd Orlando rumor made it all the way to the New Haven Register's Malafronte, so I'm feeling like I gave it enough legs to begin the talks between agents, etc. C'mon back home, Todd! ;)

Yeah, but Chip's a hockey writer now. :cool: Didn't see his tweets have anything. Link?
 
Do you remember the De nd? He went on to play for the steelers. Was good too. Just can't remember his name. One of the guys on the UNH team told me they all thought he was on the juice heavy. Had nasty ass body hair everywhere, but he later shaved his arms when he was on the steelers. Aaron Smith maybe.

That's him...
 
Yeah, but Chip's a hockey writer now. :cool: Didn't see his tweets have anything. Link?

This is courtesy of Huskymedic (who else? ;)):

NHR Chip Malafronte agrees - from today's Sunday Gravy column:
>> • Bob Diaco is surely well into the process of filling out his UConn football coaching staff — only offensive line coach Mike Foley was retained from the old regime. Might Todd Orlando, a 12-year assistant in Storrs under Randy Edsall, be interested in returning? He finished his first season at Utah State in style by clamping down on Northern Illinois and its Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback, Jordan Lynch, in Thursday’s Poinsetta Bowl. Orlando did magnificent work during his six seasons at the head of UConn’s defense, and would be a welcome addition.<<
 
This is courtesy of Huskymedic (who else? ;)):

NHR Chip Malafronte agrees - from today's Sunday Gravy column:
>> • Bob Diaco is surely well into the process of filling out his UConn football coaching staff — only offensive line coach Mike Foley was retained from the old regime. Might Todd Orlando, a 12-year assistant in Storrs under Randy Edsall, be interested in returning? He finished his first season at Utah State in style by clamping down on Northern Illinois and its Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback, Jordan Lynch, in Thursday’s Poinsetta Bowl. Orlando did magnificent work during his six seasons at the head of UConn’s defense, and would be a welcome addition. My source, UConnDan97 says it's a strong possibility<<

Fixed it. :)
 
Okay - back to the OP Topic @ hand. Unconfirmed rumor that ND GA Josh Reardon is also joining Coach D's staff as possibly DB Coach. His previous recruiting areas were Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota.

Part of a Q/A I read from Blue/Gold Illustrated but can't post due to forbidden link gives a bit of insight into JR:

  • Blue & Gold: What was it like walking back through the door and working with Brian Kelly, Bob Diaco, Mike Elston and Paul Longo again after your first stint with them in the same capacity at Central Michigan back in 2006-07?
Josh Reardon: They’re the same people, I can tell you that. I think everyone has grown as football coaches. You don’t get to this point without continuing to grow. As far as a working relationship goes, they are the same guys. We have a really great relationship and we have a good time. They’re fun guys to work with.​
  • B&G: How did you end up here after four years as outside linebackers coach at Holy Cross (FCS)?
Reardon: I’ve always stayed in touch with Coach Elston and Coach Diaco. Coach Kelly is incredibly busy, so I was never going to call him and say, ‘hey, what’s up? It’s Josh Reardon.’ Let me preface that by saying that I always genuinely felt if I never needed something, I could pick up the phone and call him.​

I always felt like I had a good relationship with those guys. When you talk about mentors, they were my introduction to [coaching] college football. I stayed in touch with those guys and an opportunity arose where there was a need for a GA.​

It’s Notre Dame. I had an opportunity to get back on a staff with guys I generally respect and are your mentors and good people. It was kind of a no-brainer.​
 
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My one and only recollection of anything to do with Northern Colorado is not a positive one. It's the story where the backup punter stabbed his rival punter in the leg and got arrested:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2585781

Sorry for the tangent. I'll get back on the topic after this post...
 
Josh Reardon, Central Michigan (class of 2006), defense

http://notredame.247sports.com/Arti...Notre-Dame-staff-as-graduate-assistants-72966

Reardon, whose primary focus in his first year at Notre Dame is with the defensive line, left his hometown of Sturgis, Mich., and walked on as a linebacker at Central Michigan University in 2001. His services on the second line weren’t needed, but he eventually earned a scholarship as a long-snapper. He earned a degree in physical education and stayed on with the Chippewas after graduating in 2004 as a student assistant working directly with co-defensive coordinator Bob Diaco, who holds the same position currently at Notre Dame.

Diaco turned around a CMU rushing defense that just two years earlier had ranked last in the Mid-American Conference. Under Diaco's watch, Central Michigan led the MAC, allowing only 113.7 rushing yards per contest.

Reardon was promoted to graduate assistant in 2006, Kelly’s third and final season at the helm at Central Michigan before taking the head job at Cincinnati. Reardon assisted with coaching the defensive line and inside linebackers. He toiled alongside linebackers coach Mike Elston, who now works with the Irish defensive line.

CMU went 10-4 in 2006, finishing the year with a victory over Middle Tennessee State in the Motor City Bowl. Reardon stayed in Mount Pleasant, Mich., through the 2007 season before coaching the defensive line in 2008, the secondary in 2009 and serving as defensive coordinator and secondary coach in 2010 at Football Championship Subdivision Sacred Heart in Connecticut.

In 2011, Reardon was outside linebackers coach at FCS Holy Cross and the defense held opponents to only 3.9 yards per carry last season.
 
You are really STRANGE Fanbase ... Mr. Grinch.

Look ... we just had a really different PP era. He basically kept a odd collection of his predecessors' staff. Hank Hughes had a really good dozen PLUS years at DL where he took a lot of 2 star kids with potential and developed a solid DL year after year. Some pros. And a lot of good strong fast DEs. Shamar Stephen, after Kendall Reyes, may be his trophy products. Jon Wholley has a good future ... ahead of him. He proved to take the kids recruited (Sio Moore, Scott Lutrus, Lawrence Wilson, Greg Lloyd, Jory Johnson) and do a good job with them. Darrell Perkins? Seemed to not really have any previous connect to Edsall & we have improved, I think, to a solid CB position game and good safeties (Butler, Wreh-Wilson, Gratz, Howard (RIP), Byron Jones, Mack) and (T. Brown etc). Add in Cersosimo.

PP hardly ripples through that Edsall staff. Diaco has a string of connections over a 15 year period. Different. The Pasqualoni thing was weird. (see who I don't mention)

Defensively? I expect that same ground tread as with his Offensive hires. Some UVA maybe. Some CMU/Cincy/ND. The most fervent desire I have, and it's not to posture why these guys don't fit, is for REAL Florida/Georgia connections to speed skilled Defense.
 
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