Assistant Coach Search

[noeynox]

Call me crazy but I don’t believe Mora will simply reward old friendships with his key coaching coordinator spots. I’ll be surprised if either Spanos or Mazzone are hired as DC or OC. They may have ancillary roles on the staff but not the key positions.

Umm why? He had success with those guys, and they have both been around this program.

 

[Rich]

Manny Diaz-DC
Dan Mullen-OC

And Orgeron as D-Line coach & Southern Region Recruiting Coordinator.

 

[WestHartHusk]

Disagree on Canada - there are literally twice as many kids from Canada playing in the NFL as there are from CT. If you concentrate on the Grater Toronto and Montreal areas and make/keep relationships with a dozen or so high school programs you can fairly easily elbow your way to some good talent on a regular basis. It might not be 5-star talent, but it can be 3/4-star talent that will work hard (i.e. less ego and more appreciation to play the game in the States). It makes no sense to turn your back on Canada as a recruiting area.

2x the players on a country with 10x the population spread across a landmass 1000x as big. Sounds like a great investment of time and energy…

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Something I found quite interesting is that on his UCLA staff, Tom Bradley was DC and Sal Alosi was S&C coach.

 

[Pudge]

I guess we are gonna find out how much these largely California + national resume's like Connecticut (and their wives).

The criticism of Mora is true: He switched coordinators often at UCLA and we don't know why. Did these guys just get paid better in the pros or next spot? That is a little unusual for a UCLA and Nationally. I want youthful talent ... but that is where we probably take a little hit with Mora's last 5 years: he didn't see any of the up & comers personally. I think Spanos and Mazzone make sense as a start; and maybe the network is full of guys that they brought along through Alabama, UCLA, Arizona, etc. Like Horton.

 

[Hhoops19]

Anyone have any sort of speculation outside of Spanos and Mazzone, who by the way I would prefer as LB and QB coach respectively instead of coordinator spots. Maybe give Spanos associate HC or something out of respect. But need new eyes on things at the coordinator spots.

100% agree with this. Having Mazzone at QB and Spanos at LB/AHC would be great. Need to get some younger / more inspiring guys at OC/DC for both on the field coaching and recruiting. With an older HC, can’t an old staff too..

 

[Waquoit]

The criticism of Mora is true: He switched coordinators often at UCLA and we don't know why. Did these guys just get paid better in the pros or next spot? That is a little unusual for a UCLA and Nationally. I want youthful talent ... but that is where we probably take a little hit with Mora's last 5 years...

This is where the importance AD Dave-Mora relationship comes in. I'm sure Benedict has potential up-and-coming coaches identified. And I'm thinking Mora is mature enough to use the AD as a resource without ego getting involved. If this thing turns around there will be plenty of credit to go around.

 

[gioff2323]

I will be interested in s&c hire. I like energy of current team. It’ll be critical for our development. I’m guessing their is some connection based on U-dub.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I will be interested in s&c hire. I like energy of current team. It’ll be critical for our development. I’m guessing their is some connection based on U-dub.

You like this team's energy??

Oof.

 

[Pudge]

I don't know how some of you have gotten off kilter on our Canada recruiting. We literally have about 15 kids that played at a very high-quality level. It is far more than Moe Petrus. We can scour rosters and get a list together. But I want to know if you feel the same way about Central Pennsylvania or something ... (where we haven't been all that successful in HCRE 2.0) ... is it just some weird Xenophobia?

You knew I would do this - Carabins of the Université de Montréal Jonathan Senecal had a good year. Yup: Zergiotis didn't have the best rating nor most acclaim of Quarterbacks on our roster; Senecal left as we looked at the completely no play 2020.

Let's say we keep getting Canadians - particularly Line guys. And Buffalo + both Michigan/Michigan State and others have gotten hands full in last 5 years.

 

[UConnJim]

2x the players on a country with 10x the population spread across a landmass 1000x as big. Sounds like a great investment of time and energy…

You do realize that almost all Canadian recruiting is Montreal and Toronto which are about the same distance to UConn as Syracuse and Buffalo, but have much larger populations.

 

[gioff2323]

You like this team's energy??

Oof.

Energy in S&C, yes. Was that confusing

 

[SubbaBub]

Umm why? He had success with those guys, and they have both been around this program.

Also, they can get right to business. You can defend any approach before we see how it works out. Just make it work, that way he will have been right all along.

 

[Buffett10]

Brett Maxie will be an interesting name to watch for the search. A very good DB coach with a connection to IMG

 

[Pudge]

You do realize that almost all Canadian recruiting is Montreal and Toronto which are about the same distance to UConn as Syracuse and Buffalo, but have much larger populations.

AND ... there is no Canadian alternative to FBS football. Their University football is non-scholarship and it is a quality level notches below FCS. Big Metro markets. More Athletes than ever; look to the NBA lately. So, yeah, let's give up something that we have had a comparative advantage.

Stupid

 

[Griggs]

Love the Marinelli idea.. I think he can kill it recruiting in CT

Very good high school teams in FairfieldCounty, but not a lot of top tier recruits to be had.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

2x the players on a country with 10x the population spread across a landmass 1000x as big. Sounds like a great investment of time and energy…

The players come from the 2 metro areas I noted above and that's where our past (and hopefully future) recruits come from. Come on - do you think I'm saying we should recruit in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and The Y-u-k-o-n?!

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Very good high school teams in FairfieldCounty, but not a lot of top tier recruits to be had.

Really? Andrew Steuber, Ben Mason, a guy from Greenwich named Young I believe, two brothers named Pommachanh, Tyler Matakevich, Dave Graham, some guy named Valentine, a boatload of players from New Canaan over the years, Pyne, Peter Demmerlee, many others from Fairfield County.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Really? Andrew Steuber, Ben Mason, a guy from Greenwich named Young I believe, two brothers named Pommachanh, Tyler Matakevich, Dave Graham, some guy named Valentine, a boatload of players from New Canaan over the years, Pyne, Peter Demmerlee, many others from Fairfield County.

Also, three of UConn’s greatest players were from Fairfield County. Trevardo Williams, Scott Lutrus, and Dan O. Don’t forget John Sullivan the big Greenwich lineman.

 

[huskysupporter]

Very good high school teams in FairfieldCounty, but not a lot of top tier recruits to be had.

Could not be further from the truth - Fairfield county produces plenty of top tier recruits year after year (for Connecticut, anyway) Unfortunately they rarely give UCONN a look. I think Marinelli would change that.

 

[Pudge]

24 Canadians since 2002. One of our most productive recruiting ponds. Lots of great productive careers; no stars

Shawn Mayne
Jason Ward
Dan Desriveaux
O'Neill Wilson
Hakeen Kashama
Martin Bedard
John Delahunt
Moe Petrus
Jesse Joseph
Alex Mateas
Trey Rutherford
Sheridan Lawley
Phillipe Okounam
Hergy Mayala
Michael Tarbutt
Terrance Ganyi
Lwal Uguak
Jack Zergiotis
Russell Dixon
Kevens Clercius
Jonathan Senecal
Carter Hooper
Christopher Fortin
Malcolm Bell

 

[noeynox]

24 Canadians since 2002. One of our most productive recruiting ponds. Lots of great productive careers; no stars

Shawn Mayne
Jason Ward
Dan Desriveaux
O'Neill Wilson
Hakeen Kashama
Martin Bedard
John Delahunt
Moe Petrus
Jesse Joseph
Alex Mateas
Trey Rutherford
Sheridan Lawley
Phillipe Okounam
Hergy Mayala
Michael Tarbutt
Terrance Ganyi
Lwal Uguak
Jack Zergiotis
Russell Dixon
Kevens Clercius
Jonathan Senecal
Carter Hooper
Christopher Fortin
Malcolm Bell

Some hits, more misses and some TBDs.

 

[JMick]

Could not be further from the truth - Fairfield county produces plenty of top tier recruits year after year (for Connecticut, anyway) Unfortunately they rarely give UCONN a look. I think Marinelli would change that.

Marcus Easley another UConn guy. Then there's Lucas Niang who is starting in the NFL right now. Mark Harrison who played at Rutgers. Michael Collins started some games for TCU and was lighting it up at Rice before he got hurt.

Idk if we count Casey since they moved to Monroe for football but let's throw him in there for good measure.

 

[Yup!]

Really? Andrew Steuber, Ben Mason, a guy from Greenwich named Young I believe, two brothers named Pommachanh, Tyler Matakevich, Dave Graham, some guy named Valentine, a boatload of players from New Canaan over the years, Pyne, Peter Demmerlee, many others from Fairfield County.

Mora gets it. We don’t just recruit CT, but it is our backyard and it’s ridiculous to say “who cares about CT, go recruit FL‘’ there’s no reason why we should be letting guys like, Khairi Fortt, Christian Wilkins, phommachanh ( Clemson ) etc… go. I known we cant get them all but we should try harder than Edsall to keep most of them home. With Moras background I don’t see why we can’t do that, even the players who come to CT to play for the academy’s/prep they’re already here let’s try to keep them here.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Mora gets it. We don’t just recruit CT, but it is our backyard and it’s ridiculous to say “who cares about CT, go recruit FL‘’ there’s no reason why we should be letting guys like, Khairi Fortt, Christian Wilkins, phommachanh ( Clemson ) etc… go. I known we cant get them all but we should try harder than Edsall to keep most of them home. With Moras background I don’t see why we can’t do that, even the players who come to CT to play for the academy’s/prep they’re already here let’s try to keep them here.

Many of the high school coaches in the FCIAC, especially the ones in the Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Wilton areas could not stand FHCRE. Now that he’s gone, maybe Marinelli the son (whose been mentioned already in this thread) might accept a coaching position under Mora.

 

[PackTheRent]

Definitely some studs in FF County but there's still a weird stigma in the wealthier towns in going to UConn. My friends who live there say it's viewed as a safety school and if your kid is a lower-level FBS talent and pretty good academically they just go for the Ivies. The high-level FBS kids always go for P5 schools. You can't fault either of these decisions. Marinelli could hopefully help that issue

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Definitely some studs in FF County but there's still a weird stigma in the wealthier towns in going to UConn. My friends who live there say it's viewed as a safety school and if your kid is a lower-level FBS talent and pretty good academically they just go for the Ivies. The high-level FBS kids always go for P5 schools. You can't fault either of these decisions. Marinelli could hopefully help that issue

There was one guy from Westport (Staples HS) who bought what Edsall was selling. Sean Mulcahy. He’s a football analyst now.

 

[Exit 4]

Definitely some studs in FF County but there's still a weird stigma in the wealthier towns in going to UConn. My friends who live there say it's viewed as a safety school and if your kid is a lower-level FBS talent and pretty good academically they just go for the Ivies. The high-level FBS kids always go for P5 schools. You can't fault either of these decisions. Marinelli could hopefully help that issue

All true and much of the soft elitist attitude won’t change, but what I am realistically hoping Marinilli can do is just get us 1 to 3 more kids per year in state (prep schools included) than we have been landing. 1 to 3 impact kids, not depth guys. I think is positioned to help us open these doors and change some perception. Really I just want to be keeping some of these in state QBs.

 

[gioff2323]

Many of the high school coaches in the FCIAC, especially the ones in the Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Wilton areas could not stand FHCRE. Now that he’s gone, maybe Marinelli the son (whose been mentioned already in this thread) might accept a coaching position under Mora.

They didn’t like disco either.

They loved PP

Love or hate, the result has always been the same.

Hoping someone can convince more kids to stay. Personally, I feel we’d be better off in ST seeing if we can get local kids to portal home.

 

[Exit 4]

seeing if we can get local kids to portal home.

Yes - that too....lots of opportunities the last three years to bring 3 star CT kids home. It doesn't say nice things about your staff and your program when you are batting zero on the "transfer home" secondary market.