Assistant coaching news...

[FDNY99]

I saw that earlier. Maybe Dez is wrong.

Would we hire an OC who doesn't call his own plays?

I'm at a TOTAL loss about this potential hire right now. A OC who is on the field because he needs to be with his lineman and doesn't call the plays...WTF

 

[FDNY99]

Rob Ambrose

TJ Weist before P was fired

 

[Palatine]

Central Michigan has boasted one of the MAC’s top offenses during Mike Cummings’ three seasons as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach.

In 2012, Cummings directed an offense that averaged 6.2 yards per play, ranking No. 2 in the MAC, produced nearly 400 yards of offense per game, and scored 30 or more points in 10 games. The CMU running game was revitalized, as Zurlon Tipton rushed for 1,492 yards, the fourth most in a single season in program history, and 19 touchdowns. Quarterback Ryan Radcliff posted the best touchdown to interception ratio of his career (23-9) while his top two targets, Cody Wilson and Titus Davis, etched their names in the CMU record book with standout seasons.

Much of the offensive success can be attributed to the play of the CMU offensive line, which allowed just 15 sacks, ranking No. 17 nationally. Continuity was key, as four of the five up-front players started all 13 games.

Cummings has coached four All-Mid-American Conference offensive linemen over the last three seasons. Colin Miller and Jeff Maddux were both named to the 2010 All-MAC Second Team, while Eric Fisher was a Third Team selection in 2011 and was honored on the All-MAC First Team in 2012.

Fisher, who also earned All-America honors from the Associated Press and SI.com, became the highest NFL draft pick in MAC and program history when he was selected No. 1 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in April 2013. A starter of all 13 games in 2012, Fisher flourished under Cummings’ tutelage rising from a relative unknown commodity at the beginning of the season to a national sensation following dominant performances at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine.

The Chippewas ranked in the top 25 nationally in passing offense during both of Cummings’ first two seasons. CMU ranked 25th nationally in 2011, averaging 274.2 yards per game through the air, one year after ranking 20th with a 284.0 yards per game average.

The Chippewas have thrown for 295 or more yards 16 times over the past three seasons, including six games of 350 yards or more.

Cummings has prepared his linemen to effectively play a variety of positions along the line during his tenure. In 24 games over his first two seasons, injuries forced CMU to use nine different starting lineup combinations on the offensive line. Two redshirt freshmen, Andy Phillips and Kevin Henry, combined to make nine starts in 2011, and a reshuffled line still allowed the second fewest sacks per pass attempt in the MAC (17 sacks, 458 pass attempts in 12 games).

The 2010 season marked the start of Cummings’ fourth stint at CMU. He was the Chippewas’ offensive line coach from 1992-97 and 1999, and he was a graduate assistant at CMU during the 1988 and 1989 seasons. Cummings coached seven All-MAC honorees during his previous time at CMU.

Cummings served as the offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Marshall from 2005-09. At least one Marshall offensive lineman earned All- Conference USA honors in each of his five seasons.

Prior to Marshall, Cummings was the offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Western Michigan for three seasons.

Cummings’ career also includes stops at Eastern Michigan (defensive line/ special teams/recruiting coordinator, 2000-01), Michigan State (tight ends/ special teams, 1998), Millersville (offensive line, 1990-91) and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (offensive line, 1987).

During his collegiate coaching career, Cummings has coached 26 all- conference players, 11 academic all-conference players, three All-Americans and two freshman All-Americans.

Cummings earned three varsity letters in football at Buffalo. He earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education and exercise science from Buffalo in 1984 and his master’s degree in athletics administration from CMU in 1990.

Cummings and his wife Donna have two daughters, Elizabeth and Emily.

 

[huskymedic]

This article REALLY makes this hire as OC a head scratcher!

Why - that's the way Enos ran EMU, doesn't mean that Diaco is going to run UConn that way?

 

[FDNY99]

Why - that's the way Enos ran EMU, doesn't mean the Diaco is going to run UConn that way?

more about him not being in the box during the game...and more so hiring another OL guy when he kept Foley. All that does is slam pandora's box wide open when things don't go well

 

[sportsart]

I would bet HCBD hired our QB coach Patterson first and then they talked about every single hire after that. Patterson, will be his sounding board IMO, and then HCBD will obviously make the decision.

I think we need to keep in mind that coaches don't always get hired on their record. Some have a great coaching mind and can teach like crazy but are in the wrong system or don't have enough freedom (to call their own plays maybe?)

You can be sure that HCBD has made a ton of phone calls and then makes his decision on all factors, not just coaching record.

There is so much we don't know or see.

One thing I see is a lot of experience in his coaching staff. A smart man surrounds himself with smart people. I think HCBD is a smart man. Only time will tell.

 

[Palatine]

Lots of Buffalo and the MAC.

 

[FDNY99]

I will say this about Cummings answer's to the questions he was asked in this article:
http://www.themorningsun.com/article/MS/20130309/SPORTS02/130319978

He talks about recruiting kids and coaching them up...something we have been clamoring for a while on here. From a OL coaching standpoint looks like Cummings and Foley share that passion for teaching kids how to play OL. Now if Patterson goes up into the box instead of Cummings maybe this won't be so bad. He has OC experience while at Iowa.

 

[PUPPY4]

One thing we can all say on here is this...if Cummings or Foley can get the OL back to straight up crushing and mauling guys on the line of scrimmage..the remaining guys at QB, WR and RB can do things with the ball if given a chance. The pass/run mix is nice to see though. Still scratching my head over this choice...only because of keeping Foley. If Foley goes to TE coach and Cummings comes in like GDL and changes the blocking scheme or his coaching style doesn't mix with the guys at OL...with Foley being there coaching the TE's it will be the same s_h_i_t all over again. Diaco's honeymoon will end quickly if the O sputters after this hire given the last 3 seasons of what we have had here.

PUMPING? OR DUMPING?

 

[sportsart]

Lots of Buffalo and the MAC.

I'm sure most people weren't expecting P5 coaches. MAC coaches have a pretty good history, albeit the HC's mostly.

 

[FDNY99]

Lots of Buffalo and the MAC.

The UB connections seem to come from a time where the program was turned around. As for MAC guys...there are a lot of quality former MAC guys out there...they had to start somewhere.

 

[BlueMAB]

Central Michigan has boasted one of the MAC’s top offenses during Mike Cummings’ three seasons as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach...

Thanks for posting that.

I'm ok with the hire, let's see what he can do.

 

[Husky25]

You can be sure that HCBD has made a ton of phone calls and then makes his decision on all factors, not just coaching record.

There is so much we don't know or see.

One thing I see is a lot of experience in his coaching staff. A smart man surrounds himself with smart people. I think HCBD is a smart man. Only time will tell.

No way. I refuse to believe that. I think he is pulling names out of a hat. Why do you think he's only gotten coaches from the MAC? Coach Diaco is not taking this job seriously. He's didn't hire Parker Executive Search and he's not going after Alabama or USC assistants. He's clearly just biding his time until he gets a better offer.

The fact remains that none of us here posting have any idea what goes into hiring a coaching staff. All we see is the end product every Saturday, not the inner workings.

 

[FDNY99]

PUMPING? OR DUMPING?

Trying to keep an open mind...just putting out there a scenario that could happen quickly if we start slow.

 

[UConnDan97]

PUMPING? OR DUMPING?

I probably shouldn't be asking this, but I will: Any sense of what the players are feeling like, with all of the new coaches coming on board? Is there a sense of optimism like there is on this board?

 

[MattMang23]

UConn: According to the Hartford Courant, Central Michigan offensive line coach Mike Cummings has accepted the offensive line job and Notre Dame director of player development and engagement Earnest Jones has accepted the running backs job.

From Coachingsearch.com. Uhhhhh??

 

[sportsart]

UConn: According to the Hartford Courant, Central Michigan offensive line coach Mike Cummings has accepted the offensive line job and Notre Dame director of player development and engagement Earnest Jones has accepted the running backs job.

From Coachingsearch.com. Uhhhhh??

So then we don't have an OC?

 

[MattMang23]

Gotta be a typo on the part of coachingsearch.com.... Right? They're saying their source is the Courant, but the Courant is reporting Cummings is the OC...

 

[FDNY99]

UConn: According to the Hartford Courant, Central Michigan offensive line coach Mike Cummings has accepted the offensive line job and Notre Dame director of player development and engagement Earnest Jones has accepted the running backs job.

From Coachingsearch.com. Uhhhhh??

What an idiot Roussel is...here is a link from the Courant:
http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-football/hc-uconn-football-1231-20131230,0,7366419.story
Link says Cummings will be OC nothing more nothing less.

 

[MattMang23]

I don't know why Cummings would take a demotion. You'd have to think Des has this one right.

Then again, it is Des.

 

[CodyJ.]

i am not happy with this hire. but i'm a buffoon according to some of you.
We could have done better at OC.

 

[CodyJ.]

I don't know why Cummings would take a demotion. You'd have to think Des has this one right.

Then again, it is Des.

yep. he doesnt have a good track record at all. And he's a dope...

 

[UconnFamily]

i am not happy with this hire. but i'm a buffoon according to some of you.
We could have done better at OC.

I agree we could of done a lot better

 

[BlueDogs]

In HCBD we trust....

 

[BlueDogs]

I'm sure most people weren't expecting P5 coaches. MAC coaches have a pretty good history, albeit the HC's mostly.

Sounds like budget more than anything.

 

[PAGS]

I hope I wake up and it was only a bad dream and somehow TJ Weist is our OC!

 

[Palatine]

I'm sure most people weren't expecting P5 coaches. MAC coaches have a pretty good history, albeit the HC's mostly.

I was expecting a P5 coach or two that gets promoted up. Kinda like Diaco himself.

 

[sportsart]

Sounds like budget more than anything.

There's not enough money in anyone's budget to pull a OC or DC from a P5 school to an AAC school. Time for a reality check for a few people on here.

 

[Scoe]

is there any actual news and not tweets, this is annoying

 

[sportsart]

I was expecting a P5 coach or two that gets promoted up. Kinda like Diaco himself.

You you'd rather have a OL coach from a P5 get promoted to our OC position? Explain what you mean. I want someone who has experience at the 2 main coordinator positions.