Welcome John Dunn: New OC

[uchusky32]

Welcome to the Pound, John!

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Bears' bio (Offensive Assistant, 2016-18): Chicago Bears: John Dunn
Picture ThisIsUConnCountry borrowed

Maryland bio (Assistant Coach, TE/Recruiting, 2011-15): John Dunn Biography

"John Dunn is in his fifth season with Maryland serving as the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator.

Under Dunn’s leadership, Maryland has signed a top-35 recruiting class in two of the past four years. In 2014, Maryland landed a five-star recruit for the third consecutive season with local offensive lineman Damian Prince.

In 2012 and 2013, both of Dunn’s classes featured the Gatorade Player of the Year in Washington, D.C., (Yannick Ngakoue in 2013 and Albert Reid in 2012) and a five-star recruit (Deon Long in 2013 and Stefon Diggs in 2012).

Dunn and head coach Randy Edsall have made it a priority to recruit the Maryland/Washington, D.C. area. Of the 81 players signed since 2012, 42 have been from the region. In 2015, Dunn helped Maryland land the top-ranked defensive lineman in Maryland, Adam MCLean, and the top-ranked offensive lineman in Washington, D.C., Quarvez Boulware.

Dunn coached the youngest position group on the team in 2014, which featured three sophomores, two redshirt freshmen and a true freshman. Sophomore Andrew Isaacs began the season atop the depth chart before suffering a season-ending injury at Syracuse.

P.J. Gallo and Derrick Hayward, a converted linebacker, split time the remainder of the season. Gallo caught his first-career touchdown pass in Maryland’s win at Penn State, while Hayward made his first-career catch at Wisconsin.

In 2013, Dunn worked with Dave Stinebaugh, who hauled in 15 receptions for 204 yards and three touchdowns, tied for the second-highest total on the team.

In his first two seasons at Maryland, Dunn tutored Matt Furstenburg, who compiled 46 catches for 554 yards (12.0 avg.) and four touchdowns. Furstenburg signed with the Baltimore Ravens during the 2013 offseason.

Before coming to Maryland, Dunn spent the previous three seasons as a graduate offensive assistant with LSU.

At LSU, Dunn helped coach the offensive line and quarterbacks and ran meetings with those position groups. Dunn also had primary responsibility for the assimilation of the playbook and all computer drawings, as well as all practice scripts and game plans.

In 2010, the Tigers went 11-2 and defeated Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl, their fifth victory over a ranked opponent that season. In his three years at LSU, the Tigers had a 28-11 record and went 2-1 in bowl games.

Dunn also assisted with all on-campus recruiting for the Tigers, as they pulled in the No. 11 class in 2008, the No. 1 class in 2009 and the No. 8 class in 2010, according to ESPN.com's rankings.

Dunn walked on at North Carolina in 2001 and played there until 2003 when his career was cut short by a neck injury. He served as a student assistant while finishing his undergraduate studies. In his second season on the Tar Heel staff, Dunn became a quality control assistant and then worked as a graduate coaching assistant on the offensive side of the ball his final two years (2006-07) in Chapel Hill.

At Carolina, Dunn helped tutor wide receiver Hakeem Nicks who finished the `07 season ranked in the top-35 nationally in receptions (6.2) and receiving yards per game (79.83) while earning All-ACC first team honors. Nicks was taken 29th overall by the New York Giants in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Dunn played quarterback and tight end for the Tar Heels, lettering in 2003. He is married to the former Lindsay Moffitt, and they have one son, Carter.

Date of Birth: Aug. 7, 1983
Hometown: Hendersonville, N.C.
Alma Mater: UNC '05 "

 

[Confident Carl]

True thinking you could learn something was clearly incorrect.

When given the chance to comment on someone and clearly lie... it almost makes one wonder if it’s even legitimate praise. Well those with a clue.

Back to providing your posts with the derision they deserve.

Speaking of my posts, here is an excerpt from one of yours:

"I think Diaco is here as long as he wants to be. He has amazing energy and he does a great job as the face of the program" - Whaler 11 - 8/30/2016

That was pretty funny coming from you because you are right all the time.

 

[BugsyCT]

Hmm . . . will reserve judgement after this coming season. If you trust HCRE then you ought to at least give this guy a fair shot. Edsall's worked with him before and knows he can recruit. No OC experience which is worrisome, but he apparently knows offense based on his resume. We'll see.

 

[Rocktheworld]

We need it more after the last 7 years

I get that 700k is a lot but I’m not down for that. Plenty of awkward sharing has happened through the BY already

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Hell, go for the divorced 45 year old "10", and she'll pay for dinner AND bring you back to her place.

Cougar chaser @huskyrob1

 

[TitleTown]

Love this hire!

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

I get that 700k is a lot but I’m not down for that.

Perhaps $300K will work out well ...

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

www.courant.com/sports/uconn-football/hc-sp-uconn-football-dunn-20180112-story.html

From the Courant Mike Anthony article:

"When Edsall was fired at Maryland during the 2015 season, offensive coordinator Mike Locksley (now co-offensive coordinator at Alabama) was promoted to interim coach, with Dunn as the offensive coordinator. Dunn and Edsall kept in touch in recent years, especially when Edsall was with the Detroit Lions as a special assistant for the 2016 season.

Of Dunn being a first-time coordinator, Edsall said, 'I was never a coordinator either and then George O’Leary gave me the opportunity to be a coordinator and we tied for the ACC championship and we scored seven defensive touchdowns that first year.' Some people think, ‘I have to go hire a guy who has been a coordinator before,’ but when you’re around people and you see people and you talk to other people that guys have worked with, that's the whole thing. There are a lot of guys who could be good coordinators but just have never had the opportunity.”

 

[UConnDan97]

Of course the same could be said about Red Pants, right?

REv1 had a good history picking young coaching talent. Let's hope he strikes gold again.

Actually, I was thinking the exact opposite.

Remember how much name brand recognition Diaco had, and how we all felt immediately after hiring a Broyles winner from Notre Dame? Wow! Big splash! Awesome hire!!!

Then remember how we felt after his first two press conferences and his energy vampire speeches and quarterback 1 vs 1a and his fish oil?

Yeah. Maybe making a big splash isn't all it's cracked up to be. Give me a guy who understands leadership and most importantly, football...

 

[UConnRock]

I hoping that there is a big difference between a 34 year old up and coming OC that has not called plays and the Vertucci/Cummings model of a 50+ year old with decades of coaching and never earning a coordinator job.

 

[Skiblets]

www.courant.com/sports/uconn-football/hc-sp-uconn-football-dunn-20180112-story.html

From the Courant Mike Anthony article:

"When Edsall was fired at Maryland during the 2015 season, offensive coordinator Mike Locksley (now co-offensive coordinator at Alabama) was promoted to interim coach, with Dunn as the offensive coordinator. Dunn and Edsall kept in touch in recent years, especially when Edsall was with the Detroit Lions as a special assistant for the 2016 season.

Of Dunn being a first-time coordinator, Edsall said, 'I was never a coordinator either and then George O’Leary gave me the opportunity to be a coordinator and we tied for the ACC championship and we scored seven defensive touchdowns that first year.' Some people think, ‘I have to go hire a guy who has been a coordinator before,’ but when you’re around people and you see people and you talk to other people that guys have worked with, that's the whole thing. There are a lot of guys who could be good coordinators but just have never had the opportunity.”

Get all that...but SEC coordinator versus QC coach...

 

[Hornet22]

It’s so interesting to me that people are saying this guy sucks and this was a bad hire and said people have no clue who this guy is, the breadth of his knowledge of football and his passion to win- And are ignoring the glaring fact that the person who hired him knows him, the breadth of his knowledge of football and actually was his boss prior.
It’s logical to be optimistic about this hire only because you trust the person who hired him.
Unless these same people that think he sucks also don’t believe in HCRE???
If you believe in Edsall not sure how you can not be optimistic.
When fans are jaded perhaps common sense goes out the window?

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Get all that...but SEC coordinator versus QC coach...

Get that, but Lashlee was shown the door at Auburn. And, SEC-and-all, HCRE might have known a little bit about football, coaching talent, and potential when he hired Joe Moorhead, current SEC Head Coach, and Andrew Breiner, MS State Pass Game Coordinator/QB Coach. Or, Todd Orlando, current Texas DC. And, multiple other coaches who succeeded in later roles.

 

[Skiblets]

Get that, but Lashlee was shown the door at Auburn. And, SEC-and-all, HCRE might have known a little bit about football, coaching talent, and potential when he hired Joe Moorhead, current SEC Head Coach, and Andrew Breiner, MS State Pass Game Coordinator/QB Coach. Or, Todd Orlando, current Texas DC. And, multiple other coaches who succeeded in later roles.

What he lacks in the wow factor we all certainly hope he makes up in the substance factor. I’m actually neutral on the hire until we have some facts to work with. Until then will wish him all the best.

 

[uconnbill]

Terrible hire and setback for the program. Clearly, RE was looking for a loyal yes man and not an independent offensive thinker. I can't believe AD Dave allowed RE to go down this path. So disappointed.

I understand the disappointment but none of us can say this is a bad hire before what we see come next season. This is just your opinion.

I like that he is young, has some high praise from a number of coaches both pro and college.

 

[Hornet22]

What he lacks in the wow factor we all certainly hope he makes up in the substance factor. I’m actually neutral on the hire until we have some facts to work with. Until then will wish him all the best.

The neutral or wait and see stance is totally valid. Nothing wrong with evaluating a person’s performance then making a determination.

 

[Exit 4]

I think many of us were expecting someone young with a few years of experience as an OC and QB coach that uses the same uptempo offense as Lashlee and that did not exactly happen today.

After a few hours to digest, i’m good with it. This guy will be here for a while and you could not say that about many other candidates. He apparently likes to recruit and Edsall has several years experience with him, so he knows what this kid is really about. This could work out well.

First step, get acquintated with our QBs. I don’t want any qb leaving before they see some snaps. Our QBs need to be confident this guy is their coach and has the plan to win.

 

[uconnfan68]

This is a sad hire

Be serious. Give him a chance. Support the team and the school.

 

[uconnfan68]

Hate to say it, but this is a disappointment.

And who was your choice? And who said no to you?

 

[uconnfan68]

As others had said, I think this hired boiled down to two fundamentals:

• Randy wanted loyalty. No more 1 year wonders which is hurting all the players with new systems every year. This guy will need at least 2, but maybe as many as 4 years here. No way this guy given this opportunity and his history with Randy can walk after year 1 or even year 2.
• Budget - its is very limited. Probably couldnt afford many others like Brian Wright. Sure, we are a pay raise for Wright, but he is pretty darn close to a much bigger pay raise. Regardless, he would be another one year guy if successful.

Silver lining; looks like a plus on recruiting.

Major concerns:

• Never called plays &
• Doesn't sound like a QB coach.

Was a QB himself. That should count a little.

 

[huskyrob1]

Get that, but Lashlee was shown the door at Auburn. And, SEC-and-all, HCRE might have known a little bit about football, coaching talent, and potential when he hired Joe Moorhead, current SEC Head Coach, and Andrew Breiner, MS State Pass Game Coordinator/QB Coach. Or, Todd Orlando, current Texas DC. And, multiple other coaches who succeeded in later roles.

Locksley at Alabama is another one, Rob Ambrose also.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Locksley at Alabama is another one, Rob Ambrose also.

Ambrose yes, but Maryland's then AD and/or Under Armour imposed Locksley upon HCRE.

 

[gtcam]

Guys like BlueDogs drive me crazy
Knows absolutely zero about the guy but is quick to say terrible hire
Like a little kid who takes his bat and goes home when he can't have his way
To me, Lashlee wasn't all he was built up to be and now we have a guy with broader experience than Lashlee and is a proven recruiter - something Lashlee was not .
None of us knows if Lashlee or Dunn is going to be the next coming of God but if RE likes it, AD David Benedict puts his approval stamp on it then lets give it a test drive.
Everything I have read about this guy is very positive - both on the collegiate and pro levels - better perspective than a guy who followed the same coach and was most likely shown the door at Auburn and then runs "home" to the ole South.
WELCOME COACH
best of luck and gets us some studs

 

[Jimdish255]

No OC experience. Suddenly called upon to develop our young QB's. No playcalling. Time and game management? If this guy isn't a natural we're going to take some frustrating steps backward. Do we have time for another Coach to be on the job training? I don't get it but hoping he has a productive Spring Ball and grows into the job quickly.

 

[nomar]

Hell, go for the divorced 45 year old "10", and she'll pay for dinner AND bring you back to her place.

There's like five 45 year old "10s" on the entire planet. Good luck finding one.

 

[Chief00]

Yeah not going to pan the hire. It’s a wait and see.

Love his recruiting experience. Like others I am concerned he has not called plays before. But that in no way means he can’t be successful.

My main concern is keeping an up tempo offense. HCRE addressed it in his statement, I just hope he sticks with the philosophy.

Like Whaler, I like that he is not a castoff. This is his shot to run with a coordinator spot.

Recruiting well raises all boats.

 

[SubbaBub]

Young > old retread.

+ recruiter, which we could use.

I hope he is some kind of football savant.

NFL is always a selling point.

If staid old Randy bypassed a host of conventional choices for this outside the box choice, then I am willing to buy in.

 

[Rocktheworld]

There's like five 45 year old "10s" on the entire planet. Good luck finding one.

And Sofia Vargera is off the market

Sooo down to 4