Thursday December 7, 2017
Coach of the Year: Join us in congratulating Auburn's Kevin Steele as the 2017 FootballScoop Defensive Coordinator of the Year presented by AstroTurf.
Tennessee: Georgia outside linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer is expected to be Tennessee's defensive coordinator, tweets Bruce Feldman. Additionally, USC quarterbacks coach Tyson Helton will take the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks job, according to VolQuest. The site also noted, as FootballScoop reported earlier today, that Will Friend and Terry Fair are expected to join the staff as well.
Tennessee: Jeremy Pruitt will remain with Alabama through its Playoff run. The Tide faces Clemson in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.
BYU: Kalani Sitake has offered his offensive coordinator job to a candidate and are awaiting word, according to Gordon Monson of the Salt Lake Tribune.
Hampton: Former East Carolina associate head coach and defensive coordinator Robert Prunty has been announced as Hampton's head coach. “Coach Prunty’s record of consistent, sustained, outstanding performance will take our football program to the next level,” Hampton president William R. Harvey said in a statement. “I enthusiastically welcome him to Hampton Nation.”
Cheyney (D-II - PA): The school has announced their decision to drop football.
Tennessee: Sources tell FootballScoop Jeremy Pruitt has had discussions about bringing Colorado State cornerbacks coach Terry Fair back to campus, although we don't believe anything is done at this time. Fair is a former All-SEC player for the Vols, worked as a quality control assistant for Tennessee in 2013-14 and at one time hosted a sports talk show in Knoxville.
Oregon State: Former Nebraska and Oregon State head coach Mike Riley has been formally announced as the assistant head coach on Jonathan Smith's staff. Smith also formally announced the additions of Jim Michalczik (run game coordinator / OL coach / associate head coach), Brian Lindgren (OC / QBs), Jake Cookus (STC), and Mike McDonald (head football strength and conditioning coach).
UTEP: Dana Dimel will coach Kansas State in the Cactus Bowl against UCLA on December 26th and then take over as head coach at UTEP.
Florida A&M: Prairie View A&M (FCS) head coach Willie Simmons has been offered the Florida A&M job, sources tell FootballScoop. Simmons is 20-11 in three seasons on the job. We understand a decision is expected in the coming days.
Navy: Please join us in keeping the Jarren Jasper, and the Jasper family in your prayers. Doctors apparently discovered "something of concern" yesterday during a regularly scheduled appointment, according to the CapitalGazette, and Navy offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper missed practice to be at the hospital with his son. Again, your prayers are appreciated.
Anderson (D-III - IN): Steve Rock, who spent the last 11 seasons at Franklin College (D-III - IN), has been named the new head coach at Anderson. Rock was the assistant head coach, special teams coordinator, recruiting coordinator and linebackers coach at Franklin under Mike Leonard, where the program won 10 conference titles in Rock's 11 seasons with the Grizzlies.
Fordham (FCS - NY): Following the departure of head coach Andrew Breiner to join Joe Moorhead's staff at Mississippi State as passing game coordinator / quarterbacks coach, Fordham has announced that they will use Parker Executive Search firm to find the new leader of the program. In the meantime, assistant head coach Shane Fogarty is serving as the interim head coach of the program.
South Alabama: Central Arkansas head coach Steve Campbell will be the new head coach at South Alabama, sources tell FootballScoop. More on the hire here.
Old Dominion: Per source, wide receivers coach Arick Forrest has been let go.
Tennessee: Source confirms to FootballScoop, Colorado State offensive coordinator Will Friend is headed to Tennessee.
Austin Peay (FCS - TN): Source tells FootballScoop, head coach Will Healy is working on a new contract at Austin Peay. Invited to interview for the South Alabama opening, Healy is considered a rising star in the profession; but this was not the time to move on. A lot of excitement in Clarksville about the decision we hear.
Georgia: Despite interest from Texas A&M, wide receivers coach James Coley is expected to remain on Kirby Smart's staff with a new contract and a raise, according to Seth Emerson of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Coley's 2-year, $450,000 deal at Georgia is set to expire after this season. He previously served as offensive coordinator under Jimbo Fisher at Florida State.
Trinity Valley CC (JC - TX): Per source, offensive coordinator Sherrard Poteete has been promoted to head coach.
Tennessee: The Vols have formally announced Jeremy Pruitt as their new head coach. Where he's looking to fill out his staff.
East Carolina: David Blackwell has returned to the program as defensive coordinator. Blackwell played offensive line and served as a student assistant for the Pirates in the 1990's, and spent the past four seasons as Jacksonville State's defensive coordinator.
Cleveland Browns: Executive VP in charge of personnel Sashi Brown has been fired. Owner Jimmy Haslam said that head coach Hue Jackson will come back for the 2018 season.
SMU: Sources tell FootballScoop SMU is looking for the "next Chad Morris." While that may be hard to find, what is being sought is "an offensive minded guy, innovative, the players will like and respect and who will recruit the daylight out of Texas," a source tells FootballScoop. We are told interim head coach Jeff Traylor is a candidate for the position but search director Todd Turner of CSA is recommending several external candidates as well. Another great coach still on staff is defensive coordinator Van Malone, recently named an AFCA assistant coach of the year, who at this time is not expected to go to Arkansas with Morris (Morris has targeted Brent Venables, sources told FootballScoop) as defensive coordinator.
Texas A&M: Florida State offensive quality control Dameyune Craig is joining Jimbo Fisher's staff at Texas A&M reports 247. Bruce Feldman added to the report today saying he expects Craig to coach receivers, adding that James Coley is expected to become Texas A&M's offensive coordinator.
Tennessee: An updated look at who Jeremy Pruitt might hire for key roles on his staff. Looks like Will Friend is headed to Tennessee.
Oregon: A look from last night at where the Oregon search stands.
Tennessee: Last night, reports surfaced that Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt had been offered the Vols job, and is expected to accept it. Read more here on Pruitt and the Vols, and where he may turn for his offensive coordinator hire.
Trap Coverage to Defend Screens and First Level RPOs:While quarters coverage continues to be one of the more popular adjustments to defend RPOs, offensive coordinators have taken advantage of deficiencies in the flats. The researchers at X&O Labs have found that integrating trap checks at the line of scrimmage is a simple adjustment that not only takes away the quick screen game by allowing a cornerback to “trigger” on a route to the flats, but also protects any vertical by the #1 wide receiver with leverage and help from the safety. X&O Labs will be releasing an exclusive clinic report next Tuesday by Milton High School’s (GA) defensive coordinator Pete DeWeese on how he trains the corner and corresponding safety to play trap coverage efficiently against the most common RPO concepts. To ensure you receive this exclusive clinic report directly in your inbox, click here and enter your email address.
Head coaching changes: 2017-18 NFL & college head coaching changes.