Thursday January 18, 2018
Fresno State: Missouri director of football operations Mike McHugh is heading to Fresno State reports Gabe DeArmond. The long-time Cal DFO under Jeff Tedford spent the past few seasons at Fresno, Washington and Missouri. He's headed back to work with Tedford again.
South Carolina: Long-time staff member Robbie Liles is leaving the staff, reportedly for a position outside of college athletics. Liles, who for years oversaw recruiting for Steve Spurrier, served as director of football operations under Will Muschamp. John Whittle reports former Florida director of operations George Wynn is expected to fill the position. Wynn was not retained by Dan Mullen.
Cleveland: The Browns are hiring Amos Jones as special teams coach tweets Alex Marvez.
Carolina: The Panthers are promoting assistant special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn to special teams coordinator tweets Alex Marvez.
USC: Offensive quality control Keary Colbert is being promoted to tight ends coach reports the OC Register. John Baxter had coached tight ends the past two seasons. Baxter will now focus solely on special teams.
NCAA: The Division 1 Board of Directors voted today to allow the Division 1 Council to produce legislative proposals in April changing transfer rules, with final voting to take place as early as this Summer. It also created a measure that would eliminate the ability of schools and coaches to restrict transfer students from receiving aid at their next school. The Council could delay the vote on those measures so all transfer items could be adopted as a package, potentially as early as June. Read more from the NCAA here.
Arizona: Arizona's buyout to Kevin Sumlin if he has fired without cause stands at $10 million in 2018-19, $7.5 million in 2020, $5 million in 2021 and the remaining amount of the contract in 2022. If Sumlin were to leave, he'd owe Arizona $10 million in 2018-19, $5 million in 2020, $3 million in 2021 and $1 million in 2022. Sumlin's salary pool in 2018 will be $3.4 million. Details courtesy of the Arizona Daily Star's Michael Lev.
NFL: Executive VP of communications and public affairs Joe Lockhart has stepped down.
Chicago Bears: Quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone will remain in that post on Matt Nagy's staff, according to Chicago Tribune.
Oklahoma State: Former Montana and Colorado School of Mines head coach Bob Still is joining Mike Gundy's staff as an analyst tweets Bruce Feldman.
New Mexico: Source tells FootballScoop Calvin Magee has now agreed to become offensive coordinator at New Mexico. Should be official tomorrow we hear.
Auburn: Buffalo AD Allen Greene has been formally announced as Auburn's new AD. He will take over next month.
Green Bay Packers: Indianapolis Colts assistant special teams coach Maurice Drayton has joined the Packers' staff, according to Jeff Hartsell of the Charleston Post and Courier.
Tennessee Titans: Texans defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel interviewed for the Titans' head job today.
Troy: Offensive line coach Matt Moore has been promoted to offensive coordinator (and will retain OL) and quarterbacks coach Sean Reagan is adding the co-coordinator title as well. Troy's offensive coordinator this past season, Kenny Edenfield went with his good friend Steve Campbell to South Alabama in the same capacity.
San Jose State: Idaho corners coach Aric Williams is headed to San Jose State tweets Adam Rittenberg who adds Williams is expected to coach corners at SJSU as well.
Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers have officially named Randy Fichtner offensive coordinator / quarterbacks.
Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons are interviewing former Panthers' quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey per the AJC. The Falcons have already spoken with Jedd Fisch and Greg Knapp about the position as well. We'll keep you posted.
Oakland Raiders: The Raiders announced the following 13 hires today: Derrick Ansley (DBs), Edgar Bennett (WRs), Tim Berbenich (OQC), Tom Cable (OL), Nick Holz (OQC), David Lippincott (LBs), Jim O'Neil (senior defensive assistant), Dave Razzano (dir of football research), Jemal Singleton (RBs), Frank Smith (TEs), Travis Smith (DQC), Byron Storer (asst Special Teams) and Mike Trgovac (DL).
Arkansas State: Blake Anderson said today he and his family are ok after a fire burned part of their home last night. Just Blake and his youngest son were home at the time when the fire began in the attic. Anderson says the majority of the damage is from the water used to put the fire out.
Matt Snyder, the grandson of Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder, and son of associate head coach / special teams coordinator Sean Snyder, has sadly passed away at age 22, according to local reports. Please join us in praying for the family and all affected by Matt's loss.
Atlanta Falcons: Falcons head coach Dan Quinn today confirmed Sark will be back, saying "Placing the blame on one person would be wrong."
New Mexico: Sources tell FootballScoop former Arizona associate head coach / co-OC Calvin Magee is a strong candidate to become offensive coordinator at New Mexico. We hear the hire could happen in the coming days.
Illinois: Sources tell FootballScoop former Arizona co-OC / quarterbacks Rod Smith is a very strong candidate to become Lovie Smith's offensive coordinator at Illinois; although at this time we don't believe anything formal is in place. Again, this one could happen in the coming days as well.
Ohio State: Coaching staff update - Urban might have made the biggest splash among 10th assistant hires so far.
Arizona: Source tells FootballScoop defensive coordinator Marcel Yates has been retained. It sounds as if Kevin Sumlin is considering retaining some of Rich Rod's staff; but at this time we would not expect most of them to be back. Perhaps one or two more in addition to Yates (receivers coach Theron Aych might have the best shot; but all remains TBD).
Utah State: Former Aggies quarterback Chuckie Keeton has announced he has joined the staff. We expect Keeton to serve as an offensive grad assistant. Source tells FootballScoop former Oregon State grad assistant Al Lapuaho is expected to join the staff as well as defensive grad assistant. Lapuaho, like Keeton, played at Utah State.
LSU: Coaching staff update - O has hired & promoted a number of guys; but has a few moves left to make as well.
Nick Saban & Bill Belichick: Jenny Vrentas has a great article this morning about a secret clinic between Saban & Belichick many years ago that helped lead to all of their success. Great nuggets included about hiring Daboll & Josh McDaniels along the way as well. Enjoy.
NCAA: It sounds as if the new redshirt rule is going to pass.
Coaching Staff Update:Texas Tech. Kliff has had some turnover and still has a number of open positions to fill.
Tennessee: South Carolina assistant director of player personnel Shaq Wilson is set to join the Tennessee staff as an assistant strength coach source tells FootballScoop.
West Virginia State (D-II): Nyema Washington has joined the staff as pass game coordinator / wide receivers coach and Derrick Evans has joined as special teams coordinator / tight ends coach, per source.
Trap Coverage to Defend 3x1 RPO Concepts: Although Trap coverage is a solid answer for bubble or stick route RPOs in 3x1 formations. Shortening space for the outside linebacker allows him to be a better run support defender. X&O Labs will release an exclusive clinic report from Richland High School (TX) defensive coordinator Klint King detailing how he is still able to apply Trap rules to defend four vertical routes. The Rebels are a split field coverage outfit that used Trap coverage to give up only four completions on 30 RPO attempts last fall. This clinic report includes video and illustrations. To ensure you receive this report directly in your inbox, click here and enter your email address.
Glenville State (D-II - WV): Will Burnham, the tight ends / fullbacks coach at UT Martin (FCS) the past two seasons, has accepted the running backs / tight ends / co-special teams coordinator, per source.
Charleston Southern: Matt White has accepted the offensive line job on staff, per source. White previously served as the team's assistant offensive line coach.
North Alabama (D-II):University of North Alabama football is looking for a One year Guarantee, home game for week 4 (Sept. 22, 2018) of next season. Please contact Coach Thomas if interested by phone at (256) 702-5253 or email bthomas4@una.edu.
Tennessee Titans: The Titans are interviewing Texans defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel for their head coaching job today, Adam Schefter tweets.
Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys have reached an agreement with Sanjay Lal to coach their wide receivers, per David Moore. Lal spent last season with the Colts.
Chicago Bears: The Bears interviewed former Raiders offensive coordinator Tood Downing for their quarterbacks job yesterday, per a tweet from Adam Caplan.
Arizona Cardinals: Falcons special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong is flying in today for a second interview for the head coaching job, per Ian Rapoport.
Head coaching changes: 2017-18 NFL & college head coaching changes.