Wednesday December 13, 2017
BYU: Source tells FootballScoop LSU offensive line coach Jeff Grimes is expected to accept the offensive coordinator position at BYU (pending formal clearances). More on the move here. Update> At LSU, Bruce Feldman just tweeted, and we can confirm, LSU intends to hire LA Chargers assistant offensive line coach James Cregg who previously coached offensive line at USC when Ed Orgeron was there.
Alabama: UTSA defensive coordinator Pete Golding is "the leading candidate to join Alabama's defensive staff" the Tuscaloosa News is reporting. Golding also coaches UTSA's corners. FootballScoop sources add Golding was a candidate for defensive coordinator at Mississippi State, a job the ultimately went to Bob Shoop. Update> Source tells FootballScoop Golding's position, should he formally accept it, is expected to be co-defensive coordinator.
Kent State: After South Dakota head coach Bob Nielson turned the job down, Kent State's search got weird. The update....
Mississippi State: Source tells FootballScoop Joe Moorhead and Bob Shoop have offered linebackers position to San Francisco 49ers defensive quality control Tem Lukabu. Lukabu is in his 4th season in the NFL, his second with the Niners (also spent 2012-13 with the Tampa Bay Bucs). His collegiate experience includes time at FIU, Colgate, Rhode Island and Rutgers. Lukabu played linebacker at Colgate 2000 - 2003. Tem was also Joe Moorhead's first defensive coordinator at Fordham (for about a month we recall) before he left to join Greg Schiano's staff with the Bucs. We have not heard whether Lukabu has accepted the position or not at this time.
UTEP: Former Kansas State linebackers coach Mike Cox will join the staff as defensive coordinator and former LSU, Texas Tech and South Carolina assistant Joe Robinson will come aboard as special teams coordinator, tweets Bruce Feldman.
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Auburn: Gus Malzahn noted today that he wants to keep every assistant coach on staff, and that deals are being worked out to "reward them," according to 247. Contracts for offensive line coach Herb Hand, receivers coach Kodi Burns, and linebackers coach Travis Williams are set to expire in the coming weeks. The 247 report adds that offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey and defensive coordinator Kevin Steele are expected to get new deals as well.
Washington State: Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch is "weighing multiple offers, including Texas A&M and Arkansas," Brock Huard noted on 710 ESPN Seattle today. Huard added that he'd be surprised if Grinch opts to stay in Pullman. Update> Sources tell FootballScoop Texas A&M has their eyes on another person and that Grinch was never offered Texas A&M defensive coordinator.
North Dakota State College of Science (JC): Eric Issendorf, who most recently coached the defensive line at Concordia College (D-III - MN) has been hired as head coach.
New York Giants: According to a tweet from Bob Glauber, Giants president John Mara notes that interviews for the vacant GM job will begin next week, and that the organization will name candidates as they're interviewed.
Louisville: Bobby Petrino is getting a $500,000 bonus based on the team's single-year APR of at least 935, per a tweet from Steve Berkowitz.
Western Michigan: Head coach Tim Lester has picked up $3,750 in bonuses after having 16 players named Academic All-MAC, according to a tweet from Steve Berkowitz.
Coach of the Year: Please join us in congratulating Ohio State's Larry Johnson as the 2017 FootballScoop Defensive Line Coach of the Year presented by AstroTurf.
UNLV: Defensive coordinator Kent Baer and safeties coach Andy LaRussa will not return, the school recently announced.
Southwest Minnesota State (D-II): Southwest Minnesota State is looking for two graduate assistants - one on defense (looking for best candidate), and one Director of Football Operations (graphics/recruiting/equipment). Qualifications include acceptance into graduate school (3.0 minimum GPA), enrolled in a minimum of six credits per semester, and meet the MnSCU vehicle driving qualifications. Compensation package includes $8,000/year and Full-Tuition waiver. Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until filled. Duties will begin spring semester (Jan. 4th, 2018) Please email resume and references to head coach Cory Sauter at cory.sauter@smsu.edu. Include position you are seeking in the subject line of the email.
NFL: NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart said Roger Goodell intends to retire after his new contract extension, which runs through the 2023 season, expires.
Florida State: Oregon State running backs coach and Miami native Telly Lockette is joining Willie Taggart's staff as running backs coach, according to Tomahawk Nation. Lockette coached at USF and in the Miami high school rankings before joining the Oregon State staff in 2015.
SMU: Former Lamar defensive coordinator and current Texas defensive quality control assistant Trey Haverty has joined the SMU staff as safeties coach. Haverty played wide receiver at Texas Tech from 2000-04, where he was coached by new SMU head coach Sonny Dykes. Additionally, former Iowa and Texas wide receivers coach Bobby Kennedy will join the staff in the same spot, according to Nikki Chavanelle of SMU's Rivals site. We can confirm.
Ellsworth CC (JC - IA): Per source, defensive coordinator Charles Alexander has been named interim head coach of the program, following the departure of Jesse Montalto to Iowa Central CC (JC - IA).
Morningside (NAIA - IA): After spending three years coaching the defensive line, Roger Jansen has decided to return to the Bishop Heelan Catholic HS (IA) program as head coach. Jansen previously led the program from 2000-2014, capturing two state titles and finishing runner-up four times as well.
Northern Arizona: Washington State deputy AD Mike Marlow has been hired as the AD at NAU. Marlow had the support of Mike Leach to become Washington State's new AD.
Tennessee: After FootballScoop reported Saturday that LSU general manger Austin Thomas was likely to accept an offer to join Jeremy Pruitt's staff, GoVols247 and Ross Dellenger of the Baton Rouge Advocate are reporting that Thomas is indeed leaving for Tennessee.
Southeast Missouri (FCS): Jeromy McDowell has joined the staff as offensive coordinator after spending the last four seasons at Colorado Mesa (D-II), the last two as offensive coordinator.
South Alabama: Steve Campbell's staff at USA includes six members of his staff from Central Arkansas (FCS). His staff is currently made up of Greg Stewart (DC / LBs), Harland Bower (DL), Larry Hart (OLBs), Josh Jones (corners), and Matt Kitchens (safeties / STC), and on offense there is Mike Bangston (OL), Pete Bennett (WRs / recruiting coordinator), Chad Huff (TEs), and Larry Warner (RBs). It is expected per sources, that Troy offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield will join his good friend Steve Campbell's staff in the same capacity.
Wofford (FCS): Head coach Mike Ayers will announce his retirement today, according to a report. Ayers was an institution at the FCS level. Update>> The school has announced the news.
Arkansas Pine-Bluff (FCS): The three finalists for the head coaching job are Grambling State offensive coordinator / wide receivers coach Eric Dooley, Henderson State (D-II - AR) head coach Scott Maxfield, and Alcorn State defensive coordinator Cedric Thomas. Earlier today we mistakenly reported for a brief minute that UAPB has selected their new coach, however they do not plan to make a decision until next week. More here & we'll keep you updated.
Central Arkansas (FCS): Per source, defensive line coach Tony Davis will be retained.
Georgia Southern: New Mexico offensive coordinator Bob DeBesse has been named offensive coordinator at Georgia Southern. Prior to New Mexico, DeBesse has a successful two-year run as the offensive coordinator at Sam Houston State., and prior to that coached the wide receivers at Texas A&M, Purdue, and coordinated the offense at Minnesota and TCU.
Michigan: Jim Harbaugh has decided to make a change to his strength staff, per report. Details can be found on Strength Scoop.
Miami (OH): Per source, Spence Nowinsky is joining Chuck Martin's defensive staff at Miami (OH). Nowinksy previously served as the defensive coordinator for Illinois State (FCS).
Iowa Central (JC - IA): Jesse Montalto, the head coach at Ellsworth CC (JC - IA), has accepted the head coaching job, per source.
Kansas State: Yesterday, a report surfaced that Bill Snyder plans to return to lead the program in 2018.
Head coaching changes: 2017-18 NFL & college head coaching changes