Wednesday January 15, 2014
Awful news to report as Iowa State defensive line coach Curtis Bray has passed away this morning at age 43. He leaves behind a wife and two children. Please lift your thoughts and prayers toward Ames today.
Memphis: Memphis has hired Ricky Hunley as defensive line coach.
EightLaces: Building Championship Caliber Football Programs - Inside the minds of locker room of state champion football coaches. Best coaching book of 2014. "The contents of this book will start to lead you in the path of obtaining multiple championships," Mike Kuchar, X and O Labs. "The book is fully loaded with championship ideas that will help your team win more games!," Mike Podoll, AFCA Editor in Chief. "Whether you are coaching at the NFL level of anywhere below you will take something back from this book," Oakland Raiders quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo. Check it out now!
Florida International: Sources tell us Shannon Moore is joining the staff as special teams coordinator from South Dakota State. We also have been told that former FAU running backs coach Kerry Dixon will head to FIU in the same position.
Arkansas State: Sources tell us Trooper Taylor will be the new cornerbacks coach.
Massachusetts: Offensive line coach Dave Johnson and DFO Jordan Jarry will not return, but defensive line coach Dave Sollazzo, inside linebackers coach/special teams coordinator Ted Daisher and strength and conditioning coach Mike Golden will be retained by new head coach Mark Whipple according to 247Sports.
Southern Miss: Luke Meadows was officially named as offensive line coach today.
Georgia: Georgia beat writer reports inside linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti is headed back to the Washington Redskins, where he spent 11 years before joining Mark Richt's staff. Sources tell us defensive line coach Chris Wilson is leaving for USC, meaning the Bulldogs will have an entirely new defensive staff in 2014.
Temple: Elijah Robinson has been hired from Penn State as defensive line coach.
Oregon: Erik Chinander has been named outside linebackers coach. He spent three years in the Oregon program before serving as assistant defensive line coach for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013.
Texas: The Longhorns have finally announced Charlie Strong's coaching staff, led by offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Joe Wickline, defensive coordinator Vance Bedford, assistant head coach for offense/quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson and assistant head coach for defense/defensive line coach Chris Rumph. The rest of the staff includes running backs coach Tommie Robinson, wide receivers coach Les Koenning, tight ends coach Bruce Chambers, linebackers coach/recruiting coordinator Brian Jean-Mary and defensive backs coach/special teams coordinator Chris Vaughn.
Penn State: Quarterbacks coach Ricky Rahne and wide receivers coach Josh Gattis will follow James Franklin to Penn State, according to their respective Twitter accounts.
The Citadel (FCS - SC): Sources tell us East Carolina defensive GA (corners) Tripp Weaver will accept a job on The Citadel's defensive staff.
Tennessee Titans: The Titans will retain special teams coaches Nate Kaczor and Steve Hoffman as well as secondary coach Steve Brown according to Fox Sports.
Washington Redskins: New York Jets special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica will take the same position with the Redskins.
Washington: Washington will pay former defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi $300,000 as part of a mutual separation agreement according to Adam Jude of the Seattle Times.
Ball State: Defensive coordinator Jay Bateman is expected to take the same position at Army according to Bruce Feldman.
Houston: The Cougars have hired former Texans offensive assistant Dan Hammerschmidt as running backs coach according to Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle.
Tennessee Titans: Quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone has been relieved of duties according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Larry Marmie will coach the Bucs' nickel defensive backs this season. Offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford also noted today the club is close to hiring an offensive line and tight ends coach, the final two spots on Lovie Smith's staff.
LSU: Virginia Tech offensive line coach Jeff Grimes will take the same position at LSU according to Ross Dellenger of the Baton Rouge Advocate.
Alabama: Defensive backs coach Greg Brown will step down and Kirby Smart will move from linebackers to defensive backs, allowing Kevin Steele to switch from director of player personnel to linebackers coach.
Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings have received permission to interview Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Norv Turner for the same position according to Adam Schefter.
Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals will promote Paul Guenther to defensive coordinator.
New York Giants: The Giants have announced that tight ends coach Mike Pope and running backs coach Jerald Ingram will not return.
Wisconsin-Stevens Point (D-III):UWSP is needing to fill one game in the 2015 season on either Sept 12, 2015 or Sept 26, 2015. Prefer a home game with a guarantee but will consider all options. If interested please contact Head Coach Tom Journell at tom.journell@uwsp.edu.
Washington Redskins: The Redskins have finalized a deal with offensive coordinator Sean McVay according to the Washington Post.
Louisville: Former Louisville players Kolby Smith and L.D. Scott have been added to Bobby Petrino's staff. Smith will coach running backs and Scott will coach outside linebackers.
South Carolina: Steve Spurrier is expected to receive a raise from $3.3 million to $4 million according to The State.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Arizona Cardinals vice president of player personnel Jason Licht and the Falcons' Lionel Vital interviewed for the Bucs' GM job on Tuesday according to Adam Schefter.
Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins have hired Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach Bill Lazor as their new offensive coordinator.
N.C. State: Vanderbilt defensive backs coach George Barlow has accepted a job with N.C. State according to multiple outlets.
Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings and Mike Zimmer are working toward finalizing a deal and hope to complete negotiations today according to Chris Mortensen. Update: The hire is complete according to Adam Schefter. Here's what you need to know.
Valparaiso (FCS - IN): New head coach Dave Cecchini has announced his coaching staff: offensive coordinator Jason Miran, defensive coordinator Ernest Moore, offensive line coach/recruiting coordinator Vinny Giacalone, linebackers coach/special teams coordinator Justin Stovall, tight ends coach Steven Donovan, running backs coach John Snyder, defensive line coach Kasey Teegardin and assistant defensive line coach Eric Deutsch.
Florida Atlantic: Former Miami DFO Corey Bell and Arkansas GA Nick Caley will round out the FAU coaching staff. Caley will coach defensive backs and Bell will coach linebackers according to Dieter Kurtenbach of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Virginia Union (D-II): Sources tell us Georgia Southern defensive backs coach Orlando Mitjens, Jr., has been offered the head coaching job at Virginia Union.
University of Redlands (D-III - CA):Redlands is looking for a D-III opponent to fill a home/home for the 2015-2016 seasons for the following dates: Redlands Home: 9/12/15, Redlands Away: 9/10/16. If interested please contact Defensive Coordinator Joey Mariani at joey_mariani@redlands.edu.
West Hills College (JC - CA): Former Boise State assistant Robert Tucker has been hired as head coach, according to the Fresno Bee. Interim head coach Mark Gritton will return to his post as athletics director and associate dean of student services.
Penn (FCS): Penn has formed a 14-person advisory committee in search of the school's new athletics director. Applications will be accepted through Feb. 28.
Louisville: Tony Grantham, the brother of Todd Grantham, will leave his post as Navy's linebackers coach for the same position at Louisville.
New Mexico State: The Aggies have announced the hiring of Steve Marshall as offensive line coach. He served as Colorado's offensive line coach from 2011-12.
Robb Smith: Sources tell us Robb Smith is still a strong candidate at both Arkansas and Rutgers. He is on the Rutgers campus today. Will update.
Mississippi Valley State (FCS): The Delta Devils have targeted former Jackson State head coach Rick Comegy for their vacant head coaching position according to the Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger. The paper reports the school will announce a hire on Tuesday.
Vanderbilt: St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer will interview for the Vanderbilt head coaching job today according to Adam Schefter. Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton will interview Thursday according to Bruce Feldman.
Arkansas State: Head coach Blake Anderson has officially announced the hiring of Keith Heckendorf as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator. Heckendorf comes from North Carolina, where he served as offensive quality control for the past three years.
Weber State (FCS - UT): Head coach Jay Hill has announced the hiring of Brent Myers as associate head coach and offensive line coach.
Northern Illinois: The school has announced that former player and GA Craig Harmon will return as tight ends and fullbacks coach.
Washington Redskins: The Redskins will interview former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running backs coach and former Redskins running back Earnest Byner for their running backs position according to the Washington Post.
Utah: Former Wyoming offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator Jim Harding will join Dave Christensen at Utah as offensive line coach.
UAB: Cincinnati offensive coordinator Eddie Gran will interview for the head coaching job according to Drew Champlain of AL.com.
Notre Dame: Wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator Mike Denbrock will be elevated to offensive coordinator but Brian Kelly will call plays in 2014 according to multiple outlets.
Washington Redskins: Cleveland Browns linebackers coach Brian Baker has accepted the same position with Washington.
Texas State: Brad Bedell will be the offensive line coach at Texas State.
Texas: Mississippi State offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Les Koenning is expected to become the Texas wide receivers coach according to 247Sports.
San Diego Chargers: Quarterbacks coach Frank Reich has been promoted to offensive coordinator.