Coaching Carousel

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Coaching Carousel

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February 7th

Marshall Faulk hired as CU’s new running backs coach

Press release from CUBuffs.com … Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders has added a third gold jacket the Colorado coaching staff, as he has hired Marshall Faulk to coach the Buffaloes running backs.

One of the best running backs of all time, he was the NFL MVP in 2000, three-time Offensive Player of the Year, Super Bowl winner, seven-time Pro Bowl selection and six-time All-Pro, including three first-team nods. He joins Coach Prime and Warren Sapp as a members of the Colorado Football staff in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, he played three seasons at San Diego State, was a three-time first-team All-American, including two unanimous seasons, and finished in the top 10 in the Heisman voting all three seasons, including as a runner-up his sophomore season.

Drafted as the No. 2 overall pick in the 1994 NFL Draft, he played five seasons for the Indianapolis Colts and then seven for the St. Louis Rams.  His first three seasons in St. Louis coincided with him being the catalyst for the “Greatest Show on Turf,” two Super Bowl appearances and his three offensive player of the year honors.

He finished his NFL career as the only player in league history with 12,000 rushing and 6,000 receiving yards and scored over 130 touchdowns.  He was the second player in NFL history to have over 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season.

He attended Carver High School in New Orleans where he played football and was a standout in track, clocking a 10.3 in the 100-meters.

After his playing career was over, he was an analyst on NFL Network until 2017. He created the Marshall Faulk Foundation for underprivileged youth and providing funding for YMCA youth programs, the Boys to Men mentoring network and 9th Ward Field of Dreams.

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Report: Former Buff Andre Gurode joining staff as an assistant offensive line coach

From BuffStampede.com … After a long and successful NFL career as a player, and a recent stretch as an offensive line coach in the XFL, Andre Gurode is returning to his alma mater.

Gurode will be joining Colorado’s staff as an assistant offensive line coach, 247Sports’ Carl Reed reported early Friday morning. Gurode will assist offensive line coach Gunnar White and fellow co-offensive line coach George Hegamin.

Gurode was inducted into the CU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023, honoring his four years in Boulder. He was a two-time first-team All-Big 12 performer, and a consensus All-American in 2001 when the Buffaloes last won a conference championship.

A second-round pick by the Cowboys in 2002, Gurode played in 161 NFL games, starting 131, with Dallas (2002-10), Baltimore (2011), Chicago (2012) and Oakland (2013). He was an All-Pro performer at center with Dallas in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

After retiring as a player, Gurode first served as a defensive line assistant for the Cowboys. He then served as the run game coordinator and offensive line coach for the Houston Roughnecks in the XFL, and was most recently coaching the San Antonio Brahmas offensive linemen.

… Continue reading story here …

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February 6th

Coach Prime: “I couldn’t coach pro ball”

From ESPN.com … Deion Sanders stayed at Colorado after the Dallas Cowboys showed interest in him for their head coaching vacancy early last month.

But the pro game is, well, too “Prime Time” even for Sanders these days, he said on his TV talk show, “We Got Time Today.”

Speaking with former Cowboys star quarterback Troy Aikman, Sanders reflected on the intensity of practices when the two were teammates in Dallas in the 1990s and how it compares with today’s NFL.

“I couldn’t coach pro ball,” Sanders said on his show, which streamed Tuesday. “That’s why I say, I couldn’t coach — I know it was cute — but I couldn’t coach pro ball, because the way they practice, the way they go about it, I couldn’t take it. As a man, and as a football enthusiast, and I care about the game. The game is still providing for Troy and I, so there is no way I could allow that to happen on my watch. That would be tough.”

The sentiment is not new for Sanders. He told “60 Minutes” in 2022 he wouldn’t be interested by any NFL opening. He is 13-12 in two seasons as head coach at Colorado. The Buffaloes went 9-4 last season, and cornerback-wide receiver Travis Hunter won the Heisman Trophy.

The Cowboys last appeared in a Super Bowl in 1996, with a roster that featured Sanders, Aikman, Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith and Charles Haley.

“For Dallas, Deion would have been a really good fit because he would have commanded the room, and his personality is such that people would have known that he was in charge,” Aikman said. “And I think that’s important for [the] organization to know that the head coach is the one who’s calling the shots and that he’s in charge.”

Aikman said some of Sanders’ former teammates with the Cowboys were perturbed by team owner Jerry Jones not pushing for a formal interview or making Sanders an offer.

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February 4th

*Video: “Introducing Gunnar White as CU’s ‘New Offensive Line Coach’ “* 

… Gunnar White was introduced to the team a month ago as “Co-Assistant Offensive Line Coach” … Which Buff fans can but hope, as White’s resume is sparse … 

Offensive Quality Control Coach at CU the last two years.

Assistant Offensive line coach at JSU for two years.

Gunnar White, a graduate of JSU, returned home after serving as offensive line coach for The Lineman, a team in the Spring League, a developmental football league for aspiring pros.

Before serving as interim tight ends coach for Nevada in the 2021 Quick Lane Bowl, White spent three seasons at Nevada as a graduate assistant (2018-20). White was a student assistant coach at Jackson State (2014-15) after playing collegiately at Hinds Community College and Texas Tech.

Following graduation, White coached at Belhaven University (2017).

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January 29th

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones: “I’ve said I’ve talked to a lot of coaches, and Deion has a job”

From 247 Sports … Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, for the first time, this week publicly acknowledged a meeting with Colorado coach Deion Sanders, but said the interaction did not involve his previous coaching vacancy in the NFL. Sanders previously said he had “no desire” to coach in the NFL but changed his tune earlier this month on the possibility of leaving Colorado, if the opportunity to coach his sons Shedeur and Shilo Sanders presented itself. Former Cowboys star Michael Irvin said Jones hiring Brian Schottenheimer over Sanders was a “lost opportunity” on the organization’s end.

“Just a conversation about the team, and about where he is, and his boys, conversation with his boys, that type of conversation,” Jones said. “I’ve said I’ve talked to a lot of coaches, and Deion has a job.”

Questions about Deion Sanders’ long-term future in college football are not new. Many pondered how long, if at all, he would remain at Colorado following his sons’ departure from the program. The recent murmurings with the Cowboys brought the idea of a potential college football exit closer to reality.

According to reports, Colorado’s athletic department recently reacted negatively to Sanders’ request for NIL additional resources ahead of the 2025 season. According to NFL Network’s Jane Slater, Sanders met with athletic director Rick George and asked for more NIL funding and increases to the coaching staff’s salary pool. That request was reportedly “met with resistance.”

The latest NCAA-sanctioned estimates placed Colorado outside of the national top 25 in NIL collective fundraising and donor contributions. The $5.3 million in estimated NIL collective funding ranks 56th among Power Four schools.

Sanders earned a top-40 salary in college football with his $5.7 million during the 2024 season, and stars Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter earned lucrative NIL deals throughout their award-winning careers at Colorado, signaling healthy investment into the Buffaloes program. College football becomes more of an arms race with each passing year, though, particularly in the NIL era.

… Continue reading story here …

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January 24th

*Dallas Cowboys announce hiring of Brian Schottenheimer as their new head coach*

From USA Today … Jerry Jones’ search for Mike McCarthy’s replacement didn’t take the Dallas Cowboys owner very far.

The Cowboys are hiring offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer as their new head coach, the team announced Friday.

“Brian Schottenheimer is known as a career assistant,” Jones told ESPN. “He ain’t Brian no more. He is now known as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.”

Schottenheimer, 51, interviewed with the team on Tuesday and again on Wednesday. The Cowboys formally met with only three other candidates – former New York Jets coach Robert Saleh, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and Seattle Seahawks assistant head coach Leslie Frazier – in what was the smallest group of interviewees for any of the seven vacancies in this cycle.

Colorado coach and former Cowboys great Deion Sanders spoke with Jones regarding the vacancy, but talks never advanced beyond that initial stage.

Schottenheimer served as offensive coordinator for the team for the last two years after McCarthy parted ways with Moore and took over play-calling duties. The Cowboys ranked first in scoring in 2023 at 29.9 points per game, but the unit finished just 21st this season after quarterback Dak Prescott was for the remainder of the season to a partial tendon avulsion of his right hamstring suffered in November.

… Read full story here …

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Las Vegas Raiders hire Pete Carroll as head coach

From ESPN … The Las Vegas Raiders have reached an agreement with Pete Carroll to became the franchise’s head coach on a three-year deal with a fourth-year team option, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Carroll, who turns 74 on Sept. 15, is one of four head coaches to have led teams to both a college football national championship and the Super Bowl. The others are Barry Switzer, Jimmy Johnson and Jim Harbaugh.

Carroll will also be the Raiders’ fifth coach, including interim coaches, since the franchise moved to Las Vegas from Oakland in 2020. The others were Jon Gruden, Rich Bisaccia, Josh McDaniels and Antonio Pierce.

Carroll will be the team’s ninth coach, including interims, since Raiders owner Mark Davis took over upon the death of his father, Al Davis, in 2011. The others were Hue Jackson, Dennis Allen, Tony Sparano, Jack Del Rio, Gruden, Bisaccia, McDaniels and Pierce.

Carroll’s veteran presence is expected to mesh well with first-time general manager John Spytek, who was finalizing a deal to join Las Vegas earlier in the week, as well as compete in an AFC West division that already boasts coaching heavyweights in Kansas City (Andy Reid), Denver (Sean Payton) and Los Angeles Chargers (Harbaugh).

With the Seattle Seahawks, Carroll won Super Bowl XLVIII and a pair of NFC titles, and made 10 playoff appearances in 14 years while going 137-89-1 in the regular season, 10-9 in the postseason to become the winningest coach in Seahawks history. Including his head coaching stints with the New York Jets, with whom he went 6-10 in 1994, and the New England Patriots, where he went 27-21 in three seasons with a playoff appearance from 1997 to ’99, his career record is 181-131-1.

… Read full story here …

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January 23rd

Report: Dallas Cowboys close to signing Brian Schottenheimer as new head coach 

From NBC Sports … The Cowboys are closing in on a deal to make offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer their new head coach, Clarence Hill of All City DLLS reports.

Hill said the sides are expected to “cross the finish line” today or no later than Friday.

Schottenheimer fits everything that owner Jerry Jones covets in his head coaches. He will come inexpensive relative to other head coaches in the league, as Schottenheimer had no other interviews. Jones, who doubles as General Manager, maintains control and continues as the face of the team. And it’s someone with whom Jones is familiar.

Jones’ eight previous hires were former head coaches and/or had familiarity with the Cowboys.

Dave Campo and Jason Garrett were Jones’ previous hires who had no head coaching experience but were promoted from the staff.

Schottenheimer, 51, is the son of longtime NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer.

Brian Schottenheimer joined the Cowboys in 2022 as a coaching analyst and earned a promotion to the OC job when the Cowboys and Kellen Moore parted ways before the 2023 season. Schottenheimer did not call plays under Mike McCarthy, who parted ways with the team when his contract expired Jan. 14.

The Cowboys also interviewed Seattle assistant Leslie Frazier and former Jets head coach Robert Saleh, and they had a virtual interview with Moore, now the Eagles offensive coordinator.

Schottenheimer became the betting favorite for the job earlier this week, and momentum began building for Schottenheimer’s hire after he had a second day of interviews on Wednesday.

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January 18th

Report: Marshall Faulk to join CU staff as running backs coach

From the Daily Camera … Colorado’s Deion Sanders is looking to add another gold jacket to the coaching staff.

BuffZone has learned through a source that former college and NFL great Marshall Faulk is the top candidate to become the Buffs’ new running backs coach. Faulk would replace Gary Harrell, who is no longer with the Buffs.

Faulk, 51, does not having coaching experience, but would bring an exceptional resume as a player. Faulk was a two-time All-American at San Diego State and from 1994-2005 he was one of the best running backs in the NFL.

Sanders and Faulk were part of the same Pro Football Hall of Fame class in 2011. The staff also includes Hall of Fame defensive tackle Warren Sapp, who was hired a year ago to work with defensive linemen.

For more than a decade, from 2006-17, Sanders and Faulk worked together as on-air talent for the NFL Network.

… If Faulk is hired, he will work with Tommie Robinson, who has been named as an assistant running backs coach, as previously reported. Robinson, 61, has nearly four decades of coaching experience, including as a running backs coach at Texas A&M, LSU, USC, Texas and the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals in the past 15 years.

BuffZone has also learned through a source that George Hegamin and Gunnar White are teaming up to share offensive line coach duties, replacing Phil Loadholt, who took a similar job at Mississippi State.

It was reported earlier this week that Hegamin and White would be co-assistant O-line coaches, but it was unclear if they would work under someone else who has yet to be hired. A BuffZone source confirmed, however, that the plan is for Hegamin and White to lead the group together.

… Read full story here …

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January 14th 

Tommie Robinson elevated to assistant running backs coach

From CUSports Report … Tommie Robinson, Colorado’s director of quality control working with special teams, is expected to be elevated as the Buffs’ assistant running backs coach, per a video published by Thee Pregame Show.

Gary “Flea” Harrell has been Colorado’s running backs coach the last two years, but his status moving forward is unclear.

Robinson has 38 years of coaching experience, primarily at the collegiate level, as well as stints in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys (1998-2000) and the Arizona Cardinals (2010-2012). Robinson adds further NFL experience to the Buffs staff in addition to head coach Deion Sanders, offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, defensive coordinator Robert Livingston and four other assistants that played in the NFL.

In between Robinson’s NFL experience, he worked at a variety of college programs serving as Oklahoma State’s running backs coach in 2001, Georgia Tech’s wide receiver and tight ends coach from 2002 to 2005. He then spent a year at Memphis as the Tigers running backs coach in 2006 and later coached Miami’s running backs from 2007-2009.

… Continue reading story here …

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January 14th 

Coach Prime: Dallas Cowboys job: “Intriguing … But I love Boulder” 

… Related … ESPN’s prediction for Dallas: Kellen Moore, current Eagles offensive coordinator … Full story here …

From the Daily Camera … Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reported Monday night that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has spoken to Deion Sanders about the job after the team parted ways with Mike McCarthy.

“Discussions are expected to continue regarding the possibility of (Sanders) becoming the next head coach in Dallas,” Schultz reported. “Coach Prime is considered a top candidate, though the Cowboys plan to interview other candidates as part of the process, per team sources.”

The fact that Schultz first reported that news is no surprise, as he and Sanders are both represented by SMAC Entertainment.

Later on Monday, ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter posted a statement from Sanders, who confirmed he has spoken with Jones, but expressed his affinity for CU.

“To hear from Jerry Jones is truly delightful, and it’s intriguing,” Sanders told ESPN. “I love Jerry and believe in Jerry. After you hang up, and process it, and think about it, it’s intriguing. But I love Boulder and everything there is about our team, the coaches, our student body and the community.”

… Although he has often said he has no desire to coach in the NFL, Coach Prime opened the door a bit last week during an appearance on Good Morning America.

“The only way I would consider (coaching in the NFL) is to coach my sons,” he said, while putting an emphasis on the plural.

That would be difficult to do in Dallas. The Cowboys have the 12th pick in this year’s draft and Shedeur, who shattered every single-season record at CU, is widely projected to be among the top three picks.

To get Shedeur would require the Cowboys to not only make a big move up in the draft, but to figure out what to do with their current quarterback, Dak Prescott. Dallas signed Prescott to a four-year, $240 million contract before the season, with $231 million of that guaranteed.

… Read full story here …

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January 13th

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Betting site: Coach Prime the betting favorite for Dallas Cowboys head coaching position

From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram … The Dallas Cowboys are in the market for a new head coach now that the team and Mike McCarthy couldn’t agree on a new contract. Covers.com released a list of the top candidates to replace McCarthy with a familiar face at the top spot.

Ex-Dallas Cowboy and current University of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders was given the best odds (+100). In the past, Sanders has been adamant that he is not looking for a head coaching job and is happy with his current job. Which coaches joined Sanders with the best odds?

• 1. Deion Sanders (+100)
• 2. Joe Brady (+300)
• 3. Ben Johnson (+325)
• 4. Bobby Slovik (+1000)
• 5. Brian Flores (+1000)
• 6. Robert Saleh (+1000)
• 7. Aaron Glenn (+1500)
• 8. Matt Nagy (+1800)
• 9. Tony Romo (+2800)

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ESPN: Jerry Jones and Deion Sanders have discussed Dallas Cowboys’ opening

From ESPN … The Dallas Cowboys are in the early stages of their search to replace Mike McCarthy as head coach, but one name is already known: former Cowboys cornerback and current Colorado coach Deion Sanders.

A source said owner and general manager Jerry Jones and Sanders spoke Monday, and while an interview has not been scheduled, the two are expected to continue their dialogue. Fox Sports first reported the conversation between the two sides.

Sanders was linked to a Cowboys’ job that was not even open in the fall.

Sanders just completed his second season at Colorado where he has posted a 13-12 record, including a 9-4 mark in 2024 in which the Buffaloes had the Heisman Trophy winner in wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter.

In November, Sanders was asked about potential interest from NFL teams.

“I’m happy where I am, man,” Sanders said. “I’ve got a kickstand down. You know what a kickstand is? … That means I’m resting. I’m good, I’m happy, I’m excited. I’m enthusiastic about where I am. I love it here, truly do.”

… Continue reading story here …

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January 10th

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Chicago Bears to interview Iowa State’s Matt Campbell  for open head coaching position

From CBS Sports … The Chicago Bears are expected to interview Iowa State coach Matt Campbell for their coaching vacancy, according to multiple outlets. Campbell has been a mainstay at Iowa State since taking over the program in 2016. He is the winningest coach in school history with a 62-50 record overall. His 55.4% winning percentage is the best of any Iowa State coach since 1919. He is the only coach to lead the program to five straight winning seasons.

The 2024 season was perhaps his best yet. Campbell led Iowa State to its first-ever 10-win season and a berth in the Big 12 Championship Game — the team’s second in the last six years. In December he signed an eight-year contract extension through 2032.

Campbell has repeatedly garnered interest from big-time programs for opportunities, and was even linked to the Detroit Lions in 2021. In the past, he has turned down every opportunity to remain in Ames, Iowa. Campbell previously spent seven years at Toledo in various roles, and has spent his entire career in the Midwest. He ranked as the No. 25 coach in college football, per CBS Sports.

The Bears fired former coach Matt Eberflus following a loss to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day. Eberflus was 14-32 in almost three seasons with the organization. Chicago improved from 3-14 to 7-10 last season before getting off to a 4-8 start during the 2024 campaign.

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January 3rd

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Former Buff (and former Purdue head coach) Ryan Walters new defensive coordinator at Washington

Press release from University of Washington … Ryan Walters, who has built a reputation as one of the nation’s top collegiate defensive coaches, has joined the Washington football coaching staff as defensive coordinator, head coach Jedd Fisch announced.

Walters, who served as head coach at Purdue the last two seasons, comes to Seattle with a long, outstanding résumé as a defensive coach in the Big Ten Conference and the SEC, with highly successful stints at Illinois and Missouri.

“Today, Washington Football added a tremendous defensive coach and person to our program,” Coach Fisch said. “Hiring Ryan Walters allows us to continue to build on the foundation of the 2024 defense while continuing to grow and improve. His experience in the Big Ten Conference was vital in this hire, along with having deep family ties in the Seattle area. Amber and I are excited to welcome Ryan, Tara and their two boys into our Husky Family.”

Prior to taking over at Purdue for the 2023 season, Walters was the defensive coordinator at Illinois for two seasons (2021-22). Before his arrival, in 2020, the Illini ranked No. 97 in FBS in scoring defense and No. 114 in total defense. In his first year, those rankings improved to No. 29 and 49, respectively, and in 2022, he coached the Illinois defensive to the national No. 1 ranking in scoring (12.3 points per game) and No. 2 in total defense (263.8 yards per game).

… Walters played college football at Colorado, where his father had played quarterback before him. Originally a quarterback at CU, he moved to safety, where he was a three-year starter (2007-09), serving as captain and earning team MVP as a senior in 2008. He graduated with bachelor’s degrees in history and ethnic studies in 2008.

Following his playing career, Walters spent the 2009 season as a student assistant at Colorado …

… Continue reading story here …

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December 29th

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CU assistants Phil Loadholt and Vincent Darcy leaving for Mississippi State

From BuffStampede.com … According to GenesPage.com’s Steve Robertson and 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz, Buffaloes assistants Phil Loadholt and Vincent Dancy are both expected to join Mississippi State’s coaching staff. The news comes just a day after Colorado’s 2024 season concluded.

But Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders was expecting this.

“I’m pretty sure a couple of them are going to come in my office about elevation because people are going to want them on their staffs, and that’s what we’re here for,” Coach Prime told reporters moments after the Buffs’ loss to BYU in the Alamo Bowl. “We’re here to advance people. You either get terminated or elevated; it’s either going to be one of the two sooner or later.”

Is a move to Starkville really an elevation? Well, Loadholt has a strong relationship and long history with Bulldogs head coach Jeff Lebby. They spent time coaching together at Central Florida (2018-19), Ole Miss (2020-21) and Oklahoma (2022-23). And Dancy is a Mississippi native. Prior to his two-year stint on Colorado’s staff, he served as a coach at Mississippi Valley State for eight years, including five as its head coach.

Loadholt joined Colorado’s staff as its offensive line coach last winter, helping the unit improve in 2024. Still, the Buffs allowed 43 sacks, more than any other Big 12 program and more than all but five other FBS programs nationally. Sack numbers don’t tell the full story, but CU also struggled to get its ground game going for the second straight season. Loadholt’s starting line down the stretch included two true freshmen, with a walk-on rotating at right tackle, so it was a challenging coaching task. Loadholt was well-respected in Colorado’s program.

Dancy came to Boulder initially as a defensive quality control coach in 2023, then he was elevated to be the Buffaloes’ outside linebackers coach in 2024, working closely with Damione Lewis and Warren Sapp. Dancy’s edge group was among the most successful on the team this past season. Colorado racked up 39 sacks, ranking first in the Big 12 and 15th nationally. Arden Walker, Samuel Okunlola, Keaten Wade and Taje McCoy all showed improvement under Dancy’s watch.

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December 11th

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Rich Rodriguez returning to Morgantown to coach West Virginia 

From CBS Sports … Rich Rodriguez appears to be on the verge of returning to West Virginia, CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd confirms. Rodriguez, who has been at Jacksonville State for the past three seasons, coached the Mountaineers from 2001-07, winning four Big East titles in the process.

During that span, he amassed a 60-26 record with a 34-14 mark in conference play and was known for an innovative, high-scoring spread-option offense. Under his guidance, the Mountaineers twice reached New Year’s Six bowls and came close to a BCS National Championship Game appearance in 2005.

Now, 17 years later, it looks like Rodriguez will be back on the sidelines in Morgantown.

Should the hire come to fruition, Rodriguez will replace Neal Brown, who was fired after a six-year stint leading the program. Brown went 37-35 overall and just 25-28 in conference play as WVU struggled to compete for a league title as a member of the Big 12.

Rodriguez, now 61, has bounced around since his time in Morgantown. He left West Virginia for Michigan, but lasted only three seasons in Ann Arbor. He was fired after going 15-22 with a miserable 6-18 record in Big Ten play.

From there, Rodriguez coached Arizona for six seasons. He had a 43-35 record, including a 10-win 2014 campaign, but he was fired after the 2017 season amid an off-field controversy.

He later served stints as an assistant at Ole Miss and UL Monroe before accepting the head-coaching job at Jacksonville State. He oversaw the program’s transition from the FCS to FBS level and capped that off by winning the Conference USA title last week. The Gamecocks went 9-2 in their final year of FCS ball and are a combined 18-8 (13-3) in two seasons as an FBS program.

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December 10th

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With Kansas OC Jeff Grimes leaving for Wisconsin, Jayhawks hire Nevada OC Matt Lubick

From ESPN … Kansas hired Nevada offensive coordinator Matt Lubick to help direct the Jayhawks’ offense Tuesday, the latest in a series of moves that have reshaped coach Lance Leipold’s staff after a disappointing season that ended without a bowl berth.

Lubick will be co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach and work alongside Jim Zebrowski, who spent last year as the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. The duo is replacing Jeff Grimes, who left for a coordinator job at Wisconsin.

Lubick, the son of longtime Colorado State coach Sonny Lubick, spent two years at Kansas prior to leaving for the Wolf Pack, serving as a senior offensive analyst on Leipold’s staff. The Jayhawks made their first bowl appearance in more than a decade in 2022 and won nine games and beat UNLV in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl the following season.

The 52-year-old Lubick was working for Kansas in 2023 when a bone marrow biopsy revealed he had acute myeloid leukemia. Lubick had a stem cell transplant last December and the cancer went into remission.

“Coach Leipold and his staff embraced me as family when I became an analyst in 2022,” Lubick said. “I am beyond grateful for their continued support and love they have given me throughout my recovery of leukemia. The turnaround of Kansas football has been awesome to follow and the best is yet to come.”

… Continue reading story here …

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December 9th

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Utah’s Kyle Whittingham to return for the 2025 season: “I’m back”

From CBS Sports … Kyle Whittingham will return next season as Utah’s coach.

There has been some speculation about Whittingham’s future plans, but the 65-year-old coaching veteran announced Sunday that he has no plans to step aside. And he channeled Michael Jordan in signaling his intention to return for the 2025 season with a two-word press release: “I’m back”.

Whittingham has led the program since 2005 but saw a streak of 10 consecutive winning seasons snapped this year as the Utes — picked to win the Big 12 in their first season as members — were plagued by injuries yet again. Utah started the season 4-0 before enduring a seven-game losing streak that included a heartbreaking home loss to rival BYU, which was undefeated and ranked No. 9 in the country at the time.

Utah closed out the regular season with a win over UCF, but finished 5-7 to miss out on a bowl game.

With Utes defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley already carrying the “coach-in-waiting” label in Salt Lake City, some wondered whether Whittingham would step aside. Instead, he will be back on the sidelines for his 21st season as coach and 32nd overall with the program.

Utah has struggled offensively in the past two seasons with quarterback Cam Rising dealing with multiple serious injuries. Andy Ludwig, Utah’s offensive coordinator since 2019, stepped down from his position on Oct. 20. Following the conclusion of the regular season, Whittingham hired Jason Beck from New Mexico to serve as offensive coordinator next season.

In all, Whittingham has a 167-86 record with three conference titles — one in the Mountain West and two in the Pac-12 — during his time leading the program.

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December 8th 

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UCF (re)hires Scott Frost as head coach “Today marks an exciting reunion for UCF Football”

From ESPN … UCF hired Scott Frost as its head football coach on Saturday, reaching agreement on a five-year contract through the 2029 season.

The move reunites the Knights with one of their most successful coaches in program history.

Frost coached UCF from 2016 to 2017 and led a remarkable turnaround in his second year, guiding the Knights to a perfect 13-0 season and a No. 6 finish in the Associated Press poll. Frost earned national coach of the year honors for that achievement and went 19-7 in his two seasons before leaving to take over Nebraska, his alma mater, in 2018.

“Today marks an exciting reunion for UCF Football as we welcome back Scott Frost, a coach who ignites the spirit and passion of Knight Nation,” athletic director Terry Mohajir said in a statement. “Scott’s love for his players along with his leadership, enthusiasm and vision were pivotal in making the decision to bring him back to UCF. Throughout this national search, his passion for UCF was clear. I believe no one wanted to lead our program more than Scott.”

Frost, 49, joined the Los Angeles Rams’ coaching staff in September and has not coached at the college level since he was fired by Nebraska during the 2022 season.

The UCF job opened Nov. 30 when Gus Malzahn resigned to become the offensive coordinator at Florida State under coach Mike Norvell, who had previously worked for Malzahn as a graduate assistant at Tulsa in 2007 and 2008.

Malzahn went 28-24 in four seasons in Orlando while guiding the program through its transition to Power 4 football from the American Athletic Conference to the Big 12 in 2023.

The Knights have finished 6-7 and 4-8 in their first two seasons in their new conference and are seeking a spark from a head coach who turned the program into an offensive powerhouse in his two seasons in charge.

… Continue reading story here …

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December 7th

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Mike Gundy to return at Oklahoma State after bitter restructuring

From ESPN … Oklahoma State and Mike Gundy have reached an agreement on a restructured contract, and he will remain the Cowboys’ coach, the school announced on Saturday.

The two sides had discussions Friday and Saturday about a new deal after the Oklahoma A&M regents, who oversee Oklahoma State, held a special meeting Friday morning to discuss Gundy’s employment and other football staff employment matters. The meeting did not end with any resolution Friday, but board chair Jimmy Harrel told local reporters, “We have a plan.”

“We are happy to announce that we have agreed on a new contract with the winningest coach in OSU history with terms that benefit Oklahoma State University, OSU student-athletes and Cowboy Football,” Oklahoma State said in a statement. “Details will be announced once the contract is signed.”

As part of the restructuring of Gundy’s contract, his $7.75 million annual salary will be reduced to be redistributed as part of revenue sharing with players, and his buyout will be reduced, sources told ESPN. Gundy would have been owed $25.3 million had he been fired without cause.

Sources said Gundy was already on board to give up part of his salary to help with revenue sharing but that the two sides differed initially on the amount of the salary reduction, leading to two days of uncertainty surrounding his future.

Sources told ESPN that Gundy had the support of school president Kayse Shrum and athletic director Chad Weiberg but that at least one regent was in favor of moving on from Gundy.

… Continue reading story here …

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Scott Frost to return to UCF? 

From ESPN … UCF is set to hire Scott Frost as its head football coach, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Chris Low on Saturday, a move that reunites the Knights with one of their most successful coaches in program history.

Frost led UCF from 2016 to 2017 and led a remarkable turnaround in his second year, guiding the Knights to a perfect 13-0 season and a No. 6 finish in the Associated Press poll. Frost earned national coach of the year honors for that achievement and went 19-7 in his two seasons before leaving to take over Nebraska, his alma mater, in 2018.

Frost, 49, joined the Los Angeles Rams’ coaching staff in September and has not coached at the college level since he was fired by Nebraska during the 2022 season.

The UCF job opened on Nov. 30 when Gus Malzahn resigned to become the offensive coordinator at Florida State under coach Mike Norvell, who had previously worked for Malzahn as a graduate assistant at Tulsa in 2007 and ’08.

Malzahn went 28-24 in four seasons in Orlando while guiding the program through its transition to Power 4 football from the AAC to the Big 12 in 2023.

The Knights have finished 6-7 and 4-8 in their first two seasons in their new conference and are seeking a spark from a head coach who turned the program into an offensive powerhouse in his two seasons in charge.

Frost’s 2017 UCF team featured the No. 1 scoring offense in FBS at 48.2 points per game and rolled to an undefeated season and an AAC title, a rapid turnaround following a 6-7 debut season. The Knights were left out of the four-team College Football Playoff but claimed a national championship after they defeated a Malzahn-led Auburn team 34-27 in the Peach Bowl to complete its 13-0 season.

Frost left at the end of the season to rebuild Nebraska. The quarterback was a two-year starter for the Huskers and led the program to a national championship in 1997, but he struggled to achieve a turnaround during his five-year tenure as head coach. The Huskers went 16-31 under his leadership and did not achieve a winning season or play in a bowl game.

… Continue reading story here …

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December 2nd

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Nebraska loses defensive coordinator (and best recruiter) to Florida State

From ESPN … Florida State has finished filling its coordinator vacancies as Nebraska‘s Tony White signed a three-year contract to oversee the Seminoles’ defense, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Monday.

White spent the past two seasons at Nebraska, which ranks 20th nationally in points allowed this season after finishing 13th in 2023. He replaces Adam Fuller, who was fired last month.

White, who came up under defensive guru Rocky Long, has previously held coordinator posts at Syracuse, Arizona State and San Diego State. He played college football at UCLA.

Florida State is 88th in points allowed and 87th in yards allowed, following a 2-10 season under coach Mike Norvell.

… Continue reading story here …

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December 1st

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West Virginia fires Neal Brown after six seasons (37-35)

From CBS Sports … West Virginia is set to fire sixth-year coach Neal Brown, sources confirmed to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz. Brown’s ouster comes on the heels of a devastating 52-15 loss at Texas Tech to drop the Mountaineers to 6-6 on the season and Brown to 37-35 overall in Morgantown.

Ultimately, Brown’s undoing was a product of that mediocrity; his teams were rarely outright bad, but they were even more rarely able to punch up. The Mountaineers always won at least three Big 12 games and reached a bowl game in four of his final five seasons, but West Virginia posted more than six wins only once over that stretch. West Virginia joins Texas Tech and Rutgers as the only teams in the Power Four to not reach the AP Top 25 at any point since 2019.

Against Texas Tech, the wheels finally flew off for the Mountaineers. The Red Raiders took a 35-3 lead in the first half and cleared 569 total yards, including 188 yards and three touchdowns on the ground from star running back Tahj Brooks. It was the third loss of five touchdowns or more in the past three seasons.

… Continue reading story here …

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Gus Malzahn resigns at UCF; joins staff at Florida State

From CBS Sports … UCF coach Gus Malzahn is resigning from the Knights to become the new offensive coordinator at Florida State, sources confirmed to CBS Sports’ John Talty. Malzahn posted a 28-24 record in four seasons with the Knights but had consecutive losing seasons after joining the Big 12.

“We would like to thank Coach Malzahn for his contributions to our football program over the past four seasons, including our transition into the Big 12 Conference,” a UCF spokesperson wrote in a statement released by the school. “We appreciate his professionalism and dedication to our student-athletes throughout his tenure at UCF and wish he and his wife, Kristi, the very best in their future endeavors.”

Malzahn is tasked with repairing a Florida State offense that struggled mightily during a lifeless campaign. The Seminoles finished No. 131 in the nation in total offense and scoring offense, mustering only 15.8 points per game against an ACC schedule one year after going 13-1 with a conference championship.

The Knights were seen as a potential dark horse heading into the Big 12, but they’ve struggled with quarterback issues. Four different players took major snaps in 2024 as the Knights finished only 2-7 in conference play and 4-8 overall. The record was the worst at UCF since 0-12 in George O’Leary’s final season in 2015.

… Continue reading story here …

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Former Buff Ryan Walters out as head coach at Purdue

From CBS Sports … After leading one of the nation’s top defenses at Illinois in 2022, then-36-year-old Ryan Walters was viewed as one of the top up-and-coming coaches in the nation. Purdue tasked him with replacing a big name in Jeff Brohm at the time, but two years later, the Boilermakers are going in a different direction. Purdue fired Walters on Sunday following a 1-11 season and a winless campaign in the Big Ten.

One name the Williams has identified as a potential target on the premium message board is Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell. Chadwell was reportedly passed over for SEC opportunities in recent years, but landing at a Big Ten program might be a better fit if he’s looking to break into the Power Four ranks.

Chadwell won big late in his tenure at Coastal Carolina, going 31-6 from 2020-22. Instead of jumping to a power program at that point, he instead replaced Hugh Freeze at Liberty, and he’s gone 21-4 through two seasons with the Flames, including an appearance in the Fiesta Bowl last season.

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This post, about the Postseason game, from the 2024 Season, is filed under Article.
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