Underdog Dynasty - Coaching Carousel 2014/2015An unofficial The American, Conference USA, Sun Belt, and Independent football bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52546/ud_favicon.png2015-11-29T15:12:55-05:00http://www.underdogdynasty.com/rss/stream/70820602015-11-29T15:12:55-05:002015-11-29T15:12:55-05:00Memphis Reportedly Offers Its Head Coaching Position To Barry Odom<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/phil_stukenborg/status/671055929517981696">Memphis Reportedly Offers Its Head Coaching Position To Barry&nbsp;Odom</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>The wheels on the Fuente to Virgina Tech and Odom to Memphis have been in motion for several weeks per many reports. According to Phil Stukenborg of the Memphis Commerical Appeal the Tigers have made their move.</p>
<p>Odom was the defensive coordinator for Justin Fuente at Memphis up until this past season when Odom departed for Missouri. Odom is still considered a frontrunner for the Missouri vacancy along with Temple's Matt Rhule.</p></p></div>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/11/29/9814896/memphis-reportedly-offers-its-head-coaching-position-to-barry-odomcdjames842015-01-12T11:49:15-05:002015-01-12T11:49:15-05:00UCF Knights Shuffle Staff: Key Replaces Taaffe
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<p>UCF shuffles its coaching staff following the retirement of Offensive Coordinator Charlie Taaffe and the departures of Defensive Coordinator Tyson Summers (to Colorado State) and Defensive Backs Coach Kirk Callahan (to the Gators). </p> <p align="justify"><a href="https://www.blackandgoldbanneret.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Knights</a> fans have seen substantial coaching changes in the last few weeks. First, d<a href="http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2014/12/30/7461007/ucf-defensive-coordinator-tyson-summers-to-leave-for-colorado-state" target="_blank">efensive coordinator Tyson Summers left for the same position at Colorado State</a> under new head coach Mike Bobo. Next, d<a href="http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/1/5/7491645/ucf-defensive-backs-coach-kirk-callahan-expected-to-accept-same" target="_blank">efensive backs coach Kirk Callahan left for UF to join John McElwain's staff</a>. Now, offensive coordinator Charlie Taaffe is retiring. The result is some shuffling of existing UCF coaching staff and several new hires.</p>
<p align="justify">Charlie Taaffe will always be appreciated by UCF fans for vitalizing an offensive that had been conservative, predictable, and downright bad before he came on board. So long, Charlie, and thanks for the memories:</p>
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<p align="justify">Brent Key now moves into the spot vacated by Taaffe and will also coach the running backs. Earlier this year, <a href="http://www.si.com/college-football/2014/08/09/george-oleary-ucf-head-coach-college-football-possibly-stepping-down" target="_blank">Key was rumored to be the next choice for Head Coach in the event of George O'Leary's retirement</a>. The move to offensive coordinator would seem to support the belief that he is heir apparent to O'Leary.</p>
<p align="justify">Key has been something of a do-everything coach for UCF, where he has spent virtually his entire career -- his UCF bio currently identifies him as <a href="http://www.ucfknights.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/key_brent00.html" target="_blank">"Asst. Head Coach of Offense/OL Coach/Recruiting Coordinator."</a> Continuity can often be a good thing: ask the <a href="https://www.addictedtoquack.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oregon Ducks</a> and Mark Helfrich (and Chip Kelly, and Mike Belotti). But Key's elevation should still give UCF fans some pause: Key has never before been an Offensive Coordinator. He did, however, <a href="http://ucf.247sports.com/Bolt/Major-changes-to-UCFs-staff-34655709" target="_blank">"[shadow] Taaffe in the booth for the last half of the season." </a></p>
<p align="justify">I'm reminded of the expression, "To damn with faint praise."</p>
<p align="justify">On the other side of the ball, Chuck Bresnahan replaces Tyson Summers as defensive coordinator. It's a move which can't help but cause Knights fans to cringe. Bresnahan is the<a href="http://www.voodoofive.com/2014/12/7/7351691/the-sunday-night-massacre-bresnahan-wulff-cooper-all-fired-from-usf" target="_blank"> recently-fired former defensive coordinator for rival USF</a>. USF's hiring of Bresnahan two years ago <a href="http://www.voodoofive.com/2013/1/10/3859052/chuck-bresnahan-hired-as-usf-defensive-coordinator" target="_blank">left our colleagues at Voodoo Five puzzled</a>, and it's a hire which looks even worse for the Knights now (though to be sure, USF's bumbling on offense didn't do much to relieve the pressure on the defense).</p>
<p align="justify">While Bresnahan brings NFL coaching experience, his defenses weren't particularly good. Perhaps worse for the Knights, it's hard to see Bresnahan -- who hadn't coached at the college level for twenty years until USF hired him -- doing much to fill the recruiting void left by the departures of Summers and Callahan.</p>
<p align="justify">The other hires and staff changes provoke less of a reaction. Andrew Thacker was hired to coach safeties. The defensive backs coach will be Travis Fisher. Allen Mogridge replaces Key as offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. Director of player personnel Keegan Kennedy will now coach tight ends and H-backs and will in turn be replaced by Mike Buscemi. Danny Barrett will now coach QBs instead of RBs. Other than O'Leary, only two coaches remain in the same posts - <span>Sean Beckton</span> (wide receivers coach) and Lorenzo Constantini (defensive line coach).</p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/1/12/7531459/ucf-shuffles-coaching-staff-in-wake-of-taaffe-retirement-departuresChas Short2015-01-11T10:48:18-05:002015-01-11T10:48:18-05:00Texas State Hires Idaho DB Coach Ashley Ambrose<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/FootballScoop/status/553984749015158785">Texas State Hires Idaho DB Coach Ashley&nbsp;Ambrose</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>Ambrose will replace Jason Washington as Texas State's cornerbacks coach. Washington was recently hired by Houston. Ambrose coached for one season in Moscow.</p></p></div>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/1/11/7527759/texas-state-hires-idaho-db-coach-ashley-ambroseTHETexasStateUniversity2015-01-06T10:39:09-05:002015-01-06T10:39:09-05:00La.-Laf. LB coach Matt Wallerstadt new DC at Charlotte<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.si.com/college-football/2015/01/06/unc-charlotte-matt-wallerstedt-defensive-coordinator">La.-Laf. LB coach Matt Wallerstadt new DC at&nbsp;Charlotte</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>He'll replace Bruce Tall, who is reportedly headed to West Virginia under Dana Holgorsen.</p></p></div>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/1/6/7500853/la-laf-lb-coach-matt-wallerstadt-new-dc-at-charlotteSydney Hunte2015-01-05T16:01:36-05:002015-01-05T16:01:36-05:00Manny Diaz to Mississippi State<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/24937002/report-mississippi-state-to-hire-manny-diaz-as-defensive-coordinator">Manny Diaz to Mississippi&nbsp;State</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>According to SI's Pete Thamel, Manny Diaz will once again be the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State. </p>
<p>Diaz held the job in 2010 before moving on to Texas.</p></p></div>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/1/5/7496019/manny-diaz-to-mississippi-stateJason Jones SBN2015-01-05T10:52:35-05:002015-01-05T10:52:35-05:00UTSA Parts Way with Two Offensive Coaches<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://footballscoop.com/the-scoop/">UTSA Parts Way with Two Offensive&nbsp;Coaches</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>Per a source at FootballScoop.com, UTSA will have two spots to fill on the offensive coaching staff. I'm inclined to assume that offensive line coach Jim Marshall is retiring. Marshall did a fantastic job at building UTSA's offensive line from scratch but failed to contribute greatly to UTSA's recruiting efforts. Given the shocking regression of UTSA's senior-laden wide receiver unit in 2014 it's likely that Mosely was simply let go. Common sense says Tony Jeffery may be returning to UTSA. The former UT Longhorn spent three years coaching UTSA's wide receivers before leaving to join Tony Levine at Houston. With Tom Herman moving in at UH it's likely that Jeffery won't be retained. Jeffery did a great job recruiting Houston athletes to UTSA and maximized the Roadrunners' talent at wide receiver during his time in San Antonio. If Coker is able to lure Jeffery back then it would be a welcomed return.</p></p></div>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/1/5/7494055/utsa-parts-way-with-two-offensive-coachesJared Kalmus2015-01-05T00:48:26-05:002015-01-05T00:48:26-05:00More Defensive Staff Turnover Ahead for UCF
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<p>UCF’s anticipated loss is the Gators’ gain as defensive backs coach Kirk Callahan will reportedly accept the same position with UF. </p> <p align="justify">The coaching carousel continues to spin for UCF. Defensive backs coach Kirk Callahan will reportedly leave for the same position with the <a href="https://www.alligatorarmy.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Florida Gators</a>. Callahan helped oversee a defense that was statistically dominant this year and enjoys a reputation as an excellent recruiter with ties to the Tampa area. This was Callahan's third year coaching DBs for UCF.</p>
<p align="justify">For UCF, the news adds to upheaval on the defensive side of the ball. Just a week ago, <a href="http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2014/12/30/7461007/ucf-defensive-coordinator-tyson-summers-to-leave-for-colorado-state">defensive coordinator Tyson Summers left for the same position at Colorado State</a>. UCF already has to contend with significant player change-over as many key defensive players graduate. From Callahan's unit, the Knights will lose <span>Brandon Alexander</span>, <span>Clayton Geathers</span>, and Jordan Ozerites. Now, the Knights have another hole to fill.</p>
<p align="justify">The Gator made an excellent move in hiring Callahan. Callahan will replace recruiting ace <a href="http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2015/01/travaris_robinson_expected_to.html">Travaris Robinson who followed Will Muschamp to Auburn</a>. <a href="http://www.alligatorarmy.com/2014/12/31/7474327/randy-shannon-florida-gators-linebackers-coach-recruiting-coordinator">Along with the recent hiring of former Canes HC Randy Shannon to coach linebackers</a>, this move suggests an increased commitment by the Gators to capture elite Florida high school talent.</p>
<p align="justify">An official announcement is expected early this week.</p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/1/5/7491645/ucf-defensive-backs-coach-kirk-callahan-expected-to-accept-sameChas Short2015-01-04T17:23:32-05:002015-01-04T17:23:32-05:00WKU Already Has Coaching Changes in Its Forecast
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<p>The football season ended just a couple weeks ago for Western Kentucky, and there are already some coaching changes in the forecast.</p> <p>Western Kentucky's offense ranked fourth in the country with 534.6 yards per game in 2014, a statistic that hasn't gone unnoticed by large programs in conferences like the SEC. WKU's running backs coach in 2014, Greg Nord, has reportedly accepted a position at Florida, where new head coach Jim McElwain is beginning to put together a coaching staff. Nord's two-decade coaching career has also seen him at East Carolina, Kentucky, Louisville, Georgia Tech, and Illinois.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, WKU offensive coordinator Tyson Helton is a candidate to fulfill the same position at the University of Georgia, according to <i>Sports Illustrated</i>'s Mark Schlabach, and is also rumored to be a candidate for the <a href="https://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oklahoma Sooners</a>. Helton, made offensive coordinator under Brohm in 2014, has helped star quarterback <span>Brandon Doughty</span> and the Hilltopper offense become one of the nation's most explosive arsenals. Doughty led the nation this season in passing yards with 4,830 along with 49 touchdowns, and will be returning to the Hilltoppers after being <a target="_blank" href="http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2014/12/10/7372865/wku-qb-brandon-doughty-to-return-in-2015">granted a sixth year of eligibility</a> by the NCAA.</p>
<p>Fresh off <a target="_blank" href="http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2014/12/24/7447837/wku-holds-off-late-chippewas-rally-in-bahamas-bowl-49-48">a win over Central Michigan in the 2014 Bahamas Bowl</a>, it's tough for fans and players to see those who put together a fantastic Hilltopper offense leave for the SEC, but it's hard to blame coaches for taking the same position at a program in a major conference. It's early in the Western Kentucky offseason, and changes are already happening. Will Tyson Helton leave? Could defensive coordinator <span>Nick Holt</span> be fired for coaching a 2014 defense that ranked 120th in the nation? Only time will tell.</p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/1/4/7491445/wku-coaching-changes-nord-joins-mcelwain-at-florida-georgia-lookingandrewgthomas