Has to be a far better destination than a year or two ago
Aaron Henry named Illini Defensive Coordinator
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Maybe Bret will go Lovie-style and bring one of his daughters on staff. Or..hire Miles!
IlliniCardinal
- Minneapolis
How would Purdue have reacted to an unproven head coach and an unproven DC?
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
the sky is not falling
actually , the future is quite bright . don’t be afraid of what success will bring . it’s way better than the alternative .
Wasn't that theory pushed with the Lovie Smith hiring?
Even if Walters preferred Henry more than Kane, I don't think there's any way he could've brought in Henry as his DC. A rookie head coach hiring a rookie DC would've been too much for Purdue fans and admins to take. Or any team. It's much easier for someone as experienced as BB to make big promotions of young newbies like Henry, both for the optics and operationally.
DaChief4ever
- Urbana
I suppose this means no chance for Leonhard.
I really like the hire! Although he is a first-timer as DC, he will have BB's heavy hand on him to guide him through rough spots. Now we hire several energetic ACs to work with him on recruiting, coaching fundamentals, etc.
My only concern is where the innovation is going to come from. It will be interesting to see how "standard" we become on defense, or will Henry be willing to add a few twists of his own. New coordinators often want to stay close to the nest, but I trust Bret to push him out and make him fly.
The man has a plan! Now let's get some DLs!
My only concern is where the innovation is going to come from. It will be interesting to see how "standard" we become on defense, or will Henry be willing to add a few twists of his own. New coordinators often want to stay close to the nest, but I trust Bret to push him out and make him fly.
The man has a plan! Now let's get some DLs!
BB knows defense. I think he knew a lot prior going to New England. A head coach who can teach the game and understands the game minimizes the impact of any coordinator leaving
I am most concerned about players leaving after the bowl game. However I think PU fans are probably worried about how many players go to Louisville and Wisky is concerned with their players/recruits leaving
Also if PU does not have NLI figured out as well as other schools it doesn’t matter who the coach is because money speaks. Next few weeks will be interesting
I am most concerned about players leaving after the bowl game. However I think PU fans are probably worried about how many players go to Louisville and Wisky is concerned with their players/recruits leaving
Also if PU does not have NLI figured out as well as other schools it doesn’t matter who the coach is because money speaks. Next few weeks will be interesting
I have to think he wanted Kane. If you don't trust the guy to hire the right people you shouldn't hire him. If AH was what RW wanted he would have hired him. I'm guessing since the defense was made by BB, Buh, Kane, and RW might have wanted a front 7 guy to help him implement things while he has the secondary covered in the install of our defense.
As for AH I think he is a great hire and is the new up and comer. BB, Buh, and the people brought in will make sure in 3-4 years he is looking at a HC position of his own!
Jim Leonhard is not coming here. He was a great P5 DC, has just been a B10 interim head coach, and was offered to be DC for the Packers last year.
I don’t think that just because he was passed over for a HC position for possibly the biggest coaching target on the board, that his stock has fallen so much that he’s coming here to be a Co-DC or Safeties coach.
Thank you. I'm going with the idea that Leonard and Kane both wanted the job and Bielema went with Henry as the best choice.
I agree with your logic. However there probably won’t be any new P5 head coaching positions open up. Also I am not sure if an NFL team outside of Green Bay will offer him a DC job.
I am sure he could go to the NFL as a safety coach or he could be AHC somewhere in college. I have no inside knowledge but from an outsider that is what I see. Obviously he has an agent and might already know what he is gonna do and needs time to execute or he is trying to figure it out
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
I understand , but that’s what they said about Gary Patterson going to UT as an “ analyst”
nothing surprises me anymore
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
The Leonhard situation is genuinely weird, I don't blame people for spinning up unrealistic hypotheticals.
Honestly, if he ends up Packers DC, I feel like we're going to find out he's got a parole officer that won't let him leave the state or something.
Honestly, if he ends up Packers DC, I feel like we're going to find out he's got a parole officer that won't let him leave the state or something.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Right. There's a timing issue here. A year with Bielema could actually be seen as a big net positive. Head Coach in training thing.
The way I look at it, if I assume the rumor that Kane was promised the DC role in the future is true, then Bielema said, Henry is too good to lose. I'd rather go against my word than lose this guy. To me that speaks very highly of Henry's ability.
People are acting like Kane is some amazing DC around here. If he was as amazing as people are making him out to be, he wouldn't have ever taken a demotion to come to a struggling program in the first place. That is not to say he's bad, he's clearly very good at his job, but let's get a little perspective.
That said, when I look at what made Illinois a great defense, it was primarily our DBs and DL in my mind. If Henry was super close with Walters, surely they weren't always talking about Pokemon and mid strength beer. He's going to have some insights into what we were doing. Also let's not forget our staff included Bielema (ex DC), Buh (ex DC), as well as Kane and Walters both with DC experience. So to think Walters was the sole architect of our defense is not likely true.
I'm the type that says ok you're gone, you mean nothing to me anymore, now who are we getting next. We could go recruiter and grizzled out vet, which is what I'd do. Terry Hawthorne would probably not mind a jump from SIU to his alma mater, and we wouldn't mind an even better connection the best football factory in Illinois.
People are acting like Kane is some amazing DC around here. If he was as amazing as people are making him out to be, he wouldn't have ever taken a demotion to come to a struggling program in the first place. That is not to say he's bad, he's clearly very good at his job, but let's get a little perspective.
That said, when I look at what made Illinois a great defense, it was primarily our DBs and DL in my mind. If Henry was super close with Walters, surely they weren't always talking about Pokemon and mid strength beer. He's going to have some insights into what we were doing. Also let's not forget our staff included Bielema (ex DC), Buh (ex DC), as well as Kane and Walters both with DC experience. So to think Walters was the sole architect of our defense is not likely true.
I'm the type that says ok you're gone, you mean nothing to me anymore, now who are we getting next. We could go recruiter and grizzled out vet, which is what I'd do. Terry Hawthorne would probably not mind a jump from SIU to his alma mater, and we wouldn't mind an even better connection the best football factory in Illinois.
1. He got a raise to come here.
2. *whispers* OLB are defensive linemen
3. Here we go.
I hear you- and Henry obviously did an unbelievable job with the secondary last year and is a rising star, but realistically- I’m sure Kane was offered the job and wanted to go to Purdue instead
It could be a purely strategic move- being the new DC here would be almost impossible to improve the defensive rankings and build the resume- at Purdue he can look like a hero, I don’t blame him for that thinking
losing our top two defensive coaches doesn’t feel good right now- but we haven’t heard who else we’re bringing in- let’s get a Georgia defensive assistant and give them a AHC title and bump in salary for example and bring little of that mojo here!
I like this post a lot. And I’m not saying the bolded part is the wrong way to think about it. But man, this was such a fun and encouraging year and Kane and Walters imo left a mark on this program in a positive way. Seems like Walters left with class and I’m sure Kane will too.
They weren’t part of any staff, they were a part of a staff that hopefully turned this boat around. For that, I’ll be a fan of them going forward. Not a fan of Purdue but a fan of the individuals. Just like I am a fan of Illinois players in the NFL, even if drafted for a rival team. That’s kind of how it feels to me.
Bret chose Henry over Kane. Bret made his choice and whoever the didn’t get it was going to Purdue.
yeah no idea how it went down, but if Kane had the choice of the 2 spots it would be an interesting decision... assuming money would be similiar, he'd be either sticking with an established head coach at a program with some good momentum, or take a chance with a coach he's become good friends with at a program that just won the B1G west-both pretty nice options. I think I read a quote from Walters saying he was still going to be calling plays for Purdue's defense, so if Kane wanted to be considered sooner for a HC position he might have wanted to stick with BB to get more credit for his defense, but who knows. Maybe the compensation was better when you factor in taxes or whatever, maybe there were personal reasons, or maybe BB didn't offer him the spot?
Either way greatly appreciate what Kane and Walters did for us the past few seasons and look forward to who BB brings in next.
EDIT-based on above from 0440 I guess my question was answered
As do I, this board never ceases to amaze me, guess that is why I am here so often. We laud the job BB is doing as a HC and CEO of the program yet when he makes a decision that many on here are puzzled by, we get all of the armchair analysis of said decision without anything factual to back it up. Let it play itself out I still trust BB and trust that he knows much, much more than I about how to run a program and what is best for it. If Henery does not work out, I am sure he will be demoted or gone, a guy named Peterson comes to mind., So I am thinking we will be just fine with this promotion and if it gets us Hill so much the better and if not, more power to him and we will still be just fine without him as well, would very much like to have him though.
I mean, if I'm watching ex-players or coaches, and the game means nothing to Illinois, I'd rather the guys with Illini connections win. What I was trying to get at with that line is, I don't have any anger or disappointment towards people that leave, but also feel no vested interest in following them. It's just out of sight out of mind. I was really wanting to highlight the excitement about new possibilities in new coaches. There's always a chance to upgrade and that's where I spend my focus.
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