If Whitman is allotting $4 million to build a staff, I will leave the Nate situation 100% up to Lovie.
Illinois Football Staff Thread
If Whitman is allotting $4 million to build a staff, I will leave the Nate situation 100% up to Lovie.
Oh I'm sure Lovie will have some say in the style, what I am saying is that he is less likely to try to get involved in play-calling and the like. McGee should have more independence here than he did under Petrino at Louisville.
Bleepin unreal.
Lovie was his recruiter. McGee would call Lovie for advice, and they would talk often just about anything. I'm sure he's loving the chance to coach under his football mentor.
illinifaninwi
- DeForest, Wisconsin
He gives instant credibility to the Lovie Smith era and is going to be the ace recruiter.
illinidarrin
- from parts unknown
I gave the Mcgee recruiting bio and it was pretty impressive. Recruiting is looking better now for us.
Good times ahead for Illini Football!
Nope and nope. Just don't keep tabs on all 128 offensive coordinators or the career paths of thousands of assistant coaches out there. Really doubt I'm in the minority here not having McGee on my radar before yesterday.
That type of relationship is something that is under-valued. The ability to not just get along between staff members, but to trust and like each other. With the history they have you know that they will be able to effectively communicate with one another. Relationships matter, and having a coaching staff that is as much on the same page as possible is big. Plus, it's not like McGee is a scrub. He is good at what he does.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
I'll admit a little disappointment w/McGee over Sherman, but that was based on ignorance. McGee looks like dynamite. That he left a great situation, to be with Lovie, speaks volumes.
Is this still Illinois? It sure as heck doesn't feel like it!
Agreed. Sherman sounded like a great hire, but the more I read on McGee the more I realize this is a homerun hire. Lovie needed a recruiter to come in and lay the ground work for the staff. So far Lovie has added a great recruiter/teacher and now we move on to the DC. I'm hoping for Hardy.
Can this guy recruit though?????????????
This speaks volumes to Lovie and the weight he is going to pull.
Absolutely surreal. It's got me posting on this board and excited about Illinois football again.
This is Josh Whitman's Illinois.
Alright, so we just hired a 42 year-old Offensive Coordinator who has directed some of college football's top offenses over the last several years at Northwestern, Arkansas, and Louisville. He just turned down Oklahoma (his alma mater) last year for the same role and is talked about nationwide as a future P5 or NFL Head Coach (which I wasn't aware of yesterday, like most of you, but have discovered through searching online).
He appears to be a dynamic recruiter with an affable, laid back personality and a top-notch QB tutor. Recruiting connections primarily in SEC and Big 12 country. Yep, that'll do.
He appears to be a dynamic recruiter with an affable, laid back personality and a top-notch QB tutor. Recruiting connections primarily in SEC and Big 12 country. Yep, that'll do.
Deleted member 29907
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And hopefully he'll take over a top 20 team in 4-6 years when Lovie heads into his 4th quarter.
Stevegarbs
- Mokena, IL
Ditka doesn't have a job all of a sudden. Just sayin...
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He called the plays at Northwestern and that offense was very good in the B1G.The one concern is that Petrino was calling all the offensive plays and was the de facto OC. Hopefully some of it rubbed off
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
This is Josh Whitman's universe. JFW.
The traffic on my road between Chicago and Champaign just picked up a little more on game day this morning.