Nice background piece on BB’s roots: http://news-gazette.il.newsmemory.com/?publink=52ee0b0e7
The Illinois Coaching Staff Search
- Status
OK, I’m getting antsy for some news.
Enos and ash for oc and dc still in play?
Ubermensch
BOOM! Feed my ego.
Same here. I'm anticipating hearing some news tomorrow.
Yes to ash, no to Enos. Miami sucked with him
Yes lol yes they did but I thought it was partly due to the revolving door at the qb spot. Whose leading oc canidates?
Miami also had no QB
ProfessorQC
Ace Wolf
- UofI
Ash is gaining major steam right now but BB is playing the field well...
Unfortunately, Robinson did not work out like I was initially told. I really would have liked that as he was one of our top choices, but he’s a hot name and is looking for a slight pay raise to an already million dollar plus pay-day so... & ultimately he is best suited to a location that’s more tailored to his recruiting strengths...
Don’t get me wrong, Ash ain’t bad tho. Big-ten roots and a high-caliber recruiter who will give us another positive addition to the staff. Hoping Henry will be announced shortly after the DC is in place as the DB’s coach.
From what I’m being told tho, there is going to be big money
being thrown around on the offensive side of the ball as this staff starts to come together...Go Illini!!
Last edited:
So does anyone know who could potentially be on the offensive staff? And ash is the leading dc canidate or that just what were connecting the dots to?
Ash's defense at Texas has been pathetic.
altenberger22
- South Carolina
He's been at TX just one season.
7th overall defense (10 schools). 5th in rush defense. 10th in pass defense. Speculating he had to use what he inherited in that one/only season at the helm. Prior stints probably more meaningful.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Use advanced stats. Raw yardage numbers that don't account for tempo and don't account for opponent quality are meaningless.
Per ESPN's Bill Connolly (one half of F+, which doesn't break down by offense/defense when combined), Texas ranked 68th on defense last year and is 40th this year.
Going back:
At Wisconsin
2011: 36th
2012: 12th
At Arkansas
2013: 80th
At Ohio State
2014: 24th
2015: 6th
Ash is a real deal DC and a well-respected recruiter (was RC at previous stops at Iowa State and San Diego State). He'd be a home run hire.
Texas plays tomorrow, maybe we will know more after that. Honestly, I am still having trouble believing Bielema and Illinois have the juice to go out and grab the all-star staff that's being bandied about.
Last edited:
The skeptic would say that’s why his staff is taking so long to come together.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Yup. The announcements of players staying are calming me down, but I am definitely wondering what the heck is going on.
Deleted member 747671
D
Guest
I'll start getting nervous if there are no announcements this week. The combination of the holidays and seasons still going on kinda made last week a wash in my mind. Also, with the names being thrown around, we aren't talking low level or fired staff guys. These are established coaches with existing employment or high-demand coaches. They aren't going to immediately jump to BB's staff, even if they agree to it. There will be negotiations, maybe bidding wars, and potentially waiting for bowl games, etc.
Texas plays tomorrow and cincy plays friday. Outside enos at oc, any other options? He’s honestly the only guy I’ve heard/read about on the offense. Ash, Robinson, Huxtable and Roof were mentioned at dc so that side seems more wide open. I’d say Ash isn’t as far fetched with Herman and Texas being such a bad situation for any coach on staff looking for job security lol
Deleted member 747671
D
Guest
Gritty had some good posts about coordinators he'd been connected to. I think Ash would be a great hire. I wonder how much juggling around BB is having to do with salaries. If he wants to bring in a million dollar OC, would that mean a cheaper DC? I think it was mentioned that Ash makes 700-800k. Would we really have the OC and DC making a combined 2 mil or close? That's just completely uncharted territory for Illinois, and really most teams outside the elites.
It could be that it takes some time to plow through the towering stacks of resumes that have flooded the offices.
Deleted member 747671
D
Guest
If it is for example Ash and Enos, I bet there's a good chance they've already agreed and its just a matter of letting them finish up their seasons before announcing it. A few extra days, especially sandwiched around Christmas, is really not a big deal at all.
800k for a ex-hc and a proven dc seems fair now days but like you mentioned it’s uncharted territory for Illinois. Enos wouldn’t be cheap either, saw he was set to make over 800k at Alabama if he was still there in 2020, cant exactly find what he made at Miami but wouldn’t be surprised if it was over 1 mil. Thats why I was curious of other oc other than enos or if there are any new rumblings was all.
ProfessorQC
Ace Wolf
- UofI
Yes there are other options. Some coming from the nfl ranks...
Deleted member 747671
D
Guest
I know Matt Canada was mentioned as someone who has worked with BB. As a Steelers fan, I would not be impressed with that hire. He's not their OC but man, their offense has really tailed off and they have basically no running game what so ever. I did think he was relatively successful at Maryland in a very difficult situation as interim HC, and he has had intermittent success as OC at the college level.
- Status