Illinois football is not the destination of home run hires. If I were to choose from these 3 guys, I'd go with Conklin first, then Walters second, followed by Knowles, a distant third. With BB's involvement on D, I prefer a younger, high energy guy for the job.
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Ryan Walters would be fantastic. Be surprised if Bielema can pry him away from an SEC job though.
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ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Throw raw yardage numbers in the garbage.
Per SP+ (which adjusts for tempo, opponent quality, and eliminates garbage time):
2015: 35th
2016: 75th
2017: 48th
Maybe not superstar numbers, but solid.
There's a good chance they won't. Which may play into Conklin's thinking.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Duke has really made it as a football program when people can laugh off those responsible for building sustained success there.
JJE
- Bethalto, IL
Deleted member 747671
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Who's your pick?
To me, I think Knowles and Conklin are better, more proven guys, so I'd choose one of them. But I think BB will take Walters because he's younger, moldable, probably more open to gameplanning in tandem with the HC.
To me, I think Knowles and Conklin are better, more proven guys, so I'd choose one of them. But I think BB will take Walters because he's younger, moldable, probably more open to gameplanning in tandem with the HC.
If there was ever a time to check flight tracker. 
ILFaninFL
- Nature Coast in Florida
Fan Nation Article on the three candidates
Has video of all three. The Missouri guy, Ryan Walters, will be a head coach sooner than later.
Has video of all three. The Missouri guy, Ryan Walters, will be a head coach sooner than later.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
If I could pick, it would be Knowles. But he has the least reason to want to leave.
My prediction is Conklin, just because we have the biggest raise to offer him.
If it's Walters I bet it's a multi-year deal, because he's currently making $900k at Mizzou.
I have no horse in this field if it is between these 3 guys. JMO but I do think Conklin is a good coach.
Might be at Wofford the last 2 years but also won/shared conference crown both years.
Few team stats for 2018 and 2019 since he became the head coach which I think fit perfectly with the philosophy of Bielema
2018 Wofford led the conference in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, passing defense and rushing offense.
2019 Wofford led the conference in rushing defense, rushing offense, total defense, sacks and sacks allowed.
Conklin is only 41, will be 42 in June. It looks like he has produced at every stop. I also remember him beating eventual National Champ Clemson in 2016 as only loss and in 2017 beat #2 Miami that was 10-0 before finishing 10-3. He has more upside and shown more results than any DC Lovie had on his staff including himself during the tenure at Illinois.
Maybe its the "unnamed candidate that could surface".
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Yeah I didn't realize Walters already made 900/year. Him and Knowles would require the most, definitely 1 mil+ and multiyear contracts. Conklin would make the most sense money-wise. Walters is interesting because you're still not completely sure that he's actually a good DC. Barry Odom is one of the best defensive guys in the country and he had a strong say in the defense when he was HC. Walters only has this past year as experience without Odom and it's very difficult to make much out of what he did.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Oh boy here is some sleuthing for you.
Conklin's DC at Wofford is a young guy named Sam Siefkes, who got started in coaching as the DB coach at DIII UW-LaCrosse, and managed to parlay that into an off-field role at Florida International, where he met up with Conklin.
Siefkes' AD at LaCrosse was Josh Whitman, and he got the gig at FIU to fill out Ron Turner's initial staff there.
Conklin also got his first taste of big time football in 2012 as the Safeties coach at Tennessee under Derek Dooley, who also connects Tony Petersen to Bielema.
This profession is a tiny little fishbowl when you start digging.
Conklin's DC at Wofford is a young guy named Sam Siefkes, who got started in coaching as the DB coach at DIII UW-LaCrosse, and managed to parlay that into an off-field role at Florida International, where he met up with Conklin.
Siefkes' AD at LaCrosse was Josh Whitman, and he got the gig at FIU to fill out Ron Turner's initial staff there.
Conklin also got his first taste of big time football in 2012 as the Safeties coach at Tennessee under Derek Dooley, who also connects Tony Petersen to Bielema.
This profession is a tiny little fishbowl when you start digging.
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lol I would still be very happy with the hire. I'm just saying the other guys have an established track record of being good defensive coaches. Walters is 34, he's obviously going to be light on experience. Strategically it would make sense bringing in a young guy that has experience recruiting St. Louis and is very highly thought of in the coaching profession.
Also had to have a backup QB play safety for a game lol
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Will Muschamp
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Haha. Had no idea. I was not trying to be negative about him, just pointing out that he would potentially be the most expensive guy, and also the least experienced. Seems like he's a rising star.
Hell, the fact that we are looking at poaching either sitting P5 DCs or a lower level HC with P5 DC experience speaks volumes.
Kramer
- Des Moines, Iowa
Good work Chief!
I think we went at Walters the hardest, so I'm picking him, but you never know who said no and who said yes. Let's check the Miznoz forums!
*edit* The Mizzers seem to think their HC is moving on from Walters, or at the very least finding a good way for Walters to bow out. Their forums are crazier than ours so grain of salt. I'm sticking with Walters.
*edit* The Mizzers seem to think their HC is moving on from Walters, or at the very least finding a good way for Walters to bow out. Their forums are crazier than ours so grain of salt. I'm sticking with Walters.
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That's fair - and obviously Conklin is qualified for the position as a DC in a P5 conference before, solid is the best word to describe it. But I take his stats at Wofford with a grain of salt any P5 DC should be able to go to Wofford and be really good on defense. It's not an exciting hire IMHO
I'm pulling for Walters given:
1) He's currently an SEC DC at age 34 that has had success in the SEC and a rising coach in the profession that has progressed quickly.
2) We need someone that can gameplan a defense with lesser talent than he'll be playing against - he faces that almost every game in the SEC
3) He has a lot of upside - he should be able to grow under BB and get better than when he arrives
If he does well, he'll leave for a HC job in a few years, but that's what we want to happen. At this point in our rebuilding effort we need high talent coaches that will make everyone better around them, attract talent and get the program competitive again. When they leave for a bigger job we will be able to attract an even brighter star in the coaching ranks because of it
Deleted member 186590
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In fairness, Walters has 5 years of experience as DC/co-DC in the SEC
in comparison Conklin only has 3 years of experience as a DC in a P5 conference
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