Is Don Brown on Maryland's short list?
A horrifying thought I know. Just saw the question posed to Steve Lorenz on 247. Is it possible they could poach a 2nd DC from UM? Please god, no!
I'm sure he could land a better job than that if he wanted to. I just hope he doesn't want to, because the money would be there.
November 1st, 2018 at 12:10 PM ^
Obligatory....
November 1st, 2018 at 12:11 PM ^
I tried to use reason and logic below, but clearly your answer is better than mine...
November 1st, 2018 at 6:05 PM ^
It's not even on repeat, it can't be said enough...
November 1st, 2018 at 12:10 PM ^
I am sure he could have been a head coach by now if he wanted to. I seriously doubt he'd change his mind at this age to go to be an HC at a place mired in scandal.
November 1st, 2018 at 1:04 PM ^
Yeah, I kind of think we lucked out with his situation. Seems like he'll be happy finishing his career at UM. Hopefully he gets a well earned raise that pays him at the levels of a mid-P5 head coach.
November 1st, 2018 at 1:30 PM ^
I don't think it was luck. I'm convinced that was an essential element in the consideration of who would be the hire at that point in time.
November 1st, 2018 at 2:05 PM ^
I'd like to agree with you, that this was some master stroke of enormous foresight by Harbaugh, but doesn't the whole "I Googled best defensive coaches in America and found Don Brown" story sort of fly in the face of your point? :-)
November 1st, 2018 at 2:14 PM ^
There is more to that however. Sure googling could give you a list of coaches to start with, but you still have access if the coach will be a good fit for your staff and personnel, and if coaching philosophies align. Harbaugh would also have to determine how much of the playcalling came through Brown, and if what Brown did at BC would work in the Big10, as well as if his age would be a problem. In addition, Harbaugh would also have to convince Brown to leave BC.
Considering Harbaugh's coaching hires usually work out, I highly doubt he gets lucky or just relies on google.
November 1st, 2018 at 5:14 PM ^
Don Brown was recommended to Harbaugh by Bill Belichek. He actually gave him a call after Durkin left, and put the two in touch with each other.
November 1st, 2018 at 2:01 PM ^
Durkin was making $2.5 million and that put him in the bottom quarter of P5 coaches. Their next coach is going to expect more just for walking into that mess.
There is no way Michigan is going to match Brown's salary offers for a job like Maryland. You have to let your assistants go if they want to be a head coach. We just have to hope Brown prefers being a DC, which does seem likely.
November 1st, 2018 at 5:12 PM ^
There are exactly 50 head coaches at P5 FBS that made more than Durkin last year including bonuses. He made just over $3m. Don Brown just signed a 5 year contract, my guess, because he wants to be here, loves working with the guys, and feels he can make a difference.
That said he's doing a great service for the guys from what I can tell, especially if you look at how he's molding these guys into great people post-college. Michigan could definitely match $3-4m and it would be worth it.
You can let Drevno go do his thing, that's okay, but if Don Brown starts having those conversations you have to be willing to consider countering, he isn't just an "assistant" and this isn't just a football team.
November 1st, 2018 at 8:20 PM ^
There's no way Michigan would match a $3-4 million a year offer for an assistant coach. Financially, that would just be insane.
There's less than 20 assistant coaches in the country that earn more than $1 million a year, and only two coordinators that crack $2 million a year: LSU's Dave Aranda ($2.5 million/year) and Clemson's Brent Venables ($2 million/year).
LSU can afford Aranda because Orgeron purposefully took a lower salary, so LSU would give him a larger budget to hire/retain assistant coaches. Venables' defense has gotten Clemson to the playoffs 3 years in a row now, and he has subsequently gotten a raise each time.
Now if Don Brown gets Michigan in the playoffs or NCG, I can see Michigan bumping him to the 3rd coordinator earning $2+ million. There's no way Michigan would bump him to almost double what the next highest asst. coach earns while still paying for two other $1+ million asst. coaches and Harbaugh's $7.5 million.
November 1st, 2018 at 9:58 PM ^
We have a shitload of money. Just pay him whatever. The guy is a genius. The Dick Lebeau of college DCs.
November 2nd, 2018 at 1:02 PM ^
They could easily pay Don Brown $3.5 million if they just take the $2.4 million that you claim Harbaugh is getting paid but isn't (he makes $5 million a year plus incentives plus an interest-free loan that's costing the university another $150,000/year or so).
November 1st, 2018 at 8:50 PM ^
Pay Don Brown $4 miilion. Then UC offers Warinner their HC job and $2.5M when Fickell gets hired away. Chris Partridge is offered an SEC DC job at $1.2M+. Do we pay them too?
Good coaches replace assistants all the time. That's how things work. They don't pay people not to take real promotions. Harbaugh is a good coach who will hire good replacements. He doesn't need a budget that far exceeds every competitor.
November 1st, 2018 at 5:44 PM ^
Seriously man, that whole situation is a toxic clusterfuck, there is no way an old man is going to walk into that for his first big head coaching job... Maryland is not a threat here.
November 1st, 2018 at 6:29 PM ^
Why wouldn't Michigan match an offer from Maryland? He's worth it.
The players aren't paid, might as well pay the (good) coaches.
November 1st, 2018 at 7:55 PM ^
Give Coach Doc Brown a raise anyways.
November 1st, 2018 at 2:24 PM ^
He's been a head coach, a very successful head coach for UMass. He was also the DC for Maryland after the UMass job. It wouldn't surprise me if his next gig was fishing off of Cape Cod during the day and going to BoSox games 81 times each summer.
November 1st, 2018 at 4:07 PM ^
100% yes to this. A young guy with a lot to prove might see this as an opportunity but I don’t think a seasoned coach would. A lot of headaches just trying to get all the players on the same page.
November 1st, 2018 at 7:02 PM ^
bingo...and I am pretty sure he said he doenst want to be HC. Cant tell you when and where I heard that, but its ringing in my head.
November 1st, 2018 at 12:10 PM ^
Nope...next question.
November 1st, 2018 at 12:11 PM ^
He's 63 years old. I'd be surprised, both if they went after him and if he accepted.
November 1st, 2018 at 12:32 PM ^
But 63 is the new 36! Or at least stupid people with a deep fear of aging say shit like this all the time, or something...
November 1st, 2018 at 12:49 PM ^
So when I get to the senior living facility and meet 85 year old Myrtle Wilbanks, I need to remind myself that, "Damn, she is one fine looking 58 year old!"
November 1st, 2018 at 1:03 PM ^
Yeah, that's another thing. I don't need to see another magazine cover that says, "Sex After 75: Better than Ever!!!" Listen, I am glad people are still having sex after 75. I truly hope I am still alive and capable of doing so myself. But, there is no way on God's green Earth that it's "better than ever." We were all 17 once; we know better than to accept those filthy lies...
November 1st, 2018 at 1:20 PM ^
Dude, 17 was not my best sex. For one thing at that age I was only doing it with one or two women at a time.
November 1st, 2018 at 7:55 PM ^
This really made me laugh out loud!!!
November 1st, 2018 at 3:39 PM ^
Many recent articles with findings that the highest rate of STDs is now in retirement homes so there is truth to those sayings. Sort of.
November 1st, 2018 at 1:03 PM ^
Stay away from my Myrtle!!
November 1st, 2018 at 2:05 PM ^
So my 29 year old gf is actually 92??? ewwwwwwwwwwww
November 1st, 2018 at 2:26 PM ^
Not sure. What's your lube budget like?
November 1st, 2018 at 7:57 PM ^
GILFHUB.com for the win!!!
November 1st, 2018 at 5:13 PM ^
Just the other day, someone asked how old my mother was. When I told them 77, she said, "Oh, that's young." It is?
November 1st, 2018 at 7:48 PM ^
People are crazy. OK, so 77 is slightly below average for total life expectancy for women now, but that doesn't mean it's "young". That's just crazy...
November 1st, 2018 at 12:11 PM ^
You realize the fact that you post this gives Maryland this idea. If don brown leaves it’s all your fault!! No but ya it’s possible I guess god I hope not
November 1st, 2018 at 12:13 PM ^
Tunneler's basilisk. SMDH.
You shut up Tunneler!
November 1st, 2018 at 12:12 PM ^
He should be on most short lists, IF that is something in which he's interested. But, he seems happy, in charge of something he likes, and well-paid. So, I doubt they'll get him. If he wanted to be a HC, I assume he'd be one.
November 1st, 2018 at 12:13 PM ^
Yes, ask all of us as we obviously will: 1) have insight to what the Maryland athletic administrators are doing, and 2) give reasonable and bias-free opinions.
November 1st, 2018 at 2:11 PM ^
I guess I didn't really expect anyone to have inside information. Sometimes I show up to just figuratively tase your nutsack.
November 1st, 2018 at 12:14 PM ^
I don't see why they don't keep Canada? Seems to be doing well for them.
November 1st, 2018 at 12:24 PM ^
He is probably the best option for many reasons. The players love him, he has dealt with this scandal better than the administration, and he seems to be a great fit. I guess the only question would be, if Maryland wants a fresh start.
November 1st, 2018 at 1:25 PM ^
The upshot is that Canada kind of is a fresh start himself - new to the staff this year. So give him some power to bring in some assistants he wants, new training staff, whatever, and let him try to run with it.
They seem tight on cash, and appear dysfunctional, so it might be tough to attract a really good outside candidate anyway.
November 1st, 2018 at 1:31 PM ^
See, that's the thing, he isn't. Durkin hired him, and the whole staff, so would you hire the guy, but fire the whole staff? Where do you make the cut off? I like him and think he has doe a great job, all things considered, but it's not a fresh start. He was part of the staff that had a player die on their watch.
November 1st, 2018 at 8:46 PM ^
agree, it's fruit of the poisonous tree. they need a completely fresh start with an all-new staff top-to-bottom.
November 1st, 2018 at 12:15 PM ^
He will not take that job. Move on.
November 1st, 2018 at 12:16 PM ^
Personally speaking, I'd find it very quite annoying to have to deal with MD a 2nd time around taking our DCs. In addition, I don't think it makes much sense to invest in an HC who probably will retire in the next 5 yrs or so.
November 1st, 2018 at 12:17 PM ^
Moorhead left one year too early.
November 1st, 2018 at 2:05 PM ^
He left one year too late if you ask me.