CC: Assistants told to cease contact with recruits

Submitted by lilwolve4 on

http://michigan.247sports.com/Bolt/Players-To-Meet-With-Hackett-Tomorrow-33518139According to 247sports Michigan affiliate, the assistant coaches have been told to cease contact with current commits and any potential recruits. It's being said that they have the opportunity to apply once the new HC is found but in the mean time they are able to search for new jobs. Personally I like that a new HC will bring in an entirely new staff or almost entirely at least. Others may disagree.

Free Link: http://michigan.247sports.com/Bolt/Players-To-Meet-With-Hackett-Tomorrow-33518139
 

MGoBoard

michgoblue

December 3rd, 2014 at 5:43 PM ^

I expect that this is something that Mike DeBord will do as part of his interim role with the football program, and that the message will be something along the lines of:  "I know that you are concerned about the flux in our program.  . . . NARRATIVE ABOUT OUR GREAT TRADITION, STADIUM, FACILITIES, ETC.   . . . We are committed to getting back to our rightful place atop the college football landscape, and whomever we hire as our new coach will be someone who can deliver on that committment.  All that we ask is that you give us a few weeks to make this hire, before reevaluating your options."

Joined: 11/16/2009

MGoPoints: 32198

HarBooYa

December 3rd, 2014 at 5:35 PM ^

I think this has potential to be a mistake. I think you need to keep at least your recruiting apparatus in place. Chris singletons or db coach. Pay them as consultants. Longer we wait to fill roll bigger the void gets. That said there is not much left to this class, So maybe damage is not all that great and we avoid any bad mouthing.

Joined: 06/22/2011

MGoPoints: 3168

MI Expat NY

December 3rd, 2014 at 5:42 PM ^

I don't think it's that big of a deal.  The recruits/commits all know the story.  And as these guys are going to be actively looking for other jobs it protects the coaches from the appearance of improprieties if, say, a recruit ended up signing with a school that ultimately hires said assistant.  

I imagine these guys all did the right thing over the last day or so, saying that they should go to Michigan, regardless of the coaching staff.  I also imagine that Mike DeBord can and will keep in touch with committs, or at least offer an open line of communication for any of the committs.  

Joined: 07/24/2008

MGoPoints: 8640

Brodie

December 3rd, 2014 at 5:58 PM ^

The assistants are presently looking for other jobs while we're in flux. Do you really want them running our recruiting while also putting in calls to other schools to look for new jobs? DeBord is an experienced recruiter, he will do an okay job of holding our class together for a few weeks.

Joined: 11/19/2008

MGoPoints: 10713

True Blue Grit

December 3rd, 2014 at 6:47 PM ^

If they were told not to contact recruits anymore by someone, it means they are still employees of U-M.  That will cease to be the case when a new coach is selected and they (the coaches) are either retained or not.  In the meantime, they are admittedly in a state of limbo but still contractually committed to Michigan.

Joined: 01/21/2011

MGoPoints: 32488

Torgoman

December 4th, 2014 at 1:45 AM ^

Assistant coaches generally don't have contracts.  Absent an employment contract, their status as employees may be obvious in the legal sense, but may not matter in the timeframe of a coaching change.  It's not like anyone's going to court to figure out their employment status.  As such, being told to do something or not to do something is just a good idea for a school to do since those assistants may take the opportunity to talk to recruits about the school they're expecting to work for.  It's not as cut and dry as you may think.

Joined: 12/13/2010

MGoPoints: 81

glewe

December 3rd, 2014 at 5:35 PM ^

If I had to wager a guess, I'd say that Hoke's commitment to assistants that were either unqualified or incapable of teaching Nuss's system was his downfall.

Skill position regression, stalling, or not-fast-enough progression was a major weakness of Hoke's teams, and I think that most directly relates to position coaches.

Joined: 08/25/2010

MGoPoints: -7293

ThadMattasagoblin

December 3rd, 2014 at 5:37 PM ^

Seems like  bad idea not to have them there to keep people committed and to try to keep players from transferring if at all possible. Basically Urban and Dantonio can throw as much shit as they want at our players and commits and we can't do anything about it.

Joined: 08/24/2011

MGoPoints: 64335

MI Expat NY

December 3rd, 2014 at 5:44 PM ^

They're going to do that anyway.  What would the assistant coaches be able to say in retort to any recruiting pitches that say "you don't know who your coach is going to be"?  

There's nothing the assistant coaches could add at this point.  They've already sold Michigan.  Hopefully it's enough for the guys that committed to the school, not particular coaches.  

Joined: 07/24/2008

MGoPoints: 8640

Tater

December 3rd, 2014 at 5:46 PM ^

After LC gutted RR's first recruiting class and much of the roster, it is solid business practice to tell the assistants not to contact recruits.  I am guessing DeBord is going to be the person in charge of that now.  

It could also mean that a decision is imminent and they are working out the details.  I find the timing of Harbaugh's "incident' with Trent Baalke to be more than a coincidence.

Joined: 08/13/2008

MGoPoints: 30584

michgoblue

December 3rd, 2014 at 5:52 PM ^

I totally disagree with the first paragraph of your email (look at my avatar pic)!  LC did not gut the recruiting class or the roster.  But let's agree to disagree on this point as I think that we debated it a number of times from 2009-11.

That said:

I totally AGREE with your second paragraph.  The Harbaugh things in San Fran just seems too far gone to salvage.  There are also too many "sources" that seem to at least indicate that Harbaugh is interested in Michigan. (How often would Brian and Gregg Henson actually agree?!)  To me, this sudden announcement could mean something. 

See, a Harbaugh hire is already uniting the factions of the fanbase and he hasn't even been hired!

Joined: 11/16/2009

MGoPoints: 32198

lilwolve4

December 3rd, 2014 at 6:20 PM ^

In no way would I keep Manning unless he was solely a recruiter. He's a LB coaching DBs. Did you ever wonder why our DBs performed so poorly in coverage early in the year? The talent is there. The coaching is not. They played coverage like a LB which doesn't work against actual receivers on posts and flys. Do not want.

Joined: 10/06/2010

MGoPoints: 585

gwkrlghl

December 3rd, 2014 at 6:01 PM ^

I know I read the contracts are being honored, but are they still employees of the University right now? Not sure if you can honor a contract and have them also not be employees

Joined: 04/13/2012

MGoPoints: 68

Larry Appleton

December 3rd, 2014 at 6:08 PM ^

I had wondered if Mattison's previous working relationship with John Harbaugh could lead to Jim (if he takes the job) possibly keeping him on the staff.

Joined: 05/15/2014

MGoPoints: 17216

You Only Live Twice

December 3rd, 2014 at 8:59 PM ^

Agreed, and I like Greg Matt but isn't he 65?  He doesn't need to work and has not for a while.  He stayed on to help Hoke.

Nussmeier,  I'm hoping he stays on.  There have been some really encouraging signs, and while he may not be ready to be HC yet, in the not too distant future he will be.

Joined: 09/14/2013

MGoPoints: 9615