Tim Hundley: CRN's New Secondary Coach

CRN has a new secondary coach. Dohn reports (HT to tsunugundam):

UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel is going with experience and will hire SMU assistant head coach Tim Hundley as the Bruins' new secondary coach, with an announcement coming as early as today, according to sources.

Hundley spent six seasons as a UCLA assistant from 1990-95, and worked on Neuheisel's staff at Colorado and Washington. The only thing holding up the announcement is Hundley's official acceptance of the position, but that is expected, sources added.

Hundley was chosen over former UCLA all-American James Washington and Temple assistant Paul Williams.

Washington interviewed "very well," according to two sources, and made the decision much more difficult than anticipated. But his lack of coaching experience was a major factor.

With Chuck Bullough as a first-year defensive coordinator and no one on the current staff with coordinating experience, the decision to go with Hundley was made.

I really hope JDub doesn't get down about this and find a way to get himself more involved with the program. I can imagine CRN would love to have his passion and knowledge for the game around his program. Not to mention his winning experience at all level would be an incredibly attractive to recruits in LA and also in Texas (where he won 2 Superbowls with the Cowboys).

As for Hundley, assuming he accepts the position, CRN is getting someone with 18 years of experience and as noted before on BN an established track record in recruiting:

Players earned national attention under Hundley as well. Thomas Howard was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft, the earliest a Miner player had been chosen in 37 years. In 2006, defensive end Alex Obomese and defensive tackle Zach West signed NFL free agent contracts with Dallas and New England, respectively.

Hundley served as the defensive coordinator at Washington from 1999-02, and as co-defensive coordinator for the Huskies in 2003. He tutored the outside linebackers from 1999-02 before overseeing the entire linebacking corps in 2003. He also supervised the punt coverage unit during his final season with the Huskies.

He has coached in 10 bowl games, including two Rose Bowls, and groomed 14 players who moved on to the National Football League, including current pros Marquis Cooper (Seattle), Howard, Michael Lewis (49ers), Ryan Neufeld (Buffalo Bills), Obomese and West. In addition, Hundley recruited six players who garnered All-America honors at the collegiate level - David Kilson (Nevada), Andre Gurode (Colorado), Micheal Lewis (Colorado), Cade McNown (UCLA), Sam Merriman (Idaho) and Jamir Miller (UCLA).

Again as I mentioned back then the guy who brought Cade and Jamir to Westwood, will always be all right in my book.

Remember this was a guy who would have been a credible candidate as DC. To get him as a secondary coach allowing CRN to balance out the coaching staff with inexperience given his recent hires in Bullough and Lake is a solid move.

Again assuming this becomes official today, welcome to Westwood Coach Hundley.

GO BRUINS.