Let’s delve into the favorite college football parlor game of the off-season: the coaching carousel. I am sure many are keeping an eye on Walker/SDSU storyline next few days.
UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker and former Texas A&M and
Alabama coach Dennis Franchione remain in the mix for the head coach's job at, according to sources close to the situation. At least one other serious candidate also may be involved, sources said. San Diego State Each is expected to engage in another round of interviews this week, possibly leading to a hiring decision this week or next.
And according to the LAT, Walker’s name “has come up” at LSU as they are in the market for a DC:
Walker 's name also has come up in connection with coordinator openings atLouisiana State -- he worked with LSU Coach Les Miles at-- and in the NFL. Oklahoma State
I have no clue whether or not
Anyway, I am not really all that worried because I have a feeling Coach Neuheisel has contingency plans all lined up (folks with legal training skills are conditioned to think and prepare for adverse scenarios all the time). I think the popular pick on BN and perhaps other Bruin communities could be someone like Rocky Long. However, the more that I think of it there are certain downsides in bringing in someone like Long. If you remember, one of the issues with Long’s defense was it was unconventional and it took some time for players to get used to it. UCLA’s defense was not all that great in Long’s first season as a DC (96-97) as player were getting used to a whole different 4-2-5 scheme. For a program that is in rebuilding stage it could be a tough call to bring in Long and start at scratch with a DC like Long.
So I will throw out couple of names to put everyone’s radar. Keep an eye on Tim Hauck, our current DB coach. Here is Hauck’s bio from the official site:
During Hauck's four years at his alma mater,
compiled a record of 43-10, making the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs all four years, including the title game in 2004. Montana In 2007, Hauck coached the
secondary. The Grizzlies ranked 10th nationally in pass efficiency defense and allowed just eight touchdowns while making 17 interceptions en route to a record of 11-1. Strong safety Colt Anderson was named first-team All-Big Sky Conference. In Hauck's three previous seasons on staff (2004-2006), he worked exclusively with the safeties. In 2006, Montana and free safety Torrey Thomas were named to the Big Sky Conference's first team. In 2005, brothers and safeties Torrey and Tyler Thomas were honorable mention selections. Anderson Hauck, 41, played safety in the National Football League for 13 seasons, retiring in 2002. He originally signed with the New England Patriots as a free agent in 1990 and played for
Green Bay ,Seattle ,Denver ,Indianapolis ,Philadelphia and. A safety for the Grizzlies, Hauck earned first-team All-America honors in both 1988 and 1989. He was voted the Big Sky Conference's defensive MVP as a junior and a senior and he also was voted the recipient of San Francisco 's Steve Carlson Award (MVP) those two seasons. He is the only player in school history to receive the Golden Helmet Award ("Hardest Hitter") three times, winning it in 1987, 1988, and 1989. Montana
While Price, Harwell, and Carter were the heart and soul of our front-7, there was tangible improvement in the play of our back-4 through the season. There was no doubt in mind kids like Norris and Locket were playing much better towards the end of the season, compared to how they were getting crushed and manhandled in their new positions earlier in the year. Especially, in case of Lockett, I think if Dorrell had redshirted him, he would be in position to have a solid season if he were to come back for his fifth year. So, to me it seems like Hauck did a pretty solid job as an assistant coach in our defense and could be an intriguing candidate for the purposes of continuity in our defense.
Another guy to keep an eye on is Tim Hundley, who just finished his first season at SMU as the Assistant Head Coach/Defense after coming over from Mike Price’s UTEP program. Hundley was CRN’s DC in UDub and has some serious connections (as a former assistant in Donahue’s program from 90-95) to Westwood (emphasis added):
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 andNew England , respectively.Hundley served as the defensive coordinator at
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. Washington 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 () and Jamir Miller (UCLA). Idaho
The guy who brought Cade to Westwood, will always be all right in my book. Obviously, if
Elsewhere bruinbabe’s favorite Bruin QB – Aikman (still have a hard time writing his first name) – was officially inducted into College HOF yesterday in NYC. UCLA was out in full force to represent as DG, CRN, Donahue and several other UCLA officials showed up at the ceremony to show their support for our All American and NFL legend.
And speaking of legend, let’s end this post with the following note from Coach on our football season:
``They were sort of up and down,'' Wooden said on a conference call today. ``I can't recall, in all my years out here, not only UCLA but any team having as many major injuries as they had. The offensive line was decimated. We lost a number of our best defensive player and the two quarterbacks. Those are things that can't be predicted and without those, it might have been entirely different. Those things happen.''
Coach should be blogging on Bruins Nation!
GO BRUINS.