Big Ten: Eddie Faulkner
Wisconsin assistant Thomas Hammock interviewed for a job with the St. Louis Rams recently. But he ended up staying with the Badgers, and now Hammock has an added responsibility on Bret Bielema's staff.
The running backs coach will serve as Wisconsin's recruiting coordinator, according to a story by Mike Lucas on the school's website. Former assistant Joe Rudolph, who left to join Paul Chryst's staff at Pittsburgh, used to have that title. Bielema told the website that he was impressed with how Hammock performed on the recruiting trail in January, when the Badgers were a little shorthanded after several assistants left for other jobs.
Hammock, 30, is in his second year as a Badgers coach. He played at Northern Illinois, rushing for more than 1,000 yards in 2000. He also spent four seasons on Minnesota's staff.
Bielema also told the Badgers site that the program would explore some new recruiting areas based on the backgrounds of their new assistants. Linebackers coach Andy Buh will work in the St. Louis area and in Texas. New secondary coach Ben Strickland will handle in-state recruiting as well as Atlanta. Wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni will have most of Ohio, offensive line coach Mike Markuson will have Minnesota and tight ends coach Eddie Faulkner will take Indiana, Michigan and Cleveland. New offensive coordinator Matt Canada will recruit around the Midwest and specifically handle all quarterbacks.
The running backs coach will serve as Wisconsin's recruiting coordinator, according to a story by Mike Lucas on the school's website. Former assistant Joe Rudolph, who left to join Paul Chryst's staff at Pittsburgh, used to have that title. Bielema told the website that he was impressed with how Hammock performed on the recruiting trail in January, when the Badgers were a little shorthanded after several assistants left for other jobs.
Hammock, 30, is in his second year as a Badgers coach. He played at Northern Illinois, rushing for more than 1,000 yards in 2000. He also spent four seasons on Minnesota's staff.
Bielema also told the Badgers site that the program would explore some new recruiting areas based on the backgrounds of their new assistants. Linebackers coach Andy Buh will work in the St. Louis area and in Texas. New secondary coach Ben Strickland will handle in-state recruiting as well as Atlanta. Wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni will have most of Ohio, offensive line coach Mike Markuson will have Minnesota and tight ends coach Eddie Faulkner will take Indiana, Michigan and Cleveland. New offensive coordinator Matt Canada will recruit around the Midwest and specifically handle all quarterbacks.
Q&A: Badgers O-coordinator Matt Canada
February, 22, 2012
Feb 22
9:00
AM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg | ESPN.com
Wisconsin's offense has put up record-setting numbers in each of the past two seasons, surviving key personnel losses after the 2010 campaign, only to reload in 2011. The Badgers have ranked in the top 25 nationally in rushing in each of the past five seasons, replacing productive running backs and offensive linemen almost every year. The one constant throughout had been offensive coordinator Paul Chryst, but he's no longer in Madison after taking the head-coaching job at Pitt.
Bret Bielema selected Northern Illinois offensive coordinator Matt Canada to replace Chryst. Canada, one of six new Badgers assistants for the 2012 season, returns to the Big Ten after spending seven seasons at Indiana from 2004-10, the last four as IU's offensive coordinator. While he ran a spread offense at both Indiana and NIU, he'll direct a pro-style system in Madison that has become Wisconsin's identity. Canada's biggest priority: keep the momentum going.
ESPN.com recently caught up with Canada. Here are his thoughts:
You expressed a lot of excitement about this job when you were hired. What has it been like being in Madison these last few weeks?
Matt Canada: I'm still real excited. It's a great place, and I continue to enjoy the opportunity that's been presented. I'm really excited about getting to know the players, and very, very happy with what great kids we have here in the program. Obviously, there's a reason for the success that's going on here. We've got great players, and [Bielema] has put together a really good staff. I'm excited about getting to know all the staff, focusing with the offense, obviously, and reconnecting with a couple guys I knew and getting to know a couple guys I don't. It's been a really, really good month.
What was your perception of Wisconsin from the outside, and how has that changed being on the inside?
MC: My perception is it's a very physical program. They're going to come in and run the football and stop the run. They do the things the right way. They're very, very sound. They don't beat themselves. And you come in and study the film, and it's exactly what I thought it was. I've played against them for a lot of years and been around the program as an opponent, so I've spent time studying it because it's a program you look at and want to emulate in why they are so successful. I don't think it's anything different [being there]. Things are even better than you thought they might be.
Bret wanted to bring in assistants from different backgrounds and different parts of the country. How many of the offensive assistants did you know and how many were you involved in bringing in?
MC: Well, I knew all but one, and the other one, I had a chance to be involved in the interviewing process. Thomas Hammock, obviously I coached when he was a running back at Northern Illinois. I was involved in recruiting Thomas and then coached him as a position coach for a couple of years, so I've known him a long, long time. Eddie Faulkner, who we hired, I worked with last year at Northern Illinois. Zach Azzanni, I've known through recruiting, so not as well, and then Mike Markuson, I was simply involved with [Bielema] on making that decision. I've known two really well, if you want to be specific.
You have a varied background, running some spread, running some pro-style. I know Bret wants to keep the pro-style in place. How do you blend your background with what Wisconsin has done and what it wants the identity to be?
MC: The identity won't change. There's no question what this place is about. Our job as coaches is putting our kids in positions to make plays and utilize the talent you've got. We certainly have talent on this team to continue to run what is considered a pro-style, downhill offense. We're going to continue to do that. Our recruiting base gives us a chance to recruit those types of players, so we're going to continue to be what Wisconsin has been. There's a reason I wanted to be here so bad. I certainly am well aware of what has gone on here. We're not going to come in here and change something that's not broke. Obviously, there's going to be nuances and little things. We all coach in our own way, we all have our own tendencies and things that we like, but the general rule is it's going to stay the same.
Is the Northern Illinois offense you coordinated in 2003 the most similar to what you want to do with Wisconsin now, rather than what you did at Indiana or NIU the second time?
MC: I would say so. We had a real special back [Michael Turner]. We had [Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle] Doug Free on the line. He was a young kid then. We had some pretty good linemen. We had some good tight ends, both went on to play in the league. So we had a real good program and real good players that year. It was such a special year. I feel good about what we've done in the sense that at certain times we used our talent as what it was. Obviously, we had a great runner in Michael and were able to utilize him. We go to Indiana and had some success with Kellen Lewis, who people considered a running type of quarterback. Ben Chappell was a drop-back guy. And you go to Northern and we rushed for 250 yards a game for the majority of the season in a different way. So we're going to maximize our talent. We've got a really good staff on offense, guys who are going to find ways to use what we've got, matchups and all the things that come along with it. We certainly understand how the system is going to work.
A lot of people on the outside see Wisconsin and these two record-setting seasons on offense. Now there's all this change with players and coaches. Is it a challenge to keep the momentum going with all the transition?
MC: It's all the way around. They won two Big Ten titles here, so obviously the challenge is to be great today and keep doing everything that's been done. But as a competitor, you have that regardless. I've been very, very fortunate, you look at the last two moves I had to make. I went to a program that won 11 games [in 2010] and we came in and found a way to do it again and go ahead and get the championship and win a bowl game and all those things we wanted to do. You compete against today. You compete against where you are and being great today. That's what we're going to do. We're certainly respectful of what we've done, but we're moving forward and looking ahead to the opportunities we've got and the great players we have that want to play. We have a bunch of great players still here. We're excited about that, and the guys who need to step up, they get a chance to show what they can do now.
Some of those guys are going to be at the quarterback position. Have you reviewed tape of those guys? What type of players are you inheriting?
MC: A little bit. I know some of them through things in the past. We've got a couple guys who have been nicked up, so it's a bit of a clean slate for those guys. We're certainly embracing everybody's concern. Look at what Russell [Wilson] was able to do when he came in here. What a great talent. When you watch the film, my goodness, he made some plays. He made some things happen when they weren't there. Certainly an unbelievable year for him, which led to the success. I told [the quarterbacks] the first day I met them that they play the greatest position in all of sports, and they get to do it at a great place with great players, great running backs and the whole deal. So I'm excited about it. We've got a good group of good kids that get along well, but obviously it's competition and we're excited about getting going with that.
You mentioned some guys are nicked up. How are Jon [Budmayr] and Curt [Phillips] from what you can tell?
MC: Everything is coming along well. This time of year, we're being very, very cautious in trying to get ourselves back, but everything is going well and they're working hard and feeling good about where they are.
You've been around some great running backs. Where does Montee Ball rank in that mix?
MC: I've certainly been fortunate to be around to be around [some good backs]. Thomas was a great, great player, and then Michael was a great player, and on and on. Montee, we're certainly excited he's here. I knew Montee through recruiting, and Montee was the first player I got to meet when I got here. It was over winter breaks, and most of the kids were gone, but he had been honored at the basketball game the night before and came up and said hello. Montee's just proven to be such a great kid, and everything he's seen and done is about the team and the program. He told me he was excited I was here. I certainly reassured him I was a lot more excited he's here. There's no doubt about that.
He's a great ambassador for what our program is about. Everything Coach B talks about in the quality of kids we have, everything he shows is what this place is about. It's going to be fun to watch him really explode into his senior year. I'm fired up to be part of that.
How much of spring practice is going to be the players getting to know you and the other new assistants?
MC: That happens all the way around. We're talking about coming into a place that has unbelievable success. They're going to get to know us, and the great part about it is this is what Wisconsin's about. It's a developmental program where guys are excited to work. They're excited to see how we're going to be, and we're excited to get to coach them. So it's a two-way street in getting to know each other. There's no confusion. We're trying to win a third Big Ten championship and take it from there, and let's go. Let's keep doing what they've been doing.
You're about a month away from spring ball. What will your main objectives be with the unit in the spring?
MC: Just get better every day. We feel we need to find a quarterback. That's one area everybody can talk about. But each day, I would be remiss in imagining I know exactly who we are. There's changes and we've got some guys nicked up, we're finding some guys to step in there currently and then maybe get those guys back. All those things come into spring football. So it's really about embracing the challenge of being great every day, and enjoying and getting to know each other.
Bret Bielema selected Northern Illinois offensive coordinator Matt Canada to replace Chryst. Canada, one of six new Badgers assistants for the 2012 season, returns to the Big Ten after spending seven seasons at Indiana from 2004-10, the last four as IU's offensive coordinator. While he ran a spread offense at both Indiana and NIU, he'll direct a pro-style system in Madison that has become Wisconsin's identity. Canada's biggest priority: keep the momentum going.
ESPN.com recently caught up with Canada. Here are his thoughts:
[+] Enlarge
Kelvin Kuo/US PRESSWIREMatt Canada should be excited about his gig at Wisconsin. He gets to coach Heisman finalist Montee Ball.
Kelvin Kuo/US PRESSWIREMatt Canada should be excited about his gig at Wisconsin. He gets to coach Heisman finalist Montee Ball.Matt Canada: I'm still real excited. It's a great place, and I continue to enjoy the opportunity that's been presented. I'm really excited about getting to know the players, and very, very happy with what great kids we have here in the program. Obviously, there's a reason for the success that's going on here. We've got great players, and [Bielema] has put together a really good staff. I'm excited about getting to know all the staff, focusing with the offense, obviously, and reconnecting with a couple guys I knew and getting to know a couple guys I don't. It's been a really, really good month.
What was your perception of Wisconsin from the outside, and how has that changed being on the inside?
MC: My perception is it's a very physical program. They're going to come in and run the football and stop the run. They do the things the right way. They're very, very sound. They don't beat themselves. And you come in and study the film, and it's exactly what I thought it was. I've played against them for a lot of years and been around the program as an opponent, so I've spent time studying it because it's a program you look at and want to emulate in why they are so successful. I don't think it's anything different [being there]. Things are even better than you thought they might be.
Bret wanted to bring in assistants from different backgrounds and different parts of the country. How many of the offensive assistants did you know and how many were you involved in bringing in?
MC: Well, I knew all but one, and the other one, I had a chance to be involved in the interviewing process. Thomas Hammock, obviously I coached when he was a running back at Northern Illinois. I was involved in recruiting Thomas and then coached him as a position coach for a couple of years, so I've known him a long, long time. Eddie Faulkner, who we hired, I worked with last year at Northern Illinois. Zach Azzanni, I've known through recruiting, so not as well, and then Mike Markuson, I was simply involved with [Bielema] on making that decision. I've known two really well, if you want to be specific.
You have a varied background, running some spread, running some pro-style. I know Bret wants to keep the pro-style in place. How do you blend your background with what Wisconsin has done and what it wants the identity to be?
MC: The identity won't change. There's no question what this place is about. Our job as coaches is putting our kids in positions to make plays and utilize the talent you've got. We certainly have talent on this team to continue to run what is considered a pro-style, downhill offense. We're going to continue to do that. Our recruiting base gives us a chance to recruit those types of players, so we're going to continue to be what Wisconsin has been. There's a reason I wanted to be here so bad. I certainly am well aware of what has gone on here. We're not going to come in here and change something that's not broke. Obviously, there's going to be nuances and little things. We all coach in our own way, we all have our own tendencies and things that we like, but the general rule is it's going to stay the same.
Is the Northern Illinois offense you coordinated in 2003 the most similar to what you want to do with Wisconsin now, rather than what you did at Indiana or NIU the second time?
MC: I would say so. We had a real special back [Michael Turner]. We had [Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle] Doug Free on the line. He was a young kid then. We had some pretty good linemen. We had some good tight ends, both went on to play in the league. So we had a real good program and real good players that year. It was such a special year. I feel good about what we've done in the sense that at certain times we used our talent as what it was. Obviously, we had a great runner in Michael and were able to utilize him. We go to Indiana and had some success with Kellen Lewis, who people considered a running type of quarterback. Ben Chappell was a drop-back guy. And you go to Northern and we rushed for 250 yards a game for the majority of the season in a different way. So we're going to maximize our talent. We've got a really good staff on offense, guys who are going to find ways to use what we've got, matchups and all the things that come along with it. We certainly understand how the system is going to work.
A lot of people on the outside see Wisconsin and these two record-setting seasons on offense. Now there's all this change with players and coaches. Is it a challenge to keep the momentum going with all the transition?
MC: It's all the way around. They won two Big Ten titles here, so obviously the challenge is to be great today and keep doing everything that's been done. But as a competitor, you have that regardless. I've been very, very fortunate, you look at the last two moves I had to make. I went to a program that won 11 games [in 2010] and we came in and found a way to do it again and go ahead and get the championship and win a bowl game and all those things we wanted to do. You compete against today. You compete against where you are and being great today. That's what we're going to do. We're certainly respectful of what we've done, but we're moving forward and looking ahead to the opportunities we've got and the great players we have that want to play. We have a bunch of great players still here. We're excited about that, and the guys who need to step up, they get a chance to show what they can do now.
Some of those guys are going to be at the quarterback position. Have you reviewed tape of those guys? What type of players are you inheriting?
MC: A little bit. I know some of them through things in the past. We've got a couple guys who have been nicked up, so it's a bit of a clean slate for those guys. We're certainly embracing everybody's concern. Look at what Russell [Wilson] was able to do when he came in here. What a great talent. When you watch the film, my goodness, he made some plays. He made some things happen when they weren't there. Certainly an unbelievable year for him, which led to the success. I told [the quarterbacks] the first day I met them that they play the greatest position in all of sports, and they get to do it at a great place with great players, great running backs and the whole deal. So I'm excited about it. We've got a good group of good kids that get along well, but obviously it's competition and we're excited about getting going with that.
You mentioned some guys are nicked up. How are Jon [Budmayr] and Curt [Phillips] from what you can tell?
MC: Everything is coming along well. This time of year, we're being very, very cautious in trying to get ourselves back, but everything is going well and they're working hard and feeling good about where they are.
You've been around some great running backs. Where does Montee Ball rank in that mix?
MC: I've certainly been fortunate to be around to be around [some good backs]. Thomas was a great, great player, and then Michael was a great player, and on and on. Montee, we're certainly excited he's here. I knew Montee through recruiting, and Montee was the first player I got to meet when I got here. It was over winter breaks, and most of the kids were gone, but he had been honored at the basketball game the night before and came up and said hello. Montee's just proven to be such a great kid, and everything he's seen and done is about the team and the program. He told me he was excited I was here. I certainly reassured him I was a lot more excited he's here. There's no doubt about that.
He's a great ambassador for what our program is about. Everything Coach B talks about in the quality of kids we have, everything he shows is what this place is about. It's going to be fun to watch him really explode into his senior year. I'm fired up to be part of that.
How much of spring practice is going to be the players getting to know you and the other new assistants?
MC: That happens all the way around. We're talking about coming into a place that has unbelievable success. They're going to get to know us, and the great part about it is this is what Wisconsin's about. It's a developmental program where guys are excited to work. They're excited to see how we're going to be, and we're excited to get to coach them. So it's a two-way street in getting to know each other. There's no confusion. We're trying to win a third Big Ten championship and take it from there, and let's go. Let's keep doing what they've been doing.
You're about a month away from spring ball. What will your main objectives be with the unit in the spring?
MC: Just get better every day. We feel we need to find a quarterback. That's one area everybody can talk about. But each day, I would be remiss in imagining I know exactly who we are. There's changes and we've got some guys nicked up, we're finding some guys to step in there currently and then maybe get those guys back. All those things come into spring football. So it's really about embracing the challenge of being great every day, and enjoying and getting to know each other.
Back from some basketball moonlighting:
- Kirk Ferentz's staff changes show that he's not a major overhaul kind of guy. Mike Hlas weighs in with some thoughts on the Hawkeyes' coaching moves.
- Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon isn't sold on the idea of a college football playoff. Junior Hemingway was the victim of a burglary.
- Ohio State AD Gene Smith says he's among those open to the playoff idea.
- The Big Ten is being practical with its playoff proposal, Dan Wetzel writes.
- Police have denied that they used unnecessary force in a traffic stop of former Michigan State defensive back Trenton Robinson. A Cleveland-area wide receiver accepted a spot as a preferred walk-on for the Spartans.
- Fundraising will be a huge part of the next Minnesota AD's job. The Minnesota president talks about why Joel Maturi's retirement needed to happen this year.
- Jared Crick is healing and trying to get ready for an NFL career.
- SI.com is no fan of Penn State's recruiting class, giving it an 'F'. The Joe Paterno memorial services cost about $29,000.
- Danny Hope expects that changes on staff will help improve Purdue's defense.
- New Wisconsin assistant Eddie Faulkner can use his experiences as a Badger to be an effective recruiter.
Bielema completes staff with former Badger
February, 6, 2012
Feb 6
3:40
PM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg | ESPN.com
Wisconsin's new-look coaching staff is complete.
Bret Bielema has made his final assistant coaching hire by naming former Wisconsin player Eddie Faulkner as the team's new tight ends coach. Faulkner, a former Wisconsin running back who backed up Ron Dayne during his career from 1996-2000, replaces Joe Rudolph, one of three Badgers assistants who left to join former Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst at Pitt.
Faulkner spent the 2011 season as Northern Illinois' running backs coach and special teams coordinator, working under former Badgers assistant Dave Doeren. Here's the interesting part: he had left NIU's staff last month to join Chryst at Pitt but now jumps to Wisconsin. Maybe this is Bielema's way of telling Chryst: two can play this game.
Those conversations between Bielema and his former assistants at Bielema's wedding next month will be fascinating. Chryst took three assistants from Bielema, who took Faulkner and offensive coordinator Matt Canada away from Doeren and Faulkner away from Chryst.
Faulkner's special teams expertise is key, as he also coached special teams at Ball State, serving under current Michigan head coach Brady Hoke from 2003-08. He hasn't coached tight ends before in his career but inherits a talented group led by Jacob Pedersen.
Barring any more changes in Madison, here's what has transpired with Wisconsin's staff.
WHO'S GONE
Paul Chryst, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
Bob Bostad, offensive line coach
Dave Huxtable, linebackers coach
Joe Rudolph, tight ends coach
DelVaughn Alexander, wide receivers coach
DeMontie Cross, safeties coach/special teams coordinator
WHO'S IN
Matt Canada, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
Mike Markuson, offensive line
Zach Azzanni, wide receivers
Eddie Faulkner, tight ends
Andy Buh, linebackers
Ben Strickland, assistant for defensive backs and special teams
Bret Bielema has made his final assistant coaching hire by naming former Wisconsin player Eddie Faulkner as the team's new tight ends coach. Faulkner, a former Wisconsin running back who backed up Ron Dayne during his career from 1996-2000, replaces Joe Rudolph, one of three Badgers assistants who left to join former Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst at Pitt.
Faulkner spent the 2011 season as Northern Illinois' running backs coach and special teams coordinator, working under former Badgers assistant Dave Doeren. Here's the interesting part: he had left NIU's staff last month to join Chryst at Pitt but now jumps to Wisconsin. Maybe this is Bielema's way of telling Chryst: two can play this game.
Those conversations between Bielema and his former assistants at Bielema's wedding next month will be fascinating. Chryst took three assistants from Bielema, who took Faulkner and offensive coordinator Matt Canada away from Doeren and Faulkner away from Chryst.
"I'm excited to be able to bring Eddie back to Madison," Bielema said in a statement. "It's always special to be able to hire a former letterwinner. In addition to coaching our tight ends, Eddie brings great experience coaching special teams and has tremendous talents as a recruiter. He's obviously worked with Matt and he is highly-respected among the coaches on our staff."
Faulkner's special teams expertise is key, as he also coached special teams at Ball State, serving under current Michigan head coach Brady Hoke from 2003-08. He hasn't coached tight ends before in his career but inherits a talented group led by Jacob Pedersen.
Barring any more changes in Madison, here's what has transpired with Wisconsin's staff.
WHO'S GONE
Paul Chryst, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
Bob Bostad, offensive line coach
Dave Huxtable, linebackers coach
Joe Rudolph, tight ends coach
DelVaughn Alexander, wide receivers coach
DeMontie Cross, safeties coach/special teams coordinator
WHO'S IN
Matt Canada, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
Mike Markuson, offensive line
Zach Azzanni, wide receivers
Eddie Faulkner, tight ends
Andy Buh, linebackers
Ben Strickland, assistant for defensive backs and special teams
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Adam Rittenberg
Rittenberg joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four years at the Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald, where he covered sports at Notre Dame, Northwestern, DePaul and several other colleges. He lives in Chicago.
Brian Bennett
Bennett joined ESPN.com in August 2008 after nine years at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., where he covered college sports and the University of Louisville beat. He lives in Louisville.
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