Big Ten: Terrell Williams
Recapping the Big Ten coaching changes
Barring any late coaching changes, here's a look at who's gone, who's back and who's in new roles.
ILLINOIS
Offensive coordinator
- Who's out: Mike Schultz (fired)
- Who's in: Paul Petrino (previously offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach at Arkansas)
- Who's out: Dan Disch and Curt Mallory both were demoted to position coaches. Disch is staying on staff as linebackers coach.
- Who's in: Vic Koenning (previously co-defensive coordinator at Kansas State)
- Who's out: Kurt Beathard (fired)
- Who's in: Jeff Brohm (previously quarterbacks coach at Florida Atlantic)
- Who's out: Jim Pry (fired)
- Who's in: Greg Nord (previously running backs coach/recruiting coordinator at Louisville)
- Who's out: Reggie Mitchell (left to become running backs coach/recruiting coordinator at Kansas)
- Who's in: DeAndre Smith (previously running backs coach at UNLV)
- Mallory left his position as secondary coach to become defensive coordinator at Akron.
- Special-teams coordinator Mike Woodford was fired along with Schultz, Beathard and Pry.
- Ron West was hired as a defensive assistant. His official responsibilities have not been announced.
Offensive line coach
- Who's out: Bobby Johnson (left to become assistant offensive line coach with the Buffalo Bills)
- Who's in: Myron "Mo" Moriarity (previously served as head coach at Carmel (Ind.) High School
No staff changes, but recruiting coordinator Eric Johnson was named tight ends coach. Wide receivers coach Erik Campbell previously had worked with the tight ends, while Johnson had helped Darrell Wilson with the linebackers.
MICHIGAN
Linebackers coach
- Who's out: Jay Hopson (left to become defensive coordinator at Memphis)
- Who's in: Quality control assistant Adam Braithwaite was promoted to outside linebackers/strong safeties coach. Defensive coordinator Greg Robinson will take a more active role with the linebackers in 2010.
- Secondary coach Tony Gibson will continue to work with cornerbacks and free safeties, and also serve as special-teams coordinator.
Running backs coach
- Who's out: Dan Enos (left to become head coach at Central Michigan)
- Who's in: Brad Salem (previously served as head coach at Augustana College)
Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach
- Who's out: Jedd Fisch (left to become quarterbacks coach with the Seattle Seahawks)
- Who's in: Jeff Horton (previously served as quarterbacks coach with the Detroit Lions)
- Who's out: Richard Hightower (left to become assistant special-teams coach for the Washington Redskins)
- Who's in: Steve Watson (previously served as associate head coach with the Denver Broncos in 2008)
- Running backs coach Thomas Hammock was named co-offensive coordinator
No coaching changes
OHIO STATE
No coaching changes
PENN STATE
No coaching changes
PURDUE
Defensive line coach
- Who's out: Terrell Williams (left to become defensive line coach at Texas A&M)
- Who's in: Gary Emanuel (previously served as defensive line coach at Rutgers). Emanuel also was named co-defensive coordinator with a focus on run defense.
Defensive backs coach
- Who's out: Kerry Cooks (left to become outside linebackers coach at Notre Dame)
- Who's in: Chris Ash (previously served as defensive backs coach/recruiting coordinator at Iowa State)
- Randall McCray, who served as Wisconsin's recruiting coordinator and assistant secondary coach, left to become defensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee. Wisconsin has yet to fill the vacancy.
Purdue tabs Emanuel as defensive aide
Emanuel, a Boilermakers assistant from 1997-2004 who worked alongside Hope on Joe Tiller's staff, has been hired as D-line coach and co-defensive coordinator. This is significant because Emanuel will share play-calling responsibilities with Donn Landholm and oversee Purdue's run defense, which has ranked last in the Big Ten in each of the last two seasons.
Emanuel returns to Purdue from Rutgers, where he coached the defensive line the last two seasons. He replaces Terrell Williams, who took the same post on Texas A&M's staff earlier this week.
"We could have hired any of a number of defensive line coaches to replace Terrell," Hope said in a statement. "But I told the team we were going to use the vacancy to bring in a difference-maker to our football program, and that's what we are getting with coach Emanuel. He is the complete package as a coach -- from teaching and mentoring to recruiting -- and obviously is familiar with Purdue. It's great to have him back. He makes us better."
Purdue ranked 10th and 14th nationally in rush defense in Emanuel's last two years as defensive ends coach/assistant head coach (2003-04). Rutgers ranked 15th nationally against the run last fall (103.2 ypg) and 47th in 2008. Emanuel also had a successful stint as Washington State's defensive line coach from 1994-96.
I like Hope's proactive approach to this hire. Though Purdue must rebuild its secondary this fall, stopping the run comes first in the Big Ten, and the Boilers have struggled recently in that area. Emanuel inherits a young but talented group of linemen led by end Ryan Kerrigan.
Purdue assistant Williams headed to A&M
An official announcement from Texas A&M is expected soon.
Williams spent the past four seasons with the Boilermakers, coaching the entire D-line in 2006, 2007 and 2009, and only the defensive ends in 2008. He has overseen the development of standout linemen like Anthony Spencer, Cliff Avril, Alex Magee and, most recently, Ryan Kerrigan and Mike Neal.
It's obviously not ideal to lose a position coach so late in hiring season -- and so close to national signing day -- and head coach Danny Hope has an important decision in front of him. Williams, like every Purdue assistant, helped recruit the state of Florida. He wasn't the primary recruiter for defensive end commit Bruce Gaston, though Gaston praised Williams for his role in the recruiting process.
Purdue's next D-line coach will inherit one of the Big Ten's top pass-rushers in Kerrigan, as well as promising young players like Gerald Gooden and Kawann Short. The new coach's primary task will be finding ways to improve the Boilers' run defense, which has ranked last in the Big Ten in each of the past two seasons.
Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
As promised, your non-expansion-related questions.
Chad from Ames, Iowa, writes: Any news on the status of former-Hawkeye QB Jake Christensen? His father claimed that Jake had fifteen-plus suitors for his services, but I have yet to hear where he landed.
Adam Rittenberg: Things are pretty quiet on the Christensen front, Chad. Illinois State looked like a possibility for a while, but nothing has materialized yet. I'll post something as soon as I hear.
Mike from Detroit writes: How much of the hype surrounding Terrelle Pryor do you think comes from his recruiting ranking vs performance as a QB? It seems extreme to me when Ohio State ranked 105th in passing offense and couldn't even score an offensive TD against Purdue, USC and Penn State. Wouldn't it make more sense for the pundits to save some of their slobbering until Pryor shows he can do more than just hand off to Beanie or run himself?
Adam Rittenberg: The recruiting buzz around Pryor certainly fuels his hype, and he definitely has a lot more to prove as a college quarterback, starting this season. I don't have Pryor among my top 5 Big Ten players at this point because his potential hasn't translated on the field -- yet. Keep in mind he has played only one season, and there's a ton of room to grow. What can't be denied is Pryor's physical gifts and running ability. Aside from Robert Griffin at Baylor, there might not be a more dangerous college quarterback on the move than Pryor. But he's got to show more as a passer, no doubt.
Dan from Iowa City writes: Hey Adam, looking foward to your blog for the upcoming season! Expectations seem to be high here for the Hawkeyes. What do you think they have to do to compete for the Big Ten Title? I have been watching Big Ten Network and College Football Live and Iowa seems to be a pretty popular pick as the dark horse to win the league. What do they have to do to make that a reality?
Adam Rittenberg: Iowa got a lot of love from Shaun King on College Footbal Live the other day, and King really likes what he has seen from Ricky Stanzi. It all comes down to how the Hawkeyes perform on the road. I don't see them losing at Kinnick this fall, but with a Big Ten road slate of Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan State and Wisconsin, a 2-2 split doesn't look bad. That Penn State game is huge. Win it, and you're right in the mix for the league title. I really like the leadership Iowa has this year. A little concerned about the depth in some spots (D-line), but overall the Hawkeyes look like a very solid team.
Recapping the league's coaching changes (again)
Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
I'm not quite ready to put a stopper in the Big Ten coaching carousel for 2008-09, though the ride is pretty much over. Barring some unforeseen changes in the coming weeks, Minnesota's hiring of Richard Hightower as wide receivers coach will complete the staff shuffling for this year.
Here's a review of the coaching changes around the league this year. It's interesting to note that none of the league's top four teams in 2008 -- Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan State and Iowa -- lost an assistant. If it ain't broke ...
ILLINOIS
- Offensive coordinator: Mike Locksley left to become New Mexico's head coach. Illinois hired TCU offensive coordinator Mike Schultz as his replacement.
- Defensive line: Tom Sims was fired and replaced by hired Cincinnati's Keith Gilmore.
- Offensive line: Eric Wolford left for the same post at South Carolina, and Ron Zook hired Houston's Joe Gilbert as his replacement.
Notes: Outside receivers coach Kurt Beathard will now work with the quarterbacks.
INDIANA
No changes
IOWA
No changes
MICHIGAN
- Defensive coordinator: Scott Shafer resigned and was replaced by former Syracuse head coach Greg Robinson.
MICHIGAN STATE
No changes
MINNESOTA
- Offensive coordinator: Mike Dunbar resigned and was replaced by Denver Broncos wide receivers coach Jedd Fisch.
- Defensive coordinator: Ted Roof resigned to take the same post at Auburn and was replaced by former Nebraska and Wisconsin defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove. Defensive backs coach Ron Lee was promoted to co-defensive coordinator.
- Offensive line: Phil Meyer resigned and was replaced by Alabama assistant Tim Davis.
- Wide receivers: George McDonald left for a quality control position with the Cleveland Browns and was replaced by Hightower.
Notes: Davis will oversee Minnesota's run game. Lee will continue to coach the Gophers' secondary.
NORTHWESTERN
- Offensive line: Bret Ingalls left to become running backs coach with the New Orleans Saints. Superbacks coach Adam Cushing was moved to offensive line.
- Superbacks: Cushing became offensive line coach and Lafayette offensive coordinator Bob Heffner was hired as his replacement.
OHIO STATE
No changes
PENN STATE
No changes
PURDUE
- Head coach: Danny Hope took over for the retiring Joe Tiller.
- Offensive coordinator: Ed Zaunbrecher was fired and replaced by Florida Atlantic offensive coordinator Gary Nord.
- Defensive coordinator: Brock Spack left to become Illinois State's head coach and was replaced by Eastern Kentucky defensive coordinator Donn Landholm.
- Running backs: Joel Thomas left for the same job at Washington, and Hope hired former Kansas State assistant Cornell Jackson as his replacement.
- Offensive line: Hope handled the line in 2008 and hired former Eastern Kentucky assistant Shawn Clark as his replacement.
- Special teams: Mark Hagen moved from special teams to linebackers, and graduate assistant J.B. Gibboney was promoted to this position.
Notes: Tight ends coach John McDonnell was not retained for 2009. Terrell Williams will once again coach the entire defensive line this fall after working strictly with the ends in 2008.
WISCONSIN
No changes
Notes: Brad Pendergrass was named director of football operations. Pendergrass most recently served as assistant director for football operations at Mississippi State.
Recapping the Big Ten coaching changes
Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Purdue's hiring of defensive coordinator Donn Landholm on Monday likely marks the end to the major coaching moves in the Big Ten this year.
There have been no head-coaching changes -- Danny Hope was named Purdue's head coach-in-waiting last year -- and unless Iowa's Kirk Ferentz bolts for the Kansas City Chiefs, which isn't likely, all 11 teams will have continuity on top. But there were several key changes among coordinators and key position coaches.
Here's a summary.
ILLINOIS
Offensive coordinator: Mike Locksley left to become New Mexico's head coach. Illinois hired TCU offensive coordinator Mike Schultz as his replacement.
Defensive line: Ron Zook fired Tom Sims and hired Cincinnati's Keith Gilmore.
Offensive line: Eric Wolford left for the same post at South Carolina, and Zook hired Houston's Joe Gilbert as his replacement.
Notes: Arguably Illinois' biggest coaching move was one that didn't happen. Zook offered Penn State defensive line coach Larry Johnson the chance to be Illinois' defensive coordinator, but the ace recruiter opted to stay at State College.
INDIANA
No changes.
Notes: Despite a 3-9 season that saw regression on both sides of the ball, head coach Bill Lynch said he didn't expect to make any staff changes for 2009.
IOWA
No changes.
Notes: Ferentz is being mentioned as a candidate for the Chiefs' head-coaching vacancy because of his ties to new general manager Scott Pioli, but it appears likely he will remain at Iowa for an 11th season. He will hold a signing day news conference scheduled for Feb. 4 and has talked with athletic director Gary Barta about a contract extension.
MICHIGAN
Defensive coordinator: Scott Shafer resigned and later took the same job at Syracuse. Michigan hired former Syracuse head coach Greg Robinson as Shafer's replacement.
Notes: Head coach Rich Rodriguez took his time with the search, and Robinson actually reached out to him about the defensive coordinator vacancy.
MICHIGAN STATE
No changes.
Notes: Offensive coordinator Don Treadwell was in the mix for several head-coaching spots (Miami University, Boston College) but will stay put for 2009.
MINNESOTA
Offensive coordinator: Mike Dunbar resigned Jan. 6 to pursue other professional opportunities. Minnesota hired former Denver Broncos wide receivers coach Jedd Fisch as Dunbar's replacement.
Defensive coordinator: Ted Roof resigned Jan. 6 to take the same post at Auburn. Gophers head coach Tim Brewster hired former Nebraska and Wisconsin defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove, who will share coordinator duties with defensive backs coach Ron Lee.
Notes: Fisch will call the offensive plays, but he must collaborate with Tim Davis, the team's new offensive line coach and run game coordinator. Davis, who replaces Phil Meyer, was hired in late November to transform Minnesota's run game and return the team to its roots as a dominant rushing attack.
NORTHWESTERN
Offensive line: Bret Ingalls left for the New Orleans Saints. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald told me he's not concerned about naming a replacement until after signing day, but indications are Adam Cushing, the H-backs coach and recruiting coordinator, will be promoted to line coach.
Notes: Athletic director Jim Phillips wants to work out a contract extension for Fitzgerald and likely will announce one in the coming weeks or months.
OHIO STATE
No changes.
Notes: Some expected offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Jim Bollman to get the axe, and while it still could happen, head coach Jim Tressel is the primary playcaller and responsible for the unit's success. Co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Luke Fickell was mentioned as a candidate for the head-coaching vacancy at Bowling Green.
PENN STATE
No changes.
Notes: Penn State retained Larry Johnson despite Illinois offering more money and a coordinator position. Longtime defensive coordinator Tom Bradley also remains despite some rumors that he was a candidate for the top job at Syracuse.
PURDUE
Offensive coordinator: Ed Zaunbrecher was fired and replaced by Florida Atlantic offensive coordinator Gary Nord.
Defensive coordinator: Longtime Boilers defensive coordinator Brock Spack left to become Illinois State's head coach. Hope hired his former Eastern Kentucky staffer Landholm as Spack's replacement.
Running backs: Joel Thomas left for the same job at Washington, and Hope hired former Kansas State assistant Cornell Jackson as his replacement.
Offensive line: Hope handled the line in 2008 and hired his former Eastern Kentucky staffer Shawn Clark to replace him.
Special teams: Hope moved Mark Hagen from special teams to linebackers and promoted graduate assistant J.B. Gibboney to this post.
Notes: Tight ends coach John McDonnell was not retained for 2009, and a replacement hasn't been named. Terrell Williams will once again coach the entire defensive line this fall after working strictly with the ends in 2008.
WISCONSIN
No changes.
Notes: After firing veteran defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz and seeing offensive line coach Bob Palcic leave for UCLA last year, head coach Bret Bielema is keeping his staff in place despite a very disappointing 2008 season.
Hope picks familiar face to lead Boilers defense
Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Purdue head coach Danny Hope returned to his Eastern Kentucky roots and named Donn Landholm as his new defensive coordinator today.
Landholm replaces longtime Purdue assistant Brock Spack, who left last month to become head coach at Illinois State. The 52-year-old Landholm spent the last 12 seasons at FCS Eastern Kentucky, serving on Hope's staff from 2003-07.
Landholm has coached Eastern Kentucky's linebackers since 1997 before adding the coordinator title in 2005 and becoming the team's recruiting coordinator last year.
"Donn is a tremendous football coach and an excellent recruiter, and he will be a difference-maker on our staff," Hope said in a statement. "He knows what it takes to win a championship. When he worked for me at Eastern Kentucky, his guys consistently overachieved. Donn is as good a teacher as I have been around. He is extremely organized and pays tremendous attention to detail."
Hope also announced that Mark Hagen will coach Purdue's linebackers while Terrell Williams will work with the defensive line. Hagen and Williams had shared the line responsibilities in 2008. Lou Anarumo will remain as the Boilers' defensive backs coach.
Landholm has a history with Hope and extensive experience coaching and recruiting at the FCS level. In 2007, Eastern Kentucky had 35 takeaways and led the nation in turnover margin (plus-18).
The concern with this hire, as it was with Hope, is whether Landholm can succeed in the Big Ten. He hasn't coached in the FBS since 1991, his final season as a volunteer assistant linebackers coach at Arizona State.
Landholm won't serve as Purdue's recruiting coordinator but should strengthen the team's ties to Florida and the southeast. Purdue currently has 12 commitments from Florida and two from Georgia for its 2009 class.
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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