SEC: Billy Gonzales
LSU receivers coach and passing game coordinator Billy Gonzales is trading the SEC for the Big Ten.
Gonzales, who's coached in the SEC for the past seven years, has agreed to become the Illinois offensive coordinator, according to multiple reports. He's been at LSU the past two seasons and worked under Urban Meyer at Florida prior to that.
The connection at Illinois is new head coach Tim Beckman, who was on the Bowling Green staff with Gonzales in 2001-02.
Gonzales, who's coached in the SEC for the past seven years, has agreed to become the Illinois offensive coordinator, according to multiple reports. He's been at LSU the past two seasons and worked under Urban Meyer at Florida prior to that.
The connection at Illinois is new head coach Tim Beckman, who was on the Bowling Green staff with Gonzales in 2001-02.
'Stud' more than willing to share offense
January, 7, 2012
Jan 7
12:50
PM ET
By
Chris Low | ESPN.com
NEW ORLEANS -- Greg Studrawa, who found out about three weeks before LSU’s first game this season that he was going to be the one calling offensive plays, had a predictable reaction.
At least, initially.
“Three weeks before the season when we’re supposed to have the year?” Studrawa recalled. “It was unbelievable. You’re like, ‘Whoa!’”
And then, it all began to sink in.
His colleague, Steve Kragthorpe, was stepping down as offensive coordinator and keeping his quarterbacks coach responsibilities after announcing that he had Parkinson’s disease.
“He’s been an inspiration for all of us,” said Studrawa, who came to LSU in 2007 as the Tigers’ offensive line coach. “He never felt sorry for himself, kept his head up and has been a big part of our success.
“I tell people all the time that I was fortunate because I get to call the plays during the game. But we have a lot of guys’ minds in there sharing on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.”
Indeed, Kragthorpe himself is a former head coach at Tulsa and Louisville and was an offensive coordinator at several other stops. Tight ends coach Steve Ensminger was an offensive coordinator at several places, including Clemson and Texas A&M. Receivers coach Billy Gonzales, who also oversees the Tigers’ passing game, was a part of a Florida staff that won two national championships, while running backs coach Frank Wilson was a head coach in high school before stops at Ole Miss, Southern Miss and Tennessee.
“When the change came, Steve [Kragthorpe] opened up. Frank opened up. Steve [Ensminger] opened up. Billy opened up,” Studrawa said. “They all opened up, and it became our offense.”
Kragthorpe said the transition was made so much easier because of the quality of the Tigers’ offensive staff, not to mention Studrawa’s familiarity with LSU coach Les Miles and what Miles wanted in an offense.
“'Stud' is the coordinator, and you’ve got four co-coordinators. Les is the head coordinator,” Kragthorpe said. “We’re all in it together.
“It’s not a room where everybody is sitting around and being told what to do. We have great interaction, and that’s one of the things that helps us on game days. Everybody’s been talking throughout the week, and everybody is on the same page.”
It’s been a special chemistry among the offensive assistants, and Kragthorpe said a lot of that goes back to Miles and the way he does things.
“It’s not a one-man show,” Kragthorpe said. “He’s a very unselfish guy. There’s not one person in our program who’s more important than anybody else, whether it’s your starting quarterback, me or anybody else in our organization.”
The LSU players barely even noticed a blip when the transition went down in August. In fact, junior receiver Rueben Randle said there’s been no difference in his eyes.
“The terminology didn’t change,” Randle said. “It wasn’t like we had to get used to a whole new system. The coaches made it easy for us, and you see the results.”
Studrawa had also called plays as Bowling Green’s offensive coordinator before coming to LSU.
But he said there’s nothing like calling plays for Miles, who earned his “Mad Hatter” nickname thanks to his willingness to try anything on offense and gamble on fourth down.
“We’ll have a critical third-down situation in the game, and he’ll say, ‘Hey, do whatever you want, because I’m going for it [on fourth down].’ And I’m thinking, ‘All right, I can run something here,’” said Studrawa, rubbing his hands together like a kid on Christmas morning.
“But the thing to remember is that they’re calculated risks. You don’t know how many times we practice those things, just like the flip on the fake field goal … no bounce passes, though.”
Obviously, Studrawa was referring to the ball bouncing perfectly to place-kicker Josh Jasper in the Florida game a year ago.
Still, it’s the kind of freedom to call plays that Studrawa loves, especially the way it filters down to the players.
“It’s fun to coach when you know and the kids know, too, that your head coach has no fear,” Studrawa said. “But we don’t draw those things up on Saturday. If you’re pulling them out of your hat up there in the press box, you’re going to be in trouble.”
The ride has been equally exhilarating for Kragthorpe, even if he’s not the one calling plays.
In fact, he was the one who first suggested to Miles that it would probably work best for somebody else to call plays after initially being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in July.
“Two things are really good medicine for me -- winning and laughter,” Kragthorpe said.
He and his wife, Cynthia, have leaned on each other. She suffers from a heart condition and multiple sclerosis. Kragthorpe sat out the 2010 season at Texas A&M, where he was the receivers coach at the time, to take care of his wife.
“A lot of times, Cindy and I laugh with each other or at each other,” Kragthorpe said. “The worst medicine is crying, so you try to avoid that. But she’s doing great and is tough. Her greatest qualities are toughness and unselfishness.
“If I ever want sympathy, I don’t go home to get it.”
The truth is that Kragthorpe has never asked for sympathy. Not once. He’s plowed ahead and fully expects to be back next season in the same capacity.
He figures the worst thing he could do is not coach.
“I do best when I’m on the practice field or at the games. I do the worst when I just have to sit around,” Kragthorpe said. “If I’m moving around, I’m better.”
He also doesn’t want to miss what comes next with this LSU program.
“Les has done a good job of building a program and not just a team, and I think he’s in it for the long haul as evidenced by the fact that he didn’t go to Michigan last year,” Kragthorpe said. “I’m excited about the future here … and not just what happens Monday night.”
At least, initially.
“Three weeks before the season when we’re supposed to have the year?” Studrawa recalled. “It was unbelievable. You’re like, ‘Whoa!’”
And then, it all began to sink in.
His colleague, Steve Kragthorpe, was stepping down as offensive coordinator and keeping his quarterbacks coach responsibilities after announcing that he had Parkinson’s disease.
“He’s been an inspiration for all of us,” said Studrawa, who came to LSU in 2007 as the Tigers’ offensive line coach. “He never felt sorry for himself, kept his head up and has been a big part of our success.
[+] Enlarge
Derick E. Hingle/US PresswireGreg Studrawa was promoted to offensive coordinator before the season after Steve Kragthorpe stepped down from that role.
Derick E. Hingle/US PresswireGreg Studrawa was promoted to offensive coordinator before the season after Steve Kragthorpe stepped down from that role.Indeed, Kragthorpe himself is a former head coach at Tulsa and Louisville and was an offensive coordinator at several other stops. Tight ends coach Steve Ensminger was an offensive coordinator at several places, including Clemson and Texas A&M. Receivers coach Billy Gonzales, who also oversees the Tigers’ passing game, was a part of a Florida staff that won two national championships, while running backs coach Frank Wilson was a head coach in high school before stops at Ole Miss, Southern Miss and Tennessee.
“When the change came, Steve [Kragthorpe] opened up. Frank opened up. Steve [Ensminger] opened up. Billy opened up,” Studrawa said. “They all opened up, and it became our offense.”
Kragthorpe said the transition was made so much easier because of the quality of the Tigers’ offensive staff, not to mention Studrawa’s familiarity with LSU coach Les Miles and what Miles wanted in an offense.
“'Stud' is the coordinator, and you’ve got four co-coordinators. Les is the head coordinator,” Kragthorpe said. “We’re all in it together.
“It’s not a room where everybody is sitting around and being told what to do. We have great interaction, and that’s one of the things that helps us on game days. Everybody’s been talking throughout the week, and everybody is on the same page.”
It’s been a special chemistry among the offensive assistants, and Kragthorpe said a lot of that goes back to Miles and the way he does things.
“It’s not a one-man show,” Kragthorpe said. “He’s a very unselfish guy. There’s not one person in our program who’s more important than anybody else, whether it’s your starting quarterback, me or anybody else in our organization.”
The LSU players barely even noticed a blip when the transition went down in August. In fact, junior receiver Rueben Randle said there’s been no difference in his eyes.
“The terminology didn’t change,” Randle said. “It wasn’t like we had to get used to a whole new system. The coaches made it easy for us, and you see the results.”
Studrawa had also called plays as Bowling Green’s offensive coordinator before coming to LSU.
But he said there’s nothing like calling plays for Miles, who earned his “Mad Hatter” nickname thanks to his willingness to try anything on offense and gamble on fourth down.
“We’ll have a critical third-down situation in the game, and he’ll say, ‘Hey, do whatever you want, because I’m going for it [on fourth down].’ And I’m thinking, ‘All right, I can run something here,’” said Studrawa, rubbing his hands together like a kid on Christmas morning.
“But the thing to remember is that they’re calculated risks. You don’t know how many times we practice those things, just like the flip on the fake field goal … no bounce passes, though.”
Obviously, Studrawa was referring to the ball bouncing perfectly to place-kicker Josh Jasper in the Florida game a year ago.
Still, it’s the kind of freedom to call plays that Studrawa loves, especially the way it filters down to the players.
“It’s fun to coach when you know and the kids know, too, that your head coach has no fear,” Studrawa said. “But we don’t draw those things up on Saturday. If you’re pulling them out of your hat up there in the press box, you’re going to be in trouble.”
The ride has been equally exhilarating for Kragthorpe, even if he’s not the one calling plays.
In fact, he was the one who first suggested to Miles that it would probably work best for somebody else to call plays after initially being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in July.
More on the BCS championship
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• 6 p.m.: College GameDay (ESPN)
• 8:30 p.m.: Allstate BCS National Championship: LSU vs. Alabama (ESPN)
He and his wife, Cynthia, have leaned on each other. She suffers from a heart condition and multiple sclerosis. Kragthorpe sat out the 2010 season at Texas A&M, where he was the receivers coach at the time, to take care of his wife.
“A lot of times, Cindy and I laugh with each other or at each other,” Kragthorpe said. “The worst medicine is crying, so you try to avoid that. But she’s doing great and is tough. Her greatest qualities are toughness and unselfishness.
“If I ever want sympathy, I don’t go home to get it.”
The truth is that Kragthorpe has never asked for sympathy. Not once. He’s plowed ahead and fully expects to be back next season in the same capacity.
He figures the worst thing he could do is not coach.
“I do best when I’m on the practice field or at the games. I do the worst when I just have to sit around,” Kragthorpe said. “If I’m moving around, I’m better.”
He also doesn’t want to miss what comes next with this LSU program.
“Les has done a good job of building a program and not just a team, and I think he’s in it for the long haul as evidenced by the fact that he didn’t go to Michigan last year,” Kragthorpe said. “I’m excited about the future here … and not just what happens Monday night.”
LSU's Jefferson ready to make it his offense
March, 26, 2010
3/26/10
12:09
PM ET
By
Chris Low | ESPN.com
BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson hears his coach loudly and clearly.
He tells himself the same thing every day.
“I’m going into my junior year. It’s about that time,” Jefferson said. “I’m not a young sophomore anymore. I’m not one of the youngest players on the team anymore. I’ve done a lot of film work this summer, gotten as much mental reps as I could, because as coach [Les Miles] said, it really is my time to step up and make this my offense and get all the guys around me as prepared as I can for this season.”
As the Tigers put the wraps on the spring Saturday with their annual spring game (ESPN2, 4 p.m. ET), Miles has made it very clear to Jefferson that he still wants to see more separation between him and the rest of the pack at quarterback, namely junior Jarrett Lee.
Miles said earlier this week that Lee had played very well this spring and really improved his game.
That’s not to say that he also hasn’t been pleased with Jefferson’s growth.
“We just want to see him be more consistent and more accurate,” Miles said.
Jefferson, who started in 12 games last season, completed 61.7 percent of his passes and put up solid numbers. He finished with 2,166 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and only seven interceptions, but the Tigers struggled to score points and get the ball in the end zone in key games.
There were times last season that Jefferson admits that he was doing too much guessing, which limited him in the passing game. Miles also thinks the Tigers probably put undue pressure on Jefferson by trying to throw the ball too much.
“I did a lot of studying and see the things I need to work on, the things I lacked, to help me become a better quarterback,” Jefferson said. “I have to be more of a leader. We have a lot of younger guys who are going to have to start for us this year. My biggest concern is making sure they’re ready for the season.
“We all have to be on the right page and build the kind of chemistry we didn’t have last year.”
One of things that plagued Jefferson last season was holding onto the ball too long. He was indecisive at times. The Tigers gave up 37 sacks, which tied South Carolina for the SEC high. A lot of that was on the offensive line, which didn’t play very well.
But Jefferson is the first to admit that he has to do a better job of reading defenses. He said first-year passing game coordinator Billy Gonzales, who came over from Florida, has helped him to make quicker decisions.
“He came in with a lot of pass packages and broke the passing game down a lot for me,” Jefferson said. “He’s made it a lot easier for me. It’s based on one read, and you don’t have to make too many reads. We have a good mixture of coach Gonzales and coach [Gary] Crowton, and I think our passing game will be way better than it was last year.”
The biggest change with Jefferson this spring, according to his teammates, has been his confidence.
“You can see it in his eyes, the way he calls the plays,” said sophomore Russell Shepard, who’s making the move to receiver. “We probably tried to do too many things last year, but you can tell that Jordan is in much better control back there.
“I think you’re going to see a big change, not only in him, but this whole offense.”
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Bill HaberLSU is looking for Jordan Jefferson to be the top leader on offense.
AP Photo/Bill HaberLSU is looking for Jordan Jefferson to be the top leader on offense.“I’m going into my junior year. It’s about that time,” Jefferson said. “I’m not a young sophomore anymore. I’m not one of the youngest players on the team anymore. I’ve done a lot of film work this summer, gotten as much mental reps as I could, because as coach [Les Miles] said, it really is my time to step up and make this my offense and get all the guys around me as prepared as I can for this season.”
As the Tigers put the wraps on the spring Saturday with their annual spring game (ESPN2, 4 p.m. ET), Miles has made it very clear to Jefferson that he still wants to see more separation between him and the rest of the pack at quarterback, namely junior Jarrett Lee.
Miles said earlier this week that Lee had played very well this spring and really improved his game.
That’s not to say that he also hasn’t been pleased with Jefferson’s growth.
“We just want to see him be more consistent and more accurate,” Miles said.
Jefferson, who started in 12 games last season, completed 61.7 percent of his passes and put up solid numbers. He finished with 2,166 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and only seven interceptions, but the Tigers struggled to score points and get the ball in the end zone in key games.
There were times last season that Jefferson admits that he was doing too much guessing, which limited him in the passing game. Miles also thinks the Tigers probably put undue pressure on Jefferson by trying to throw the ball too much.
“I did a lot of studying and see the things I need to work on, the things I lacked, to help me become a better quarterback,” Jefferson said. “I have to be more of a leader. We have a lot of younger guys who are going to have to start for us this year. My biggest concern is making sure they’re ready for the season.
“We all have to be on the right page and build the kind of chemistry we didn’t have last year.”
One of things that plagued Jefferson last season was holding onto the ball too long. He was indecisive at times. The Tigers gave up 37 sacks, which tied South Carolina for the SEC high. A lot of that was on the offensive line, which didn’t play very well.
But Jefferson is the first to admit that he has to do a better job of reading defenses. He said first-year passing game coordinator Billy Gonzales, who came over from Florida, has helped him to make quicker decisions.
“He came in with a lot of pass packages and broke the passing game down a lot for me,” Jefferson said. “He’s made it a lot easier for me. It’s based on one read, and you don’t have to make too many reads. We have a good mixture of coach Gonzales and coach [Gary] Crowton, and I think our passing game will be way better than it was last year.”
The biggest change with Jefferson this spring, according to his teammates, has been his confidence.
“You can see it in his eyes, the way he calls the plays,” said sophomore Russell Shepard, who’s making the move to receiver. “We probably tried to do too many things last year, but you can tell that Jordan is in much better control back there.
“I think you’re going to see a big change, not only in him, but this whole offense.”
Here’s a Western Division breakdown of who’s out and who’s in for the 2010 season. Auburn was the only team in the league without any turnover:
ALABAMA
Who’s out: Associate head coach/linebackers coach James Willis
Who’s in: Alabama coach Nick Saban promoted Jeremy Pruitt from director of player development to fill the vacancy left by Willis, who went to Texas Tech to be Tommy Tuberville’s defensive coordinator. Pruitt had been Alabama’s director of player development for the last three seasons and coached at Hoover High School just outside Birmingham prior to that.
ARKANSAS
Who’s out: Offensive coordinator/receivers coach Paul Petrino, assistant head coach/offensive line coach Mike Summers and defensive ends coach Kirk Botkin.
Who’s in: Garrick McGee was promoted to offensive coordinator after Paul Petrino left to take the Illinois offensive coordinator’s job. Kris Cinkovich will coach receivers after spending the last six seasons coaching receivers at UNLV. Steve Caldwell, who was out of coaching last season, will coach ends. Caldwell was on Phillip Fulmer’s staff at Tennessee for 14 seasons. Chris Klenakis will coach offensive line after coming over from Nevada.
LSU
Who’s out: Assistant head coach/running backs coach Larry Porter, receivers coach D.J. McCarthy and tight ends/recruiting coordinator Don Yanowsky.
Who’s in: Frank Wilson, who was at Tennessee last season, will coach the running backs and serve as recruiting coordinator. Billy Gonzales will coach receivers and serve as the passing game coordinator. Gonzales spent the last five seasons at Florida. Steve Ensminger, a former quarterback at LSU, will coach tight ends. He spent last season coaching high school football, but was at Auburn the six seasons prior to that and has also coached at Georgia, Clemson and Texas A&M.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
Who’s out: Defensive coordinator Carl Torbush and defensive line coach David Turner.
Who’s in: Manny Diaz will be the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator and also coach linebackers. He was the defensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee State the previous four seasons. Chris Wilson will serve as co-defensive coordinator and coach the defensive line. He spent the last five seasons coaching the defensive line at Oklahoma.
OLE MISS
Who’s out: Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Kent Austin.
Who’s in: Dave Rader will coach quarterbacks and take over as co-offensive coordinator for Austin, who left to take the head-coaching job at Cornell. Rader was out of coaching the last three seasons, but was the offensive coordinator at Alabama under Mike Shula from 2003 to 2006. He was also the head coach at Tulsa from 1988 to 1999. Rader will share the coordinator duties with Mike Markuson, who was promoted by Houston Nutt and will also continue to coach the offensive line.
ALABAMA
Who’s out: Associate head coach/linebackers coach James Willis
Who’s in: Alabama coach Nick Saban promoted Jeremy Pruitt from director of player development to fill the vacancy left by Willis, who went to Texas Tech to be Tommy Tuberville’s defensive coordinator. Pruitt had been Alabama’s director of player development for the last three seasons and coached at Hoover High School just outside Birmingham prior to that.
ARKANSAS
Who’s out: Offensive coordinator/receivers coach Paul Petrino, assistant head coach/offensive line coach Mike Summers and defensive ends coach Kirk Botkin.
Who’s in: Garrick McGee was promoted to offensive coordinator after Paul Petrino left to take the Illinois offensive coordinator’s job. Kris Cinkovich will coach receivers after spending the last six seasons coaching receivers at UNLV. Steve Caldwell, who was out of coaching last season, will coach ends. Caldwell was on Phillip Fulmer’s staff at Tennessee for 14 seasons. Chris Klenakis will coach offensive line after coming over from Nevada.
LSU
Who’s out: Assistant head coach/running backs coach Larry Porter, receivers coach D.J. McCarthy and tight ends/recruiting coordinator Don Yanowsky.
Who’s in: Frank Wilson, who was at Tennessee last season, will coach the running backs and serve as recruiting coordinator. Billy Gonzales will coach receivers and serve as the passing game coordinator. Gonzales spent the last five seasons at Florida. Steve Ensminger, a former quarterback at LSU, will coach tight ends. He spent last season coaching high school football, but was at Auburn the six seasons prior to that and has also coached at Georgia, Clemson and Texas A&M.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
Who’s out: Defensive coordinator Carl Torbush and defensive line coach David Turner.
Who’s in: Manny Diaz will be the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator and also coach linebackers. He was the defensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee State the previous four seasons. Chris Wilson will serve as co-defensive coordinator and coach the defensive line. He spent the last five seasons coaching the defensive line at Oklahoma.
OLE MISS
Who’s out: Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Kent Austin.
Who’s in: Dave Rader will coach quarterbacks and take over as co-offensive coordinator for Austin, who left to take the head-coaching job at Cornell. Rader was out of coaching the last three seasons, but was the offensive coordinator at Alabama under Mike Shula from 2003 to 2006. He was also the head coach at Tulsa from 1988 to 1999. Rader will share the coordinator duties with Mike Markuson, who was promoted by Houston Nutt and will also continue to coach the offensive line.
With LSU opening spring practice Monday, I thought it might be wise to go over all the coaching changes in the SEC this year.
As usual, it was a revolving door this past offseason. In fact, Auburn was the only school in the league that didn’t have any staff turnover. The final number of head coaches or assistants departing for various reasons was 31.
Some were fired. Others got better gigs, while there were a few that were swayed elsewhere (within the conference) for more money.
Here’s an Eastern Division breakdown of who’s out and who’s in for the 2010 season. We'll do the Western Division a little bit later:
FLORIDA
Who’s out: Associate head coach/defensive coordinator Charlie Strong, defensive coordinator George Edwards, recruiting coordinator/receivers coach Billy Gonzales, cornerbacks coach Vance Bedford and running backs coach Kenny Carter.
Who’s in: Teryl Austin, who spent the last seven seasons as the Arizona Cardinals’ defensive backs coach, is Florida’s new defensive coordinator. He replaces George Edwards, who held the job for less than a month before going back to the NFL with the Buffalo Bills. Edwards replaced Charlie Strong, who left following the season to take the Louisville head job. Stan Drayton returns to coach running backs. He was at Florida earlier this decade before moving on to Tennessee and most recently Syracuse. D.J. Durkin will coach defensive ends and special teams after spending the last three seasons at Stanford. Zach Azzanni will coach receivers. He was previously the assistant head coach/receivers coach at Central Michigan.
GEORGIA
Who’s out: Defensive coordinator/secondary coach Willie Martinez, co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach John Jancek and defensive ends coach Jon Fabris.
Who’s in: Former Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Todd Grantham takes over as Georgia’s defensive coordinator. He was the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive line coach the last two seasons. Scott Lakatos will coach the defensive backs after spending the last six seasons on the Connecticut staff, and Warren Belin will coach linebackers after spending the last eight seasons on the Vanderbilt staff.
KENTUCKY
Who’s out: Head coach Rich Brooks, offensive line coach Jimmy Heggins and defensive line coach Rick Petri.
Who’s in: Joker Phillips, who was already the Wildcats’ coach in waiting, takes over the head coaching reins. Mike Summers will coach the offensive line after serving as assistant head coach/offensive line coach at Arkansas the last two seasons. Former Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin will coach the receivers. Martin was the quarterbacks coach at New Mexico last season. David Turner, who has coached at four different SEC schools, will coach the defensive line. Turner was at Mississippi State the last three seasons.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Who’s out: Offensive line coach/running game coordinator Eric Wolford.
Who’s in: Shawn Elliott replaces Wolford, who left to take the head coaching job at Youngstown State. Elliott has spent his entire coaching career at Appalachian State, including the last nine seasons as offensive line coach.
TENNESSEE
Who’s out: Head coach Lane Kiffin, defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, recruiting coordinator/defensive line coach Ed Orgeron, quarterbacks coach David Reaves, receivers coach Frank Wilson, offensive line coach James Cregg, running backs coach/special teams coordinator Eddie Gran and defensive backs coach Willie Mack Garza.
Who’s in: Derek Dooley was hired as the Vols’ head coach after Lane Kiffin left to take the Southern California head job. Justin Wilcox comes over from Boise State to be the defensive coordinator. Charlie Baggett will serve as assistant head coach and coach the receivers. He has 11 years of NFL experience and was on the St. Louis Rams’ staff last season. Harry Hiestand will coach the offensive line. He was the offensive line coach for the Chicago Bears the past five seasons. Darin Hinshaw will coach quarterbacks. He was the receivers coach at Memphis the past three seasons. Terry Joseph will coach the secondary and special tams. He was with Dooley at Louisiana Tech. Eric Russell will coach tight ends and coordinate special teams. He was also at Louisiana Tech with Dooley. Former Tennessee All-SEC performer Chuck Smith will coach the defensive line. He worked as an assistant defensive line coach with the New York Jets last season and has also tutored several defensive linemen over the years. He played professionally for the Atlanta Falcons.
VANDERBILT
Who’s out: Linebackers coach/special teams coordinator Warren Belin.
Who’s in: Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson is still working to replace Belin, who left to join the Georgia staff. Johnson promoted Jimmy Kiser to offensive coordinator, and Kiser will call all of the Commodores’ plays this season. Ted Cain remains on staff as the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator.
As usual, it was a revolving door this past offseason. In fact, Auburn was the only school in the league that didn’t have any staff turnover. The final number of head coaches or assistants departing for various reasons was 31.
Some were fired. Others got better gigs, while there were a few that were swayed elsewhere (within the conference) for more money.
Here’s an Eastern Division breakdown of who’s out and who’s in for the 2010 season. We'll do the Western Division a little bit later:
FLORIDA
Who’s out: Associate head coach/defensive coordinator Charlie Strong, defensive coordinator George Edwards, recruiting coordinator/receivers coach Billy Gonzales, cornerbacks coach Vance Bedford and running backs coach Kenny Carter.
Who’s in: Teryl Austin, who spent the last seven seasons as the Arizona Cardinals’ defensive backs coach, is Florida’s new defensive coordinator. He replaces George Edwards, who held the job for less than a month before going back to the NFL with the Buffalo Bills. Edwards replaced Charlie Strong, who left following the season to take the Louisville head job. Stan Drayton returns to coach running backs. He was at Florida earlier this decade before moving on to Tennessee and most recently Syracuse. D.J. Durkin will coach defensive ends and special teams after spending the last three seasons at Stanford. Zach Azzanni will coach receivers. He was previously the assistant head coach/receivers coach at Central Michigan.
GEORGIA
Who’s out: Defensive coordinator/secondary coach Willie Martinez, co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach John Jancek and defensive ends coach Jon Fabris.
Who’s in: Former Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Todd Grantham takes over as Georgia’s defensive coordinator. He was the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive line coach the last two seasons. Scott Lakatos will coach the defensive backs after spending the last six seasons on the Connecticut staff, and Warren Belin will coach linebackers after spending the last eight seasons on the Vanderbilt staff.
KENTUCKY
Who’s out: Head coach Rich Brooks, offensive line coach Jimmy Heggins and defensive line coach Rick Petri.
Who’s in: Joker Phillips, who was already the Wildcats’ coach in waiting, takes over the head coaching reins. Mike Summers will coach the offensive line after serving as assistant head coach/offensive line coach at Arkansas the last two seasons. Former Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin will coach the receivers. Martin was the quarterbacks coach at New Mexico last season. David Turner, who has coached at four different SEC schools, will coach the defensive line. Turner was at Mississippi State the last three seasons.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Who’s out: Offensive line coach/running game coordinator Eric Wolford.
Who’s in: Shawn Elliott replaces Wolford, who left to take the head coaching job at Youngstown State. Elliott has spent his entire coaching career at Appalachian State, including the last nine seasons as offensive line coach.
TENNESSEE
Who’s out: Head coach Lane Kiffin, defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, recruiting coordinator/defensive line coach Ed Orgeron, quarterbacks coach David Reaves, receivers coach Frank Wilson, offensive line coach James Cregg, running backs coach/special teams coordinator Eddie Gran and defensive backs coach Willie Mack Garza.
Who’s in: Derek Dooley was hired as the Vols’ head coach after Lane Kiffin left to take the Southern California head job. Justin Wilcox comes over from Boise State to be the defensive coordinator. Charlie Baggett will serve as assistant head coach and coach the receivers. He has 11 years of NFL experience and was on the St. Louis Rams’ staff last season. Harry Hiestand will coach the offensive line. He was the offensive line coach for the Chicago Bears the past five seasons. Darin Hinshaw will coach quarterbacks. He was the receivers coach at Memphis the past three seasons. Terry Joseph will coach the secondary and special tams. He was with Dooley at Louisiana Tech. Eric Russell will coach tight ends and coordinate special teams. He was also at Louisiana Tech with Dooley. Former Tennessee All-SEC performer Chuck Smith will coach the defensive line. He worked as an assistant defensive line coach with the New York Jets last season and has also tutored several defensive linemen over the years. He played professionally for the Atlanta Falcons.
VANDERBILT
Who’s out: Linebackers coach/special teams coordinator Warren Belin.
Who’s in: Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson is still working to replace Belin, who left to join the Georgia staff. Johnson promoted Jimmy Kiser to offensive coordinator, and Kiser will call all of the Commodores’ plays this season. Ted Cain remains on staff as the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator.
Lunchtime links: Gators ticket sales slow
December, 18, 2009
12/18/09
1:03
PM ET
By
Chris Low | ESPN.com
Some SEC links for your Friday reading pleasure:
- Florida fans aren't exactly gobbling up Allstate Sugar Bowl tickets. The Gators still have about 5,000 of their allotment remaining, and the game's only two weeks away.
- Defensive back Ryan White of Tallahassee, Fla., says he will sign with Auburn in February. He's the Tigers' 23rd commitment.
- South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia is more focused for this year's bowl game, writes Joe Person of The State newspaper.
- The numbers add up for Auburn receiver Darvin Adams, writes Charles Goldberg of The Birmingham News.
- Billy Gonzales and Frank Wilson are cleared to coach for LSU, and Larry Porter will not be coaching in the bowl game.
- Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin dismisses junior defensive back Brent Vinson from the team.
- Chip Towers of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution takes a look at how Georgia's 10 graduating seniors rate as recruits.
- Ole Miss signs safety Damien Jackson from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, reports David Brandt of The Jackson Clarion-Ledger.
Florida's Urban Meyer is losing another longtime member of his coaching staff.
Billy Gonzales, who had been with Meyer since their days at Bowling Green, is leaving to take a job on the LSU staff. The Orlando Sentinel reported Thursday night that Gonzales will be the Tigers' passing game coordinator and also coach receivers.
Gonzales had been the Gators' receivers coach since coming to Florida with Meyer in 2005. The last two years, he'd also served as their recruiting coordinator.
LSU had two openings to fill after running backs coach Larry Porter was named the head coach at Memphis and receivers coach D.J. McCarthy resigned Wednesday. McCarthy has been linked to possible NCAA violations that LSU is investigating. The Tigers hired Frank Wilson away from Tennessee to fill Porter's spot, and Gonzales will step in for McCarthy.
Billy Gonzales, who had been with Meyer since their days at Bowling Green, is leaving to take a job on the LSU staff. The Orlando Sentinel reported Thursday night that Gonzales will be the Tigers' passing game coordinator and also coach receivers.
Gonzales had been the Gators' receivers coach since coming to Florida with Meyer in 2005. The last two years, he'd also served as their recruiting coordinator.
LSU had two openings to fill after running backs coach Larry Porter was named the head coach at Memphis and receivers coach D.J. McCarthy resigned Wednesday. McCarthy has been linked to possible NCAA violations that LSU is investigating. The Tigers hired Frank Wilson away from Tennessee to fill Porter's spot, and Gonzales will step in for McCarthy.
Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
Selecting the best recruiters in the SEC is like selecting your favorite golf holes at Augusta National.
There are so many. How do you choose?
After talking to coaches around the league, recruiting analysts, recruiting buffs and doing our own research on who's recruited who over the years, we've come up with a Top 25 list.
Keep in mind that these are assistants only. Head coaches are not included in this list, although Alabama's Nick Saban and Florida's Urban Meyer would be the top two if we did include head coaches.
The most underrated recruiter as a head coach in the SEC has to be LSU's Les Miles. The Tigers are well on their way to the No. 1 recruiting class in the country this year.
And in each of the past three years, LSU has finished 11th or higher nationally in the rankings compiled by ESPN's Scouts Inc. The only other SEC school that can claim that distinction is Florida.
We'll start the countdown with Nos. 11-25. Check back Wednesday morning, and we'll unveil Nos. 1-10 of the best recruiters in the SEC:
- 25. Jon Fabris, Georgia defensive ends coach
- 24. Shane Beamer, South Carolina recruiting coordinator, special teams coordinator and safeties coach
- 23. Curtis Luper, Auburn running backs coach
- 22. Charlie Fisher, Vanderbilt passing game co-coordinator and receivers coach
- 21. Paul Petrino, Arkansas offensive coordinator and receivers coach
- 20. Chris Vaughn, Ole Miss recruiting coordinator and running backs coach
- 19. Mike Bobo, Georgia offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach
- 18. Robbie Caldwell, Vanderbilt assistant head coach and offensive line coach
- 17. Kirby Smart, Alabama defensive coordinator and secondary coach
- 16. Eddie Gran, Tennessee special teams coordinator and running backs coach
- 15. Tony Hughes, Mississippi State defensive assistant
- 14. Frank Wilson, Tennessee receivers coach
- 13. Billy Gonzales, Florida recruiting coordinator and receivers coach
- 12. D.J. McCarthy, LSU receivers coach
- 11. Lorenzo Ward, South Carolina defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Chris Low
Low joined ESPN.com in 2007 after 10 years with The (Nashville) Tennessean covering the University of Tennessee and SEC. The Rock Hill, S.C., native lives with his wife in Knoxville and has three sons.
Edward Aschoff
Aschoff joined ESPN.com in 2011 after spending four years covering the University of Florida for The Gainesville Sun. He grew up in Oxford, Miss., before attending UF, graduating with a B.S. in journalism.
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