Tag: Coaching Search

Ben Johnson’s agent shoots down reported head coaching salary demands

Johnson’s agent called it “100% false and irresponsible reporting” that Johnson had made any demands

Ben Johnson is almost universally considered to be one of the top head coaching candidates for the coming NFL offseason. However, Johnson’s agent quite publicly squashed any notion that the Lions offensive coordinator is seeking to break the bank in landing any head coaching gig.

Responding to a social media post from Josina Anderson that “Johnson’s asking price is at least or around $15M/year” to consider taking any had coaching job, Johnson’s agent, Richmond Flowers III, fired back hard at the report.

Flowers called out the report as “100% false and irresponsible reporting” and stated, “there is no asking price or demand” from Johnson.

Flowers doesn’t refute any of the claims that Johnson is interested in potentially chasing a head coaching position, just the financial aspect. That salary would make Johnson among the highest-paid coaches in league history; it’s $3 million per year higher than what Andy Reid gets paid by the Chiefs.

Johnson was the front-runner to become the Carolina Panthers head coach last offseason before pulling his name from consideration after one interview. He also rejected opportunities to interview for the Texans and Colts vacancies last winter.

Report: Indiana fires Tom Allen

An in-state coaching change to keep an eye on

As the college football regular season comes to an end it’s a day to keep an eye on coaching firings.  One hit early Sunday as Indiana has fired coach Tom Allen after seven seasons in charge.  The original report came from the Indy Star.

Allen finishes his Indiana tenure at 33-49 overall and 18-43 in Big Ten play.

It’s the second year in a row Notre Dame sees an in-state Big Ten team going through a coaching change.  Last year Jeff Brohm left Purdue to take the Louisville job.

Notre Dame and Indiana are slated to meet again for a home-and-home series in the 2030 and 2031 seasons.

Related: Notre Dame future schedules and opponents

Report: Wisconsin defensive coordinator a candidate for Michigan State’s head coach opening

Wisconsin’s DC was listed as a possible candidate at MSU…

Michigan State officially fired head coach Mel Tucker earlier this week. The program went 20-14 under his watch, and just 7-7 after a fantastic 2021 season led to a record 10-year, $95 million contract extension.

The Spartans now move forward to find their next head coach. Just last season both Wisconsin and Nebraska were able to successfully land big names in the coaching world in Luke Fickell and Matt Rhule respectively. The question now is where Michigan State stands as a program, and whether the top candidates across the country consider it an attractive opening.

The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy did report an initial list of candidates for the job. Included in that list is Wisconsin first-year DC Mike Tressel.

Tressel played his college football at Cornell before his coaching journey brought him to East Lansing from 2007-2014 as its linebackers coach, 2015-17 as co-defensive coordinator and 2020 as safeties coach. The Wisconsin DC then left to join Luke Fickell at Cincinnati in 2021. He isn’t far removed from being a highly successful coordinator at Michigan State.

Tressell replaced star DC Jim Leonhard at Wisconsin and is still working to install his system. The jury is still out on whether his defense can be great this season. But regardless, he isn’t the hot name in the coaching world that Michigan State fans will want.

Could Michigan State football make a run at Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman?

Rico Beard of 97.1 suggested that MSU should make a run at Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman. It’s not that crazy of an idea. Here’s why:

While many, including us at Spartans Wire, have outlined some options for who MSU should pursue to be their next head coach, it was 97.1 The Ticket host, Spartans Illustrated contributor, and noted Michigan State media member Rico Beard who has taken the airways and social media by storm, suggesting that Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman should be the Spartans’ top choice as next head coach, as outlined by Fighting Irish Wire.

A new coaching search in East Lansing stems following a massive USA TODAY investigation, with Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller announcing to the public that the University plans to fire Mel Tucker for cause.

While on the surface, Beard’s comments felt a little outlandish, and even a bit of wishful thinking, but after digging into it, I’m here to tell Spartan Nation that I don’t think it is that crazy of an idea after all, and it actually could be very plausible.

You can find my reasoning below.

Auburn pitching coach Daron Schoenrock has reportedly stepped down

He spent just one season on the Plains.

For the second straight season Auburn head coach [autotag]Butch Thompson[/autotag] is looking for a new pitching coach.

[autotag]Daron Schoenrock[/autotag], who spent just one season on the Plains, has stepped down according to a report by Kendall Rogers of D1Baseball. Rogers added that Schoenrock “wants to be closer to family.”

Auburn’s pitching staff got off to a rough start under Schoenrock but improved throughout the season and was a major reason for their second-half turnaround. The Tigers were also without expected weekend starter [autotag]Joseph Gonzalez[/autotag], who only made one start due to injury.

The pitching staff finished the season with a combiner ERA of 5.76 and 502 strikeouts to 287 walks.

Thompson will now be looking for a pitching coach to pair with assistants Gabe Gross and Karl Nonemaker. Due to NCAA changes, the position will now be full-time and not a volunteer role.

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Notre Dame booster calls OC debacle ‘A very bad look’

This was Chicago Bears-like and not in the form of the ’85 squad.

If you know anything about the University of Notre Dame beyond the football program, you’re certainly familiar with the college of business. Let me correct myself: The Mendoza College of Business.

As you’re aware, you don’t get your name on an elite university’s college of business for winning a raffle. You obviously have to donate a substantial amount of money to get such a thing.

Meet Tom Mendoza, a Notre Dame graduate and the former president and vice chairman of Net App. Under his direction, Net App was named the top place to work by Fortune Magazine’s 2009 rankings of the best places to work.

You can follow Mendoza on Twitter, and you should if you’re a Notre Dame fan. He keeps a close eye on the athletic program and other university happenings. Like the rest of us paying attention, Mendoza clearly wasn’t impressed with what went down as Notre Dame fumbled the potential Andy Ludwig hiring.

Notre Dame possibly nearing making another offensive coordinator offer

Is Marcus Freeman going to spend his Friday night making a formal job offer?

The week-long journey to find Notre Dame’s next offensive coordinator may be drawing to an end. After Marcus Freeman and the Irish were turned down by Kansas State offensive coordinator Collin Klein, an offer to another finalist may soon be made.

Heather Dinich of ESPN, who broke the news that Klein was taking his name out of the running, reported early Friday evening that Utah offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig may soon be next up. According to Dinich, Ludwig is expected on campus tonight and an offer may follow quickly.

Ludwig easily has the most experience of any candidate Notre Dame has reportedly been in contact with. Most recently he has helped lead Utah to consecutive Pac-12 titles and Rose Bowl appearances.

Find out much more about Ludwig, including which former No. 1 NFL draft pick he helped develop, by reading his candidate profile we put together earlier in the week.

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Notre Dame Offensive Coordinator Search: 3 leaders emerge

Which candidate are you hoping most for and why?

A week after Tommy Rees left Notre Dame to become Alabama’s offensive coordinator, it appears Marcus Freeman and Ron Powlus are making progress in the search for a replacement. After some internet rumors proved untrue earlier in the week, it appears to be a three-man race.

Football Scoop has been all over this story like they almost always are with coaching news and gave an update Thursday evening. The site had named two of the three emerging candidates as being vetted. Though it added that at least one other Power Five offensive coordinator had been discussed, it didn’t give a name. The third of the three fits that mold.

Here are the key details from the latest Football Scoop report:

Aaron Glenn head coaching candidacy update

Lions DC Aaron Glenn remains a strong candidate to become the next head coach of the Colts or Cardinals

Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn remains firmly in the mix for the two remaining head coach openings in the NFL. Glenn has interviewed twice with both the Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts.

A report from Zak Keefer of The Athletic indicates that Glenn “interviewed really well this week” with the Colts. In the same report is an indication from ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the team might not hire a head coach before next Sunday’s Super Bowl.

As for the potential in Arizona, Cardinals Wire’s Jess Root points out a strong connection between Glenn and new GM Monti Ossenfort,

He and Ossenfort have a connection.

As a player, Glenn played for the Texans from 2002-2004. Ossenfort was a pro personnel intern for the Texans in 2002 and a pro and college scouting assistant for them in 2004.

The Cardinals appear to be closer to making a decision than the Colts, and Glenn remains a strong candidate. Stay tuned…

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Aaron Glenn remains as a head coaching candidate for the Cardinals

Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn remains as one of three primary head coaching candidates for the Cardinals

There are still some head coaching vacancies across the NFL landscape as the league progresses to the conference championship round. Houston, Denver, Indianapolis and Arizona have all yet to hire their new head coaches.

It’s the Cardinals who are the team to watch regarding Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. He’s already interviewed once, back on January 21st. While other candidates (namely Sean Payton) have come and gone, Glenn is generally regarded as one of the top three candidates, along with Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and Steelers assistant Brian Flores.

Glenn’s strong leadership and organizational skills make him a strong candidate. The longtime NFL cornerback is expected to get a second interview with the Cardinals very soon. He’s not considered a real candidate for any other positions. Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson removed himself from consideration in Carolina, where the Panthers instead hired Frank Reich.

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