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What's going on with the all the staff changes?
Posted on 1/27/21 at 10:29 pm
Posted on 1/27/21 at 10:29 pm
Recruiting coordinator announced today he's leaving for Auburn. He said he is taking an ops position there. That's basically a lateral move at best, and more of a demotion.
Per 247:
Looks to me like the only guy who actually wasn't fired or told to find a job elsewhere was Stepp.
Every other move looks like Pittman is turning over a quite a bit of the staff intentionally.
He has seemingly held on to Odom for now, and Briles as well, but it looks like guys are getting cut loose not for their coaching abilities (our Special Teams were literally bottom 3 in the country by the analytics), but for their recruitng prowess.
I figure Pitt was a little upset we didn't rank higher in this class and losing Stepp, you ace recruiter, will hurt.
Does coaching ability matter at all anymore, or is it strictly a recruit or bust sport now?
Per 247:
quote:
Arkansas Director of Recruiting Joshua Thompson leaving the Razorbacks for a new position with the Auburn Tigers, HawgSports learned on Wednesday.
Thompson will be taking "more of a Director of Football Operations" role on the Plains, per sources, as he has aspirations to work in administration. He is expected to arrive in Auburn on Thursday morning.
Thompson joined the Razorbacks' staff in May of 2019 under then-head coach Chad Morris.
He was then retained by new Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman, and helped guide the Hogs to finishes of No. 30 and No. 21 in the national recruiting rankings in the classes of 2020 and 2021, respectively. The Texas native worked at Louisiana and Texas A&M prior to moving to Fayetteville.
Thompson's departure marks the fourth thus far on Sam Pittman's staff this offseason.
Wide receivers coach Justin Stepp took the same position at South Carolina, linebackers coach Rion Rhoades is reportedly taking on an off-the-field position previously held by Bobby Allen, and tight ends coach Jon Cooper has already been replaced by former Southern Miss offensive line coach Cody Kennedy.
Sources indicate that Arkansas could still have more shakeups in the days ahead.
Looks to me like the only guy who actually wasn't fired or told to find a job elsewhere was Stepp.
Every other move looks like Pittman is turning over a quite a bit of the staff intentionally.
He has seemingly held on to Odom for now, and Briles as well, but it looks like guys are getting cut loose not for their coaching abilities (our Special Teams were literally bottom 3 in the country by the analytics), but for their recruitng prowess.
I figure Pitt was a little upset we didn't rank higher in this class and losing Stepp, you ace recruiter, will hurt.
Does coaching ability matter at all anymore, or is it strictly a recruit or bust sport now?
This post was edited on 1/27/21 at 10:34 pm
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Posted on 1/27/21 at 11:00 pm to Jack Ruby
quote:
Does coaching ability matter at all anymore, or is it strictly a recruit or bust sport now?
The better the athlete, the easier he is to coach. Pitt seems to want better athletes and that takes better recruiters.
Posted on 1/27/21 at 11:05 pm to AlaCowboy
Posted on 1/27/21 at 11:36 pm to TheCheshireHog
If this ultimately translates to actually recruiting at a relevant level, then by all means Sam - clean house.
Posted on 1/28/21 at 1:06 am to Beached Tusky
There's lots of rumors about Chris Gragg joining the staff in some, capacity.
I can't see him as a recruiting coordinator with his playing experience, but I'd welcome a young, former collegiate stud TE who ayed years in the NFL on staff.
If he does join in some capacity, Sam is clearly trying to put together some young, former pros on the staff to relate to the players.
I can't see him as a recruiting coordinator with his playing experience, but I'd welcome a young, former collegiate stud TE who ayed years in the NFL on staff.
If he does join in some capacity, Sam is clearly trying to put together some young, former pros on the staff to relate to the players.
Posted on 1/28/21 at 7:01 am to Jack Ruby
A lot of high school kids also think being coached by someone who played recently in the nfl that they saw play can somehow transform them into the same player. We see it in college football and college basketball how kids gravitate to former pros. It’s a good idea for Pittman.
Posted on 1/28/21 at 7:26 am to AlaCowboy
quote:
The better the athlete, the easier he is to coach. Pitt seems to want better athletes and that takes better recruiters.
Better recruiters=bagman. They aren’t coming her because the position coach is young and cool.
Posted on 1/28/21 at 8:39 am to Poker_hog
quote:
Better recruiters=bagman. They aren’t coming her because the position coach is young and cool.
Everybody has bagmen to some extent. Everyone may not be making six figure offers to players....but bagmen just the same. So you gotta have a little something behind the $$$ that makes a player want to play at your school.
This post was edited on 1/28/21 at 8:40 am
Posted on 1/28/21 at 9:11 am to Jack Ruby
Gragg wants to be GA. He's trying to get his foot in the door to college coaching. DJ Williams was trying to join as well, but he wanted to be the actual TE Coach having no coaching experience at all. At least Gragg is willing to earn his stripes the correct way.
As far as the recruiting coordinator, he's taking an admin position at Auburn. He supposedly wants to be an AD one day. So, he is doing what's best for his career in that regard. You can't blame the guy.
As far as the recruiting coordinator, he's taking an admin position at Auburn. He supposedly wants to be an AD one day. So, he is doing what's best for his career in that regard. You can't blame the guy.
This post was edited on 1/28/21 at 9:14 am
Posted on 1/28/21 at 9:28 am to Pygthagorean Theorem
quote:
As far as the recruiting coordinator, he's taking an admin position at Auburn. He supposedly wants to be an AD one day. So, he is doing what's best for his career in that regard. You can't blame the guy.
Agreed. You don't get the sense that Pittman kicked him out of the door or anything. He wants to work in administration which is understandable, they tend to have a lot more stability than the coaching side of things after all.
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