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Well folks, a lot has transpired in the last week. We have some great topics to discuss. In today’s “Crossfire†we’ll cover the approval of BOR for the Coach Strong contract. We will also touch on the lack of information being released that is coming out of Bellmont these days- what gives? We’ll talk to our old friend “FOB†for insight on what is going on.
We will discuss the Coaching Staff and share some factoids with you on their past experiences. Finally, we will wrap up on recruiting. We’ll layout what players are scheduled to visit and where.
So away we go into the “Crossfireâ€..
COACH STRONG SIGNS 5 YEAR DEAL WITH TEXAS
McPhaul: How are you doing? We certainly have had an eventful week.
Friend of Bevo: I’m fine thanks. Is that what you would call it, eventful?
Mc Phaul: Yes sir, let’s talk about the approval of Coach Strong’s contract.
Friend of Bevo: I think it is a good contract. I’m a proponent of an incentives based contract. Both parties are very happy with the terms. I know Powers and Patterson are pleased that they did not bring a 8 million dollar contract to the BOR table. It is now easy to recognize that one of the criteria on the list for Korn-Ferry is that candidates fit a particular salary range. That certainly was not a point of concern with some of the powerbrokers but, it was to Powers and Patterson. We all hope Charlie cash’s in on those incentives.
Here is a summary of the contract:
Basic details
Runs Jan 2014 - Jan 2019
$5M Annual Salary; paid on a monthly basis
$100K/yr. annual raise
Texas pays Strong's $4.375M buyout to the University of Louisville
Bonus
Various bonus levels for athletic GPA ($75,000 for 3.1)
Winning Big 12: $100,000
Team advances to playoff finals: $100,000
Team wins playoff championship: $350,000
Perks/Benefits
Use of 2 cars from vehicle dealership or $7500 car allowance
20 hours of flight time on UT airplane
UT Golf Club membership as well as 2 other clubs.
One Suite with 6 season tickets to football games, 4 season tickets to all other sporting events.
FRIEND OF BEVO ON LACK OF INFORMATION COMING OUT OF BELLMONT
McPhaul: Everyone is concerned about the lack of information that coming out of Bellmont these days. They wonder if all the inside sources have been disconnected.
Friend of Bevo: Let me explain this to you. Texas did not just hire a new football coach; Texas also hired a new AD. One of the main reasons why the channels of information have been sketchy is you now have people that have never worked together now trying to communicate. You people don’t understand that it is going to take time for this administration to be restructured. With the amount of uncertainty in the ranks, establishing new channels of communication has not been a priority for some. Once things get settled, new relationships will be established, friendships will be born, and life will be back to normal on the 40. Personally I have past history with Steve Patterson,Les Koening, and even Les’ dad so I look forward to rekindling those relationships.
McPhaul: Have you had the opportunity to meet Coach Strong?
Friend of Bevo: I did but, I can’t say that he is going to remember me. Charlie has met a large village in the last two weeks.
Mc Phaul: What did you take away from that brief encounter?
Friend of Bevo: Charlie seems like a fine man. Charlie appeared to slightly overwhelmed with the attention that comes with being named the new head coach at Texas. In his defense, most would. Poor guy probably has not got much sleep. He has his work cut out for him that is for sure.
COACH STRONG MEETS WITH TEAM
McPhaul: We all have heard that Coach Strong met with the team. At that meeting Coach Strong introduced some of the staff and laid the some ground rules down.
Friend of Bevo: Yes he did. I had the opportunity to speak with a few of the kids and all though some of them are apprehensive about getting a new position coach, they are so excited to see what the future holds.
The Strong Movement:
1. Players will attend all of their classes and sit in the front two rows of all of their classes. GAs, academic folks, position coaches will be checking constantly now.
2. No headphones in class. No texting in class. Sit up and take notes.
3. If a player misses a class, he runs until it hurts. If he misses two classes, his entire position unit runs. If he misses three, the position coach runs. The position coaches don't want to run.
4. No earrings in the football building. No drugs. No stealing. No guns. Treat women with respect.
5. Players may not live off campus anymore, unless they're a senior who hits certain academic standards. The University will buy out the leases for every player currently living off campus and put them in the athletic dorm.
6. The team will all live together, eat together, suffer together, and hang out together. They will become a true team and learn to impose accountability on each other. The cliques are over.
7. There's no time for a rebuild. "I don't have time for that." The expectation is that Texas wins now.
8. Players will learn that they would rather practice than milk a minor injury.
9. The focus is on winning and graduating. Anything extraneous to that is a distraction and will be stamped out or removed.
10. Strong met individually with seniors and key leaders and re-emphasized that the plan is to win now. They can lead the new culture or be run over by it.
McPhaul: I can only imagine how unhappy some of the older classmen are about moving back to campus.
Friend of Bevo: (Chuckling) Yes, you know that has to sting but I admire the intention behind it. Charlie is intent on building a team first and that’s not just talk. I know there has been talk about the how Coach Brown fostered a family environment but much of it was a façade. Coach Strong is not much into facades. One thing is for sure, it’s a new world for these boys.
THE NEW STAFF
Mc Phaul: Let’s start with offensive staff first. What are your thoughts?
Friend of Bevo: I’m a bit perplexed as to why we could not land a full fledge OC and the indecision that went into forming this staff. I know for a fact we tried like the devil to land either Herman or Morris. With Morris we could not get the financials to work. Herman believes he can get a head coaching job sooner at tOSU than he would be able to do at Texas. Texas also pressed for a multiyear agreement. Both these coaches are going to receive a lot of consideration this year and next for head coaching positions.
McPhaul: Was the any other OC’s Texas considered?
Friend of Bevo: Not really. We flirted with the kid from East Carolina but, nothing got serious.
McPhaul: You would think that at a school like Texas, we could have our pick?
Friend of Bevo: Yes and no. Charlie was never really comfortable hiring outside his circle. Patterson encouraged Charlie to vet nationally. As we know, Charlie was comfortable and confident that the coaches he brought along can get the job done.
Mc Phaul: So correct me if I misunderstood but Coach Strong appears to be very similar to Patterson in that he wants to do things HIS way and in fact DOES things HIS way and with HIS choices?
Friend of Bevo: Coaching is a profession built on relationships and friendships. When you receive a promotion, you bring along the guys that assisted you getting there, and make sure take care of them and surround yourself with the ones you have confidence in.
I’m not sure where the assumption that Strong was just going to hire guys he had no relationship with came from but that's rarely how things work with coaches in most professions.
THE NEW COACHING STAFF
Offensive Coordinator & Offensive Line Coach: Joe Wickline
Joe Wickline is in his ninth year at Oklahoma State and his 32nd year as a college football coach. He is regarded as one of America's elite offensive line coaches.
• Wickline has been at the heart of Oklahoma State offensive coaching staffs that led the Cowboys to top-20 national finishes in total offense in 2006 (16th), 2007 (seventh), 2008 (sixth), 2010 (third), 2011 (third) and 2012 (fourth).
• From 2010-12 alone, the Cowboys have scored more than 50 points 15 times, broke the 60-point mark in seven contests, the 70-point mark twice and the 80-point plateau once with Wickline's linemen in the trenches.
• He helped coach an Oklahoma State offense that has averaged at least 40 points per game in five of the last six seasons.
• Wickline's offensive line has paved the way for six consecutive first-team All-Big 12 running backs from 2007-12, a 1,000-yard rusher each of the past five seasons, a 1,000-yard receiver in six of the past seven seasons and a 3,000-yard passer in three of the past four seasons.
• He is one of the key figures on a staff that led OSU to a share of the Big 12 South title in 2010 and the outright conference crown in 2011. The Pokes appeared in - and won - their first-ever BCS bowl game with a victory over Stanford in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl to cap the 2011 season.
• Wickline coached the 2009 and 2011 recipients of Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year honors, with tackle Russell Okung securing the recognition in 2009 and center Grant Garner taking home the accolade in 2011.
• Since 2006, Oklahoma State has placed seven offensive linemen on the All-Big 12 first team squad, with Russell Okung earning unanimous All-America honors in 2009 and Levy Adcock securing consensus All-America recognition in 2011. Okung was the only offensive lineman included on the list of three finalists for the 2009 Outland Trophy.
• Oklahoma State's individual offensive players have benefitted enormously from Wickline's corps in recent seasons, with seven offensive players earning All-America honors from recognized outlets and 15 securing All-Big 12 first-team accolades since 2008 alone.
• With Wickline overseeing the offensive line, the Cowboys led the Big 12 in rushing every year from 2006-09 and have ranked in the top 20 nationally in fewest sacks allowed every year from 2006-12.
• With Wickline's linemen paving the way, Oklahoma State led the Big 12 and ranked second nationally in both scoring offense and passing offense in 2011. The Cowboys ranked third in the country in total offense.
• Wickline's work in 2010 was spectacular, as he took an offensive line that was replacing four starters and turned it into a group that paved the way for an Oklahoma State attack that ranked second nationally in passing offense with 345.8 yards per game, third nationally in total offense with 520.2 yards per game and third nationally in scoring with 44.2 points per game.
• With Wickline's offensive line leading the way, Oklahoma State had at least one running back rush for 100 yards or more in 15 consecutive games during one stretch of time spanning from the 2007 season through the 2008 season.
• In 2008, Wickline's charges helped running back Kendall Hunter to earn first-team All-America honors by the Football Writers Association of America and wide receiver Dez Bryant to earn first-team All-America honors by the Walter Camp Foundation and the American Football Coaches Association.
• Wickline helped Charlie Johnson make a successful transition to the tackle spot from tight end. Johnson became the first OSU offensive lineman selected in the NFL Draft since 1985 when Indianapolis took him in 2006. He went on to a solid rookie season and played a pivotal role in the Colts' Super Bowl win over Chicago.
• The 2006 offensive line helped the Cowboys average more than 35 points per game and for the first time ever, the Cowboys had four players rush for at least 500 yards.
• At Ole Miss (1988-1994), Wickline coached All-American Everett Lindsay, who went on to a long career with the Minnesota Vikings. At Florida, he coached five All-Americans, including first-teamers Lomas Brown, Shannon Snell and Jeff Zimmerman. Wickline also coached Max Starks, a former tackle for the Gators who now plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• Wickline helped Florida's running game improve from 122.4 yards per game to 155.8 yards per game during his three years as offensive line coach. The 2004 Gator running game finished the regular season second in the SEC in yards per carry (4.5).
• He was the running game coordinator for Middle Tennessee in 2001 when Dwon Hicks broke the school record for single-season rushing touchdowns (20). The Blue Raiders also set new standards for total offense per game (481.4) and total offense per play (6.8) that season and ranked fifth nationally in total offense.
Personal
• Wickline played at Florida, where he was a three-year letterman. He was selected to play in the Blue-Gray Game following his Gator career. Wickline also lettered one season in wrestling.
• He was born Oct. 23, 1958, in St. Petersburg, Fla., and earned his bachelor's degree in health, physical education and recreation from Florida in 1983. He is married to the former Nicki Sturdivant and has three children, Lacey, Kelby and Lauren.
Wickline at a Glance
Year By Year
1982-1983: Florida, Graduate Assistant
1984: Tennessee, Graduate Assistant
1984-1987: Delta State, Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line
1988-1994: Mississippi, Offensive Line
1995: Pearl River CC, Offensive Line
1996: SW Miss. CC, Head Coach
1997-1998: Baylor, Offensive Line
1999-2001: Middle Tenn. State, Offensive Line/Running Game/Recruiting Coordinator
2002-2004: Florida, Offensive Line/Running Game Coordinator
2005-present: Oklahoma State, Offensive Line
Assistant Head Coach and Quarterbacks Coach: Shawn Watson
Coaching Highlights
Louisville
• Guided quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to the BIG EAST Offensive player of the Year and first team All-BIG EAST. Threw for 3,718 yards and 27 touchdowns.
• Led a dramatic improvement offensively in 2012, scoring 405 points and averaging 418.8 yards of total offense.
• In 2011, coached Teddy Bridgewater to the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year Award and numerous freshman All-American awards.
• Took over the play-calling duties mid-way through the 2010 season.
Nebraska
• Directed an offense in 2010 that ranked ninth in the country in rushing offense at 247.6 yards per game, including four games where Nebraska ran for more than 300 yards in a game.
• Under Watson's guidance in 2009, Nebraska averaged 147.1 rushing yards per game averaged 175.7 yards through the air. Zac Lee, who was in his first season as a starter, completed nearly 60 percent of his passes.
• Watson's balanced attack a year earlier averaged 169.8 yards per game on the ground and 281.0 yards in the air, as the Huskers' 450.8 yards of total offense per game ranked 12th nationally.
• Senior quarterback Joe Ganz set single-season school records for total yards with 3,826, and passing yards with 3,568 in 2008. He threw for 25 touchdowns while completing 67.9 percent of his passes, finishing his career with more than 20 NU records.
• In 2007, the Huskers threw for a school-record 3,886 yards, including the top three passing days in school history. The Nebraska offense ranked ninth nationally at 468.2 yards per game, A pair of Watson's quarterbacks helped Nebraska rank seventh nationally in passing with a school-record 323.8 yards per game.
Colorado
• Coached on the staff of four teams that won the Big 12 North Division, including a conference title in 2001.
Northwestern
• Coached at Northwestern from 1997-98, serving as quarterbacks coach for the Wildcats. Watson earned his spot at Northwestern following a three-year stint as the head coach at Southern Illinois, Watson's alma mater.
Southern Illinois
• Earned his first head coaching job at Southern Illinois from 1994-96.
Miami (Ohio)
• Tutored the tight ends for three years, wide receivers for two years and served as quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator in his final two seasons.
Illinois
• First full-time assistant coaching job came on Mike White's Illinois staff and was a part of two bowl teams at Illinois, including the 1983 Rose Bowl team.
Coaching Experience
1982: Southern Illinois (Graduate Assistant)
1983-84: Illinois (Graduate Assistant)
1985: Illinois (Tight Ends/Offensive Tackles)
1986: Illinois (Wide Receivers)
1987-89: Miami (OH) (Tight Ends)
1990-93: Miami (OH) (Quarterbacks/Recruiting Coordinator)
1994-96: Southern Illinois (Head Coach)
1997-98: Northwestern (Quarterbacks)
1999: Colorado (Quarterbacks)
2000-05: Colorado (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
2006: Nebraska (Recruiting Coordinator/Tight Ends)
2007-10: Nebraska (Offensive Coordinator/QB)
2011-13: Louisville (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Running Backs Coach: Tommie Robinson
Tommie Robinson, who has coached running backs at the collegiate and NFL levels, joined the USC staff in February of 2013 as the running backs coach.
Robinson, 49, handled the Arizona Cardinals' running backs the past 3 years (2010-12). In 2011, he helped Beanie Wells become the first player in franchise history to run for at least 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. Wells also set a franchise game rushing record with 228 yards against the St. Louis Rams that season. The Cardinals' rushing attack was hampered in 2012 by injuries and the 2010 offense was primarily pass oriented.
He spent the previous 3 seasons (2007-09) as the running backs coach at Miami (Fla.), helping the Hurricanes to the 2008 Emerald Bowl and 2009 Champs Sports Bowl, after working in 2006 with the running back at Memphis.
Before Memphis, he coached 4 seasons (2002-05) at Georgia Tech, coaching wide receivers the first year and then tight ends the next 3 seasons. Tech wideouts Kerry Watkins and Will Glover finished their careers in 2002 among the school's Top 5 all-time receivers. Tight ends John Paul Foschi and Darius Williams played in the NFL. The Yellow Jackets played in the 2002 Silicon Valley Classic, 2004 Humanitarian Bowl and 2004 Champs Sports Bowl.
He spent 2001 as the running backs coach at Oklahoma State, working with future NFLer Tatum Bell.
He was an offensive assistant with the Dallas Cowboys for 3 years (1998-2000), working with the wide receivers (including future Hall of Famer Michael Irvin) and special teams. The 1998 and 1999 Cowboys advanced to the NFL playoffs and the 1998 squad won the NFC East title.
He went to the Cowboys after a 3-month stop as the running backs coach at UNLV early in 1998. Before that, he coached running backs at Utah State for 2 years (1992-93), helping the Aggies to the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl, and wide receivers at TCU for 4 seasons (1994-97), as the Horned Frogs played in the 1994 Independence Bowl.
He began his college coaching career as a graduate assistant at Arkansas in 1991, as the Razorbacks played in the 1991 Independence Bowl.
He started coaching at the high school level, guiding Woodham High in Pensacola (Fla.) in 1986 and 1987 and Central High in Phenix City (Ala.), his alma mater, from 1988 to 1990.
During his various college stops, he also served minority coaching internships with the New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins.
He was a 3-year starter at strong safety and team captain as a senior at Troy State, where he was a member of the 1984 Division II national championship team. He received his bachelor's degree in criminal justice at Troy State in 1985.
ROBINSON SNAPSHOT
BIRTHDAY: April 4, 1963
FAMILY: Wife, Lartonyar; Sons, Dantrell, 27, and Trey, 17; Daughter, Tawanda, 20
HIGH SCHOOL: Central HS, Phenix City, Ala.
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, criminal justice, Troy State, 1985
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Central HS, Phenix City, Ala.
Troy State, safety, 1982-85
COACHING EXPERIENCE: 26 years
YEAR TEAM POSITION BOWL
1986 Woodham HS Assistant Coach --
1987 Woodham HS Assistant Coach --
1988 Central HS Assistant Coach --
1989 Central HS Assistant Coach --
1990 Central HS Assistant Coach --
1991 Arkansas Graduate Assistant Independence
1992 Utah State Running Backs --
1993 Utah State Running Backs Las Vegas
1994 TCU Wide Receivers Independence
1995 TCU Wide Receivers --
1996 TCU Wide Receivers --
1997 TCU Wide Receivers --
1998 Dallas Cowboys Offensive Assistant/WRs/Sp. Teams NFC playoffs
1999 Dallas Cowboys Offensive Assistant/WRs/Sp. Teams NFC playoffs
2000 Dallas Cowboys Offensive Assistant/WRs/Sp. Teams --
2001 Oklahoma State Running Backs --
2002 Georgia Tech Wide Receivers Silicon Valley Classic
2003 Georgia Tech Tight Ends Humanitarian
2004 Georgia Tech Tight Ends Champs Sports
2005 Georgia Tech Tight Ends --
2006 Memphis Running Backs --
2007 Miami (Fla.) Running Backs --
2008 Miami (Fla.) Running Backs Emerald
2009 Miami (Fla.) Running Backs Champs Sports
2010 Arizona Cardinals Running Backs --
2011 Arizona Cardinals Running Backs --
2012 Arizona Cardinals Running Backs --
NFL STARS: Beanie Wells, Tatum Bell, Michael Irvin
Wide Receivers Coach: Les Koening
Head Coach Dan Mullen spent the first 14 years of his career coaching on the offensive side of the ball and four at Florida as offensive coordinator. When he began his search for an offensive coordinator, Mullen found Les Koenning - a coach with more than 25 years of experience and a wealth of knowledge not only about developing quarterbacks but also about the spread offense.
Koenning is not only experienced coaching on the collegiate level in general, he gained some of that knowledge during a previous stop at Mississippi State. His second full-time position in the college ranks was a four-year stint in Starkville from 1986-89.
In just four short years, Koenning’s offense has nearly doubled the average number of points scored (15.2 ppg in 2008; 29.5 in 2012) and has developed the Bulldog offense into an attack that has never been seen in Starkville. The last three seasons marked the highest combined three-year offensive output in school history (14,825 yards), breaking almost every single offensive school record in the process.
During the 2012 Bulldog season, Koenning led the Bulldog passing attack to four different school records through the air: passing yardage, completion percentage, completions and touchdowns. With the success of the MSU passing attack something Starkville has never seen, the Koenning-led offense also set a school record in points scored (383).
In 2011, the Bulldog offense set the then school record for passing touchdowns in a season (19) and finished second all-time in school history in total offense and first downs. Koenning’s offense finished in the top 10 in passing yards, completions and completion percentage.
The year before, State placed among the top 10 in school history in the following categories: passing yardage, completion percentage, passing touchdowns, rushing attempts, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, total plays, total offensive yards, per-game offense and first downs.
Koenning came to Mississippi State from South Alabama, where he spent 2008 as the offensive coordinator for the newly developed Jaguar program.
Prior to his one-year stay at South Alabama, Koenning, 54, spent five years on the Texas A&M staff, serving as offensive coordinator and working with the quarterbacks. He has spent the last 15 years of his career coordinating offenses and calling plays, starting in 1998 at Duke before stops at Houston (1999), TCU (2000) and Alabama (2001-03).
A native of Houston, Texas, Koenning began his career with graduate assistantships at Texas and Alabama before being named wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at Louisiana-Lafayette in 1985.
Koenning then served as running backs and wide receivers coach for Rockey Felker at Mississippi State from 1986-89. He moved to Rice as wide receivers coach from 1990-93 before taking the same position at Texas A&M. Koenning gained a year of experience in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins during the 1997 season before returning to his college roots.
A 1981 graduate of Texas with a degree in health and physical education, Koenning added a master’s degree in sports management two years later. He and his wife, Lisa, have two children, Les and Lana.
Coaching Experience
2009-present: Mississippi State (Offensive Coordinator/ Quarterbacks)
2008-09: South Alabama (Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks)
2003-07: Texas A&M (Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks)
2001-02: Alabama (Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks)
2000: TCU (Passing Game Coordinator / Quarterbacks)
1999: Houston (Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks)
1998: Duke (Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks)
1997: Miami Dolphins (Offensive Assistant)
1994-96: Texas A&M (Wide Receivers)
1993 (Dec.): Duke (Wide Receivers)
1990-93: Rice (Wide Receivers)
1986-89: Mississippi State (Running Backs / Wide Receivers)
1985: Louisiana-Lafayette (Wide Receivers / Recruiting Coordinator)
1984: Alabama (Graduate Assistant)
1981-83: Texas (Graduate Assistant)
Personal Information
Birthdate: Feb. 10, 1959
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Education: 1981 – Bachelor’s in Health and Physical Education from Texas; 1983 – Master’s in Sports Management from Texas
Wife: Lisa
Children: Les and Lana
Defensive Coordinator: Vance Bedford
Playing Experience
• A four-year letterman and starter at cornerback for the University of Texas from 1977-79 and also in 1981.
• A two-time All-Southwest Conference second team selection, Bedford played in the Cotton and Sun bowls twice during his career.
• He was selected captain of the 1981 team and earned Defensive Valuable Player honors in the 1982 Senior Bowl All-Star Game.
• Selected in the fifth round of the 1982 NFL draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. He played one season with the Cardinals and a year with the USFL`s Oklahoma Outlaws in 1984. Coaching Highlights
Louisville
• In 2012, the defense finished in the top 25 for the third straight season. The Cardinals were ranked 23rd in the nation in total defense and 16th in pass defense.
• Louisville finished 23rd in total defense in 2011 after ranking 14th in 2010. Bedford's defense was 10th nationally against the run, 17th in scoring defense and 21st in sacks in 2011.
• In 2010, Louisville was 10th in pass defense and seventh in the country in sacks.
Florida
• In 2009, he helped the Gators to a 13-1 record and a win over previously-undefeated Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl.
• His secondary was one of the best in the nation, finishing seventh in the country in interceptions and second in the nation in pass efficiency defense.
• Joe Haden, a first-round pick by the Cleveland Browns, was a consensus All-American in 2009 and was also named a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation's top defensive back.
• During the 2008 season, he guided a secondary that ranked third in pass efficiency defense and 20th in pass yardage defense. The group also tied the school record and led the nation with 26 interceptions.
Chicago (NFL)
• His unit returned seven interceptions for touchdowns during a four-year stretch, equaling the team`s total from the previous nine seasons combined.
• Developed three young talents in Mike Brown, Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher.
Michigan
• Led the nation in pass defense in 1997 and ranked 20th in 1996.
• The Wolverines` 1997 national championship secondary set an NCAA record allowing just 8.8 yards per completion and finished fifth nationally by allowing just 133.8 passing yards per contest.
• His secondary in 1997 led the Big Ten and finished third nationally with 22 interceptions, and Charles Woodson became the only defensive player to ever win the Heisman Trophy.
Oklahoma State
• Coached two seasons at Oklahoma State University in 1993 and 1994.
Colorado State
• Led Rams to a trip to the 1991 Freedom Bowl and his 1990 secondary set a school record and led the nation with 25 interceptions.
ACoaching Experience
1985: Forest Brook High School
1986: Navarro JC (Assistant)
1987-92: Colorado State (Defensive Backs)
1993-94: Oklahoma State (Defensive Backs)
1995-98: Michigan (Defensive Backs)
1999-04: Chicago (NFL) (Defensive Backs)
2007: Oklahoma State (Defensive Coordinator)
2008-09: Florida (Defensive Backs)
2010-13: Louisville (Defensive Coordinator)drian Bushell (2011-12), Johnny Patrick (2010), Calvin Pryor (2012), Hakeem Smith (2010-12) Brian Jean-Mary, a 13-year coaching veteran and a former assistant at Louisville, is in his third season coaching the linebackers and serving as the assistant head coach of the defense at Louisville.
Linebacker Coach: Brian Jean-Mary
Under Jean-Mary's direction last season, the linebackers were one of the suprise groups on the team.
Dexter Heyman was a second-team All-BIG EAST selection and finished as the team's leading tackler. Heyman also led the Cardinals in interceptions with three and tackles for loss with 16.0.
Preston Brown showed the biggest improvement under Jean Mary's tutelage, totaling a career-high 84 tackles and 5.0 tackles for loss.
Jean-Mary tutored a group of linebackers in 2010 that were one of the most consistent units on the football team. Led by Brandon Heath, the linebackers finished as three of the team's top six tacklers. Heath registered 70 tackles and three sacks, while Daniel Brown had 54 tackles and three sacks.
Jean-Mary (pronounced JON-muh-REE), who was at the University of Louisville in 2000, was instrumental in building a Georgia Tech defense that was one of the most consistent units in the country. He helped coach a Georgia Tech unit that has been ranked among the nation's Top 30 in rushing defense, total defense and scoring defense in five of the six seasons.
Under Jean-Mary's tutelage, Yellow Jacket linebackers Phillip Wheeler and Gary Guyton became the core of the Tech defense in 2008. The duo were first and second on the team in tackles, respectively, and combined for 22.5 tackles-for-loss and 11 sacks in 2007. Wheeler was once again awarded for his play by being selected to the All-ACC second team. As a team, Tech led the nation in sacks and ranked second in tackles-for-loss during the regular season.
Jean-Mary tutored the linebacker duo of KaMichael Hall and Wheeler into two of the top defenders in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2006. Wheeler earned second-team All-America honors as well as second-team All-ACC accolades, while Hall garnered honorable mention All-ACC recognition.
In 2005, Jean-Mary coached two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference linebacker Gerris Wilkinson, Tech's leading tackler his last two seasons. Wilkinson was a third-round draft pick of the New York Giants. Jean-Mary's linebackers recorded seven of the Yellow Jackets' 21 interceptions.
Defensive Line Coach: Chris Rumph
Chris Rumph is in his third season on the defensive coaching staff for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Rumph, a four-year letterman during his playing days at South Carolina, joined Alabama's staff in January of 2011 after five years as the defensive ends coach at Clemson.
Rumph's 2012 deep and talented group of defensive linemen was a key element in Alabama's defensive efforts. The Crimson Tide led the nation in rush defense, allowing only 76.4 yards per game while also leading the country in total defense at 250.0 yards per game.
Senior defensive end Damion Square, senior nose guard Jesse Williams and junior end Ed Stinson anchored the group. Square finished with 33 tackles, four tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and a team-high nine quarterback hurries. Williams added 37 stops with 2.5 tackles for loss and four hurries, while Stinson registered three sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss and 30 total stops.
Rumph was integral in the development of Williams from a raw junior-college lineman from Australia to and SEC starter and eventual NFL Draft pick by the Seattle Seahawks.
The defensive line was stellar in 2011, helping the Crimson Tide rank No. 1 nationally in rushing defense and allowing only 72.2 yards per game.
Josh Chapman anchored the 2011 line from his nose guard position, earning second team All-SEC honors, despite playing the second half of the season with a torn ACL. In 2011, Chapman collected 23 total tackles, including 3.5 for loss, one sack and a pair of pass breakups. Alabama led the nation in all five major defensive categories as the Tide captured the 2011 national championship. Chapman then was selected in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, by the Indianapolis Colts.
In Rumph's tenure at Clemson, the Tigers ranked among the top 25 nationally in scoring defense and total defense in each of those five seasons. The 2010 defense was 19th in total defense (320.3 ypg) and 13th in scoring defense (18.8 ppg). Clemson appeared in bowl games to conclude each of those five seasons and won the ACC Atlantic Division title in 2009. Rumph coached 2010 All-American Da'Quan Bowers, who led the nation in sacks (15.5) and was tied for first in the NCAA in tackles for loss (26.0). He also coached defensive end Phillip Merling, who was the No. 32 overall pick by the Miami Dolphins in the 2008 NFL Draft.
Prior to his stint at Clemson, Rumph was the outside linebackers coach at Memphis for three years (2003-05). Memphis appeared in bowl games in each of his three seasons and won a total of 24 games during that time. Memphis beat Mississippi in 2003 and 2004 and the Tigers were ninth in the nation in total defense in 2003. In 2005, the Memphis defense finished 23rd in the nation in turnover margin and led the conference in rush defense (125.6 ypg), which was good for 27th in the NCAA.
Rumph was the defensive backs coach at South Carolina State in 2002, following a five-year stint as head coach at Calhoun County (S.C.) High School. He also served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks/running backs coach at Calhoun County.
Rumph was born Dec. 21, 1971, in Orangeburg, S.C., and played high school football at Calhoun County High School in St. Matthews, S.C. Rumph signed with South Carolina and played linebacker from 1991-94, earning his B.S. degree in 1994. He helped the Gamecocks record their first bowl victory in the 1995 Carquest Bowl. He and his wife Kila are the proud parents of two sons, Christopher and Elijah.
Defensive Backs Coach: Chris Vaughn
Chris Vaughn is in his second season serving as the University of Memphis' cornerbacks coach.
In his first season, Memphis led the league in total defense in conference games played, giving up just 331.6 yards per game. Memphis lowered its total yardage allowed in conference games from the previous season by 30 percent.
In 2012, Memphis ranked 50th nationally in defense (383.58 yards per game). The Tigers made a 67-position improvement from the 2011 season when they ranked 117th with a 491.00 total defense average. Memphis' 138-yard rushing defense total for the year ranked 32nd nationally.
Memphis ranked last nationally in pass defense for the 2011 season but in Vaughn's first season the Tigers made a 42-spot improvement, allowing 245.58 yards passing in 2012.
The Tigers posted a 4-4 mark in Conference USA play, winning more league games in 2012 than the previous three seasons combined. Memphis' 4-8 overall record marked the team's best finish since 2008.
Prior to joining the Memphis staff, Vaughn spent the previous four seasons (2008-11) at Ole Miss where he directed the defensive backs and served as the program's recruiting coordinator.
Vaughn's time at Ole Miss was highlighted by a 2009 unit that was one of the nation's toughest pass defenses. With corners Marshay Green and Cassius Vaughn, Ole Miss ranked No. 11 in pass efficiency defense and No. 15 in pass defense in the NCAA.
Overall, the Rebels finished fourth in the SEC and 15th nationally in scoring defense (17.7 ppg) and fourth in the league and 21st nationally in total defense (314.7 ypg). After the season, Green and Vaughn signed NFL contracts with Arizona and Denver, respectively.
In his first season with Ole Miss, Vaughn helped coach a Rebels defense that intercepted 16 passes which were eight more picks than the previous season. The unit also improved from 11th to fifth in scoring defense and from 12th to fifth in total defense in the SEC.
During his first spring drills as cornerbacks coach at Ole Miss, he faced the immediate challenge of transforming Green, a wide receiver, into a cornerback, a position where the Rebels were short on personnel. Green entered the starting lineup in the third contest of the 2008 season and started 22 games his final two seasons.
Under Vaughn's watch, Green earned Defensive MVP honors in the 2009 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic. The Ole Miss secondary limited Texas Tech All-American Michael Crabtree to just 30 receiving yards in that game.
As recruiting coordinator, Vaughn helped assemble a 2009 signing class that Rivals.com ranked 18th in the nation. The website also named Vaughn one of the Top-25 Recruiters in the Country. The Rebels' 2010 class earned even higher praise from Scout.com (No. 15), while the 2011 signing class dominated the state of Mississippi like none before had done, inking the state's top-five recruits and eight of the "Dandy Dozen." The class included a school-record four U.S. Army All-Americans.
Vaughn participated in several programs for aspiring head coaches held by the NCAA, including the 2009 NCAA Minority Coaches Forum, the NCAA Football Coaches Academy and the NCAA Football Coaches Expert Academy. He also took part in the NFL's Minority Internship program with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2009 and Philadelphia Eagles in 2006.
Prior to following Houston Nutt at Ole Miss, Vaughn served on the Arkansas staff for nine seasons (1999-2007), including four as recruiting coordinator.
During his Razorbacks tenure, Vaughn's coaching responsibilities included outside linebackers (2000-04), outside linebackers and strong safeties (2001-03) and all safeties (2005, 2007). He spent the 2006 season as the director of on-campus recruiting.
Among his pupils at Arkansas were Tony Bua, an NFL Draft fifth-round pick of the Miami Dolphins; Vickiel Vaughn, a seventh-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers; and Matt Hewitt, who signed a free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills. In 2003, Vaughn directed a unit that helped Arkansas finish fifth in total defense and fourth in passing defense in the SEC. The Razorbacks also ranked third in pass efficiency defense.
As outside linebackers coach, Vaughn was instrumental in developing Bua into an All-SEC performer. Bua earned All-SEC honors from 2001-03 and ended his career as Arkansas' all-time tackles leader with 408 stops.
In 2001, Vaughn helped Arkansas' defense rank second in red zone defense and third in turnover margin in the SEC. The Razorbacks defense held opponents to scoring only 68.3 percent in the red zone and posted a plus-five turnover margin. Vaughn also helped coach a 2000 defensive unit which led the SEC and was 12th nationally in total defense, allowing only 292.1 yards per game.
Vaughn began his Arkansas career as a graduate assistant in 1999, working with the defense. He helped direct a swarming defense that limited Texas to minus-27 yards rushing in a 27-6 Razorbacks victory in the 2000 Cotton Bowl. Vaughn landed his first full-time coaching position less than a week after the Cotton Bowl win over Texas when he was named Tulsa's linebackers coach on Jan. 3, 2000. Vaughn's tenure at Tulsa, however, lasted fewer than six weeks. When a full-time slot opened on the Razorbacks staff, Nutt lured Vaughn back to Fayetteville on Feb. 17, 2000, in time to prepare for spring practice.
Vaughn earned four letters as a linebacker at Murray State. He was a member of Murray State teams that claimed back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) titles and made consecutive NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearances in 1995 and 1996.
Vaughn earned All-OVC honors as a senior in 1997, totaling 103 tackles, six sacks and 10 TFL. He earned his bachelor's degree in advertising with a minor in art from Murray State in 1998.
A native of Tallahassee, Fla., Vaughn was an all-state linebacker, state wrestling runner-up and 4A state weightlifting champion at Godby High School.
****TEXAS RECRUITING UPDATE****
Recruit Visits Scheduled:
RB Corey Avery, Carter (Dallas, TX)
1/24 – Nebraska
1/31 – Kansas
RB Donald Catalon, Aldine Eisenhower, solid commit (Houston, TX)
-no additional visits scheduled
WR Emanuel Porter, Lincoln
Decommitted from Texas today and gave a verbal to TCU
1/24 – LSU
OL Alex Anderson, O. Perry Walker (New Orleans, LA)
1/18 – Arizona State
DT Poona Ford, Hilton Head Island (Hilton Head, SC)
1/24 – Oregon
1/31 – Missouri
DT Travonte Valentine, Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah, FL)
1/24 – LSU
1/31 – Miami (FL)
DE Derick Roberson, Brennan, softish to medium commit (San Antonio)
-no additional visits scheduled
CB Jermaine Roberts, St. Augustine, medium commit (New Orleans, LA)
1/24 – Ohio State
S Jah’Shawn Johnson, Ennis (Ennis, TX)
1/24 - Baylor
GOODBYE UNTIL NEXT WEEK!
Well Folks, that’s all I got for this week. When we asked for a change in culture I don’t know if some of those begging for the change in culture didn’t know how DRASTIC that change would be. One thing is for certain: these boys are going to be a lot tougher when Fall rolls around then they are right now. And I for one can’t wait to see it on the field. Like many of you I have some apprehension however I also have a TON of hope. We wanted a change in culture. We are seeing the culture as it pertains to Texas Longhorn Football morph in front of our eyes.
Furthermore, the more I learn about these coaches the more excited I become. These are COACHES not trophies from opposing staffs as some have suggested we go out and hire. We have a coaching staff that will be a cohesive unit and NOT a unit of supposed “young, hot-shot, up and comers†that are skyrocketing up the coaching ladders of College Football. We’ve had the “young, hot-shot, up and comers†for several years now and like many of you I have not liked the results.
As far as I’m concerned change in culture can’t get here fast enough!
Hook ‘em!
McPhaul
