Todd Lyght is among the finalists for Football Scoop's Secondary Coach of the Year award but Clark Lea was not even among the 5 finalists for defensive coordinator of the year. How'd that happen??

Todd Lyght is among the finalists for Football Scoop's Secondary Coach of the Year award but Clark Lea was not even among the 5 finalists for defensive coordinator of the year. How'd that happen??

 

Clark Lea not being up for any awards is insane - ND had a talented DL coming into the year, but question marks all over the defense besides that. What he did with the linebackers this year is nothing short of a miracle.

 

I think Todd Lyght is a really great coach - ND had the 5th highest passing efficiency defense this year (behind Clemson, Ohio State, Utah, and UCF), and they were 3rd is passing yards allowed (behind Clemson and Ohio State). The secondary had a really good year. If only he was a better recruiter. It sounds like he may not be back next year.

Clark Lea not being up for any awards is insane - ND had a talented DL coming into the year, but question marks all over the defense besides that. What he did with the linebackers this year is nothing short of a miracle.

 

I think Todd Lyght is a really great coach - ND had the 5th highest passing efficiency defense this year (behind Clemson, Ohio State, Utah, and UCF), and they were 3rd is passing yards allowed (behind Clemson and Ohio State). The secondary had a really good year. If only he was a better recruiter. It sounds like he may not be back next year.

 

Why might Lyght not be back next year? Is it because he isn't a good recruiter? Why isn't he a good recruiter?

Why might Lyght not be back next year? Is it because he isn't a good recruiter? Why isn't he a good recruiter?

 

His family still lives in California. Rumors for a while of him moving back to be with his family.

Why might Lyght not be back next year? Is it because he isn't a good recruiter? Why isn't he a good recruiter?

 

I think that's a large part of it - I think since BK made all those changes after 2016, he realized that ND really needs guys who work extremely hard on the recruiting trail. Todd Lyght, despite being the perfect representation of a ND football player (All American, National Champion, First Round NFL Pick, Super Bowl Champion, Pro Bowler), is not getting it done in recruiting. He seems like a great person, but he is not pulling his weight. 2019 was a critical year for defensive back recruiting, and ND didn't get it done, IMO. ND has signed 3 projects (and likely one more later today), and no real impact players - maybe unfair to those recruits, but they are all three-stars with not great offer lists. ND needs a guy who will recruit his butt off - like Lance Taylor and Mike Elston and formerly Chip Long - because the secondary will be in really bad shape with another whiff in the 2021 class.

I can't recall specifics but it seems like ND misses on a lot of DB's and many that they do get are 3 stars. This class seems to be a good example of that.