Coaching Rumors Circulating

[chirodomer 47]

Since Hope is out at Purdue. They have #1. Chuck Martin on their radar!

# 2Kent State Coach #3 northern Illinois coach #4 Louisiana Tech Coach

[Franco 0]

oh god, I hope that doesn't happen...we need to pay him more

[SpeedsterX 751]

If he goes, he goes. Good for him if they pay up. This is why these guys get into the coaching business, to make a name for themselves and to be Captains of their own ships.

 

Also, as long as we're in the NC convo every year, our coaches will always be in these conversations. It's a sign of a great program. I now trust Kelly to make correct hires and to reload with great assistants!

[OklahomaIrish 0]

Was skyping with my daughter at Notre Dame tonight and she said their is rumor of Diaco being offered a job.

[Jersey Irish 207]

I doubt Kelly would have even have had time for Diaco to ask him for permission to interview since he is still on the left coast recruiting

[OKCIrish99 3]

I don't think Martin will take a head coaching job currently. He is attached with Brian Kelly and loves working with him. If him or Diaco, for that matter, have legitimate head coaching aspirations, it's news to me. We will be a major powerhouse for 10 years plus if we can retain the Kelly/Diaco/Martin triumverate.

[thiazi 0]

This is why these guys get into the coaching business, to make a name for themselves and to be Captains of their own ships.

 

 

Some get into the coaching business to win. ND is one of the very few schools at which that's possible. Assuming the money is the same (and I think ND can more than match any salary for Martin or Diaco being offered by any of these lower tier teams for HC positions), a coach choosing one of these schools is making a very "me" decision. He's saying it's more important for him to have a title and power and prestige and attention than to win. It isn't about money or even professional success, since being the DC or OC at a national title level Notre Dame is better than being a head coach at most other schools.

 

I hope these coaches are smarter than this. Did they come to ND to compete for one year and use it as a stepping stone job? Or did they come here to really do something great?

 

If it had been two great years, fine, but after one great year, any coach leaving like this would be disappointing. Even Barry Alvarez lasted two years as DC at Notre Dame when they were super elite both years. Wait a year.

[1qa 0]

I expect that Martin stays... he left a HC gig to come to ND, as a position coach.

 

From what I recall, he's a Chicago guy who's been a huge ND fan, and the opportunity to coach here must be a dream. If he has young kids, or ones about to enter college, then ND is also attractive from the free tuition perspective, providing they get in.

 

I would project Martin to jump at some point to prove his HC creds, so that he can be in a position to succeed Kelly sometime down the road... or be a lifetime assistant a la joepa's gang or bowden's crew... assuming Kelly is a consistent winner here.

 

As for Diaco, I think it would be premature for him to jump to a big D1 HC position at this point... he's definitely a star rising, but I think a little more seasoning would help him.

[jessemoore97 1,478]

I don't know what Martin or Diaco have planned as far as their coaching careers go. If they go I will wish them the best, unless they play us of course. I also hope that they will stay until after the NC game to finish what the TEAM started. Besides how often does a coach have an opportunity to put "coached team in NC game"(hopefully with BIG W too) on their resume?

 

My hope is that the WHOLE staff stays on for another couple years together, probably dreaming big with that one unfortunately. I will say IMO, pay will not be the deal-breaker for our assistants and whether they stay or go. Having Swarbrick around and his mentality of handling the FB program and setting it up for success, makes me believe that he is certainly the right guy in charge of those purse strings. I think Kelly will definitely go to bat for his coaches also.

[SanDiegoIrish 0]

I expect Diaco to be around for at least 2 more seasons. Get this team to another championship or two and you can bet that he'll have his choice of positions, instead of just jumping to something to whatever happens to be open. I'd like to think he's smarter than that and that ND would be willing to pay him enough to keep him until then.

[thiazi 0]

1qa's post brings up an interesting point - guys taking other jobs isn't inevitable. We have no idea what anyone's aspirations are. Some guys like being career coordinators at certain schools. Some guys like being lifetime members of a particular great staff. You never know. Martin, as mentioned, left a D2 head coaching gig where he was head coach at a team that was dominant at its level every single year. He probably ran that little school. But he left that job in a heartbeat to become Kelly's assistant for the second time. That speaks volumes.

 

On the other side, think about Jeff Quinn, longtime Kelly assistant who broke with Kelly after Cincinnati and took the Buffalo job rather than follow him to ND. You think he doesn't ever have second thoughts? He's 9-26 at Buffalo; they're improving by one game a year. One of their wins this year was against Charlie Molnar's UMass team. You remember Molnar. A Kelly assistant for six years, decided to bolt ND to "be his own man" at UMass. And indeed he is now his own man. His own 1-11 man.

 

So you never know. We also don't know how valid any of these rumors are. Who started the rumors? In most cases probably messageboard posters, radio people, and so on. Friend of a friend. Glorified gossip journalists.

[yikityyakirish 0]

Speaking of rumors...I heard Gunner wasn't on the travel list again...true?

[thiazi 0]

That is true, but not very meaningful. Mahone watched the game at home in Ohio. They've done it like that forever, btw. I believe the whole team, including walk-ons, gets to go to the bowl game. I doubt Kiel's happy about it but it's not a snub or anything.

[Irish_Convert 1]

Speaking of rumors...I heard Gunner wasn't on the travel list again...true?

 

I read that someplace as well. Lo Wood wasn't either but I think that's been the case with him all season.

[moostache 0]

I really want Diaco and Martin to EVENTUALLY find head coaching jobs at places like BC and Purdon't and Northwestern to build up their head coaching experience, hell maybe even a place like Boise State or TCU....but I was really hoping that they would stay for a couple of National Title runs before moving on....being part of building the foundation really solid before moving on and then being first in line to come back and take over after Kelly has had enough of the grind.

 

We all know that the shelf life of a successful ND coach is 10-12 years MAXIMUM....Leahy, Paraseghian and Holtz all aged like a POTUS on the gig and it almost killed two of them! Brian Kelly's maximum timeline is probably around 2020-2021. I'd love to see them win one this year, challenge the top 5 for the next decade and then transition to either Martin or Diaco as the next head man (provided their careers progress on the arc they are on now of course)...

 

But, first things first....Go IRISH!! BEAT SEC!!!

[jgent1978 0]

I really want Diaco and Martin to EVENTUALLY find head coaching jobs at places like BC and Purdon't and Northwestern to build up their head coaching experience, hell maybe even a place like Boise State or TCU....but I was really hoping that they would stay for a couple of National Title runs before moving on....being part of building the foundation really solid before moving on and then being first in line to come back and take over after Kelly has had enough of the grind.

 

We all know that the shelf life of a successful ND coach is 10-12 years MAXIMUM....Leahy, Paraseghian and Holtz all aged like a POTUS on the gig and it almost killed two of them! Brian Kelly's maximum timeline is probably around 2020-2021. I'd love to see them win one this year, challenge the top 5 for the next decade and then transition to either Martin or Diaco as the next head man (provided their careers progress on the arc they are on now of course)...

 

But, first things first....Go IRISH!! BEAT SEC!!!

 

The more successful, the shorter the career. I don't think ND will ever allow someone to break Rockne's all time wins record.

[TheRizz 5]

How can C Martin and B Diaco both be the front runner for the Purdue job?!

[MotorCityIRISH 0]

Sorry guys but I think Martin is gone. I'm friends with the current head coach of Grand Valley and he and his family are very close with the Martins and Kellys through their Grand Valley connection. Martin has all ready shown an interest in becoming a head coach the last two post seasons. The rumors I've heard say, given the right situation/school, he would jump ship for a HC job. If ND offers a sizable pay increase I could see both Martin and Diaco staying. It would be an absolute shame to lose both guys after an amazing season but unfortunately that's what happens when your team is successful!

[IrishCalves 0]

If one of the two will stick around for a while, it'll be Martin. He LEFT a head coaching gig to come to ND - I think he's much more likely to be choosy than a young, ambitious, charismatic coordinator like Diaco.

 

I think Bob MIGHT be well served to stick around one more year, but he won't find a time where his coaching star is lit up much brighter. He might be a bit of a liability in front of the press (i.e. telling reporters he had no clue how to stop Navy's option attack two years ago), and hasn't really had much face time in front of cameras because of it. Sticking around for another year with Kelly MAY help him in that regard. Otherwise, he should go while he can - kind of like a really talented junior going pro early even though he's still a little raw.

 

If other teams are going after our coaches, we're doing something right.

[jbrown_9999 1,125]

If ND offers a sizable pay increase I could see both Martin and Diaco staying.

 

Hopefully, ND will make both of them happy after this year

[IrishCalves 0]

The way the world seems to work, I'm pretty much expecting them to be gone at some point. If they're comfortable and are seeking long term financial security, I'm sure the powers that be will be more than happy to after seeing the Irish get this far in 3 years thanks in large part to these guys.

[2lakes 4]

If one of the two will stick around for a while, it'll be Martin. He LEFT a head coaching gig to come to ND - I think he's much more likely to be choosy than a young, ambitious, charismatic coordinator like Diaco.

 

I think Bob MIGHT be well served to stick around one more year, but he won't find a time where his coaching star is lit up much brighter. He might be a bit of a liability in front of the press (i.e. telling reporters he had no clue how to stop Navy's option attack two years ago), and hasn't really had much face time in front of cameras because of it. Sticking around for another year with Kelly MAY help him in that regard. Otherwise, he should go while he can - kind of like a really talented junior going pro early even though he's still a little raw.

 

If other teams are going after our coaches, we're doing something right.

 

And he slapped down the press when it came to his Freddy Kruger comment this year. You're only allowed to slap those guys down every once in a while. You have to show them some respect, because all this money that funnels into the University from football inevitably comes from the hype they create.

[Nofairweather 0]

It is inevitable that we loose coaches with the success the team is having. I just really hope Diaco does not go quite yet. He is a hot commodity. He will have mid majors beating down his door. I hope he is patient. He is proving that he is a great coach but its obvious he has been growing as a coach. He needs another season or two to prove he is truly ready. If he waits he will be able to choose his school. Similar to what Muschamp has done.

 

Until he leaves I think ND needs to have the Brinks truck make a delivery to his home to show him how much everyone appreciates the job that he does.

[IrishItalian15 0]

ND needs to give Diaco the Jimbo Fisher treatment and make him the head coach in waiting. Pay him like a head coach and let him orchestrate defenses until BK leaves. Diaco can not be lost.

 

If Diaco does go, we could always call up John Tenuta right?

[IrishFan33 0]

If Diaco is smart he isn't going anywere....

 

Yea he's proving to be a great DC but that doesn't make him ready to be a HC...

 

Should stick around another 3-5 years, learn from Kelly then go out and get a HC job