Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez hopes to hire new assistant 'within a week'
With national signing day behind him, Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez said his next order of business is to hire a new assistant coach.
“My goal is to get someone hired within a week, but I don’t want to put a timeframe on it because we’ve got about a month and two weeks or so before spring practice, “ Rodriguez said.
Linebackers coach Jay Hopson left to become defensive coordinator at Memphis in December. Rodriguez said defensive coordinator Greg Robinson will coach linebackers next year, and he plans to hire a safeties/outside linebackers coach.
Rodriguez interviewed several candidates at the American Football Coaches Association convention in Orlando, Fla., and talked to others by phone.
Former South Florida co-defensive coordinator David Blackwell is reportedly one candidate for the job.
"I've really not done much with it," Rodriguez said. "Really my focus now, after today, can go in that regard."
Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
Comments
dacianman
Thu, Feb 4, 2010 : 6:02 p.m.
If RR was a couple of plays from being 7 and 5 in 2009, I believe that with the maturing of his first recruting class of '09 and some of the very good '10 recruits, Michigan will have no excuse not to go 8 and 4 at least. The new AD should make that clear to RR, or else. 9 and 3 would be preferrable and RR will deserve an extention. Otherwise, let him go, bring Harbaugh or Miles in and let's get back to the Michigan way - top 10 every year. That's all I'm saying.
Papabear151
Thu, Feb 4, 2010 : 4:17 p.m.
The excuses for november already pan out... there are too many freshman. I'm not sure why you RR kool-aid drinkers think other schools are threatened by RR.... I talked with a bunch of OSU fans and they love RR, they even had a HUGE petition going around campus that they wanted to send to Michigan to get RR to stay.
FlintMaize
Thu, Feb 4, 2010 : 12:23 p.m.
Coach Rodriguez is doing just fine and I like his timetable for naming a new assistant coach. I liked Coach Carr too, however, Carr left the cubbards nearly empty! This is why we have so few scholarship players as compared to other Big Ten teams.
1998pa
Thu, Feb 4, 2010 : 10:26 a.m.
YES! RichRod supporters are right! Keep it quiet, Spartans fans. It's time to give RR an extension at LEAST as long as Beilein's! Please, please, please, PLEEEAAAAAASE, new UM administration!
Fresh121
Thu, Feb 4, 2010 : 8:50 a.m.
Demar Dorsey, a safety from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and No. 12 in the rankings, signed Wednesday with Michigan. Dorsey is the highest-ranked player in the ESPNU 150 to sign with a Big Ten team. We got the highest rated recruit in the B10 not osu not penn st not wisky ol 5-7 michigan got the best recruit in the whole confrence i love it nice job RR got the highest recruit in the B10 with a losing record cant wait for when we win 8 9 games the top kids will be here...poor osu missed on almost all there targets and were ranked better then them on most sites. Let the haters hate and the internet trolls do what they do but we still got the top kid in this years class
NoBowl4Blue
Thu, Feb 4, 2010 : 7:52 a.m.
Rich Rod is so good and his recruits so great that it will not matter who he hires as coach. How many wins and bowl games have U of M gone to while he's been here?
Sean T.
Thu, Feb 4, 2010 : 6:23 a.m.
Though I agree that recruiting talent is important, some of you guy's are delirious! It's more important to have a coach who can develope these kids into the champions we want, right? To basically say "I'll get to that coach thing in a minute" is kind of puzzling. Even with the nice recruiting classes we have I've never heard of anyone being threatened by RR. I'm looking forward to 2011 when these recruits can pay off. Go Blue!
2sweetblue
Thu, Feb 4, 2010 : 2:49 a.m.
WERSCH The sad thing is Kalin is still better then Stu, Morris and Novak with one ankle... and State eleventh man is better then those three too. Dude can you say MAC...... Is your real name Bill Martin?
2sweetblue
Thu, Feb 4, 2010 : 2:26 a.m.
Keep on crying......... EXCUSE BOY
wersch213
Thu, Feb 4, 2010 : 2 a.m.
how's that ankle?
2sweetblue
Thu, Feb 4, 2010 : 1:46 a.m.
Wersch close to 7-5... In my book losing close games comes down to coaching.... What a great coach we have.....
2sweetblue
Thu, Feb 4, 2010 : 1:43 a.m.
Right just like the basketball team will be on top. You guys crack me up can't wait for the excuses in November...... Speaking of the MAC Michigan should seriously consider joining the MAC that way they will be more competitive
wersch213
Thu, Feb 4, 2010 : 1:35 a.m.
well said Buzz, I agree with you man
buzz
Thu, Feb 4, 2010 : 1:22 a.m.
Well Why dont u coach a Big program like UM and try to change the entire system to its counter part? Last season we had a new DC, many true-freshmen playing, not much experience. I dont think meyer or Saban can do that. Its like nearly impossible. What RR is doing is the hardest thing any coach can do start a new tradition, new system, and new-style of play while being criticized by many ignorant fans and other who dont know wat they r talking about. There was never a coach who even attempted to try what RR is doin. I trust he will make a comeback. Hopefully RR can land Blackwell cuz he helped South Florida become a fast, physical defense. jus because they were in the BigEast doesnt matter. Chris Peterson coaches a team in the WAC but he's a great coach. Blackwell is too. I trust Greg-Robinson will do good as LB coach and will recruit beast LB. The pieces are comin together, many wont believe it but it will. The defense will be fast and physical, offense will be fast and dynamic. That is a NC team. RR can coach many seen it, but unfortunately some dont cuz ha has a losing record here. HE WILL MAKE A COME BACK!!!!!! future is bright in Ann Arbor. GO BLUE!!!
wersch213
Thu, Feb 4, 2010 : 1:05 a.m.
Why don't you go back to rock you've been living under for 2 years. You're obviously not a true Michigan supporter. Year one Rich Rodgriuez had over 1 month to put together a recruiting class, year 2 he had an excellent class (based on professionals opinions), year 3 he has signed a great class that has more than addressed Michigan's needs. Freshman and walk-ons played a lot of key positions last year. In 2010 there will be a ton of young & experienced talent. That is the most deadly combination of all (btw there are a few redshirts waiting for the opportunity to be unleashed and top tier true freshman replacing the walk-ons). Michigan was a couple plays from being 7-5 despite those circumstances I mentioned earlier, but next year they are barely going to sniff.500?? Get real bro and stick to following the MAC or misdemeanor state's futile attempts to find their identity.
2sweetblue
Thu, Feb 4, 2010 : 12:50 a.m.
wersch wake up. We had one big ten win barely over Indiana. He is a joke and people keep saying but but but next year will be different.
wersch213
Thu, Feb 4, 2010 : 12:25 a.m.
The coach has his priorities straight, recruiting and then finalize the coach based on the player's he has recruited. The guy is so systematic, and driven it's pretty incredible. It's been two seasons by the way everyone... It is so hilarious how threatened everyone is by Rich Rodriguez and his coaching/recruiting capabilities. He has done nothing but improve since he was hired (in the midst of the most unnecessary and unfounded bashing by the local media). In 2010 you'll see a huge leap in defense, and even more improvement in the offense, similar to the leap the offense had from 2008 to 2009.