Marcus West in, Bryce Paup reportedly out as Gophers coaching changes continue

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The Gophers are hiring Marcus West, Austin Peay's assistant head coach, co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach, to be an assistant coach, a source confirmed to the Star Tribune on Tuesday.

West's role is to be determined, but he could replace pass rush specialist coach Bryce Paup, who according to multiple published reports is leaving the Gophers staff to pursue a coaching opportunity in the NFL. Paup, a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, spent the 2017 season as Minnesota defensive line coach.

Paup, 49, joined coach P.J. Fleck's inaugural staff last year after spending 2013-16 as Northern Iowa defensive line coach. He would be the third assistant to leave Fleck's staff this offseason. Maurice Linguist, who was promoted from defensive backs coach to assistant head coach in De*cember, left to become Texas A&M cornerbacks coach. Ed Warinner, who was the Gophers offensive line coach/run game coordinator, left to become a senior analyst/offense at Michigan.

http://www.startribune.com/marcus-w...football-coaching-changes-continue/473029263/

Go Gophers!!
 

Fleck's coaching tree extends as Paup now heads to the NFL, and we get to add an assistant head coach to the coaching staff. Seems like win-win for us.
 

Fleck's coaching tree extends as Paup now heads to the NFL, and we get to add an assistant head coach to the coaching staff. Seems like win-win for us.

looks more like oak wilt. People come and go which is natural but this seems very odd to me after just one season. no program wants a revolving door on the building.
 


Yeah we're well into the "too many" losses after one season. Not that I think PJ can just push a button to prevent it, but it's a bummer and an issue.
 


Wonder if Fleck will get better fits after year 1.
 

Yeah we're well into the "too many" losses after one season. Not that I think PJ can just push a button to prevent it, but it's a bummer and an issue.

It all depends on what kind of jobs guys are taking. If they are making lateral or even step back moves that is a massive red flag. However if they are getting promotions or moving to the NFL that is just a fact of life in coaching and there is little to nothing Fleck can do to stop it unless the U is willing to start paying SEC money (and I don't see that happening anytime soon, which is a good thing).
 

It all depends on what kind of jobs guys are taking. If they are making lateral or even step back moves that is a massive red flag. However if they are getting promotions or moving to the NFL that is just a fact of life in coaching and there is little to nothing Fleck can do to stop it unless the U is willing to start paying SEC money (and I don't see that happening anytime soon, which is a good thing).

I'm happy for anyone moving on. I'm not so much about the perception, but ... concerned about the volume of coaches after just one year.

Every school loses guys, but this is a lot after a year as far as maintaining a program goes. Developing talent and all requires some level consistency coaching wise, and not just PJ.
 

Yeah we're well into the "too many" losses after one season. Not that I think PJ can just push a button to prevent it, but it's a bummer and an issue.

An issue, but minor. In context, this might be more a symptom of PJ’s good hires vs other issues. All coaches appear headed for promotions.

I did like what I read about West. D Line success at 3 levels. Especially at chatanooga
 



An issue, but minor. In context, this might be more a symptom of PJ’s good hires vs other issues. All coaches appear headed for promotions.

I did like what I read about West. D Line success at 3 levels. Especially at chatanooga

Ed Warinner's was definitely not a promotion.
 

I'm happy for anyone moving on. I'm not so much about the perception, but ... concerned about the volume of coaches after just one year.

Every school loses guys, but this is a lot after a year as far as maintaining a program goes. Developing talent and all requires some level consistency coaching wise, and not just PJ.

I just don't see the issue. PJ will find better fits. We lost three guys and all are to better situations I would guess.

Paup- NFL
Mo- Home state SEC School
Warinner- Michigan

Smith was leaving to the NFL to work with someone he knows well. Smith likely stays until Schiano gets a gig somewhere other than OSU.
 

An issue, but minor. In context, this might be more a symptom of PJ’s good hires vs other issues. All coaches appear headed for promotions.

I did like what I read about West. D Line success at 3 levels. Especially at chatanooga

I don't think "system" accounts for actual coaching... same goes for "culture".
 

Ed Warinner's was definitely not a promotion.

Maybe he realized he wasn't at a helmet school anymore, but I think it has more to do with family. He will be an hour from MSU where his son signed.
 



Maybe he realized he wasn't at a helmet school anymore, but I think it has more to do with family. He will be an hour from MSU where his son signed.

Fair enough, but either way it's not a promotion. Anyone can spin almost anything how they want, but he definitely didn't move for a promotion, which is generally the norm for coaches who leave of their own volition.
 

Fair enough, but either way it's not a promotion. Anyone can spin almost anything how they want, but he definitely didn't move for a promotion, which is generally the norm for coaches who leave of their own volition.

I agree. I wonder how different the day to day is at a helmet school vs a Minnesota?
 


I think we're very fortunate to have had the early signing day.
 

Maybe he realized he wasn't at a helmet school anymore, but I think it has more to do with family. He will be an hour from MSU where his son signed.

It's not like he can see him play anymore just because he is closer.
 

It's not like he can see him play anymore just because he is closer.

Chances are his kid redshirts anyway. His role may have flexibility. He's not one of the 10 assistant coaches at Michigan.
 

Maybe he realized he wasn't at a helmet school anymore, but I think it has more to do with family. He will be an hour from MSU where his son signed.

And 2 hours and 53 minutes from his house in Powell, Ohio.
 

Coaching carousel...sadly it reminds me of Tim Brewster. God I hope the results are different this time around...
 


Coaching carousel...sadly it reminds me of Tim Brewster. God I hope the results are different this time around...

This can be problematic for programs trying to build up like the Gophers. We hope to see dynamic coaching stability.

Hopefully, we have a core of coaches who want to be here long term. We can't blame coaches who have ambitions, who want more money, or who want to be closer to home.

It will be interesting to see how this impacts the Gophers. It might not be all that bad. PJ Fleck has to not only recruit players, he also has to keep tabs on potential promising coaches.

As long as the Gophers can recruit at the level they are doing now or higher, we hope to break out of fifth place in B1G West. Nebraska's and Purdue's new coaches certainly make it interesting.

They have to get over Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa and Northwestern ahead of them and stave off Purdue. It is tough, but it can be done.
 

I was looking at Austin Peay's schedule, check out their last 3 seasons:

2015: 0-11
2016: 0-11
2017: 8-4
 

I don't think losing a few positional coaches is a big deal at all. I don't even know that it is abnormal. I would think most don't want to stay long term as a position coach, most probably would like to work their way up to a possible head coaching position. I'd be more worried if we had a new qb coach, or offensive coordinator every other year.
 

I was looking at Austin Peay's schedule, check out their last 3 seasons:

2015: 0-11
2016: 0-11
2017: 8-4

In three of those four losses, AP allowed 30+ points including 73 to UCF. Let's hope that is symptomatic of the talent level and not his coaching ability.
 

There is quite a study in contrast between old school Jerry Kill with coaching stability and the young high octane PJ Fleck's dynamism.

Both of them have successes in coaching and off the playing field. Both of them eschew developing young men to prepare them for life.

After PJ Fleck's first full year he already has three of his coaches depart.

Jerry Kill's coaching staff were loyal to him. Tracy Claeys was with him since 1995 at Saginaw Valley State. Matt Limegrover was with him in 1999 at Emporia State. So many of his coaches followed him to every stop.

We will never know how successful Jerry Kill would have been if he did not have his health issues. His recruiting style is different. The type of kids that he recruits where two and three stars except for two four stars Jeff Jones (2015) and Carter Coughlin (2016). He finds hidden gems and two/three star players and coach them up. But, I don't know that would have been enough to produce B1G West championships. He and Tracy Claeys came close.

I was hoping that once he starts winning, he will attract more high caliber three star and four star recruits.

The story of PJ Fleck is still being written. We know that he can recruit and is a strong deal closer. Sit back and relax. I think this rocket that we have is going to the stratosphere.

PJ Fleck just brought in the best ever recruiting class (Avg. 247 Sports Composite Score of 0.8617 after re-ratings) eclipsing Tim Brewster's 2009 class (Avg. 247 Sports Composite Score of 0.8603). Scott Frost just threw in a wrench into the fray.

FLECK YEAR 1 VS KILL 2016 BEST RECRUITING CLASS.jpg

IMHO, the Gophers must maintain an Average Composite Score of 0.8600 or higher to challenge the teams ahead of them (Wisconsin - 1st, Nebraska - 2nd, Iowa - 3rd, Northwestern - 4th), and to stave off Purdue - 6th.

BIG WEST RECRUITING SUMMARY 2011-2017 A.jpg

There is no doubt that the Gophers' success hinges on PJ Fleck's ability to recruit. Coaching is important, but having the thoroughbred horses in the stable will make it easier.

Coaching History:
(See Gophersports History, Coaches, Jerry Kill http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/m-footbl-mtt-11-12.html#coaches, PJ Fleck http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/minn-m-footbl-mtt-2017.html#coaches).

If I recall, Jerry Kill fought for pay raises for his coaching staff successfully. Most of his assistant coaches have been with him. Does anybody know if PJ Fleck's coaching staff are being paid competitive salaries?
 







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