BleedGopher
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per Land Grant Holy Land:
There are two Ohio State assistants who jump off the page as possible head coaching candidates. The most likely might be Ohio State's co-DC, Chris Ash. Ash has lots of experience in the Western side of the Big Ten, having coached at Wisconsin, (as well as Iowa State and Drake, his alma mater), and has canvassed most of the midwest for Ohio State. His turnaround of a moribund secondary in a short amount of time was a major reason the Buckeyes won the national title last season, and are in a position to compete for another one.
He also wants to be a head coach, as he interviewed for the Colorado State opening last season. Ash doesn't have the reputation for being an exceptionally flashy recruiter, but he's done an excellent job of teaching and developing talent, which might be more important at Minnesota. When you combine that his background and his coaching pedigree, he could be an excellent fit for the Gophers. He's also almost assuredly within their budget.
Another potential candidate could be Ohio State co-OC Ed Warinner. His promotion from offensive line coach, and his juggling duties with Ohio State co-OC and QB coach Tim Beck has not gone without hiccups this season, but nobody can deny the exceptional coaching job he did with Ohio State's linemen last season, creating an absolutely devastating rushing attack. Like Ash, Warinner has ties to the western side of the midwest (he's coached at Illinois and Kansas), and could also bring Ohio ties to the Gophers. Warinner knows a thing or two about having to get by with less, having coached for several years at Army, and has also interviewed for head coaching positions elsewhere (Army, Kansas). Given what Minnesota wants to do offensively, Warinner could also be somebody Minnesota takes a look at.
That isn't to say that those would be the only coaches on staff who might want to jump at a head coaching opportunity. Luke Fickell has interviewed elsewhere before, and now that the image of Ohio State's defense has been rehabilitated a bit, perhaps he might want to look at a MAC position should one open. Tim Beck is new to Ohio State's staff, but maybe he might be interested in North Texas, or a similar caliber position. When you've been as successful as Ohio State, other schools, or the NFL, will constantly come calling, and it would be a shock if Urban Meyer is able to keep this entire group together for another season.
* * *
Minnesota should have a solid group of candidates to pick from, and after a disastrous immediate post-Glen Mason era, Minnesota can now claim an identity, and a sense of momentum. They just need the right leader to sustain that. Who knows? Maybe that answer is waiting in Columbus.
http://www.landgrantholyland.com/20...aching-search-ohio-state-assistants-chris-ash
Go Gophers!!
There are two Ohio State assistants who jump off the page as possible head coaching candidates. The most likely might be Ohio State's co-DC, Chris Ash. Ash has lots of experience in the Western side of the Big Ten, having coached at Wisconsin, (as well as Iowa State and Drake, his alma mater), and has canvassed most of the midwest for Ohio State. His turnaround of a moribund secondary in a short amount of time was a major reason the Buckeyes won the national title last season, and are in a position to compete for another one.
He also wants to be a head coach, as he interviewed for the Colorado State opening last season. Ash doesn't have the reputation for being an exceptionally flashy recruiter, but he's done an excellent job of teaching and developing talent, which might be more important at Minnesota. When you combine that his background and his coaching pedigree, he could be an excellent fit for the Gophers. He's also almost assuredly within their budget.
Another potential candidate could be Ohio State co-OC Ed Warinner. His promotion from offensive line coach, and his juggling duties with Ohio State co-OC and QB coach Tim Beck has not gone without hiccups this season, but nobody can deny the exceptional coaching job he did with Ohio State's linemen last season, creating an absolutely devastating rushing attack. Like Ash, Warinner has ties to the western side of the midwest (he's coached at Illinois and Kansas), and could also bring Ohio ties to the Gophers. Warinner knows a thing or two about having to get by with less, having coached for several years at Army, and has also interviewed for head coaching positions elsewhere (Army, Kansas). Given what Minnesota wants to do offensively, Warinner could also be somebody Minnesota takes a look at.
That isn't to say that those would be the only coaches on staff who might want to jump at a head coaching opportunity. Luke Fickell has interviewed elsewhere before, and now that the image of Ohio State's defense has been rehabilitated a bit, perhaps he might want to look at a MAC position should one open. Tim Beck is new to Ohio State's staff, but maybe he might be interested in North Texas, or a similar caliber position. When you've been as successful as Ohio State, other schools, or the NFL, will constantly come calling, and it would be a shock if Urban Meyer is able to keep this entire group together for another season.
* * *
Minnesota should have a solid group of candidates to pick from, and after a disastrous immediate post-Glen Mason era, Minnesota can now claim an identity, and a sense of momentum. They just need the right leader to sustain that. Who knows? Maybe that answer is waiting in Columbus.
http://www.landgrantholyland.com/20...aching-search-ohio-state-assistants-chris-ash
Go Gophers!!