Mike Leach Reportedly Hires Four Offensive Assistants, Including UCLA's Jim Mastro
by Brian Floyd on Dec 8, 2011 9:31 AM PST
in 2011 WSU Football News
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PrintWe still don't know the biggest questions on everyone's mind, but we do know a few of Mike Leach's assistant coaches. On Thursday morning, multiple reports indicated Leach had hired four coaches, and the names should sound familiar to those that have followed his coaching career. Among them: A former Texas Tech wide receiver, two assistants on ECU head coach Ruffin McNeill's staff and an intriguing hire from UCLA.
Your newbie on Leach's staff will Eric Morris, an inside receiver who played under Leach at Tech. He'll coach the position he played. Dennis Simmons will coach the outside receivers, and rejoin Leach after coaching alongside him at Tech from 2000-09 (via Chris Level).
Leach has also hired former #TexasTech wideout Eric Morris as his IR's coach and hired ECU WR's coach Dennis Simmons to coach his OR's.
These two hires can also be connected to Mike Levenseller. I assumed Leach would not keep any of the current coaching staff -- he writes about wanting a fresh start when he transitioned at Texas Tech and also lays out the reasons why he feels keeping a couple staff members is detrimental in Swing Your Sword. Morris and Simmons joining the staff seems to all but indicate Levenseller's time is done.
Clay McGuire will reportedly coach the offensive line after working with the running backs and special teams at ECU. McGuire was also part of Leach's staff at Tech and played under Leach, as a running back, at Tech.
For those interested, Mike Leach has hired Clay McGuire from ECU to coach his offensive line at Washington State.
That brings the number of Pirates on the staff to two; three if you're counting Leach. Finally, a fun and intriguing hire from UCLA. Meet Jim Mastro, formerly the running backs coach for the Bruins.
Leach's last hire on offense is former UCLA RB's coach Jim Mastro to coach RB's. Is all I know. Carry on.
You're wondering why a running backs coach is intriguing. He's a pistol running backs coach who taught the position at UCLA and before it, Nevada. I probably can't do it better than our excellent national college football editor, Jason Kirk, so here's what you need to know:
Also, Jim Mastro is a Pistol guy. Wazzu may have the best video game offense of all time in NCAA 2013.
I have no idea what to make of this hire, other than thinking it's excellent for recruiting and for the development of the running backs. It'll be interesting to see how Mastro is utilized, but he certainly has skills.
Still waiting on the offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator and a few others, but these hires should give you a start. It's all beginning to come together.
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Please correct me if I'm wrong..
NCAA allows 9 assistant coaches we’ve hired 6 with none on the defensive side of the ball? This leaves the the defensive coordinator to coach one of LBs, DBs, or DL? With the other 2 openings coaching the other 2 groups? And no offensive coordinator?
Dave Emerick is not an assistant
So there’s five — four on the offensive side and a ST coach (reportedly).
I think you're counting the guy from Arizona
He doesn’t count. He’s an administrative assistant — no contact with kids in recruiting or coaching.
Great handle, btw
I’ll have a side of your finest jelly beans, raw of course
I miss *REAL* Four Loko
by B-Lot tailgater on Dec 8, 2011 9:49 AM PST up reply actions
Agreed.
I was just ‘lurking,’ but signed up for this site simply to applaud the ‘milksteak’ handle.
yep, i was wondering about that as well. at TT, he had a DB coach, DC, and defensive ends coach. I believe Leach will act as OC and QB coach himself. But we’re missing a Linebacker coach, and i dont know what he’ll do, if anything, with tight ends…
I think he'll bring in an OC
And that’ll round out the offensive side of the ball. He typically had an OC at Tech, as well.
not according to this…
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/text/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/09-mg-pt4-coaches.pdf
this says he acted as OC each year.
Of course he did. He's also an OC
But at one point, Tech had three OCs (Leach, Sonny Dykes and Holgo the Barbarian).
In other words, Leach always calls the plays and works closely with the quaterbacks
But also has someone else close by to give an extra perspective, make tweaks, give input and all that. I wouldn’t be surprised to see an OC, then DL, LB, secondary and DC.
Also, it should be noted that there’s been no leaks about the defensive side. Makes me wonder what he’s got up his sleeve.
relying on grad assistants?
for defense maybe? It just seems like with
RB: Mastro
OL: McGuire
IR: Morris
OR: Simmons
OC: TBD
Special Teams: Russel (rumored)
that leaves 3 spots for Defensive coaches. seems a little thin
Actually, yeah. Probably right
Our working theory right now is that we’re hearing nothing on the defensive side of the ball because the DC, whoever it may be, will be hiring his own guys. So it could be that the DC has three spots to work with — line, LB, secondary, or whatever.
For What It's Worth ...
Leach has always had an eye in the sky during games to help him spot alignment and tendency issues. That would be the Co-OC. This coach was typically the IR or WR coach too. He is Leach’s right hand man … Holgerson, Dykes, and Riley all served in that capacity before leaving Tech to branch out on their own. This is the way Leach grooms future OC’s. Kingsbury is calling more plays, I think it would be a step back for him. Riley is running his own show.
The offensive side of the ball is done. Interesting the Cody will be the OLine coach, not Anae.
by Arizona Raider on Dec 8, 2011 10:13 AM PST up reply actions
Done but perhaps we don't know yet?
A well placed individual in the athletic department told me this past weekend that Leach had already put his staff in place….it just wasn’t being released until the contracts were in place. Or, he was just bs’ing to sound relevant in the new Leach era.
Still need a line coach.
Anae was it for a while at Tech, and was OC at BYU before moving to Arizona….
#CougHarmonyOnTwitter #teamnopants
by TiltingRight on Dec 8, 2011 11:04 AM PST up reply actions
Furk.
Disregard.
#CougHarmonyOnTwitter #teamnopants
by TiltingRight on Dec 8, 2011 11:05 AM PST up reply actions
I'm an LSU fan
LSU has just three defensive coaches (Brick Haley- DL, John Chavis- DC and LBs, Ron Cooper-DB) and the defense is pretty good.
It is interesting that Leach has that many offensive coaches, and I didn’t know you could have both inside and outside receivers.
I’m a big fan of Mike Leach, and I can’t wait to see Washington State play next season.
Jrlz rhymes with Charles.
My Tumblr- cfbinbadmspaint.tumblr.com
He does specialization to a TEE.
Two schools of thought, one is be flexible with your best players to get them the ball however you can (think Percy Harvin at Florida). The other is to make that one player so good at his one position that no one can stop him (think Michael Crabtree).
#CougHarmonyOnTwitter #teamnopants
by TiltingRight on Dec 8, 2011 11:09 AM PST up reply actions
There are generally two schools of thought...
False, black bear.
by Mark Sandritter on Dec 8, 2011 11:59 AM PST up reply actions 7 recs
IDENTITY THEFT IS NOT FUNNY JIM
"Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them. And we shut them down because we can!" | Herb Brooks
by Coug999 on Dec 8, 2011 12:12 PM PST up reply actions 4 recs
Millions of families suffer ever year!
by Mark Sandritter on Dec 8, 2011 12:16 PM PST up reply actions 7 recs
Enjoy your recs, sirs.
#CougHarmonyOnTwitter #teamnopants
by TiltingRight on Dec 8, 2011 12:50 PM PST up reply actions
I know this will sound cliche.....
… but Leach’s school of thought is to throw it to the open man. Sure, the best receivers get the ball more often, but that is usually because they are the open man – but not because the offense is designed for them. On most series in the first half, Leach wants to make sure he throws it to everyone a few times in order to get a feel for what the D is doing. I’m a Tech alum and as far as I can tell, Leach’s offense was run basically the same every year – the best player just emerges because he gets open regardless of play call or position. Leach is determined that the passes are spread out as close to equal among his primary receivers as possible, every game. The Harrell to Crabtree years were the same philosophically, it’s just that Crabtree was so exceptional that he was the open man probably more half the time. He made it impossible to not throw him the ball more often. Welker got the ball more often because he was multifaceted, as well as talented.
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Harvey "Big Daddy" Pollitt: "What's that smell in this room? Didn't you notice it, Brick? Didn't you notice a powerful and obnoxious odor of mendacity in this room?"
well said. Good to see you on here Dunka
You will find some other familiar faces as well.
by Arizona Raider on Dec 8, 2011 1:39 PM PST up reply actions
This party is just getting started and it's hard to imagining leaving it for the Cougars to enjoy all by themselves...
I believe we all have the same goal, which is to see Leach succeed and to watch some amazingly fun football. I believe Leach would want them to spread the wealth if I understand his philosophy!
Good to see you guys as well.
Hellooooooo Austin, TX.
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Harvey "Big Daddy" Pollitt: "What's that smell in this room? Didn't you notice it, Brick? Didn't you notice a powerful and obnoxious odor of mendacity in this room?"
tru dat dunka
you will recall however, that some games the H would score the most, while another game would feature the x or y. it depends on the defense and the ability of the QB to read.
For those of you scoring at home………………think fire drill
i'm back bitches.....................deal with it.
Speculation...
I know, speculation never happens on internet message boards, but I’m going venture out there…Klif Klingsbury as QB coach/OC and Greg McMakin as DC.
No chance with McMakin. He retired and his defense ...
didn’t work too well at Tech.
by Arizona Raider on Dec 8, 2011 10:14 AM PST up reply actions
This isn't an internet message board.
I take immense pride in that fact.
Also, who is Kliff Kingsbury? I’ve never heard of this fellow.
by Kyle Rancourt on Dec 8, 2011 12:57 PM PST up reply actions
look in the ncaa record book under quarterbacks
he should be about 7 rows down from the top in most areas of measure,
i'm back bitches.....................deal with it.
There is something backward and perverse
about Kyle sending someone else into the chasm…
Screw you, Chip Kelly! 'Win the Day' was ours first!
by displacedcoug on Dec 8, 2011 1:12 PM PST up reply actions 3 recs
Awwww....is this the first time one of the Tech folks has fallen in?
CougCenter In Reid We Trust, Twitter!
by Craig Powers on Dec 8, 2011 1:15 PM PST up reply actions 6 recs
We dish it out like crazy, but we are so bad at getting it sometimes that we asked our moderator for a special font to help us recognize it.
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Harvey "Big Daddy" Pollitt: "What's that smell in this room? Didn't you notice it, Brick? Didn't you notice a powerful and obnoxious odor of mendacity in this room?"
To send blackbeard in first too...
you have no idea what a coup that is!!
Don’t worry bb, I won’t tell!
Die-hard Texas Tech girl & new Cougar (fan)! Bring it!
I'm afraid of heights
"I’ve established a reputation for integrity. I have maintained those high standards" - Craig James
But haven't you actually fallen into a sarchasm at the bottom of the sarchasm?
"Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them. And we shut them down because we can!" | Herb Brooks
by Coug999 on Dec 8, 2011 1:36 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
A message from the President....
If My Life Is Great, Why Am I Not Happy?
by well you win some and lose others on Dec 8, 2011 1:32 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
what? What?
If My Life Is Great, Why Am I Not Happy?
by well you win some and lose others on Dec 8, 2011 1:36 PM PST up reply actions
Why is this picture in response to Brian's comment?
He was being sarcastic. Also, not sure why it’s a picture of Obama.
by Kyle Rancourt on Dec 8, 2011 1:42 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah, it is not.
Iit is a chat room.
If My Life Is Great, Why Am I Not Happy?
by well you win some and lose others on Dec 8, 2011 1:18 PM PST up reply actions
Why would it not be?
If My Life Is Great, Why Am I Not Happy?
by well you win some and lose others on Dec 8, 2011 1:47 PM PST up reply actions
...
blog /blɔg, blɒg/ Show Spelled [blawg, blog] Show IPA noun, verb, blogged, blog·ging.
noun
1. a Web site containing the writer’s or group of writers’ own experiences, observations, opinions, etc., and often having images and links to other Web sites.
chat room
noun Digital Technology .
a branch of a computer network in which participants can engage in real-time discussions with one another (group chat). See also chat ( def. 4 ) .
Screw you, Chip Kelly! 'Win the Day' was ours first!
by displacedcoug on Dec 8, 2011 1:50 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
You guys cannot handle my sarcasm when it happens.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_forum
If My Life Is Great, Why Am I Not Happy?
by well you win some and lose others on Dec 8, 2011 1:59 PM PST up reply actions
After reading that entry, I can see how SBN blogs and message boards are similar.
They are not the same, however.
By the way, hope you don’t get discouraged by most of us not really getting what you say sometimes. You add to the discussion, even if it is in an abstract way sometimes.
Screw you, Chip Kelly! 'Win the Day' was ours first!
by displacedcoug on Dec 8, 2011 2:27 PM PST up reply actions
Are you asking why CougCenter is not a chat room?
by Kyle Rancourt on Dec 8, 2011 1:51 PM PST up reply actions
Oh no.
I can tell the difference.
If My Life Is Great, Why Am I Not Happy?
by well you win some and lose others on Dec 8, 2011 2:00 PM PST up reply actions
Chat rooms are instant messaging.
If My Life Is Great, Why Am I Not Happy?
by well you win some and lose others on Dec 8, 2011 2:01 PM PST up reply actions
Kliff Kingsbury
You haven’t heard of Kingsbury? How can you run this site without reading Leach’s book?
You just fell in the sarchasm
#CougHarmonyOnTwitter #teamnopants
by TiltingRight on Dec 9, 2011 11:56 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I was kind of wondering that too
Maybe he is ready to just play golf?
I miss *REAL* Four Loko
by B-Lot tailgater on Dec 8, 2011 9:50 AM PST up reply actions
I'm sure Robb Akey will give him a call
I miss *REAL* Four Loko
by B-Lot tailgater on Dec 8, 2011 9:58 AM PST up reply actions
Akey is signed through 2014 and UI is flat broke.
Agree that Levy and Tormey make a lot of sense over there.
I just realized he's younger than I thought.
Still, you could do worse than golfing Palouse Ridge every day and working a “retirement” athletic department job.
Congrats to:
The Elf………………………Eric Morris………….
and
The Crane Flash………Clay McGuire…………….
i'm back bitches.....................deal with it.
Elf has moves like welker
workstation won’t let me link but visit youtube and find “moves like Welker”
i'm back bitches.....................deal with it.
You mean this little ditty
Talent spotted by Leach when no one else saw it
"I’ve established a reputation for integrity. I have maintained those high standards" - Craig James
wish the singer
were better………………..but hey, you take what you can get.
i'm back bitches.....................deal with it.
Hey freakinout!
I’m pretty sure Wes Welker still IS Wes Welker…
Die-hard Texas Tech girl & new Cougar (fan)! Bring it!
Anyone over here
correct you on your spelling yet?
Die-hard Texas Tech girl & new Cougar (fan)! Bring it!
Haven't seen it if they did
"I’ve established a reputation for integrity. I have maintained those high standards" - Craig James
My thoughts exactly bb
The Elf! I love the Elf!! Eric Morris was a star and a perfect example of Leach doing more with less – none of the “big schools” would have recruited him but he was a top performer for Tech.
Play to the strengths of your players. Don’t try to pound a square peg into a round hole. (Are you listening Tommy??? Can’t imagine what else those big ears are for…)
Die-hard Texas Tech girl & new Cougar (fan)! Bring it!
I bet Nusser cringes every time he sees you destroying ellipsis
by Kyle Rancourt on Dec 8, 2011 12:59 PM PST up reply actions
I'm really interested in the DC position...
I’d like something crazy like Dick Bumpas… I want defense that attacks and confuses, but with offense like Leach’s you would need a LOT of athletes because they’d be on the field so much. If they’re able to force a lot of takeaways though, they wouldn’t have to be?
Eric Morris is a great hire for WSU!
He played very much like Wes Welker and Danny Amendola. Small, but very fast—proving that not all receivers have to be over 6’2" and 210 lbs. He will be able to relate to the smaller recruits that will come along.
BTW, are there any Cougar/Pirate hats available for import back down to Lubbock?
A little something stolen from the "official" site in the hub city
“2007 – JUNIOR SEASON
Academic All-Big 12 First Team … Big game against Virginia with nine receptions for 77 yards … also returned three punts for 19 yards … wrapped up his breakout regular season, making eight catches for 56 yards and his ninth touchdown of the season, a 15-yard second quarter catch-and-run against Oklahoma … scored at least one touchdown in the last four games of the season … is now tied for third in the Big 12 with his nine touchdown catches on the season … led the team in scoring at Texas, registering eight catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns against the Longhorns … made three catches for 56 yards and a touchdown at Baylor … set new career-highs with 10 catches for 125 yards and his fifth touchdown of the season against Colorado … finished second on the team with nine catches for 47 yards at Missouri … added three catches for 42 yards and his fourth touchdown of the season against Texas A&M … second quarter score was the first of the Red Raiders five unanswered touchdowns against the Aggies … hauled in four catches for 93 yards against Iowa State … 93-yard output marked the third-highest total of his career … also returned two punts for 43 yards, including his season-long 34-yarder that setup Tech’s second scoring drive of the first quarter against the Cyclones … made two catches for 42 yards and caught a touchdown for the third consecutive week against Northwestern State … also returned three punts for 25 yards against the Demons … hauled in two passes for 16 yards and caught a touchdown for the second time in as many weeks at Oklahoma State … had three catches, netting 12 yards and his first touchdown reception of the 2007 season late in the second quarter at Rice …turned in another productive outing from the H-receiver position, making seven catches for 75 yards against UTEP … also brought back two punts for 21 yards … finished with seven catches for 70 yards in the season opener at SMU … 70 receiving yards were good for third highest on the team and four of his seven catches resulted in first downs for the offense … also returned three punts, netting 15 yards … small, elusive and quick … referred to as “The Elf”
i'm back bitches.....................deal with it.
Strength and Conditioning
I would expect Coach Leach to hire a Strength and Conditioning coach. He had Bennie Wylie at Tech.
by HoustonRedRaider on Dec 8, 2011 11:22 AM PST reply actions
Do you think Wylie would leave UT (longhorns)?
Die-hard Texas Tech girl & new Cougar (fan)! Bring it!
I do not know if someone in California will be the guy.
If My Life Is Great, Why Am I Not Happy?
by well you win some and lose others on Dec 8, 2011 12:26 PM PST up reply actions
...
#CougHarmonyOnTwitter #teamnopants
by TiltingRight on Dec 8, 2011 12:53 PM PST up reply actions 3 recs
There are two things about the message.
Where are we mostly recruiting from, and the potential to find The Guy who is as good as Bennie.
If My Life Is Great, Why Am I Not Happy?
by well you win some and lose others on Dec 8, 2011 2:20 PM PST up reply actions
Google translate needs a wywsalo option.
by Kyle Rancourt on Dec 8, 2011 1:01 PM PST up reply actions 4 recs
First translate Pirate....
before going ahead with my translation.
If My Life Is Great, Why Am I Not Happy?
by well you win some and lose others on Dec 8, 2011 2:31 PM PST up reply actions
Sad about Coach Levy leaving, if true
He was always great! I have no way to quantify his recruiting (or lack) but our receivers always seemed to be pretty decent and give us good production. A hometown hero, so to speak, and I’ll be sad to see him go.
"Ignorance is the parent of fear." ~Melville
The period between Gibson and Wilson
is the only time I can remember where we didn’t have an outstanding wide receiver.
Screw you, Chip Kelly! Win the day was ours first!
by displacedcoug on Dec 8, 2011 12:06 PM PST up reply actions
We did always have great ones!
Do you realize that period you mentioned was only one year? That was 2009, when Karstetter led our receivers as a sophomore (everyone was super psyched about 9-reception Forzani) and we basically split time between 3 QBs.
"Ignorance is the parent of fear." ~Melville
by johnnycougar on Dec 8, 2011 12:55 PM PST up reply actions
It felt like a lot longer.
Screw you, Chip Kelly! 'Win the Day' was ours first!
by displacedcoug on Dec 8, 2011 1:57 PM PST up reply actions
Came on here to say what I know you've already figured - that you guys are about to have more fun than you know.
I’m not saying you haven’t had fun before – but this is a different animal. If you don’t mind, I’d like to ride on your coattails.
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Harvey "Big Daddy" Pollitt: "What's that smell in this room? Didn't you notice it, Brick? Didn't you notice a powerful and obnoxious odor of mendacity in this room?"
They better have long coattails
because there are going to be a lot of us on them. I call shotgun!
Die-hard Texas Tech girl & new Cougar (fan)! Bring it!
Even though it's a given that it's all offense all the time with coach Leach
is it strange for me to be so curious about what the plans are on the defensive side of the ball? Someone here mentioned that coach had made multiple trips to NYC the past couple years to talk defense with the Ryan bros so does anyone have an educated guess about what’s in store for us defensively? Or maybe it doesn’t matter if we’re putting up 40 points a game…
Sometimes I sits and thinks and sometimes I just sits
He says in his book
that spending time with Rex Ryan, Urban Meyer, etc., was more about picking thier brains about the operation side of how they coach, how they plan thier week, etc., and very little about schemes and game strategy.
Very curious to see who he’s got tabbed for DC. Must be in a bowl game. Probably Nick Saban.
by ghostof97Coug on Dec 8, 2011 2:23 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Wouldn't that be something.
by Arizona Raider on Dec 8, 2011 6:13 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Wouldn't that be something.
by Arizona Raider on Dec 8, 2011 6:13 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
That was
definitely worth saying twice. Who wouldn’t want their son to play for a coach who steps over a convulsing player and keeps on walking?
Die-hard Texas Tech girl & new Cougar (fan)! Bring it!
Yeah, did you
read Saban’s response? Something about being in charge and had to go collect his wits (my words)…not convincing.
Yes
Could not believe that. No excuse. This is a “leader”. Scratch that – an adult who leaves this to college kids to handle? His excuse about needing to show leadership & calm or whatever turned my stomach. Coward.
Die-hard Texas Tech girl & new Cougar (fan)! Bring it!
Welcome Tech'ers!!
Geez,… I think all the new friends we have from Texas are an omen from Davey Jones himself!!! Love the insights, energy and stories about what’s ahead for WAZZU!! It’s all a bit “Brady Bunchish” but hey, Jan was cute when I was 8!!! Let’s get a little Tech swagger goin on!!
Poor Jan
“Well, all I hear all day long at school, is how great Marcia is at this and how wonderful Marcia did that. Marcia, Marcia, Marcia! "
Die-hard Texas Tech girl & new Cougar (fan)! Bring it!
and for the Tech refugees
I notice no Sonny Cumbie on Leach’s hire list….
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