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Locksley doubts 'any major guys' will leave
Tuesday December 9, 2008
Darrell Hoemann/The News-Gazette
Former Illinois offensive coordinator Mike Locksley soon will put together his own staff at New Mexico.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The new coach at New Mexico doesn't plan to raid the staff of his old school.
Former Illinois offensive coordinator Mike Locksley was introduced Tuesday as the 29th Lobos coach. Locksley agreed to a six-year deal paying him $750,000 annually.
"I doubt very seriously that there will be any major guys from the program there that would come," Locksley said. "Until the staff is completed, I'm not going to get into who's coming and who's not. There are some good young coaches up there, obviously, that I've identified who have worked in some aspect of the program that I would entertain. But, for the most part, there won't be any of the core guys coming up from there down here to Albuquerque."
Locksley is having to put a staff together for the first time as a head coach. But he has been thinking about it for a while.
"I'm always going to have a plan," Locksley said. "As I've progressed through the interview process and been a part of the process for the past couple of years, I've put together a list of guys I've identified as coaches that I think have the ability to be great teachers and mentors."
Locksley isn't the only one with work to do. Illinois coach Ron Zook met with his players after Locksley's departure. Zook had a simple message: "Nothing's going to change."
"Whatever we do, we're going to hire a coach who is going to have to come in here and learn what we're doing," Zook said. "Whether it be the position coach, or a receiver coach or a tight end coach or a quarterback coach. We're not going to change."
Since Locksley left, Zook's phone has been busy with prospective coaching candidates. Mark Richt, Phil Fulmer and Galen Hall have called with recommendations. Others have chimed in, too.
"What makes you busy is that it's a job that a lot of people want," Zook said. "It makes you feel good because people have taken notice, they've seen the progress we've made and they realize we've got some talent here. Now, we've just got to coach it up and get them ready to where they're supposed to be."
Zook has started the process of finding a replacement for Locksley. One option is to hire his offensive coordinator from within. Kurt Beathard and Jim Pry have held the job at other schools.
"We've got very capable coaches on this staff," Zook said. "We're still in the evaluation process from the year."
Zook said he doesn't have a timetable for the hire. Recruiting will be an important factor in who Zook picks.
"Locks has done a great job recruiting, and we've got to continue to do the same thing," Zook said.
"The most important thing is you get the right guy and that you move along full speed."
Normally, Zook has a list of coaches he might consider for a particular opening. With this hire, Zook said, he has "decided to troll a little a bit. I was just amazed at the interest."
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Comments
I believe Coach Zook has an excellent opportunity to greatly improve the Illini's offense by hiring the right person as the new Offensive Coordinator. I know Coach Locksley is highly revered by the IIlini nation. Yes, he did a good job recruiting for the ILLINI....
But--- the Offensive just seemed to go up and down the field, but they had trouble getting the ball in the end zone. And, while I feel juice took a couple of baby steps forward this past year, It just wasn't enough. it just amazes me that the kids that play for Texas, Missouri, Florida, Ohio State and on and on, seem to be light years ahead of Juice..... Let's use two examples of where kids who are similar in skills to Juice--progressed far more than Juice did this past year. The QB at Penn State and the QB at Ohio State made all of the plays there teams needed them to make and limited their mistakes so as to not hurt their teams constantly in the red zone the way it seemed that juice did. I out this on the coaching more than anything else. A change of scenery will do JUICE and the ILLINI a world of good......
Posted by guitaraxe1 on December 10, 2008 at 8:58 AM | Suggest Removal
Good riddance. Recruiting doesn't mean much if you can't coach or call effective plays. Hey Locksley, take Disch and Woodford with you! PLEASE!
Posted by on December 10, 2008 at 9:33 AM | Suggest Removal
Great post guitaraxe1! I couldn't agree more.
Posted by on December 10, 2008 at 10:14 AM | Suggest Removal
Please take our terrible defensive coordinators with you..... its like a turner team right now..... " score more then the other guys"... defense... whats that?
Posted by on December 10, 2008 at 10:33 AM | Suggest Removal
Totally agree with guitaraxe1, oskeewowwow and jweeks. They quote from Zook "Nothing's going to change" needs to be changed to "We are going to need to make some big changes".
Posted by on December 10, 2008 at 10:41 AM | Suggest Removal
I have been saying for a number of years that if Illinois wants to jump up in national prominence then through money at the situation and get the best coaches. First and foremost on defense the man that money needs to be thrown at is Bob Davies. Everywhere he went he had great defenses at Texas A&M and ND. I know this is almost blasphemy but the other man that knows Illinois and how important defense means to Illinois fans is Lou Tepper. We know he can coach it. Offensively, get someone from the NFL with some name recognition for recruiting. Throw the money at them.
Posted by on December 10, 2008 at 2:22 PM | Suggest Removal
i would love to see bob davies directing our defense.... we couldn't do any worse
Posted by on December 10, 2008 at 4:09 PM | Suggest Removal
Another point...Zook has done a great job in getting the hype for Illinois football. In time he may pan out but the one guy I think that we should have went after for a head coach was John Cooper when he was canned at Ohio State assuming he still wanted to coach as well as do it in the Big 10.
Posted by on December 10, 2008 at 4:59 PM | Suggest Removal