Ad blocker detected: Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.
Leatherneck57 wrote:Administrators did just about all they could over the weekend and today to keep Coach Blazek but it just wasn't meant for him to stay.
Had they done the same before with Yelk instead of reneging we wouldn't have had the Biller Press Conference fiasco. Any hope this means Biller has been called out on strikes
Leatherneck57 wrote:I thought I would give you an update on the HC situation. We thought there was an outside chance we could retain Coach AJ Blazek as head coach. The football alumni and several influential boosters really pushed for this and thought it would be a good fit not only on the field but for the university and community. He was well liked by everyone but in the end his gut and heart went to Rutgers. He accepted the position tonight.
Administrators did just about all they could over the weekend and today to keep Coach Blazek but it just wasn't meant for him to stay. I will miss his energy, genuine personality and his passion for the game. I wish him and his family the best at his new home.
From what I understand we still have a phenomenal list of candidates to choose from for our future. It's not a time to sit around and think about what might have been but what's ahead. I am positive that the selection committee (I know them all) will do a great job finding that right fit and that coach and his staff will take our current level of talent to new levels! I feel confident about our future and so should our players, fans, students and community.
On another note, I understand the first meeting discussing the west side stadium renovation went well...as information becomes available I'll let you know. STAY POSITIVE Leathernecks!!
Former Neck
Obviously no names, but can you give us an general idea of who is on the committee - former players, WIU alum, business people, etc or just WIU administrators. If not that is fine, appreciate the update
Leatherneck57 wrote:I thought I would give you an update on the HC situation. We thought there was an outside chance we could retain Coach AJ Blazek as head coach. The football alumni and several influential boosters really pushed for this and thought it would be a good fit not only on the field but for the university and community. He was well liked by everyone but in the end his gut and heart went to Rutgers. He accepted the position tonight.
Administrators did just about all they could over the weekend and today to keep Coach Blazek but it just wasn't meant for him to stay. I will miss his energy, genuine personality and his passion for the game. I wish him and his family the best at his new home.
From what I understand we still have a phenomenal list of candidates to choose from for our future. It's not a time to sit around and think about what might have been but what's ahead. I am positive that the selection committee (I know them all) will do a great job finding that right fit and that coach and his staff will take our current level of talent to new levels! I feel confident about our future and so should our players, fans, students and community.
On another note, I understand the first meeting discussing the west side stadium renovation went well...as information becomes available I'll let you know. STAY POSITIVE Leathernecks!!
Former Neck
Obviously no names, but can you give us an general idea of who is on the committee - former players, WIU alum, business people, etc or just WIU administrators. If not that is fine, appreciate the update
Who in the administration is qualified to hire a head football coach?
Rutgers: Western Illinois offensive line coach AJ Blazek is joining Chris Ash’s staff, per source. Blazek has served as offensive line coach at WIU the past three seasons, was co-offensive coordinator / offensive line / tight ends at Winona State prior to that (2009-2012), offensive coordinator / offensive line at Fort Hays State (2005-2009) and served as a grad assistant at Iowa (2001-2004).
Rutgers has gotten themselves a great coach. Lots of energy and will be a players coach and those players will work their collective asses off for him. Smart hire by Ash. I will miss his enthusiasm.
Coaches get all kinds of incentive clauses in their contracts based on how their athletes perform in the classroom and on the field. Why not an incentive clause for putting more people in the stands (assuming we have a consistent and valid way of counting them). Might even result in a little more exciting style of play.
Former neck OX wrote:Kalen Deboer - He was one of the candidates for the position at South Dakota, no d1 HC experience, but was very successful at NAIA Sioux Falls
Matt Limegrover- long time assistant of Jerry Kill, Was OL and OC at Minnesota, would be good for him to get some HC experience, big name in midwest recruiting circles.
According to FootballScoop, Limegrover turned down SIU job and will interview for OL jobs
Buckingham Palace wrote:What are everyone's thoughts on Western making a strong push to get Limegrover to come to Macomb?
Not opposed to it, I think he's got some really good qualifications. Sounds like SIU offered the job to him but he turned it down. I kinda feel like we want a coach who actually wants to be here, and I'm not sure that Limegrover is the guy. He is a good coach though, and if he's interested, it's worth a shot. He was with Coach Kill at SIU, NIU, and Minnesota and went to school at U of Chicago.
Scott Lawson - Board Admin
Western Illinois University Alum/Fan/Employee
Member of the Marching Leathernecks - 1996-2000
If he turned down SIU where he coached previously with a renovated/new stadium of less than five years why would he want to come to Western knowing full well what has happened the past two weeks here??
Scott Lawson - Board Admin