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Post by Grizzly on Dec 29, 2018 23:35:18 GMT -5
Can anyone verify that we have lost several coaches since the season ended.
I have heard that Kolowkoski, Baker and Cain have left the program.
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Post by bearsfan on Dec 30, 2018 13:20:37 GMT -5
Pizzo also..
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Post by Grizzly on Dec 30, 2018 14:44:00 GMT -5
How do you see this? Good, Bad, Indifferent? Pretty common to see this happen when the HC leaves but large exodus of staff is strange to me.
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Post by FUBeAR on Dec 31, 2018 16:22:45 GMT -5
FUBeAR has no knowledge of any of these changes.
All Coaches listed above are still showing on the 2019 Mercer Football Coaching Staff on the Mercer Football website. All Coaches listed still show Mercer on their Twitter pages. There has been no mention of any of these changes on FootballScoop.com, which is pretty much THE 'source' for such things, in advance of Official Announcements.
That said, it's not terribly unusual to have a few changes each year among a College Football Coaching Staff.
For example, 4 names were listed and Mercer had 3 Coaching Staff personnel changes last year...about 2 or 3 in each prior year.
We'll see what happens....stay tuned.
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Post by FUBeAR on Jan 4, 2019 7:24:11 GMT -5
Movement of Coach Pizzo & Coach Baker to Chattanooga has been announced by Chattanooga. They will serve in the same roles at Chatt as they have at Mercer, OC & DL Coach, respectively.
Movement of Coach Cain to James Madison has been confirmed by James Madison. Coach Cain will serve as JMU’s Special Teams Coordinator, a role he also held at Mercer. I believe he will also be their TE Coach although that has not been officially announced at present.
There has been no official announcement regarding Coach Kowalkowski and he remains listed as Mercer’s DC on the Mercer Football website.
While I’ll defer going into details, each of the 3 announced moves, while they may appear to be lateral, make great sense, in FUBeAR’s opinion, for each of the individuals & their families. FUBeAR believes the moves have a lot more to do with the current situations at JMU & Chattanooga than they do with the current situation at Mercer.
As mentioned in my previous post, Mercer hired 3 Coaches before the 2018 season & I believe were a better Coached Football Team than they had been in 2017. While I think the departing Coaches this year are fine men & did excellent work during their time at Mercer, I have no doubt Mercer will make the necessary investments to secure outstanding replacements for them.
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Post by BearTiger on Jan 22, 2019 10:32:04 GMT -5
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Post by FUBeAR on Jan 22, 2019 15:13:05 GMT -5
Crap...welp, that doesn’t seem like good news. I was impressed with Coach Safford.  |
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Post by FUBeAR on Jan 23, 2019 10:09:18 GMT -5
It appears Grizzly’s original post in this thread was accurate as Mercer Football, apparently, has a new Defensive Coordinator on board.  Here is his bio from his most recent role with Charleston Southern... Mike Adams Title: Safeties |
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Post by FUBeAR on Jan 28, 2019 9:53:21 GMT -5
Rumor is that Bill Legg, currently Offensive Quality Control Coach at Mississippi State and long-time OC at Marshall is the future OC at Mercer. Very experienced hire. Stay tuned.
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Post by FUBeAR on Jan 28, 2019 18:11:58 GMT -5
Bill Legg Named Bears’ Offensive Coordinator West Virginia native will also coach Mercer's quarterbacksMACON, Ga. – Bill Legg, who spent last season as a senior offensive consultant at Mississippi State and has three decades of experience as a collegiate coach, was named Mercer's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach by head coach Bobby Lamb on Monday. Legg's long coaching career began in 1986 as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, West Virginia, and includes stops at Marshall, Florida International, Purdue, West Virginia (as a full-time coach), VMI, Eastern Illinois and West Virginia Tech. He's coached with 16 bowl teams and the 1989 Eastern Illinois squad that reached the NCAA Division I-AA quarterfinals. "Bill is going to be a terrific addition to our coaching staff," Lamb said. "He has an innovative offensive mind with an impressive track record of high-profile offensives wherever he's been. Bill was our first choice for the offensive coordinator position in 2018 and I'm thrilled to have him on our staff now." As an offensive consultant, Legg helped Mississippi State average 28.5 points and 397.4 yards of total offense per game in 2018. The Bulldogs finished as the No. 25 team in the FBS Coaches Poll and appeared in the Outback Bowl. Legg had a lengthy run with Marshall (2001-02, 2010-17), holding the title of offensive coordinator in the latter stint as he turned the Thundering Herd's fortunes with his offensive scheme and grooming of quarterbacks. With Herd record-setting quarterback Rakeem Cato at the controls for four years (2011-14), Legg took the Marshall offense to new heights as one of the best in the FBS. The Herd ranked sixth, 12th and second in total offense from 2012-14, respectively. Marshall averaged 534.3, 500.4 and 559.2 yards per game in those seasons. After Cato's departure, Legg succeeded with a new challenge of maturing freshman Chase Litton into Cato's successor in 2015; Litton went 9-2 over the final 11 games of a 10-3 season that was capped by a St. Petersburg Bowl victory. Legg's Herd offense had three players who later appeared on NFL regular-season rosters – tight end Gator Hoskins, tight end Lee Smith and wide receiver Aaron Dobson. He also mentored 13 All-Conference-USA first team selections and nine second team picks while at Marshall. Prior to his second stay at Marshall, Legg served as the offensive coordinator at FIU (2008-09), helping the Golden Panthers make substantial offensive improvement in nearly every category, including a 10-point improvement in per-game scoring. Legg coached at Purdue during the previous five seasons (2003-07); he was the offensive line coach from 2003-05 and the co-offensive coordinator during the final two years. With Legg calling plays in 2006, the Boilermakers led the Big Ten in passing offense (291.6 yards per game) and total offense (415.7), ranking sixth and 13th nationally. Purdue led the Big Ten again in total offense in 2007. As Purdue's offensive line coach, Legg saw four of his players reach the NFL: center Nick Hardwick, tackle, Kelly Butler, guard Uche Nwaneri and tackle Mike Otto. Legg worked at West Virginia under his former coach and College Football Hall of Famer, Don Nehlen, from 1995-2000. He served as the interior offensive line coach and was the offensive coordinator in his final season. The Mountaineers played in four bowl games in his six years on staff. Legg's other experience includes one season as an offensive line coach at VMI (1994), five years as an offensive line coach at Eastern Illinois (1989-93) and one season as an offensive coordinator at West Virginia Tech (1988). He was a graduate assistant at West Virginia in 1986-87, working primarily with tight ends and special teams. Born on April 9, 1962 in Poca, W. Va., Legg starred at Poca High School before becoming Nehlen's first recruit at West Virginia. Legg earned a bachelor's degree in psychology in 1985 and a master's in education in 1987 from WVU, where he was a four-year starter at center and played in a bowl game each season (1981-84). Legg was awarded the Ira Errett Rodgers Award as a senior, honoring him as the player who showed "high leadership and academic qualities as well as football performance." Legg was drafted by the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League and subsequently had a training camp stint with the Washington Redskins in 1985. Legg and his wife, Kelly, have a daughter, Sarah. About Coach Legg Birthday: April 9, 1962 Hometown: Poca, W. Va. High School: Poca High School College: West Virginia (1985, '87) Wife: Kelly Children: Sarah Coach Legg's Coaching Experience Year Team Position 2018 Mississippi State Senior Offensive Consultant 2010-17 Marshall Offensive Coordinator 2008-09 FIU Offensive Coordinator 2003-07 Purdue Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line 2001-02 Marshall Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator 1995-00 West Virginia Offensive Line/Offensive Coordinator 1994 VMI Offensive Line 1989-93 Eastern Illinois Offensive Line 1988 West Virginia Tech Offensive Coordinator 1986-87 West Virginia Graduate Assistant
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Post by FUBeAR on Jan 31, 2019 13:46:45 GMT -5
New Defensive Coordinator announced... mercerbears.com/news/2019/1/31/football-lamb-names-mike-adams-as-defensive-coordinator.aspxLamb Names Mike Adams as Defensive Coordinator Former Charleston Southern coach will also lead Mercer’s inside linebackers MACON, Ga. – Head football coach Bobby Lamb announced Thursday the hiring of Mike Adams as Mercer University's defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach. Adams joins the Bears program after spending the last three seasons as the safeties coach and special teams coordinator at Charleston Southern. He brings 12 years of Division I coaching experience with him to Macon, most notably with South Carolina State, South Alabama and the Bucs. "What drew me to Mike was how much experience and success he has had on the defensive side of the ball," Lamb said. "I'm excited to add a guy like Mike to our staff who has done it at a high level at both the FCS and FBS levels. His defensive philosophy and leadership has generated some of the best statistical defensive units in the FCS in the last decade." Adams was instrumental in Charleston Southern ranking fourth and 22nd among FCS teams in passing yards allowed (139.4 yards per game) and total defense (324.7 yards allowed per game), respectively, in 2018. Charleston Southern ranked among the FCS top-25 in total defense all three years that Adams was on staff, including seventh in 2016. At South Alabama, Adams coached the Jaguars' linebackers (2014) and safeties (2015-16), and helped them reach the 2014 Camellia Bowl. He mentored a senior trio of Maleki Harris, Davin Hawkins and Desmond LaVelle, who set career-high tackle totals in their final seasons. Adams arrived at South Carolina State in 2006 as a defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator before being promoted to defensive coordinator two seasons later. Adams was a FCS Defensive Coordinator of the Year finalist in 2013, guiding a unit that led the nation in total defense (235.7 yards per game), rush defense (79.6 yards per game), passing efficiency defense (92.13), sacks (62) and tackles for loss (10.5 per game). South Carolina State also led the nation in total defense, rush defense and passing defense in 2010. In nine seasons with Adams on staff, the Bulldogs went 64-30 overall and 52-12 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), earning at least a share of four conference titles while reaching the FCS Playoffs four times. Eight South Carolina State players who played under Adams reached the National Football League, including Phillip Adams, Rafael Bush, Dominique Ellis, Jakar Hamilton, Kimario McFadden, Marshall McFadden, Joe Thomas and Christian Thompson. Adams earned his start as a student assistant linebackers coach at his alma mater, Ball State, in 1986-87. His first full-time role was with NAIA-level St. Joseph's College (Ind.) as the running backs and wide receivers coach (1998) and defensive backs coach (1999-00). Adams also spent five seasons (2001-05) with NCAA Division II-level West Georgia, where he coached tight ends (2001) and defensive backs and special teams (2002-05). Adams earned a degree in sport administration from Ball State in 1998. He is married to the former Natasha Taylor. The couple has a son, Nataysuan, and a daughter, Sasha. About Adams College: Ball State, 1998 High School: North Central High School (Indianapolis, Ind.) Wife: Natasha Son: Nataysuan Daughter: Sasha Adams' Coaching Experience Year Team Position 2016-18 Charleston Southern Safeties/Special Teams Coordinator 2014-16 South Alabama Linebackers/Safeties 2006-14 South Carolina State Defensive Coordinator/LBs/DBs/Special Teams 2001-05 West Georgia Defensive Backs/Special Teams Coordinator 1998-00 St. Joseph's College Running Backs/Receivers/Defensive Backs 1997-98 Ball State Linebacker Student Assistant |
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Post by FUBeAR on Feb 18, 2019 13:12:10 GMT -5
Not about Mercer Coaches, but FUBeAR thought readers of this board/thread might be interested in knowing that fellow SoCon School, Western Carolina, just granted their Head Coach a 5 year extension on his contract. Here are WCU's on-the-field results since he has been Head Coach there. Western Carolina Catamounts (Southern Conference) (2012–present)| Year | Overall Record | SoCon Record | SoCon Standing | Playoffs | | 2012 | 1 - 10 | 0 - 8 | 9th | No | | 2013 | 2 - 10 | 1 - 7 | T-8th | No | | 2014 | 7 - 5 | 5 - 2 | T-2nd | No | | 2015 | 7 - 4 | 5 - 2 | 3rd | No | | 2016 | 2 - 9 | 1 - 7 | T-8th | No | | 2017 | 7 - 5 | 5 - 3 | 4th | No | | 2018 | 3 - 8 | 1 - 7 | 8th | No | | Overall | 29 - 51 (.362) | 18 - 36 (.333) | 6th (avg.) | None |
WCU led the SoCon in home football attendance in 2018 & 2017 |
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Post by FUBeAR on Feb 21, 2019 8:17:02 GMT -5
Looks like the Bears have added a Nittany Mountain(eer) Lion to the Coaching Staff... Lamb Hires Matt Fleischacker as Assistant Coach - Former Penn State graduate assistant will coach Bears’ outside linebackersMercer head football coach Bobby Lamb announced Wednesday the hiring of Matt Fleischacker as the Bears' outside linebackers coach.
Fleischacker was most recently a defensive graduate assistant at his alma mater, Penn State University, on James Franklin's staff in 2017 and 2018, helping the Nittany Lions go 21-6 overall over the two-season span. He was a member of a staff that led Penn State to a win in the 2017 Fiesta Bowl.
"Matt has been a valuable member of two elite college football programs in Penn State and Appalachian State," Lamb said. "He is a young, energetic coach who has great knowledge of the game and has learned from some of the best."
After graduating from Penn State in the spring of 2016, Fleischacker accepted a defensive graduate assistant position at Appalachian State, where he helped coach the Mountaineers' outside linebackers for one season. The Mountaineers went 10-3 and earned a share of the Sun Belt Conference title while defeating Toledo in the Camellia Bowl.
Fleischacker earned his start in coaching as a recruiting intern and undergraduate assistant at Penn State under former Nittany Lions head coach and current Houston Texas head coach Bill O'Brien in 2012. A native of Cream Ridge, N.J., Fleischacker earned his undergraduate degree in accounting from Penn State.
About Fleischacker
College: Penn State, 2016
High School: Allentown High School (Allentown, N.J.)
Twitter: @coachfly_
Fleischacker's Coaching Experience
Year Team Position
2017-18 Penn State Defensive Graduate Assistant
2016 Appalachian State Defensive Graduate Assistant
2012-16 Penn State Undergraduate Student AssistantFUBeAR believes the Bears still need to add a Cornerbacks Coach to complete the 2019 Football Staff. |
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Post by FUBeAR on Feb 21, 2019 8:27:41 GMT -5
FUBeAR (and any others posting/reading here) neglected to post this earlier announcement (1/23/19) regarding Mercer Football’s hiring of a new Defensive Line Coach (below). Apologies...also noticed with the hire of Coach “Fly” to Coach OLB’s & Coach Hawkins to Coach D-Line, that the Bears have now added Lions & Tigers to the Defensive Coaching Staff. Here is an advance look at other SoCon Team’s Offenses’ Players & Coaches being interviewed at SoCon Media Day...and asked about facing the Mercer D in 2019... Lamb Names Hawkins as Defensive Line Coach - Americus, Ga., native most recently held a position at LSUHead football coach Bobby Lamb announced Wednesday the hiring of Jeremy Hawkins as Mercer University's defensive line coach. Hawkins joins the Bears program after spending the 2018 season as an assistant director of player personnel at LSU.
"Jeremy is a rising star in the coaching profession," Lamb said. "He's originally from South Georgia and has lots of ties in the area that will greatly impact our recruiting abilities. Jeremy is well-respected among his peers and brings an energetic attitude that relates well to our student-athletes. Having been at the highest level of college football at LSU, we're confident that Jeremy is going to help lead our program in the right direction."
During his only season with the Tigers, Hawkins helped the program earn a final national ranking of No. 6 (AP Top 25) with a 10-3 record and a win over UCF in the Fiesta Bowl.
Prior to his one year at LSU, Hawkins was most recently on UAB's staff as an assistant defensive line coach and defensive analyst and helped usher the Blazers' football team back into prominence after a two-season closure of the program in 2015-16. UAB went 8-5 in its return to the gridiron in 2007.
Hawkins began his coaching career at his alma mater, Troy, as a graduate assistant from 2010-11. Following his coaching stint with the Trojans, he coached running backs and tight ends at NCAA Division II Central Oklahoma.
From 2012-14, Hawkins was the defensive coordinator at Dublin High School in Dublin, Ga. He then became the head coach of the Middle Georgia State (NAIA) in Macon for the 2014-15 season.
A native of Americus, Ga., Hawkins was a four-year letterwinner as a defensive end at Troy, where he helped the Trojans win 33 games from 2006-09. He earned his undergraduate degree in Sports and Fitness Management and Athletic Administration from Troy in 2009 and later received his Master's in Athletic Administration from Troy in 2014.
Hawkins has one daughter, Adelle, who is five years old.
About Coach Hawkins
Birthday: July 26, 1986
Hometown: Americus, Ga.
High School: Americus High School
College: Troy (2009)
Children: Adelle (5)
Coach Hawkins' Coaching Experience
Year Team Position
2018 LSU Assistant Director of Player Personnel
2015-17 UAB Assistant Defensive Line
2015 South Dakota Assistant Defensive Line
2014-15 Middle Georgia State Head Coach
2012-14 Dublin High School Defensive Coordinator
2011 Central Arkansas Running Backs & Tight Ends
2010-11 Troy Graduate Assistant |
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Post by FUBeAR on Feb 26, 2019 21:06:03 GMT -5
I believe Mercer has completed their 2019 Coaching Staff...with another Tiger. Lamb Names Leon Wright as Cornerbacks Coach - Wright was most recently at LSU as a Defensive Backs AnalystMercer head football coach Bobby Lamb announced Tuesday the hiring of Leon Wright as the Bears' cornerbacks coach. Wright was most recently a defensive backs analyst at Louisiana State University, where he spent the 2018 season and helped the Tigers earn a final national ranking of No. 6 (AP Top 25) with a 10-3 record and win over UCF in the Fiesta Bowl. He is a former All-ACC defensive back at Duke and has coached at his alma mater and Princeton, as well as three stints at LSU. "We're thrilled to have Leon Wright joining our football staff," Lamb said. "Not only does Leon have coaching experience at all levels of college football, but he was a really, really talented player during his time at Duke. "Leon is going to bring lots of energy and a passion for the game of football with him to Macon. He's a great fit for our student-athletes, our program and our university." Wright earned his start as a quality control coach (2011-13) under former Duke defensive coordinator and current Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. He then spent his first of three stints at LSU as a defensive graduate assistant from 2013-15. Wright was at Princeton for the 2015 season as the Tigers' cornerbacks coach, where he worked with seniors Anthony Gaffney and John Hill while developing a young crop of cornerbacks who played a vital role in the following season. Wright returned to LSU (2016-17) for his second stint with the Tigers as a defensive graduate assistant. A four-year letterwinner at Duke, Wright started 30 of the 41 games he played and compiled career totals of 151 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 10 interceptions, 20 pass breakups and two fumble recoveries. In addition, Wright returned 42 points for 217 yards and seven kickoffs for 136 yards. Wright earned All-ACC accolades after tallying 58 tackles, 2.0 TFL, five interceptions and eight pass breakups as a senior. He clinched Duke's 35-19 come-from-behind win over Army on Sept. 12, 2009, with two interception returns for touchdowns just 16 seconds apart late in the fourth quarter. Wright, who signed a free agent contract with the NFL's New York Giants following college, finished his college career with three total defensive touchdowns and closed his career ranking Duke's all-time leaders in interception returns for touchdowns, interceptions, interception return yardage and pass breakups. He graduated from Duke in 2010 with a degree in sociology. About Wright College: Duke, 2010 Hometown: St. Petersburg, Fla. Twitter: @coachwright7 Wright's Coaching Experience Year Team Position 2018 LSU Defensive Backs Analyst 2017-18 Garden City CC Wide Receivers 2016-17 LSU Defensive Graduate Assistant 2015-16 Princeton Cornerbacks 2013-15 LSU Defensive Graduate Assistant 2011-13 Duke Quality Control Coordinator |
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