James Willis heading to Lubbock, who replaces him?
by outsidethesidelines on Jan 14, 2010 5:01 PM CST
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PrintThe worst kept secret around has finally been made official, as James Willis has accepted the defensive coordinator at Texas Tech. From Gentry Estes:
Not that this news is much of a surprise by this point, but multiple sources have confirmed this afternoon that Alabama inside linebackers coach James Willis has indeed accepted the defensive coordinator job on Tommy Tuberville's staff at Texas Tech.
An official announcement could be made later this evening. The move has been expected since earlier this week.
We certainly hate to see Willis go, but on the other hand this sort of thing can be good for a program. Rising assistants like to join programs with track records of helping assistants move up the coaching ladder, and moves like this by Willis show just that. If nothing else, situations like this make it easier to recruit rising assistant coaches to join your staff in the coming years.
One way or the other, though, best of luck to him in Lubbock, and a sincere thanks for all that he has done for us in the past year as both a position coach and a recruiter. Job well done on both counts, and he is certainly deserving of a promotion. Besides, with him being a lifelong Auburn man, he gave up a lot to come here, so I'm glad to see it paying off.
The real issue for 'Bama now becomes who will be hired to replace Willis. The early money is going in the direction of Jeremy Pruitt, a man we hired in an off-field position out of Hoover a couple of years ago, but as Gentry Estes points out on Twitter, anything can happen with Saban:
Some on UA's staff want to promote Jeremy Pruitt, but that was also the case last year. Very difficult to predict Saban's hiring plans.
And per the original link, apparently Lance Thompson may be a possibility as well:
A source says former Alabama assistant Lance Thompson -- a linebackers coach who recruited Mobile for the Crimson Tide before leaving the program this time last year for Tennessee -- would also have an interest in returning to Tuscaloosa if he is not retained by the next head coach in Knoxville.
Of course, though, that is not to say that Saban would be interested in bringing him back. Bridges have been burned there, but in all fairness that does not necessarily eliminate Thompson from consideration (at least I would not imagine), and in his defense Thompson's ability to recruit southern Alabama, specifically the Mobile area, is a highly valuable asset.
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hmmm
Thompson…one side says hell no…but the other doesn’t want him to go to another SEC school…
Land Kiffin took the meaning of "Volunteer" WAY too seriously....
One name that has been mentioned is Travis Jones, current defensive line coach for the Saints.
With Willis leaving, where does that leave Bama? – Crimson Confidential
So whom might Nick Saban tab to replace Willis? One name that’s been mentioned is Travis Jones, who coached under Saban at LSU and with the Miami Dolphins. Jones currently serves as an assistant defensive line coach with the New Orleans Saints.
Jones has a reputation for excelling both as a coach and recruiter. While at LSU, Jones coached such defensive line standouts as Chad Lavalais, Marquise Hill and Marcus Spears. He also served as Saban’s recruiting coordinator from 2003-2004.
Jones, a native of Irwinton, Ga., played on the defensive line for Georgia in the early 1990s and began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for the Bulldogs, working with future stars Richard Seymour and Marcus Stroud.
He has also been mentioned as a candidate for the UGA defensive coordinator job. In fact, T Kyle King made a post the other day promoting Jones for the position.
Where Do We Go From Here?: My Thoughts on Georgia’s Next Defensive Coordinator- Dawgsports.com
however, speculation is that Richt is going after the Cowboys defensive line coach, so hopefully Jones will be available.
What you're seeing is team spirit. It's like the Holy Spirit, but more powerful.
-Hank Hill
Indeed, lets get this done.
"A demagogue is one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots." -H. L. Mencken
Lance is a liar and a back stabber!
He’s one of the Tennessee staff members thats been trying to steal Bama’s top recruits. His methods have been slanderish at best. He’s burned bridges for sure in Tuscaloosa. If he does come back there will be a few people ready with their bricks. IMO
Your temper brings dishonor to my happy mooshu palace.
A TON...
…..of us Auburn faithful were ready to tar and feather Willis when he left Auburn last winter. At this point, it’s looking like a savvy decision. No one can deny that studying under Kevin Steel and Nick Saban was beneficial. And now, less than a year later, Willis is a BCS defensive coordinator. Perhaps us Tigers were a bit too venomous…
well, you did fire him. just sayin…
What you're seeing is team spirit. It's like the Holy Spirit, but more powerful.
-Hank Hill
for real, pepsi fires me? i'm applying at coke
for the next five days there is nothing in my heart but hate. pure, untempered, ice-cold hate. fond memories are for saturday. - Kleph
by tempebamafan on Jan 14, 2010 8:10 PM CST up reply actions
It obviously worked out well for him...
I know it was a tough move for him, and honestly a move a lot of guys in his situation wouldn’t have been able to make. Like i said, I’m glad to see it paid off for him.
I’ll be honest, though, I really don’t think he would have left Auburn even so had there not been the firing / contract / whatever issue. Chizik deserves credit for a job done much better than anyone reasonably expected in year one, but that was a bad move. I don’t know the specifics of what happened, obviously, but it should have worked out a little different.
And honestly I think it works out well for Willis to go to Texas Tech. Tuberville will give him the support he needs to keep the defense at a relatively high level, and honestly given how much TT’s defense has struggled in recent years, almost anything Willis does will be seen as a positive improvement.
"Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself." -- Milton Friedman
by outsidethesidelines on Jan 14, 2010 6:23 PM CST up reply actions
lance armstrong
he should come back begging to be back with the winners but i say hell no once a trader always a trader then he tried to steal the players away after he left he should not be allowed to come back we got this championship without him. he gambled and it didnt work out to well for him all i can say is LOL!!
no to Lance
He was not as highly regarded as a linebackers as he was as a recruiter. With te bad blood spilled when he left, I can’t see his return as a positive thing.
Having said that, I have faith in CNS’s judgement.
by crimson37 on Jan 14, 2010 6:05 PM CST via mobile reply actions
I say bring him back and lock him in a closet.
forever…
What you're seeing is team spirit. It's like the Holy Spirit, but more powerful.
-Hank Hill
I honestly don't
want Thompson back. He is a great recruiter no doubt but I think he is lacking in the on field coaching department. The linebackers showed A LOT of improvement this year on the field under Sal and James Willis.
This upcoming season I'm gonna refer to Julio Jones as "The Magic Man" and Trent Richardson as "El Diablo"
by AlabamaTitans2009 on Jan 14, 2010 7:22 PM CST reply actions
Yup.....
he wanted to burn bridges when he left, and now he wants to come crawling back? Fuck him……he wanted to lie in bed with kiffin, and he is tainted now……..K, now that I’ve got that off my shoulders, I was never particularly impressed with him as an on the field coach – no doubt he is a great recruiter – but I thought the linebackers were MUCH better with CJW coaching them this year……I hated to lose CJW, I think he is a helluva coach, and probably the equal of LT in recruiting…….I think Sal Sunseri is a key guy for us to hang on to……our DL was much improved under him this year……either way though, I’m not overly concerned about it – Coach Saban doesn’t rebuild his staff – he reloads……
Jeremy Pruitt
Was my coach at Fort Payne high-school. He’s a pure, unadulterated asshole, but he was one hell of a coach, I hope he gets a shot but I sincerely doubt it.
Bama's so good, we'll make your quarterback cry.
by crimsongiant on Jan 14, 2010 10:24 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Ahh, a fellow FPHS grad
Although when I was at FP, Sanford was still the coach…waaaayyyy back then, heh
Auburn and Tennessee fans are a lot like Slinkys...neither are worth much but you do get a sense of satisfaction from pushing them down a flight of stairs
Dang Your Old!
Just kidding Sir, Yeah Jeremy Pruitt was the defensive coordinator at Fort Payne my sophomore, junior, and senior years, I didn’t like the guy honestly. Oh Yeah Roll Tide! Go Wildcats!
Bama's so good, we'll make your quarterback cry.
by crimsongiant on Jan 15, 2010 4:03 AM CST via mobile reply actions
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