Rich Rodriguez Fired: 10 Things You Need To Know About Brady Hoke
As the Michigan faithful bid a bitter farewell to Rich Rodriquez, they are turning their attention to the search for the next Wolverines head coach. While Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh will be the hot name on market, there is a good chance that he has more than a couple pro jobs with his name on it.
If Harbaugh doesn’t wish to come to Michigan, then a name sure to be thrown around is Brady Hoke. The head coach at San Diego State seems poised and ready to take the next step.
Here are 10 things you need to know about Brady Hoke.
1.He Preaches Defense
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This should be like music to the ears of the Michigan faithful. The Wolverines defense was dreaded this season . They gave up over 2,400 yards on the ground, and opponents scored over 450 points, including 65 points at the hands of a dreadful Illinois team. Conversely, San Diego gave up just 287 points and 1,900 yards on the ground.
2.His Teams Move the Ball
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This year, San Diego scored over 450 points. His quarterback, Ryan Lindley, threw for 3,800 yards. The point being is that not only can his teams stop others, but he can put points up. This is the way football games are won.
3.He’s a Former Player
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In a football locker room, it never hurts to be able to relate to the players. Not only has Brady Hoke been around football locker rooms for years, but he was also a player. He was a linebacker at Ball State from 1977-1980.
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4.He’s a MAC Winner
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In 2008, Coach Hoke led the Ball State Cardinals to the MAC Bowl Game with an impressive 12-0 record. It was, and still is, the most single season wins in school history. Not bad for a guy to do in his first five years as a head coach.
5.He’s Worked With NFL Coaches
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When he was at Western Michigan in the 1980’s, he served under coach Jack Harbaugh. On that same staff, he worked with current Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh and Ravens defensive coordinator Greg Mattison. If he does go to Michigan, hopefully he can bring that kind of success with them.
6.He Knows the Defensive Line
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Perhaps his pedigree is the reason why he’s so defensive minded. During almost all of his coaching stints prior to the head coaching gig at Ball State, he worked as a defensive line coach. This includes stints at Grand Valley State, Western Michigan, Oregon State, and Michigan.
7.Five of Seven is Bad
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The goal for every coach is to win. While Hoke has certainly had some good seasons, five of his seven seasons as a head coach has resulted in a losing record. If he does go to Michigan, he should fit right in.
8.Three Out of Four is Good
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While it hasn’t been all good times for Hoke as a head coach, his recent time as a head coach has been good. His teams have made bowl games in three of the last four seasons. In a sport where only two teams can play for the National Championship, this is a good stat to have.
9.He’s an Award Winner
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Just this past season, Hoke received the honor of 2010 Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year as he made San Diego State relevant again with a 9-4 record and a win at the Poinsettia Bowl.
10.He Knows How To Adjust
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When he came over to his current job at San Diego State, he had to abandon going heavy up front. When he saw that most of his talent was in his secondary, he converted his defense to a 3-3-5. He learned to adapt to the talent he had.
Maybe it’s something Rich Rodriguez should have done.
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