New Football Head Coach announced

[covufan]

FYI: now a great grandfather. PTL.

Congrats!

[usc4valpo]

I had a rough morning at my in laws.... they turned the TV channel and Joel Osteen was on.  It gave me flashbacks of the Valpo Butler game...please help, remind me it is over.....

[historyman]

YES!!!!





NO!!!!!



NO!!!!!




Osteen----------NO!!!!!!!



Cecchini is Cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bluehorseshoe]

Just some quick notes from the reading of prior posts:

Lehigh and Coach C did do some quality recruiting in FLA ...so hopefully those connections remain for this class.

Having a D with good athletes is nice, but that didn't do much this year or past few...getting torched by basic routes, missed tackles and lack of focus... when playing vs a spread O you need 3 things ingrained onto a D:

- They must be very heady and smart...know ALL the coverages, blitzes and the adjustments real time and not a week or 2 later when and if you looked at film. Own what you do on the field, good or bad and never make the same mistakes over and over.

- They must be playmakers...and kids that take the field with a chip on their shoulder and some swag / leadership. Expecting to win and getting to a point where even giving up a first down in inexcusable.

- They must be physical, from special teams to goal line and all in between. Teams need to fear running routes over the middle and getting jacked. QB's need to fear a OLB, SS of FS coming off the edge from the blind side. Pressure and schemes break a spread Offense...creates picks and allows for big hits that motivate and build a D.

Wishing the best...hoping too many kids won't leave and those that stay get to a new start with new standards and opportunities to shine.     

-     

[usc4valpo]

If players leave, then they leave.  It cannot hurt that much since we have gone 3-40 the past 4 years.

I am betting that Coach C will recruit better than the Osteen quoter. 

Let's bring in some quality dudes that know how to win and want to make a difference.  I am feeling optimistic about what Coach C can do.

[crusadermoe]

This guy has all the right creds to recruit the top kids who might our high standards.     

Time to zero in on Chicago where parents will see this guy as the real deal and be thrilled to send their son just 90 minutes away.   The university could be transformed to a winning culture if you bring in "winning kids" from winning high schools.    They will bring their HS peers with them whether the peers are players or just good students.   

A coup for Valpo!!

[setshot]

I hope he recruits in the Phillipsburg,Easton,Lehigh Valley area.Good football. Jim Ringo, Chuck Bebnarick,Ned Bolcar,Bill Walsh,others. A great hunting area. Go Valpo!

[historyman]

Dave Cecchini was sitting near the Averys at last night's game during the first half. I assume the four young men sitting with him were potential Valpo football recruits?

[valpotx]

Hopefully they stayed for some of the second half to see how we can play when doing well

[humbleopinion]

I would guess that the "four young men" are the four assistant coaches that he has brought in and were with him before the game.  Before they were introduced, I thought they may have been players as well.  They seem to be good guys, and they are out recruiting already.

[vu72]

I would guess that the "four young men" are the four assistant coaches that he has brought in and were with him before the game.  Before they were introduced, I thought they may have been players as well.  They seem to be good guys, and they are out recruiting already.

so you are telling us that the new staff won't have many gray hairs?   

[humbleopinion]

At least not until the season begins...
Two of them coached with him at Lehigh, one was a former Lehigh player who has been coaching at U of Chicago, and the fourth was coaching at LaFayette, Lehigh's rival.

[sliman]

He's bringing at least three assistants with him:
www.lehighvalleylive.com/lehigh/index.ssf/2014/01/three_lehigh_university_footba.html

[historyman]

I would guess that the "four young men" are the four assistant coaches that he has brought in and were with him before the game.  Before they were introduced, I thought they may have been players as well.  They seem to be good guys, and they are out recruiting already.

I just aged 10 years. 
Were they at least under 30?     

EDIT: Just to make myself feel better--Stovall-07, Giacalone 09, Miran 09 and the recent graduate from U of Chicago staff (Harrison played at Franklin & Marshall??)'12

[414]

From Football Scoop:

"Valparaiso (FCS - IN): Sources tell us that Dave Cecchini's staff will include Lehigh receivers coach Jason Miran (as offensive coordinator), University of Chicago defensive coordinator / secondary coach Ernest Moore (as defensive coordinator / defensive backs coach), Lehigh outside linebackers coach Justin Stovall (as linebackers coach) and Lehigh assistant offensive line coach Vincent Giacalone (as offensive line coach)."

Moore played at Lehigh and graduated in 2008.  Happy to see young, up and coming coaches on this staff! 

[VULB#62]

Only one two defensive  assistants in the new bunch -- Stovall, the outside LBs coach and Moore. 

The holder-overs from the Carlson staff:

Mike Gravier -- Assistant HC - O-Line - Run Game coordinator (Interim HC)
Alex Bailey --Wide Receiver Coach/Pass Game Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator
John Snyder -- Running Backs Coach
Kenton Evans -- Quarterbacks Coach
Tyson Silveus -- Defensive Coordinator/Secondary Coach
Kasey Teegardin -- Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
Steven Donovan -- Defensive Line Coach
Eric Deutsch -- Assistant Defensive Line Coach

The new guys:

Stovall
Jason Miran - Lehigh WR coach for 4 seasons.
Vincent Giacalone - Lehigh O-Line coach
{added since 414 post}  - Earnest Moore DC and Secondary coach -- this addresses my concerns with the DC slot below  BTW a search of the UofC Football website shows Moore absent from the coaching profiles (but listed in the press guide for 2013)  UofC is a DIII program that went 6-4 last year. 

Ernest Moore - Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
Ernest Moore enters his third season at University of Chicago in 2013. Moore was promoted to defensive co- ordinator in January 2012. He joined the UChicago staff as defensive backs coach in the spring of 2011. Previously, he served as assistant defensive backs coach at Lehigh University in 2010. At Lehigh, he coached four All-Patriot League perform- ers, including one All-American. Moore began his coaching career at Franklin & Marshall College, where he coached wide receivers in 2008 and defensive backs in 2009. He coached wide receivers for the South Team in the 2009 Division III Senior Classic All-Star Game. In college, Moore was a two-time All-Patriot League safety at Lehigh and graduated in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in com- puter imaging.

OK, assuming that Coach Cecchini is not done revamping his staff, lets look at what's unfolding and the improvement imperatives that were generally a consensus among posters (highlighted in red).

Mike Gravier, the 2013 O-Line coach is being replaced by Giacalone.  That means Gravier is either out or is being reassigned. Mike's resume is all offense, so moving to the other side of ball is probably out.
Miran takes over the WR duties formerly assigned to Alex Bailey.  It seems like Cecchini will himself be the OC, so Alex loses the pass game coordinator role as well.  But he coordinated the recruiting, which is a key role, and they did pretty well in that department.
John Snyder, the former Chesterton HFBC, is all offense too.  As is Kenton Evans the QB coach.
Typically a basic staff will have an OC who also is a position coach, a OL coach, WR coach, running backs coach and maybe a TEs coach.  That's 5 slots.  There are 6 names, 7 if you count Coach Cecchini, for those 5 positions.  The Carlson offense was the relative strength of the past 4 teams, so this will be a tough call.  And none of the present staff has any defensive experience.

That leaves the D and special teams -- areas that have consistently been ravaged by opposing teams in all four seasons of the Carlson era.
It looks like Stovall is an addition, not a replacement, as the article says he'll coach OLBs like he did at Lehigh.  No one on the 2013 staff had that designation.  Casey Teegardin held the LB coach designation, so perhaps he will be retained and focus on ILBs.  Teegardin also was the the Special Teams coordinator.  The special teams area has a good long-term kicking prospect (Freshman Jacob Newman, if he stays, was the second leading scorer on the team and was 4/5 on FGAs) and their punter, Alex Kozlowski (So/Fr), when he was healthy, was not a bad punter (38.8 av., 6 over 50 yds., and 12 downed inside the 20), But Teegardin's  Special Teams coverage and returns need to improve greatly.

There were two DL coaches (Donovan and Deutsch) coaching two down line positions.  There was some beef added (e.g., Bama Powell) and the line has been fairly decent, but had a hard time (1) getting to the passer from inside and (2) stopping the run game between the tackles. A lot of that is technique and motivation that can be coached into these kids.  Don't know if these guys can do that.

Finally, the DC/secondary coach slot held by Tyson Silveus.  His background is a mix of offense and defense and nowhere in his experience summary do we see secondary experience (except last season).  The DC area, IMO, is where Coach Cecchini needs to look long and hard.  A good DC needs to have a solid defensive concept/system and must rally a staff and optimize their capabilities.  Unless Carlson interfered with Silveus or did not permit him to do what was necessary, I see him being reassigned at best and let go at worst, because he also coached the secondary which gave up so many long passing gains and TDs.    There are typically 4-5 defensive staff positions on a normally budgeted staff.  There are 5 names, now including Stovall, in the existing mix, but much needs to be done to make this part of the Valpo program a success. 

I'm sure all of these men are good people and families may be affected by any moves that are made.  But that is the nature of the coaching profession.  I wish those who are retained all the best and I hope they can kick it up a notch to complement what the new coach has in mind for Valpo FB. For those who might not be retained, I hope they hook up with good programs, learn from this past experience and become better coaches.

[LaPorteAveApostle]

he'll coach OLBs

Great post.  It will be interesting to see who stays and who goes, and we'll learn a lot about importance placed on football from the number of assistants hired.

But you have to laugh at this to see how far football has come.  Instead of one coach for eleven "iron men" we have a platoon of coaches for a plethora of players, including one who will deal strictly with linebackers.  But not the ILBs!  They will have their own special coach.  (Perhaps this is related to the geometric proliferation of administration in the American University over the last 40-odd years.)

What is next for the big D1s?  Instead of a secondary coach, they'll have a "Boundary Cornerback Coach", a "Field Corner Coach", etc.

Gotta spend that money on something.  Just not players, apparently

[VULB#62]

Looks like Moore has the creds for DC.  Safeties, by nature, are tough birds (LBs with speed) and he was a good one at Lehigh.  This looks good.

Also shows they mean to recruit the Chicago area,

[VULB#62]

Coach Cecchini goes from being on the sideline/pressbox at 16,000 seat Goodman Stadium to 1,600 (?average attendance?) Brown Field in the blink of an eye.      Boy, ML and MK must have really made the move attractive!   

FYI -- Other Coaching Capsules:

Jason Miran enters his fourth season as Lehigh's wide receivers coach. Miran came to Lehigh in the summer of 2010 after spending the 2009 season as the tight ends and assistant offensive line coach at Franklin and Marshall College.

For the last three seasons, Miran mentored All-America wide receiver Ryan Spadola, who finished his Lehigh career ranked second in school history in receptions and receiving yards. Miran also played an integral role in the emergence of Lee Kurfis, who caught 50 passes for 778 yards and five touchdowns as a junior {Edit: 2013 FCS All-American}, plus slot receiver Sergio Fernandez-Soto and Josh Parris, who emerged as a reliable receiver when Spadola was sidelined due to mononucleosis. Lehigh's top four wideouts combined to gain nearly 2,300 yards in 2012, as the Mountain Hawks' passing game led the Patriot League and ranked in the top 20 nationally.

In 2011, Miran oversaw one of the best receiving corps in Lehigh history led by Spadola and All-Patriot League performer Jake Drwal. Spadola earned All-American recognition from six media outlets for his school-record 96 catches and 1, 614 receiving yards. Drwal's stellar season included 92 catches for 1, 060 yards as he was recognized by the College Sports Journal and was an ECAC All-Star. Miran also played a role in the emergence of Jimmy Jefferson, who hauled in a career-high 34 receptions. Miran's receivers were a major reason Lehigh's offense ranked third in the FCS in total offense and fifth in passing offense.

In 2010, Miran mentored one of the Patriot League's receiving corps, led by All-League performers Spadola (first team) and Drwal (second team). Spadola hauled in 78 passes for 1,130 yards and nine touchdowns for Lehigh's first 1,000 yard receiving season since 2001. Drwal added 622 yards and three scores on 54 grabs as Lehigh ranked second in the league in passing offense and scoring offense.

Vincent Giacalone enters his second season as the Mountain Hawks' assistant offensive line coach. In his first year on the Lehigh staff, Giacalone helped mold an offensive line in transition into one of the Patriot League's top offensive line units. With four first-time starters in the mix, Lehigh led the Patriot League in passing offense and ranked fifth nationally in fewest sacks allowed.

Giacalone came to Lehigh from Carnegie Mellon where he was a three-year varsity letterwinner then Assistant Coach for the past two seasons. While there, he served as Wide Receivers coach in 2010 before working with the tackles and tight ends in 2011. Giacalone was the Offensive Video Coordinator, managing the capture and distribution of games and practices to coaches, players and opponents. He served as Co-Recruiting Coordinator as well.

Justin Stovall joins the Lehigh coaching staff for the 2012 season and will work with the Mountain Hawks' outside linebackers. Stovall comes to Lehigh from Villanova out of the CAA where he was Defensive Assistant during the 2011 season. While there, he assisted the Defensive Coordinator and Special Teams Coordinator in all areas, working with the scout team offense, special teams and all aspects of film.

"Justin Stovall came very highly recommended to us by [Villanova Coach] Andy Talley and he did a super job in the interview process," said Coen. "Justin will bring a really high level of intensity to our defensive staff. Our defensive players thrive on playing with intensity and enthusiasm and Justin will only add to that mindset. Justin is also very familiar with the Patriot League; he was an outstanding player for Lafayette."

Prior to Villanova, Stovall coached at Franklin & Marshall College for three seasons, assisting the Defensive Coordinator. He worked with the development of the linebackers and helped implement the defensive game plan. Stovall was promoted to Special Teams Coordinator in April of 2011, developing and implementing punt return schemes while working with the specialists (long snappers, punters, personal protector). He also had extensive recruiting responsibilities.

"Coming to Lehigh, with how successful the program's been through the years, it's an amazing opportunity," said Stovall. "It's an opportunity to not only further my career, but also experience the success they've been experiencing. Become a part of that and learn a lot of what it takes from a coaching standpoint to build a team."

Stovall was a four-year letterwinner and three-time Patriot League Champion at Lafayette from 2003-06, leading the Leopards to league titles and FCS Playoff berths in each of his final three seasons. A senior captain in '06, Stovall played in 46 of 47 career games at both linebacker and special teams. He graduated from Lafayette in 2007 with an impressive 3.23 GPA as an Economics and Business major.

[VUDad]

Heard only 1 or 2 assistants made the cut. Headcount for returning players will happen this week. Hope we don't lose many--incoming recruits are exciting to speculate on, but they miss spring practice and don't start playing at the next level until August.

[VULB#62]

I feel bad for the guys who didn't make the cut, but things happen for a reason.  Hope they bounce back as better coaches.

With the four new coaches added and the successful FCS/Patriot backgrounds they all share, I think we've made a tangible leap in coaching acumen.

Q/  What's the appeal to remaining players trying to decide to stay or not to stay?  A/  (1) For the first time in their short careers they have the opportunity to play for a coaching staff that has proven credentials in FCS. (2) It's clear that VU is making commitment to them as well as the future of Valpo FCS football.

Q/  What's the appeal to potential recruits? A/ The same great things that have drawn recruits to Valpo despite a terrible record over the last several years PLUS (1) It's clear that VU is making a commitment to the future of Valpo football and (2) they'll be playing for a knowledgeable, experienced staff in [what I hope will be] a true FCS program.

[VUDad]

I agree #62. The most effective recruiting weapon, though, will be some wins next year.

[LaPorteAveApostle]

I feel bad for the guys who didn't make the cut, but things happen for a reason.  Hope they bounce back as better coaches.

Interesting article from Pat Kirwan--non-representative, in a sense, but in his memory fewer than half of the 82 people fired in the 4 (NFL) coaching purges he was involved in, remained in (NFL-level) coaching--whether voluntarily or involuntarily, we can't know.  But a little scary for them, to say the least!
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/pat-kirwan/24395712/nfl-trends-the-harsh-truth-of-nfl-firings-uncovering-playoff-pretenders

True they could have gone to college, but being fired on this rung of the ladder often leads to (or back to) high school coaching or non-coaching, as we know.  Best wishes for all those who are going job-hunting.

Correct my misapprehension, #62, but I thought when you said "holdovers" that meant that was a done deal.  Did you in fact mean that they just haven't been let go or retained yet?

[usc4valpo]

62, based on your comment below...

"That leaves the D and special teams -- areas that have consistently been ravaged by opposing teams in all four seasons of the Carlson era.
It looks like Stovall is an addition, not a replacement, as the article says he'll coach OLBs like he did at Lehigh.  No one on the 2013 staff had that designation.  Casey Teegardin held the LB coach designation, so perhaps he will be retained and focus on ILBs.  Teegardin also was the the Special Teams coordinator.  The special teams area has a good long-term kicking prospect (Freshman Jacob Newman, if he stays, was the second leading scorer on the team and was 4/5 on FGAs) and their punter, Alex Kozlowski (So/Fr), when he was healthy, was not a bad punter (38.8 av., 6 over 50 yds., and 12 downed inside the 20), But Teegardin's  Special Teams coverage and returns need to improve greatly."


The linebacking corps and special teams need a complete enema.  If new coaching is required here, then no problem IMO.
As for kicking, Newman has potential but has been inconsistent on the extra points.  The punting team needs depth and competition as observed at the Drake game.

[VULB#62]

Correct my misapprehension, #62, but I thought when you said "holdovers" that meant that was a done deal.  Did you in fact mean that they just haven't been let go or retained yet?

I couldn't think of a better word.  Actually what came to mind at the time was 'left-overs' but I thought that was kind of disrespectful.  Especially in the fact that after Carlson was let go, these guys continued to go out and recruit and, as I understand it, worked at keeping the program going.