Tuesday January 21, 2014

Sam Houston State (FCS - TX): Sources tell us Mel Tjeerdsma will be the new head coach at Sam Houston State. Look for an announcement tomorrow. 

Jacksonville State (FCS): Sources tell us offensive coordinator John Grass will be named head coach possibly as early as tonight. 

Navy: Former Elon defensive backs coach Dan O'Brien will join the Navy staff as outside linebackers coach. 

Oklahoma State: Oklahoma State is no longer accepting applications for the open grad assistant position. We appreciate all of the interest and will be in contact. 

Houston Texans: Bill O'Brien said he will call plays for the Texans in 2014, meaning the offensive coordinator position could go unfilled. 

LSU: The school has announced the hiring of Jeff Grimes as offensive line coach and run game coordinator. 

Virginia Union (D-II): Mark James has been named head coach. James has served as the program's defensive line coach the past two seasons.

Montana Tech: Athletic director Charles Bradley was let go over the weekend, and today retired football coach Bob Green was announced as the interim AD.

Hardin-Simmons (D-III - TX): Zach Wilkerson, who spent last season as the defensive coordinator at Mississippi College (D-III), has been named defensive coordinator at Hardin-Simmons.

Arizona Western (CC): Arizona Western, located in Yuma, Arizona, is searching for a defensive back or defensive line coach. This is a part-time position with a stipend of $6,800 plus housing. Responsibilities will include recruiting and coaching your own position. Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree, collegiate playing experience and or coaching experience, excellent communication and leadership skills. Please forward all request to Coach Minnick at Thomas.minnick@azwestern.edu.

UAB: Bill Clark is the head coach. Announcement tomorrow. 

Hiram (D-III - OH): Hiram is no longer accepting resumes for their grad assistant and intern jobs. Thanks for the tremendous interest.

Vanderbilt: Sources tell us the first set of hires are through the HR process...others to come. David Kotulski will serve as defensive coordinator / inside linebackers, Vavae Tata as defensive line coach, Gerry Gdowski as receivers, Keven Lightner as offensive line coach and Charles Bankins will coach the running backs. Jon Haskins will serve as director of player personnel and Jason Grooms director of football operations. Bill Hughan is joining the staff from Stanford and will serve as director of strength & conditioning. 

Indiana: With Seth Littrell leaving for North Carolina, sources tell us co-offensive coordinator / quarterbacks Kevin Johns will be promoted to offensive coordinator and special teams coordinator James Patton will move to tight ends / fullbacks. 

Arizona Western (CC): Arizona Western, located in Yuma, Arizona is searching for a wide receivers coach. This is a part-time position with a stipend of $6,800 plus housing. Responsibilities will include recruiting and coaching your own position. Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree, collegiate playing experience and or coaching experience, excellent communication and leadership skills. Please forward all request to Coach Minnick at Thomas.minnick@azwestern.edu.

Dubuque (D-III - IA): Former Illinois grad assistant Drew Nystrom is heading back to Dubuque as the offensive coordinator. Nystrom coached the offensive line for Dubuque back in 2011 and 2012.

Sacramento State: Former Weber St. head coach Jody Sears has joined the Sacramento State staff as defensive coordinator per a source. 

LA Tech: Sources tell us (and Bruce Feldman has reported the same) that Manny Diaz will be the new defensive coordinator at LA Tech. 

UAB: AL.com is confirming that the deal between Jacksonville State head coach Bill Clark and UAB is being finalized. At Jax St, sources tell us offensive coordinator John Grass is a strong candidate. Will keep you updated...

Philadelphia Eagles: Former Vikings offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave has interviewed for the quarterbacks job with the Eagles, according to Alex Marvez.

Elon: Scott Browne, the lone holdover from the previous staff, will coach the running backs on top of his duties as recruiting coordinator.

Maranatha Baptist (D-III - WI): Sources tell us that head coach Andy Peterson has resigned.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs will hire the Cardinals' Jason Licht as their general manager according to multiple outlets. 

New England Patriots: Linebackers coach Pepper Johnson, who has spent the last 13 seasons with the staff, will not return in 2014.

Washington Redskins: Offensive coordinator Sean McVay will also coach the quarterbacks, and head coach Jay Gruden will call the plays.

Baltimore Ravens: John Harbaugh has indicated that the five finalists for the vacant offensive coordinator job include receivers coach Jim Hostetler, former Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, former Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, and Steelers running backs coach Kirby Wilson.

Mississippi Valley State: MVSU has announced the hiring of Rick Comegy as head coach. Had to have been a rather interesting past week at Valley. 

Indiana: Kevin Wilson has hired Larry McDaniel as defensive line coach. McDaniel, a former captain at IU, has served in the same capacity at Bowling Green the past three seasons. 

Virginia Tech: Stacy Searels is expected to accept the offensive line job, according to the Washington Post. Searels resumes includes stops coaching the offensive line at Texas (most recently), LSU, and Georgia. Sources confirm the same to us. 

Buffalo Bills: Doug Marrone has indicated that he will hire a quarterbacks coach for next season. The Bills effectively operated without a coach with that title this past season.

Cleveland Browns: According to the Denver Post's Mike Klis, Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase called the Browns today to withdraw his name from consideration so that he can concentrate on the Super Bowl. According to Adam Schefter the Browns will schedule a second interview with Bills DC Mike Pettine and are considering Seattle DC Dan Quinn as well as "other candidates".

Ball State: Former Penn State tight ends coach John Strollo has now accepted the offensive line job at Ball State (Ball State site Over the Pylon reported the hire over the weekend).

Towson (FCS - MD): Head coach Rob Ambrose has agreed to a contract extension through 2020. 

Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals have officially hired Vance Joseph to coach the defensive backs. Joseph spent the past three seasons as the defensive backs coach for the Texans.

Louisiana-Lafayette: Athletics director Scott Farmer expects to present head coach Mark Hudspeth with a contract extension proposal this week. 

Doane College (NAIA - NE): Doane appreciates all of the interest in the position. At this time we are no longer accepting applications for the offensive coordinator position. Thank you

Ohio State: Sources tell us Northern Colorado defensive ends coach Jon Carpenter and Rice grad assistant Adrian Mayes are both joining the Ohio State staff as grad assistants. 

Illinois: Sources tell us that Western Michigan offensive graduate assistant Rob Arnheim has accepted a similar position at Illinois.

Michigan: Alabama offensive grad assistant John Van Dam tweeted this morning that he is joining the Michigan staff.

STU Northside Bulls (Stockholm, Sweden): STU Northside Bulls has an opening for a defensive coordinator/player. Room, Board, Flights, Insurance, Salary provided. Contract starts in March and ends in September. Interested candidates send letter of interest and C.V. to Toddmferguson@yahoo.com. Apllication deadline is 1/28/14.

Fort Hays State (D-II - KS):FHSU is no longer accepting applicants for their assistant coaching position. Thank you for the tremendous response.

Detroit Lions: Detroit will hire New Orleans quarterbacks coach Joe Lombardi as their offensive coordinator, according to Chris Mortensen. Joe is the grandson of Vince Lombardi.

Baltimore Ravens: Former Detroit offensive coordinator Scott Linehan has interviewed for the offensive coordinator position vacated by Jim Caldwell's move to the Lions, according to The Baltimore Sun.

North Dakota State: Tyler Roehl, who has spent the past few seasons coaching at Moorhead HS (MN), will join Chris Klieman's staff as tight ends / fullbacks coach. Roehl previously served as the running backs GA at NDSU back in 2011.

Eastern Illinois: The Daily Eastern News is reporting that James Truxillo has joined the staff as safeties coach.