James Willis ... UL Defensive Coordinator

[IberiaCajun]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_W...an_football%29

[BeauCajun]

Perhaps next DC?

Per BOP.

[MelRock]

http://coachingsearch.com/coaching-search-ticker.html

Per the website - Sources tell me James Willis has emerged as the leading candidate for the defensive coordinator job under Mark Hudspeth.

[beavis11]

James Willis
Title: Defensive Coordinator
Age: 38
Birthplace: Huntsville, AL
Undergraduate Degree: Adult Education, Auburn University
Graduate Degree: N/A


Life Before Coaching: Willis left early from Auburn after the 1992 season, his junior year, drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 5th round in the 1993 NFL Draft. Willis played seven years in the NFL, two season in Green Bay, four season in Philadelphia and a season with Seattle. Willis' best year was 1998 where he had 96 tackles, but doesn't explain why he didn't continue to play, especially because he appeared to have some ability to play. A cup of coffee with the XFL team, Birmingham Thunderbolts, in 2001, Willis went back to Auburn to get degree in Adult Education. Willis was pretty much a star once he arrived on campus at Auburn where he was a Parade All-American, the co-defensive freshman of the year in the SEC and first team All-SEC in 1992, the year that he left to go to the NFL.

Prior Coaching Stops: In 2004, Willis started off his coaching career at Rhode Island as linebackers coach, took the same position in 2005 at Temple. In 2006, Willis went back to his alma mater at Auburn as linebackers coach under then defensive coordinator, Will Muschamp. After Tuberville left Auburn, unceremoniously, Willis was retained by Gene Chizik's staff to continue to coach linebackers for the 2008 season. In 2009, Willis was hired by Alabama head coach Nick Saban to be an associate head coach and linebackers coach for the Crimson Tide, and if you've been in a closet since January, the Tide won the national championship.

[seehard]

we're getting a guy who led a Texas Tech D that gave up 30.3 ppg and 463 ypg? oh goody

[CrazyCajun]

we're getting a guy who led a Texas Tech D that gave up 30.3 ppg and 463 ypg? oh goody

But consider its against ok state, wvu, Baylor, Oklahoma. That's 4 pretty badass offenses, not to mention Texas and tcu.

[Duggie35]

we're getting a guy who led a Texas Tech D that gave up 30.3 ppg and 463 ypg? oh goody

But he didn't have the talent he will have here at UL!!!! HaHa!!!

[BananaHammock]

we're getting a guy who led a Texas Tech D that gave up 30.3 ppg and 463 ypg? oh goody

So bad that Nick Saban hired him.

[CajunFan3406]

But consider its against ok state, wvu, Baylor, Oklahoma. That's 4 pretty badass offenses, not to mention Texas and tcu.

He was TT's DC two seasons ago, so no WVU or TCU.

This is the wiki page for their 2010 team when Willis was there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Te..._football_team

I'd search 2010 Texas Tech Defense if you want an idea of how his D did.

[Zeebart21]

Whatchu talkin about, Willis?

[Hudsheen#Fired]

Interesting that in his season as defensive coordinator he ran a 3-4

[BeauCajun]

Their 2010 schedule.

September 5 2:30 PM SMU* Jones AT&T Stadium • Lubbock, TX ESPN W 35–27 57,528[A 1]
September 11 7:00 PM at New Mexico* University Stadium • Albuquerque, New Mexico The Mtn. W 52–17 25,734[24]
September 18 7:00 PM #4 Texas Jones AT&T Stadium • Lubbock, TX (Chancellor's Spurs) ABC/ESPN2 L 14–24 60,454[A 2]
October 2 6:00 PM at Iowa State Jack Trice Stadium • Ames, IA FCS Central L 38–52 43,162[26]
October 9 11:00 AM vs. Baylor Cotton Bowl • Dallas, TX (Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Shootout) FSN W 45–38 48,213[27]
October 16 2:30 PM #18 Oklahoma State Jones AT&T Stadium • Lubbock, TX FSN L 17–34 60,454[28][29]
October 23 2:30 PM at Colorado Folsom Field • Boulder, CO W 27–24 47,655[30]
October 30 2:30 PM at Texas A&M Kyle Field • College Station, TX (A&M-Tech rivalry) L 27–45 84,479[31]
November 6 7:00 PM #14 Missouri Jones AT&T Stadium • Lubbock, TX ABC W 24–17 55,667[32]
November 13 2:30 PM at #16 Oklahoma Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, OK ABC L 7–45 85,116[33]
November 20 2:00 PM Weber State* Jones AT&T Stadium • Lubbock, TX W 64–21 55,083[34]
November 27 6:00 PM Houston* Jones AT&T Stadium • Lubbock, TX FSN W 35–20 53,461[35]
January 1 11:00 AM vs. Northwestern* Cotton Bowl • Dallas, TX (TicketCity Bowl) ESPNU W 45–38 40,121[