James Willis ... UL Defensive Coordinator

[NewsCopy]

Report: Defensive Coordinator James Willis Leaving Cajuns For Florida State Job Sports Radio ESPN 1420 Willis, who has spent only one season with the Cajuns football program, is expected to take over the role of linebackers coach on Jimbo Fisher's staff. That position was made available after former linebackers coach Charles Kelly was confirmed as the ... UL's defensive coordinator leaving for Florida StateThe Daily Advertiser all 2 news articles »

The rest of the story.

[Zeebart21]

Louie cook?

______, you beat me to it!!

+1

[Boomer]

______, you beat me to it!!

+1

----------Well I would think that Coach Rebowe will apply and I don't know what will happen there--but if he would get the job I think that I would see if we could consider getting JU LUKE from Tech to come here as a position coach!! Notice I said consider because I don't know how well he coaches but the guy has to be a pretty damn good recruiter!!!

[basinbear]

----------Well I would think that Coach Rebowe will apply and I don't know what will happen there--but if he would get the job I think that I would see if we could consider getting JU LUKE from Tech to come here as a position coach!! Notice I said consider because I don't know how well he coaches but the guy has to be a pretty damn good recruiter!!!

1- this will happen faster then we think

2- In my opinion it will be a Coach from outside the staff...of course I have been wrong before....many times

3- There will be names kicked around that are damn good coaches....probably some who have been Coordinators before
4- This same thing will be going on at many more Universities around the Country...and at Universities that may surprise you...always movement in the profession after the National Signing Day
5- That is all that have to say or will say about this....

[Boomer]

One day my former friends who were ex coaches and at that point in a very successful oil related venture were talking about their prize employees being offered by other companies ----- Nobody wants to lose good help---Well they chose to think that if somebody wasn't coming after them then they weren't doing a great job in hiring---think this fits as other schools troll our very successful staff!!!

[cjr3888]

Biggest part of this............

Hud gave Willis a chance to get back on track in his coaching career and Willis repaid Hud by waiting until after National Signing Day to let this news out.

We all knew that Willis is a big time defensive coach and wouldn't be here long. Even though our assistants are the highest paid in the Sun Belt, Willis will probably get a raise to be a position coach at FSU.

Most of us know, but for those that don't, coaching a recruiting always comes down to relationships. In the future, if Willis recruits a kid and doesn't have a scholarship available at a school like FSU, the first place he will mention to that player is UL! His experience while on campus, even though it was short, will help UL in the future.

If he had any hard feelings towards Hud and UL, this news would have come out a few weeks ago and hurt us in recruiting.

[Boomer]

Biggest part of this............

Hud gave Willis a chance to get back on track in his coaching career and Willis repaid Hud by waiting until after National Signing Day to let this news out.

We all knew that Willis is a big time defensive coach and wouldn't be here long. Even though our assistants are the highest paid in the Sun Belt, Willis will probably get a raise to be a position coach at FSU.

Most of us know, but for those that don't, coaching a recruiting always comes down to relationships. In the future, if Willis recruits a kid and doesn't have a scholarship available at a school like FSU, the first place he will mention to that player is UL! His experience while on campus, even though it was short, will help UL in the future.

If he had any hard feelings towards Hud and UL, this news would have come out a few weeks ago and hurt us in recruiting.

---Do you think that the 2 kids de-committing and going to Memphis had anything to do with his leaving???

[Gueydanmayor]

---Do you think that the 2 kids de-committing and going to Memphis had anything to do with his leaving???

It could have Boom, but we may never know.

[cjr3888]

---Do you think that the 2 kids de-committing and going to Memphis had anything to do with his leaving???

Could have or couldn't. Seems like those two were a package deal no matter what school they chose. Know we went hard at some locals who didn't change their early commitments. Plus, there are some that are hoping to play for the Cajuns but don't qualify yet. Next ACT date is Saturday so look for those players to hopefully qualify once those scores come in. Can't afford a membership it CajunRedZone and those guys probably know who I'm talking about.

One thing I've noticed this year is plenty of schools who haven't signed a full class of 25. Plenty of prospects out there on the fence academically who haven't signed with a JUCO in hopes of qualifying for a D1 offer.

[NewsCopy]

Current Cajun players were to have first been told of the departure after a Wednesday night fanfest to celebrate the signing class, but news of the resignation quickly spread before the event got under way.

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[Just1More]

Biggest part of this............

Hud gave Willis a chance to get back on track in his coaching career and Willis repaid Hud by waiting until after National Signing Day to let this news out.

We all knew that Willis is a big time defensive coach and wouldn't be here long. Even though our assistants are the highest paid in the Sun Belt, Willis will probably get a raise to be a position coach at FSU.

Most of us know, but for those that don't, coaching a recruiting always comes down to relationships. In the future, if Willis recruits a kid and doesn't have a scholarship available at a school like FSU, the first place he will mention to that player is UL! His experience while on campus, even though it was short, will help UL in the future.

If he had any hard feelings towards Hud and UL, this news would have come out a few weeks ago and hurt us in recruiting.

I agree with you that Hud and Willis must have had a decent relationship for Willis to keep this under wraps until the end of signing day. But, if "we all knew" (including Hud) that we were one and done with Willis, we'd have passed on him. Willis did not re-establish himself at UL, and we didn't improve defensively under his coordination. His pedigree got him the interview/offer at FSU. He's probably better off as a LB coach at an established program than being a DC at UL (financially and assignment-wise).

Personally, I'd like to see Hud find a guy that has a similar resume to Hud (young, energetic, trying to build a career, built his existing career within 300 miles of Lafayette, and has the ability to use mid major talent intelligently). I'm not a fan of guys that spent most of their careers in programs that have had the pick of the litter and think their actual coaching skills had something to do with the success of those programs.

It would be seriously wise, IMO, to find someone with existing ties to Louisiana recruiting. There is no reason we cannot locate, recruit, teach and retain great defensive talent in this state, or in the immediate areas adjoining this state.

[CRAWFISH61]

Willis will make 450k at FSU. He made 150K at UL. Our defense was better statistically under Willis than Stewart but still not good enough. Hopefully the next DC can make even more improvement.