Another of Hoke's staff takes big step down from Michigan (link)

[michigangoblue999]

Fred Jackson to become Ypsilanti High's head coach!

Nussmeier went to Florida and Mattison obviously was retained. Other than that Hoke's staff sucked. Crazy.

http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/n...ckson-hired-as-next-ypsilanti-football-coach/

 

[Knuckles101]

Really?

He worked for 23 seasons at U-M so it isn't like he was one of Hoke's hires. Considering he was already the dean of students there I think it is pretty cool that he is the coach. It is more a nice story about a guy giving back to the community rather than someone taking a big step down.

 

[michigangoblue999]

Great guy, but not a great RB coach.

 

[goblue31602]

Fred Jackson to become Ypsilanti High's head coach!

Nussmeier went to Florida and Mattison obviously was retained. Other than that Hoke's staff sucked. Crazy.

http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/n...ckson-hired-as-next-ypsilanti-football-coach/

I think it's more his desire to stay in the area than anything else. Most knew he was close to retiring, and I think most assumed it would be when his kid left Michigan, but he stayed on.

He had some great running backs in the past, but recently his prospect identification and development are extremely questionable.

 

[Knuckles101]

I don't know, the top 3 rushing leaders in U-M history and the the top 5 single season rushers were all under him. I'm not sure you stick around for 23 years, great guy or not, without doing somethings well. Great? maybe not, but pretty good at least.

 

[ChicagoBlueFan]

Great guy, but not a great RB coach.

He really missed on Rawls.
Wait a minute...

 

[michnittlion]

I think it's more his desire to stay in the area than anything else. Most knew he was close to retiring, and I think most assumed it would be when his kid left Michigan, but he stayed on.

He had some great running backs in the past, but recently his prospect identification and development are extremely questionable.

Yeah, Fred is 65. Life priorities can change at that age. 65 is also when Elliot Uzelac (a one-time U-M assistant under Bo) decided to give up college football coaching and instead take the HC position at St Joseph High out in SW Michigan.

On a side note, Uzelac is still doing the HS coaching thing, and he got Benton Harbor to the state playoffs for the 1st time ever this year. They won their 1st round playoff game, so their dream lives on to another weekend.

 

[michigangoblue999]

Yeah, Fred is 65. Life priorities can change at that age.

Hmm, I think he'd still be coaching at Michigan if Harbaugh had offered him a job.

I don't understand the nostalgia people have. Jackson's last success as a RB coach was a long time ago. I am glad he's not on this staff. I want to win, and don't care about keeping on people who have been around a long time if they aren't doing a good job. That's what the Lions have done for so long. Does that make me a meanie? This is a business, for heaven's sake.

Besides, my larger point is uncontested: Hoke's staff sucked, and all we have to do is look at where they all landed after he was fired to see the truth of that statement. It's a hopeful point: Now that we have competent people in charge, the future is bright.

 

[ChicagoBlueFan]

Hmm, I think he'd still be coaching at Michigan if Harbaugh had offered him a job.

I don't understand the nostalgia people have. Jackson's last success as a RB coach was a long time ago. I am glad he's not on this staff. I want to win, and don't care about keeping on people who have been around a long time if they aren't doing a good job. That's what the Lions have done for so long. Does that make me a meanie? This is a business, for heaven's sake.

Besides, my larger point is uncontested: Hoke's staff sucked, and all we have to do is look at where they all landed after he was fired to see the truth of that statement. It's a hopeful point: Now that we have competent people in charge, the future is bright.

Agree that Clappy's staff sucked hard. I think I saw that somebody hired Funk, the genius behind the worst O line in UM history. Is that true, and if so, why?

 

[scfanblue]

Great for Coach Jackson giving back to the community by leading a high school program. As a long time high school coach myself, I can tell you that youth level, middle school or (junior high) level and the high school level is in dire straits when it comes to committed and knowledgeable coaches who are in it for the KIDS. Youth football has become "Daddy Ball," today and the focus has been upon winning and playing their kids instead of teaching the fundamentals and how to have "fun" playing the game. "middle school" or "junior high" football has almost become non existent with most programs in our state here of SC not being funded so they are just dropped. It is nice to see someone with this much experience at the big level come down to mentor our youth which have very few mentors in their life anyways. Good luck Coach Jackson.

 

[michnittlion]

Hmm, I think he'd still be coaching at Michigan if Harbaugh had offered him a job.

No doubt true ..... I just meant in terms of: if Jackson were 40 or 50 or 55 and U-M didn't retain his services, it's more likely he'd move hundreds or even thousands of miles to take another college job. Content to take a HS Job and remain at home.

 

[Kaiser]

Great guy, but not a great RB coach.

Totally disagree. Coach Jackson lead the development of RBs such as Mike Hart, Anthony Thomas, Chris Perry, and Tyrone Wheatley.

Coach Jackson faced two very different careers while at Michigan. From Gary Moeller to Lloyd Carr, Coach Jackson trained RBs for a pro-style offense. Under these coaches Michigan had at QB Tom Brady, Brian Griese, John Navarre, Chad Henne, and Scott Dreisback. All of these QBs made you respect the pass and were pro-style guys. Well-balanced offenses.

With the introduction of Rich Rod, Coach Jackson and the RBs are now facing 8 and 9 man fronts daring Michigan to throw. The last 8 years have seen Michigan from Tate Forcier, Dennard Robinson, and Devin Gardner struggle not to throw an interception and the QBs became the primary rushing option.

Reality is we are seeing some of the leftovers this year. We have a QB that cannot complete a pass down the field meaning we cannot rush the ball because defenses are now stacked against the run and daring Michigan to throw the ball.

Until Michigan can complete passes down field the running game will suffer.

Coach Jackson did a great job at Michigan and represented the school well. Remember, he did win assistant of the year in 2001.