Michigan's recruiting/player personnel room is complete with the hires of Tom Gamble (Director of Player Personnel) and Denard Robinson (Asst. Director of Player Personnel) officially announced today. The duo will join Albert Karschnia, who was hired in late December as the Director of Recruiting Operations.
From what I've been told, there's a "great plan," among the trio that, "plays to everyone's strengths," in the room. In divvying up responsibilities, there will be some focusing on certain roles and tasks more than others. However, there is a clear message in the room to "be on the same page and move in the same direction."
One program source described it as "the perfect blend."
Michigan has established an identity over the past year following Jim Harbaugh's decision to reshuffle his staff, and in turn, re-shift the culture of the program. I firmly believe these hires fall right into that category, again bringing in a guy with lengthy experience (Gamble), a young star (Karschnia), and a former player with natural recruiting chops (Robinson).
Karschnia is a shoo-in to be a star in-house recruiter for the Wolverines after an unquestionably impressive run at Central Michigan as its Director of Recruiting. In speaking with sources around the program during his hire, it was clear he is coveted as a young ace who is fit to gel between Gamble & Robinson. Other schools had him on their radar after CMU's recruiting under Jim McElwain caught eyes in the industry. Karsch was a pillar in that success. He is excellent logistically during campus visits and constantly evolves the experience of hosting student-athletes. Expect official/unofficial visitors to have an improved experience in 2022, IMO.
Gamble is a five-star evaluator. If he's identifying a guy, he's hardly wrong. So when you see Michigan's offer sheets over the next calendar year, it'll be interesting to compare to ones of years past. It hasn't had a difference-making evaluator in the DOPP room with Gamble's presence — as you remember, when he was last at U-M, he was an advisor. Now, with a role that puts him at the head of the table in the recruiting room, alongside Karsch & Robinson, Gamble's strengths will be maximized.
Robinson is going to recruit naturally. His personality is just a more well-versed version of the spunky kid we knew in 2013. His energy and passion are infectious and his authenticity and genuine mindset will seamlessly transition to recruiting. Again, hiring former players continues to be a trend (Hart, Bellamy, Elston, Newsome) that, so far, has gone swimmingly. Newsome & Robinson are two guys with star potential out of U-M's backyard. I am on the side of believing Robinson, as a person, is the guy meant for this position. What he does with it is entirely up to him but he has all the charisma, personality, and legacy to turn this into the first step in a long coaching journey.
From what I've been told, there's a "great plan," among the trio that, "plays to everyone's strengths," in the room. In divvying up responsibilities, there will be some focusing on certain roles and tasks more than others. However, there is a clear message in the room to "be on the same page and move in the same direction."
One program source described it as "the perfect blend."
Michigan has established an identity over the past year following Jim Harbaugh's decision to reshuffle his staff, and in turn, re-shift the culture of the program. I firmly believe these hires fall right into that category, again bringing in a guy with lengthy experience (Gamble), a young star (Karschnia), and a former player with natural recruiting chops (Robinson).
Karschnia is a shoo-in to be a star in-house recruiter for the Wolverines after an unquestionably impressive run at Central Michigan as its Director of Recruiting. In speaking with sources around the program during his hire, it was clear he is coveted as a young ace who is fit to gel between Gamble & Robinson. Other schools had him on their radar after CMU's recruiting under Jim McElwain caught eyes in the industry. Karsch was a pillar in that success. He is excellent logistically during campus visits and constantly evolves the experience of hosting student-athletes. Expect official/unofficial visitors to have an improved experience in 2022, IMO.
Gamble is a five-star evaluator. If he's identifying a guy, he's hardly wrong. So when you see Michigan's offer sheets over the next calendar year, it'll be interesting to compare to ones of years past. It hasn't had a difference-making evaluator in the DOPP room with Gamble's presence — as you remember, when he was last at U-M, he was an advisor. Now, with a role that puts him at the head of the table in the recruiting room, alongside Karsch & Robinson, Gamble's strengths will be maximized.
Robinson is going to recruit naturally. His personality is just a more well-versed version of the spunky kid we knew in 2013. His energy and passion are infectious and his authenticity and genuine mindset will seamlessly transition to recruiting. Again, hiring former players continues to be a trend (Hart, Bellamy, Elston, Newsome) that, so far, has gone swimmingly. Newsome & Robinson are two guys with star potential out of U-M's backyard. I am on the side of believing Robinson, as a person, is the guy meant for this position. What he does with it is entirely up to him but he has all the charisma, personality, and legacy to turn this into the first step in a long coaching journey.
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