Auburn hires a coach, retains others
Gene Chizik made the first shrewd decision (and first overall) of his tenure today by re-hiring linebackers coach James Willis as part of the Tigers' staff.Willis, a former Auburn player and NFL veteran, has spent the past two seasons coaching on the Plains. In addition to his on-the-field duties, Willis was considered the team's most valuable recruiter. He's been working to make inroads in the coveted Mobile area, which is considered a hot zone for Alabama's recruiting efforts.
Willis will continue that work under Chizik. He is the first assistant coach named to the Tigers' new staff.
IN WITH THE OLD: Four other long-time employees have been retained. Strength and conditioning coach Kevin Yoxall will remain in his role. Jimmy Perry (director of football operations), Phillip Lolley (director of NFL relations) and Chette Williams (team chaplain and FCA czar) also will remain on staff.
posted by Jay G. Tate at
5:34 PM
53 Comments:
Willis current photos ... he still looks like he good lay a mean lick on you.
He's definitely staying in shape these days.
Was he the coach that continued to recruit between CTT leaving and CGC coming on?
And wasn't one recruit quoted as saying that he was still coming to AU because his position player was staying?
Some of this stuff is starting to blur together.
Glad to hear Willis is on board.....
Darn.... Should have led with this....
3rd
Oh, by the way. Been out of pocket the past few weeks. Belated Merry Christmas to you all.
OK 4th
Ding. Sorry Logan- you are team no. 4 to arrive. Good news is that this is not an elimination leg.
Glad to hear about Brother Chette. Can't say the same thing about Willis, but it is good to see that coach Chizik is beginning to take shape with his status.
Great hire!!!
Anyone have thoughts on potential OC candidates??
IMO it will be very difficult to recruit without a very proven OC.
I thinkg the next big question is who is our OC going to be. With the bowl season about to kick in, which games/OC's should we pay special attention to?
Maybe Guz Malzahn - OC at Tulsa. GMac Bowl Jan 6?
Jay, I am trying to remember when Perry came in. Wasn't it when the former football operations directer had to be fired? If so, I am kind of surprised he stayed as I thought he was Tubs right-hand man. Am I thinking of someone else?
Struttinduck,
Great minds think alike.
Wasn't there a bar out on Wire Rd called the Struttin Duck?
Depressedaufan,
Jimmy Perry started working for Auburn in 1999 as something relating to high school coordination for the program. He replaced Eldon Hawley in 2003 after some remarks he made that included using the "N" word.
Yes there was/is a bar in the Auburn area called the strutting duck.
Aubie- Malzahn would be a great choice. He could generate some excitement for AU's offense I think.
I agree Aubie, and yes, the Struttin duck was a hole in the wall on wire road. It was close to my home and one of the first to serve big beers for a buck 25! The good ole days.
Thanks JD, that is the incident I was referring to. Did Perry and Chizik have a good relationship while Chizik was here before?
Jay , does this mean that Curt Crain won't be on the staff?
Any chance that Q will get a shot, or will he continue with his adjunct AD role?
Was there any explanation why Willis was fired in the first place? Seems like he could have been helping these past two weeks.
AUW
I thinik the assistant's contracts automatically terminated (for the most part) on the firing/resigning of CTT. I could be wrong, regardless, my question is, what took so long to hire him back.
Duck ... why in the world would Q want to be a coach?
There is a Santa Claus! :-)
Jay ... was Willis ever "fired" or merely advised ... along the rest of the staff ... that looking for other employment was a good idea?
Carrying over from other thread ... JKev ain't a hater, he's just misunderstood ... we got no problem, even if he don't like my rap ... which ain't even close to my favorite musical genre.
Just a little humor! Hope I did not offend
I still do not understand how/why Q was involved in the hiring and traveling wih the AD when interviewing candidates.
There is no telling what may happen!
Humor aside ... I could see him in an administrative role at some point. Assistant AD with an "AD in waiting" clause. Something like that.
This comment has been removed by the author.
If you HOTTIES thought I was a Boom fan, that ain't nothing compared to Q. He's ready now.
Jet's a boom fan? you are kidding. I had no idea.
:-)
I think he could be AD right now also, but we don't work that way. Plus, we really don't know if the current one is an idiot or not. He keeps us guessing.
Phred,
That is a pretty strong vision.
I would think that he would be in the Ath dept. if that was a path/plan. No offense, he is not employeed by AU, but was allowed to travel with them to interview.
Haven Field would be a better fit for your vision, in my opinion. The cat is suave and working inside already.
Duck ... so Q was a part of a search committee ... he was the external rep ... I view it as a positive more than a negative.
I am Phred the Visionary! Hear me envision!
It is what it is.
The corporate world would not hire in that fashion, just a little odd to me.
I will let it go!
Willis = me likey
Even more so (and I know I'm a goober), but I like your line: "in with the old"...
I'm a geek.
Phred the Visionary ... I like it ... Duck ... don't give up the fight ... no fun if we all agree.
Change that, Phred ain't a visionary. He's got dysentary!
Just kidding, Phred.
War Eagle!!! Wonderful news. I had become convinced that Willis was gone.
SteveFC the optimist was convinced the news was bad ... irony?
Willis wasn't fired.
I can't really say what happened. As I told you all back on Moving Day, Willis was told to talk with Chizik and his packing effort seemed far less invasive than the guys I knew were gone for sure.
So I always thought there was a chance he'd be back. I am surprised Willis wasn't kept on the road with Lolley, Perry and Joe Whitt Sr.
Howard Schnellenberger ... old school or just old?
Discuss among yourselves.
Either way, this is positive development. Does this make Joe Jr., unlikely in your mind?
Will our OC come from the pro or college level?
Pro ... I don't know why I think that.
AJC reporting Searels staying at UGA. Jay G. ... you got anything?
Willis back = Great start for CGC!!
I wonder does that mean Cotton recommits to us? Hmmm...
Malzahn offense...I'm not that impressed. I think I have come full circle on offenses. I wanted the spread but I really hate the fact that you can complete a pass and still lose 5 yards. Pro-style for me thanks with just a hint of spread please.
Jet: No.
If Searles is staying, I am shocked..
I went ahead and linked the story so we can discuss it.
Thanks, Jet.
AL.com is reporting that Searels will stay at UGA as well. I dont see that as being a bad thing.
I liked Searles to AU. Wish this one would have happened!
Nall was a good line coach,but Searles has been at many winning programs as OL coach and would have rocked!!!! Now who?
Nice.... thanks Jay G. for the Text Alert..... that was sweet!
I like the group he kept, all strong men with Auburn ties. Just listen to ant Sr. Watch Banquet and all the guys talk about Coach Yox and Bro Chett. Willis has a great rep when it comes to the HS level...and we need that with the coach change.
I hate Stacy is not jumping from GA, but I still have hopes for a great OC. I think Nix would do great things if he came back home. I would also like to see Trooper Taylor make the jump over. he would mke things interesting.
I still hold out hope for Tracy Rocker to be here for the D. Chiz will have a strong hold on his D and it would help Rocker get over sany learning curve if he was the DC.
AMEN
NO to NIX....
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