Tag Archives: Coach

Who will replace Flores and McDaniels if they leave?

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Both Brian Flores and Josh McDaniels have generated interest from multiple teams to be their head coach. The Broncos, Browns, Packers, and Dolphins have requested to interview Flores for their head coaching positions, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. In addition, the Packers and Dolphins have requested to interview Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Schefter reported.

The Backstories

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McDaniels has been with the Patriots for all 5 of their championships as some form of assistant, coach, or coordinator. He took a head coaching job in 2009 and spent two seasons with the Denver Broncos. After an incident, he was fired and was eventually named the Rams offensive coordinator in 2011, before returning back to the Patriots. McDaniels was originally going to take the Colts head coaching job last year, but had backed out of it last minute. He is currently the highest paid offensive coordinator.

Flores has also been with the Patriots as some form of assistant, coach, or coordinator since 2004. This year, he has taken over the Patriots’ play-calling duties on the defensive side.

Homegrown

Can you sense the pattern? The Patriots find and promote their coaches from within for the most part. So, with this in mind, who is next up after McDaniels and Flores?

Chad O’Shea, Wide Receivers Coach

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O’Shea has been with the team for nine seasons, and it seems like the Patriots have been planning for him to move up the ladder at some point. Last year, he called plays in the preseason as it looked like teams might go after McDaniels. Belichick has high praise for his abilities as a coach and mentor.

“Chad’s an excellent teacher (and) a very good fundamental coach,” Belichick said recently. “He has a good relationship with his players, has a good relationship with all of the staff members and is easy to work with…He comes from a football background — of course, his dad, Mike O’Shea, is one of the great trainers in his profession of all time…Chad’s done a really good job for us.” (BSJ 2019)

O’Shea is the most obvious candidate for the offensive coordinator job if McDaniels leaves.

Options for Defensive Coordinator

The choice for the next man up for the defense is not clear. Outside of Flores, the longest-tenured defensive coach with 10 seasons with the team is cornerbacks coach, Josh Boyer, if the front office goes on seniority. Obviously, Steve Belichick, the safeties coach, is an option too. However, Bill Belichick could also go without naming a defensive coordinator for the season to maybe allow the defensive staff to develop more, if that is what he sees fit.

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Now, those were all internal options. Externally, it is hard to pinpoint who exactly the Patriots would go after. One option is Greg Schiano, who is the defensive coordinator for Ohio State. It is reported that he and Bill Belichick have a good relationship, and that he was wooed by the Patriots in early 2018 before deciding to remain at Ohio State (NBCSports 2018).

Dick Umile: A Look Back on a Storied Career

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Dick Umile, head coach of the UNH Wildcats will be retiring following the end of this season. Umile has been a head coach at the University of New Hampshire for 28 seasons. In 22 of those seasons he coached the Wildcats to winning record. Umile has always been a Wildcat; he was a player from 1969 till 1972. During his time on the ice, Umile talied 60 goals and 84 assists. As the captain of the Wildcats, Umile led them to the ECAC Semi-Finals for the first time in school history.

Umile was drafted by the Saint Louis Blues following his senior season, however he was out of professional hockey by 1975. Not to mention, he is 12th all time in UNH history with a 1.66 points per game average. His coaching career at UNH began in 1988 as an assistant coach. He took over for Bob Kullen as head coach in 1990. As head coach he has accumulated 586 wins, good enough for 9th all time among Division 1 head coaches. Not bad.

Watertown High School

Dick Umile is a native of Melrose Massachusetts.  At Melrose High School, Umile excelled at hockey and football. Melrose High honored Umile by inducting him into their athletic Hall of Fame. His hockey career at Melrose was quite memorable; three-time all-star, all-scholastic captain, as well as a three-time Middlesex League Champ. As a captain; Umile used his skills as a motivator and a team player to win in high school. Umile transferred his experience as a high school player to a high school coach.

The Watertown High School Red Raiders were enthused to announce Umile as head coach of the hockey team in 1975. Defense and hustle were a part of Umile’s strong suit. With this in mind he took great care in demanding them from his players. When Watertown hired Umile, they were in the basement of the Middlesex league. Umile’s knowledge for the sport and the respect he commanded from his players put them in awe. The Red Raiders’ play increased significantly. By teaching his boys what the word “team” was all about, they got better every year, culminating into a state championship in 1985. Umile proved his worth as a coach by taking a basement dwelling group of individuals into a dominant state championship team. Watch his Watertown High induction ceremony here.

Head Coach

Dick Umile’s success at the high school level attracted the attention of several college coaches. Mike McShane, former teammate of Umile at UNH, was the new head coach for the Providence College Friars. McShane knew the knowledge Umile possessed for the game of hockey and brought him to the college level. Umile went on to return to the University of New Hampshire following the 1987 season. Bob Kullen, who stepped aside due to a rare heart condition brought Umile back home. Umile served as assistant coach for two seasons until Bob Kullen tragically lost his battle with the rare heart condition.

Umile’s first season under the helm, 1990-1991, was the Wildcat’s first winning season in seven long years. That year is dedicated to Bob Kullen. This also lead Umile to his first Hockey East Coach of the Year Award, which is now named in Bob Kullen’s honor. Umile has led the Wildcats to twenty 20+ wins in a single season, four NCAA Tournament appearances, ten Hockey East regular season titles, as well as making it all the way to the championship games in 1999 and 2003, only to lose in heart-breaking fashion. Umile is a six time Bob Kullen Hockey East Coach of the Year Award winner. The college hockey world will miss Umile behind the bench, but are forever grateful for his contributions.

 

Cover image courtesy of WMUR.com.

Red Sox Begin Filling Coaching Staff

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NEW COACHING STAFF

On Thursday, the morning after the Houston Astros World Series victory, Alex Cora went to work as the new manager of the Red Sox. The Red Sox added 3 new names to the coaching staff, and still need a pitching and a hitting coach.

Bench Coach

Ron Roenicke was Alex Cora’s choice to be the bench coach for the 2018 season. Although it may not be a splashy choice, it is likely a good hire. Alex Cora has no managerial experience. Bringing aboard Roenicke, the Red Sox now have a bench coach who managed for over 4 seasons in Milwaukee. During his time in Milwaukee, Roenicke finished with a winning record, and made the postseason once. In addition to his managerial experience, he also brings a little bit of postseason experience. Cora also has familiarity with Roenicke. Ron Roenicke was Alex Cora’s manager in the minor leagues, back in 1997 and 1998. A manager has to be comfortable with his bench coach, and Cora got the man he wanted.

First Base Coach

The Red Sox brought Tom Goodwin back to the organization. Goodwin has spent the last six seasons coaching 1st base for the New York Mets. Before that, Tom Goodwin was a coach for the Lowell Spinners for four seasons. I believe Goodwin will be of most use not as first base coach, but in his role as base running and outfield instructor. It is no secret the Red Sox ran into a lot of outs on the basepaths last season. Goodwin was brought in to help clean that up. When I was a kid, Goodwin was a good defensive outfielder, and a very good base stealer for the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers. Hopefully he can impart some of his wisdom on the young Sox.

12 Apr 1998: Outfielder Tom Goodwin of the Texas Rangers in action during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Credit: Stephen Dunn

Third Base Coach

Carlos Febles gets a promotion to the big leagues, and continues his rise through the Red Sox organization. Febles has been with the team since 2007. He spent the first four seasons as a hitting coach in the organization, for 3 different teams. Next, he was named the manager for the Lowell Spinners in 2011. Febles managed in both Greenville and Salem for 2 seasons. This past season, he managed the AA Portland Sea Dogs. This marks his first opportunity at the big league level, and given his steady promotions, he is an interesting name added to the team. In addition to his work as the third base coach, Febles will also be working with infielders as an instructor. Maybe he can work with Devers on making those throws across the diamond.

PORTLAND, ME – Sea Dogs manager Carlos Febles points to home base as he talks to Josh Tobias (24) during the Sea Dogs game against the Altoona Curve at Hadlock Field. (Staff photo by Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer)

Mike Lowell

One final note of the day; Dave Dombrowski mentioned Mike Lowell would be hired by the team. He did not say what role Lowell would be working, it is yet to be known in what role he will serve. I would imagine he will be in a behind the scenes role, maybe along the lines of what Jason Varitek has been the last few seasons. Whatever role he plays, this is a good hire. Mike Lowell is an even-keeled, well liked former player.

Could Mike Lowell be serving in a similar capacity to the one Jason Varitek has?