Dan Malone reports here.
MassLive has twitter reaction to the hire.
Matty V. says UMass hit a home run with Whipple.
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Let the UMass Football Blog join the approval in getting Coach Whipple back. He'll make an impact with the Minutemen.
The only caution I would make would be to expect too much in the first couple of years. Remember Whipple had Marcel Shipp and Kerry Taylor already on board when he arrived.
I attended a function where Whipple was asked about going FBS. He said we could do it but, "We'd take our lumps the first couple of years." I think it'll take three or four years before UMass will be in a position to compete in the top levels of the MAC.
Let's back the coach until then!
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It will be interesting to see if Whipple will keep the remaining staff. Coach Sollazzo and Mike Golden are popular with the players.
The vacant positions are:
- Defensive coordinator (ex-Phil Elmassian)
- Offensive coordinator (ex-John Bond)
- Special teams/OLB Coach (ex-Ted Daisher)
- Wide receivers (ex-Alan Suber)
Whipple will probably function as his own offensive coordinator, but somebody is really, really needed as QB coach.
Some interesting quotes from Coach Sollazzo in this article by Matty V.
“I like it here. I’m going to do everything I can to stay here,” he said. “I think this is a great school and the sky is the limit here. I think it’s a sleeping giant.”
Some interesting quotes from Coach Sollazzo in this article by Matty V.
“I like it here. I’m going to do everything I can to stay here,” he said. “I think this is a great school and the sky is the limit here. I think it’s a sleeping giant.”
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Defensive coordinator will probably be the biggest hire. Five NFL staffs were fired recently. I wonder if Coach Whipple would try to get somebody there or add a college coach.
List of current FBS head coaches with their offensive and defensive coordinators.
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