Scottie Hazelton at his '09 press conference
Of all the assistant coaching vacancies that NDSU has gone through under Craig Bohl, this one has to be the most painless. I’ve heard the head coach say something to the effect that fourth-and-1 with 25 seconds to go doesn’t make him nervous; what makes him nervous is hiring the right guy. That’s where the real pressure is.
With Chris Klieman, things couldn’t have worked out better. Timing is everything and with Klieman becoming available last year, NDSU not only had its defensive backs coach but an experienced coordinator in the Missouri Valley Football Conference at a successful program as well (Northern Iowa).
This is not the first time that Bohl has hired a coordinator immediately after another one left. It took a week for Willie Mack Garza to be named defensive coordinator after Gus Bradley left for Tampa Bay in 2005. The difference between Garza-Bradley and Klieman-Hazelton is that was Garza’s first coordinator job. There must have been some sort of interview process. Klieman, in fact, was probably hired when USC first contacted Hazelton. Plus, this hire came after national signing day; unlike the previous coordinator hires.
When Willie Mack left for New Mexico and days later Tennessee, that was in December. Hazelton wasn’t officially named for a couple of months. In this case and just as important, this coaching change has minimal affect on the players. The defensive guys already know their leader.
The Klieman hire was a great one when it was announced last season, and I think Bohl foresaw the success the defense had and was bound to have luring Hazelton somewhere. Great, pragmatic move and bring a knowledgeable guy in and you can’t say enough about the impact Klieman had on a secondary that started three underclassmen. I think he’s hungry to get back in a coordinator’s headset and knows that the formula for success is to stick to the 4-3 formula that made NDSU the toughest defense in the nation this season. Best of luck to Coach Hazelton at USC and very much looking forward to the positive impact Coach Klieman will have as defensive coordinator.
sweet!
Jeff,
Will Klieman keep his DB duties the same way Hazelton was the DC and also worked with the linebackers?
Any idea who is on the short list to fill either the linebacker or DB coach duties?
Is John Richardson in consideration to move up from Defensive Graduate Assistant?
Players loved Coach Klieman. He was a natural fit with the coaching staff from day one when he came to Fargo. I imagine this decision took Coach Bohl about 30 seconds after talking to Coach Hazelton.
Not when you hire from within, I believe president’s approval is all that is needed.
Go bison. Go bison. Gogogogogogo bison!!!!
Whether hiring within or interviewing an outside coaching candidate, there are no NCAA rules about interviewing qualified minority candidates (Amazing, because the NCAA seems to have a rule for everything). The NCAA does not have the authority to influence individual campus hiring processes. Although, in 2008, the Div. I-A Athletic Directors’ Association implemented hiring guidelines, similar to the NFL’s “Rooney Rule” but they are only voluntary guidelines and nothing more.
Hey does anyone know if we actually got the RB Dinwiddie to sign a letter of intent or is it still up in the air? Jeff, Dom or Lakes???
Imagine if you took huge leaps in logic and really believed that it was reality.
Lakes, I hope you don’t think Babich would be able to contribute?
The rules or laws dealing with equal opportunity, regardless of whether it is for coaching staff or any other job associated with the state, lies with federal equal opportunity laws, not NCAA policy.
For a promotion, such as what happened with Kleiman, Bohl does not have to deal with either, only HR on campus. I am confident the promotion will have to be formally approved by AD Taylor and a few other individuals, perhaps even requiring a presidential exception. However, the probablility that will happen is likely the same as the probability the IRS will cash your check.
Equal opportunity laws will only be in effect when Bohl hires a LB coach and will have to formally be advertised.
There is no rule or law in this regard. There is a suggestion that more than one candidate be considered and there should be applicants of color involved. Per the Black Coaches Ass.