FCS coaching changes ... couple big ones

[fourthandshort]

Hey BisonLaw .. welcome to Redbird Nation ...thanks for chiming in !! First of all, good luck this weekend ... EWU will need a near perfect game to beat you guys, but I don't see it happening unless they play very well and some fluke things happen. Otherwise, I see NDSU by 2+ TDs.

As you can see above, we're very "concerned" for your program and would feel just horrible if you guys actually fell back to earth next fall. But hope springs eternal for Redbird nation, and I feel like planets are aligning for us to take another run at you like 2014 ... famous last words, right ?? We do recall (very well) what you accomplished in 2014 (still in therapy for the last 1:38) after similar situation coming out of dominant 2013 team that lost a lot of seniors too.

But we do return a lot next year (17 of 22 starters are back), plus a lot is back from our 2 deep .... while you guys are losing a lot (16 of 22 leave) .. so we can hope, right ??

Anyway, congrats on your season and good luck next week ... most of us here will be rooting for Bison ... we're out, so go MVFC !!!

Thanks! Looking forward to a fun trip, I'm heading down on Thursday. Will never forget 2014, that game was something special.

I'm excited for the parity in the Valley next year, between our two teams, a strong returning Indiana State, and usual powers UNI and SDSU we are looking at at least half the league with a legitimate chance to win the conference and be playoff contenders.

Not to derail this thread, but I just decided to take a look at your 2019 schedule. You guys seem to have a legit chance to start 4-0 with an FBS win over NIU. If we can manage to get through non-conf without slipping up, which I think we will (although at Delaware will be a battle) we could be looking at two 4-0 teams and a Top 10 matchup come October 5 in Normal!

Good luck next weekend BisonLaw. I hope you are correct and the teams meet with unblemished records next season. It is a long way from SE Virginia to Dekalb, Illinois but I am thinking about making the trip...although who travels across the country to go to DEKALB, ILLINOIS? Maybe I will make the trip during the NDSU weekend instead. There is one thing about your program though that I just can not tolerate. Being a lifelong Bears fan and despising the Green Bay Packers with every ounce of my being ... GREEN and GOLD in any form just makes me nauseous! Not your fault I know but I just can't help it! I enjoy watching the Bison play they are just so well coached but I always have to have a bottle of Pepto nearby! Enjoy Frisco!

BisonLaw, you'll have to forgive VirginiaRB .. but he's right. As Bears and Redbirds fans, we've been getting our arses kicked by green & gold since early 90's ... Favre, Rodgers, Jensen, Wentz, Stick ... pavlov conditioning at play maybe with the aversion and nausea to all things green & gold. But our Bears broke thru finally this year ... and here come the Redbirds !!

 

[BisonLaw]

Haha I can imagine the natural association that starts to occur with those colors. I don't really associate myself with an NFL team, but my mom, and most of my family, are life long Vikings fans. With the pain they have caused my mom over the years she has relied on the success of NDSU to keep her sane!

Former Bison Marcus Williams was picked up by the Bears this season. With Wentz being out, I wouldn't mind seeing your Bears advance. Hopefully a fun January is in store for you guys!

 

[MadBird]

New Bison coaches:

North Dakota State (FCS): Source tells FootballScoop Matt Entz plans to hire Northern Iowa assistant David Braun as his new defensive coordinator.

North Dakota State (FCS): Source tells FootballScoop Rutgers offensive line coach AJ Blazek has stepped down and plans to join the staff at NDSU in the same capacity.

http://footballscoop.com/the-scoop/

 

[fourthandshort]

Haha I can imagine the natural association that starts to occur with those colors. I don't really associate myself with an NFL team, but my mom, and most of my family, are life long Vikings fans. With the pain they have caused my mom over the years she has relied on the success of NDSU to keep her sane!

Former Bison Marcus Williams was picked up by the Bears this season. With Wentz being out, I wouldn't mind seeing your Bears advance. Hopefully a fun January is in store for you guys!

Congrats on another Natty
.. was only glad EWU made it more interesting but otherwise rooted for our MVFC brethren.

 

[MadBird]

More on the Bisons from thefootballscoop:

North Dakota State (FCS): New head coach Matt Entz has announced the additions of David Braun (DC / safeties), Grant Olson (LBs), AJ Blazek (OL), and Noah Pauley (WRs). Braun spent the past two seasons at Northern Iowa (FCS) most recently as the special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach, Olson played on three national title teams at NDSU and spent the past two seasons coaching the linebackers at Indiana State (FCS). Offensively, Blazek spent the past three seasons coaching the Rutgers offensive line, and Pauley spent the past three seasons as offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Minnesota-Duluth (D-II).

Poaching a couple of their conference-mates.
http://footballscoop.com/the-scoop/

 

[fourthandshort]

More on the Bisons from thefootballscoop:

North Dakota State (FCS): New head coach Matt Entz has announced the additions of David Braun (DC / safeties), Grant Olson (LBs), AJ Blazek (OL), and Noah Pauley (WRs). Braun spent the past two seasons at Northern Iowa (FCS) most recently as the special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach, Olson played on three national title teams at NDSU and spent the past two seasons coaching the linebackers at Indiana State (FCS). Offensively, Blazek spent the past three seasons coaching the Rutgers offensive line, and Pauley spent the past three seasons as offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Minnesota-Duluth (D-II).

Poaching a couple of their conference-mates.
http://footballscoop.com/the-scoop/

New Bison OL coach AJ Blazek was hired away from Rutgers ..... so imagine you're a fellow Rutgers coach or player or fan ... and your OL coach leaves for another job ... leaves a P5 Big 10 Program and joins an FCS program .. not for better job, but exact same job .. OL coach. Granted, NDSU would beat 1-11 Rutgers by 4 TDs ... still P5 to FCS for the exact same position coach job .. if I'm still at Rutgers, that would be quite a "snap, back to reality" moment.

 

[MadBird]

More on the Bisons from thefootballscoop:

North Dakota State (FCS): New head coach Matt Entz has announced the additions of David Braun (DC / safeties), Grant Olson (LBs), AJ Blazek (OL), and Noah Pauley (WRs). Braun spent the past two seasons at Northern Iowa (FCS) most recently as the special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach, Olson played on three national title teams at NDSU and spent the past two seasons coaching the linebackers at Indiana State (FCS). Offensively, Blazek spent the past three seasons coaching the Rutgers offensive line, and Pauley spent the past three seasons as offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Minnesota-Duluth (D-II).

Poaching a couple of their conference-mates.
http://footballscoop.com/the-scoop/

New Bison OL coach AJ Blazek was hired away from Rutgers ..... so imagine you're a fellow Rutgers coach or player or fan ... and your OL coach leaves for another job ... leaves a P5 Big 10 Program and joins an FCS program .. not for better job, but exact same job .. OL coach. Granted, NDSU would beat 1-11 Rutgers by 4 TDs ... still P5 to FCS for the exact same position coach job .. if I'm still at Rutgers, that would be quite a "snap, back to reality" moment.

Good point about Blazek, but, yes, they have stunk it up and he very well may have been "encouraged" to move along. According to this article, his contract was expiring.

While McNulty is expected to return, it is likely Ash's staff will see significant changes. Six of Ash's 10 assistants have contracts expiring before the start of next season, as does head strength coach Kenny Parker.

The assistants whose deals are up: Defensive coordinator Jay Niemann, assistant head coach and offensive line coach A.J. Blazek, running backs coach Nunzio Campanile, wide receivers coach Lester Erb, outside linebackers coach Toby Neinas and tight ends coach Vince Okruch.

https://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2018/11/rutgers_chris_ash_return.html

Whatever. I'm guessing a lot of Rutgers fans wouldn't gripe if there was a big turnover of staff. And I'd be glad, and have been glad, to get coaches from an FBS program. So good for the Bisons.

 

[TIMMY]

Vince Okruch on that list as a TE coach. I knew him at NU. He's been everywhere. Tough life as a college assistant. 35 years bouncing around.

 

[MadBird]

Vince Okruch on that list as a TE coach. I knew him at NU. He's been everywhere. Tough life as a college assistant. 35 years bouncing around.

Coach Okruch from his Rutgers bio. Grizzled veteran??

 

[TIMMY]

Vince Okruch on that list as a TE coach. I knew him at NU. He's been everywhere. Tough life as a college assistant. 35 years bouncing around.

Coach Okruch from his Rutgers bio. Grizzled veteran??

It's not all bright lights, fancy women and pretty cars. I'll tell you what though. He could coach up cover 2.

 

[fourthandshort]

Vince Okruch on that list as a TE coach. I knew him at NU. He's been everywhere. Tough life as a college assistant. 35 years bouncing around.

Coach Okruch from his Rutgers bio. Grizzled veteran??

It's not all bright lights, fancy women and pretty cars. I'll tell you what though. He could coach up cover 2.

I love stories like this ... good for him !!!

https://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2016/01/rutgers_special_teams_coordinator_vince_okruch_gra.html

 

[TIMMY]

Coach Okruch from his Rutgers bio. Grizzled veteran??

It's not all bright lights, fancy women and pretty cars. I'll tell you what though. He could coach up cover 2.

I love stories like this ... good for him !!!

https://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2016/01/rutgers_special_teams_coordinator_vince_okruch_gra.html

Nice. Thanks 4th. Vince was a heck of a DC at NU and Colorado.