We'll let's take what we do know so far. West Virginia will be replacing cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae who left the program for the same job at Georgia this morning. The expectation is that outside linebackers coach Jeff Casteel will return to his role as an analyst on the staff which opens yet another spot. One of those is going to likely be filled by Old Dominion defensive line coach Andrew Jackson. I've heard that means that Jordan Lesley, who is in that role now, will be coaching the bandit linebackers.
So that would mean there are nine assistants for ten spots and there is an opening at the cornerback spot. So who could fill it here are some names that immediately come to mind and one wildcard for the sake of having one.
Derrick Ansley - The first name that came to mind. Was previously the defensive coordinator at Tennessee and has had stints at a lot of other places such as with the Raiders in the NFL, Alabama and most notably to this update Kentucky. He served as the defensive backs coach while head coach Neal Brown was the offensive coordinator in Lexington and there are other ties as well. He played at Troy with defensive assistant Jordan Lesley and he is obviously going to be in high demand. Ansley is one of not only the premier defensive back coaches in the nation, but is an elite recruiter at every stop he has been. This is a good coach that is going to receive NFL interest as well. It might be difficult to lure him to Morgantown given the price tag, but there is no question that he would be a home run if it could happen. -- HEADING TO LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Al Pogue - Pogue left the West Virginia coaching staff after last season to take a job with Auburn. He lasted a year there before the staff was fired and was again scooped up quickly to work at Troy. There are obvious connections here given the fact he has worked for Brown before at multiple spots and has experience coaching and recruiting at West Virginia. He coached cornerbacks at Troy for four seasons under Brown before moving to outside linebackers in Morgantown.
Keith Tandy - West Virginia just lost a popular player turned coach, so why not give Tandy a look? He served as an intern for West Virginia before under Brown and is in his first season as a defensive/special teams assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A former sixth round pick of the Buccaneers, Tandy played at West Virginia where he had a stellar career for the Mountaineers. He is just really beginning in his coaching career, but he already has NFL experience and has played the position. There is no sure thing he'd be interested in returning back to Morgantown but it is an obvious candidate as mentioned by the board.
Ishmael Aristide - Young analyst on the Texas A&M staff that has ties to the program given his shared time with Jeff Koonz on the Ole Miss staff. Although he is a defensive analyst, has been very involved in recruiting with the Aggies and could be the type of coach that steps into a full-time role and flourishes. West Virginia decided to go that route a few years ago with Doug Belk and it worked out and perhaps it could happen again. Obviously would come cheaper and has upside over some of the other options.
James Rowe - I included this one because it got my attention based on a suggestion on here. Rowe has been a defensive coordinator at Jacksonville and Valdosta State, while he has spent time as an assistant defensive backs coach with the Washington in the NFL. He's a native of Florida and spent last season as the cornerbacks coach at Appalachian State. I'm not sure of any ties here, but it is an interesting wildcard candidate. -- HEADING TO INDIANAPOLIS COLTS.
Updates: Added Aristide, put destination for Ansley, put destination for Rowe
So that would mean there are nine assistants for ten spots and there is an opening at the cornerback spot. So who could fill it here are some names that immediately come to mind and one wildcard for the sake of having one.
Derrick Ansley - The first name that came to mind. Was previously the defensive coordinator at Tennessee and has had stints at a lot of other places such as with the Raiders in the NFL, Alabama and most notably to this update Kentucky. He served as the defensive backs coach while head coach Neal Brown was the offensive coordinator in Lexington and there are other ties as well. He played at Troy with defensive assistant Jordan Lesley and he is obviously going to be in high demand. Ansley is one of not only the premier defensive back coaches in the nation, but is an elite recruiter at every stop he has been. This is a good coach that is going to receive NFL interest as well. It might be difficult to lure him to Morgantown given the price tag, but there is no question that he would be a home run if it could happen. -- HEADING TO LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Al Pogue - Pogue left the West Virginia coaching staff after last season to take a job with Auburn. He lasted a year there before the staff was fired and was again scooped up quickly to work at Troy. There are obvious connections here given the fact he has worked for Brown before at multiple spots and has experience coaching and recruiting at West Virginia. He coached cornerbacks at Troy for four seasons under Brown before moving to outside linebackers in Morgantown.
Keith Tandy - West Virginia just lost a popular player turned coach, so why not give Tandy a look? He served as an intern for West Virginia before under Brown and is in his first season as a defensive/special teams assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A former sixth round pick of the Buccaneers, Tandy played at West Virginia where he had a stellar career for the Mountaineers. He is just really beginning in his coaching career, but he already has NFL experience and has played the position. There is no sure thing he'd be interested in returning back to Morgantown but it is an obvious candidate as mentioned by the board.
Ishmael Aristide - Young analyst on the Texas A&M staff that has ties to the program given his shared time with Jeff Koonz on the Ole Miss staff. Although he is a defensive analyst, has been very involved in recruiting with the Aggies and could be the type of coach that steps into a full-time role and flourishes. West Virginia decided to go that route a few years ago with Doug Belk and it worked out and perhaps it could happen again. Obviously would come cheaper and has upside over some of the other options.
James Rowe - I included this one because it got my attention based on a suggestion on here. Rowe has been a defensive coordinator at Jacksonville and Valdosta State, while he has spent time as an assistant defensive backs coach with the Washington in the NFL. He's a native of Florida and spent last season as the cornerbacks coach at Appalachian State. I'm not sure of any ties here, but it is an interesting wildcard candidate. -- HEADING TO INDIANAPOLIS COLTS.
Updates: Added Aristide, put destination for Ansley, put destination for Rowe
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