Breaking: JMU hires new head coach

[BDKJMU]

"Ohio State Co-DC Everett Withers to be James Madison head coach

According to Scott Rousell and the team at FootballScoop.com, Ohio State co-defensive coordinator, assistant head coach, and safeties coach Everett Withers will be named the next head football coach at James Madison. The FCS program in the Colonial Athletic Association that many believe is on the fast track to move up to FBS ball later this decade was coveted by a number of assistants and was thought to be down to Withers, VT assistant Bryan Stinespring, and Oakland Raiders QB coach John DeFilippo.

This won't be Withers' first head coaching opportunity as following the dismissal of Butch Davis, Withers served as interim head coach for North Carolina. During his one season as the head man (in circumstances not entirely dissimilar to those faced by Luke Fickell in his one-year stint as Buckeyes head coach), Withers recorded a 7-5 record earning a berth in the Independence Bowl against Missouri.

Withers had drawn the ire of some Ohio State fans for the lackluster play from the Buckeyes' safeties, particularly following the season ending injury of senior captain Christian Bryant. Backup safety Corey Brown never was able to pick up the slack to the level accustomed to by hardcore Buckeye backers, though Withers had been responsible in the last season for some of OSU's bigger recruiting gets (including the surprise pick up of 5-star safety, Vonn Bell)."
http://www.landgrantholyland.com/2013/1 ... head-coach" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BDKJMU]

Report: Everett Withers Gets JMU Job
http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2013/12/3 ... or-jmu-job" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Skjellyfetti]

Wow. Great, great hire for JMU.



Thought he was someone we should have gone after... but, I have a feeling we didn't conduct much of a search at all... and I doubt he was even contacted.

[BDKJMU]

Apparently JMU wanted to keep this under wraps till a press conference tomorrow, but it leaked and now is all over the OSU and JMU news outlets and boards:
http://www.wsbtv.com/feed/sports/colleg ... mes/fWhtd/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BDKJMU]

Reportedly makes 580k at OSU. Rumor on the JMU board a very wealthy alum gave a significant amount to get this guy. Regardless, JMU isn't going to pay HC 500-600k a yr to play I-AA ball, even if some wealthy alum is paying a big chunk. So I guess that means JMU is as good as gone...

[BDKJMU]

Pretty impressive resume. Obviously the secondary & defense at OSU struggled, but they were top notch at UNC.

Everett Withers
Co-Defensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach/Safeties

Everett Withers, a 25-year coaching veteran, is in his second season as the Ohio State Buckeyes' co-defensive coordinator and assistant head coach. He will also serve as the position coach for the team's safeties.

"Everett is extremely well respected across the country," head coach Urban Meyer said when announcing Withers' appointment. "I've known about him for a number of years and followed his progress as a college and NFL assistant coach. He will be a great fit for this staff and I think he and Luke [Fickell] are going to work well together as the co-coordinators of our defense."

Withers and his coaching peers on the Ohio State staff led the Buckeyes to an undefeated season in 2012, only the sixth unbeaten/untied season in school history, and to a final Associated Press national ranking of No. 3. Ohio State ranked second in the Big Ten with 14 interceptions and all four starting defensive backs earned all-Big Ten Conference recognition.

Withers has been a collegiate coach for 18 years and has also worked seven seasons in the National Football League: six years (2001-06) as defensive backs coach with the Tennessee Titans under Jeff Fisher, and a year (1994) as a defensive quality control coach for the New Orleans Saints.

Prior to accepting his position with Ohio State in December 2012, Withers spent four years at the University of North Carolina. He was promoted to interim head coach at the school in July 2012 and he led the Tar Heels to a 7-5 record and to a berth in the Independence Bowl against Missouri.

Withers' collegiate coaching resume includes 10 years as a defensive coordinator with a vast majority of his time - 16 seasons - spent also coaching the defensive backfield. His Tar Heel defenses were top notch.

His first unit - 2008 - ranked eighth in the country with 20 interceptions, a number that was just one off the UNC single season record.
His 2009 defense was among the nation's elite, ranking sixth in total defense, 10th against the run, 13th in scoring and 14th in pass defense.
His 2010 unit ranked fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference and 30th nationally. Five players off that unit were taken in the NFL draft, including first-round pick Robert Quinn.
And this past year the Tar Heels ranked 14th against the run.
Additionally, Withers' UNC defenses picked off 71 passes in the past four years.

Withers spent one year as defensive coordinator at the University of Minnesota prior to his North Carolina position. He also has been an assistant coach at the University of Texas (1998-2000; defensive backs), Louisville (1995-97; defensive coordinator/assistant head coach/defensive backs), Southern Mississippi (1992-93; defensive backs/assistant special teams), Tulane (1991; outside linebackers) and Austin Peay (1988-90; defensive coordinator/defensive backs; tight ends/special teams).

A native of Charlotte, N.C., Withers attended Appalachian State University and was a four-year letter-winner as a defensive back. He served as team captain in 1984.

Withers and his wife, Kara, have a daughter, Tia, and a son, Pierce.

Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
High School: Charlotte Senior
Alma Mater: Appalachian State University, 1985
Year in Coaching: 25th (Second year at Ohio State)
Wife: Kara
Children: Daughter, Tia, and son, Pierce
Everett Withers Coaching Assignments
2012-pres. Co-Def. Coord./Asst. HC/Safeties Ohio State University
2011 Interim Head Coach University of North Carolina
2008-10 Def. Coord./Secondary University of North Carolina
2007 Defensive Coordinator University of Minnesota
2001-06 Defensive Backs Tennessee Titans
1998-00 Defensive Backs University of Texas
1995-97 Defensive Coordinator University of Louisville
1994 Defensive Quality Control New Orleans Saints
1992-93 Defensive Backs University of Southern Mississippi
1991 Outside Linebackers Tulane University
1990 Special Teams/WRs Austin Peay State University
1988-89 Defensive Coordinator Austin Peay State University
http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports ... ett00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BDKJMU]

Can't believe JMU hires an App State grad.......

[Skjellyfetti]

Can't believe JMU hires an App State grad.......

Shows ambition and an eagerness to take James Madison to new heights.

[ASUMountaineer]

Can't believe JMU hires an App State grad.......

Shows ambition and an eagerness to take James Madison to new heights.

True story.

[93henfan]

Reportedly makes 580k at OSU. Rumor on the JMU board a very wealthy alum gave a significant amount to get this guy. Regardless, JMU isn't going to pay HC 500-600k a yr to play I-AA ball, even if some wealthy alum is paying a big chunk. So I guess that means JMU is as good as gone...

Don't let the door hit you...

But seriously, sounds like a solid hire for JMU.

Does he wear a visor? I'm mostly concerned about any visor stores in Harrisonburg. This could be a make/break thing.

[CAA Flagship]

STREAMERS!!!!

NOTHING BUT STREAMERS!!!!

[89Hen]

Does he wear a visor? I'm mostly concerned about any visor stores in Harrisonburg. This could be a make/break thing.

They better retool their stores. But he can abuse headsets like Mickey.

[93henfan]

Does he wear a visor? I'm mostly concerned about any visor stores in Harrisonburg. This could be a make/break thing.

They better retool their stores. But he can abuse headsets like Mickey.

Wait. What? The sherrif's a n.... ?

[BDKJMU]

The past and present:

[93henfan]

He's certainly not high yellow or even red bone.

[Grizo406]

They better retool their stores. But he can abuse headsets like Mickey.

Wait. What? The sherrif's a n.... ?

[BDKJMU]

http://www.jmusports.com/SplashPage.dbm ... ID=1236941" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BDKJMU]

Posted the below on the JMU board. Call it being a debbie downer. I just think it is how an outsider would look at it:
"He has a great resume for the I-AA level in terms of where he's been and recruiting track record, and its a very good resume for a team moving up.

On the other hand, buried earlier in this thread:

2012-pres. Co-Def. Coord./Asst. HC/Safeties Ohio State University
2011 Interim Head Coach University of North Carolina
2008-10 Def. Coord./Secondary University of North Carolina
2007 Defensive Coordinator University of Minnesota
2001-06 Defensive Backs Tennessee Titans
1998-00 Defensive Backs University of Texas
1995-97 Defensive Coordinator University of Louisville
1994 Defensive Quality Control New Orleans Saints
1992-93 Defensive Backs University of Southern Mississippi
1991 Outside Linebackers Tulane University
1990 Special Teams/WRs Austin Peay State University
1988-89 Defensive Coordinator Austin Peay State University

In 2000, the Titans had the NFL's #1 defense yardage wise & #2 in points. In 2001, they dropped to #25 in both categories. Throughout his six years in Tennessee, their defense was in the bottom half of the league four of those years and their highest ranking was #10 (yards), #11 (points).

The year after he leaves, Tennessee's defense finished #5 (yards) / #8 (points). In 2008 they were #7 (yards) / #2 (points).

I mostly copied and pasted this from DooX. I added his D coordinator yr at Minnesota (yes I know they sucked, but they were worse his season there than the season before or after). From 2007 on he has been DC, interim HC, and Co-DC, meaning the success or failure of the defense fell on him:

Defensive points /yards allowed rankings of Minnesota, UNC & OSU during Everett's tenure. Also includes the year before & after. Other than 2009, which was a great year, nothing else stands out particularly as being either good or bad.

Minnesota (DC)
2006 26.0 (86th)/426.3 (113th) (season before Withers)

2007 36.7 (109th)/518.6 (119th) DEAD LAST

2008 24.7 (61st)/383.6 (80th) (season after Withers)

UNC (08'-10' DC, 11' was interim HC)
2007 24.5 (45th) / 349.8 (37th) (season before Withers)

2008 20.3 (28th) / 357.9 (62nd)
2009 16.9 (13th) / 267.8 (6th)
2010 22.9 (49th) / 338.5 (33rd)[/b]
2011 23.5 (48th) / 352.9 (42nd)

2012 25.7 (54th) / 389.6 (59th) (season after Withers)

OSU (Co DC)
2011 20.8 (27th) / 328.6 (25th) (Season before Withers)

2012 22.8 (32nd) / 359.6 (36th)
2013 21.3 (21st) / 362.6 (29th)

Withers results on the field don't impress me. Add to that he was likely going to be fired from OSU after their BCS bowl game.

Just like there is "show me the $$$!" I won't get excited until he "shows me the wins!".
I-AA: 9-3/8-3 I-AA (and a playoff win if eligible next season)
I-A: Wining record and knocking off a ranked I-A

Until then I am even keel about this, neither excited or unexcited. Neither happy of unhappy."

[BDKJMU]

Wither's is making 585k at OSU. Reported base at JMU is 325k.

[bluehenbillk]

Was this guy going to be retained at OSU or did he take the job out of "necessity"?