mike hodges football coach

The big gaps between the linemen made the quarterback seem more vulnerable -- some defenders could seemingly run right between the blockers -- but he wasn't. Leach says, "You try to get the ball in everyone's hands because then it makes the whole offense harder to keep track of." Get the latest news, stats, videos, highlights and more about linebacker Michael Hodges on ESPN. //LBtag_id.innerHTML = ''; But he also had effective running backs in Cory Adams and Sam Colbray and an offensive line that could run block and pass protect. After the 1989 season, Hodges left Thomasville and joined Tim Stowers staff at Georgia Southern as assistant head coach and offensive line coach. He knew he was not going to sleep anytime soon -- he keeps the hours of a vampire and wouldn't go to bed until 6:30 a.m. -- and so he might have even been thinking about reviewing game tape, which he usually does while others sleep. You have permission to edit this article. He graduated in 2010 and earned his master's in 2011. As the ball popped free and was grabbed by a Tech defender, a bent-over Meeks stumbled to the sidelines, where a coach asked a trainer, "Now who gonna touch that and make it well?". In 1984, Hodges moved to Thomasville, where he had great success. "I fell in love with coaching. Hodges coached for Lamb in Commerce until 1978, when he took his first football head coaching job at Miller County, guiding the team to a 10-2 record. Hodges joined the UVA football team as a walk-on following a stint as the teams manager. I cant even put into words what he meant to me in developing as a player. "He tells very long stories, and you're never sure what they mean. Charles W. Caldwell Jr. '25 Head Coach of Football. . He replaces Steve Tirrell who has left coaching. Thompson said he was surprised, but the reasons and rationale given by the coach put it in perspective for him. In 2019, Hodges' assistance with the linebackers featured solid production from the unit. ", Bad as it was for Texas A.&M., its staff might wonder how much worse it could have been if Leach had the same access to talent as A.&M. Olson pointed out theres also an integrity there. You talk about down in the valley, be it Portland or wherever, (if) you mention Hermiston you better lace em up tight. When he was finished with Hodges, Leach marched into the locker room, climbed back up on his green stool and exhibited, with the enthusiasm of a man doing it for the first time, the proper way to swing a pirate sword. Twenty thousand natural-born underdogs roared the winner's roar. One of the side effects of Leach's tinkering with the accepted rules of offensive conduct is to upset the ordinary rhythms of a football game. I approached Coach London and told him that was my goal and he did a lot to help mentor me as well as the other coaches on the staff.. "Three things." Terry Hodges . That stint included four Yankee Conference crowns and a trip to the 1972 Boardwalk Bowl in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Erick Olson, radio voice of Bulldog football who broke the news of Hodges retirement this week, said he saw it coming. Gary O'Hagan, Leach's agent, says that he hears a great deal more from other coaches about Mike Leach than about any of his other clients. You have 11 guys between the ages of 18 and 22 trying to do something violent and fast together, usually in pain. Sam Barbee photo Buy Now In that game, Texas Tech had been ahead, 14-3, with 2 minutes remaining in the first half. It was then that I looked over and noticed Bennie Wylie standing uneasily next to Mike Leach. While Whipple brought in some very key components to that team like Todd Bankhead, Adrian Zullo and Jimmy Moore, the rest of those players like Khari Samuel, Kole Ayi, Brian Smith and Marcel Shipp were recruited by Hodges. Then he spotted a giant grasshopper on the turf. The analogy to football held up for a few minutes, but after a bit, it was clear that Coach Leach was just . var currentLocation = window.location; Steve Verbit. var sellablestring2 = "STAFF PHOTO"; Hodges had an illustrious playing career for the Warren County Blue Devils from 1963-66 and was a part of state championships in 1965 and 1966, as well as a state runner-up team in 1964. But if you let him react to what he sees, there's a ton of touchdowns to be had." DURHAM - Duke Vice President and Director of Athletics Nina King announced Friday that Mike Elko has been named Duke University's 22nd head football coach. talking about pirates. He was never married to a certain style. And Mike really has no idea that he's mad. var currentheadline = document.getElementById("headline").innerText; Art Candi Jones . Fans of the University of Texas Longhorns deploy the thumb-and-pinkie hook-'em-horns gesture to suggest their bovinity. "I'm thinking: This is gonna be bad. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Jacob Hodges has been named the new head coach at James River. MacPherson, 86, coached at UMass from 1971-1977. Choose wisely! Finally he looked up from the grasshopper. I think initially you just start with the energy that he brought into the program, in some ways an intensity, Olson said. He's married with two kids and lives just south of Grand Rapids in Byron Center, MI. This marks his 19th year in the National Football League coaching ra. On fourth down we expect a play to be called. A few games later, the Texas Tech offense scored the most points Nebraska had ever given up in its 114-year-old history. But on this night Wylie was a fly on Leach's shoulder, and his eyeballs were still in their sockets. They were lining up as if to cover the fade routes -- that is, before the play began, they stood between the receiver and the sidelines -- but then, just as the ball was snapped, they were scampering back into the middle of the field. He then went on to coach at Fresno State as a graduate assistant working with the inside linebackers from 2012 to 2013. To me, he was like a dad, he said. Please check your email for a confirmation. 's fear of the pass caused them to leave huge empty spaces to run in. His role in the 1998 national championship season is often overlooked because of the personality of Mark Whipple. Leach walked up behind 88, Jarrett Hicks. Mike's personality was like that, too. They may or may not have been fatter -- Leach insists they were -- but their bodies were clearly designed for a different sort of football game than this frenetic one. A half to the Texas Tech offense is as good as a full game to most. Mike Hodges. Coach Ken Niumatalolo agreed to give Hodges a shot and, so far, the evidence indicates that was a good decision. He was a great guy, real friendly and helpful. They're both smaller in . Following the 1991 season he was named the school's head coach after Jim Reid resigned following budget disagreements with administration. Facebook gives people the power to. A coach cannot change the shape of the football field, but he can change its effective size. If you experience problems with accessibility, please contact Kathy Hampton at 254-968-7990 or [email protected].. Powered by Edlio With 15 seconds left, Leach leaned into the field and called a timeout. We always ran the ball here. The list goes on, and if you can find the common thread, you are a step ahead of his football players. But Nick Hyder didn't just arrive at Valdosta, he'd already established himself as a hot property while at West Rome High School. COURTESY UMass ATHLETICS (When Leach recruits high-school players, he is forced to compromise on most talents, but he insists on speed.) ("It always does," Leach says.) running back as he broke into the open field. "I could hear Bennett screaming," Cumbie says, referring to the S.M.U. mainly because the pros hired the famous coaches from the old-money schools, on the premise that those who won the most games were the best coaches. brought a few more players to the line of scrimmage. The new quarterback, who had seldom played at Tech before then, was Sonny Cumbie, and Cumbie's 4,742 passing yards in 2004 was the sixth-best year in N.C.A.A. "How come they get to pretend they are soldiers?" He ran for an effortless 11 yards and a first down. "In reflection, I was always lucky to have fine players and outstanding assistant coaches. A recent doctors visit effectively forced him into retirement. Just after he moved to Lubbock, Wylie learned that this job might be less a job than a calling. Hall has coached at Wagner, Hofstra, Fordham and Central Connecticut. He brought it to a state level, longtime public address announcer Joe Thompson said of Hodges and the football program Thursday. Related To Michael Hodges, Carrie Hodges, Rebecca Hodges, Stacia Hodges. Olson said the enthusiasm was noticeable then. He began his career in collegiate athletics as an Olympic sports strength and conditioning coach at Notre Dame in 2011 and subsequently was linebackers coach at Valparaiso (2012). We won't share it with anyone else. Method 1 Becoming a School-based Coach Download Article 1 Get certified in your state. Other honors attributed to Hodges were serving as a board member and past president of the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association. He drove right through the A.&M. Former UMass football coach Dick MacPherson, center, has died. HIT HIM! var sellablestring3 = "STAFF FILE PHOTO"; 8th Grade English, Creative Writing Zelda Thuha . But when Tech was, as it preferred, in its passing formation, A.&M. Former quarterback Kliff Kingsbury in 2002 and Cody Hodges in 2005 each posted nine-win seasons during their careers, while 2003 and 2004 signal callers B.J. He was a good guy and a great coach. I dont have any other problems anywhere. Mike Tannenbaum and Rick Spielman provide their biggest takeaways from the day. Details regarding Elko's introductory . Dismissive is the word. defenders running backward to cover 5 Texas Tech receivers. tag_id.innerHTML = ''; Mike Hodges (born November 14, 1945) is a former American football player and coach. James River is. They have also lived in Pinetown, NC and Pantego, NC. if (photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring2) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring3) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring4) > -1) { ("That's the great thing about football," Leach says. he went straight to Pepperdine law school, where he graduated, at the age of 25, in the top third of his class. The guy was rocking back and forth in the middle of what in Lubbock passes for a busy street; cars were whizzing past at 30 m.p.h. Devlin Hodges is known as an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. To Leach, coaching football requires the same talent that he was going to waste on the law: the talent for making arguments. He steals some glory from the guy who is born with advantages and uses them to become a champion. In 2016, he was elevated to co-defensive coordinator, also coaching the safeties. A typical N.F.L. Seven years later, those pieces were fit together and Hodges led the Bulldogs to the 5A state championship. Two years before, when Texas Tech played Navy in a bowl game in Houston, the president of the United States, a Texan, was rumored to be in the stands rooting against them. Technology Director, Brooks County Schools. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Leach had mixed feelings about this fever pitch -- "You never know if they're too wired," he says. defense conceded and also which parts of the inherent disorder the defenders were failing to understand. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. ball carrier and took out Meeks as well, who rolled around on the ground screaming and clutching his groin. If the defenders do not blitz, H runs a more leisurely 10 yards downfield and cuts across the middle. That loyalty will continue and be rewarded when, in all likelihood, defensive coordinator and associate head coach David Faaeteete is approved by the Hermiston School Board on May 11 as the Bulldogs next head coach. As Wylie drew closer, he thought to himself, That lunatic looks a little like Coach. At least one N.F.L. For 40 plays Leach's offense had groped -- digressing, probing to learn something new -- and it had been useful to see how the empty spaces on the field shifted. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Daily Hampshire Gazette Contests & Promotions, Daily Hampshire Gazette Evening Top Reads, Daily Hampshire Gazette Weekly Top Stories, Daily Hampshire Gazette Dining & Entertainment, Former UMass and Patriots football coach Dick MacPherson dies at 86, Support the Select this result to view Mike Hodges's phone number, address, and more. //var LBtag_id = document.getElementById('buylinkLBUMassFootball-hg-080917,ph03'); It was still ordinary time. In 15 seasons, Hodges produced a combined record of 149-35-3. Some go wide, some go deep, some come across the middle. 1. University of Massachusetts Athletics Main Navigation Menu Because we haven't scored yet.". As head coach, he compiled a 3530 overall record, including a 3614 victory over Rhode Island in the 1993 Wild Geese Classic in-season bowl game. var currentLocation = window.location; Leach was, in fact, jotting notes on his wadded-up sheet of paper with the plays on it. The only other people on it were the two Texas Rangers assigned to protect him. if (photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring2) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring3) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring4) > -1) { Michael is related to Joseph Stephen Hodges and Susan Hodgef as well as 2 additional people. Hodges reportedly ran draft prospect interviews at the Senior Bowl, and should do so again at the combine. MacPherson, 86, coached at UMass from 1971-1977. The football field was huge and green and empty. ", But when Schwartz studied videotape of the Texas Tech offense, what he saw unsettled him. "Coach's motivational speeches are always the same," says Daniel Loper, who played four years for Leach and is now a rookie offensive tackle with the Tennessee Titans. And when they finish sprinting, they move to Leach's tennis-ball bazookas. 6:40 pm. The university will likely announce the hiring of a new director of football operations this week, the post Hodges has held for the last eight years. Leach and his offense are approaching the natural end of a path football strategy has been taking for 50 years. A year of catching tiny fuzzy balls fired at their chests at 60 m.p.h. He said the Red Raiders staff would often visit Syracuse practices to learn from MacPherson and his staff. var currentheadline = document.getElementById("headline").innerText; UConn coach Randy Edsall, who was an assistant at Syracuse under MacPherson, tweeted: So sad to hear of the passing of @CuseFootball Coach Dick MacPherson today. "It doesn't look like it's there, but it is.". None of them had been identified by N.F.L. Leach met with his quarterbacks in the coaches' locker room; he spent a few moments glancing at the first-half statistics. He brought it to a level of being the best obviously in the eastern section of the state, but statewide. Hodges was most recently an assistant coach at Atlee, spending three years on Matt Grays staff with the Raiders. The combined record of Warrenton during that period was 36-8-2, according to the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. Hodges briefly returned to coaching as an assistant at Brookwood Academy and Thomasville when his son, Clay, played at those schools. Our condolences go out to his family, Whipple said. I taught a full load of science and coached football, girls basketball, and baseball as Coach Lamb always knew how to get his moneys worth," Hodges said. As a result, Los Angeles' three preseason games present a big opportunity for Bryce Perkins and Devlin Hodges, beginning Saturday night against the Chargers at SoFi Stadium (7 p.m. pacific time, ABC-7 . Following in his Father's footsteps, he graduated from the University of Florida in 1975 with a B.A. The Eagles won a national championship in 1990. The GACA chose to recognize Hodges not only for his outstanding record, but because his service and dedication proved to make the difference in the lives of thousands of student-athletes across the state of Georgia. For homework, we'll work pirate maneuvers and stuff like that.". This is consistent with chronic hip problems. But when Leach removes his starting quarterback, he does not mean for his offense to stop scoring touchdowns. 6th Grade Debra Jennings . He has committed a faux pas: he has suggested by his methods that there is more going on out there on the (unlevel) field of play than his competitors realize, which reflects badly on them. -- and screaming," Wylie says. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. The team's tailback, Taurean Henderson, had broken the N.C.A.A. Synergy, in Leach's view, doesn't come from mixing runs with passes but from throwing the ball everywhere on the field, to every possible person allowed to catch a ball. Still, football's mixed feelings toward passing are ingrained. 's fear of the open spaces down the field had left the space right in front of Hodges empty. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Former UMass head coach Mike Hodges had a similar experience. Someone is going to blow an assignment or do something that's not quite right.". He glanced once more at the grasshopper and thought, Oh, well, next time. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). 2. He also effectively taught his schemes, constantly putting his players in positions to win. Hodges coached for Lamb in Commerce until 1978, when he took his first football head coaching job at Miller County, guiding the team to a 10-2 record. He left West Rome in 1974 to become head football coach at Valdosta. Three weeks earlier, against a competent Kansas State defense, he threw for 643 yards and, had Coach Leach not pulled him in the fourth quarter, might well have broken the N.C.A.A. Leach spread out his receivers and backs too. On the last play of that game, Leach sent in a pass play, and the quarterback, Sonny Cumbie, stepped into the shotgun position. A typical football offense has three serious pass-catching threats; Texas Tech's offense has five, and it would employ more if that wasn't against the rules. var tag_id = document.getElementById('buylinkUMassFootball-hg-080917,ph02'); The entire Texas Tech possession lasted just 2 minutes 42 seconds. To minimize its humiliation, the A.&M. Leach looks at the conventional offense -- with its stocky fullback and bulky tight end seldom touching the football, used more often as blockers -- and says, "You've got two positions that basically aren't doing anything." Im going to miss my dad at school., I wouldnt want any other coach in the world, he said. You run into some difficulties sometimes if you bring in somebody thats outside of Hermiston, you wonder how loyal they are to Hermiston, Hodges said. Hodges returned to the high school ranks in 1997 as head coach of the Cairo Syrupmakers. Sign up to receive news directly to your desktop. Hodges stuck with 6 Y Shallow. Name: Johnny Hodges Year: Junior Position: Inside Linebacker Height: 6'2" Weight: 228 Hometown: Darnestown, MD High School: Quince Orchard . Following a handful of television documentaries, it was the pair of dramas made for ITV Playhouse that caught the attention of producer Michael Klinger, leading to Hodges' feature debut. That year Oklahoma went from 101st to 8th in the country in offensive scoring. Jadwin Gym. He runs 3 yards down field, then tears across the middle of the field, crossing H's route but separated by 7 or 8 yards. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. 2 team, which ended Texas Tech's surprising shot at a national championship. The Republican file photo Former football coach Mike Hodges is retiring from UMass after 33 years. Before the 2005 football season even began, Hodges was short-listed for the Maxwell Award for the finest college football player in the land. He put Hermiston Bulldog football on the Oregon state map. On another, a touchdown was nullified by a holding call on the receiver Robert Johnson far away from the action. has turned many young men who got to Texas Tech with hands of stone into glue-fingered receivers. Under Hodges' guidance in 2021, Demario Davis led the team with 105 tackles (70 solo) and added three sacks and seven passes defensed as he was selected as an Associated Press second-team All-Pro. After resigning as head coach, Hodges served as the Director of Football Operations for UMass until his retirement in 2011. "He makes them nervous," O'Hagan says.