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 Mike HlasHi, I'm Gazette/TheGazette.com sports columnist Mike Hlas. This is the Hlog. We will meet here, discuss things, and then go [...] |
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Iowa’s release: Phil Parker to defensive coordinator at Iowa, new posts for Darrell Wilson, Reese Morgan
Morgan switches sides on the line of scrimmage, and Wilson fills Parker's old role
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Phil Parker, defensive backfield coach at the University of Iowa the past 13 seasons, has been named defensive coordinator. In addition, Darrell Wilson and Reese Morgan will take over new assignments on the Hawkeye coaching staff. The announcement was made Tuesday by head football coach Kirk Ferentz.
Wilson, who has served as Iowa’s linebackers coach for the past 10 seasons, will coach the defensive secondary. Reese Morgan, a member of the staff for the past 12 seasons, will move from coaching the offensive line to the defensive line.
Phil Parker
“Phil, Darrell and Reese have all done an outstanding job in our program for a significant period of time,” said Ferentz. “I am confident they will have a very positive effect on our team as we transition forward.”
Parker, a member of the Iowa staff since Ferentz took over as head coach, replaces Norm Parker, who retired following this past season. Phil Parker was named by Rivals.com in March, 2011, as a first team member of its College Football Assistant Coach Dream Team.
Over the past four seasons, Iowa is tied for fifth in the nation with 72 interceptions. Iowa’s secondary in 2011 was led by senior Shaun Prater, who earned first team all-Big Ten honors for the second straight season, and junior Micah Hyde, who earned second team honors.
Iowa was second in the Big Ten in pass efficiency defense (115.1) and interceptions (19) in 2010. Iowa tied for 11th in the nation in interceptions, returning four thefts for touchdowns. Defensive backs Tyler Sash and Shaun Prater were both named first team all-Big Ten, while Brett Greenwood earned second team honors and Micah Hyde was honorable mention.
Iowa, in 2009, ranked third in the nation in pass efficiency defense and fourth in pass defense while leading the Big Ten in both categories. The Hawkeyes tied for fifth nationally with 21 interceptions while ranking eighth in scoring defense and 10th in total defense. In 2008, Iowa ranked fourth in the nation while tying a school record with 23 interceptions. The Hawkeyes led the Big Ten and ranked fifth nationally in pass efficiency defense (98.3) and scoring defense (13.0).
Wilson has coached all the linebacker positions and special teams after working with special teams and outside linebackers in his first six seasons with the Hawkeyes. Wilson was named by Rivals.com in February, 2011 as one of the top 25 recruiters in the nation.
Iowa, in 2010, ranked fifth in the nation in total defense (332.1), sixth in rushing defense (101.5) and seventh in scoring defense (17.0). Iowa also tied for seventh in turnover margin (+13) and 11th in interceptions (19). Iowa’s special teams ranked sixth nationally in punt coverage (3.9) and 12th in kickoff returns (25.3).
Morgan has served as Iowa’s offensive line coach the last nine seasons after spending the first three as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator.
Among the reasons for Iowa’s recent success has been the play of Iowa’s offensive line, working under the direction of Morgan. With two new starters in 2011, the Hawkeye offensive line led the way as Iowa’s offense featured a 3,000-yard passing quarterback and a running back and wide receiver who each gained over 1,300 yards.
Junior tackle Riley Reiff earned first team all-Big Ten honors in 2011, along with earning All-America recognition from several media outlets. In addition, senior guard Adam Gettis was named second team all-Big Ten and junior center James Ferentz and senior tackle Markus Zusevics earned honorable mention recognition.
Iowa’s offensive line featured three first-year starters in 2010. Still, the Hawkeyes ranked among the national leaders in fewest penalties, fewest penalty yards, QB sacks allowed and fewest turnovers. Senior guard Julian Vandervelde and sophomore tackle Riley Reiff earned second team all-Big Ten honors. Vandervelde was selected in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by Philadelphia. Iowa has had at least one offensive lineman selected in seven of the last nine NFL drafts.
In 2009, tackle Bryan Bulaga was named Offensive Lineman of the Year in the Big Ten, earning first team all-conference honors. Bulaga declared for the NFL Draft following his junior season in 2009 and was the 23rd player selected in the 2010 NFL Draft when he was taken by the Green Bay Packers. Bulaga earned a starting spot at right tackle for the Super Bowl champion Packers as a rookie. He is the youngest player ever to start in the Super Bowl.
Iowa, in 2008, ranked third in the Big Ten and 26th nationally in rushing yards per game (188.7). Iowa featured running back Shonn Greene, who earned the Doak Walker Award as the top running back in the nation. Greene was the only running back in the nation to rush for over 100 yards in every game during the 2008 season.
As tight ends coach in 2002, Morgan coached tight end Dallas Clark to consensus All-America honors. Clark was also named winner of the John Mackey Award, which goes annually to college football’s top tight end. Clark was named to at least seven first team All-America teams. Clark has earned a Super Bowl championship with the Indianapolis Colts and earned all-Pro honors in 2009.
Iowa begins spring practice March 24. The Hawkeyes will hold their final open practice/scrimmage of the spring on Saturday, April 14 in Kinnick Stadium.
Mike,
What could possibly be the reason why something so predictable and obvious took 2 months to accomplish?
I am sure PP will do fine and probably was best choice… But
The decision should have been made with absolute resolve and confidence from the get go!!! By continuing to delay and not come out and say immediately, “this is my guy and he will continue to lead the our D is same direction as NP. We will continue having one of the better defense PP is the man. I have no questions about him.”
Instead, you get an overdue press conference about someone who should have been named immediately and with authority. THIS IS MY GUY.
No Frenetz gave us another media relations nightmare. It is not like NP shocked the world and retired suddenly. He should have had his short list ready and been ready to role immediately not 65 days later. This reeks of no confidence nor ability to lead. This is as bad as his clock management skills.
KF has set it up for PP to fail. This decision making (or lack there of ) process is not what multimillion dollar businesses expect nor should be treated to….It reeks of not having a plan or failing to act on your plan. Either way it bad to be a HC with this indecisiveness… So we know this about… KF he lacks confidence in himself to make decisions.. He has been a HC at Iowa (one of the best places to coach) for 13 years now…. it is time he acted like it.
I agree with you that it shouldn’t have taken as long as it did to announce his hiring. But I do know the University took it’s sweet time putting the job up for people to apply for it, and I know it had to stay open for like 2 weeks or something per policy of the university. But if they would have started the process the day after the Insight Bowl, they could have had this announced three weeks ago.
Wow, I don’t know where Jim Headley gets his insights into Coach Ferentz’s inner thoughts (and doubts and frailties!), but I am going to trust Kirk on this decision AND the timetable for it. His previous hires have earned that trust, IMO.
You don’t think this has pretty much been the idea in most of the coaching staffs minds for awhile? I’m guessing its come up once or twice.
Just my guess, Kirk knew about Norms retirement, and already knew he was replacing with Phil, my guess Phil knew it as well after 20 whatever years of being a db coach (waiting in line) his work paid off and he got his promotion which, he deserves. I hope I get a promotion without having to put in as much as Phil has put in.
If they would have announced his replacement the day of Norms retirement, fair weather fans would have been coming out of the hills crying for kirks head because he didn’t test the waters and see who was available to replace norm, even though careful kirk knew what he was doing all along…
I highly doubt all of this has just sprung up especially with Norms health the past few years. Now Okeefe, might have been a little more unforeseeable, but again his name was up for jobs previous years and again, as close and loyal as kirk with his peers, really doubt there are a lot of secrets , just because the fans don’t know doesn’t mean the staff didn’t know whats going on.
The reason? Slow, predictable, deliberate and pains-taking. Is anyone really surprised it went down like this? Parker is solid as a rock and gets high marks from his former players in the NFL. I’m good. Next up: the OC.