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Coaching Carousel Begins with Bang as Sprouse Sprouts wings
The IFL was turned on it's a ear a bit yesterday as Rico Sprouse, the man in charge of Vermont since the leagues inception up and flew the coup on the first day of activity for the 2012 season.
Sprouse, just 1 year removed from an Imperial Bowl title run with the Mountaineers signed a deal with Cleveland worth more than $30 Million over 5 years.
The 45 year old Sprouse had his ups and downs in Vermont, falling short in seasons where a title was expected and then pulling off a surprising run in 2010 that gave Vermont it's only title.
Word on the street is that Mountaineers Owner Coder is not pleased with Sprouses bolt, and who would be? At 45 he may just be entering his prime, a prime which will be adorned in the Brown and Black of Cleveland.
Sprouse replaces Kenyon Cash who went 62-56 over 7 seasons in Cleveland and whom many were praising just a few short weeks ago for Clevelands assencion into the playoffs this season. Cash will certainly get alot of looks but our insider tells that a job on the staff of Ohio State with old friend Jim Tresel may not be out of question for Cash.
Mountaineer owner Coder wasted no time in signing a new coach, coming to a deal with Amos Harrigan in a bit of a surprising decision. Harrigan led the 2009 Boston Dragons to a 2-14 record before being sumarily dismessed after that one wrestched season. Harrigan, 57, has spent the past 2 seasons as the defensive coordinator for Washington State and before that had a succesfull 6 year run as head coach of Utah.
When asked to comment, Coder had the following statement "Disappointed, but I understand him wanting a new challenge after winning a ring with us. Cleveland has a young team with lots of potential, so he'll be a part of a future there.
Hopefully Amos Herrigan, a relatively unproven coach, will come in and turn our luck as of late around and improve our defense a well."
In less shocking news, follwing yet another one and done playoff performance, and despite a wonderfull regular season, Kent Silvanic will not be returning to St. Louis for the 2012 season.
The Cardinals, as expected for weeks now, hired Western Michigan Head Coach Lawrence Gilman to take over the reigns in St. Louis. Gilman takes over for Silvanic, whom many saw as a stop gap for the Cardinals following the surprising decision of Tyrell Nichols to leave following the 2010 season.
Defensive Coordinator William Ogden, who coached Anchorage in 2003 and Murfreesboro in 2006 and has spent the past 5 years on Gilmans staff, will come in to run the defense, one of the most under performing units in the league last season.
Staying in the AC South, One year removed from the conference championship and coming off a dissapointing season where most people had projected championship contention but falters and failures led to a 9-7 record, Murfreesboro head coach Ethan Vera was pushed to the side in favor of University Of Miami defensive coordinator Brenden Boyer. Boyer, 48, has long been projected to be a coach in the big leagues and now is his chance. Vera joined the mules in 2007 and improved his team from 5-11 that first season to legitimate title contenders. At age 63 we'd be more inclined to expect Vera to join the CBS broadcast booth before we see him on the sideline again, but who knows what this wacky world has in store. Sources tell me the other finalist for the job was OC Joey Bauer who's also been with the Mules since 2007 but at 61, new Murfreesoro owner Tuffy apparently felt that it was time for some young blood. Bauer did sign a new 3 year deal to remain OC.
In other shocking news, Norfolk continues to never stand pat as they lured away Lansing Offensive Coordinator Edward Cicci, long considered one of the better unit coaches in the league. Ciccis deal is worth nearly $25 Million. This move leaves Kris Howard, the man considered the architecht behind Norfolks vaunted offsense, out of a job. League sources wonder what went on behind closed doors that led to this upheaval. Wether age or discord we would be shocked if a franchise didn't make a move on Howard, assuming he still wants to coach.
Lansing wasted no time in finding a replacement for Cicci in Boston OC Zack Brown. Browns tender in Boston comes to a halt after failing to live up to his hype and the hope of turning around a stagnant Dragons offense. Lansing hopes that the former Killer Whales head coach will be able to flourish with all the weapons he'll be given in the Wolverine State.
Coordinator raiding also abounded as Georgia moved in and got OC Gus Bryant away from Iowa City. Alot of people have had Bryant pegged for a head coaching job for more than a few years now, but Gus clearly is comfortable with either his niche or his big paycheck and will instead be running what Georgians hope will be a high powered General offense. Still, If I were Marty Pearson i'd put some ice in my underwear, cause the Generals head coach is not only on the hot seat to win this season, but now his replacement may be just a few steps away from him on the sidelines.
J.B. Romo may not be too pleased to return to Portland this season. The long running Seals DC has moved on to Anchorage in yet another move that could heat up this rivalry. The Seals responded by promoting Defensive Backs coach Dusty LaRoche to DC.
In Texas and Wichita the honus was on locking up your own guys as Texas DC Steve Borders and Wichita head coach J.B. Elliot both signed nice extensions coming off of winning seasons for each franchise.
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