ESPN listed the Top 25 recruiters, and just 1 year into D1 Coach Martin makes the list. Over on Rivals, Coach Alford also made a list.
This is how the coaches dress when visiting a prospect.
Martin’s battle to bring in Tuitt, and his success with top WR recruit Davaris Daniels and the more defensive-minded Atkinson Brother (Josh) were big reasons for his inclusion. But don’t forget that Coach is also the Recruiting Coordinator on a staff of coaches that, for the most part, weren’t recruiting nationally a year ago. Heck, Coach Martin himself had only recruited for GVSU up until this year.
Coach Alford should have been on a list a year ago when he pulled in the LEGEND HIMSELF LNIII when we didn’t even have a Head Coach, but it’s great to see him recognized this year. He led the charge to win back Aaron Lynch back from FSU, an effort that is especially impressive because of Aaron’s seeming ‘gone-ness’ once he decommited from ND. Alford also brought in the WR Atkinson Brother (George) and scary-stat QB Golson, whom he flipped from UNC amid Butch Davis’ implosion.
After his 4:30 am visit to Ishaq, you could make a case for Diaco as well. But regardless, it’s nice to see some recognition for Coaches Martin & Alford.
Here’s to another bang-up year in 2012.
Congrats, Coaches!
- (Re)Introducing: DANCING LEPRECHAUNS - August 29, 2019
- Ticket Auction: ND vs USC - August 22, 2019
- No Respect! - December 14, 2018
Erik '04
I imagine we won’t be able to hang onto Coach Martin for very long. He’ll get a coordinator position and/or D-I head spot pretty soon. The guy’s talents are under-utilized as a DB coach, and another year or two at ND is all we’ll get before someone snatches him up. I’m going to enjoy it while I can!
The Biscuit
I am hoping that Kelly has a contingency plan to keep the team in place for a while (e.g. he negotiated for absurd salaries for Assts when he was hired). Keeping staff continuity is key these days, and keeping guys like Martin, Alford and Diaco on board will be paramount. There will be poachers, and Coach needs to make it worth their while to NOT go be a coordinator somewhere. Both professionally, personally, and monetarily.
The Biscuit
And yes, before the haterade comes out, I know Diaco is a coordinator already. You know what I mean, you jackasses that were going to comment and now won’t because I have shamed you!
SDI
I agree Erik. Getting a successful head coach, even from a lower tier school was a great get for Kelly and probably wouldn’t have happened if Martin didn’t grow up an ND fan in the Chicago area. The good news is he gave up a head coaching job to come to ND, which likely means he won’t be jumping at the first MAC caliber head coaching job that comes along–if he wanted to be head coach that bad he wouldn’t have left or wouldn’t have taken an assistants job in the first place. I think he is thinking more long term and will wait for a bigger offer after ND makes it back to the BCS.
Ryan
I just hope Jack Swarbrick pays these guys so much that they won’t think about leaving until it is a nice HC position that they get offered… We need to keep these coaches together for as long as possible. At least until we win a NC. After that, I’m sure they’ll be snached up anyway. I just hope Kelly keeps an eye out for their replacements, because someday, he will have to replace them when they leave.
subadai
In the recent past we lost people because rats always desert a sinking ship. If (when) we lose THESE guys, it will be a hallmark of success. It will mean that these guys recruited a NC team. I don’t have a problem with guys leaving the program as long as they are taking promotions. Eventually one of the coordinators that leaves to become an HC will come back to be OUR HC when Kelly retires. When THAT happens, we can call the Kelly hire a success because what we are all after is the historical, generational success that is our birthright as ND fans. When Kelly founds a coaching tree for us that is self – sustaining we will be back to where God intended ND to be.
And we will all die happy.
TLNDMA
You sir, are a prophet.
TBoneND
Now living in GR, Michigan for the past 20+ years, out from under the shadow of ND’s goalposts, I have witnessed Kelly and Martin turn Grand Valley into a DII powerhouse.
I had my doubts about Kelly, not from a coaching stand point. I wondered if he would be able to hold up under the pressure. So far so good.
See all at the spring game!!