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KU defensive coordinator Clint Bowen celebrates after a first-half defensive stop against Oklahoma on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, at Memorial Stadium.
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Buffalo taps Gill’s replacement
The University at Buffalo named Jeff Quinn the school’s new head football coach Sunday, just a week after Turner Gill left the program to take over at Kansas.
Quinn, who is currently the interim coach at Cincinnati and was expected to follow former Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly to Notre Dame, will remain with the Bearcats through their Jan. 1 matchup with Florida in the Sugar Bowl.
Quinn will inherit a program that went 20-30 and earned its first Mid-American Conference championship during Gill’s four-year tenure.
Former Kansas University defensive coordinator Clint Bowen interviewed last week with Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder for a possible position on the K-State staff, the Journal-World has learned.
According to a source with knowledge of the situation, Bowen is being considered as a defensive-backs coach and possibly a co-defensive coordinator.
Vic Koenning, who served as KSU’s co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach last season, recently left the program to take over defensive coordinator duties at Illinois.
Bowen, along with the rest of the assistants remaining from former coach Mark Mangino’s staff, wasn’t retained by new Kansas coach Turner Gill.
In nine seasons as an assistant at KU, Bowen served as coach of the tight ends, running backs, safeties, special-teams coordinator and co-defensive coordinator before being promoted to defensive coordinator prior to the 2008 season.
That year, the Jayhawks overcame several defensive injuries to finish 8-5 and top Minnesota in the Insight Bowl. In ‘09, however, the defense struggled mightily down the stretch, finishing ninth in total defense and 10th in scoring and pass defense.
Bowen could represent an attractive pick for the Wildcats because of his significant recruiting ties in Kansas, while his familiarity with Kansas’ personnel would come in handy at least one week of the season.
As of Sunday night, it was unknown whether Bowen had received an offer.
KU loses commit, gains another
Zach Bolton, a three-star offensive lineman from Klein Forest High in Texas, has de-committed from Kansas and now will attend Illinois, Rivals.com has reported.
“I didn’t really want to be a guinea pig (at KU),” Bolton told OrangeandBlueNews.com. “That’s kind of how I’d describe going into a situation like that. I just didn’t want to be a part of that.”
Bolton marks the second known player to de-commit from Kansas since Mangino resigned Dec. 3.
Earlier this month, quarterback Jacoby Walker — who will graduate from Texas’ Westfield High at the end of this semester and plans to enroll in college early — switched his commitment to Utah.
The Jayhawks also landed their first recruit under Gill this weekend when Ray Mitchell, a safety from Irving, Texas, committed to play at Kansas, according to Rivals.
Mitchell, one of eight recruits on campus last weekend, chose KU over Iowa State, Tulsa, UTEP, UNLV and Wyoming.
The Jayhawks now have 15 known commitments in the Class of 2010.
Spring game highlights April 28, 2012
Charlie Weis Jr. helps lead the KU running backs in drills April 19, 2012
D.J. Beshears makes tough catch on deep pass from Dayne Crist April 19, 2012
Highlights from Charlie Weis press conference April 10, 2012
KU football's first spring practice under Charlie Weis March 28, 2012
Comments
labbadabba (anonymous) says…
well, crap. Knew we'd lose some but losing Bolton hurts.
jacksquirt (anonymous) says…
Not a big deal our offensive line is comming back next year. He wouldn't have gotten a lot of PT anyways...... Lets hope the old man out west takes Bowen as a Co-D coordinator.... He can let us take advantage of that 5-10 yard cushion he loves as we kick their ass for the next 10+ years..... Bowen sucks if he gets on at KSU I will be surprised.
rockchalkAZ (anonymous) says…
i love how quickly people bag on coaches as soon as they're gone. seriously, be honest with me here- how many of you wanted mangino fired 2 years ago? our national coach of the year, orange bowl champion of a coach. i understand that things have come about since then (treatment of players AND a losing record this year) but how many of you were displeased with him 2 years ago?
i, for one, was very pleased.
rockchalk1990 (anonymous) says…
It was really hard to be pleased with much of anything our D did the last two years! I appreciate the years Bowen gave his alma mater, but I'm not too sure I'll miss his defense!
dihrdhwk86 (anonymous) says…
Bowen is better as a d-backs coach.
mvjayhawk (anonymous) says…
“I didn’t really want to be a guinea pig (at KU),” Bolton told the Web site. “That’s kind of how I’d describe going into a situation like that. I just didn’t want to be a part of that.”
guinea pig? You're a guinea pig anyway....you'd be a freshman! anyway, like Coach Gill says, we want players who want to be here. and this kid obviously didn't.
Bowen at K-State? that just isn't right. he grew up in Lawrence, played at KU, coached 10 years at KU....and now he'll be paid by the kitties?
that shouldn't happen. i mean, he definitely has a right to work anywhere he wants...but how can you grow up supposedly bleeding crimson and blue, and then your allegiance switches to the grapes?
escaped_labrat (anonymous) says…
Let's be real here...."allegiance" doesn't pay the bills.
cre017 (anonymous) says…
Bowen..you dissapoint me. A Lawrence native and a once proud Jayhawk. You are a trader and should you get the job at KSU I hope we kick your weak a.. defensive schemes out of the state.
Swamphawk (anonymous) says…
I think the guinea pig comment is extra funny when you consider that there is a fairly good chance that Zook will be out of Illinois next year. Then Bolton will be locked in with whoever they pick as coach. Why wouldn't you want to pick a school where the coach looks pretty secure if that is what concerns you the most?
Also, cre017, it's traitor not trader one betrays his allegiance the other barters goods. I don't want to be a grammar Nazi, but I can't help it on the spelling of homonyms sometimes.
I, for one, won't miss Bowen as a DC. I guess he did ok as a position coach, but the defenses the last couple of years had been horrible. I can honestly say that I was satisfied with the job Mangino did and I think his loyalty to his coordinators hurt him as badly as his actions with the players.
jcsmith (anonymous) says…
You all bash Bowen for being a trader.......
But the University of Kansas let him go.
He would only be a trader if he willingly left KU for KSU.
As escaped said, a man has to pay the bills. And setting around hoping to get put back on the staff here at KU just isnt going to cut it. A coach may be a hard core fan, but he has to go where the money is.
jcsmith (anonymous) says…
and looks like i'm in the same boat with Cre. Trader, traitor. You get the point.
kackley (anonymous) says…
Oh my God, listen to you blanking people. The crimson and the Blue fired him what the hell. Don't talk to me about allegiance. Bowen did a great job for us as a defensive back coach and especially as a special teams coach. Where was the allegiance from KU and you guys in particular. So many of you were adamont about wanting to get rid of Bowen, no allegiance there, but when he interviews at KSU your feeling are hurt. He didn't s--- on us we s--- on him. As far as losing these recruits I thought Gil said his priorities were to recruit, recruit, recruit and we have lost 2 already. Maybe after he swept out the guys who did the recruiting he had ought to get new coaches in to replace those coaches, some good coaches, before we lose them all and end upwith a recruiting class like K-State had last year.
shelleysue (anonymous) says…
Bowen needs a job so he has to do what he has to do. He probably likes going to KSU least of anyone. I think if he can find another D-1 job it's great.
I think it's interesting that so many people screamed about all the recruits we would lose if Mangino stayed, but we're losing them now that he's gone.
Jaminrawk (anonymous) says…
Bowen should be able to go wherever he wants. He has a family and himself to look after. Once you start a career in college athletics, loyalty takes a back seat to your career. Plus, why would he owe KU or Lawrence anything when KU fired him?
As far as Bolton goes, it's expected that some kids would de-commit. I'm surprised more didn't and that is a testament to Gill and his assistants. Bolton will be going to an underachieving Illinois program that is losing it's top QB and top two wideouts just like KU. The only difference is that they have Ron Zook (who fired most or all of his staff recently) and we have Turner Gill. I'm obviously biased, but I think KU is sitting a little better in this situation because we know Gill will be here a few years while Zook is firmly on the hotseat right now. Good luck to Bolton though, because he is probably a good kid and will be a really good player for them.
AZJHWK (anonymous) says…
There were a bunch of recruits at the BBall game Sat. At least according to the TV announcer. It would be nice to know who these prospects are, and what the chances are they will wind up at KU. I suppose thats secret.
Bowen either didn't have the talent to be a DC, or didn't have the players after 07. Only thing for sure is that after the 07 season the DC changed and the defense went downhill, and this year it had to be "simplified" for the scholar atheletes
jhwkswn (anonymous) says…
cre017 said: "Bowen..you dissapoint me. A Lawrence native and a once proud Jayhawk. You are a trader and should you get the job at KSU I hope we kick your weak a.. defensive schemes out of the state."
Are f'n kidding me? After the abuse that Bowen took from KU fans?? Even if he was doing a poor job, you could have toned down your language a bit being that he is one of us. Nice allegience there yourselves.
And, Bolton, don't let the door hit you. Adios.
chalky (anonymous) says…
Mangino came up through k state then through oklahoma. Gill is from nebraska as a husker qb. Maybe in the big 12 we just rotate..collect all the team hats sorta thing.
swishymcjayhawk (anonymous) says…
good lord! the word is traitor!!!! not Trader.
and yes, Bowen is a traitor. i for one hope they hire him so we can destroy his sorry ass schemes.
as for Bolton...he doesn't want to be a guinea pig? he's a O-lineman for cryin' out loud! what does he think the new coaches will do? move him to Kicker or WR? that's a BS excuse.
ku_foaf (anonymous) says…
Darn, looks like we lost a couple of good players from the Houston area. I can hardly believe how many kids in the W/NW Houston area go on to play college football. We have some, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, OSU all have (or had) players from the area.
I wish Clint Bowen well. It seemed to become fashionable to trash him this last year, despite losing all our talented linebackers. Looking for a job at a competitor is not being a traitor when you have been let go. By the expressed reasoning, that would have made Tim Jankovich a traitor when he came to us - Manhattan native and KSU bb player.
jhokfan (anonymous) says…
Talk about throwing a guy under the bus. Bowen has been crucified by his own people for two years and then does nothing more than try to make a living. I wouldn't blame him if he burned his diploma in front of Strong Hall at high noon. No one could have made our defense good this season. He stopped the bleeding and kept us in the game. Our offense was the reason we lost 7 straight.
jayhawk909603 (anonymous) says…
Stinks losing KU blood, but if the Pussycats are the ones to give him a job... His loyalty to KU was a boot out the door. Coaches with loyalty get fired, the slimeballs (Calipari) move on to the highest bidder. It's all business.
Illinois?!? Nice "career" move. Sayonara.
jayhawk909603 (anonymous) says…
jhok, you're right on. The D wasn't always great, but the O failed us - dropped passes, no running game, injured Todd. Our talent level didn't go up despite bowls in 3 out of 4 years.
There are always exceptions, but talent trumps coaching EVERY time.
Deke13 (anonymous) says…
I don't post much, but I have to give my $.02 on the Bowen situation because I do feel strongly about this. First, I wish him well wherever he ends up and I hope he gets some valuable experience so he can someday come back and be a dominant head coach for KU down the road (way down the road). He has doen well to put himself around some pretty good offensive and defensive minds. Now he just needs to learn a little more about game situations and when to take chances. Under him, our defense was the worst in the Big 12 - without question. The comment from Iowa State quarterback (Arnaut?) still burns my a$$ when I think about it because he was dead on right. He said the defense didn't surprise them in the least; they knew what we were going to do in every situation and that our defense never changed AT ALL from what they prepared for. No halftime adustments. nothing! That was the case in every game we played from Duke; to UTEP; to Southern Miss; to all the Big 12. The sad part is no one really got better either. That is when you know there is deficient coaching -- when players don't progress. That isn't on Mangino so much as it is on the defensive coach and the position coaches. What is more disappointing is the defensive backfield was equally bad or worse than the other positions on defense. That is where he played and coached previous to this year and they were still very sketchy.
As for him being a good defensive backs coach, I would tend to disagree with that too. He was fortunate to have three (maybe four) superior talents choose KU and go on to put their mark on the program. So I would give him kudos for his recruiting of those athletes, but I don't know if his coaching had more to do with it than their natural abilities. Because in all instances, we were still weak on the opposite side of the field when teams chose to stay away from Gordon and/or Talib.
Wherever he ends up I say he needs to focus on learning when to take chances and how to coach more press coverage when linebacker stunts are in play. He needs to learn more about confusing QBs. He needs to learn how to develop individual players such as a Reesing with seemingly limited physical attributes. He needs to learn how to develop a defensive captain that can recognize offensive plays and become an extension of the coach on the field. I want to see him come back to KU and be one of the greatest legacy player/coaches KU has had since he has given so much to the program; but I think at this point in his career it is time to step away and learn some organizational and schematic things from seasoned coaches. Snyder is a good start. It would be nice to see him work with Pelini or Les Miles or some of these other defensive minded head coaches too. Good luck and hopefully we see you back in the Crimson and Blue in about 10 to 15 years (he'll only be in his late 40s then).
Swamphawk (anonymous) says…
By the way. I in no way meant to call Bowen a traitor. I agree with you guys that he should go to wherever he can get the bills paid. I was only pointing out that I didn't like him as our DC and would have liked to see him removed whether Mangino was here or not.
mvjayhawk (anonymous) says…
again, he is not a "traitor." that's not the point. i'm just trying to understand the thinking.
i'm sure there are a lot of jobs avail out there at this time of year, and if he has to take an FCS school position, then so be it.
i'm just thinking for myself. i grew up a Jayhawk fan, went to school there, and i've had season tickets in various capacities for football for over 15 years now. if i was in the same boat growing up.....AND became a player for KU...AND was a coach for 10 plus years....i could never coach for k-state.
that's all i'm saying....the mindset is what i just don't get. if this was his only offer, good grief, that's pretty desperate IMO. but if he has other choices...and he STILL takes the purple gig, then i don't know.
Let's put it this way. and i'm not naming names. but i know of a head coach at KU...who, grew up a Jayhawk fan....had a chance to become the head coach at K-State before he/she came to KU...and turned them down, precisely because it was K-State.
raprichard (anonymous) says…
I am glad he is out as DC but I wish him well wherever he goes (with the exception of one game a year if he goes to another Big XII school). In no way is he a traitor if he ends up at KSU. Before KU, Self spent time at OSU, Mangino was at KSU & OU, Jankovich was a KSU guy, Gill was at NU, and the list goes on and on.
No matter how passionate the fans are, the truth for every coach is that it is a business. Their families rely on them finding work and bringing home a check. If any of you worked for a company for 10 or more years and that company fired you, you wouldn't hesitate a minute going to work for their biggest competitor as long as they were willing to pay you.
Has anyone even considered that Bowen might be looking at KSU so he wouldn't have to be far away from family and friends in Lawrence? It might make a whole lot more sense than trying to hook up with a school 1000+ miles away.
Hawk1969 (anonymous) says…
Rivals is reporting that Gill has hired Reggie Mitchell, one of the nation's top recruiters.
MitchumMan (anonymous) says…
Jayhawkslant.com
"Word is starting to leak one of the top recruiters in the country may be headed to Lawrence. See what the latest scoop on the coaching is producing."
Anybody have access to this article or know who they are talking about? I don't know who he is, but this is what Gill is all about...recruiting. i'd love to see this hire and I don''t even know the man! haha
Hawk1969 (anonymous) says…
Reggie Mitchell was the recruiting coordinator/running backs coach at Illinios. He's had a prior stint at KU under Mason. Considered one of the nation's top recruiters. Reports are saying Mitchell will be the recruiting coordinator/wide receivers coach on Gill's staff.
Plus, I believe Gill hired San Deigo State's o-line coach...not sure on that hire, but Rivals is reporting that Mitchell will be on Gill's staff.
MitchumMan (anonymous) says…
Thanks Hawk!
MitchumMan (anonymous) says…
"Sources today confirmed to the Orange&Blue News that Illini assistant head coach, running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Reggie Mitchell is leaving Champaign to take a job on Turner Gill's University of Kansas staff." http://illinois.rivals.com/default.as...
rockchalkxii (anonymous) says…
Does anyone know the date of the 2010 spring game.
jayhawk2062 (anonymous) says…
Please.....someone in the Big XII hire Clint Bowen as their defensive coordinator.....then whoever he coaches for will have the worst defense in the Big XII
OCJHAWK (anonymous) says…
Thanks for the link MM. It looks like the Illini have some quality recruits, but only about half a full class commited so far.
I always wondered why we have only had a few chicago area players with so many students that come to KU from there. We are so Texas centric right now. I hope we start getting more recruits and fans nationally. It should be possible if we keep getting on TV like we did this year
kranny (anonymous) says…
Mangino hired Mitch Running and Joe Bob Clements. It's just a job. I find it funny that Bolton is going to Illinois to not be a guinea pig. It's freaking Illinois!! They suck and have sucked forever and to top that off we're getting one of their coordinators. Adios Zack, see you in obscurity.
njjayhawk (anonymous) says…
The KSU job being considered by Bowen includes loading KSU's hi-tech manure spreader which is used at home game half times to showcase KSU's Ag School, in addition to football duties, like pumping up footballs with the correct air pressure before each Wildcat practice and emptying rodent traps set at KSU stadium concession stands.
cre017 (anonymous) says…
thanks for the correction with my trader comment. I'm sorry but if I was a true blood native Jayhawk the last thing I would want to do is coach for K-State and live in Manhattan of all places, maybe he will commute. Now if we were not in the economic situation that we are in right now I would say Bowen is a real traitor but I digress, Bowen and the rest of us 11-20% need a job and that means being a traitor sometimes so be it. I will enjoy kicking KSU's a..all the more if he gets the job. I love the comment njjayhawk and you are 100% correct raprichard, my mistake. Happy to create a discussion for everyone today. Bowen=trader, sorry traitor.
Deke13 (anonymous) says…
I worked for the recruiting coordinator when Mitchell was on Mason's staff. Mitchell was primarily responsible for Michigan, Ohio and Illinois (focusing on rest belt cities like Detroit, Cleveland, St. Louis, etc.); as well as the jucos. He did most of the inner city recruiting. He was also the running backs coach for most of the time I was there. He did excellent work with RBs like Monte Cozzens, L.T. Levine and June Henley. I believe he is responsible for bringing most of those guys from the rust belt that made the 1991-1995 teams respectable; guys like Stubblefield, Cozzens and Henley along with Gilbert Brown, Tony Banks and Wright (can't remember his first name). He knew how to connect with the tough guys from the inner cities - no one else on Mason's staff was as good at it as he was.
OCJHAWK (anonymous) says…
Thats awsome Deke13. I was going to go on a tangent about Stubblefield and Brown from Detroit. I still am amazed we got them as Michigan had offered them.
Brock (anonymous) says…
K-State wants our leftovers? I have no problem with that.
Hawk1969 (anonymous) says…
Mitchell also recruits south Florida.
And, KSU can have Bowen. I appreciate his loyalty to KU over the years, but I won't miss that Swiss cheese defense!
Hawk1969 (anonymous) says…
By the way, Darell Wyatt (Southern Miss.) and JD Grimes ( Miss. State) may be joining Gill's staff.
cre017 (anonymous) says…
Great stuff Deke..very excited about Mitchell. Rock Chalk Jayhawk.
gogoplata (anonymous) says…
I thought Clint was the D coordinator, not an aide.
hawkman1031 (anonymous) says…
jcsmith... a trader? really? does that mean he would be best suited on Wallstreet?
rockchalkaz is correct. Our Orange Bowl coach was driven out. Now we lose recruits.
Bowen is not a traitor. It will be a shame if he works for ksu. that is all.
Is buffalo gill a traitor for working for ku?
oh yeah. We need some Dana Stubblefields, Gilbert Browns and Chris Maumalaungas. And give me those linebackers in (05?). There was our defense. They killed people. pay big bucks to get that d coordinator back.
CaliHawk33 (anonymous) says…
Lol- Shelleysue says - "I think its funny that all the people screamed about how many recruits we would lose if Mangino stayed"...Uhmm, we lost 2 recruits because the coaches that recruited them are gone- (and none of which were Mangino -they wouldn't have played for him anyways "trust me"- that worked when mangino said it to you too probably- lmao)! lol
lol...Understand, then comment next time please.
hammerhawk (anonymous) says…
We can only hope that Bowen goes to kstate. That would sure loosen up the defense and allow points to be scored!