TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

USF Offers Co-Coordinator Posts To Big 12 Assistants

ADVERTISEMENT

By BRETT McMURPHY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 2, 2009

TAMPA - A pair of Big 12 assistant coaches are the latest to receive offers from the University of South Florida to be co-defensive coordinators.

Nebraska linebackers coach Mike Ekeler and Iowa State secondary coach Chris Ash were offered defensive co-coordinator jobs Sunday by University of South Florida coach Jim Leavitt after Georgia linebackers coach John Jancek and Colorado secondary coach Greg Brown turned down offers to come to Tampa.

Brown was offered a co-coordinator position and Jancek the coordinator's position.

Ekeler interviewed with Leavitt in Tampa last week but said he was remaining with the Cornhuskers. "I'm thankful and glad to be here," Ekeler told the Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald on Thursday. "I'm glad that he [Nebraska coach Bo Pelini] wanted me to take a look at it, and I'm glad I did. That's about it."

However, with Jancek and Brown out of the picture, Leavitt went back at Ekeler and also offered a co-coordinator position to Ash, who has not interviewed in Tampa for the position.

Ekeler, 37, and Ash, 35, did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Ekeler has been a full-time college assistant only one season – last year with Nebraska.

Before coming to Nebraska, Ekeler was at Louisiana State for three seasons (2005-07), two years as a graduate assistant and one as an intern. In 2003-04, he was a graduate assistant at Oklahoma. In 2002, he was an assistant coach at Manhattan (Kan.) High School and in 1999-2001 he was a volunteer coach at Omaha Skutt High School.

Ekeler played for Leavitt at Kansas State from 1991-94 and was recently named one of the Big 12's top 10 recruiters by Rivals.com

Ash was hired at Iowa State in December after a two-year stint as secondary coach at San Diego State. Before that he was at Iowa State (2000-06), serving as recruiting coordinator his final season. He worked with former USF defensive line coach Dan McCarney at Iowa State and went to San Diego State after McCarney was fired at ISU.

Under Ash, the Cyclones led the Big 12 in interceptions in 2005 and ranked seventh nationally with 35 turnovers. In 2004, ISU ranked 20th nationally in pass efficiency defense. He reportedly was next in line to become ISU's defensive coordinator if USF defensive coordinator Wally Burnham had not left USF for Iowa State.

Former USF linebacker Tyrone McKenzie said Ash was instrumental in McKenzie attending Iowa State.

"He's a good guy, he knows his defense," McKenzie said. "His knowledge of the game is remarkable. I think he would be one heck of a defensive coordinator. He's young, he'll be around for years. He relates to the players, not just as a coaching figure, but someone the players look up to. He's very passionate."

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT