If I were a young coach today, I would be extremely careful in selecting assistants. - John Wooden
While the Big Ten's best are prominently featured in its East Division, the conference as a whole has certainly ascended in the eyes of the national media. Several outlets rate the conference No. 1 in the country heading into the 2017 season, ahead of the mighty SEC.
Urban Meyer, Jim Harbaugh, and James Franklin are three of the nation's best right now, so it's no surprise that each of the trio is running one of college football's top-15 programs. Schools like Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan State have seen their share of recent success as well.
During this week's Big Ten Media Days, several of the conference's head coaches made it a point to talk about their staffs and the roles of assistant coaches. Looking around the Midwest, there are several key assistants that have helped catapult the conference into the national spotlight.
We look at a few of the best in the Big Ten.
Ohio State • Kevin Wilson, Greg Schiano, Larry Johnson, Kerry Coombs
It's basically an impossible task to single anyone out on the Ohio State staff, so we'll start by grouping the Buckeye assistants together.
Urban Meyer has long had an impressive group of assistants, but the offense has been known to sputter from time to time. Changes were made following the 2016 season, and the addition of Kevin Wilson is one of the more exciting nuances as camp kicks off.
The 55-year old Wilson hasn't been in an assistant role since his time at Oklahoma in 2010, but it's more than fair to include him on this list. We've already seen what Wilson can do at Indiana, and sources say that the Buckeyes may have a bit more talent in the cupboard than the Hoosiers could ever imagine.
Greg Schiano has been a wizard with the Buckeye secondary, and anyone who follows the NFL Draft can certainly attest to that. This season will present a challenge as he will look to replace three starters in the secondary, but I don't think anyone is all that worried about the unit as a whole.
Larry Johnson has worked wonders on the defensive line, and this year he's got a seemingly endless amount of talent to work with. The implementation of the 'Rushmen' package has worked wonders on passing downs and also helped out on the recruiting trail as the Buckeyes employ some serious rotation in the trenches.
Slightly out of his element, but still loving life.
Kerry Coombs' work in the secondary and on special teams has already led to multiple promotions, and the fiery Cincinnati native has ascended the ranks since arriving in Columbus in 2012. Luke Fickell tried his best to sway Coombs back to the Queen City, but the 55-year old continues to be a mainstay at Ohio State.
Tony Alford, Zach Smith, and the rest of the Buckeyes' coaching staff have also shown their worth both on the field and on the recruiting trail.
Don Brown • Defensive Coordinator • Michigan • Age: 61
The addition of Don Brown was a key move for Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines. Brown, who had been known for leading Boston College's stout defense, has been able to keep Michigan firing on all cylinders.
Maryland hired DJ Durkin away from Harbaugh in December of 2015, and that left a big void on the staff as the Wolverine defense had been ranked as the No. 4 unit in America.
Under Brown's tutelage, the defense finished No. 1 in the country in 2016, allowing just 262 yards per game. Following his first season in Ann Arbor, the 61-year old received a five-year extension worth $1 million per year.
"Don is a tremendous coach and teacher, first and foremost, one of the very best," Harbaugh said earlier this week. "I haven't been around better, in all phases, in terms of relationships with the staff, with the players, with his football acumen at the very highest level. He's a good person. So all things and all ways, somebody that you really like being around." Via
Just how important is Don Brown to the Wolverines? During Big Ten Media Days, several coaches spoke with Sirius XM's College Football Radio and were asked about who inspires them and what coaches they've looked up to. Urban Meyer mentioned the likes of Bill Belichick as well as his own late father. Don Brown was the first person Jim Harbaugh identified.
Brown has his work cut out for him this year as the Wolverine defense returns just one starter from the 2016 campaign.
Joe Moorhead • Offensive Coordinator • Penn State • Age: 43
During the 2014 season, Penn State's offense amassed just 20.6 points per game, which was good for No. 113 in America. The following season, the Nittany Lions didn't get much better, averaging 23.2 per contest (No. 100).
Unfortunately for the rest of the Big Ten, the Christian Hackenberg Era is no more.
Former Fordham head coach Joe Moorhead left his alma mater and took over offensive coordinator duties in 2016. He's completely revamped the Nittany Lion offense, implementing more of an aggressive and explosive style of play. Last year's offense put up over 37 points per game and was absolutely nothing like it had been in previous years.
Brian Gaia – a 2016 honorable mention All-Big Ten lineman at Penn State – spoke with CBS Sports about the Moorhead's impact:
"I think the biggest thing is [Moorhead] is never afraid to take that long ball shot regardless of the score or how the game is going," Gaia said. "He wants to score as many points as he can, and that's just a different mentality around here." Via
Moorhead has already turned around the quarterback situation in Happy Valley as Trace McSorley is expected to be one of the top returning starters in the conference and backup Tommy Stevens may be the next big thing.
Again, a far cry from the Hackenberg days.
The conference appears to be in good hands right now, especially with its top-tier programs. Some new hires in recent years have helped Ohio State remain right up at the top while personnel moves in Ann Arbor and Happy Valley have only increased the Wolverines and Nittany Lions' national prowess.
A program-changing hire doesn't necessarily have to be at the very top, and the Big Ten has welcomed a number of superstar assistants over the past several years.
The challenge now becomes keeping them.
