Adam Braithwaite
Promoted to outside linebackers/safeties coach in February after spending the past two seasons as a staff assistant. The 31-year-old as a graduate assistant under Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia from 2005-06, and defensive coordinator at Hampden-Sydney College in 2007. He played defensive back at William & Mary.
Where he’s mentioned: In count one, the NCAA alleges that Michigan exceeded the number of permissible assistant coaches (nine) when six quality-control staff members, including Braithwaite, “engaged in on- and off-field coaching activities.”
Dan Hott
Defensive graduate assistant coach who joined Michigan after two stints as a GA at West Virginia. Hott worked under Rich Rodriguez at WVU in 2007, and as a student football coach and GA for the Mountaineers from 1995-2000. He also spent six seasons coaching defensive line at University of Findlay.
Where he’s mentioned: In count one, the NCAA alleges that Michigan exceeded the number of permissible assistant coaches (nine) when six quality-control staff members, including Hott, “engaged in on- and off-field coaching activities.”
Josh Ison
Worked as an assistant strength coach in 2008 and a staff intern/special teams quality control assistant in 2009. Before Michigan, he spent one year as a graduate assistant in the Health Works Rehabilitation and Fitness Center at West Virginia. Played linebacker at Fairmont State.
Where he’s mentioned: In count one, the NCAA alleges that Michigan exceeded the number of permissible assistant coaches (nine) when six quality-control staff members, including Ison, “engaged in on- and off-field coaching activities.”
Bob McClain
Who he is: Tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Tulsa. Spent 2008 as the special teams and offensive quality control coach at Michigan, and worked previously as offensive coordinator at Glenville State (2006-07) and as a graduate assistant at West Virginia (2000-05).
Where he’s mentioned: In count one, the NCAA alleges that Michigan exceeded the number of permissible assistant coaches (nine) when six quality-control staff members, including McClain, “engaged in on- and off-field coaching activities.”
Eric Smith
Offensive quality control assistant also worked as a graduate assistant under Rodriguez at West Virginia in 2007. The West Virginia native also served as an offensive assistant coach at West Virginia Tech (2006), Pikeville College (2005), Charleston (2004) and Glenville State (2003).
Where he’s mentioned: In count one, the NCAA alleges that Michigan exceeded the number of permissible assistant coaches (nine) when six quality-control staff members, including Smith, “engaged in on- and off-field coaching activities.”
Bryan Wright
Listed as a staff intern, Wright is in charge of quality control for the offensive staff. He played running back at West Virginia under Rodriguez and worked as a strength and conditioning grad assistant for the Mountaineers under Michigan strength coach Mike Barwis.
Where he’s mentioned: In count one, the NCAA alleges that Michigan exceeded the number of permissible assistant coaches (nine) when six quality-control staff members, including Wright, “engaged in on- and off-field coaching activities.”
Alex Herron
A staff intern and offensive graduate assistant coach, Herron worked with the offensive line and scout-team defense at Michigan after spending one year as a graduate assistant at West Virginia. A four-year starter at center at South Florida, where he played under Michigan offensive line coach Greg Frey.
Where he’s mentioned: In count three, the NCAA suggests Herron “failed to deport himself in accordance with the generally recognized high standards of honesty and sportsmanship … for providing false and misleading information to the institution and enforcement staff” about whether he was present for off-season 7-on-7 drills.
Comments
JimB
Wed, Feb 24, 2010 : 11 a.m.
Brandon: your first test. You have been given all the reasons to fire Rich Rod by now. Sack this guy and use your PR dept. to fix the school's image and show U of M's rebirth, just as you did to fix Domino's terrible pizza.
azwolverine
Wed, Feb 24, 2010 : 8:26 a.m.
I'm sure Bo Schembechler would be so proud of RR.
clarklaker
Wed, Feb 24, 2010 : 5:33 a.m.
better get the next coach in line
HailToASquared
Wed, Feb 24, 2010 : 1:37 a.m.
Metric, again, i agree with you for the most part. But calm down with "ohhh rodriguez is trying to gain a competitive edge, its a MAJOR violation that MUST be dealt with.. roarr". now i know you didn't say it quite like that, but thats how it appears when you keep beating that drum. If other teams are doing the same damn thing, he's not trying to gain an edge, he's trying to keep up. It lame his staff is trying to play dumb about it.. but he and every other school in the nation never thought they would be exposed for this type of thing. Thanks free press- great work you have done.
MetricSU
Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 10:35 p.m.
HailToASquared: I don't disagree that perhaps the rules should be changed. But that isn't the point. The NCAA can see that these are RR's hand-picked guys who've been around RR and NCAA rules for some time. The plea that they didn't know the rules rings hollow. The charge against RR is serious and reflects the fact that the NCAA does not buy the "we didn't know it was wrong" defense. That's why this could get serious for UM. It is pretty obvious RR was trying to gain a competitive edge, and that spells major violations.
heartbreakM
Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 9:52 p.m.
Did anyone notice how not a single of these QC coaches has a big ten or "big time" college background? (unless if you count WVU which is big but not Big Ten big). That doesn't seem too good. Look around the rest of the B10. Lots of people with B10 backgrounds--Tressel, Dantonio, Fitzgerald, etc. I just don't know if this entire staff gets the B10 at all, and the culture of Michigan in particular. And what about promoting Braithwaite? Doesn't make sense and after reading his involvement, worries me a lot (can you say 'blind loyalty'?). Why not go after other assistants who are at least familiar with B10 football?
heartbreakM
Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 9:49 p.m.
Did anyone notice how not a single of these QC coaches has a big ten or "big time" college background? (unless if you count WVU which is big but not Big Ten big). That doesn't seem too good. Look around the rest of the B10. Lots of people with B10 backgrounds--Tressel, Dantonio, Fitzgerald, etc. I just don't know if this entire staff gets the B10 at all, and the culture of Michigan in particular. And what about promoting Branthwaite? Doesn't make sense. Why not go after other assistants who are at least familiar with B10 football?
HailToASquared
Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 9:47 p.m.
MetricSU - I'm not saying he didn't do anything wrong. My point was that the rules should be changed, or it should be enforced better- because even guys who used to play college ball come out and say that this happens all the time at other schools to. The NCAA needs to be fair and look into it at other places as well or edit their rules. Engineer - hate to break it to you, but Lloyd likely did the same thing. He just was better at not getting caught- oh, and he didn't have a newspaper with an agenda reporting every time he farts in public without saying "excuse me".
Engineer
Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 9:38 p.m.
Now we know why Carr's staff was fired. They wanted to follow the rules and that did not sit well with RR. Bring in his own slappies and ignor the compliance office and proceed to destroy a once proud program. I wonder what all the people who were leary of Les are thinking now.
MetricSU
Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 9:37 p.m.
Practicing 25% more a week is trying to gain a competitive edge, as is having coaches illegally attend practice. Trying to gain a competitive edge is what makes violations major. I think it's clear RR knew his guys were breaking the rules. That's why one of the charges is against RR: for not promoting an environment conducive to compliance. Even the athletic department is essentially charged with looking the other way. It's not good.
HailToASquared
Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 9:13 p.m.
well, while you're so sure of problems from recruits, I take the "wait and see" approach. I don't believe there will be any major problems with these players because so far, Rodriguez hasn't had his players get in trouble any more than any other coach. People are so quick to react/judge. People are acting like Rodriguez is a sleezeball and did some VERY dirty here. He's doing what many others do and unfortunately for him and the program he got caught. All these coaches doing the same damn thing probably never thought for a moment that they would be slapped with major violations for PRACTICE. Almost every former college athlete that speaks about this says it goes on all over the country- the rules need to be changed in some shape if it is true. Back to his recruits- I have no reason to believe they will do anything wrong.. no signs of it in the past.. why now? because he was caught for practice/time-log issues...come on. If you don't like the way he coaches/runs the program thats one thing- but I've never seen so many assumptions and accusations thrown at a man just trying to do his job.
Sean T.
Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 8:55 p.m.
Hailtoasquared, You make a valid point about it happening anywhere but not everywhere. I do agree that the paying of athletes and such like USC is atrocious compared to our violations. But RR and his Staff did purposely overlook these small infractions and that's something that we must not have in AA. These guy's have been with RR for over 4 years and are familiar with the rulebook and the compliance office. Wrong is wrong and it must not be tolerated or turn the blame on a newspaper for exposing it! I have a sad feeling that a couple of our 2010 recruits will be causing some problems so brace yourself.
HailToASquared
Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 8:42 p.m.
I'm a believer that two wrongs don't make a right- but really, doesn't everybody else here realize this sort of thing is happening just about everywhere in college football? And that if the Free Press didn't have the witch hunt going- it never would have been brought up? Any other paper in any other state could have done this to their near by college and started the same fire storm. I'm sure other college's have made sure not to be caught anymore (or they still continue to do what Michigan did), Michigan unfortunately is looking like they're gonna be the example of what can happen if other schools don't start changing too. Sorry, but NO college football fan of any team can sit here and honestly try to say that it doesn't happen at MANY other schools too. Like I said, it doesn't make it right I guess- but its ridiculous to have MAJOR violations and possible sanctions for something like this. Its like when people complain about Police writing ridiculous traffic violations for somebody going 5 over the speed limit or turning right on a no turn on red intersection while a block a way somebody is being raped or murdered. The NCAA needs to get its **** together and investigate the schools who are paying players and giving gifts to get them to sign an LOI
Sean T.
Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 8:08 p.m.
I'm with you, GoBlueinNE_PA! This is a fine example of the so-called "KING" they always speak of. I believe that there will be more of this type of stuff going on around here in AA.
GoblueinNE_PA
Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 7:32 p.m.
Everyone of these guys has spent considerable time under RR prior to coming to UM. They are part of the system that he brought to UM. There is no way you can say that these violations are simple mistakes. These guys are doing the same thing they did at WVU, as they were instructed to by RR. Had these been some guys left over from Carr or new to RR and the program, I think we might be able to understand. That is not the case. RR is bad news.
GoBlueGoWing
Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 6:46 p.m.
Where is Bill Martin? Oh, on his boat.