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Update: Now, reports are that Coach M is NOT returning:
Despite information floating around to the contrary, #Cal will not be retaining any of their holdover coaches. Best of luck to all of them.
— Jim McGill (@BearInsider_com) December 11, 2012
Hearing that as of last night, Michalczik thought he would be retained, but that's changed, according to a source close to him today. #Cal
— Ryan Gorcey (@RGBearTerritory) December 11, 2012
We've got some more news coming down the pike here. First, most coaches were let go, EXCEPT for Jim Michalczik, the OLine coach:
New Cal FB coach Sonny D retains OL coach Jim Michalczik, lets Gould, Ambrose, Chandler, Arroyo go. 2 hires to be announced today.#calfb
— John Crumpacker (@crumpackeroncal) December 11, 2012
That was unanticipated. I thought that all the coaches would go. He is keeping Coach M. I like Coach M and am not necessarily adverse to this in a vaccuum. Confused as to why it would be him, but not Gould, though.
Also, another coach is hired to the staff. Rob Likens:
#Cal announces first two hires to Sonny Dykes' staff: Tony Franklin (offensive coordinator) and Rob Likens (assistant HD/wide receivers).
— Dan Greenspan (@DanGreenspan) December 11, 2012
Rob Likens enters his third season at Louisiana Tech as an assistant head coach and wide receivers coach.
Likens directed a wide receiving corps that registered 3,229 receiving yards with 21 touchdown catches during a 2011 campaign that claimed seven consecutive wins and a WAC championship. Quinton Patton, a 2011 Biletnikoff Award Watch List honoree, finished the year with 1,202 receiving yards (ranking seventh in school history) and 11 touchdowns (tied for fourth in school history). Patton is the first Bulldog receiver to catch for over 1,000 yards since 2000.
In his first year at Tech, Likens oversaw a receiving corps that improved from 91st in the country in 2009 to 62nd in 2010 despite a revolving door at quarterback through the first third of the season. Likens coached Taulib Ikharo to a ninth-place rank in receptions per game among WAC receivers.
Prior to joining the Louisiana Tech family, Likens led Central Connecticut State as offensive coordinator to more wins than any other four-year period in school history.
Likens coached the Northeast Conference's top rushing offense for four straight seasons. CCSU's ground game also ranked in the nation's top-10 every year under Likens. The Blue Devils averaged 239.18 yards per game on the ground in 2008. It was the seventh best team effort in the FCS. Central Connecticut also paced the NEC in scoring offense, averaging 30.0 points per game.
"Rob is a great addition to our staff," said Dykes. "I have known him for a while and have wanted to work with him for a long time. He has a great knowledge of the offense we want to install and as a Mississippi native, he brings a tremendous recruiting base, connections and experience."
This guy will be coaching WR and be assistant head coach. Should be interesting to see how things go with this guy coaching our young WR studs. Discuss!