Genyk

[NJCat83588]

I haven't seen this reported anywhere. Jeff Genyk is back, and doing work in the two problem areas: offense and special teams. For those of us (like me) who feels Fitzgerald is resistant to change, here is an example of his making a change to address a problem. Good job.

From Dienhart's report:

"Northwestern has added former Wisconsin special teams coach Jeff Genyk as a quality control coach with offense and special teams. He can’t coach the players but can coach the coaches. He at one time was head coach at Eastern Michigan and has spent 12 years on the NU staff dating to Gary Barnett’s first season in Evanston in 1992." -

 

[T_Levine]

I think this is a good thing. Anytime you get a former head coach on staff thats a plus. And he has 10+ years of experience at NU

 

[Pasadena Bound]

This is great news. Jeff is a great guy, has a very good offensive mind and brings years of experience. Not sure he will be allowed to recruit but that has always been a strong suit for him. Welcome back Jeff!

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

This is terrific news...Genyk is a great guy. Nice addition by Fitz.

 

[phatcat]

Good add. Might be a genius add. Sarcasm aside, 'he cannot coach the players but can coach the coaches.'

That might prove more valuable than coaching the players.

 

[Deeringfish]

This is terrific news...Genyk is a great guy. Nice addition by Fitz.

Do you know him? I've heard he is a real ball buster. Maybe just what the coaching staff needs.

 

[willycat]

This is terrific news...Genyk is a great guy. Nice addition by Fitz.

Met him and his family at a restaurant after a bowl game, maybe Detroit. Seemed like a very accommodating guy and his presence can only help, especially with the special teams.

 

[Sheffielder]

I'm indifferent to (but optimistic for) Genyk himself, but pleased to see we are investing in personnel like this...just signals to me that the program is willing to spend money on staff beyond the basics.

 

[LeftyLarry]

He did a good job at Wisconsin.

 

[EvanstonCat]

I haven't seen this reported anywhere. Jeff Genyk is back, and doing work in the two problem areas: offense and special teams. For those of us (like me) who feels Fitzgerald is resistant to change, here is an example of his making a change to address a problem. Good job.

From Dienhart's report:

"Northwestern has added former Wisconsin special teams coach Jeff Genyk as a quality control coach with offense and special teams. He can’t coach the players but can coach the coaches. He at one time was head coach at Eastern Michigan and has spent 12 years on the NU staff dating to Gary Barnett’s first season in Evanston in 1992." -

Hugely welcome development. A) he is deeply experienced, b) seemed to do a good job at Wisco, c) former coach from Barnett's staff. Maybe between Brown and him, they can teach Fitz a few things about how Barnett did it from the coach's POV.

Anyone know why he was available and why he is in this type of role with us? How did he leave Wisconsin?

 

[gocatsgo2003]

Hugely welcome development. A) he is deeply experienced, b) seemed to do a good job at Wisco, c) former coach from Barnett's staff. Maybe between Brown and him, they can teach Fitz a few things about how Barnett did it from the coach's POV.

Anyone know why he was available and why he is in this type of role with us? How did he leave Wisconsin?

Ever think Fitz may have learned a few things about how Barnett did it while he was a GA for Barnett at Colorado?

This romanticized notion that Barnett could do no wrong is pretty funny.

 

[corbi296]

He is where he is because he had a brutal record as a head football coach at Eastern Michigan and eventually got fired. He then hooked up as a special teams coach at Wisconsin and did not get asked to join coach Andersen when he left for OSU and was not retained by the the new coach at Wisconsin. I am sure he will add some value to the staff but let's not act like this guy is the second coming of Vince Lombardi just because he coached on Barnett's staff.

 

[mybrotha]

I haven't seen this reported anywhere. Jeff Genyk is back, and doing work in the two problem areas: offense and special teams. For those of us (like me) who feels Fitzgerald is resistant to change, here is an example of his making a change to address a problem. Good job.

From Dienhart's report:

"Northwestern has added former Wisconsin special teams coach Jeff Genyk as a quality control coach with offense and special teams. He can’t coach the players but can coach the coaches. He at one time was head coach at Eastern Michigan and has spent 12 years on the NU staff dating to Gary Barnett’s first season in Evanston in 1992." -

NJ, is it possible that this is a Phillips move and not Fitz? Sort of a little quality control in place.

 

[NUCat320]

He is where he is because he had a brutal record as a head football coach at Eastern Michigan and eventually got fired. He then hooked up as a special teams coach at Wisconsin and did not get asked to join coach Andersen when he left for OSU and was not retained by the the new coach at Wisconsin. I am sure he will add some value to the staff but let's not act like this guy is the second coming of Vince Lombardi just because he coached on Barnett's staff.

Eastern Michigan is a terrible program, but there was never a sense that it was getting better under Genyk. His best trait is that he was part of bringing the spread to Northwestern.

 

[NJCat83588]

NJ, is it possible that this is a Phillips move and not Fitz? Sort of a little quality control in place.

I have no idea. But I sort of doubt it. I think Pat has complete discretion over hiring and firing of his staff.

 

[Deeringfish]

I have no idea. But I sort of doubt it. I think Pat has complete discretion over hiring and firing of his staff.

Somebody had to approve the salary in the budget. This looks like a new position. I would be curious what the job description looks like. It doesn't sound like he is a coach to the players. These guys network a lot, maybe it was just a result of a discussion that gained traction.

 

[gocatsgo2003]

Somebody had to approve the salary in the budget. This looks like a new position. I would be curious what the job description looks like. It doesn't sound like he is a coach to the players. These guys network a lot, maybe it was just a result of a discussion that gained traction.

It is not a new position. NU has has "quality control" coaches for quite a while now. They're typically younger guys and basically graduate assistants but cannot coach on the field. Guessing Genyk took the spot because he didn't have anything else going.

 

[Deeringfish]

Eastern Michigan is a terrible program, but there was never a sense that it was getting better under Genyk. His best trait is that he was part of bringing the spread to Northwestern.

Eastern has almost insurmountable challenges for recruiting and identity. A school in a state with two dominant programs and a variety of directional schools, right in the shadow of one of the dominant programs.

I don't know if there is a formula that will ever work at Eastern. Both Genyk and his successor tried to follow a strategy that if you act like the big boys you will become one, which is a legit approach but didn't work either time. Expect victory, I suppose. That said, NU has a much better chance of gaining some traction with that mindset so he may add some useful gray matter to the brain trust.

 

[Deeringfish]

It is not a new position. NU has has "quality control" coaches for quite a while now. They're typically younger guys and basically graduate assistants but cannot coach on the field. Guessing Genyk took the spot because he didn't have anything else going.

So would you say that this is a pretty temporary gig for him?

 

[NJCat83588]

Eastern has almost insurmountable challenges for recruiting and identity. A school in a state with two dominant programs and a variety of directional schools, right in the shadow of one of the dominant programs.

I don't know if there is a formula that will ever work at Eastern. Both Genyk and his successor tried to follow a strategy that if you act like the big boys you will become one, which is a legit approach but didn't work either time. Expect victory, I suppose. That said, NU has a much better chance of gaining some traction with that mindset so he may add some useful gray matter to the brain trust.

You may be right about EMU. But CMU and now WMU seem to have carved out competitive niches in Michigan. Might just need the right guy at EMU. It will be interesting to see how much longer the guy at WMU lasts if he has a good season. Will be a hot commodity. Has been recruiting his butt off.

 

[gocatsgo2003]

So would you say that this is a pretty temporary gig for him?

Most likely, though would expect him in Evanston through the season unless something unexpected pops up. Coaching staffs are typically set at this point.

 

[Deeringfish]

You may be right about EMU. But CMU and now WMU seem to have carved out competitive niches in Michigan. Might just need the right guy at EMU. It will be interesting to see how much longer the guy at WMU lasts if he has a good season. Will be a hot commodity. Has been recruiting his butt off.

You are right about Central and Western. Both of those schools have the advantage of being the local "big fish" in their town and quadrant (?) of the state. Locals come out to the games as an extension of the high school football culture. There is a hometown proud feel. Their relative success adds to Eastern's challenge.
The new guy at Eastern has a little more "Build a family not a factory" mentality which may elevate the success or not. Time will tell.

 

[EvanstonCat]

Ever think Fitz may have learned a few things about how Barnett did it while he was a GA for Barnett at Colorado?

This romanticized notion that Barnett could do no wrong is pretty funny.

Yeah, I know Fitz learned a few things from Barnett. But being a GA isn't exactly the same, and I would assume you would know that. Definitely seems like he has more Walker in him than Barnett, and for me that isn't a good thing. I appreciate the good things about Walker (though unfortunately, the Wheeler tragedy softened him before Fitz got to know him). And Barnett made plenty of mistakes, but overall, he was the best damned coach we ever had this side of Ara Parseghian. Too bad you never got to work with him.

 

[gocatsgo2003]

Yeah, I know Fitz learned a few things from Barnett. But being a GA isn't exactly the same, and I would assume you would know that. Definitely seems like he has more Walker in him than Barnett, and for me that isn't a good thing. I appreciate the good things about Walker (though unfortunately, the Wheeler tragedy softened him before Fitz got to know him). And Barnett made plenty of mistakes, but overall, he was the best damned coach we ever had this side of Ara Parseghian. Too bad you never got to work with him.

Being a GA is essentially all about getting "coached up" by the full-time staff, from position coaches to coordinators straight to the head coach. It's basically the compensation for all the hours spent cutting tape and charting plays, because the actual pay is garbage.

Besides, I'm going to wager that Barnett and Fitz didn't have a typical HC/GA relationship given their storied and highly-decorated past. Fitz also has regular discussions with Barnett on a variety of topics and has had Jerry Brown as his AHC for years. Rest assured that Barnett's influence on the program remains pretty significant.

 

[LeftyLarry]

He is where he is because he had a brutal record as a head football coach at Eastern Michigan and eventually got fired. He then hooked up as a special teams coach at Wisconsin and did not get asked to join coach Andersen when he left for OSU and was not retained by the the new coach at Wisconsin. I am sure he will add some value to the staff but let's not act like this guy is the second coming of Vince Lombardi just because he coached on Barnett's staff.

Not sure he wanted to go to Oregon, he's a Midwest guy.
Chryst hired a "Pitt" buddy to take his job, not a better Coach.

 

[Deeringfish]

Being a GA is essentially all about getting "coached up" by the full-time staff, from position coaches to coordinators straight to the head coach. It's basically the compensation for all the hours spent cutting tape and charting plays, because the actual pay is garbage.

Besides, I'm going to wager that Barnett and Fitz didn't have a typical HC/GA relationship given their storied and highly-decorated past. Fitz also has regular discussions with Barnett on a variety of topics and has had Jerry Brown as his AHC for years. Rest assured that Barnett's influence on the program remains pretty significant.

But Genyk's position couldn't be anything like that, could it?

 

[gocatsgo2003]

But Genyk's position couldn't be anything like that, could it?

Technically, yes. It's due to NCAA rules that limit countable coaches. Genyk can essentially do everything w coach does EXCEPT coach on the field (both in practices and games).

 

[shakes3858]

Not sure he wanted to go to Oregon, he's a Midwest guy.
Chryst hired a "Pitt" buddy to take his job, not a better Coach.

You could very well be right, but some here think we should just rehire Gary Barnett and do whatever it takes to get his staff together and we'll be going to rose bowls every year. Corbi's point was that Genyk isn't the greatest coach in the world (not saying he's a bad coach, just saying he's literally not the #1 best). In other words, you're probably right, but Corbi definitely is.