JMU Newbill
February 18th, 2009, 06:31 AM
Congrats to Kyle Gillenwater on getting promoted to Defensive Coordinator for JMU. Also, one additional player has signed with the Dukes.
http://www.dnronline.com/sports_details.php?AID=35604&CHID=3
Mickey Stays In-HousePosted 2009-02-18By Mike Barber (http://www.dnronline.com/articles_writers.php?uid=10&fp=sports_details&aid=35604&chid=3)
HARRISONBURG - Mickey Matthews did not have to look far to find his new defensive coordinator. Matthews said Monday that linebackers coach Kyle Gillenwater - an assistant at JMU since 1999, Matthews' first year - will be promoted to the position, replacing the departed George Barlow.
"Kyle has been with us from Day One," Matthews said. "He's very deserving. I like to have someone that's involved with defending the run and pass, and he's solid in all areas. It wasn't a difficult decision to name him."
Matthews and Gillenwater, 44, both said Tuesday not to expect any major schematic changes in the Dukes' eight-man front defense. The unit has been among the best in the Colonial Athletic Association in recent years.
"I don't think they'll be a lot of major differences," said Gillenwater, who will continue to coach the linebackers.
In late January, Barlow, also a JMU assistant since 1999, accepted a job as the assistant head coach and secondary coach at Division I-A New Mexico, joining the staff of new Lobos football coach Mike Locksley.
Under Barlow, Madison's defenses were among the best in the CAA, never ranking below the top three in points allowed his first four years before finishing fifth last season. The Dukes never ranked lower than fourth in the CAA in total defense during his tenure.
Gillenwater, a Powhatan native and a 1987 Bridgewater graduate, coached linebackers in 1994 at Marshall when Matthews was defensive coordinator there.
Matthews said defensive line coach J.C. Price - the other in-house candidate for the coordinator's job - also will receive a promotion, adding the title of defensive run game coordinator.
Price, a 1998 Virginia Tech graduate, played defensive line for the Hokies in the same eight-man front system JMU installed before the 2004 season, Barlow's first as the coordinator. Price is a 36-year-old Dunkirk, Md., native.
"He is very instrumental in what we do defensively," Matthews said of Price. "He makes a lot of calls for us during games. It only stands to reason he would get a promotion. Kyle will call the defenses, but Coach Price will be much more involved. He's moved up the ladder."
Barlow also had the title of assistant head coach, which Matthews said will now go to offensive coordinator Jeff Durden.
All three promotions include pay raises and need to be approved by the university.
Gillenwater is the first new coordinator Matthews has had to hire since a massive shakeup after the 2003 season. JMU hired Jeff Durden, VMI's offensive coordinator at the time, and promoted Barlow.
Matthews said he will interview for a new safeties coach this week and will wait to assign recruiting territories until after making that hire. Matthews confirmed that the candidates include coaches with ties to the Tidewater area, a talent-rich region recruited by Barlow.
Turnover in the Hampton Roads recruiting position may have led to diminishing results for the Dukes in what was once JMU's most vital hotbed of talent. After landing 18 players from that region from 2004-06, Madison signed two in 2007, one in 2008 and none this year.
On another coaching matter, James Madison assistant Clayton Matthews worked a half day Tuesday after being released from the University of Virginia Medical Center. Matthews, who is paralyzed from the middle of his chest down, was in the intensive care ward for three nights last week due to complications from surgery. He was released Monday and said the health scare will not effect his ability to coach the team.
Clayton Matthews, 27, coaches the wide receivers.
NOTE: McKinley Tech High School running back and linebacker Terry Turner (5-foot-11, 188) has signed with the Dukes, a source said.
http://www.dnronline.com/sports_details.php?AID=35604&CHID=3
Mickey Stays In-HousePosted 2009-02-18By Mike Barber (http://www.dnronline.com/articles_writers.php?uid=10&fp=sports_details&aid=35604&chid=3)
HARRISONBURG - Mickey Matthews did not have to look far to find his new defensive coordinator. Matthews said Monday that linebackers coach Kyle Gillenwater - an assistant at JMU since 1999, Matthews' first year - will be promoted to the position, replacing the departed George Barlow.
"Kyle has been with us from Day One," Matthews said. "He's very deserving. I like to have someone that's involved with defending the run and pass, and he's solid in all areas. It wasn't a difficult decision to name him."
Matthews and Gillenwater, 44, both said Tuesday not to expect any major schematic changes in the Dukes' eight-man front defense. The unit has been among the best in the Colonial Athletic Association in recent years.
"I don't think they'll be a lot of major differences," said Gillenwater, who will continue to coach the linebackers.
In late January, Barlow, also a JMU assistant since 1999, accepted a job as the assistant head coach and secondary coach at Division I-A New Mexico, joining the staff of new Lobos football coach Mike Locksley.
Under Barlow, Madison's defenses were among the best in the CAA, never ranking below the top three in points allowed his first four years before finishing fifth last season. The Dukes never ranked lower than fourth in the CAA in total defense during his tenure.
Gillenwater, a Powhatan native and a 1987 Bridgewater graduate, coached linebackers in 1994 at Marshall when Matthews was defensive coordinator there.
Matthews said defensive line coach J.C. Price - the other in-house candidate for the coordinator's job - also will receive a promotion, adding the title of defensive run game coordinator.
Price, a 1998 Virginia Tech graduate, played defensive line for the Hokies in the same eight-man front system JMU installed before the 2004 season, Barlow's first as the coordinator. Price is a 36-year-old Dunkirk, Md., native.
"He is very instrumental in what we do defensively," Matthews said of Price. "He makes a lot of calls for us during games. It only stands to reason he would get a promotion. Kyle will call the defenses, but Coach Price will be much more involved. He's moved up the ladder."
Barlow also had the title of assistant head coach, which Matthews said will now go to offensive coordinator Jeff Durden.
All three promotions include pay raises and need to be approved by the university.
Gillenwater is the first new coordinator Matthews has had to hire since a massive shakeup after the 2003 season. JMU hired Jeff Durden, VMI's offensive coordinator at the time, and promoted Barlow.
Matthews said he will interview for a new safeties coach this week and will wait to assign recruiting territories until after making that hire. Matthews confirmed that the candidates include coaches with ties to the Tidewater area, a talent-rich region recruited by Barlow.
Turnover in the Hampton Roads recruiting position may have led to diminishing results for the Dukes in what was once JMU's most vital hotbed of talent. After landing 18 players from that region from 2004-06, Madison signed two in 2007, one in 2008 and none this year.
On another coaching matter, James Madison assistant Clayton Matthews worked a half day Tuesday after being released from the University of Virginia Medical Center. Matthews, who is paralyzed from the middle of his chest down, was in the intensive care ward for three nights last week due to complications from surgery. He was released Monday and said the health scare will not effect his ability to coach the team.
Clayton Matthews, 27, coaches the wide receivers.
NOTE: McKinley Tech High School running back and linebacker Terry Turner (5-foot-11, 188) has signed with the Dukes, a source said.