A day after the NCAA national championship game and just over a month since being hired, new Cincinnati Bearcat football coach Scott Satterfield introduced his new offensive and defensive coordinators at a press conference. of the Fifth Third Arena.
They also added five more players via the transfer portal as its newly invigorated and larger recruitment department had a busy morning. Among those transfers is former Princeton High wide receiver Sterling Berkhalter, a 6-foot-4 target from North Carolina A&T.
“It was important to grow the recruiting department,” Satterfield said. “We know how the Portal works. You have to recruit your team, you have to recruit high school players and you have the Portal. Zach Grant is going to be our general manager now. He was at Ohio State and before that Western Kentucky. You look his job and he’s a really great assessor, he’s very organized and has a good plan.
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Cincinnati high school football rookies should expect to see Bearcat coaches soon
This week, high schools in Greater Cincinnati are expected to see Bearcat staff in C-Paws in the hallways as staff plan to travel the I-275 beltway and beyond.
“We’re hitting every one of them, not just Cincinnati but within 50 miles,” Satterfield said. “Eight to 12 schools per coach. Next week we’ll keep hitting Ohio and then we’ll branch out across the country.”
defensive coordinator Bryan Brown came from Louisville with Satterfield and was on his team with the Cardinals for all four years. Like Satterfield, he coached neither team in Louisville’s 24-7 win over the Bearcats in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl. Louisville led the nation in sacks this season, first in fourth down percentage (19%, opponents 4 of 21) and third in turnovers.
“Coach Brown has been with me since 2012,” Satterfield said. “In this business, it’s hard to accomplish. He had many opportunities over the years, but luckily for me, he was able to stay with me. What we took over in Louisville defensively was not very good in the game. everything.”
The addition of Tom Manning was made official on Monday. He was previously the offensive coordinator for Iowa State where they averaged over 31 points per game between 2019 and 2021. Current NFL stars Manning coaches at Iowa State include wide receiver Allen Lazard (Packers), running backs David Montgomery (Mount Healthy High School. now Chicago Bears) and Breece Hall (Jets), tight end Charlie Kolar (Ravens) and quarterback Brock Purdy (49ers).
“He’s from Ohio State,” Satterfield said of Manning. “He knows the state really well. I first met him when he was GA in Toledo in 2009. He had some of the best offenses in Iowa State history if you go back back and look. The fact that he was in the Big 12 was another key ingredient that I thought we needed to be on that staff.”
Notable number
Seven assistants from Louisville accompanied Satterfield North on his last mission. If you watched Georgia dismantle TCU in the National Championship Game, you might know the Bulldogs have seven wins against FBS opponents with eight or more wins. Behind them were Michigan, Tulane and Satterfield’s former Louisville team. Louisville has won six of its last eight games and nine of its opponents have been seeded.
What to know about defensive coordinator Bryan Brown
Philosophy and training?
“We’re going towards an attacking style defence. I like to put the pressure on. I like to lose eight in cover sometimes. It all depends on what the offense is really, really good. We try to stop what they’re doing the best. We are a 3-4 team with the principles of a 4-2-5 because we have five DBs on the pitch at all times.”
Down a beat, but there’s another
“I look forward to working with Deshawn. He brings a different dynamic, especially within our system. We think he can play free safety, nickel position, blitz, zone coverage, things from that nature. I think he’s excited as well. It hurts to lose Ivan, I would have loved to coach him. He’s going to earn a lot of money at the next level.”
What about UC’s back defensive line?
“They’re there every day to practice. They do a really good job of stopping the run and getting to the setter. They’re geeky. You think about the amount of sacks we had in Louisville and the turnovers, we were leading the ACC in a lot of categories. Those guys saw those stats and the production that they could possibly have. We’re putting a little more pressure than they have in the past .
How important was it to keep Kerry Coombs and Walter Stewart with local connections?
“Kerry is a wonderful human being. When you think of great coaches across the country, he’s definitely one of them. I’m thrilled to work with him and share that void with him as well. Walt, that’s great to have a guy who played here in the blood, sweat and tears of the University of Cincinnati. Hopefully we can keep him here as long as we can. That’s a bright spot and he’s got a a very bright future ahead of him.
What to know about offensive coordinator Tom Manning
The importance of being from Ohio
“He always knew what I thought of Ohio State from here and I think he thought it was a really good fit. He wanted to add another staff member who knows what it’s like. is to recruit this state. For me, it was a very exciting phone call. I went home and said that this was something my family would love to do.
The Importance of Ohio High School Recruitment
“Coach Coombs has done a terrific job and the previous staff. High school coaching in this state is elite. Especially when you go to other areas. There is great high school coaching in some areas and some areas , there isn’t. It means a little more in some places. I’m extremely happy to be in a place where high school football is extremely important and it’s done in the right way where the coach of high school football is still a significant person in the lives of young people. . I have recruited Northeast Ohio in many areas. I am excited about some of the relationships I have now. I will be seeing some of these guys a little more frequently than in recent years.
On the use of tight ends
“There were some really good tight ends here. We hope to continue that. From a distance we lost a ton of production. Chamon (Metayer) played a bit and to be completely honest, I don’t know exactly who did what and I don’t want to. We’re going to get into spring football and do our own assessment.
Big 12 competition can be brutal
“Last year there were a lot of heartbreakers (at Iowa State). That’s what’s exciting, parity. It’s amazing. Every week you feel like you have a chance and it seems like every week when you look through the conference someone beats someone who’s kinda shocking. There’s a lot of really awesome environments to play in. That’s what you want the college football either in terms of action.
Where will he train?
“I’ve been in the press box for a long time. I’ve only been on the pitch for two or three years. But wherever they want, that’s where I’ll be.”
Jowon Briggs on changes to UC coaching staff
Walnut Hills High School’s Jowon Briggs turned heads when he announced he was staying on for another season at UC. Already graduated, he will pursue another in computer science. The 6-foot-1, 313-pound defensive lineman has been a force for the Bearcats since moving from Virginia.
The decision to stay
“My decision was basically based on whether I won an invite to a bowling game, like the Senior Bowl. I didn’t, so I thought it would be a great opportunity for me. to come back and use that last year of eligibility. Being the older guy, I just wanted to be that cornerstone, really just let it be known. If that influenced anyone, great!”
Wasn’t the invitation to a bowl an incentive to improve?
“It’s definitely a chip on the shoulder, but it’s all types of fun. I love coming back and playing here. Couldn’t ask for a better situation.”
On the new technical staff
“They are great. Great football guys. The D line have been in the office every day during this break (voluntarily) trying to learn and be sponges for their information. Their defense is built on being really aggressive. I think it gives D-line players a lot of freedom and a lot of opportunities to get a hold of someone and start. Looks like we’re going to be able to play around a bit. Should be fun.
Return of Walter Stewart as defense coach
“Having him stay here will be really crucial for next year.”
