December 14, 2004
The Belichick Tree

There are certain legendary football coaches, who seem to hire such good people around them that they end up starting their own "coaching tree" when those talented coaches around them rise up and take head coaching positions themselves.

For college football, a coaching tree has begun in the most unusual places, in the front office of the NFL's New England Patriots. With the recent hiring of Charlie Weis at Notre Dame, there are now five high profile coaches who formerly worked for Patriots Bill Belichick, in either his first run at coaching, for the Cleveland Browns from 1991-1995, or now, where he has been at the head of the Patriots since the 2000 season.

Charlie Weis - Notre Dame: Weis served as the Offensive Coordinator since Belichick began in New England, in 2000. Will leave at the end of the season to become the 28th coach in the history of Notre Dame.

Kirk Ferentz - Iowa: Ferentz was the O-Line coach for Cleveland Browns from 1991 to 1995. Stayed one season beyond Belichick's firing in 1996. Also worked one year as the O-Line coach for the Baltimore Ravens before accepting the head coaching position at Iowa in 1998.

Pat Hill - Fresno State: Coached the Tight Ends for the Cleveland Browns from 1992 to 1995 under Belichick. Stayed two more seasons beyond Belicheck's firing, eventually accepting the head coaching position at Fresno State before the 1998 season.

Nick Saban - LSU: Served as defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns from 1991-94, before leaving to coach Michigan State in 1995.

Al Groh - Virginia: Groh was the linebackers coach on the Browns for one season, in 1992, and worked under Belichick and Bill Parcells when Belicheck was the Defensive Coordinator for the New York Jets from 1996-1999. Groh coached the linebackers. Was the Head Coach of the Jets in 2000 before leaving to take the Virginia job in 2001.

Posted by Josh McClain

http://www.fanblogs.com/ncaa/archives/002234.php