Wilson hires staff, loses Doss to NFL

    While the IU student body took some time off to enjoy the holidays, new IU football coach Kevin Wilson spent much of the last few weeks working to fill out his staff.

As promised, Wilson focused on the defensive side of the ball first, hiring former Nebraska linebackers coach Mike Ekeler and former New Mexico defensive coordinator Doug Mallory to serve as his co-defensive coordinators. Ekeler will coach the linebackers, and Mallory will coach the safeties.
Ekeler, who coached against Wilson in last month’s Big 12 title game, had a great deal of success during his three years with the Cornhuskers. This past season, linebacker Lavonte David was seventh in the country with 145 tackles in the regular season. David was the runner-up for Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.

Ekeler’s move from a successful program surprised some, but he said it was time to move on and get out on his own.

“With me being the linebackers coach and Bo being a defensive guy, I needed to branch out in order to really grow as a coach,” Ekeler said. “That’s what excites me coming into Indiana.”

“As a player, I played for Bill Snyder at Kansas State back when we turned it around. It was an awesome experience as a player, and I really want to be part of that as a coach,” Ekeler said.

Mallory, the son of former IU football coach Bill Mallory, served as the Hoosiers’ defensive backs and special teams coach from 1994 to 1996. Mallory worked with Ekeler at Louisiana State from 2005 to 2007 and was a part of the LSU teams that played in the Sugar Bowl in 2007 and the BCS National Championship in 2008.
Mallory’s New Mexico defense struggled last season, allowing 44.3 points per game. The Lobos finished the season 1-11 overall.

Corey Raymond (cornerbacks) and Mark Hagen (defensive tackles and special teams) were later hired to round out the defensive staff.

Raymond, a former NFL player, spent the last two seasons coaching the cornerbacks at Utah State. He said he’s excited for the challenge of helping turn the Hoosiers’ defense around.

“We’re going to play lights out, play with a very aggressive style and challenge people every day,” Raymond said. “We have to make sure we develop that culture of competing every day.”

Hagen, a former IU football player, spent the last 11 years with Purdue. During his time in West Lafayette, Hagen coached the linebackers, defensive tackles and special teams.

The former Boilermaker turned Hoosier will bring to Bloomington his ability to recruit. He was named one of the Big Ten’s top recruiters in 2010 and was on a 2005
Rivals.com list of the top 25 recruiters in the country.

Pease chooses Boise State over IU

    Wilson also looked to beef up his offensive staff, intending to hire former Boise State assistant coach Brent Pease to lead the offense and former Northwestern wide receivers coach Kevin Johns for the same position.

However, Pease decided to return to Boise State after initially agreeing to be the Hoosiers’ offensive coordinator. This came on the heels of the news that the Broncos’ former offensive coordinator, Bryan Harsin, would take the same job at the University of Texas. This new opportunity was too much for Pease to pass up, as he decided to leave the Hoosiers for his old team.

Pease, who had been mentioned for several head coaching positions, helped Boise State post a record of 61-5 and win four Western Athletic Conference titles in five seasons. Pease was a part of the 2007 Boise State team that beat Wilson’s Sooners in the Fiesta Bowl.

Johns’ hiring occurred almost simultaneously with junior wide receiver Tandon Doss’ decision to declare for the NFL Draft. Johns said Doss’ status “wasn’t even part of the equation.”

Like many of the other staff members, Johns worked with Wilson in the past. The two coached together at Northwestern from 1999 to 2001 when Johns was an offensive graduate assistant and Wilson was the offensive coordinator.

“We won a Big Ten Championship together, and we really have remained close friends since then,” Johns said. “I know he’s done a lot of great things at Oklahoma, so I’m excited to learn his offense and the things they’ve done there.”

Johns also had high praise for the current group of IU receivers, including junior Damarlo Belcher, redshirt freshman Duwyce Wilson and true freshman Kofi Hughes.
“When you look at the receivers Indiana has put on the field these last couple of years, they’re as good a group as any in the Big Ten,” said Johns, who will also serve as the passing coordinator.

Belcher returns, Doss exits

    IU’s top two receivers from last year — Doss and Belcher — each made decisions about their football futures during the break.

Doss will forgo his senior season and declare for the NFL draft. The receiver had 63 catches for 706 yards and seven touchdowns last season. For his career, Doss caught 154 balls for 1,854 yards and 13 scores.

Originally rated as a 2-star recruit by Rivals.com coming out of Ben Davis High School, Doss quickly grew into one of the Big Ten’s best all-around receivers. The Indianapolis native ran for 163 yards and a touchdown last season.
When it came down to it, Doss said that he couldn’t risk coming back and watching his draft stock fall.

“I couldn’t take my chances with an unknown. I would be taking a leap of faith if I stayed because I don’t know what’s going to happen here,” said Doss, who will leave school to begin training in Florida. “It’s time for me to move on. I wish them (Hoosiers) the best of luck.”

Belcher, who had submitted his papers to the Draft Advisory Board, decided to return for his senior season.

A source said the Fort Wayne North Side product was predicted to go in a “good round” by the Advisory Board, but he wanted a chance to work with the “great staff” Wilson has put together.

Belcher led the Big Ten with 78 receptions and was seventh in the conference with 832 receiving yards last season.