Tech hires special teams coordinator
Georgia Tech will hire a coach from the Canadian Football League to be its new special teams coordinator. Dave Walkosky will fill the vacancy on the Yellow Jackets’ staff, the Calgary Stampeders announced in a Wednesday news release.
The hire was first reported by Canadian sports network TSN. Tech spokesman Dean Buchan wouldn’t confirm the hire but said the school hopes to make an announcement on the hire by early next week.
The move is an intriguing one by coach Paul Johnson. The coach has not had a titled special teams coordinator since arriving at Tech in 2008 and has gone to great lengths to defend and explain his rationale for not having one in the face of sub-par special-teams play.
“Our special teams were not very good again,” Johnson said Tuesday. “We may make a change there, we may look at doing it differently. I don’t necessarily think it’s scheme, but maybe it’s the way we’re approaching it or whatever. So we’ll take a look at that.”
There is also the matter that Walkosky, 42, doesn’t have the typical résumé of an ACC coach. Prior to coaching linebackers for the Stampeders last season, he was the head coach at Division II Tiffin University in Ohio for three seasons. He did coach at Washington State and Toledo previously. It might be said Johnson doesn’t always hew to convention.
While at Toledo, seven of his special-teams units were ranked in the top 15 nationally. The Rockets blocked 24 kicks in his eight seasons at Toledo.
“He’s an outstanding football coach, has a lot of energy, excellent recruiter and just a tremendous colleague,” said former Toledo coach Tom Amstutz. “I worked with him for quite a few years. Very loyal, very hard worker, will have a great relationship with the players and he’ll get the best out of his players.”
Amstutz said Walkosky had an aggressive style, which led to the blocks. He called him fiery and passionate. He remembered him spending time in the offseason studying with NFL special-teams coaches to stay current on new trends in the game.
“He’ll have high expectations for his players and his players will love to make plays for him because he’s so fired up,” he said.
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108 comments Add your comment
Ronald
February 29th, 2012
2:40 pm
First!
juvenal
February 29th, 2012
2:40 pm
Enter your comments here
swarmi
February 29th, 2012
2:45 pm
Could catching punts be a special need to be addressed?
David from Athens, AL
February 29th, 2012
2:46 pm
Finally, i think it will help!!! GO JACKETS!!!!!
juvenal
February 29th, 2012
2:47 pm
would have been first if i can figure out how to keep the screen from dropping every time i click this box-a little better if i hit enter first, have to multi-click…..
Tokyo jacket
February 29th, 2012
2:49 pm
I hope this move helps!
Hey, juvenal...
February 29th, 2012
2:49 pm
…your comment is so, well, juvenile…
Tokyo jacket
February 29th, 2012
2:52 pm
Ken, can you elaborate on “7 of his special teams were in the top 15″? How many years was he at Toledo? What categories are we talking about – kick coverage, punt coverage, net punting yards, starting field position, etc?
South GA Jacket
February 29th, 2012
2:52 pm
“typical résumé”? What qualifies as typical for a special teams coach? I think it’s a good hire.
FL Jacket
February 29th, 2012
2:52 pm
I think CPJ was willing to give the ST coach idea a try. I will argue that we’ve lacked the playmakers and specialists to have consistently good ST units.
Anyway, CDW also has extensive experience as a defensive coach and could move to that side specifically if needed…
Bobby Cremins
February 29th, 2012
2:53 pm
Should help us in recruiting the Canadian provinces.
FL Jacket
February 29th, 2012
2:53 pm
Ken…
How ticked off were Dean Buchan and CPJ that this was leaked? And who might have leaked it? Walkosky or the Calgary Stampede?
juvenal
February 29th, 2012
2:54 pm
wow, that’s original-what it has to do with the ajc program bouncing the screen like an italian cruise ship escapes me……..nzaa?
GIVE ME A BREAK
February 29th, 2012
2:59 pm
Why the delay in making the announcement?
WnE
February 29th, 2012
3:01 pm
Recruits from Australia………..Coaches from Canada.
Damn if he ain’t trying!
Dude’s scouring the EARTH to try and make GT FB decent.
DesignerJacket
February 29th, 2012
3:04 pm
Delay in making the announcement = still negotiating contract details
GTGreg
February 29th, 2012
3:10 pm
Wrecktum effect… or WnE… whatever you go by nowadays… go be a “fan” of some other program, and stalk their recruits instead of ours. It’s just creepy.
GIVE ME A BREAK
February 29th, 2012
3:11 pm
DJ, probably, his former school announced several hours ago. Sounds like a good coach. A step in the right direction.
Buzz 2011
February 29th, 2012
3:11 pm
Good for CPJ as he is showing some flexability..
Go Jackets.. Let’s take the ACC title back this year..
BigTimeTechFan
February 29th, 2012
3:12 pm
WnE
coach who left the CFL to coach in America
Tom Coughlin Super Bowl winner NY Giants
Also read, he has coached in NCAA before.
DesignerJacket
February 29th, 2012
3:14 pm
Not trying to be a jerk, GMAB, but just pointing out that “his former school” is the CFL team Calgary Stampeders. This guys is also supposedly a skilled Defensive Coordinator, not just a special teams guru. Maybe we’re hedging against Groh taking too long to pan out?
D
February 29th, 2012
3:16 pm
CDW will have but one mortal enemy in Atlanta… Fry’s.
Please feel free to ignore this stab at humor.
FL Jacket
February 29th, 2012
3:18 pm
D…
I know you’re a Tech alum. A uGA grad couldn’t find Fry’s even if they had a GPS…
collegeballfan
February 29th, 2012
3:20 pm
Works for me.
GIVE ME A BREAK
February 29th, 2012
3:23 pm
DJ, I got you now. Thanks.
GT Grad
February 29th, 2012
3:23 pm
Now lets get a offensive coordinator who uses the spread offense like Oregon.
Ken Sugiura
February 29th, 2012
3:25 pm
i think the school has to do the standard human resources clearance and make sure he’s signed and sealed. i don’t think they were too bothered by it coming out prior to that.
South GA – a more typical hire might be the special teams guy at a lower-tier FBS team (which, it bears mention, Walkosky was several years ago) or someone with considerable experience at a BCS conference school. He has one year at Washington State. that doesn’t make it a bad hire, just not typical.
Ronald – congratulations
Bobby Cremins – well done.
FL Jacket
February 29th, 2012
3:26 pm
GT Grad…
Wouldn’t that be the shotgun spread option offense? You know, the one most “high schools” use?
Techmate
February 29th, 2012
3:26 pm
Good hire for Tech and CPJ. Welcome aboard, Coach Walkosky. Now CPJ can concentrate a bit more on throwing the football and running the ball down hill.
GIVE ME A BREAK
February 29th, 2012
3:27 pm
Jumping across the border confused me. lol
Ken Sugiura
February 29th, 2012
3:27 pm
Tokyo Jacket – sorry to miss you. it was in his bio. i’m trying to figure it out, also. it would be things like field-goal accuracy, punt net, kickoff return, etc. i can tell you in 2003, toledo was third in the country in punt returns (16.1 yards per return) and fifth in net punting (42.3 yards)
GTJason
February 29th, 2012
3:29 pm
The whole CFL rules on kicking whenever you want (I’m by no means an expert on their rules) could provide the basis for some trick plays, and good ST defense (since you have to be ready for a kick at all times.) Hopefully we’ll get some decent production, or at least not negative production
FL Jacket
February 29th, 2012
3:35 pm
Ken…
Walkosky also has a defensive coaching background. I’m guessing he’s flexible enough to move to another coaching position (maybe somehow this is part of an eventual succession plan to CAG).
gtfanfrom1951
February 29th, 2012
3:44 pm
I hope he can help the kickers put in the endzone. Maybe it will help defense if the special teams can pin the other team back.
John
February 29th, 2012
3:46 pm
Who?
George Stein
February 29th, 2012
3:48 pm
In Johnson’s defense, nothing about him is conventional.
Boot Licking Toadie
February 29th, 2012
3:50 pm
I’m glad they hired a ST coach. Hope he can recruit!
Buzzed
February 29th, 2012
3:52 pm
Moving the kickers up 5 yards this year will help.
Alabama Jack
February 29th, 2012
3:59 pm
At least he doesn’t put hash browns in his pants like the UGA soccer gals.
Jacket Man
February 29th, 2012
3:59 pm
We hired him before VA Tech could – Beamer was also trying to get him on his staff; does THAT make everyone feel a bit better?
go42
February 29th, 2012
4:02 pm
Good move. Also another Asst with HC experience. Solid addition to the staff.
FL Jacket
February 29th, 2012
4:09 pm
Jacket Man…
Of course it won’t make those feel better who call CPJ names like “Moobs McFish Fry”
QB/DB
February 29th, 2012
4:12 pm
Thank you CPJ at least you are willing to try and improve. I appreciate it. I hope he can recruit and can get GT into the Ohio and Midwest area.
GT Alum
February 29th, 2012
4:24 pm
I will argue that we’ve lacked the playmakers and specialists to have consistently good ST units.
That could explain the lack of big returns, the short kickoffs and the mediocre FG conversions, but you don’t have to be CJ Spiller or Devin Hester to catch the dang ball on a kick (given that was much improved last year), and even a marginal punter shouldn’t have multiple punts that unintentionally go about 20 yards. Not to mention the lapses in kick coverage.
Mr. Snuffleupagus
February 29th, 2012
4:25 pm
When your team is the 2nd youngest in all of college football and special teams are always made up of your 2nd and 3rd stringers, you have to expect them to be bad. Special teams play is a direct function of your team’s age. Don’t look for improvement until you have a team of veterans.
www
February 29th, 2012
4:35 pm
good hire.
Willard Romney
February 29th, 2012
4:40 pm
Only way I would have done this is hire Mark Bradley or Colin Cowhurd, proven winners!
Ken Sugiura
February 29th, 2012
4:40 pm
FL Jacket – it wouldn’t surprise me if he has some defensive responsibilities.
Big Ol Stinger
February 29th, 2012
4:56 pm
The hot potatoe dish normally served at breakfast is apparently being filtered from the comments.
juvenal
February 29th, 2012
4:57 pm
ncaa taking as long as the guvmint courts……
crackbaby
February 29th, 2012
5:10 pm
Ken – thanks for this story. Reason for excitement and hope.
“Amstutz said Walkosky had an aggressive style, which led to the blocks. He called him fiery and passionate. He remembered him spending time in the offseason studying with NFL special-teams coaches to stay current on new trends in the game.”
All for AGGRESSION on special teams. Like it that he is a former LB coach. Also, the MAC conference plays good football with less than top tier talent. Guys like Ben Roethlisberger, Michael Turner are out of the MAC. MAC coaches earn their stripes. 24 blocked kicks in 8 seasons at Toledo. OoooRah!
Boot Licking Toadie
February 29th, 2012
5:19 pm
What’s the word on the appeal? If they reject it then the NCAA has set a standard for pending and future rulings.
BigTimeTechFan
February 29th, 2012
5:22 pm
Nick Saben, Mark Richt, Mac Brown, Bob Stoops, Les Miles have all tried to hire Walkosky in the past couple of years but he said no, was waiting on better job.
BigTimeTechFan
February 29th, 2012
5:23 pm
Figured I would make up comments like other fans of schools around here do.
deuce coupe
February 29th, 2012
5:27 pm
The new special teams coordinator comes from a winning program.
The Calgary Stampeders were 13-5
in the Canadian Football League last season.
HighTech
February 29th, 2012
5:31 pm
Looking forward to Sept. 3!
Daily Stinger
February 29th, 2012
5:34 pm
2012 ST rankings: I didn’t see kick return coverage but we were 79th in net punt return coverage and 112th in our kickoff return avg. & 60th in punt return avg…
There’s no doubt this is a great move (it does help some that Va Tech wanted him). Our defense doesn’t need any help letting opposing offenses move down field. The ST position should have been handled after the disaster that cost Tech the Air Force bowl game
Woot Woot
February 29th, 2012
5:43 pm
bout freakin time……..guess u can teach an old dog new tricks. I’ll say this for CPJ, he can be embarrassed enff to make a change.
GT Dude
February 29th, 2012
5:53 pm
Just catching the punt would make me happy
Everything else will be a bonus
Supersize that order, mutt
February 29th, 2012
6:04 pm
GT Dude, since the disaster against AF, we haven’t had any problem catching punts…..just returning them for any yardage
DawginSewer
February 29th, 2012
6:20 pm
OUrses specilas educatens coasches gests us isn walmersts affers wes graduatess.
George Stein
February 29th, 2012
6:34 pm
I would disagree, Supersize. Go back to the Miami game, where we muffed the punt inside the 5. I still have no idea why Laskey tried to field that one.
o'keefe
February 29th, 2012
6:43 pm
Good hire. Ken—any further word on the situation with the NCAA appeal? THX
Jacket Up
February 29th, 2012
6:46 pm
Knowing nothing about Walkosky or the teams he has coached at, I won`t comment on him at all. But I want to comment on the fact that Paul Johnson is hiring a special teams coach.
The first advantage in that move is relieving other coaches of a “chore” they probably had relegated to “less important” (than their respective position coaching).
Simultaneously we have an experienced ST Coach who will have only special teams on his mind. He can spend all of his energies making each facet of the STs “the best in the country”. He can make ST members be proud to be ST members. And he can go to high school games with one thought, “Can this kid kick in the BCS?”
How many times has Frank Beamer`s STs won games for him? And at the other end of the spectrum have Paul Johnson`s STs LOST a game? This hire will double its apparent worth by not only ELIMINATING A NEGATIVE but ADDING A POSITIVE.
Jacket Up
February 29th, 2012
6:48 pm
Enter your comments here
George Stein
February 29th, 2012
7:10 pm
I think that’s the proper analysis, Jacket Up.
GT Grad
February 29th, 2012
7:14 pm
FL Jacket, the spread offense Oregon uses is nearly identical to the ones used by Auburn with $cam Newton and in Florida under Urban Meyer. It is true that they have the option built in to that offensive system, but its not used on every single snap. If you want to keep your opponents honest, bring in talented recruits, as well as compete at higher levels, you need to be more dual threat in the offense.
Just saying.
Tokyo jacket
February 29th, 2012
7:16 pm
Ken, thanks for the response. I’d argue that is exactly what Tech needs then. Someone who is going to make field position a positive for Georgia Tech and a bad word for opponents. Add to that that our incoming punter freshman puts the ball in the air for four seconds, has good directional ability, and kicks it about 55 yards in the air and our special teams may have just made a big jump.
Just in time for spring practice. Perfect!
Supersize that order, mutt
February 29th, 2012
7:20 pm
George, I didn’t remember that in the Miami game, but did it happen any other times during the season?
Tokyo jacket
February 29th, 2012
7:22 pm
Jacket up, very good thoughts dude. W/out special teams for the past 10 years, all those 10-win seasons in Blacksburg are more like 8- or 9-win seasons. I can think of at least three losses in the past three years caused by special teams lapses. Not shortages in talent, not getting beat, not just the way the ball bounces, but 18 year olds doing stupid stuff that I hope a good ST coach would train out of them.
That said, I still say the fake field goal pass against Clemson was pure genius!
And, Clemson...
February 29th, 2012
7:44 pm
…paid us back with basically the same play later in the game, and Spiller returned a kickoff for a TD, too, in the same game, just as our guy did the same thing to them on punt return, also in the same game – good thing we won that game!!!
George Stein
February 29th, 2012
7:47 pm
Not that I recall, Supersize.
George Stein
February 29th, 2012
7:47 pm
But that’s because we had my man Jemea Thomas returning punts after that.
HighTech
February 29th, 2012
7:58 pm
Jemea Thomas is a playmaker. So is Attaochu. Will be interested in seeing what Holton does this year. I imagine he’ll put the hurt on someone.
230gr Full Metal Jacket
February 29th, 2012
7:59 pm
Damn filters!!! It is almost pointless to try and post here because posts “disappear” for no obvious reason. Oh well, back to work.
HighTech
February 29th, 2012
8:00 pm
Testing. Hot hashbrowns, scattered, smothered, and covered. Diced, chopped, Waffle House is delicious.
HighTech
February 29th, 2012
8:01 pm
Don’t understand why others are having trouble with filters. What word do you think is hanging you up? Sometimes it is the day known as the day after today.
gt4ever=WnE
February 29th, 2012
8:02 pm
go creep up another blog dude. yur a creep of the penn state kind.
you would fit right in with the dawg nation.
HighTech
February 29th, 2012
8:03 pm
….or the day known as the day before today.
i hear that coach richt
February 29th, 2012
8:04 pm
hugs his recruits so hard that they actually poop hash browns.
far as our player from australia goes
February 29th, 2012
8:07 pm
last time i looked he didnt play for the aussie team that crushed a team of usa football all stars. he would have started but he had immigration issues
i have heard he has a mean streak. i see more aussie fb/rugby players in our future,.way to go coach. nice find.
HighTech
February 29th, 2012
8:08 pm
Ewww. Seriously. That is so gross.
Supersize that order, mutt
February 29th, 2012
8:35 pm
I thought the Aussie was already in the country before the game was played? He came to Atlanta, didn’t he?
Supersize that order, mutt
February 29th, 2012
8:36 pm
gt4ever IS NOT WnE
Bill
February 29th, 2012
8:38 pm
Welcome Coach Walkosky to the flats. Thanks Coach PJ for the hire, now get’er done!
GT GRAD
February 29th, 2012
8:46 pm
Hey wait a minute……I have been using the GT GRAD handle for over 8 years now! First time in 8 years that I have seen someone try to copy my name/handle………..I suppose the ALL CAPS will differentiate me from the new GT Grad dude.
I like the triple option offense; just give it a little more time. Coach PJ has players he has recruited for this offense. He wants to play with mostly redshirted players (i.e. significant number of 4th year juniors and 5th year seniors). Give the man a QB with ALL of the required skills (elusive, good top end speed, smart, quick decision maker AND the ability to make defenses pay by actually hitting the open receivers on the deep passes) and he will make everyone take notice! I truly think we have two potential candidates in Vad Lee and the QB who committed to Alabama and signed with GT!!!!
I like the idea of a full time special teams coach. Better defense is also critical.
It is all on the verge of coming together!!!!
Recruits
February 29th, 2012
8:57 pm
Agree with GT GRAD— we also need a big Defensive Tackle–nose guard
Supersize that order, mutt
February 29th, 2012
9:00 pm
@ GT GRAD, welcome to the club…..I have a “poser” too who posts garbage using my name
HighTech
February 29th, 2012
9:01 pm
Handle hijacking is epidemic at times, GT GRAD.
Supersize that order, mutt
February 29th, 2012
9:04 pm
The AJC has the means to stop handle hijacking, but they won’t do it.
HighTech
February 29th, 2012
9:07 pm
Agree with GT GRAD and Recruits. Need a dual threat quarterback and a big nasty nose guard.
Do What?
February 29th, 2012
9:23 pm
You GT guys need not worry about the appeal, you might need to worry about additional sanctions. After all, you had a coach who knowingly and willingly violated NCAA recruiting rules. That should not be swept under the rug simply because he was fired. Fact remains, he had numerous rules infractions. NCAA probation and GT, it’s becoming quite a combination for such a self proclaimed “high brow” institution.
HighTech
February 29th, 2012
9:26 pm
Why am I suddenly hungry for hashbrowns?
Luke
February 29th, 2012
9:38 pm
@Do What? – We also reported the sanctions (secondary by the way) and fired the coach. Come off it. Theres not gonna be additional sanctions.
Hashbrowns in My Pants
February 29th, 2012
9:46 pm
Hopefully this is also pointing to the fact that CPJ is planning in spending more time mentoring future starting QBs.
Can the Biomed dept figure out how to put the arm of Hamilton on the body of Nesbitt?
Supersize that order, mutt
February 29th, 2012
9:59 pm
Do What?……that coach was fired almost immediately. That should be a non-issue now.
Supersize that order, mutt
February 29th, 2012
10:02 pm
Should I change my handle to Give me Hashbrowns with that order, mutt?
NAHHH !!!! They might take them out of their pants to give them to me
Kingsport Jacket
February 29th, 2012
10:29 pm
GT GRAD,
Agree with your comments. A QB with all of the required skills makes the option lethal. With our lackluster passing game we have only scratched the surface.
My town’s local HS (Dobyns-Bennett – winningest program in TN and also Dodd’s HS way back) runs CPJ’s offense; HC Graham Clark and CPJ are close friends. The past two years D-B has had an athletic QB (not a stud or future college player) who could throw, receivers who could catch, and an offense that averaged probably 45 points a game. Granted, it is HS ball and not college. But watching it has convinced me that a more balanced attack from the QB would be huge for GT. Great hire on the ST coach.
gotta love the dawgs
February 29th, 2012
10:47 pm
kinda like politicians supplying comedians with jokes.
rumor has it that they are going to give uga 3 points towards the fulmer cup for the uga girl who stuffed hash browns in her pants.
what i wanna know is …. did it help her accent her bootie or did she go for the missed bathroom call look? lumps in her depends……
this could catch on in athens during game day when they uga masses look to poop and pee in the library.
hashbrown dawg...
February 29th, 2012
10:48 pm
come on guys lighten up a bit. no trans fats in those hash browns.
randy
February 29th, 2012
11:02 pm
don’t care about the blocked punts. how about a decent kickoff or punt and not fumbling a kick or punt and finally tackling a kickoff! that’s what he’s here for.
If do right, no can defense
February 29th, 2012
11:13 pm
I wouldn’t read too much into this hire, at least not immediately. It may be a few seasons before our special teams are truly competitive. Can’t change this overnight (remember the defense?). The bigger positive Walkosky will bring is in his recruiting skills and lighting a fire under the players…
That being said, an intelligent hire nonetheless.
doc
March 1st, 2012
12:33 am
well well well, bout time but sounds like a good hire fpor several reasons among them it is needed, he is a positive energy guy, seems to be connected to players and a good recruiter. since we had to fire one who cost us recruits because of stupidity or arrogance, then that is a tremendous addition by subtraction and then meeting a true need going forward.
After futher review, Tech decides its special teams need help | Mark Bradley
March 1st, 2012
7:32 am
[...] Update: Georgia Tech stands ready to welcome a special-teams coordinator. [...]
Yellow Jackets look to CFL for new assistant | CollegeFootballTalk
March 1st, 2012
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[...] The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that an announcement from Tech is not expected until early next week. [...]
Jacket Dad
March 1st, 2012
12:01 pm
I like this hire a lot! Gotta take a chance and shake things up and Lord knows we need help in special teams!!!!!!!!!!
bill94
March 1st, 2012
12:01 pm
Alabama–the hash brown issue wasnt just putting them in the pants, but trying to put them back on the counter!!
Theedge
March 1st, 2012
4:15 pm
I believe the special teams area is one that the reduced scholarships over the last few years has hurt. The lack of quality depth is glaring in this area. With out sprinkling some starters in on the previous st units they would have been even more abysmal. When scholarships are back to full strength and the management tract there is no reason for a quality two deep.