Michigan Names New Outside Linebackers/Safeties Coach

Your first reaction to this news might be, Who?

Adam Braithwaite gets a promotion from Staff Assistant to LB/Safeties coach. Here is the official wording from the Michigan Athletic Department:

Feb. 11, 2010
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan football head coach Rich Rodriguez announced Thursday (Feb. 11) the hiring of Adam Braithwaite as the program's safeties/outside linebackers coach. Braithwaite joins the Wolverines' staff as a full-time assistant coach after spending the past two seasons as a staff assistant.
"We are excited to promote Adam to be our safeties/outside linebackers coach," said Rodriguez. "He has been a loyal hard-working member of our staff for several years and knows our system. I believe he will bring a lot of energy both in coaching and recruiting."

As previously announced during Rodriguez's signing day press conference (Wednesday, Feb. 3), defensive coordinator Greg Robinson will coach the linebackers. Bruce Tall will continue to work with the defensive line.

Assistant head coach Tony Gibson will coach the cornerbacks and free safety position. He will also add the responsibility of coordinating the special teams. Rodriguez will continue to have all of the coaches remain involved with a certain phase of special teams, but Gibson will manage that phase of the game on a daily basis and on game day.

Braithwaite was the defensive coordinator at Hampden-Sydney College (Va.) during the 2007 season. He worked with the linebackers and coordinated the special teams for the program's conference championship team and Division III National Playoff run. Prior to accepting his position at Hampden-Sydney, Braithwaite was a defensive graduate assistant for Rodriguez at West Virginia (2005-06). He assisted with the secondary and linebackers and helped the Mountaineers win a pair of bowl games (2006 Sugar and 2007 Gator) and the 2005 Big East title.

Braithwaite was the safeties coach at William & Mary in 2004 when the Tribe claimed the Atlantic 10 Championship and reached the semifinals of the Division I-AA National Championship. He gained his first college coaching position as the wide receivers and tight end coach at West Liberty State College (2003).

Braithwaite was a four-year letterman at defensive back for William & Mary (1997-2001), and was the starting strong safety on the Tribe's 2001 Atlantic 10 co-Championship team. He earned his bachelor of arts from William & Mary (2002) and his master's degree in athletic coaching education from West Virginia (2007).

As a Michigan fan you might have a couple of questions for Coach Rod after this hire. Here are some that I have:

• Has Adam been paying his dues in the program and now was the right time for a promotion?
• What actually does a staff assistant do? He is helping game plan or is he doing Starbucks runs?
• Was this a move to save money on coaching salaries or to move some dollars to other coaches?
• Why not hire a guy with a proven BCS coaching record that has recruiting ties to a specific area like Florida or Texas?
• How many guys did you interview for this role?
• With Greg Robinson's experience it seems to make sense that he coach the linebackers, what was your reason for the move?
• What are you gaining by having Tony Gibson work with the special teams? Why not have Tony work with the safeties and outside LB's and have Adam run special teams? Gibson is already working with the other DB's.

My guess, the number one reason for this hire has something to do with money. I'm guessing RR gave Adam a raise and took the rest of Jay Hobson's salary and split it between Robinson and Gibson.