JMU Made A Big (Not Big) Announcement About the O.C. Today
JMU officially announced that Mike O’Cain has been hired as the Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach today. You could be forgiven for not noticing since the announcement was sort of thrown out there after the school issued an official statement on Rayshawn Goins’ suspension. For Hal Mumme, they planned a press conference. For Mike O’Cain they bury it after addressing the fact that a starter on the basketball team has been suspended just days before the school’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in nearly two decades. Seems about right.
O’Cain is coming off a job as the QB Coach and play-caller for the not exactly dazzling Virginia Tech Hokie offense. Oh boy. He does bring 35 years of D1 coaching experience though. He definitely had his detractors among Hokie fans, but others seem to think he’s a good, but not great coach, and a very good guy. So there’s that.
Hey look over here at our shiny new Offensive Coordinator and don’t look at the other stuff that you’re probably much more emotionally invested in right now!
Crisis Communication 101.
Fresh blood in the offense I will take it. I liked what O’Cain did while at NCState. Also, he is not a newbie so he should be able to stand up to MM and run the offense. I liked O’Cain before Mumme was ever in the discussion for OC and still like him.
I appreciate your optimism Shady_P and hope you get to come back and give me a big “I told you so!” come football season.
I’m totally biased because I know Mike O’Cain personally. I think this is an excellent hire, and I think (hope) all the years of experience he brings to the table, plus the return of Curt Newsome, will be enough to get Mickey to back off and just do his job as a head coach rather than micro manage everything.
I thought he was one of the best coaches NCSU has had in my lifetime. Part of the reason his record at NCSU wasn’t better was because back then the ACC was good. FSU, UNC, GT and Clemson were 4 guarenteed losses every season back then.
Plus I think every QB on JMU’s roster is better Glennon.
O’Cain is also a MUCH better fit for JMU than Mumme was. To run Mumme’s offense, we would have to re-tool the entire roster. I think the only reason Mumme was on the radar was because he and Mickey have been buddies for a long time since they used to coach together.
I was excited about Mumme, but if O’Cain is the guy I’ll obviously be pulling for him. It just struck me as funny that the way that the school appeared to be sliding this announcement in there after the Goins situation.