Eric the Red
Team HuskerBoard
Bicknell Promotes Darlington to Defensive Coordinator
RUSTON – Louisiana Tech head coach Jack Bicknell confirmed Wednesday that he has promoted George Darlington to defensive coordinator for the upcoming season.
Darlington, who was hired prior to spring practice to coach the Bulldogs secondary, will replace Randy Bates, who took the linebackers job at Northwestern late last week.
“I’m extremely excited that George will be taking over as defensive coordinator for us,” Bicknell said. “He’s one of the most successful assistant coaches in the history of the game. Anytime you’ve coached as long as he has, you’ve experienced just about everything. I’m confident that he will do a great job.”
Darlington brings a wealth of college coaching knowledge and experience with him to the position after spending 30 seasons as an assistant coach for Tom Osborne at the University of Nebraska and the past three seasons at Marshall University.
“I think he really knows the game, and I don’t think we will miss a beat” said senior safety Dez Abrams. “From working with him during the spring, he knows how to call a defense. I think it will be an easy transition.”
The Charleston, W. Va., native became the first assistant coach in Division I-A history to be a part of more than 300 wins at one program. During his three decades at Nebraska, Darlington was responsible for coaching the Cornhuskers’ famous “Blackshirt” defense.
While coaching the Nebraska secondary for 17 seasons and defensive ends for 13 seasons, Darlington helped the program to numerous conference titles as well as three national championship titles in 1994, 1995 and 1997.
While at Nebraska, Darlington helped send 30 players on to the NFL while coacing seven All-Americans, including Bob Martin (1975), George Andrews (1978), Derric Nelson (1980), Jimmy Williams (1981), Mike Brown (1999), Ralph Brown (1999) and Keyuo Craver (2001).
During his final seven seasons with Nebraska, four times his pass defense was ranked in the Top 10 in the nation and in 17 seasons coaching the Cornhusker secondary, it never ranked lower than 37th.
In three of the last four years at Nebraska, Darlington’s defense was ranked second in the country twice and seventh once in pass efficiency defense.
Along the way, Darlington has been recognized numerous times for his coaching success earning the 1998 All-American Football Foundation “Top Assistant Award.”
In the summer of 2000, the state of West Virginia honored him with the inaugural Frank Loria Award for distinguishment in the coaching profession.
Bicknell said he hoped to have a new inside linebackers coach in place by early next week.
RUSTON – Louisiana Tech head coach Jack Bicknell confirmed Wednesday that he has promoted George Darlington to defensive coordinator for the upcoming season.
Darlington, who was hired prior to spring practice to coach the Bulldogs secondary, will replace Randy Bates, who took the linebackers job at Northwestern late last week.
“I’m extremely excited that George will be taking over as defensive coordinator for us,” Bicknell said. “He’s one of the most successful assistant coaches in the history of the game. Anytime you’ve coached as long as he has, you’ve experienced just about everything. I’m confident that he will do a great job.”
Darlington brings a wealth of college coaching knowledge and experience with him to the position after spending 30 seasons as an assistant coach for Tom Osborne at the University of Nebraska and the past three seasons at Marshall University.
“I think he really knows the game, and I don’t think we will miss a beat” said senior safety Dez Abrams. “From working with him during the spring, he knows how to call a defense. I think it will be an easy transition.”
The Charleston, W. Va., native became the first assistant coach in Division I-A history to be a part of more than 300 wins at one program. During his three decades at Nebraska, Darlington was responsible for coaching the Cornhuskers’ famous “Blackshirt” defense.
While coaching the Nebraska secondary for 17 seasons and defensive ends for 13 seasons, Darlington helped the program to numerous conference titles as well as three national championship titles in 1994, 1995 and 1997.
While at Nebraska, Darlington helped send 30 players on to the NFL while coacing seven All-Americans, including Bob Martin (1975), George Andrews (1978), Derric Nelson (1980), Jimmy Williams (1981), Mike Brown (1999), Ralph Brown (1999) and Keyuo Craver (2001).
During his final seven seasons with Nebraska, four times his pass defense was ranked in the Top 10 in the nation and in 17 seasons coaching the Cornhusker secondary, it never ranked lower than 37th.
In three of the last four years at Nebraska, Darlington’s defense was ranked second in the country twice and seventh once in pass efficiency defense.
Along the way, Darlington has been recognized numerous times for his coaching success earning the 1998 All-American Football Foundation “Top Assistant Award.”
In the summer of 2000, the state of West Virginia honored him with the inaugural Frank Loria Award for distinguishment in the coaching profession.
Bicknell said he hoped to have a new inside linebackers coach in place by early next week.
