Central Michigan Football Coaching Search Already Cost Them One Recruit

As National Signing Day approaches Chippewa fans have reason to be excited.  According to 247 Sports, the 2015 Central Michigan football recruiting class is projected to be the 5th best in the Mid American Conference with a chance to improve as signing day heads closer.

The Chippewas have 19 hard commits going into National Signing Day including 9 three-star recruits. Not a bad haul but that could change before the signing period starts on Wednesday especially with the uncertainty surrounding the head coach position.

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On January 22nd, Head Coach Dan Enos quit unexpectedly to take an offensive coordinator position with the Arkansas Razorbacks. That started a frantic coaching search that sent Athletic Director Dave Heeke rushing to fill the vacancy amist one of the busiest periods of the recruiting process.

Dave Heeke did name Special Teams coordinator Kyle Nystrom interim head coach but was clear that he intended to conduct a coaching search that he planned on wrapping up within a couple of weeks. Since the search began many names have been linked to the job including former Michigan Wolverines Head Coach Brady Hoke.  Tennessee offensive assistant Zach Annazzi and Ferris State head coach Tony Annese have also been identified as candidates but reportedly neither have been contacted to interview.

The worry now is how the uncertainty surrounding the coaching vacancy could affect recruiting.  All of Central Michigan’s assistants are still under contract and Heeke said publicly he the school will honor all scholarship offers. Because assistants do much of the recruiting Heeke’s assurance will help stabilize things some but it may not be enough to keep recruits who were already on the fence from taking another offer.

That was the case for Saline’s Tyrone Miller who decommitted from Central Michigan on Sunday in the wake of the coaching change.  According to a story by MLive.com, Miller was shocked by Dan Enos’ abrupt departure and took two official visits to Wyoming and Kansas over the weekend. As a result he made a committment to Kansas on Sunday leaving the CMU turmoil behind him.

It could be a busy week for the Chippewas as their coaching situation and recruiting 2015 recruiting class resolve nearly simultaneously. Stay connected to Detroit jock city on facebook and twitter for all the latest news and views about the Chippewas coaching search.