Washington Head Coach Steve Sarkisian Changing The Pac-12 Recruiting Landscape
SEATTLE — The long awaited hire of former Cal defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi at Washington has been made official today. According to the University of Washington press release Lupoi will be the defensive line coach and defensive run game coordinator.
After the hire of Justin Wilcox as defensive coordinator and Peter Simon as the linebacker coach Lupoi was next target for Steve Sarkisian. Lupoi, who is considered one of the top two or three recruiters in the country, was hired for that only reason. To get those four and five star defensive recruits that would never come before.
With the hiring of Wilcox it brought a coach who could coach two and three star recruits up to four and five star caliber. Along with Wilcox, Peter Simon, known more for his recruiting skills rather than his coaching skills was also hired. After three straight years of underachieving defense Sarkisian has made it the top priority to gut the old defensive staff.
Clearly Sarkisian is ready to make Washington a top-ten program.
“Coach Lupoi is a terrific young coach and a dynamic recruiter,” Sarkisian said. “He will have an immediate impact with our team both on the field and in recruiting.”
After transforming Washington’s offense under Keith Price at quarterback and the Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Kasen Williams duo the defenses needed to catch up. With Wilcox-Simon-Lupoi all at Washington it gives Sarkisian something he hasn’t had. A coaching staff he can not only count on, but not even worry about.
Wilcox has a proven track record and he’s done more with less at Boise State and Tennessee. Simon and Lupoi, two great recruiters, will bring the elite four and five star defensive prospects that will allow Wilcox to have a top 25 defense year in, and year out.
With the hiring of Lupoi it will give Sarkisian and immediate impact in recruiting with Shaq Thompson, who said on his Twitter he’s 50-50 between Cal and Washington. “I have a lot of thinking to do.”
According to Fox Sports on-field recruiter Tara Turnure, who spoke to Thompson today said he is “I am 50-50 between #Cal and #Washington.”
While the University hasn’t released the figures for Lupoi’s salary the reports are between $450,000 to $500,000 per year. Should that figure hold it would make Lupoi one of the highest paid assistant coaches in the country. Lupoi made $167,000 in 2010 at Cal, so it would be a major pay raise and added titles to get to $500,000.
Without a doubt since their 67-56 loss in the Alamo Bowl December, 29th, Sarkisian has revamped the defense and completely changed the Pac-12 landscape. Out: Nick Holt, Demetrice Martin, Jeff Mills, and Mike Cox. In: Justin Wilcox, Peter Simon, Tosh Lupoi, and Keith Heyward.
The three headed monster is expected to spearhead a renounced focus on defense and lead Washington back to the promise land of college football.
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