Akron job linked to several NFL, college position coaches

Hours after firing head coach Tom Arth, the Akron Zips have been linked to several NFL and college position coaches, according to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman. Among the candidates, members of the Green Bay Packers staff, Notre Dame staff and Ohio State staff were named.

Akron has posted some pretty dismal statistics this year. They are the worst scoring defense in the MAC, allowing 38 points per game.

On the offensive side of the ball, they have allowed 50 sacks, which is 130th in the FBS. The next team has allowed 38. Akron has been playing three quarterbacks pretty consistently, as all three have at least 44 passing attempts on the year. Both DJ Irons and Zach Gibson have eight touchdown passes, and Irons is the team’s second-leading rusher.

Akron’s hot board might not look like the Power Five openings, given their three wins over the past three seasons. In the world of conference realignment, the Zips have not positioned themselves to move up the pecking order. Given their current situation, Akron has high incentive to gamble on young position coaches who could develop into MAC gems.

Akron candidates

Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Luke Getsy

Miami Dolphins quarterbacks coach Charlie Frye

Iowa State offensive coordinator Tom Manning

Notre Dame associate head coach/special teams coordinator Brian Polian

Ohio State associate head coach/running backs coach Tony Alford

Toledo defensive coordinator Vince Kehres

Pitt wide receivers coach Brennan Marion

Archbishop Hoban High School head coach Tim Tyrrell

Notes

According to Bruce Feldman, Packers quarterback coach Luke Getsy has been linked with Akron. Getsy is an Akron alum, spending two seasons as a graduate assistant from 2007-2008. The 37-year old coach spent time as Mississippi State’s offensive coordinator before leaving to become the Packers quarterback coach and passing game coordinator.

Notre Dame associate head coach and special teams coordinator Brian Polian has also been linked to the position. At 46-years old, Polian is looking for his second head coaching position after four seasons at Nevada. His 23-27 record, including 1-1 in bowl games will not turn heads, but his standing at Notre Dame could earn a second shot.

One other notable candidate is Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford, who has served as associate head coach since 2015. The 52-year old former Doak Walker candidate has coached some of college football’s best running backs over the past decade, working with The Buckeyes and Notre Dame. With names like Ezekiel Elliott, JK Dobbins and Theo Riddick on his resume, Alford’s track record offers promise.