Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Jets special teams coach openly campaigning for his next job: Report

The New York Jets are 2-11 with three games remaining, and in the immortal words of Michael Ray Richardson, the "ship be sinking."

So right now, within the Jets organization, it's every man for himself.

And as their coaches spend next three weeks figuring out what they're going to do next. You would expect them to check the help wanted — albeit stealthily.

But Jets special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey has broken the thin green line and already sent out a public verbal resume for all to hear — while still employed.



McGaughey told Houston's Fox 26 that he wants to become the next head coach at the University of Houston, his alma mater.

McGaughey grew up in Houston and coordinated special teams for the Cougars from 2003-04. He is in his first (and likely only) year with the Jets, who are expected to fire coach Rex Ryan the day after the season ends.

So all the pieces seems to fit for the job trolling coach — if only in his mind.

As McGaughey said to Fox 26, "Houston is home for me." 

Still, it is unusual to see a currently employed coach publicly discussing where he wants to land next. It just shows you how insecure this 2014 Jets team is.

McGaughey told Fox 26 that his agent was going to reach out to University of Houston officials, which certainly could have happened without McGaughey talking publicly about wanting the job.

But it sounds like he has already let the cat out of the bag.






Although he has never been a head coach, McGaughey coached special teams at LSU from 2011-13, before he joined the Jets. He was the Giants' assistant special teams coordinator from 2007-10. His job with the Jets marks the first time he has been a head special teams coordinator in the NFL.

On the negative side, he was the the Jets' special teams coach that didn't have such a good season.
They rank 32nd in punt returns and 20th in kickoff returns. In terms of their coverage units, they are 19th on punts and eighth on kickoffs. In the loss to the Bills in Detroit, the Jets had a punt blocked, and the Bills pounced on it for a touchdown.

So there's nowhere to go but up.


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