We are hearing that LB coach Chris Tormey was given what was called a stay of execution which means that he will be with the team until the end of the recruiting period with a chance that he could stick with the staff after that. All the rest of the coaches have been given their walking papers. Tormey is highly regarded up and down the West coast and was invited at one time to join the staffs at Arizona State and USC.
As far as the new assistants go we may not hear official word till next week. Most of the urgency is currently centered on the defensive coordinator position. Ron English from Louisville, DeWayne Walker from UCLA, and Ed Orgeron from the New Orleans Saints are the names we are hearing. English and Walker both were pursued last year by Willingham when he was shopping for a new DC.
Word this morning is Rocky Seto who is currently the secondary coach on the USC staff won't be coming unless he is named a DC. Seto is not interested in making a lateral move and who can blame him when you have the type of talent he has to work with at USC.
Yogi Roth is a name floating around out there. Yogi played football at Pitt and has been working as a grad assistant at USC. He would welcome the promotion to be a full time staff member if it is offered.
Demetrice Martin who was a former grad assistant at USC and who is now at Mount San Angelo JC is a name that has emerged as a candidate to coach in the secondary. MArtin has a lot of experience coaching in the JC ranks in the Los Angeles area.
Ivan Lewis is rumored to be heading to Seattle to take over the strength and conditioning program from Trent Greener. Lewis been a volunteer strength coach at Washington, a high school football coach in Seattle, an assistant strength coach working with all sports at the University of San Diego, and, most recently, an assistant strength coach with the San Diego Chargers for two years.
“It was exciting to get all that experience and go from high school to college to NFL, and to see the different philosophies and the different kinds of athletes,” said Lewis, a native of Idaho Falls, Id.
Lewis is 30 years old and regarded as an up and comer who has prepared well for the opportunity to run a college strength and conditioning program.
Johnny Nansen is a name that is floating around as a possible defensive line coach. Nansen is a Cougar from Long Beach who is currently on the staff at Idaho. Nansen has connections to the USC staff from his days at Louisville as a graduate assistant under Nick Holt who is now the DC at USC.
Updates
EJ Savannah is going to attempt to return to the team according to the Seattle Times Bob Condotta.
Sarkisian said he is aware of the circumstances that led to Savannah's decision to leave the team and has talked with him since becoming head coach. "We'll give him another opportunity,'' Sarkisian said.
Trenton Tuiasosopo has been granted a sixth year so that means Washington could return all their LB's plus Savannah in 2009.
Sarkisian also said that running back Brandon Johnson, who skipped a few practices last week and was suspended for the season finale at Cal, is also back in good standing with the team.
RB Demetrius Bronson and QB Dominique Blackman are expected to joing the team in January after qualifying academically.
Charlie Camp who played at Arizona and coached linebackers at Oregon State is another guy who is being looked at as a possible addition to the coaching staff. Camp didn't coach in 2008 after resigning from the Nevada staff in 2007.