Despite Washington Football title changes, defense stays stalwart
By Bret Stuter
Washington Football team promoted DB coach Jimmy Lake to co-defensive coordinator but don’t look for any shift in the defense stinginess
The end of the 2017 Washington Football season was a challenging time. As the team shifts toward recruiting and evaluating their previous season, the NFL begins to poach the best coaches from successful college programs. Trying to plan for the future as coaches defect from the ranks is very difficult. One name that appeared in a number of opportunities was that of Washington’s defensive backs coach, Jimmy Lake.
On one hand, rumors tied him to UCLA’s new head coach Chip Kelly. Kelly would have loved to poach a solid defensive mind who is already plugged into the PAC-12 recruiting network. That would be the equivalent of upgrading both defense and recruiting with one hire.
NFL interest
On the other hand, other rumors tied him to Oakland Raiders’s new head coach Jon Gruden. The ultimate goal for any college coaches who are not heading a major top-10 program is to make the jump to the NFL. Far more doors open, and that also increases chances of getting a top-10 college head coaching position too. The Washington Huskies needed to act. And with Coach Lake sitting as defensive back’s coach, Petersen’s ability for Washington to match any offer was limited. But Coach Petersen had to do something, so he did. Ultimately, Washington promoted Coach Lake to share the defensive coordinator responsibilities with defensive coordinator Peter Kwiatkowski.
UW has promoted Bush Hamdan to WRs coach, promoted Jimmy Lake to co-DC, added special teams coordinator to Bob Gregory's title.
— Christian Caple (@ChristianCaple) December 15, 2015
The moves allowed Washington to retain Jimmy Lake. But it was more than a higher pay grade.