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Former QB Coach Nick Siciliano (official thread)

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OSU football: Siciliano named quarterbacks coach
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel today announced today that he has promoted Nick Siciliano to quarterbacks coach to replace veteran Joe Daniels, who is moving to an administrative role with the football program as he continues his battle with cancer.

The NCAA granted OSU a waiver that allowed Siciliano, the offensive quality control coach since 2005, to work in tandem with Daniels as QBs coach since the spring of 2008. The recent retirement of Bob Tucker, the long-time director of football operations, enabled Tressel to move Daniels, a 39-year coach, into the administration where program assistants Greg Gillum, Todd Alles and Amy Burgess also will have expanded duties.

"Joe is going to have plenty of work to do, no question about that," Tressel said. "But he just won't have to be here from seven in the morning till 10 at night, working out there in the hot sun."

It's the promotion of Siciliano, 34, that's the eye-catcher. A native of Youngstown and 1999 graduate of Youngstown State, he was last a full-time assistant at North Carolina A&T in 2004. But he has served in various support capacities at YSU, Oklahoma and Urbana (offensive coordinator in 2002) on his way up the coaching ladder.

He saw the quality control job with the Buckeyes as a chance not only to get back to major college football in 2005 but also as an opportunity to work for Tressel again. When Tressel recently let him know of his promotion, "I was numb," Siciliano said.

"Having grown up Youngstown, Ohio, and then to one day work for the Buckeyes that was all my dad talked about when I was a kid, 'The Buckeyes, the Buckeyes, the Buckeyes.' But like I told my wife today as I headed for the office, we've got to make sure we keep this job, not just have it. The hard work has really just begun."
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BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : OSU football: Siciliano named quarterbacks coach
 
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Now at the same table
Siciliano named QB coach, regrets taking over for friend
Thursday, July 9, 2009
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

20090709osufb200.jpg

SHARI LEWIS | DISPATCH
Nick Siciliano, right, knows he can count on coach Jim Tressel, left, and mentor Joe Daniels for advice.

Nick Siciliano took a huge step up the career ladder yesterday, officially becoming quarterbacks coach at Ohio State. But he didn't feel like doing cartwheels.

He is replacing his mentor and friend, Joe Daniels, the longtime quarterbacks coach who will move to the administrative side of the football program as he continues his fight with cancer.

"I feel very blessed, because there's probably 10,000 people who'd like to be in this chair," Siciliano said. "But I'd be lying to you if I didn't say there was some remorse from the standpoint of I know what Joe Daniels would love to be doing right now.

"That part breaks my heart, because Joe Daniels is a football coach. He loves this game, just like I do."

Since the spring of 2008, Siciliano, 34, has essentially been serving as quarterbacks coach, especially on the field. The NCAA granted OSU a waiver that allowed the use of two men to do the job while Daniels dealt with his health issues.

But the retirement of football operations director Bob Tucker last month gave coach Jim Tressel an opportunity to shuffle his support staff and move Daniels into that job, where he will share duties with Greg Gillum, Todd Alles and Amy Burgess.

"Joe is going to have plenty of work to do, no question about that," Tressel said. "But he just won't have to be here from seven in the morning till 10 at night, working out there in the hot sun."

Daniels is on vacation this week on Hilton Head Island, S.C., and wasn't available for comment.

Starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor, a freshman last season, treated the news more like business as usual.

"It's not really a change, because he's been my coach from Day One," Pryor said of Siciliano. "So as far as a transition, I don't think it will be anything different at all."

But there is a difference between the styles of Siciliano and Daniels.

"He's pretty fired up," Pryor said of Siciliano. "He expects us and he expects me to do our best, and do the right things. From that standpoint, I think he is a pretty good guy and I think we will move forward well."

Tressel, in his ninth year at OSU, has had to hire just one new assistant from the outside in the past three years: cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson from Miami University in 2007. But Tressel said the promotion of Siciliano can bring new potency to the offense.

"Any time you make changes, even from within, you're going to get new ideas and thoughts, because that fellow is thinking, 'Now I'm at the regular table rather than sitting in the row behind and keeping my mouth shut,' " Tressel said. "Where I thought (Siciliano) did a good job was observing."

Siciliano doesn't plan on changing his ways entirely.

"I think I have done OK in gaining pretty broad experience, but if I am not sure about something, I am going to tell you I'm not sure," Siciliano said. "It feels good to be able to speak up now, but I am going to think things through before I speak."
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BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : Now at the same table
 
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Checking in with Ohio State's Nick Siciliano

October 14, 2009

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor is the most analyzed and scrutinized player in the Big Ten. The former No. 1 recruit in the nation, who ascended to the starting job as a true freshman after only three games last season, has led the Buckeyes' offense for the past 16 games. Pryor has drawn mixed reviews so far in his career, showcasing his incredible natural talent at times but struggling to find the consistency many had expected. He led the league in pass efficiency last season and was a surprise pick as Big Ten preseason offensive player of the year in July. His numbers have dipped a bit this year, but he's still fairly early in his development.

Buckeyes quarterbacks coach Nick Siciliano spends more time with Pryor than anybody else, and like the quarterback, Siciliano has drawn his share of criticism. I caught up with Siciliano last week -- before the Wisconsin game -- to discuss Pryor's progress.

Where is Terrelle in terms of where you thought he'd be at this point in the season? Ahead of expectations? Behind them?

Nick Siciliano: We believe he's right where we thought he'd be. Of course, we'd always like him to be playing better. That's obvious. But he takes every week very seriously and he attacks the game plan like nobody I've seen. He wants to be great, and he's trying to do everything he can to help this team.

He relied so much on instincts in high school and it carried him a long way. The college game is a completely different animal. Do you see him display those same instincts? Is he comfortable using that natural ability?

NS: Some of those instincts are innate. He's relying on them when he has to. The good thing is, he hasn't lost them, which would not be such a great thing. He's learning when to and when not to, which is critical.

Is there ever a concern that a guy could lose those instincts because he's so focused on the game plan?

NS: Oh, yeah, that could happen to a guy. I don't think that's happened with Terrelle, but that could definitely happen. Sometimes you get paralysis by analysis.

You've mentioned that his footwork has been a big area of improvement. How do you see that play out in a game?

NS: With knowledge becomes power, and as he learns more, everything else mechanically is going to get better because you don't have to think as much. His footwork is getting better. It's a lot smoother than it was when he got here. In fact, we were watching some tape of the Wisconsin game last year. Just to watch him in practice [last week] and then watch tape of the game last year was incredible. After so many reps, some of the things become a lot easier for you. It's not a fact of he didn't know what he was doing. You just build up muscle memory.
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Checking in with Ohio State's Nick Siciliano - Big Ten - ESPN
 
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MaxBuck made a couple comments in the Joe Daniel's thread about Nick, and I thought I would carry part of the last one over here:

MaxBuck said:
And my point is that we've gone from having an outstanding, proven QB coach to a very callow, unproven one.
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I've been thinking the same thing for a while now. Two weeks ago I searched for Coach Siciliano's credentials for the position he now holds. Admittedly, it left me rather wanting. Do you guys know of anything that this coach has done/is doing that leads you to believe he's performing acceptably in the position?
 
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If a loss doesnt call for evaluation of the staff, i dont know what would.
I think jim tressel is one of the greatest head coaches.. but his coaching staff needs evaluated.
They can make improvments as much as the players can. Its apparent to me TP needs to improve the progression curve.
 
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Bleed S & G;1570916; said:
Jim Tressel thought he was qualified enough for the job.. that's good enough for me.
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Good for you.

I'm not questioning Tressel's judgment. I'm asking what, if anything, Coach Siciliano has done or not done to this point. When I look at his resume, I have to admit that there is a glaring omission of anything related to the QB position except for him playing it in highschool.
 
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muffler dragon;1570968; said:
Good for you.

I'm not questioning Tressel's judgment. I'm asking what, if anything, Coach Siciliano has done or not done to this point. When I look at his resume, I have to admit that there is a glaring omission of anything related to the QB position except for him playing it in highschool.
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Could have swore JT spends most of his day with the QB, and the title of "QB coach" is very similiar to Bollmans title of "offensive coordinator" ... I could be wrong.
 
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Bleed S & G;1570983; said:
Could have swore JT spends most of his day with the QB, and the title of "QB coach" is very similiar to Bollmans title of "offensive coordinator" ... I could be wrong.
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I wouldn't have thought that was the case with Joe Daniels in the same position. Now, if it's more of an understudy thing; then I guess I can understand. Ultimately, I'm confused, and I was posting in this thread in the hopes of more knowledgeable people enlightening me.
 
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