All Entries Tagged With: "Greg Nord"

Nord May Be Headed To Kentucky

Statewide recruiting  may have gotten a little tougher for Charlie Strong.

Greg Nord

Greg Nord, one of the casualties of Steve Kragthorpe’s disastrous three-year term at the University of Louisville, is going to be coaching special teams and tight ends at the University of Kentucky, according to reports.

Nord, who served under four coaches as a U of L assistant for 15 years, had joined the Illinois football coaching staff in December to work with Paul Petrino in his role as offensive coordinator.

A former UK player, Nord is a household name in the Louisville area and is widely respected by high school football coaches throughout the state.

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Greg Nord May Be Leaving Louisville

The coaching carousel goes round and round.

Greg Nord is reportedly leaving the University of Louisville as an assistant football coach to join Paul Petrino who is said to be joining coach Ron Zook’s staff at Illinois as the new offensive coordinator.

Greg Nord

Paul has worked on the staff of his brother Bobby Petrino for the past seven years, with stints at Louisville, the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL and at the University of Arkansas. He was among the interviewees for the head coaching position at Western Kentucky in November.

Nord has been the one constant among assistant coaches at U of L for 15 years, having served along side coaches Ron Cooper, John L. Smith, Bobby Petrino and Steve Kragthorpe. He had strong ties to the Louisville area and is widely respected by high school football coaches throughout the state.

Illinois was in the market for an offensive coordinator after Zook fired four coaches — including offensive coordinator Mike Schultz — last week following the Illini’s 3-9 season. Illinois ranked 50th in the nation.

Louisville football will have an entirely new look next season, at least on the sidelines.

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Don’t Let Your Eyes Deceive You

By Tom Stosberg

Despite what the won-lost record says, the Louisville football team is loaded.

Think about it. U of L has three, maybe even four excellent quarterbacks. Guys who not only can throw but aren’t afraid to run…with pretty good moves to boot.

 And speed in the backfield. Victor Anderson and Darius Ashley could start anywhere in the country. They are both “feature” backs who have the speed to play on Sundays.

We are also flush with outstanding receivers. Our special teams are loaded. The defense has some emerging superstars.

Why is our Cardinal football team so loaded with talent?

Because Coach Greg Nord continues to do what he has been doing for the past 15 years…finding great talent and convincing them to come to U of L. It’s as simple as that. Through all types of coaches, with all sorts of offensive and defensive schemes, against all kinds of competition, Coach Nord has kept the pipeline full by working his magic. Makes one wonder if Card fans know how valuable he is.

This is a man who understands relationships, has a remarkable eye for great talent, maintains an unbelievable contact network and is relentless in his pursuit of excellence.

 One of the secrets to Coach Nord’s success …people like him…high school and junior college coaches, parents, boosters. And there is no doubt that Greg Nord is one of the best kept secrets in U of L’s football program.

But he can only do so much.

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Greg Nord: Louisville Football Fixture

Stability is good in an era of instability.

Greg Nord represents one of few examples of stability with the University of Louisville football program. While considered a no-nonsense type of coach on the field, Nord is an affable, out-going individual well-suited for his role as recruiting coordinator.

He has been the one constant among assistant coaches for 15 years, having served along side coaches Ron Cooper, John L. Smith, Bobby Petrino and now Steve Kragthorpe. He has coached the running backs for most that time, working with some great ones.

Nord is an institution at Louisville. In a sport known for constant turnover among assistant coaches. With a program earmarked by significant ups and downs in the recent past.

Something reassuring about knowing he’s still around.

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Guarded Optimism At Signing Event

Good to be around optimistic football fans again, between 300 and 400 of them at the Brown & Williamson Cub for the University of Louisville’s football signing event, people wanting to size up the 2009 class. The optimism, of course, would have be to described as guarded. After all, these same fans have sat through the last two football seasons.

Charlie Torstrick and Bob Reel check out expansion renderings.

The incoming players look good on video but who wouldn’t look good if you could go through an entire season and select only the best plays. What was interesting was that the videos included offensive and defensive highlights from numerous recruits.

“We wanted players that every position coach on the team would want to have playing for them,” said Greg Nord, recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach. “Sometimes your best defensive players starred on offense in high school We have a lot of versatile players in this class.”

Kragthorpe signs autograph for Jared and his dad Lance Edward.

Players like Zed Evans, for example, from Seagoville, Texas, who was recruited as tight end. He averaged 10 tackles per game as a cornerback. But he was also a running back his last six games, recording 1,136 yards rushing, 15 touchdowns and 9.1 yards per carry. “He can do it all,” said Larry Slade, who will coach the defensive backfield. “One he gets a step on you, that’s it. It’s going to be interesting to watch him develop.”

Sherard Holton, from Warren East, Ky., was known as “Bear” to his teammates, and he does look ferocious on video. He ran for 1,312 yards while scoring 18 touchdowns. As a defensive back, he had 97 tackles, three interceptions, and two sacks. The question is whether he winds up on offense or defense.

“We wanted players who were not afraid to stick their faces in the fan,” said Coach Steve Kragthorpe. “We believe we have shored up the defensive side of the ball, which was our primary focus. But we are also bringing some talented offensive players.”

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