In the days and weeks leading up to National Signing Day, Marshall Doc Holliday was not only searching for top recruits, but coaches as well.
Since Marshall’s final game of 2012, seven coaches have left the program, leaving the coaching staff depleted and many wondering just how many recruits Marshall could hold on to. The latest departure came just this week when it was announced wide receivers coach Gerad Parker left the program for a position at Purdue.
That question was answered when head coach Doc Holliday announced the signings of 29 newcomers for the Thundering Herd. Marshall did not lose a single verbally committed player, and actually received National Letters of Intent from two unexpected players.
“To be honest, I was a little nervous at one point, but this isn’t the only year we’ve had turnover,” Holliday said.
Throughout all the coaching turnover, Doc Holliday continued to work on building and maintaining relationships with recruits, their families and their coachers.
Holliday said relationships is what brings in recruits, and in the midst of the coaching departures, Holliday got to know every recruit that is now a member of the Thundering Herd.
“Its all about relationships. That’s why I think it’s so important that the head coach is involved with every kid, and not just two weeks prior to signing day. You better have a relationship with that kid from day one,” Holliday said.
Holliday not only sat down with each recruit, but also made sure each player got a chance to sit down with Marshall Athletic Director Mike Hamrick.
While Marshall did lose a number of coaches, many of the departed coaches played a key role in recruiting, along with some new members of the coaching staff.
“JaJuan (Seider), Gerad Parker, J.C. Price, Bill Legg and Todd Hartley all did a tremendous job with those kids,” Holliday said. “I can’t give those guys enough credit.”
One coach that remains on Holliday’s staff is JaJuan Seider, who serves as recruiting coordinator for the Herd and is one of the key reasons Marshall’s roster is littered with Florida natives.
“He has done a tremendous job down there. I mean I have contacts down there, but JaJuan is right in the middle of it all. Those guys trust him, and he’s the reason we’ve been so successful down there,” Holliday said.
In all, Marshall lost Chris Rippon, Tony Peterson, Fred Tate, Geep Wade, Joe Miday, Lytrel Pollard and most recently Gerad Parker from its coaching staff.
Not only did Holliday maintain the best recruiting class in Conference USA, but also had a quick turnaround with the hiring of new coaches. Holliday has already officially added three coaches to his staff, Chuck Heater, Alex Mirabal and Scott Sinclair.
Holliday still has some holes in his coaching staff, but if his recruiting class is any indication, the holes will quickly be filled.
– Jarrod Clay
The Stampede May 16, 2013 
The Stampede May 8, 2013 
The Stampede: Thursday, March 21 
Green White Game Highlights 
Doc Holliday 
Rakeem Cato 
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Comments
Mike
You forgot Midget. He new he messed up and left at the next offer that came along. They left like rats ( they were good rats) leaving a sinking ship. MU is a stop over coaching job. Just somewhere to coach until a real job comes open. Maybe that would change if MU would recruit kids that were not props or rejects from other schools. Most of the name kids that come to MU come because there is no where else to go. Grades or other reasons keep them from going to big time schools. Just look it up and look how many players leave MU because of issues. Just maybe if MU took another approach to recruiting players would come,grow and stay. When you live by the sword you die by the sword. Look at the players from this class that Doc already stated have grade issues.
February 12, 2013 at 6:48 am | Report comment
perry
Check the latest from Morganhole- - -another one just left the sinking ship know as the "SS Hungoveragain" . . . .
February 12, 2013 at 5:31 pm | Report comment
Pat
The recruiting is looking good, I look for this season to be the year that the past few good recruiting season will finally show on the field and produce a winning season. And mike you are correct marshall is a stepping stone, so is OU, Wvu, UVA Pitt and any other school not in the sec... It's also means you have good coaches at your school if other schools come knocking at your door to take them away from you
February 12, 2013 at 8:06 am | Report comment
Melvin
College football is a big business. While Marshall may be a smaller fish in the ocean, all schools battle the same situations. Everyone cannot play or coach at Alanama per se, but they can fulfill their dreams or careers at the vast number of "other" schools. Isn't life about going from one stone to the next and learning / growing as you progress. Marshall fulfills their part in the journey to achieve one's goals and athletics is a part but not the most important part.
February 12, 2013 at 8:26 am | Report comment
Doug
Fred Tate?
February 12, 2013 at 10:13 am | Report comment
Mike hay
I get sick of our so called fans putting down Marshall. Huntington is a small town and with the plane crash we have done an excellent job. I will always support and love the herd no matter what.
February 12, 2013 at 11:34 am | Report comment
JB
Be interesting to see how many marshall recruits might be getting overtime pay from the state of WV.
All joking aside, this is a big deal. You can say accounting code issue all you want, its funny its just now came to light. State auditors look at these numbers every year, and all of a sudden this pops up. Neither the state nor marshall has changed accounting systems , much less code 171 in recent past.
February 12, 2013 at 12:46 pm | Report comment
Tom
Nice class! Looks Like only half of them will miss grades! Marshall is a silly silly silly silly silly silly silly joke. Enjoy Mcmanus He tried to get into a real school 4 times now but with his inability to spell his own name he sadly fell short. With the right amount of tutoring I am sure he can make the F+ average of most Marshall students.
February 14, 2013 at 5:17 pm | Report comment