'Coaching portal' claims 3 Cincinnati Bearcat football staffers in a week's time

As much as the college transfer portal is talked about, there is also a constantly moving chain of events among college football coaches. The best evidence of that can be shown at the University of Cincinnati where three of Coach Scott Satterfield's new staffers have now moved along for assumably better opportunities just over a month into their new positions.

The biggest one to drop is at offensive coordinator where Tom Manning has left to be on the staff of new Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen. Steichen was just in the Super Bowl as the offensive coordinator of the Eagles.

Manning was previously with the Colts as their tight ends coach in 2018. By all accounts, the NFL money was too good to pass up so he'll be packing up and crossing state lines again. Manning came to UC in early January. On his resumé were seven NFL draft picks as Iowa State's offensive coordinator where he led them to four bowl games, including a New Year's Six win in the Fiesta Bowl in 2020. He was also a three-time Broyles Award semifinalist for the nation's top assistant award.

Current NFL stars coached by Manning include wide receiver Allen Lazard, running backs David Montgomery (Mount Healthy High School) and Breece Hall, tight end Charlie Kolar and quarterback Brock Purdy.

However, he had parted ways with Iowa State coach Matt Campbell after their recent 4-8 season. Manning had come to Ames with Campbell after successful campaigns at Toledo where he served as offensive line coach.

The fact remains though, Scott Satterfield calls his own plays and has for some time regardless of the offensive coordinator.

Movement among the linebacker corps

Earlier Monday, outside linebackers coach Greg Gasparato's move to Troy to become defensive coordinator became public. Gasparato was among a slew of coaches from Satterfield's Louisville staff that made the move north on Interstate 71. Now, he'll be heading across the Mason-Dixon line.

At the time of his UC hiring, Satterfield called him, "one of the top young defensive coaches in the country". Troy was 12-2 last season and tied South Alabama for the Sun Belt West Division with a 7-1 record.

Derek Nicholson was also an early Satterfield hire from Louisville, but he left last week for a linebackers coach position with the Miami Hurricanes in the Atlantic Coast Conference under Mario Cristobal.

Louisville's linebackers totaled 50 sacks last season under Gasparato and Nicholson to lead the nation. Some of that was evident in their Wasabi Fenway Bowl win over the Bearcats in December.

Spring football begins in two weeks, so Satterfield must make some quick hires to get his staff in order for the first practice March 6. UC hasn't made it official, but Army confirmed linebackers coach Cortney Braswell was joining the Bearcats replacing Nicholson.

The Enquirer will update all future hires.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Hiring cycle of football coaches claims 3 off UC Bearcat staff