Marion Hobby Joins Clemson Staff

Clemson has hired Duke co-defensive coordinator Marion Hobby to serve as its defensive line coach, according to a report Saturday morning.

Duke coach David Cutcliffe told Durham Herald-Sun reporter Steve Wiseman that Hobby had accepted the Tigers’ offer on Saturday.

Hobby had been deliberating whether to join Clemson’s staff or remain at Duke because of loyalty to Cutcliffe. He had recruited for the Blue Devils the past two days, an indication he had yet to make up his mind.

He replaces Chris Rumph, who left the Tigers to take a similar position Tuesday at Alabama.
Hobby served as Clemson’s defensive line coach in 2005 before moving to the NFL’s New Orleans Saints for the next two seasons.

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Hobby was here until after the 19-10 Colorado win in the Tangerine Bowl when the Saints made him an offer. As far as coaching ability, I think he's an upgrade over Rumph. He's one of the best DL coaches we've ever had here. 

In 2009 he developed Duke DT Vince Oghobaase into a Sporting News AA. In his 2 years with the Saints he coached DE Will Smith to the Pro Bowl, and in one of those years they made the appearance in the NFC Title game. The Saints went 10-6 and 7-9 in those seasons under Sean Payton, improving from 3-13 in Jim Haslett's final year.

As a recruiter, he's a step behind Rumph but not on Jack Hines' level by far. I don't think we see a big dropoff here considering he can sell the NFL experience, but Rumph had been improving at recruiting over the last few years. Duke has recruited extremely well since Cut took over there and Hobby has been a part of it. Time and again recruits we've chased have commented about Duke's staff, far more than I've ever heard about at Duke.

I'd figure he'd command a sizable salary bump over Chris Rumph as Duke's Co-DC. I also think he gets some kind of title like "Executive HC" or "Associate HC" to justify a big salary as DE coach. At Duke he was Assistant HC/DL/Co-DC.