Compiling info, stats and video of the most discussed Texas OC candidates.
Let's window shop for Offensive Coordinators, shall we?
First, DISCLAIMER: I'm no expert at scouting coaches. For that level of analysis, your best bet is to start here.
That being said, I'm pretty good at Googling things. So I've scanned the nominee list for the 2013 Broyles Award for best coordinator. Forty nominees are selected for this honor every year by coaches, and Broyles Award finalists have a pretty stellar track record, so I figure it's not a bad proxy for "good".
Of the offensive coordinators listed, I removed the coaches who for one reason or another would obviously not be considered. Seven names remained, and those seven names overlap quite a lot with the Longhorn interwebs chatter, so I figure y'all will be interested in learning more about them.
Please note that I'm not necessarily endorsing these guys or even saying that it's possible/smart to go after them. I'm just noting that these are some active OCs who are impressing people right now. If we're going to be hearing about these guys over the next few days, might as well learn more about them, whether you like them or not.
Also note: obviously, there are good candidates that won't be included here. If none of these guys seem good enough, maybe that's a sign to look outside the box. Right?
Josh Henson, Missouri OC
RESUME
2013-pres. - - - Missouri (Offensive Coordinator/Co-OL Coach)
2009-12 - - - Missouri (Co-OL Coach)
2005-08 - - - LSU (TE Coach/Recruiting Coordinator)
2001-04 - - - Oklahoma State (TE Coach/Recruiting Coordinator)
1999 - - - Oklahoma State (Graduate Assistant)
1998 - - - Kingfisher HS (OK) (Assistant Coach)
1993-1997 - - - Player, Oklahoma State (OL)
STATS
I've included the S&P+ stats for the teams each coach has coordinated. For the S&P+ stats graphics:
The years in which the person coordinated or co-coordinated the offense are in gold;
For each individual tenure I've also included the year prior as reference, in white; and
The arrows indicate the quartile in which the team ranked that year in the FBS in that category.
OBVIOUS UPSIDE
He's a Big 12 native, having played at OK State and spent most of his coaching career in the conference.
He's been a recruiting coordinator at both LSU and OK State, so he knows something about recruiting AND recruiting in Texas.
He's also been an O-line and tight ends coach so he'll serve as an extra pair of eyes on the trenches.
OBVIOUS DOWNSIDE
Only one year of experience coordinating (though yes, that year was quite successful).
COACH TALK
Mizzou Offensive Philosophy (via Mizzou Football)
MIC'D UP
Fall Camp 2013: Josh Henson Mic'd Up (via Mizzou Network)
Tom Herman, Ohio State OC
RESUME
2012-pres. - - - Ohio State (Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach)
2009–11 - - - Iowa State (Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach)
2007–08 - - - Rice University (Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach)
2005–06 - - - Texas State (Offensive Coordinator)
2001–04 - - - Sam Houston State (WR Coach)
1999–2000 - - - University of Texas (Graduate Assistant)
1998 - - - Texas Lutheran University (WR Coach)
1994–97 - - - Player, California Lutheran University (WR)
STATS
OBVIOUS UPSIDE
Presumably lots of Big 12 and Texas connections, between his Iowa State, Rice and Texas years.
For a 38-year-old, he has a tremendous amount of FBS playcalling experience.
OBVIOUS DOWNSIDE
His Iowa State tenure started with a bang but ended in a whimper.
May be in a better position staying put if he wants to become head coach of a Top 10 program anytime soon.
Plus, may not be the best fit with our current roster or Strong's stated offensive preferences. See Nickel Rover's commentary for more.
COACH TALK
Offensive Coordinator Tom Herman on Signing Day 2013 (via theOzonedotnet)
MIC'D UP
QB Drills - Tom Herman (via Brady Walz)
Rhett Lashlee, Auburn OC
RESUME
2013–pres. - - - Auburn (Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach)
2012 - - - Arkansas State (Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach)
2011 - - - Samford (Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach)
2009–10 - - - Auburn (Graduate Assistant)
2006 - - - Arkansas (Graduate Assistant)
2004–05 - - - Springdale HS (AR) (Assistant Coach)
2002-04 - - - Player, Arkansas (QB)
STATS
OBVIOUS UPSIDE
Did you lust after Gus Malzahn for head coach? Well, here's his protégé. Malzahn may have only been an FBS head coach for two years, but Lashlee has been learning under Malzahn in some way since 1998 as a QB at Shiloh Christian HS, with only a couple of minor detours at Samford and as a player at Arkansas separating them over the last 15 years.
At the tender age of 30, he might not be in a huge rush to land a head coaching position, and may be well-advised to spend a few years first learning about elite defensive coaching from the likes of Strong. Also an Arkansas native.
Insanely hot wife. Google is your friend.
OBVIOUS DOWNSIDE
May not be willing to separate from his mentor for anything less than a head coaching job.
With a name like "Rhett Lashlee", may not be legally allowed to switch residency outside the state of Alabama.
The Malzahn offense may not be the best fit with our current roster or Strong's stated offensive preferences. Again, see Nickel Rover's commentary.
COACH TALK
Rhett Lashlee Discusses Auburn Quarterback Battle (via Jason Caldwell)
MIC'D UP
Wired for Sound: Rhett Lashlee (via Auburn Athletics)
Seth Littrell, Indiana OC
RESUME
2012-13 - - - Indiana (Offensive Coordinator/FB & TE Coach)
2011 - - - Arizona (Offensive Coordinator/RB & TE Coach)
2010 - - - Arizona (Co-Offensive Coordinator/RB & TE Coach)
2009 - - - Arizona (RB & TE Coach)
2005-08 - - - Texas Tech (RB Coach)
2002-04 - - - Kansas (Graduate Assistant)
1997-2000 - - - Player, Oklahoma (FB)
STATS
OBVIOUS UPSIDE
Texas actually has a pretty good track record with Sooners as coaches. Just sayin'.
Indiana is somehow 15th in the country in S&P+ in 2013, despite being Indiana.
OBVIOUS DOWNSIDE
Littrell has not yet fallen from the Stoops coaching tree. He cut his teeth under Mangino at Kansas and Leach at Tech, first called plays under Mike Stoops in Arizona, and now coordinates for Kevin Wilson. May rather commit hari-kiri than don burnt orange.
Known in Norman as "The Josh Heupel Backup Plan".
COACH TALK
Seth Littrell Conversation (via bigtennetwork)
Philip Montgomery, Baylor OC
RESUME
2013-pres. - - - Baylor (Offensive Coordinator)
2008-12 - - - Baylor (Co-Offensive Coordinator, QB & RB Coach)
2003-07 - - - Houston (QB & RB Coach)
2002 - - - Denton HS (TX) (Offensive Coordinator)
1997-2001 - - - Stephenville HS (TX) (QB & RB Coach)
1995-96 - - - Celeste HS (TX) (Offensive Coordinator, QB & RB Coach)
1992-95 - - - Player, Tarleton State (QB, FS)
STATS
OBVIOUS UPSIDE
Did you lust after Art Briles for head coach? Well, here's his protégé. Montgomery has been learning under Briles in some way since 1997 as a QB coach at Stephenville HS, with only a minor detour at Denton separating them over the last 16 years.
OBVIOUS DOWNSIDE
May not be willing to compete directly against his mentor in conference.
COACH TALK
Baylor Football: One-on-One with Coach Montgomery (via BaylorAthletics)
MIC'D UP
Baylor Football: Inside #CampBU - Day 17 (via BaylorAthletics)
Chad Morris, Clemson OC
RESUME
2011-pres. - - - Clemson (Offensive Coordinator)
2010 - - - Tulsa (Offensive Coordinator)
2008-09 - - - Lake Travis HS (TX) (Head Coach)
2004-07 - - - Stephenville HS (TX) (Head Coach)
2000-02 - - - Bay City HS (TX) (Head Coach)
1998-99 - - - Elysian Fields HS (TX) (Head Coach)
1994-97 - - - Eustace HS (TX) (Head Coach)
STATS
OBVIOUS UPSIDE
His Texas high school experience puts him in a great position as a recruiter in Texas.
Perhaps the biggest "sure thing" in terms of experience and track record.
OBVIOUS DOWNSIDE
In high demand. May be enormously expensive and difficult to retain his services compared to some of the other options.
May not be interested in being an Offensive Coordinator at his next stop, and if he allows it, may be liable to leave as soon as a quality head coaching position vacates.
COACH TALK
Chad Morris Dec 16 (via Tigernetdotcom)
MIC'D UP
Clemson Football Report Oct. 18 (via ClemsonAthletics)
Mike Norvell, Arizona State OC
RESUME
2012-pres. - - - Arizona State (Offensive Coordinator & QB Coach)
2011 - - - Pittsburgh (Co-Offensive Coordinator, WR Coach)
2010 - - - Tulsa (Passing Game Coordinator, WR Coach, Director of Recruiting)
2008-09 - - - Tulsa (Passing Game Coordinator, WR Coach)
2006-07 - - - Central Arkansas (Graduate Assistant)
2001-05 - - - Player, Central Arkansas (WR)
STATS
OBVIOUS UPSIDE
Did you lust after Todd Graham for head coach? Um...well, here's his protégé anyway. Norvell hitched onto Graham's star in Tulsa in 2006 and has been dragged across the country playing an ever-greater role in Graham's offense ever since.
At the tender age of 32, he might not be in a huge rush to land a head coaching position, and may be well-advised to spend a few years first learning about elite defensive coaching from the likes of Strong. Also an Arkansas native.
OBVIOUS DOWNSIDE
Was just named "Deputy Head Coach" at ASU, whatever that is, so he may feel obliged to stick around for awhile.
Could possibly fall under the umbrella of the agreement we made not to poach Graham when we picked up Steve Patterson. EDIT: Yup, he's definitely off-limits. See ManoCornuda's link in comments.
COACH TALK
DevilsDigest TV: Mike Norvell (via Hod Rabino)
MIC'D UP
2012 Sun Devil Football Spring Practice - Coach Mike Norvell (via Arizona State Sun Devils)