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Coordinator Carousel: Conference USA Coaching Changes
By Drew Howard | May 19, 2008
While head coaches get most of the glory, a good coordinator can single-handedly morph a unit from sub par to successful given the right coaching strategies. Drew Howard and the guys at College Gridiron Boss continue with the Conference USA.
Houston
Offensive Coordinator
Out: Randy Clements and Phillip Montgomery. Clements and Montgomery followed Art Briles to Baylor.
In: Jason Phillips. Phillips was the wide receivers coach this past year for Houston’s high powered offense. Houston hopes that this promotion will help keep their offensive momentum intact. Phillips led the nation in receiving in 1987 and 1988 (the Andre Ware years) , becoming the first NCAA player in 23 years to accomplish such a feat in two consecutive seasons.
Houston Defensive Coordinator
Out: Alan Weddell. Weddell was not retained following Briles ‘ departure.
In: John Skladany . Before spending one season at UCF , Skladany was the defensive coordinator under Dan McCarney at Iowa State from 1997-2006.
Marshall
Offensive Coordinator
Out: Larry Kueck . Kueck was fired after Marshall’s sub par season.
In: John Shannon. Shannon was the offensive coordinator for some productive Toledo squads.
Defensive Coordinator
Out: Steve Dunlap. Dunlap left for a position on the new West Virginia staff.
In: Rick Minter. Minter’s last job was as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator in 2006. However, he is familiar with CUSA , having coached Cincinnati from 1994-2003.
Memphis Defensive Coordinator
Out: Rick Kravitz . Kravitz was fired after his defense gave up more than 400 points in 2007.
In: Tim Walton. Walton was Miami (FL) defensive coordinator this past season, so it will be interesting to see how he does with less raw talent at Memphis.
SMU Defensive Coordinator
Out: Jim Gush. Gush was not retained after Phil Bennett was fired.
In: Tom Mason. Mason hopes some of the winning attitude that was around the program at Fresno State rubs off on his new players. He was the linebackers coach during Fresno State’s recent run of success.
Southern Miss
Offensive Coordinator
Out: Jay Johnson. Johnson was not retained from Jeff Bower’s staff.
In: Darrell Wyatt. Wyatt comes from Arizona where he led a successful passing attack in 2007. New Head Coach Larry Fedora has run successful offenses at Florida and Oklahoma State so watch this team closely.
Defensive Coordinator
Out: Jay Hopson . It was not a good off season for Jays at USM as Hopson was also not retained.
In: Todd Bradford. Bradford was the linebackers coach at Oklahoma State where Fedora was on staff.
Tulane Defensive Coordinator
Out: Thom Kaumeyer . Kentucky hired Kaumeyer as their secondary coach.
In: O’Neill Gilbert. Tulane kept the hire in house as Gilbert was promoted from defensive line coach.
UCF Defensive Coordinator
Out: John Skladany . Skladany left to become the defensive coordinator at Houston.
In: Dave Huxtable . UCF’s staff did a very good job in 2007, so they just promoted Huxtable from linebackers coach to the coordinator position.
UTEP
Offensive Coordinator
Out: Eric Price. son of head coach Mike Price, Eric will be coaching wide receivers for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008.
In: Bob Connelly . While Connelly is coming from UCLA, the reason he was hired was his close relationship with head coach Mike Price. Connelly was the offensive line coach for Price when the two were in Pullman, WA.
Defensive Coordinator
Out: Tim Hundley . Hundley left to join SMU’s staff as an assistant head coach.
In: Osia Lewis. Lewis has coached on BCS conference staffs before, but he cut his coordinator teeth at New Mexico. Price stayed in the southwest for this hire.
Topics: C-USA |
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