With Jake Spavital's departure, Texas A&M is looking for a coordinator for the second time in two seasons. Last year, the Aggies hit the jackpot when they hired John Chavis to serve as defensive coordinator; can they hit they do as well this time around? AggieYell.com takes a look at some of the possible candidates for the job.
Doug Meacham, TCU
Resume:
Co-offensive coordinator, TCU (2013-present)
Co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Houston (2013)
Tight ends/inside receivers coach, Oklahoma State (2005-12)
Offensive coordinator, Samford (2002-04)
Offensive coordinator, Henderson State (1999-2000)
Offensive Coordinator, Jacksonville State (1997-99)
Offensive Coordinator, Georgia Military (1994-96)
Awards/Accomplishments
Broyles Award finalist for the nation's top assistant, 2014
3rd nationally in total offense, 2015 (564 YPG)
2nd in the nation in scoring offense, 2014 (46.5 PPG)
7th in the nation in scoring offense, 2015 (42.1 PPG)
The success of Meacham's offenses at TCU have certainly caught the attention of head coaches across the country, as the Horned Frogs saw their yardage increase by 190 yards a game and scoring increase by more than three touchdowns a game in his first season in Fort Worth with Co-OC Sonny Cumbie. TCU has already extended both men and given them a raise, but if A&M wants Meacham, they have the financial resources to get him.
Noel Mazzone, UCLA
Resume:
Offensive coordinator, UCLA (2012-present)
Offensive coordinator, Arizona State (2010-11)
WR Coach/Personnel Consultant, New York Jets (2006-09)
Offensive coordinator, Ole Miss (2005)
Offensive coordinator/TE coach, N.C. State (2003-04)
Running backs/Special teams coach, Oregon State (2002)
Offensive coordinator/RB coach, Auburn (1999-2001)
Offensive coordinator/RB coach, Ole Miss (1994-98)
Quarterbacks coach, Minnesota (1992-94)
Quarterbacks coach, TCU (1987-91)
Awards/Accolades:
Set school record with most 500 yard-plus games (6), 2015
Coached freshman All-American Josh Rosen, 2015
Coached UCLA's all-time leader in total yards and TD passes, Brett Hundley
45th nationally in scoring offense (32.2 PPG) in 2015
28th in total offense (486 YPG) in 2015
Mazzone has been around a long time and has largely been successful wherever he's gone. He's coached everyone from Rosen and Hundley to Phillip Rivers at N.C. State. He's got significant SEC experience and has operated a spread system for more than a decade.
Tony Franklin, Cal
Resume:
Offensive coordinator/QB Coach/RB coach, Cal (2013-present)
Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach, Louisiana Tech (2010-12)
Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach, Middle Tennessee (2009)
Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach, Auburn (2008)
Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach, Troy (2006-07)
Offensive Coordinator/WR Coach/RB Coach, Kentucky (1996-2000)
Awards/Accolades:
Offenses at Cal have broken 12 single-season school or modern-era school records
Set new single-season school marks in 2015 on the offensive side of the ball for passing yardage (4,425), passing touchdowns (38) and total offense (6,293)
Coached likely top-1o NFL draft pick QB Jared Goff
Led the nation in scoring offense (51.50 PPG) and total offense (577.92 ypg) with Louisiana Tech in 2012
2012 Broyles Award nominee
Franklin has put together some of the nation's most prolific offenses over the past half-decade and has run pass-heavy systems to perfection at both La. Tech and Cal. He seems to be very comfortable at Berkeley, but does have some SEC experience. The Aggies would be able to outpay Cal easily if they decided Franklin was their man.
Bob Stitt, Montana
Resume:
Head coach, Montana (2015-present)
Head coach, Colorado School of Mines (2000-14)
Offensive coordinator, Harvard (1999)
Awards/Accolades:
Three-time Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference champion
Two-time RMAC Coach of hte Year (2004, 2010)
28th in total offense, FCS, 2015 (422 YPG)
42nd in scoring offense, FCS, 2015 (29.3 PPG)
13th in passing offense, FCS, 2015 (280.4 YPG)
Recognized as one of the top offensive innovators in all of college football, Stitt's concepts have been liberally lifted by the likes of Dana Holgerson, Kliff Kingsbury and Kevin Sumlin himself. He has no experience as a coordinator at a major program and very little time outside of the Mountain time zone, but his reputation among the coaching community could make him an appealing target.
