College football's most interesting new coordinators: Big moves at Clemson, Bama, Texas A&M [ESPN+ Paywall]
College football's most interesting new coordinators: Big moves at Clemson, Bama, Texas A&M [ESPN+ Paywall]
We look at 10 coordinators new to their schools in 2023 who could make an impact, or at least keep our attention.
This year's group of new coordinators includes Arbuckle, the youngest in the Power 5, and other Pac-12 notables like Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein. It includes a Division Il call-up in Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo. Bobby Petrino is back yet again, this time alongside Jimbo Fisher in Aggieland. Phil Longo is bringing the Air Raid to Wisconsin, of all places, while Garrett Riley will use similar concepts to reignite Clemson's offense.
Ben Arbuckle, Washington State
- Position: Offensive coordinator
- Previous job: Western Kentucky co-offensive coordinator
Bryan Nardo, Oklahoma State
- Position: Defensive coordinator
- Previous job: Gannon University defensive coordinator
Phil Longo, Wisconsin
- Position: Offensive coordinator
- Previous job: North Carolina offensive coordinator
Will Stein, Oregon
- Position: Offensive coordinator
- Previous job: UTSA offensive coordinator
Ron Roberts, Auburn
- Position: Defensive coordinator
- Previous job: Baylor defensive coordinator
Bobby Petrino, Texas A&M
- Position: Offensive coordinator
- Previous job: Missouri State coach (briefly took UNLV offensive coordinator job)
Lance Guidry, Miami
- Position: Defensive coordinator
- Previous job: Marshall defensive coordinator (briefly hired as Tulane’s DC
Tony White, Nebraska
- Position: Defensive coordinator
- Previous job: Syracuse defensive coordinator
Garrett Riley, Clemson
- Position: Offensive coordinator
- Previous job: TCU offensive coordinator
Tommy Rees, Alabama
- Position: Offensive coordinator
- Previous job: Notre Dame offensive coordinator
Miami and Texas A&M are two that I think underperformed last year. Interested to see if the changes spark anything.
Guidry replaced Kevin Steele, who returned to Alabama. Guidry had a strong run at Marshall, which ranked sixth nationally in points allowed and eighth in yards allowed last season.
The former McNeese State coach is at a Power 5 program for the first time but, like some other coaches on this list, brings success from other parts of college football. He inherits a Miami defense with some star power, particularly All-America safety Karen Kinchens and linemen Leonard Taylor and Ahkeem Mesidor, and exciting young players like sophomore linebacker Wesley Bissainthe.
His task is to mold clearly talented components into a better overall defense, especially after Miami surrendered 127 points in its final three losses of 2022. Marshall led the FBS in third-down defense last season, nearly three percentage points better than any other group (23.5% conversions). Miami finished 98th (42%).
I’d like to see a strong Miami again. We’ll see how well he can do for you guys, I’m rooting for you over FSU!
Since 2021, Clemson is 51st in scoring (29.9 PPG), 96th in yards per play (5.4) and 72nd in total QBR (55.2), despite still going 21-6 with an ACC championship. Riley's challenge is to develop sophomore quarterback Cade Klubnik, restore some edge to the receiving corps and ultimately get closer to the type of production Clemson enjoyed from 2015 to 2020, when the team ranked fourth nationally in scoring (40.4 PPG) and third in yards (501.8 YPG.
After producing a 1,000-yard receiver each season from 2018 through 2020, no Clemson player has exceeded 604 receiving yards the past two seasons.
[Riley] can call upon his experience at TCU, which went from 65th nationally in scoring in 2021 to ninth last year with Riley and coach Sonny Dykes.
I’m hopeful that Riley can bring our offense closer to where it was in the 2010’s. As everyone knows, watching our offense has been so boring these last couple years. I actively dreaded when we got the ball. On the bright side, our defense has still been fun to watch, and we’ve still managed a good record and another ACC championship. Even if Riley is only here for a year or two, hopefully it’s enough to reinvigorate our players and coaching staff.