Offensive Coordinator Hunt (UPDATED)

[Escambia94]

I have posted this in two other threads, but here is one handy list of the offensive coordinators and candidates in the country as ranked by several other databases. I have highlighted the ones that I think are realistic candidates for Florida position, should it open up at the end of the season, along with their potential buy-out cost.

1. Kliff Kingsbury (Texas Tech). Technically he is the head coach, but he has retained his OC duties at Texas Tech. At aTm, he made Johnny Manziel from an immature punk that got away with everything into an immature punk that gets away with everything and has a Heisman. He belongs to the coaching tree of Mike Leach, Dana Holgerson, and Kevin Sumlin, and will eventually have an OC under his tree that will make it to this list of OCs that Florida wishes it had. Kingsbury will be staying at Texas Tech until their next scandal.
2. Philip Montgomery (Baylor). Other than the location of The Alamo's basement, this guy is the best-kept secret in the state of Texas. His offenses were explosive at Houston, and he has made Baylor a powerhouse in the Big 12. His players have done well in the NFL, much to the surprise of NFL scouts. Baylor may have hired Art Briles for the next 1000 years, but Montgomery may be available for the taking for a decent price. ($300K)
3. Cam Cameron (LSU). Cam^2 has made LSU scary. He may have singlehandedly boosted Zach Mettenberger's NFL Draft stock above Zach's former competition at Georgia, Aaron Murray. LSU is already drawing the attention of top high school QBs, so LSU might be dangerous for a few years. There is not enough money on earth to snag this guy from LSU.
4. Doug Nussmeier (Alabama). Look what he has done to turn the above average Bama offense into an explosive threat that can keep up with any offense or defense in the nation. I doubt Florida can grab him, but if Will Muschamp can learn a lesson from his old mentor, Nick Saban, it is that defense wins championships only if the offense puts points on the board from time to time. Nussmeier will be staying at Bama until Saban retires with another umpteen national titles.
5. Chad Morris (Clemson). Success has followed Morris from Tulsa to Clemson. He apparently has an eye for talent and has been able to snag recruits from around the country, even SEC country. I like this option, but it might be a more expensive one than the others on this list. ($1.3M)
6. Mike Bobo (Georgia). Like it or not, he has improved Georgia's offense over the years and he will continue to be the bane of Will Muschamp for as long as Muschamp is head coach at Florida. His QB, Aaron Murray, has destroyed Tim Tebow's and Danny Wuerffel's SEC records, so give him some respect. He is good friends with Will Muschamp, but it might be too awkward for him to leave UGA to come here.
7. Shannon Dawson (West Virginia). Dana Holgerson may be the mastermind, but he gives play calling duties to Dawson. His FCS resume includes the number one offense in the nation. In the FBS, he has developed three NFL first-rounders. As darkness begins to loom on Holgersen's reign in Morgantown, Dawson may want to consider jumping ship to sunnier, warmer places like Gainesville. ($300K)
8. Scott Frost (Oregon). The Quack Attack has not missed a beat since transitioning head coaches, and this guy is the reason. Pac-12 fans think he is ready to be a head coach. I think he should try his offensive formula in a league that plays defense before he steps up as a head coach in the Pac-12. He is probably too scared to leave the safe confines of Pac-12, defense-less football, but he would be a game changer in the SEC as an OC. ($370K)
9. Tony Franklin (California). His offense led the nation in scoring in 2012--outscoring Baylor, Oklahoma State, and Oregon. The question remains as to whether he could duplicate this feat in the SEC. Given how much the rules have changed in the past year to favor offenses and player safety, I think this Pac-12 offense style could work in the SEC. ($653K+)
10. James Coley (Miami). Time after time, Miami grabs better offensive players out of high school than Florida.
11. Al Borges (Michigan). It is hard to tell if these offenses are good because of the players or the coaching, but they do recruit well in B1G country.
12. Josh Heupel (Oklahoma). His offenses are consistently in the top 10-15, and he keeps pushing out NFL talent. He has coached two Heisman winners and a Big-12 record holder.
13. Mike Norvell (Arizona State) lacks SEC OC experience, but looks to be an up-and-comer. He has put together a couple top-25 offenses against lesser defenses, but there is some doubt that he could manage his offense against bigger, rougher, and more brutal SEC defenses. On the contrary, his style of offense seems to suit the kind of athlete that is drawn to Florida offenses.
    
14. Clay Helton (USC). Unless the new head coach likes the old USCw staff, this guy could become available. He can recruit even under NCAA sanctions, which is what Florida's recruiting situation has looked like since 2009 or so.
15. Clarence McKinney (Texas A&M). It may be too early to tell whether it is McKinney or the system, but he was the play caller in the record-setting Cotton Bowl performance (633 yards), and he did rack up 628 yards against Alabama's #1 defense.
16. Lane Kiffin (former USCw HC). As an OC at USC, his offenses were record-setting. He can coach and recruit with fewer quality recruits.
    
17. Derek Dooley (Dallas Cowboys WRC). I know, this sounds silly to hire a former head coach from a rival SEC team. Who would ever think to do that? Oh...yeah...Joker Phillips. Regardless, Dooley is a friend of Muschamp, and hails from Nick Saban's coaching tree (he was OC while Muschamp was DC).
18. Brent Pease (Florida). Yeah. People outside of Gainesville still have faith in Pease. Who knows? Maybe after he is fired he will find his niche elsewhere.
19. Kurt Roper (Duke). He has connections with Will Muschamp and has SEC experience as OC at Tennessee and Ole Miss, having coached both of the Manning brothers, but he does not have big game experience required to make it to the top of this list of NCAA OCs.
    
20. Dave Christensen (former Wyoming HC). Christensen is just as fiery and emotional as Will Muschamp, perhaps even more so. He coached top-15 offenses under Gary Pinkel at Mizzou, and top-25 offenses at Wyoming. The downside would be his temper issues.
21. Kerwin Bell (HC/OC at Jacksonville). Kerwin is one of the few Steve Spurrier disciples, and has always remained close to the University of Florida. More than likely he will not get a shot at Florida as OC until works his way up as QBC on a big-name coaching staff.
22. Joker Phillips (WRC at Florida). Joker has HC and OC experience at Kentucky, and would be a good choice for promoting from within if there are no other takers.
23. Brian White (RBC/TEC at Florida). Brian ran the offense during the 2010 Gator Bowl and was so-so. If he wants to be an OC one day, he may need to wait his turn due to lack of experience.
24. Mike Mularkey (former Jacksonville HC). Like Kerwin, he is a Florida alumnus. He likes punishing offenses, which would make Will Muschamp happy. He has OC experience in the NFL at Miami, Pittsburgh, and Atlanta. He worked under Nick Saban for a year, but not at the same time as Muschamp.
25. Jedd Fischer (Jacksonville Jaguars OC). Jedd is a Florida graduate, and has OC experience in college and the NFL.

UPDATE (11/30/13): Will Muschamp will be retained in 2014, but has reported fired Brent Pease. Will Muschamp will more than likely start his search for replacements from his coaching tree:

• Will Muschamp (HC Florida, worked as HCIW/DC for Mack Brown at UTx, DC/AHC for Nick Saban at Miami Dolphins and LSU, DC for Tommy Tuberville at Auburn, GA under Terry Bowden at Auburn)[Note the success Nick Saban has keeping several portions of his coaching tree together]
  • Charlie Weis (HC Kansas, worked under WM as OC at Florida)
  • Brent Pease (worked under WM as OC at Florida)
  • Dan Quinn (DC at Seattle Seahawks, worked as DC at Florida)

Will Muschamp shares the following people from his coaching tree:

• Jimbo Fisher (HC Florida State, OC at LSU under Nick Saban while WM was DC)
• Kirby Smart (DC at Alabama, DBC at Miami Dolphins under Nick Saban while WM was DC)
• Major Applewhite (OC/QBC at UTx, same position under Mack Brown while WM was HCIW/DC)
• Stacy Searels (OLC at UTx, same position under Mack Brown w/ WM, and under Nick Saban at LSU)
• Derek Dooley (WRC at Dallas Cowboys, WR/TEC under Nick Saban at LSU and Miami Dolphins while WM was DC)

 

[roblou56]

I'd like to add a name to that list. Lane Kiffin. Douche bag, yes he is but you would also have to say he is a great recruiter (especially Florida area) and has been for years. He knows offense and is a great play caller. Runs a NFL style offense that Coach Boom prefers. My only problem with making that hire is I believe he still wants to be a HC and after turning the gators offense from one of the worst to one of the best, programs will come calling. We would have another one and done OC. There is nothing worse for a program than coaching turnover. I really can't envision any of the guys Escambia94 listed as potential OC's making their way to Gainesville. Although, I do like the Montgomery guy out of Baylor he has been mostly located in the Texas region and really see him transitioning to the southeast. Especially when you consider there maybe some prominent jobs opening up in the state of Texas following the season.

 

[Escambia94]

I actually made the same suggestion. Kiffin is married to Gator Great John Reaves' daughter, and he does fit the bill as a pro style OC. He can recruit well and develop players. He would not stay long, but when was the last time we kept an OC for more than a few years?

 

[roblou56]

What are your feelings on Rick Nuheisel? I feel he is just like Lane Kiffin but not nearly as big of a douche bag. Pro-style offense, HC experience, OC experience, great recruiter, develops QBs. The only difference is that Nuheisel is a West coast guy thru and thru. Doubt he has the connections in the Southeast region of the country like he has out west as far as recruiting is concerned.

 

[Escambia94]

What are your feelings on Rick Nuheisel? I feel he is just like Lane Kiffin but not nearly as big of a douche bag. Pro-style offense, HC experience, OC experience, great recruiter, develops QBs. The only difference is that Nuheisel is a West coast guy thru and thru. Doubt he has the connections in the Southeast region of the country like he has out west as far as recruiting is concerned.

Nuheisel is a good coach, but a head coach, not offensive coordinator. Even if he returned to coaching, it would be Pac-12. He is currently a sports analyst for their network.

 

[DRU2012]

@roblou56, @Escambia94,
Like your thinking, reasoning, suggestions...and "Thankyou, E-!" for your (as usual) comprehensive overview...
I suspect "the next guy" will be from the names on this page (tho' NOT so sure money, buy-out clauses or ANY of that will be a big drawback--my info is that there are some VERY wealthy boosters ready to write checks "for WHATEVER!" to make it happen, and they have expressed this clearly, to say the LEAST, to Foley and the Regents)...Still. there is a niggling thought/feeling at the back of my pinial gland that it MIGHT be "someone out of left field" that ultimately gets the nod, if and when it finally comes. Me, I'm not that set on anyone, long as he can recruit AND has a "vison"/scheme/philpsophy/PLAN to build/create something special on offense to complement Muschamp's D in G-ville, and that he really IS given full reign to GET IT DONE.

 

[Escambia94]

I would love to be surprised by a dark horse candidate, someone unknown but innovative.

 

[Escambia94]

Here is my updated OC wish list. Some of them are technically off limits, but I keep them on my wish list any way.

1. Lane Kiffin (former USCw HC). Although he is a douchebag, he is a good offensive coordinator. As an OC at USCw, his offenses were record-setting. He can coach and recruit with fewer quality recruits.
2. Kliff Kingsbury (Texas Tech). Technically he is the head coach, but he has retained his OC duties at Texas Tech. At aTm, he made Johnny Manziel from an immature punk that got away with everything into an immature punk that gets away with everything and has a Heisman. He belongs to the coaching tree of Mike Leach, Dana Holgerson, and Kevin Sumlin, and will eventually have an OC under his tree that will make it to this list of OCs that Florida wishes it had. Kingsbury will be staying at Texas Tech until their next scandal.
3. Philip Montgomery (Baylor). Other than the location of The Alamo's basement, this guy is the best-kept secret in the state of Texas. His offenses were explosive at Houston, and he has made Baylor a powerhouse in the Big 12. His players have done well in the NFL, much to the surprise of NFL scouts. Baylor may have hired Art Briles for the next 1000 years, but Montgomery may be available for the taking for a decent price. ($300K)
4. Cam Cameron (LSU). Cam^2 has made LSU scary. He may have singlehandedly boosted Zach Mettenberger's NFL Draft stock above Zach's former competition at Georgia, Aaron Murray. LSU is already drawing the attention of top high school QBs, so LSU might be dangerous for a few years. There is not enough money on earth to snag this guy from LSU.
5. Doug Nussmeier (Alabama). Look what he has done to turn the above average Bama offense into an explosive threat that can keep up with any offense or defense in the nation. I doubt Florida can grab him, but if Will Muschamp can learn a lesson from his old mentor, Nick Saban, it is that defense wins championships only if the offense puts points on the board from time to time. Nussmeier will be staying at Bama until Saban retires with another umpteen national titles.
6. Chad Morris (Clemson). Success has followed Morris from Tulsa to Clemson. He apparently has an eye for talent and has been able to snag recruits from around the country, even SEC country. I like this option, but it might be a more expensive one than the others on this list. ($1.3M)
7. Mike Bobo (Georgia). Like it or not, he has improved Georgia's offense over the years and he will continue to be the bane of Will Muschamp for as long as Muschamp is head coach at Florida. His QB, Aaron Murray, has destroyed Tim Tebow's and Danny Wuerffel's SEC records, so give him some respect. He is good friends with Will Muschamp, but it might be too awkward for him to leave UGA to come here.
8. Shannon Dawson (West Virginia). Dana Holgerson may be the mastermind, but he gives play calling duties to Dawson. His FCS resume includes the number one offense in the nation. In the FBS, he has developed three NFL first-rounders. As darkness begins to loom on Holgersen's reign in Morgantown, Dawson may want to consider jumping ship to sunnier, warmer places like Gainesville. ($300K)
9. Scott Frost (Oregon). The Quack Attack has not missed a beat since transitioning head coaches, and this guy is the reason. Pac-12 fans think he is ready to be a head coach. I think he should try his offensive formula in a league that plays defense before he steps up as a head coach in the Pac-12. He is probably too scared to leave the safe confines of Pac-12, defense-less football, but he would be a game changer in the SEC as an OC. ($370K)
10. Tony Franklin (California). His offense led the nation in scoring in 2012--outscoring Baylor, Oklahoma State, and Oregon. The question remains as to whether he could duplicate this feat in the SEC. Given how much the rules have changed in the past year to favor offenses and player safety, I think this Pac-12 offense style could work in the SEC. ($653K+)
11. James Coley (Miami). Time after time, Miami grabs better offensive players out of high school than Florida.
12. Dave Schramm (Fresno State). Schramm has coached every offensive position, and has been recruiting coordinator for 15 years. Technically he is part of Urban Meyer's coaching tree, so he may not be entirely popular these days in Gainesville, but his offense is different.
    
13. Al Borges (Michigan). It is hard to tell if these offenses are good because of the players or the coaching, but they do recruit well in B1G country.
14. Josh Heupel (Oklahoma). His offenses are consistently in the top 10-15, and he keeps pushing out NFL talent. He has coached two Heisman winners and a Big-12 record holder.
15. Mike Norvell (Arizona State) lacks SEC OC experience, but looks to be an up-and-comer. He has put together a couple top-25 offenses against lesser defenses, but there is some doubt that he could manage his offense against bigger, rougher, and more brutal SEC defenses. On the contrary, his style of offense seems to suit the kind of athlete that is drawn to Florida offenses.
16. Clay Helton (USC). Unless the new head coach likes the old USCw staff, this guy could become available. He can recruit even under NCAA sanctions, which is what Florida's recruiting situation has looked like since 2009 or so.
17. Clarence McKinney (Texas A&M). It may be too early to tell whether it is McKinney or the system, but he was the play caller in the record-setting Cotton Bowl performance (633 yards), and he did rack up 628 yards against Alabama's #1 defense.
18. Derek Dooley (Dallas Cowboys WRC). I know, this sounds silly to hire a former head coach from a rival SEC team. Who would ever think to do that? Oh...yeah...Joker Phillips. Regardless, Dooley is a friend of Muschamp, and hails from Nick Saban's coaching tree (he was OC while Muschamp was DC).
19. Kurt Roper (Duke). He has connections with Will Muschamp and has SEC experience as OC at Tennessee and Ole Miss, having coached both of the Manning brothers, but he does not have big game experience required to make it to the top of this list of NCAA OCs.
20. Dave Christensen (former Wyoming HC). Christensen is just as fiery and emotional as Will Muschamp, perhaps even more so. He coached top-15 offenses under Gary Pinkel at Mizzou, and top-25 offenses at Wyoming. The downside would be his temper issues.
21. Kerwin Bell (HC/OC at Jacksonville). Kerwin is one of the few Steve Spurrier disciples, and has always remained close to the University of Florida. More than likely he will not get a shot at Florida as OC until works his way up as QBC on a big-name coaching staff.
22. Kenny Edenfield (Troy). Edenfield has helped make little ol' Troy a top-20 offense in 2 of his 3 seasons. He dropped 721 yards on Tennessee, the most ever given up by the Vols, and another 500+ on Miss. St last year.
    
23. Joker Phillips (WRC at Florida). Joker has HC and OC experience at Kentucky, and would be a good choice for promoting from within if there are no other takers.
24. Brian White (RBC/TEC at Florida). Brian ran the offense during the 2010 Gator Bowl and was so-so. If he wants to be an OC one day, he may need to wait his turn due to lack of experience.
25. Mike Mularkey (former Jacksonville HC). Like Kerwin, he is a Florida alumnus. He likes punishing offenses, which would make Will Muschamp happy. He has OC experience in the NFL at Miami, Pittsburgh, and Atlanta. He worked under Nick Saban for a year, but not at the same time as Muschamp.
26. Jedd Fischer (Jacksonville Jaguars OC). Jedd is a Florida graduate, and has OC experience in college and the NFL.

 

[DRU2012]

As of Christmas Eve, Roper it IS...
(See my comments on "This TEARS it..."-thread)

 

[Escambia94]

Although I am a bit disappointed that Roper is #19 on my Christmas list, I happy to have him and I have reasons to be optimistic.

The good:

• Sure, he comes from Duke, but he is an SEC guy.
• He works well with WR Coach and former Kentucky OC Joker Phillips from there time at UK. Apparently they installed an up-tempo offense together at UK. At UK and Duke, Roper ran twice as many plays as 2012-2013 Florida team.
• Look what he did at Duke with 2 and 3 star athletes! His offense consistently ranks around #60 using lower ranked athletes than our third team!
• He already recruits in Jacksonville, Hialeah, and Ft Meyers, as well as California, Texas, and Nevada.
• His offense has broken some of Spurrier's records at Duke.
• He developed several NFL QBs, including 2X Super Bowl MVP and #1 NFL Draft pick in 2004, Manning the younger.
• His offense ran the third most number of plays in NCAA, and he was a finally for the Broyles Award.

The bad:

• We do not know his big-game play calling abilities. Although Florida lost to common opponent Miami, Duke put up fewer yards.
• He has not coached up a superb athlete since 2004, and the kid was a Manning.

It looks like I will be watching the Chick Fil A Bowl to get a hint as to what our offense might look like.

 

[Escambia94]

Everyone should check out what happened the last time Kurt Roper called plays against the Florida Gators: http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=232770057. Note that Roper's opposing QB was current Gator assistant Chris Leak.

 

[DRU2012]

@Escambia94,
Among a number of good points, the one about the Chick-Filla-Bowl is right on--Glad you pointed it out, reminded ME!

 

[Ga8or22]

I will give him a chance. I think he will definably improve the Florida Offense.

 

[Escambia94]

I will give him a chance. I think he will definably improve the Florida Offense.

It cannot get much worse, can it?

 

[Ga8or22]

It cannot get much worse, can it?

Not after this year