What does a typical O-Coordinator Resume Look Like?

C

CP87

Well-Known Member
I was curious what the background of a few representative O-coordinators would look like compared to our new hire. I don’t know enough about college football, broadly speaking, to tell you who the current best coordinators are, so I asked google for a quick list (Best O-Coordinators in College Football, published last year on Bleacher Report), and then I dug a bit. I will start with the first few, and include Brian Ferentz’s bio for comparison sake. I will add more as time permits. If you are curious, check it out (only highlights of bio provided, not all exhaustive details, see links for more):


Brian Ferentz

· Player center at Iowa (02-05)

· Played in NFL (06-07)

· Scouting assistant for Patriots (08)

· Offensive Coaching Assistant (that was the official title) for Patriots (09)

· Assistant TE Coach for Patriots (10)

· TE Coach for Patriots (11)

· O-line coach at Iowa (12-16), with run-game coordinator duties from 15-16


Bill Legg (Marshall)

· Played center at West Virginia (81-84)

· GA at WVU from 86-87

· O-Coordinator at West Virginia Tech (88)

· O-line coach at Eastern Illinois (89-93)

· O-line coach at VMI (94)

· Interior O-line coach at WVU (95-00), with O-coordinator duties in his final season

· Tight ends and recruiting coordinator at Marshall (01-02)

· O-line at Purdue (03-05)

· Co-offensive coordinator at Purdue (06-07), with primary play-calling responsibilities

· O-coordinator at FIU (08-09)

· O-coordinator at Marshall (10-current; also coached T/TE from 10-12, and coached QBs since)


Scott Frost (Oregon O-coordinator last year, current head coach at UCF)

· Played QB at Nebraska (95-97)

· Played NFL defensive back (98-03)

· GA at Nebraska (02)

· GA at Kansas (06)

· LB at UNI (07-08), added co-D-coordinator in 08

· WR at Oregon (09-12)

· O-coordinator and QBs at Oregon (13-15)


Mike Norvell (Arizona State O-coordinator last year, current head coach at Memphis)

· Played WR at Central Arkansas (01-05)

· GA at Central Ark (06)

· GA at Tulsa (07-08)

· WR Coach and passing game coordinator at Tulsa (09-10)

· Co-O-coordinator and WR coach at Pitt (11)

· O-coordinator and QB coach at ASU (12-15)

more to come (or add your own if you want)…
 
Alabama - OC was Hd Coach at Washington and USC

Clemson - Co OC Tony Elliott, no prime experience. Co OC Scott, No Extensive Experience. Both were brought in as Co's with the others having OC experience.

OSU - OC was OC with 07 Jayhawks and OC with Army

Washington - Has 1 Associate HC and 1 Asst Head Coach both older guys who are essentially over the OC who had been OC at Montana and a QB coach at Boise.

We are just Iowa.
 
I learned a lot about life and just life in general while working at a car wash over a summer one time. I always list that to start my resume.
 
A lot of it depends on the school and the coach. Typically it'll be someone that was a position coach for one or more positions on the offensive side of the ball, then became an OC for Group of 5 school or lesser P5 school, then moved up to OC for a more prominent P5 school. But there is no career track set in stone and often times experience with a particular school will trump specific work experience.

As stated before, Scott Frost had virtually no experience before being named OC at Oregon. Tom Herman became OSU's OC after being hired away from the same position at Iowa State. Matt Canada, who was Bielema's last OC at Wisky when they dropped 70 on Nebby in the B1G championship game has a pretty typical track of; position coach at N. Illinois then to OC, went to Indiana as a position coach then OC, then went to Wisky. He's now at LSU after setting the single season points record at Pitt in 2016.
 
SpiderRico said:
A lot of it depends on the school and the coach. Typically it'll be someone that was a position coach for one or more positions on the offensive side of the ball, then became an OC for Group of 5 school or lesser P5 school, then moved up to OC for a more prominent P5 school. But there is no career track set in stone and often times experience with a particular school will trump specific work experience.

As stated before, Scott Frost had virtually no experience before being named OC at Oregon. Tom Herman became OSU's OC after being hired away from the same position at Iowa State. Matt Canada, who was Bielema's last OC at Wisky when they dropped 70 on Nebby in the B1G championship game has a pretty typical track of; position coach at N. Illinois then to OC, went to Indiana as a position coach then OC, then went to Wisky. He's now at LSU after setting the single season points record at Pitt in 2016.
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You have to add with Tom Herman he was basically forced out. He was never who Rhoads wanted to hire as OC, that was a move made by Jamie Pollard (and why you never have AD's trying to hire assistants). He did a poor job at ISU, but Urban understood that Herman was a good coach and good OC, even though his results were putrid, and hired him.

At ISU under Herman the offense was #103, #97, and #90 in scoring offense under Herman. The Clown fans wanted him gone, and Rhoads never really wanted him.
 
Jake Spavital (then Texas A&M OC, now Cal OC and QB coach, interviewing for HC job with Cal)
  • Played QB/Punter at Missouri St (06-07)
  • Offensive quality control coach, Tulsa (08)
  • GA at Houston (09)
  • GA at Ok St (10)
  • QB coach at WVU (11-12)
  • Co-OC and QB coach at A&M (13)
  • OC and QB at A&M (14-15)
In case anyone is interested, David Raih (current assistant O-Line coach with Packers)
  • Played QB at Iowa (99-03), on team's leadership committee
  • Coaching intern at UCLA (08-09)
  • GA at Iowa (10-12); as an aside, though the '10 season was a great disappointment with regard to W/L, Stanzi was 12th in the nation in pass efficiency, and he threw for over 3000 yards and 25 TDs
  • Director of High School Relations, Texas Tech (also assisted with QBs, promoted to outside receivers coach prior to bowl game; 2013)
  • Coaching administrator with Packers (14-15)
  • Assistant O-line coach with Packers (16)
One thing that seems to characterize a lot of these guys so far is a fast upward rise. Their talent is spotted early, and away they go.
 
CP87 said:
One thing that seems to characterize a lot of these guys so far is a fast upward rise. Their talent is spotted early, and away they go.
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Yep, the good ones rise quickly. You have to take a bit of a risk and get them before they have a ton of experience.....
 
deanvogs said:
Yep, the good ones rise quickly. You have to take a bit of a risk and get them before they have a ton of experience.....
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As someone else pointed out in another thread, taking a risk on a fast-riser from outside of the HC's family would be a lot more comforting for some. There would be a greater probability that the individual is truly an exceptional coaching talent, and a less chance that nepotism is clouding the hiring decision. That said, Brian Ferentz's ascension with New England speaks volumes of his potential (if you think it was related to the relationship between Ferentz and Belicheck, you have not been paying attention to how Belichek operates). Passing over him just because of the family connection would be a shame if he ends up realizing this potential. Time will tell.
 
CP87 said:
As someone else pointed out in another thread, taking a risk on a fast-riser from outside of the HC's family would be a lot more comforting for some. There would be a greater probability that the individual is truly an exceptional coaching talent, and a less chance that nepotism is clouding the hiring decision. That said, Brian Ferentz's ascension with New England speaks volumes of his potential (if you think it was related to the relationship between Ferentz and Belicheck, you have not been paying attention to how Belichek operates). Passing over him just because of the family connection would be a shame if he ends up realizing this potential. Time will tell.
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What some won't get either is fast risers isn't alway about having the #1 position group, etc. Look at David Raih, it isn't like he was coaching the top player/position group in the country. Look at Herman, he has absolutely horrific results at ISU.

Some on here think all situations are equal, that Herman at ISU should produce like Herman at OSU did. It is the most baffling thing. It is like the have their heads so far up their asses, and they don't watch/follow any other college football at all.
 
And some are also asking good questions about accountability, conflicts of interest, and the need for new ideas. I can see where they are coming from. Since most of us do not really know or understand most of the details involved in these decisions, I think the viewpoint adopted comes down largely to whether you want to believe the best or the worst about Ferentz. I won't fault those who want to see a change in the top, but I personally will choose to be optimistic about the near future.
 
There is no typical OC resume. There is no typical resume for coaching pretty much any position in football. If you are a good coach, you can learn and coach any position. Not saying I was a great coach, but when I went back to coaching high school football, I became an o-line and d-line coach along with defensive coordinator responsibilities and I played corner in high school and college. Brian is more than qualified.
 
CP87 said:
As someone else pointed out in another thread, taking a risk on a fast-riser from outside of the HC's family would be a lot more comforting for some. There would be a greater probability that the individual is truly an exceptional coaching talent, and a less chance that nepotism is clouding the hiring decision. That said, Brian Ferentz's ascension with New England speaks volumes of his potential (if you think it was related to the relationship between Ferentz and Belicheck, you have not been paying attention to how Belichek operates). Passing over him just because of the family connection would be a shame if he ends up realizing this potential. Time will tell.
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Ascending under Belicheck could be a double edged sword, if you want to use that example.

Former Pats don't oft do so well. They do well under the system.

The system is what does well. Brady has actually terrible playoff stats, but people don't see it. Someone from NE might be a good fit at Iowa where finding diamonds in the rough and developing talent is prized.

Belicheck isn't always clean and have been caught. Want to flag doing well under Belicheck, might bring some negatives.

Brian's rising at NE might be described like a Janitor 3 rising to a janitor 1 working with bathrooms in a short time, but not staying around to be a head janitor.
 
BTN commentary last night about the OC hire..."highly unusual"

Might be a stroke of genius...but there is little random in the coaching of KF...everything has a purpose...working on the next head coach legacy hire...
 
Two words... Sean Mcvay

There isnt a typical resume anymore. If you're good you're good and someone is gonna snatch you up. BF is a good coach. I firmly believe he'll prove his naysayers wrong over the next few years. I would bet on BF. I certainly wouldn't bet against him.
 
DP5555 said:
Two words... Sean Mcvay

There isnt a typical resume anymore. If you're good you're good and someone is gonna snatch you up. BF is a good coach. I firmly believe he'll prove his naysayers wrong over the next few years. I would bet on BF. I certainly wouldn't bet against him.
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Not really. A lot is learned by the school of hard knock. The "fast riser" may have been in the right place at the right time and some luck added in. That has always been an issue in most business.
 
HawkGold said:
Not really. A lot is learned by the school of hard knock. The "fast riser" may have been in the right place at the right time and some luck added in. That has always been an issue in most business.
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This isn't the 80's, 90's, or even 2000's anymore old man. The landscape has changed. Open your eyes and look around. It's pretty obvious if you take your narrow minded blinders off.
 
DP5555 said:
This isn't the 80's, 90's, or even 2000's anymore old man. The landscape has changed. Open your eyes and look around. It's pretty obvious if you take your narrow minded blinders off.
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Ha ha, want to run a race dude? Anyway that never changes, unless you think a series of clown coaches, Tim Beckman and others are different. Lick? Long time ago. You are a fool to think it's different. Are you a millennial with a 15 second attention span? Did you get your ribbon?
 
HawkGold said:
Ha ha, want to run a race dude? Anyway that never changes, unless you think a series of clown coaches, Tim Beckman and others are different. Lick? Long time ago. You are a fool to think it's different. Are you a millennial with a 15 second attention span? Did you get your ribbon?
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Why are you talking about Tim Beckman and Todd Lickliter? Strange analogy.

It is different now days. Young coaches are being given opportunities right and left. Mcvay just got a head coaching gig in the NFL at 30 years old for Christ sakes. Set the record for youngest ever. Some of them work (Mike Tomlin) and some of them don't (Lane Kiffin), but that's no different with older coaches either.
 
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