Offensive coordinator Graham Harrell is going to stay at USC. It appears unlikely Joe Brady will leave LSU for Texas.
Where does Texas football coach Tom Herman go next?
That is the question I posed to my sources after Harrell announced his decision to remain at USC on Monday night. Brady and Harrell were the notable names, but I wanted to know who were some of the other candidates in Herman’s list. I uncovered several notes worth passing along to you on Tuesday.
First, it is important to remember that Herman is not looking for a “home run hire,” according to my sources. One of the aspects of this search I discovered this past weekend was there is not a belief that the offense was broken this season. Texas finished with the 15th ranked offense in college football. The Longhorns were also ranked ninth in third-down offense, and 10th in red zone conversions. From what I have been able to gather, Herman does not believe the offense was a major problem this season. Instead, the biggest concern is fixing the defense, which is why his first coordinator hire was Chris Ash.
In addition, I do not sense there is any rush to fill the offensive coordinator position. There is a possibility the position will be filled before Texas faces Utah in the Alamo Bowl. However, Herman will take more time to vet offensive coordinator candidates since there is not a huge sense of urgency. Again, that is just what I am gathering from my sources.
Here are a few Longhorn offensive candidate names I gathered from my sources this week (to my knowledge, none have been contacted):
Mike Yurcich (Passing Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks, Ohio State)
Photo via The Athletic
He was the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State from 2013 to 2018. According to Yurcich’s bio, during his six years at Oklahoma State, the program ranked fifth nationally in passing yards per game (315.9), 11th in touchdown passes (179), seventh in total yards (478.6) and sixth in scoring (38.0). In the 2017 season, Mason Rudolph had 4,904 passing yards, 37 touchdowns and nine interceptions, James Washington and Marcell Ateman had over 1,000 yards receiving, while Justice Hill has over 1,000 yards rushing. In addition, Oklahoma State led the nation in passing (389.2 yards per game), was second in total offense (568.9) and ranked fourth in scoring (45.0).
Basically, that is the ideal balance Herman desires at Texas.
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields has 2,953 passing yards, 40 touchdowns and only one interception this season (190.3 passer rating). Kevin Wilson is Ohio State’s offensive coordinator, but Yurcich impact on Fields is obvious. More importantly, Yurcich could become a coordinator again at Texas.
Right now, Ohio State is preparing to face Clemson in the college football playoffs on December 28.
Sean Gleeson (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks, Oklahoma State)
Photo via Tulsa World
Gleeson is viewed as rising star in college football because of his success at Princeton. He was Princeton’s offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach from 2017 to 2018. According to his bio, Princeton led the FCS in scoring offense by averaging 47.0 points per game and ranked in the top 10 nationally in total offense (second with 536.8 yards per game), rushing offense (sixth with 295.5 yards per game), third-down conversion percentage (second with a mark of 53.4 percent) and pass efficiency (seventh with a mark of 161.26). The Tigers’ 470 points scored in 2018 set an Ivy League record.
More importantly, Gleeson runs a pro-spread that is run first and balance. His philosophy meshes with the style of play Herman desires.
Gleeson reportedly earned $550,000 during his first season at Oklahoma State this season. From a financial aspect, giving Gleeson more money would not be an issue. It is hard to know from afar if Gleeson is married to Oklahoma State and coach Mike Gundy. However, he has the attributes Herman desires in an offensive coordinator.
I have heard his name mentioned multiple times recently.
Major Applewhite (analyst/Alabama)
Photo via AP
Let me start by saying this could be a difficult sell to Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte. Nevertheless, if Herman eventually decides he wants to convince the program to move on from what occurred in the past, Applewhite will move up the current candidate list.
My sources told me Herman is intrigued about the possibility of reuniting with Applewhite at Texas. When Herman talks about wanting to focus on being a head coach, that has a lot to do with the success he had with Applewhite at Houston. Applewhite ran the offense, which allowed Herman to take a big picture approach. His former offensive coordinator ran the meetings at Houston, a task Herman is forced to do at Texas. Applewhite also developed game plans Herman liked at Houston.
“Having to spend that much time preparing an offensive game plan every week took, and has taken, too much of my time and energy in order to do the things necessary as a head coach, to do them at an elite level, like I've been able to do in the past,” Herman recently said.
Basically, Herman has been looking for the next Applewhite during his current candidate search, and my sources have indicated he has discussed a potential reunion in Austin. Applewhite has spent this season learning under Alabama coach Nick Saban, and knows the recruiting landscape in Texas, which adds to his appeal.
I would not overreact to this nugget. Instead, just file it in the back of your head.
Courtney Messingham (offensive coordinator/Kansas State)
There has been some speculation about Messingham recently, but my sources indicated he is not a candidate at Texas.
I will keep you posted.
Where does Texas football coach Tom Herman go next?
That is the question I posed to my sources after Harrell announced his decision to remain at USC on Monday night. Brady and Harrell were the notable names, but I wanted to know who were some of the other candidates in Herman’s list. I uncovered several notes worth passing along to you on Tuesday.
First, it is important to remember that Herman is not looking for a “home run hire,” according to my sources. One of the aspects of this search I discovered this past weekend was there is not a belief that the offense was broken this season. Texas finished with the 15th ranked offense in college football. The Longhorns were also ranked ninth in third-down offense, and 10th in red zone conversions. From what I have been able to gather, Herman does not believe the offense was a major problem this season. Instead, the biggest concern is fixing the defense, which is why his first coordinator hire was Chris Ash.
In addition, I do not sense there is any rush to fill the offensive coordinator position. There is a possibility the position will be filled before Texas faces Utah in the Alamo Bowl. However, Herman will take more time to vet offensive coordinator candidates since there is not a huge sense of urgency. Again, that is just what I am gathering from my sources.
Here are a few Longhorn offensive candidate names I gathered from my sources this week (to my knowledge, none have been contacted):
Mike Yurcich (Passing Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks, Ohio State)
Photo via The Athletic
He was the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State from 2013 to 2018. According to Yurcich’s bio, during his six years at Oklahoma State, the program ranked fifth nationally in passing yards per game (315.9), 11th in touchdown passes (179), seventh in total yards (478.6) and sixth in scoring (38.0). In the 2017 season, Mason Rudolph had 4,904 passing yards, 37 touchdowns and nine interceptions, James Washington and Marcell Ateman had over 1,000 yards receiving, while Justice Hill has over 1,000 yards rushing. In addition, Oklahoma State led the nation in passing (389.2 yards per game), was second in total offense (568.9) and ranked fourth in scoring (45.0).
Basically, that is the ideal balance Herman desires at Texas.
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields has 2,953 passing yards, 40 touchdowns and only one interception this season (190.3 passer rating). Kevin Wilson is Ohio State’s offensive coordinator, but Yurcich impact on Fields is obvious. More importantly, Yurcich could become a coordinator again at Texas.
Right now, Ohio State is preparing to face Clemson in the college football playoffs on December 28.
Sean Gleeson (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks, Oklahoma State)
Photo via Tulsa World
Gleeson is viewed as rising star in college football because of his success at Princeton. He was Princeton’s offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach from 2017 to 2018. According to his bio, Princeton led the FCS in scoring offense by averaging 47.0 points per game and ranked in the top 10 nationally in total offense (second with 536.8 yards per game), rushing offense (sixth with 295.5 yards per game), third-down conversion percentage (second with a mark of 53.4 percent) and pass efficiency (seventh with a mark of 161.26). The Tigers’ 470 points scored in 2018 set an Ivy League record.
More importantly, Gleeson runs a pro-spread that is run first and balance. His philosophy meshes with the style of play Herman desires.
Gleeson reportedly earned $550,000 during his first season at Oklahoma State this season. From a financial aspect, giving Gleeson more money would not be an issue. It is hard to know from afar if Gleeson is married to Oklahoma State and coach Mike Gundy. However, he has the attributes Herman desires in an offensive coordinator.
I have heard his name mentioned multiple times recently.
Major Applewhite (analyst/Alabama)
Photo via AP
Let me start by saying this could be a difficult sell to Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte. Nevertheless, if Herman eventually decides he wants to convince the program to move on from what occurred in the past, Applewhite will move up the current candidate list.
My sources told me Herman is intrigued about the possibility of reuniting with Applewhite at Texas. When Herman talks about wanting to focus on being a head coach, that has a lot to do with the success he had with Applewhite at Houston. Applewhite ran the offense, which allowed Herman to take a big picture approach. His former offensive coordinator ran the meetings at Houston, a task Herman is forced to do at Texas. Applewhite also developed game plans Herman liked at Houston.
“Having to spend that much time preparing an offensive game plan every week took, and has taken, too much of my time and energy in order to do the things necessary as a head coach, to do them at an elite level, like I've been able to do in the past,” Herman recently said.
Basically, Herman has been looking for the next Applewhite during his current candidate search, and my sources have indicated he has discussed a potential reunion in Austin. Applewhite has spent this season learning under Alabama coach Nick Saban, and knows the recruiting landscape in Texas, which adds to his appeal.
I would not overreact to this nugget. Instead, just file it in the back of your head.
Courtney Messingham (offensive coordinator/Kansas State)
There has been some speculation about Messingham recently, but my sources indicated he is not a candidate at Texas.
I will keep you posted.
