10 Coordinators to Watch

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10 Coordinators to Watch This Season

1. Will Muschamp(Defensive Coordinator at Texas)-Muschamp takes over as the new DC in Austin after flirting with the Arkansas head coaching position last December. The job was Muschamps to have until Bobby Petrino called last minute to take the Head Hog job. He has coordinated defenses at Auburn and LSU. If he does good with Texas this year I'd expect him to land a job this year.

2. Bud Foster(Defensive Coordinator at Virginia Tech)-Not sure if Foster would ever take a head coaching position, but he certainly deserves one. Year in and year out the man with the lunch pale produces one of the nation's top defenses. Had a chance to coordinate under Steve Spurrier in the offseason, but decided to stay loyal to Beamer. In my opinion Foster should've been West Virginia's new head man, but WVU went with a player favorite

3. Gus Malzahn(Offensive Coordinator at Tulsa)-Malzahn is the former Springdale, AR High School coach now in his 3rd season coordinating D-1 offenses. Gus was previously OC at Arkansas, but when Houston Nutt refused to allow Malzahn to take full control over the offense he left for Tulsa. Last season Tulsa produced the nation's top offense and became the first school ever to have a 5,000 yard passer and three 1,000 yard WRs.

4. Jimbo Fisher(Offensive Coordinator at FSU)-Fisher is already the head man at FSU when Bowden retires. Can he do the impossible and follow a legend though?

5. Steve Spurrier Jr.(Assistant at South Carolina)-While not the actual OC at South Carolina Steve Spurrier Sr. did state in the spring that he was handing play calling duties over to his son. As we all know Spurrier is one of the best play callers the game has ever known and how Spurrier Jr. does could determine the future of the Head Ball Coach's career at USC.

6. Tony Franklin(Offensive Coordinator at Auburn)-Franklin put up some huge numers at Troy last season. In games against UGA, Arkansas, and Florida the Trojans showed they could score on anyone they faced. It will be fun to watch how he utilizes the talents of sophomore Kodi Burns who should get some time to work behind a solid offensive line.

7. Dan Mullen(Offensive Coordinator Florida)-The Florida Offensive Coordinator has developed a Heisman winner and a NFL #1 draft pick in Alex Smith. In addition to those 2 he has also produced 2 other NFL draft picks at the QB position, Omar Jacobs and Josh Harris. Another SEC Championship and this guy could be on his way to a HC position somewhere.

8. Charlie Strong(Defensive Coordinator Florida)-Another Gator assistant. This time on the defensive side. Going back to his days as DC at South Carolina under Lou Holtz it seems as if every season Strong interviews with someone. This past season Strong spoke to officials about the Arkansas job, but was never given a serious look. In the past he's had interviews with MTSU, Vandy, Virginia, and some smaller programs. Strong has been an assistant under 3 different National Championship coaches Urban Meyer, Steve Spurrier, and Lou Holtz.

9. Joker Phillips(Offensive Coordinator Kentucky)-The offensive coordinator at Kentucky and the future head coach of the Wildcats when Brooks retires has produced one of the nation's best offenses the past 2 seasons. Not only were the Cats dangerous throwing the ball with Woodson, but they also had a solid running attack with Little. Phillips is a former Lou Holtz assistant and a former player at Kentucky where he played WR.

10. Dan Christensen(Offensive Coordinator Missouri)-Despit losing the highly talented Brad Smith at QB, Christensen has been able to build even a stronger offense at Missouri. It's the offense that won 12 games for Mizzou last year and Christensen's version of the spread is the reason for it. In his 7 years as the OC the Missouri offense has improved every year except 1. Last year the Tigers scored 558 points and failed to break 30 only once!! Even more impressive is that it wasn't Chase Daniel that whipped Reggie Herring and Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl, it was Tony Temple who did the damage showing the balance of Mizzou's offensive system.

Matt Barber
dixiefriedsports@gmail.com