Top Assistants
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Buster Faulkner, Florida Offensive Coordinator
It’s never easy to define what your brand-new program is going to look like, but Florida coach Jon Sumrall made a sleeper-splash move when he lured Faulkner away from Georgia Tech.
The coordinator who could be on a fast track to his own head-coaching gig developed Haynes King nicely in Atlanta, and transfer portal signal-caller Aaron Philo has a ton of upside moving to Gainesville with his OC. This hire could pay immediate dividends.
Chris Hampton, Oregon Defensive Coordinator
If it’s not broken, why would you try to fix it? Ducks coach Dan Lanning has a good thing going in Eugene, and in a year when they’re supposed to compete for the national title, it’s tough to replace both coordinators.
Hampton’s move from the d-line to coordinator maintains continuity, and he’s had success as a DC at Tulane. This is a quick win-win after Tosh Lupoi left for Cal.
Chip Kelly, Northwestern Offensive Coordinator
Kelly is back in the college coaching game once again after leading the Las Vegas Raiders’ offense a season ago, following a year where he helped Ohio State win a national title as OC.
He’s now at Northwestern in what could be a curious fit for a Wildcats team that has to feel like it struck it rich with the hire. Kelly’s first task will be developing quarterback Aidan Chiles, which won’t be easy. But he has proven time and time again that he can orchestrate elite offenses.
Jim Knowles, Tennessee Defensive Coordinator
Last year, Tennessee’s defense was truly awful, leading to the firing of Tim Banks. So, the Vols went out and got one of the best minds in all of football to lead the charge.
Knowles wasn’t retained by Matt Campbell at Penn State a year after he left Ohio State for the Buckeyes, and he’s been an elite coordinator at both stops, as well as Oklahoma State and others. The good news is he brought several playmakers from the Nittany Lions to the Vols. The bad news is that it takes a while to install his defense. It’s clear Tennessee wants to win now.
Will Muschamp, Texas Defensive Coordinator
Muschamp led the Longhorns’ defense to sky-high status from 2008 to 2010, and then he went to Florida to be the head coach. Now, he’s back after spending the past few years as a defensive analyst at Georgia.
Coach “Boom” is one of the most intense competitors in the game. He was once thought of as the best young defensive mind in all of college football. Now, coach Steve Sarkisian is rolling the dice that Muschamp can one-up what Pete Kwiatkowski was doing with the Horns. This is a fun hire to watch.
Arthur Smith, Ohio State Offensive Coordinator
Last year, Ryan Day sparked the defense by heading to the NFL and bringing in Matt Patricia as the Buckeyes’ coordinator on that side of the ball. Now, he’s trying to snatch lightning twice – this time on offense.
Ohio State tabbed Smith to be the new coordinator after Brian Hartline left to be the head coach at South Florida. An intelligent offensive mind could be the perfect fit after a mediocre tenure as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive coordinator, following a failed tenure as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
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