FanPost

Athletic Director For A Day: Searching For TCU's New Offensive Coordinator

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

I've been thinking about who TCU should go after for a new offensive coordinator in the off season. It's a given (to me) we are demoting or completely firing the current co-OC's.

My search included the following criteria:

1a) Do more with less (maybe not in ideal recruiting area currently, lower tier program whether it be FBS or FCS, etc.)

1b) No star players (Heisman candidate on your team disqualifies you) - I don't want an offensive coordinator who just happens to have a freakish talent - I want the scheme and/or highlighting strengths and minimizing weaknesses and adjusting accordingly to be important instead

2) Balanced offense - I don't want a coordinator that just loves to pass or just loves to run. I am erring on the side of more runs than passes if there is an imbalance as with the lead in a game a team generally should run it more to milk the clock. I want coaches who will run and pass depending on where the strengths lie week in, week out, year in, year out.

3a) Winning record currently - with a well above average offensive output ("points for" should be high - in conference for sure)

3b) Offensive output cannot be below TCU's for the year in '13 (so everyone's hopes of bringing back Justin Fuente go out the window since Memphis is ranked 105 of 123 in scoring offense for the year where TCU is tied for 93rd)

4) Potentially originally from or has previous in-roads to fertile recruiting ground

5) Money is no object for us to bring in the right candidate

6) Cannot be from a school we generally do not like (i.e. Baylor, Boise State)

Candidates (listed in order of preference):

*Seth Littrell - Indiana University - Offensive Coordinator - 2 years

9th in the country in scoring in '13. Off coord. at University of Arizona prior. Has Oklahoma ties. Indiana is not the greatest, however they have the 2nd most points for in the Big Ten and generally do have a prolific offense (and no defense). They put up serious points even in their losses. In other words, they don't get shut down.

http://www.iuhoosiers.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/seth_littrell_790656.html

*Doug Meacham - Houston - Offensive Coordinator - 1st year

11th in the country in scoring in '13. He's held previous off. coord. positions in lower levels of college football as well. Highest scoring American Athletic Conf. team (ahead of Louisville). From Arlington. Strong ties to Oklahoma State.

http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/doug_meacham_833621.html

*James Perry - Princeton - Offensive Coordinator - 4 years

Leads most prolific Ivy League offense. Holds multiple records as Ivy League player from Brown as QB. Obviously a smart guy.

http://www.goprincetontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=48625&SPID=4263&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=10600&ATCLID=204866085&Q_SEASON=2013

*Beau Baldwin - Eastern Washington - Head Coach (offense guy) - 6th season

He's a head coach with serious off. coord. experience. I'd say let's get his off coord., but there are times (like Dana Holgorsen for example) when the head coach actually runs the offense. This is likely the scenario here. It's an FCS program, so maybe we could pay more to bring him in and be the OC. They have a prolific offense year in - year out. One of the highest scoring FCS offenses.

http://www.goeags.com/sports/m-footbl/coaches/index

*Turner Gill - Liberty University - Head Coach (Offense guy) - head coaching and offensive coordinator track record

He's got plenty of experience. Nebraska ties (and others). Head coach at FCS level. For more money maybe he would take an OC position. Liberty does well in FCS and have a pretty good offense.

http://www.liberty.edu/flames/index.cfm?PID=10867&CoachID=721&TeamID=9

*Dennis Franchione - Texas State - Head Coach (Offense guy) - you know his history

He brought Gary to TCU. Gary brings him back to TCU. He's an offensive guy. He's obviously a head coach, but for more money and to bring back TCU to relevancy in the big boy Big 12 would be a challenge.

http://www.txstatebobcats.com/staff.aspx?staff=166

*Brent Vigen - North Dakota State University - Offensive Coordinator - 4 years

North Dakota State are perennial FCS championship contenders. 2 championships in a row currently. He's at his alma mater though and North Dakota is not known for it's high school football talent. They are more known for their defense, but they do have have a good offensive output.

http://www.gobison.com/coaches.aspx?rc=591&path=football

*Jay Johnson - Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns - Offensive Coordinator - 2 years

I know you are saying "Who?" He's from Louisiana and has recruited there. Fertile ground for talent. He's held previous offensive assistant positions. 2nd highest scoring offense in the Sun Belt conference. Remember I'm excluding a bunch of people with my criteria so I'm grasping for interviewees at this point to match up against my favorites up top.

http://www.ragincajuns.com/coaches.aspx?rc=475&path=football

*Bill Legg - Marshall - Offensive Coordinator - 4 years

12th in the country in scoring in '13. Off coord. at FIU before Marshall. Highest scoring Conference USA team in '13. Another interviewee who could wow. Who knows?

http://www.herdzone.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/bill_legg_554468.html

*Mike Canales - North Texas - Offensive Coordinator - 4 years

Was USF Off coord for 3 yrs. before UNT. UNT is a top tier offense in Conf USA. Another interviewee.

http://www.meangreensports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/mike_canales_848210.html

*Tim Albin - Ohio University - Offensive Coordinator - 9 years

Again another interviewee - must be thorough. Top tier MAC offense.

http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/tim_albin_249660.html

*Peyton Manning - you know who he is. This one is a just a dream scenario. He wins the super bowl, retires, and wants to coach and we are willing to give him his first offensive coordinator gig. Imagine the recruits lining up!

I'd love to hear your thoughts on who else might be a good candidate, critique of my list/criteria, and can we somehow slip the ultimate vetted list to GP, please?!!?

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