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TCU co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach Curtis Luper is potentially heading off to be the offensive coordinator at Missouri, according to Chris Hummer of 247 Sports.
TCU co-offensive coordinator Curtis Luper is likely headed to Missouri as the Tigers' offensive coordinator, multiple sources tell @247Sports: https://t.co/BPMb4IZArm.
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) December 19, 2019
Bruce Feldman reported the same information about an hour later.
SOURCE: #TCU Co-Offensive Coordinator/RBs coach Curtis Luper is expected to join Eli Drinkwitz' staff at #Mizzou. Big addition for the Tigers esp with Texas recruiting.. Luper and Drinkwitz go back way to the Auburn days.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 19, 2019
Luper joined TCU’s staff in January of 2013 as wide receivers coach, coming over from Auburn where he served as the Tigers’ running backs coach. Luper was one of the main recruiters that helped get Cam Newton to Auburn, and he was on staff for Auburn’s national championship in 2010.
He was moved to running backs coach in 2014 after the arrival of Doug Meacham and Sonny Cumbie, serving in that capacity until 2017, when he was promoted to co-offensive coordinator alongside Cumbie after the departure of Doug Meacham to Kansas.
Known for being one of TCU’s best recruiters, fans were always confident when they found out Luper was the main coach recruiting certain players. He is also a fantastic coach, and helped elevate the games of guys like B.J. Catalon, Aaron Green, Kyle Hicks, Darius Anderson, and Sewo Olonliua.
Luper has been connected with job openings all over the country, pretty much since he stepped foot on campus at TCU. He was rumored to be joining Derek Mason’s staff at Vanderbilt in 204, he was linked to the UTSA head coaching job in 2016, and earlier this month he was reportedly a finalist to become head coach at New Mexico.
Now, he’s rejoined with former TCU quarterback Shawn Robinson, but questions remain about the scope of his duties. First year Missouri head coach Eliah Drinkwitz intends to call plays, so how much responsibility and authority Luper would have as the offensive coordinator is unknown.
The question now for TCU is who fills the open coaching spot? Offensive line coach Chris Thomsen will probably be a candidate for promotion to co-offensive coordinator, especially considering he was wooed by Florida State and Mike Norvell earlier in December. Thomsen has been a fantastic coach and recruiter for the Frogs since joining the staff in 2017.
Other options are out there as well. In fact, there’s a list.
Parker put together a list of coaches who might be able to help TCU’s offense, should a job open up on the staff. You can read that list here.