By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
The search for Baylor’s new offensive coordinator began Tuesday afternoon when Larry Fedora was dismissed.
A poor showing in just about every part of the Bears’ 2020 offense led to head coach Dave Aranda going in a different direction. What the new coordinator will have to do is evaluate the current personnel and see how much he can get maximum productivity out of it. As for the new faces arriving in January and June, it might be a little too soon to expect them to contribute. That’s to be determined.
What also is going to have to change is the offensive line. Baylor’s record with that group since 2016 has been pretty poor. Protection for the quarterback and creating consistent running lanes is going to be essential.
That’s why some of the search between now and the January and the Feb. 3 signing day is focused on that front.
But let’s move forward with potential names that could be on Aranda’s radar.
Jeff Grimes, BYU, Offensive Coordinator
As we mentioned, he and Aranda overlapped at LSU in 2016-17 when he was the running game coordinator. Grimes has been at BYU in 2018. Using QB Zach Wilson into a potential first round NFL draft choice. BYU is currently No. 7 in the nation in total offense at 522.2 yards per game.
Grimes also has a history of coaching the offensive line. It’s not uncommon for and OC to be in charge of the offensive line.
Matt Canada, Pittsburgh Steelers, QB coach
Canada and Aranda were together for one year in 2017 when Canada was the OC. He is well traveled. But the fact that he moved to the NFL to work with Ben Roethlisberger tells you that he has a good offensive mind. Obviously, the Steelers are in a bit of a funk (3-game losing streak). However, Canada has been in the game long enough to know what makes offenses work. But be on guard that Canada could be looked at by other NFL teams in an OC capacity.
Andy Ludwig, OC, Utah
Aranda and Ludwig were co-workers at Wisconsin in 2013-14. But the issue would be is the timing right for a reunion. Ludwig is picking up two transfer QBs in (ironically) Charlie Brewer and Texas’ Ja’Quinden Jackson.
Ludwig has never coached in Texas and the only time he coached in the south was when he was at Vanderbilt from 2015-18.
Garrett Riley, SMU, offensive coordinator
The last name should be familiar. He’s the younger brother of Oklahoma coach Garrett Riley.
In his first year at SMU and in his first year as an OC, the Mustangs were 12th in the nation in total offense at 494.5. He also coached NFL-bound QB Shane Buechele. SMU’s offense slowed down in the latter half of the season when speedster WR Reggie Roberson went down with a knee injury and RB T.J. McDaniel dislocated his ankle.
Riley’s name has been connected to South Carolina as a possible addition to new head coach Shane Beamer’s staff. But he’s considered and up-and-coming mind.
Cale Gundy, Oklahoma, Co-Offensive Coordinator/IR
The word out of Norman is that Gundy really wants to be an OC. While most of the offensive philosophy and productivity falls under Lincoln Riley’s shadow, Gundy has been a part of an offensive scheme that has produced some of the nation’s top receivers. See CeeDee Lamb of the Dallas Cowboys.
In 2019, Oklahoma led the nation in total offense with 570.9 yards per game. While Breaking in a young QB this year in Spencer Rattler, the Sooners averaged 475.8 yards per game, which is still good enough for 18th overall in D1 football.
Gundy knows the Big 12. That’s a given. The question would be if he would want to go against his alma mater.
John David Baker, USC, Tight Ends coach
The Texas native joined Graham Harrell in Los Angeles with the Trojans and has been a part of a pretty good passing attack. He was also with Harrell when the two were at North Texas.
In six games, USC averaged 319 passing yards per game. Trojan receivers also caught 17 touchdown passes. It would be a big move for a position coach from a P5 program to become an OC. However, he’s been around two sophisticated attacks. If he doesn’t come to Baylor as the OC, he could be considered a new WR coach in charge of the passing game.
Other names that could be considered: Former Baylor player and current Kent State OC Andrew Sowder (played for Art Briles in 2007-08), Auburn OC and former Clemson OC and SMU and Arkansas HC Chad Morris (presuming new Auburn coach Bryan Hardin makes a change with that position), Western Kentucky OC Brian Ellis (his situation is up in the air now that WKU hired Houston Baptist OC Zach Kittley).
Publisher
The search for Baylor’s new offensive coordinator began Tuesday afternoon when Larry Fedora was dismissed.
A poor showing in just about every part of the Bears’ 2020 offense led to head coach Dave Aranda going in a different direction. What the new coordinator will have to do is evaluate the current personnel and see how much he can get maximum productivity out of it. As for the new faces arriving in January and June, it might be a little too soon to expect them to contribute. That’s to be determined.
What also is going to have to change is the offensive line. Baylor’s record with that group since 2016 has been pretty poor. Protection for the quarterback and creating consistent running lanes is going to be essential.
That’s why some of the search between now and the January and the Feb. 3 signing day is focused on that front.
But let’s move forward with potential names that could be on Aranda’s radar.
Jeff Grimes, BYU, Offensive Coordinator
As we mentioned, he and Aranda overlapped at LSU in 2016-17 when he was the running game coordinator. Grimes has been at BYU in 2018. Using QB Zach Wilson into a potential first round NFL draft choice. BYU is currently No. 7 in the nation in total offense at 522.2 yards per game.
Grimes also has a history of coaching the offensive line. It’s not uncommon for and OC to be in charge of the offensive line.
Matt Canada, Pittsburgh Steelers, QB coach
Canada and Aranda were together for one year in 2017 when Canada was the OC. He is well traveled. But the fact that he moved to the NFL to work with Ben Roethlisberger tells you that he has a good offensive mind. Obviously, the Steelers are in a bit of a funk (3-game losing streak). However, Canada has been in the game long enough to know what makes offenses work. But be on guard that Canada could be looked at by other NFL teams in an OC capacity.
Andy Ludwig, OC, Utah
Aranda and Ludwig were co-workers at Wisconsin in 2013-14. But the issue would be is the timing right for a reunion. Ludwig is picking up two transfer QBs in (ironically) Charlie Brewer and Texas’ Ja’Quinden Jackson.
Ludwig has never coached in Texas and the only time he coached in the south was when he was at Vanderbilt from 2015-18.
Garrett Riley, SMU, offensive coordinator
The last name should be familiar. He’s the younger brother of Oklahoma coach Garrett Riley.
In his first year at SMU and in his first year as an OC, the Mustangs were 12th in the nation in total offense at 494.5. He also coached NFL-bound QB Shane Buechele. SMU’s offense slowed down in the latter half of the season when speedster WR Reggie Roberson went down with a knee injury and RB T.J. McDaniel dislocated his ankle.
Riley’s name has been connected to South Carolina as a possible addition to new head coach Shane Beamer’s staff. But he’s considered and up-and-coming mind.
Cale Gundy, Oklahoma, Co-Offensive Coordinator/IR
The word out of Norman is that Gundy really wants to be an OC. While most of the offensive philosophy and productivity falls under Lincoln Riley’s shadow, Gundy has been a part of an offensive scheme that has produced some of the nation’s top receivers. See CeeDee Lamb of the Dallas Cowboys.
In 2019, Oklahoma led the nation in total offense with 570.9 yards per game. While Breaking in a young QB this year in Spencer Rattler, the Sooners averaged 475.8 yards per game, which is still good enough for 18th overall in D1 football.
Gundy knows the Big 12. That’s a given. The question would be if he would want to go against his alma mater.
John David Baker, USC, Tight Ends coach
The Texas native joined Graham Harrell in Los Angeles with the Trojans and has been a part of a pretty good passing attack. He was also with Harrell when the two were at North Texas.
In six games, USC averaged 319 passing yards per game. Trojan receivers also caught 17 touchdown passes. It would be a big move for a position coach from a P5 program to become an OC. However, he’s been around two sophisticated attacks. If he doesn’t come to Baylor as the OC, he could be considered a new WR coach in charge of the passing game.
Other names that could be considered: Former Baylor player and current Kent State OC Andrew Sowder (played for Art Briles in 2007-08), Auburn OC and former Clemson OC and SMU and Arkansas HC Chad Morris (presuming new Auburn coach Bryan Hardin makes a change with that position), Western Kentucky OC Brian Ellis (his situation is up in the air now that WKU hired Houston Baptist OC Zach Kittley).
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