Houston announces firing of OC Kevin Barbay

On Tuesday morning, Houston announced that they have relieved OC Kevin Barbay from their coaching staff after less than one season.

The Cougars shared the news in a release earlier today. With that, Shawn Bell will be the interim offensive coordinator for the team ahead of their season finale this weekend.

“Willie Fritz announced a coaching change Tuesday. Offensive Coordinator Kevin Barbay has been relieved of his duties,” it read. “Shawn Bell has been named Interim Offensive Coordinator and play caller.”

“We are grateful to Kevin for his dedication and contributions to our football program this season,” Fritz said in the release. “As we continue to assess every aspect of our program, it is clear we have not met our offensive standards. Kevin and his family have been wonderful members of our community, and we wish them nothing but success in the future. Our focus is on finishing the season strong Saturday against BYU. A national search for our next Offensive Coordinator will begin immediately.”

Barbay didn’t get to finish his first season as the offensive coordinator and tight ends coach of the Cougars. That comes after being at Mississippi State, Appalachian State, Central Michigan, and Stephen F. Austin in the same position, plus working with quarterbacks, while also making stops at Florida, Colorado State, and Lamar working in player personnel and development over his last decade or so on collegiate sidelines.

Houston is the worst scoring team in the country this season with an average of 13.6 points per game. They have mustered three outings of 20-plus points and two of 30-plus points with their four highest-scoring games being wins. In their seven losses this year, though, the Cougars have averaged less than a touchdown’s worth of points with 6.6. They’re also posting just 291.5 yards of offense while turning the ball over a little over twice a game.

Bell now takes the role after being their quarterbacks coach and passing coordinator in his own first season with Houston. He came out of the high school level to spend the last seven seasons with his alma mater at Baylor as an analyst along with being a coach on the offensive line, with tight ends, and with quarterbacks for the Bears.

Bell will now have one game to call plays against BYU on Saturday. That’ll be before the Cougars continue their search for a second offensive coordinator already in year two under Fritz.