Upgrade? Examining the notable offensive and defensive coordinator moves across the SEC

Did your team’s staff get better this offseason?

For most fans, the answer is an automatic yes. Every new coach is viewed as an upgrade compared to their predecessor. 

But is that really true?

There was a slew of coordinator changes in the SEC this offseason, so let’s take a run through the league and look at some of the notable movement and examine if the change — some by firings, others via domino movement elsewhere — was actually an upgrade or not. 

Alabama offensive coordinator — Bill O’Brien to Tommy Rees

Upgrade? TBD

No one would confuse Bill O’Brien with among the most innovative play-callers in college football, but Alabama still lit up the scoreboard and produced another Heisman Trophy winner in two seasons with O’Brien at OC. 

The Tide averaged 40.5 points per game and 6.7 yards per play under the former Texans head coach — numbers Notre Dame would’ve killed for under Tommy Rees. 

And yet, Rees is coming to Tuscaloosa with different expectations. 

Nick Saban still wants to score points, but by hiring Rees — a young, hungry coach known for running a pro-style, power run scheme — the signal is that Alabama wants to get back to being Alabama again. 

Less finesse. More power. More 12 personnel. Fewer RPOs. The Tide want to start leaning on teams again. 

Again, at least we think.

Can Rees strike that balance? Can he thread the needle of still producing an explosive attack with a greater emphasis on running the football? 

He has experience working with a new quarterback in all three seasons as Notre Dame’s OC, so that shouldn’t be an issue at Alabama. 

Saban’s decision to part ways with O’Brien for Rees will be an upgrade if the 30-year-old assistant is able to make Alabama’s offense more efficient and balanced — because even if the raw stats aren’t quite as eye-popping, it might actually help the team be better overall. 

Alabama defensive coordinator — Pete Golding to Kevin Steele

Upgrade? Yes

There’s already some revisionist history regarding Pete Golding’s time as Alabama’s DC. 

He wasn’t bad at all (No. 1 in SEC yards per play allowed in 2022, No. 3 in 2021, No. 2 in 2020, No. 1 in 2019), but his units did underachieve compared to their talent (and the success of his predecessors). Their recent track record of blown assignments and ill-timed penalties didn’t help his case, either. 

Still, Golding is definitely an upgrade for Ole Miss, so we don’t even need a subsection there.  

In steps Kevin Steele at Alabama, who didn’t have much success in his single season at Miami but should bring a steadiness to the Tide’s defensive staff. 

He’ll have better personnel to work with, and considering he already runs a version of Nick Saban’s defense, there won’t be a long learning curve of terminology or scheme. 

Steele speaks Saban’s language, and should also help mentor new Tide linebackers coach Austin Armstrong — much like he did 20 years ago when he served as a sounding board for a young Kirby Smart at Florida State and then at Alabama. 

Kentucky offensive coordinator — Rich Scangarello to Liam Coen

Upgrade? Yes

This is perhaps the easiest one to grade because it’s rather black and white. 

BLC. LC. ALC. 

Kentucky was terrible offensively in 2020, ranking last in the SEC in yards and 11th in scoring (21.1 points per game). 

In 2021, Mark Stoops hired Liam Coen and Kentucky had an offensive success rate of 47.9%, good for 11th nationally. The Wildcats averaged 32.3 points per game and Will Levis looked like a future star at quarterback.

But then Coen returned to the Los Angeles Rams, and UK’s offense totally cratered. 

Levis (who was hurt at times) wasn’t the same player and the Wildcats’ offensive line struggled badly this fall. 

They finished the season 100th in success rate (38%) and scored just a hair over 20 points per game — last in the SEC.

So Stoops fired Scangarello and immediately brought Coen back in Lexington. 

While the OL still needs to get sorted out, Kentucky has a nice set of playmakers and NC State transfer Devin Leary at quarterback. Coen’s system (and return) should immediately improve UK’s offense in 2023.

Texas A&M offensive coordinator — Darrell Dickey to Bobby Petrino 

Upgrade? TBD

At first glance, hiring Bobby Petrino to rejigger an offense that scored more than four touchdowns against an FBS opponent exactly once the entire 2022 season should be an automatic upgrade. 

But this situation requires more nuance. 

Jimbo Fisher — not Darrell Dickey — was really the Aggies’ OC last season. Will he let Bobby Petrino truly take over the offense — including play-calling duties?

He plans to, but what happens if Fisher decides he needs to call the shots again mid-game or midseason? Also, how will Bobby Petrino take to being an assistant coach for the first time in 20 years?

The short-term experiment could work, but I need to see it. The Aggies definitely don’t lack talent. Conner Weigman flashed some promise late in the season, and Evan Stewart looks like a future star at receiver. 

A new system with fresh ideas could turn a static offense into an exciting attack. 

But there are too many variables to make a determinative declaration right now, including the fact that the last time Petrino called plays for a Power 5 program Louisville had the worst off in the ACC in 2018. 

South Carolina offensive coordinator — Marcus Satterfield to Dowell Loggains

Upgrade? TBD

Marcus Satterfield was never a fan favorite in Columbia, so when he left the Gamecocks to take the OC job at Nebraska, Cocky Nation rejoiced. 

But that euphoria faded when Arkansas tight ends coach and former NFL journeyman OC Dowell Loggains was announced as South Carolina’s new play-caller. The criticisms got so loud that Shane Beamer was forced to passionately defend his hire. 

So is it an upgrade? Shrug? 

The Gamecocks were pitiful offensively in 2022 — until they were awesome the final three games of the season. 

They averaged 20 points per game in conference play before dropping 63 points in an upset over Tennessee. They scored 31 to beat Clemson and 38 in a bowl loss against Notre Dame. 

Spencer Rattler had eight touchdowns over the first 10 games of the season before throwing for 10 scores the final three games — two of which were called by Satterfield. 

Rattler is back in 2023, as is star wideout Juice Wells, but can Loggains get more consistent production from a group that was feast or famine all last season?

Arkansas offensive coordinator — Kendal Briles to Dan Enos

Upgrade? Yes

Sam Pittman didn’t even wait for TCU’s press release on the hiring of Kendal Briles to announce his new OC in Dan Enos. 

Briles built Arkansas into a smash-mouth offense (No. 2 in the SEC in rushing in 2022, No. 1 in 2021), but the Razorbacks were never an overly dynamic (no better than 8th in the SEC) passing attack in this three seasons.

Enos, a well-traveled coordinator returns to Fayetteville for a second stint, should provide more balance there. 

At Maryland the last two seasons, Enos helped the Terps set offensive records (yards, passing, completion percentage). In his first go-round at Arkansas (when Pittman as the OL coach), the Razorbacks were one of just two schools with a 3,000-yard passer and a 1,300-yard rusher in the same season in 2015 and 2016. 

Enos is also credited with the early development of Tua Tagovailoa as Alabama’s quarterbacks coach in 2018. 

Ideally, Arkansas continues to lean on its strengths offensively under Enos (i.e., giving Rocket Sanders and AJ Green lots of touches) but KJ Jefferson morphs into a more complete quarterback and consistent threat as a passer.