New Coaches Hope to Upgrade College Football Programs in 2015

Football head coaches get all the glory, but top assistants can be extremely important in a team's success or failure. Offensive and defensive coordinators have great influence on game plans and a unit's effectiveness. Gus Malzahn was the offensive coordinator when Auburn won the national title and nearly pulled it off in 2013 as head coach of the Tigers. Notre Dame overachieved and made a bowl the last five seasons under Coach Brian Kelly, making the title game in 2013, while Urban Meyer has Ohio State on top of the world. 

Assistants are often the NFL star head coaches of tomorrow, as well. Bill Parcells lost one of his top assistants, Sean Payton, who went to New Orleans and helped lead the Saints Super Bowl title turnaround.

Competent football assistants can be huge assets. Buddy Ryan was the principle architect of the Bears' 46 defense that led the way to the 1986 Super Bowl. He left the team after that victory and the Bears were never as dominant defensively. Let's look at some key coaching changes in the college ranks.

Michigan: New coach Jim Harbaugh has a lot of work to do with the Wolverine offense. This team averages just 20.9 points and ranked 112th in the nation in passing. Junior QB Shane Morris (0 TDs, 3 INTs, 128 yards) is back but has little experience as Michigan QBs threw 10 TDs, 18 picks. Harbaugh will utilize RB Ty Isaac, a USC transfer who is available, a 5-star recruit who sat out 2014.  

At least the defense will be strong for new defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin. 8 starters are back on a unit that allowed  22.4 ppg (27th in the nation). Michigan is 19-25 SU/18-26 ATS its last 44 road games. 

Pitt: Head coach Paul Chryst jumped to Wisconsin so Pat Narduzzi is running the show. He has a good resume running the great defenses at Michgan State. The loss of Chryst means the Panthers will be on their 7th and 8th head coaches since 2010. In addition, Pitt will have their third starting quarterback in as many seasons. The new coach will have work to do on defense as the Panthers allowed 27.2 ppg (70th) and lost DE Aaron Donald to NFL and DE Bryan Murphy chose not to return in 2014. Pitt is on a 7-3 run under the total with better defenses than offenses. 

Nebraska:  You won't recognize the Husker offense has new coach Mike Riley brings in Pro-style attack. At least the coach has plenty of talent to work with in junior QB Tommy Armstrong (22 TDs, 12 INTs) on an offense that averaged 37.8 points, 212 yards passing and 240 yards rushing (19th).  He has better pay more attention to a defense that allowed 59, 28, 34 and 45 the last four games (1-3).  Nebraska is 22-12 SU/21-11 ATS on the road and on a 7-3-2 run over the total.  

Kansas: Coach Dave Beaty takes over, the former Texas A&M offensive coordinator. Kansas can use some skill position speed on offense and he has a reputation for recruiting in Texas and the Kansas area.   New offensive coordinator Rob Likens worked with Sonny Dykes at Cal, so the offense will be quick-strike, like Texas Tech.  Beaty was also offensive coordinator at Rice (2010) and Kansas (2011).  Junior QB T.J. Millweard is a pro-style QB and transferred from UCLA in 2014, offering some hope. Maybe they can score points and change a wagering trend: Kansas is on a 15-8-1 run under the total. 

Oregon State: New Coach Gary Anderson comes over from Wisconsin, replacing Mike Riley, who was here 14 years.  Andersen's staff installed a new spread offense and freshman QB Seth Collins grasped it in spring practice. 7 QBs are on the roster, but only one with experience.  At least the wide receivers are loaded, led by junior WR Victor Bolden (798 yards) and 6-4 sophomore Jordan Villamin (578 yards).  The defense is being overhauled, a unit that is young and allowed over 38 points 4 times.  Last year the Beavers opened as -32.5 chalk and beat Portland State 29-14. Oregon State is on a 20-16 run over the total. 

Florida: The Gators got tired of bad offenses/great defenses under Wil Muschamp and bring in little known Jim McElwain, the former Colorado State head coach.  However, he is known in football coaching circles and has an impressive resume.  He used to be Alabama offensive coordinator, so he knows the SEC, and turned Colorado State around from a 3-9 team the year before his arrival in 2012 to a 10-3 team this past year.

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