While some might have found it odd, last week’s announcement that the Frogs would be changing to a co-offensive coordinator system should come as a surprise to no one.
It really was the team’s best option.
Former offensive coordinator Mike Schultz left to take the same position at the University of Illinois in early January. It took the Frogs a little more than a month to announce his replacements, former wide receivers coach Jarrett Anderson and former running backs coach Justin Fuente.
But I think it’s safe to say the team knew exactly who would replace the void left by Schultz the moment he departed.
Anderson, who will assume the duty of running backs coach as well as his new coordinator position, has 11 years of experience with the Frogs. He became wide receivers coach in 2001 when Gary Patterson took the reigns of the football program.
Fuente, the other new offensive coordinator who will also coach quarterbacks, has been with the football program for two seasons. The former University of Oklahoma and Murray State University quarterback was previously a coach at Illinois State University from 2001-2006. He spent his final three years with the Redbirds as the team’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach before joining TCU.
Anderson and Fuente’s experience with the Frogs’ current batch of running backs and wide receivers made them clear-cut favorites for positions as offensive coordinators. The team’s success on offense last season was likely another reason the team decided to promote from within.
Last season, the Frogs set a school record for points scored in a season with 420. The team also scored more touchdowns, 54, than any other team in school history. Add in the fact that the Frogs also led the nation in time of possession and were No. 13 in the nation in team rushing and it’s clear to see that this offense needed to be handled delicately. Bringing in a fresh face was never really an option. Why risk continuity and comfort when things are already in such great shape?
It was a classic case of not trying to fix something that wasn’t broken. The Frogs should reap the benefits come September.
