TCU co-OC Curtis Luper, a candidate for the UNM head coaching job, expected to return
TCU co-offensive coordinator Curtis Luper is expected to return for an eighth season on Gary Patterson’s staff.
Luper emerged as a strong candidate for the New Mexico head job, but the school opted to go with former player and Arizona State defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.
Barring Luper emerging as a candidate elsewhere, he should be back in Fort Worth. That should be viewed as a plus for the Horned Frogs program.
This is a coach who has helped land NFL-caliber talents such as Jalen Reagor, Ross Blacklock and Darius Anderson in recent years. The running game was a positive this season, too, ranking third in the Big 12 and averaging 204 yards a game on the ground.
Along with Luper, co-offensive coordinator and play-caller Sonny Cumbie interviewed for a head coaching job earlier this month. Cumbie interviewed with UTSA, but it ultimately went with Jeff Traylor.
TCU offensive line coach Chris Thomsen has been linked as a possible candidate to join Mike Norvell’s staff at Florida State, although there’s been little movement on that front for now.
As one TCU assistant predicted the other day, “Everyone is coming back!”
That should be settled in the coming days once football’s early signing period is completed later this week.
Luper joined Patterson’s staff in 2013 as wide receivers coach and was promoted to co-offensive coordinator prior to the 2017 season.
Prior to coming to Fort Worth, Luper had stints at Auburn (2009-2012), where he helped land Cam Newton and won a national championship in 2010, and his alma mater Oklahoma State (2005-08).
Luper was a running back at Oklahoma State in the 1980s, playing with future Hall of Famers in Barry Sanders and Thurman Thomas.
This story was originally published December 17, 2019 at 2:48 PM.
