TCU football in final stages of coaching staff search. Here’s the latest.
TCU coach Gary Patterson remains in the process of putting together his 2020 coaching staff.
Patterson is expected to finalize it and announce it all at once when the time is right. That announcement is expected soon, but is not imminent.
A high-ranking football source added on Tuesday that “no one has signed a contract.”
That includes former TCU co-offensive coordinator Doug Meacham, who has been widely linked to rejoin Patterson’s staff. The expectation is for Meacham to fill one of the two vacancies, sources said, but nothing is official yet.
If hired, Meacham would likely fill the inside receivers coach opening with Jarrett Anderson moving back to coach the offensive line.
It’s also unclear who has emerged as the favorite to become the team’s new running backs coach. There have been multiple candidates interview for the position.
Another potential addition would be a veteran coach in an advising-type role, which would be a newly created job that doesn’t count as one of the 10 on-field assistants.
For now, TCU has just two on-field assistant positions to fill with the departures of co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach Curtis Luper to Missouri, and O-line coach Chris Thomsen to Florida State.
There is still movement throughout the coaching world with new staffs taking over NFL teams and college programs. Baylor, for instance, is now in the midst of a coaching search with Matt Rhule headed to the Carolina Panthers.
TCU assistants have attracted interest from other programs, evident by Luper and Thomsen leaving.
Co-offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie interviewed for the head coach opening at UTSA earlier this off-season, a source said, and has drawn interest to join other Power Five programs.
But Cumbie is expected to return for the 2020 season with one source saying “Sonny is a Frog.” Another source believes Cumbie is excited about some of the changes TCU has made this off-season.
Cumbie is under contract through the 2020 season.
In the end, TCU had natural turnover on its staff with the departures of Luper and Thomsen. The belief is Patterson will make the necessary adjustments to get TCU contending for championships again.
As TCU athletic director Jeremiah Donati told the Star-Telegram last month, “I love the things we’ve done. We’ve done a lot of it quietly, but there will be some changes and some adjustments that are in the works that are all incredibly positive for our program.
“[Patterson] knows better than anyone how to build this program. He’s had a lot of success. He knows how to win here and you’re not going to do that by starting over every year. Sometimes it’s the small adjustments, rather than the huge moves, that are going to be successful. And I know that we’re in a position to do that.
“His football mind is the best I’ve ever seen.”
