How will TCU go about filling Sonny Cumbie’s offensive coordinator role?
With Sonny Cumbie headed to Texas Tech, the question for TCU now becomes how it’ll go about filling the offensive coordinator position.
The early indications are TCU will likely look inside and do some shuffling among its current staff rather than going outside and making a splash hire. After all, coach Gary Patterson spent last offseason adjusting his offensive staff by bringing in longtime friend and former head coach Jerry Kill to oversee the offense.
Other changes included bringing back Doug Meacham as inside receivers/tight ends coach and making him the primary play caller. Bryan Applewhite was hired as the running backs coach, Jarrett Anderson transitioned back to coaching the offensive line and Kenny Hill moved from a graduate assistant position to an analyst role on the offensive side. Former Pittsburg State coach Tim Beck also joined as a volunteer assistant.
And, given the hurdles presented amid the coronavirus pandemic — essentially a non-existent spring season and players in and out throughout fall camp — it’s difficult to make a thorough evaluation. But count TCU athletic director Jeremiah Donati among those optimistic about where the program his headed, particularly on offense.
“This was a very unusual year from an evaluation standpoint,” TCU athletic director Jeremiah Donati said. “We had to find different ways to evaluate all aspects of the program and the progress we are making, especially with a new offensive staff. Our coaches and staff didn’t get a lot of time with our players to fully implement our new schemes.
“But I think they did a good job adjusting to the realities and challenges of the pandemic and you can see things really starting to click over these past six games especially. I’m excited about the momentum we have going into 2021 and very optimistic that they have us heading in the right direction.”
The Frogs have the Big 12’s top rushing offense by averaging 214.7 yards per game and are 6-0 when reaching the 200-yard rushing mark. The passing offense still has room to grow, ranking eighth in the conference with an average of 196.3 yards per game.
Much credit for the rushing success deserves to go to Kill. He has always had strong rushing offenses throughout his career. When his 2010 Northern Illinois team had the Mid-American’s top-ranked offense, it averaged 260.4 yards rushing. Kill’s 2013 team at Minnesota ranked as the Big Ten’s fifth-best rushing attack, averaging 195.2 yards per game.
It’s unknown if Kill will be considered an OC candidate, but it’s unlikely. Health concerns forced him to step down from his last full-time coaching job as Rutgers’ offensive coordinator in 2017. He’s since worked as a special assistant at Virginia Tech last season and now at TCU.
Meacham, meanwhile, has plenty of offensive coordinator experience throughout his career, including serving in that role as co-OC with the Frogs from 2014-16 and as OC at Kansas in 2017-18. Beck is another veteran coach on the staff, serving as the head coach at Pitt State from 2010-19. Prior to that, he had a long stint as Pitt State’s offensive coordinator from 1994-2009.
Hill is a promising young coach who has made a favorable impression early on. Of course, Patterson could also explore external options when it comes to filling out his staff.
At the end of the day, Cumbie’s departure has been expected. He was in the final year of his contract and his role was significantly reduced when he was stripped of play-calling duties in favor of Meacham before the season. That essentially marked the beginning of the end for Cumbie on TCU’s staff.
TCU was willing to let Cumbie walk in the final year of his contract, rather than match Tech’s offer, according to a source.
Now it’s just a matter of how TCU fills that vacancy, likely with coaches already on staff.
In the meantime, TCU will continue preparing for its upcoming game against Arkansas in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 31. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at NRG Stadium in Houston.
