Bohls Tweet on offensive coordinator

[utisdabomb12]

"Texas still considering Shawn Watson, Joker Phillips, Bears WR coach Mike Groh for vacant OC job. Two out of three, anyone?"

Like I said recently, I think the OC might be someone nobody has even talked about.

 

[Juan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Texas still considering Shawn Watson, Joker Phillips, Bears WR coach Mike Groh for vacant OC job. Two out of three, anyone?</p>— kbohls (@kbohls) <a href="

https://twitter.com/kbohls/statuses/422556313151758336">January 13, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[utisdabomb12]

I think Joker would be a home run hire IMO. Guy can't run a program, but is one hell of an offensive coordinator.

Edit: Bohls just posted on Twitter that these aren't the finalists, but they are all in the running.

 

[sdhornesq]

Right now of all the names that have been listed, I would put my money on Riley with maybe a hedge bet on Watson.

 

[utisdabomb12]

Don't think it's Riley from a gut feeling. Haven't really heard any of the media even mention Riley. I've been wrong before though. I also like Riley so if JS is correct it wouldn't bother me. I actually like Joker over Riley though for several reasons.

 

[Juan]

He was at Florida this season as Recruiting Coordinator and WR coach. Prior to that, was the head coach at Kentucky.

◦Phillips' offensive style has shown flexibility and balance between the run and the pass. During his time as offensive coordinator, UK has had a 3,000-yard passer (André Woodson, who accomplished the feat twice), two 1,000-yard receivers (Keenan Burton and Steve Johnson) and a 1,000-yard rusher (Rafael Little, who reached the mark twice).

Partial Kentucky Joker Phillips bio --

One of the Nation's Top Recruiters

In addition to his coaching, Phillips also is a highly effective recruiter, as his straightforward, likeable personality earns the trust of young players and their families. He served as UK's recruiting coordinator in 2003-04, giving up that post because of his additional offensive responsibilities, but continued to be deeply involved in recruiting.

Phillips' abilities in that area have become known across the country, as he has been identified as one of the nation's top recruiters by SportsIllustrated.com and Rivals.com.

Phillips has gained additional coaching experience by working postseason all-star games. He was the winning head coach in the 2005 Magnolia Classic. Following the 2006 season, he was an assistant on the winning squad in the IntaJuice North-South All-Star Game.

A Longtime Kentuckian and Wildcat

Phillips is a familiar face around Kentucky football. He played at UK from 1981-84 and was on the football staff from 1988-96. As a player, Phillips helped lead the Wildcats to appearances in the Hall of Fame Bowl in his junior and senior seasons. He finished his playing days tied for fifth on the UK career receiving list with 75 catches for 935 yards and nine touchdowns. He went on to play a total of three professional seasons with the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (1985, '87) and Toronto in the Canadian Football League (1986).

Phillips began his coaching career at his alma mater as a graduate assistant in 1988-89. In 1990, he served as an assistant recruiting coordinator. He was a full-time assistant coach, in charge of the wide receivers, from 1991-96. In 1991, under Phillips' guidance, wide receiver Neal Clark broke the single-season record for pass receptions with 47 catches. Craig Yeast, who became the SEC's all-time leading receiver, played his first two seasons under Phillips in 1995-96.

Phillips returned to UK from South Carolina, where he coached the wide receivers under Coach Lou Holtz in 2002. Gamecock newcomer Troy Williamson earned SEC All-Freshman honors that year and went on to become the No. 7 pick in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft.

Phillips also has coached at Cincinnati (1997-98), Minnesota (1999-2000) and Notre Dame (2001). At Minnesota, he guided All-Big Ten wide receiver Ron Johnson, who went on to play for the NFL's Baltimore Ravens. In his year at Notre Dame, Phillips placed two wideouts in the NFL, Javin Hunter and David Givens.

As a coach, nine of his teams have gone to bowl games, including UK to the 1993 Peach Bowl, 2006, `07 and '09 Music City Bowls, the Liberty Bowl following the 2008 season and the BBVA Compass Bowl after the 2010 season; Cincinnati to the 1997 Humanitarian Bowl; and Minnesota to the 1999 Sun Bowl and 2000 Micronpc.com Bowl.

Coaching History

1988-89 Kentucky Graduate Assistant Coach

1990 Kentucky Assistant Recruiting Coordinator

1991-96 Kentucky Assistant Coach (Wide Receivers)

1997 Cincinnati Assistant Coach (Wide Receivers)

1998 Cincinnati Assistant Coach (Defensive Backs)

1999-2000 Minnesota Assistant Coach (Wide Receivers)

2001 Notre Dame Assistant Coach (Wide Receivers)

2002 South Carolina Assistant Coach (Wide Receivers)

2003-04 Kentucky Assistant Coach (Recruiting Coordinator, Wide Receivers)

2005-08 Kentucky Assistant Coach (Offensive Coordinator, Wide Receivers)

2009 Kentucky Assistant Coach (Head Coach of the Offense, Wide Receivers)

2010 Kentucky Head Coach

Qutes

•"Phillips' credentials certainly scream head coach. He's been an outstanding position coach, ace recruiter, master motivator and his (2006-07) offenses at UK have been a pair of the best in school history. (His) ability to connect with players, their families and coaches may be his greatest strength." - Matt May, The Cats' Pause

•"Even when he was recruiting me, and when I got here as a freshman, he seemed like a head coach. He shows that just in the way he goes about his business." - All-SEC linebacker Wesley Woodyard, now with the Denver Broncos

•"I just think it was a great move by the university and a great move for the program. Coach Joker was instrumental in my career. He knows how to go out and get players, and he recognizes how to get the best out of the players he brings in. You know the program will be in good hands because he care so much about Kentucky football." - All-SEC tight end Jacob Tamme, now with the Indianapolis Colts

•"I was excited when I heard it. When I talked to people back home (in Northern Kentucky), they all love Joker. He's the right man for the job." -- All-SEC and NFL quarterback Jared Lorenzen

•"He has all the charisma a head coach would have. I'm glad Kentucky did what they had to do to keep him, because other people were going to keep coming after him. With Joker Phillips, they're not just making a good minority hire. They're making a great hire, period." - Lou Holtz, longtime head coach and current ESPN analyst

•"I felt like he was a guy I could really relate to. When he was recruiting me, he was really open and honest the whole time about me making the best decision for myself and not downplaying anybody else. He just played up Kentucky. I like that." - 2009 All-SEC defensive tackle Corey Peters

•"Cats are smart to name Phillips future coach" - Louisville Courier-Journal headline of a column by Rick Bozich

•"There's not a finer man than Joker Phillips. When he was a kid, he was never in trouble. He hung around the little league park to help kids when he was in high school. He was just a nice kid to be around. You knew he was going to be a good guy. I'm not surprised in the least that he has been this successful." - Gary Moyers of the Danville Advocate-Messenger , who covered Phillips for the Bowling Green Daily News during the coach's high school playing days

•"Joker Phillips is one of the finest college football coaches I know. He's a fine person, too. That's why I believe the football program will be in fine hands once current coach Rich Brooks decides to leave the program on his own terms." - Keith Taylor, KentuckySportsReport.com

•"Smart move for Kentucky to commit to offensive coordinator Joker Phillips. The Cats told Phillips he is the next head football coach when Rich Brooks steps down. I'm surprised a major college hasn't gone after Phillips before now." - Joe Biddle, Nashville Tennessean

http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/phillips_joker00.html

 

[TMTycoon]

Bohls is like TheDudeofWV.

 

[utisdabomb12]

I don't think people understand just how good Joker Phillips is. Can't run a program, but is an elite offensive mind. Would take him over every other candidate I've heard, maybe other than Chad Morris. If he's a legitimate candidate and Morris isn't, Texas better go after him.

 

[derpyhorndog]

I don't think people understand just how good Joker Phillips is. Can't run a program, but is an elite offensive mind. Would take him over every other candidate I've heard, maybe other than Chad Morris. If he's a legitimate candidate and Morris isn't, Texas better go after him.

So we can have the unstoppable offense that was UF this past year? I'd pass.

 

[KellyUT4Ever]

Pass. Next please. Not impressive but then again I suspect Strong is finalizing a contract on someone rarely mentions on message boards. FROST

 

[pringlelake]

The blurb below was written about Mike Groh shortly after he left Saban to go to the Chicago Bears

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Groh's departure will impact Alabama's recruiting.

He was recently named "Recruiter of the Year" by 247Sports.com andRivals.com for his role in helping the Crimson Tide haul in the top recruiting class in the country by both services.

 

[utisdabomb12]

Joker Phillips isn't the Offensive Coordinator at Florida, he's the wide receiver coach. Has no hand in the play calling. Go look at his past, the guy was a hell of an offensive coordinator at Kentucky. Had an offense that was top 15 in scoring for a year or two, at KENTUCKY.

If Texas doesn't get him, he's going to be an OC at a major program very soon.

 

[CoachBobbyFinstock]

None of those do anything for me.

Very underwhelming list and none have them have done anything to show they can lead a top offense.

Riley over all of them by a mile. His spread background and Texas roots are icing in the cake. He put up 579 yards and 41 points on Narduzzi in his first game as OC in the 2009 Alamo Bowl.

 

[LegendaryHorn]

Phillips would be a fantastic replacement for Wyatt. Groh would also kill it as a replacement for Wyatt.

On 247, LotusHorn posted that Watson was getting interest from NFL teams and may leave for one of those jobs, so what about Phillips or Groh as WR coach and Riley as co-OC/QB?

That would still leave TEs as possibly open. Apparently Chambers was introduced to the team without a specific role or title.

 

[The Tower]

i'll take riley, frost, herman, or watson please.

and get rid of chambers as a coach as well.

 

[pringlelake]

From the Wiki .....

Louisville Cardinals head coach Charlie Strong announced, on January 13, 2010, that he has hired Mike Groh to coach the quarterbacks at University of Louisville. On February 7, 2011, it was announced he had been given the job of wide receivers coach at the University of Alabama.[3] On February 21, 2013, it was announced that Groh was hired by the Chicago Bears as wide receivers coach.[4]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Groh

 

[Juan]

Groh went ot the NFL Bears after Alabama

Here is the Mike Groh bio from Roll Tide.com

Mike Groh is in his second season as wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator after returning to the Alabama staff in 2011. Groh, a former quarterback at the University of Virginia, joined the Crimson Tide coaching staff after serving as the quarterbacks coach at Louisville in 2010. He spent eight years at Virginia (2001-08), with three of those seasons coaching the wide receivers.

Groh's wide receivers were explosive and consistent for the Crimson Tide in 2012. Although hampered by injuries throughout the season, a `next man up' mentality served the group well as eight different receivers contributed to the receiving corps' success. True freshman Amari Cooper led the way with a Freshman All-America season, catching 53 passes for 895 yards and a UA freshman-record nine touchdowns. Kevin Norwood was second on the team with 26 catches for 395 yards and four scores while Christion Jones caught 25 passes for 328 yards and four touchdowns.

In 2011, Groh coached seven wide receivers who averaged 10-plus yards per reception. Marquis Maze recorded 56 catches for 627 yards, and earned second-team All-Southeastern Conference recognition by the league coaches.

Groh's year at Louisville saw him develop two players at the quarterback position, with the duo combining for 2,423 yards and 21 touchdowns. The Cardinal improved to 7-6 with the help of Groh in 2010, after posting a 4-8 record in 2009 prior to his arrival.

Groh spent the 2009 season at Alabama as an offensive graduate assistant as the Tide recorded a 14-0 record en route to the national championship. As the quarterbacks coach at Louisville, Groh was instrumental in the development of seniors Adam Froman and Justin Burke. Due to injuries, both players shared the starting role and showed great improvement from the previous season. After throwing only nine touchdown passes in 2009, the quarterbacks combined to throw 22 in 2010 with just eight interceptions.

Before his stints at Alabama and Louisville, Groh spent eight seasons as an assistant coach at Virginia, his alma mater, including the final three years as the offensive coordinator for the Cavaliers. Considered one of the greatest quarterbacks in Virginia history, Groh was hired on the Virginia staff in 2001 as the wide receivers coach before he took on the task of coaching the Cavaliers quarterbacks in 2003 along with the receivers. He added the title of recruiting coordinator in 2005.

In his first year working with the quarterbacks at Virginia, Groh coached Matt Schaub, who set a school record with a 69.7 percent completion percentage, throwing for 2,952 yards and 18 touchdowns. Schaub is currently the starter for the Houston Texans and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2009 after leading the league in passing yards. Marques Hagans transitioned from wide receiver to quarterback for the 2004 and 2005 seasons, which culminated with a 358-yard passing performance in the 2005 Music City Bowl to earn game MVP honors. Hagans finished his career with 4,877 passing yards, the fifth-highest total ever by a Cavalier.

As the wide receivers coach in 2001 and 2002 seasons, Groh helped Billy McMullen become one of the top receivers in the nation. As a senior in 2002, McMullen became the second all-time leading receiver in ACC history with 210 career receptions. Groh also recruited tailback Wali Lundy, who became the all-time touchdown leader in ACC history.

As the starting quarterback at Virginia in 1994-95, Groh became the only quarterback in school history to lead the Cavaliers to nine wins and a bowl victory in consecutive seasons. Groh led the ACC and ranked 13th in the nation in passing in 1994 as the Cavaliers finished 9-3 and defeated TCU 20-10 in the Independence Bowl as he earned MVP honors in that game.

As a tri-captain in 1995, Groh helped lead Virginia to a 9-4 record, including a 34-27 victory over Georgia in the Peach Bowl and a share of the ACC championship. He earned second team all-ACC honors in 1995 and received Virginia's Joe Palumbo Award for self-sacrifice.

Groh played his final season at Virginia as a graduate student, after receiving his undergraduate degree in rhetoric and communication studies from Virginia in 1995. He attended the Baltimore Ravens training camp as a free agent in 1996 and later played in the World League for the Rhein Fire in 1997. Groh spent the 2000 season as an offensive assistant/quality control coach for the New York Jets. Groh is married to the former Elena Montero.

 

[DizzG]

People don't want Watson as OC and it appears he's not going to be but just about every other name outside 1-2 select others would disappoint message boards. Funny. At this point whatever hire strong makes I'm gonna go with it. Pretty Clear he has a plan and is Making good hires.

Watson going to the NFL would be funny because he's not "Texas good" but would be nfl good if gets a job there

 

[pianoboe]

I thought Strong wanted the OC to have Texas ties for recruiting? None of the three Bohls mentions fits that. Riley is the only one. Sounds like someone is feeding Bohls some smoke.