Brent Venables to Clemson: Grading Every College Football Coordinator Hire

Head coaches get a lot more of the glory, honor and blame for their respective teams, but there are no great teams without great coordinators.

In fact, one of the biggest jobs of any head coach is hiring his offensive and defensive coordinators. Much depends on choosing the right men for the job.

And while the coaching shuffle hasn't quite come to an end, let us evaluate all of the unsung heroes of college football and how well these hires were made.

Rhett Lashlee: Offensive Coordinator, Arkansas State

Rhett Lashlee and Gus Malzahn go way back. In fact, Malzahn was one of Lashlee's high school coaches.

So now, as Gus Malzahn gets his first head coaching job, it's only natural that Malzahn would hire someone like Lashlee.

And Lashlee has some good experience as the offensive coordinator at Samford.

Grade: B

Keith Patterson: Defensive Coordinator, Arkansas State

Gus Malzahn is putting together quite an impressive staff at Arkansas State. Pitt interim head coach Keith Patterson will serve as the defensive coordinator.

Considering that it's for a Sun Belt program, this hire is fantastic.

Grade: A

Wesley McGriff: Defensive Coordinator, Ole Miss

Wesley McGriff joins Ole Miss after a spectacular job at Vanderbilt. After all, he helped the Commodores get to a bowl game, and that is no small feat.

The Rebels hope that these feats will continue for them.

Grade: B+

Dan Werner: Offensive Coordinator, Ole Miss

Dan Werner is coming back to Ole Miss to take his old job as the offensive coordinator.

Not sure going back to Werner is good enough to help Ole Miss compete in the insane SEC West...

Grade: B-

Brent Pease: Offensive Coordinator, Florida

For the second year in a row, a Boise State offensive coordinator has been hired at a major "Big Six" school. 

And when you have a program that finished No. 5 in scoring offense, it's not hard to see why.

At any rate, Brent Pease should do better than Charlie Weis did this year for Will Muschamp.

Grade: A-

Brian VanGorder: Defensive Coordinator, Auburn

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People wondered how Auburn head coach Gene Chizik would do after losing both of his coordinators.

However, he seems to have been able to hire winners already.

Brain VanGorder already has a proven track record in the SEC, as he was a huge success at Georgia before heading off to the NFL. 

Better still, a VanGorder defense allowed more than 30 points in a game just once while he coached for the Bulldogs, and that was over four years.

Grade: A

Paul Petrino: Offensive Coordinator, Arkansas

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After losing his old offensive coordinator to UAB, Bobby Petrino turned to his brother Paul Petrino to fill the vacancy. 

At any rate, it's something that Petrino has done before.

And, judging by his help in the Cotton Bowl to put away Kansas State, this move seems to be a good one.

Grade: B+

Mike Breske: Defensive Coordinator, Washington State

If you're going to the FCS to find great assistant coaches, Montana is a great place to look. After all, it's one of the premier programs in that division.

And the Grizzlies had one of the best defensive teams in the nation, coached by Mike Breske.

Just what the Pirate ordered.

Grade: A-

Justin Wilcox: Defensive Coordinator, Washington

Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian fired his entire defensive coaching staff after giving up 67 points to Baylor in the Huskies' loss in the Alamo Bowl.

Justin Wilcox, formerly of Boise State and then Tennessee, will fit the bill nicely. The Huskies can certainly benefit from a bit of the SEC.

Grade: A-

Eric Kiesau: Offensive Coordinator, Washington

Doug Nussmeier will be greatly missed at Washington. 

Since Nussmeier is off to Alabama, the Huskies hired former Cal assistant Eric Kiesau.

Kiesau was an offensive coordinator between 2009 and 2010, and that didn't turn out well for the Golden Bears. At any rate, Kiesau is no Nussmeier.

Grade: B-

Noel Mazzone: Offensive Coordinator, UCLA

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Jim Mora got a steal in Noel Mazzone as an offensive coordinator.

It's true that Mazzone was associated with underachieving Arizona State, but the Sun Devils had the No. 10 passing offense and No. 28 scoring offense in the country.

Grade: A-

Lou Spanos: Defensive Coordinator, UCLA

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If UCLA is to finally break the football monopoly in L.A., the Bruins are going to have to have great defense to stop the USC offense.

Hiring Lou Spanos, the former linebacker coach for the Washington Redskins, should help greatly in the development of the Bruins.

Grade: B+

Rod Smith and Calvin Magee: Co-Offensive Coordinators, Arizona

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Rich Rodriguez is going to mostly former assistant coaches to build his new program at Arizona.

And he's getting more of his West Virginia staff who followed him to Michigan to disaster, in Rod Smith and Calvin Magee.

Still, I'm not a huge fan of this co-offensive coordinator thing.

Grade: B

Jeff Casteel: Defensive Coordinator, Arizona

Rich Rodriquez is gathering many of his former staff when he was at West Virginia. 

Not the least of which is defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel.

Arizona will be much improved under Casteel, particularly since Casteel is now reunited with Rich Rod.

Grade: A-

Mike Locksley: Offensive Coordinator, Maryland

It's no exaggeration to say that Mike Locksley was the worst FBS head coach in 2011. But Locksley once was the hottest commodity as an offensive coordinator at Illinois.

Perhaps this will help Locksley get back on his feet.

But Maryland is taking just a bit of a chance, given all the baggage that goes along with Locksley and his disastrous tenure at New Mexico.

Grade: B-

Jonathan Smith: Offensive Coordinator, Boise State

People can say what they will about Boise State and Chris Peterson, but one big indication of people's respect for the program is how many coordinators at "Big Six" conferences came from Boise State.

The latest hire is former Montana offensive coordinator Jonathan Smith. Smith just led Montana to a national championship in the FCS.

And with Peterson still at Boise, Smith will learn and develop even more. It might not be that much of a stretch for some other top program to come calling.

Grade: A-

Chuck Amato: Defensive Coordinator, Akron

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Terry Bowden went to one of his father's old assistants to help him build Akron. The former N.C. State coach has done a decent job and has been around the game for a long time.

However, Akron will likely be one of Chuck Amato's greatest challenges.

Grade: B+

Ted Roof: Defensive Coordinator, Penn State

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Ted Roof is quite the hot commodity these days. Only one month after taking the job at Central Florida, Roof got the job at the more prestigious Penn State.

The former Auburn defensive coordinator is walking into a bit of a mess at Penn State, but he'll be up for the job.

Grade: B+

Reggie Johnson: Defensive Coordinator, UAB

Reggie Johnson has come along with Garrick McGee to UAB, and McGee is no doubt hoping that Johnson will bring some SEC strength to the ailing Blazer program.

It's about as good as can be expected for a new head coach at a relatively small program.

Grade: B+ 

Joe Gilbert: Offensive Coordinator, UAB

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New UAB head coach Garrick McGee has his work cut out for him. As a former offensive coordinator himself, I'm sure he'll have a large role in reforming the Blazer offense.

But it is hard to judge his hiring of former Illinois offensive line coach Joe Gilbert. We'll just have to wait and see how this plays out.

Grade: B

Matt Canada: Offensive Coordinator, Wisconsin

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Matt Canada is one of the most underrated offensive coordinators in college football. After all, Northern Illinois won 11 games, finished No. 12 in scoring offense and was led by the likes of Chandler Harnish.

I've got a feeling that more people will know who Matt Canada is now that he's at Wisconsin, and he'll finally get the respect he deserves.

Grade: A

Tim Tibesar: Defensive Coordinator, Purdue

Purdue went to an unorthodox place for its new defensive coordinator. Rather than looking for other college coaches in the NFL, the Boilermakers went to the CFL to find Tim Tibesar.

While Tibesar did a great in the CFL by heading the No. 1 rush defense in Montreal, his last job in the college ranks didn't go so well.

Purdue will have to hope that Tibesar has learned much since he was at Kansas State.

Grade: B

Luke Fickell: Defensive Coordinator, Ohio State

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Although Luke Fickell is not yet ready to take a full head coaching job at a place like Ohio State, he did an excellent job with the Buckeyes considering the circumstances.

Urban Meyer did well in keeping Fickell on his staff, although I have a feeling that he's going to have quite a time keeping him there if Fickell keeps up the good work.

Grade: A

Tom Herman: Offensive Coordinator, Ohio State

Tom Herman's offense at Iowa State had some brilliant performances last season, not the least of which was that fantastic upset against Oklahoma State that knocked the Cowboys out of the national championship race.

This is Herman's first job at a big-time school, but working under the likes of Urban Meyer should do wonders.

Grade: B

Seth Littrell: Offensive Coordinator, Indiana

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Whatever woes Arizona had last season, the offense did just fine for itself. The Wildcats were No. 3 in passing offense and No. 38 in scoring offense. 

The rushing game could have used some work, but the offense scored enough points most games to win.

Seth Littrell should be able to do some good at Indiana.

Grade: B+

Tim Banks: Defensive Coordinator, Illinois

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Tim Beckman chose well in getting Tim Banks as his new defensive coordinator.

Banks' Bearcats were No. 15 in the nation in scoring defense, allowing less than 20 points per game. They were also No. 6 at stopping the run.

Good move for a new head coach.

Grade: A-

Chris Cosh: Defensive Coordinator, South Florida

It's a frustrating thing to have your defensive coordinator taken away after only one season. So, Lou Holtz had to look for his third defensive coordinator in the last three years.

And while the Kansas State defense has gotten better under Chris Cosh, his Wildcats gave up 50 or more points three times last season.

Grade: B-

Art Kaufman: Defensive Coordinator, Texas Tech

I'm not sure how changing the defensive coordinator every year is supposed to help. It takes time to build schemes and recruit the right players. 

Still, the Red Raiders certainly needed some help, as they finished No. 117 in scoring defense last season.

Art Kaufman has his work cut out for him, if he's allowed to stay long enough to make the necessary changes.

Grade: B

Mark Snyder: Defensive Coordinator, Texas A&M

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One thing Texas A&M is going to need as it makes the transition from the Big 12 to the SEC is a great defense.

After all, this is what the Aggies' new conference is famous for besides winning national championships.

So, new head coach Kevin Sumlin decided to go with former South Florida offensive coordinator Mark Snyder.

Snyder's defense did pretty well on defense for the Bulls, as they were No. 37 in scoring defense, but pretty well isn't going to cut it in the SEC. Snyder better be prepared to step up his game.

Grade: B

Kliff Kingsbury: Offensive Coordinator, Texas A&M

If you have an offensive coordinator who helped build the No. 1 scoring offense in the nation, and you get a new job at a major institution like Texas A&M, you better take this coordinator with you.

That's exactly what new Aggie head coach Kevin Sumlin did by hiring Kliff Kingsbury. 

Grade: A

Mike Stoops: Defensive Coordinator, Oklahoma

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Even though Mike Stoops is a more than capable defensive coach, Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops is taking a bit of a gamble by hiring his brother.

If the Sooner defense doesn't meet expectations, this could put both Stoops brothers in hot water.

Particularly when Oklahoma already had a defensive coordinator like Brent Venables.

I don't know why Bob Stoops thought that Venables would be content with being a co-defensive coordinator. He shouldn't have been surprised when Venables decided to seek greener pastures at Clemson.

Grade: C+

Dave Campo: Defensive Coordinator, Kansas

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After Kansas finished dead last in scoring defense last season, the Jayhawks were clearly in need of professional help.

That's why Charlie Weis went to the NFL to get Dave Campo from the Dallas Cowboys.

At any rate, it couldn't get much worse for Kansas.

Grade: B+

Courtney Messingham: Offensive Coordinator, Iowa State

Iowa State decided to look in-house for its new offensive coordinator. 

The Cyclones better hope that he does better than he did as the wide receivers coach. Iowa State was No. 79 in passing offense in 2011.

Grade: B-

Brian Stewart: Defensive Coordinator, Houston

Houston isn't exactly known for its defense, but the Cougars actually did fairly well under Brian Stewart.

They finished No. 35 in scoring defense last season.

He's not a defensive genius, but he'll be an improvement over last year's 2-10 squad.

Grade: B

Doug Martin: Offensive Coordinator, Boston College

After finishing in the bottom 10 in scoring offense, Boston College desperately needs some help on that side of the ball.

So it went with...former Kent State head coach Doug Martin?

Martin's Golden Flashes actually did worse than the Eagles, finishing No. 114 in scoring offense.

Grade: D 

Billy Gonzales: Co-Offensive Coordinator, Illinois

Billy Gonzales has a great resume as an Urban Meyer disciple at Utah and Florida. His specialty is the passing game, and he's helped develop some great talent over the years.

But, Gonzales really hasn't done much to elevate the passing game at LSU under Les Miles, and it was painfully obvious against Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game. And really, the passing game hasn't improved much for the Tigers since Gonzales got there.

Something to be leery of for sure.

Grade: C+

Scot Loeffler: Offensive Coordinator, Auburn

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Scot Loeffler has a wonderful reputation for developing NFL-caliber quarterbacks.

Tom Brady, Tim Tebow and Chad Henne are a few examples of the quarterbacks that have gone on to start at the next level thanks in part to Loeffler's coaching.

And Auburn needs just that sort of coaching right now.

Grade: A-

Sal Sunseri: Defensive Coordinator, Tennessee

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With goodwill quickly fading for Derek Dooley at Tennessee, the head coach knew he needed a spark—and he needed it now.

Well Vols fans, meet your spark.

Sal Sunseri, recently acquired from Nick Saban and the national champion Crimson Tide, had a huge hand in developing Alabama's linebackers into one of the best units in the history of college football.

And although the Vols haven't been that bad on defense (they were No. 36 in scoring defense last season), "not bad" won't cut it in the SEC.

Brilliant move by an increasingly desperate head coach.

Grade: A

Doug Nussmeier: Offensive Coordinator, Alabama

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One of the reasons why Nick Saban has won three national championships at two different schools is because he recruits the best coaching talent in the country to work for him.

And he just did it again with Doug Nussmeier, the former the offensive coordinator at Washington.

We saw him develop quarterback Keith Price into a Heisman contender for 2012. After all, Price went toe-to-toe and almost beat current Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III.

Imagine how good Alabama QB A.J. McCarron will be after some coaching from Nussmeier.

Grade: A+

Brent Venables: Defensive Coordinator, Clemson

It was painfully obvious during the Orange Bowl that Clemson was in dire need of a shakeup on defense as West Virginia hung 70 points on the Tigers. 

It's true that Clemson has a great offense, but there's a lot of truth to the saying that defense wins championships.

And in the world of defensive coordinators, almost no name is as big as Brent Venables.

Apart from hiring Alabama's Kirby Smart (which wouldn't have happened), this is the best move Clemson could have made.

Grade: A