SMU hires ex-Cal coach Dykes to replace Morris
SMU has hired former California and Louisiana Tech football coach Sonny Dykes as its new head coach.
The school will introduce Dykes at a news conference Tuesday.
Dykes replaces Chad Morris, who left last week to become the new coach at Arkansas after leading the Mustangs to a 7-5 record and the school’s first bowl berth since 2012.
Dykes, 48, a Texas native whose father, Spike Dykes, was a longtime coach at Texas Tech, went 22-15 in three seasons at Louisiana Tech from 2010-12. He spent four years at California, where he had just one winning season. He was fired after the 2016 season and spent last year working as an offensive analyst for Gary Patterson at TCU.
Dykes is a disciple of former Kentucky coach Hal Mumme and Washington State coach Mike Leach. Dykes’ version of the “Air Raid” offense has produced some of the most productive attacks in the nation. At Berkeley, he coached Jared Goff for three seasons before the quarterback became the first overall pick in the NFL draft.
Dickey joining Fisher at A&M
Darrell Dickey will be the offensive coordinator on Jimbo Fisher’s new staff at Texas A&M.
While Fisher and the Aggies have not announced the move, Memphis coach Mike Norvell confirmed that Dickey is leaving as the Tigers’ offensive coordinator and taking a job with Fisher.
“I’m thankful for all the work Darrell has put in throughout his years at the University of Memphis,” Norvell said. “He has represented our university in a first-class manner, and we’re excited for him and (wife) Tory with the opportunity to return to his home state of Texas at Texas A&M.”
While Fisher was heavily involved in the offensive play-calling at Florida State, it remains to be seen how Dickey’s role will be structured with the Aggies. Memphis is ranked fourth nationally in total offense at 548 yards per game.
Dickey, 58, is a former head coach at North Texas and offensive coordinator at Texas State and New Mexico. He started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M under Jackie Sherrill.
Fisher is bringing Dameyune Craig and Jay Graham from Florida State to coach the Aggies’ receivers and running backs, respectively.
Odds and ends
With the departure of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson to Florida, Houston coach Major Applewhite will handle play-calling duties against Fresno State in the Hawaii Bowl. Applewhite does not plan to fill the position on his staff until after the Dec. 24 game, a person close to the football program said. … Mississippi quarterback Shea Patterson said he will transfer to Michigan. Patterson is recovering from a right knee injury that cost him the final month of last season but should be ready to play in 2018. … Former Tennessee athletic director John Currie and Greg Schiano signed a memorandum of understanding to make the Ohio State defensive coordinator the new Volunteers football coach before the deal fell apart. The memorandum of understanding, obtained through a public records request, states Schiano would have received a sixyear, $27 million contract. Tennessee officials say they believe the document is not legally binding because it never was signed by the school’s chief financial officer. Currie was suspended and replaced by Phillip Fulmer five days after the Schiano deal fell through. Tennessee chancellor Beverly Davenport also did not sign the document.