Big name heads to FAU

Owls expected to hire Atlanta Falcons’ Charlie Weis Jr. as offensive coordinator.

BOCA RATON — For a second straight time, the Florida Atlantic football program has chosen an offensive coordinator with a big last name.

The Owls are expected to hire Atlanta Falcons offensive assistant Charlie Weis Jr. as the new offensive coordinator. He is the son of former Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis.

When reached by phone Wednesday morning, Charlie Weis Jr. said he could not comment much further than, “I’m still in the process of getting all moved down. I’m excited.”

Weis replaces Kendal Briles, who is the son of former Baylor coach Art Briles. Earlier this month, the younger Briles took the same position at Houston.

At 24, Weis becomes the youngest offensive coordinator in college football. This marks his second stint with the Owls. He was hired as tight ends coach shortly after Lane Kiffin’s arrival in December of 2016 but left for the Falcons two months later.

Prior to FAU, Weis worked alongside Kiffin two seasons at Alabama as an offensive analyst and also worked at Kansas, Florida and with the New England Patriots.

Weis will have big footsteps to

follow. Under Briles, the Owls led Conference USA in scoring with 40.6 points a game. They also averaged a league-high 285.3 rushing yards. The offense was the main reason FAU completed the best season in school history. It finished 11-3, won the Conference USA championship for the first time and defeated Akron 50-3 in the Boca Raton Bowl.

Weis will have a lot to work with. The Owls return running back Devin “Motor” Singletary, who rushed for 1,920 yards and led the nation with 32 touchdowns. Quarterback Jason Driskel and the team’s leading receiver, Willie Wright, are also back.

The Weis hire leaves the Owls with only one vacant position — offense line coach — remaining. They are still searching for a replacement for Garin Justice, who left for Arizona last month.