The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Auburn OC leaves to join Connecticut
Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee has left the Tigers to join Randy Edsall’s staff at Connecticut.
The 33-year-old Lashlee agreed to a three-year contract with a base salary of $350,000 to be offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, UConn said Wednesday.
He was making $600,000 a year at Auburn, where he spent the past four seasons and has twice been a finalist for the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach.
Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said the UConn job gives Lashlee a “great opportunity” to implement and run his own offense.
“I’ve known Rhett for two decades and he’s a man of great character and integrity and this is another step toward his goal to become a head coach,” Malzahn said in a statement.
UConn Athletic Director David Benedict came from Auburn last year.
Clemson: Dabo Swinney won his second straight Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year award Wednesday night, two days after leading the Tigers to their first national championship in 35 years.
Swinney is only the second coach to win the award twice, joining Chris Petersen — the winner in 2006 and 2009 at Boise State — and the first to win it in back-toback seasons.
Also, quarterback Deshaun Watson has been named the first repeat winner of the Manning Award, which is presented by the Sugar Bowl to the nation’s top college quarterback after the postseason.
Nebraska: Coach Mike Riley fired defensive coordinator Mark Banker on Wednesday after the unit underperformed in some of the Cornhuskers’ most important games.
Banker coached with Riley for 20 years, including 14 years at Oregon State and the past two at Nebraska.
Kansas: Coach David Beaty has plucked veteran coach Doug Meacham from Big 12 rival TCU to serve as his offensive coordinator and work with the Jayhawks’ wide receivers.
Meacham was the co-offensive coordinator for the Horned Frogs.
Florida State: Wide receiver Travis Rudolph, who led the Seminoles in receiving the past two seasons, will forgo his final season of eligibility to enter the NFL draft.