By: Mike Huesmann
Blake Anderson
Southern Miss, Offensive Coordinator
Anderson spent many successful years in Hattiesburg as offensive coordinator when Larry Fedora was head coach. Now he’s back under Charles Huff. He went on to North Carolina, then Arkansas State and was a successful head coach before moving to Utah State in the aftermath of personal tragedy. Anderson was fired this past offseason for improperly handling Title IX issues. We are seeing a trend of G5 schools hiring experienced veterans in recent years.
Southern Miss is targeting former Utah State and Arkansas State head coach Blake Anderson for its offensive coordinator job, sources tell @CBSSports/@247Sports.
Anderson previously worked at Southern Miss from 2008-11.https://t.co/qOetA1iLiU pic.twitter.com/9w96VTNVF1
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 13, 2024
Tyson Summers
Colorado State, Defensive Coordinator
Few coaches love returning to old jobs quite like Summers. He has coached two stints at Georgia, Georgia Southern and now Colorado State. He returns to where he served as DC in 2015 from Western Kentucky where he was Ty Helton’s DC for three seasons. His defenses have excelled at creating turnovers, especially in the backfield. He also has spent time at Colorado, Florida, UCF and UAB. Jay Norvell made an intelligent hire here.
"I think he changes us on Day 1"
Jay Norvell is excited about what Tyson Summers can do for the CSU defense pic.twitter.com/hjWLa1AE7R
— DNVR Rams (@DNVR_Rams) December 24, 2024
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Tyler Walker
Temple, Offensive Coordinator
Walker has spent the last three years at Montana State where they were successful in almost every way. In 2024 he was OC and QB coach, the same dual roles he’ll fulfill for the Owls. New head coach KC Keeler made a good move here in getting Walker. His offense, for those who don’t know, is run-oriented but balanced and thrived under a dual-threat QB. Tommy Mellott won the Walter Payton Award under him this past season, when he threw for 2,000 yards and ran for over 1,000.
Hamilton grad Tyler Walker is headed to Temple @HHSBigBlueAD @gmcsports @BigBlueFB pic.twitter.com/gtvYJYEqKa
— 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒆𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝑶𝒉𝒊𝒐 (@TheReportOhio) January 10, 2025
Colin Hitschler
James Madison, Defensive Coordinator
James Madison made a good hire here in getting Hitschler away from Alabama where he was safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator. Prior to that he had been a long-time lieutenant to Luke Fickell at both Cincinnati and Wisconsin. He had that dual role of safeties coach and co-DC at both of those schools. Not everything went right for him and the Tide last year, but he is still a younger coach with tremendous upside. For a G5 school this is a big get.
Sources: Colin Hitschler is expected to become the new defensive coordinator at James Madison. He's a former assistant coach at Alabama, Wisconsin and Cincinnati. He worked for JMU coach Bob Chesney at Salve Regina in 2011. pic.twitter.com/9OfY504hHV
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 6, 2025
Rod Smith
Marshall, Offensive Coordinator
In the G5, sometimes having a niche and being really good by being different is a recipe for success. No one has embodied that more than Smith, and his longtime boss Rich Rodriguez. Running the ball with multiple guys and snapping the ball at break neck speed has brought success and wins for Smith at South Florida, West Virginia, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Arizona, Virginia and Jacksonville State. That is an impressive resume for any coach. Tony Gibson was smart to bring the West Virginia native back home.
When Rod Smith was introduced as Marshall’s new offensive coordinator in January, he said he wanted all of his players to share a common trait.https://t.co/O8j2pVXdQP
— The Herald-Dispatch (@heralddispatch) February 28, 2025
