Troy offensive coordinator leaves for Texas Tech

Troy is in the market for a new offensive coordinator.

Neal Brown, who held that position for the past two seasons, accepted an offer Tuesday morning to become the offensive coordinator at Texas Tech under new head coach Tommy Tuberville.

Head coach Larry Blakeney and Brown both confirmed the move, but Brown sent a text message late Tuesday afternoon saying he would not be available for interviews Tuesday.

Brown, who spent four seasons at Troy, the last two as offensive coordinator, spearheaded a Trojan offense that finished third nationally in total offense (485.7 yards per game). Troy went 9-4, winning a fourth straight Sun Belt title, and Sun Belt Player of the Year Levi Brown broke several school and conference records this season.

Blakeney said he’d like to move fast to make a move, but can’t rush just yet.

“I’m just waiting for the shoes to fall,” Blakeney said. “You never know, we may lose another one (assistant coach).”

Blakeney didn’t specifically say if any other assistants had been contacted. Texas Tech would allow Brown to run the same offense he did at Troy, and Brown has ties that go back several years with running backs coach Chad Scott and offensive line coach John Schlarman.

Blakeney said he wasn’t changing Troy’s spread offense, which has been so successful for the past four seasons, and hopes the hire for offensive coordinator can be a simple one.

“We’ve got great people here and we’ve got a ton of people that want to be here,” Blakeney said. “I’m more inclined to do what I can with the least amount of moves.”

Players said they were shocked, but not totally surprised, when hearing of Brown’s move to Texas Tech.

“It was just a matter of time before a big school came and got him,” wide receiver Jerrel Jernigan said. “You’ve seen how our offense has done for the last few years. We were third in the country this year (in total offense).

“I’m a little shocked. I thought he would stay until I graduated, but you can’t blame him because he’ll at least double his salary and it will be better for him and his family. Put anybody in his shoes and they’ll go.”

Jernigan said he endorsed two coaches on the current staff – outside receivers/special teams coach Shayne Wasden and inside receivers coach Kenny Edenfield – for the job. Wasden has been on staff for the past six seasons, and Edenfield was an offensive coordinator at North Alabama, a successful Division II school, before coming to Troy before the 2008 season.

The timing of Brown’s move to Texas Tech to work for Tuberville raises questions because the last time Tuberville hired an offensive coordinator from Troy, it failed miserably. Tony Franklin, who is now calling plays for Middle Tennessee, left Troy after the 2007 season for Auburn, but was fired midway through that year.

But he had nothing but good things to say about Brown’s move to Texas Tech and thinks it’s the perfect fit.

“It’s a totally different set of circumstances,” Franklin said. “In this profession, you only get so many chances and you never know when your chance will come. I walked into a place (Auburn) where nobody really wanted to run it. I was by myself. Neal’s got (offensive line coach) Matt (Moore) over there, so he’s got somebody.

“The only thing you can compare with my situation is the fact that Tommy is the head coach. Nothing else even comes close to resembling it.”

Brown and Franklin had conversations about the opportunity at Texas Tech.

“It was simple,” Franklin said. “Tommy picked the best guy from probably a small pool of candidates. There’s no doubt Texas Tech will still do what they’ve been doing. It’s what they do, it’s their niche, it’s how they became known and it’s what they’ve recruited to. It’s a great opportunity for Neal to be successful.”

Some fans are clamoring for Franklin as a possible replacement to Brown, but don’t look for that to happen. Timing is likely the biggest issue since Franklin has been at MTSU for just one season.

“I love Troy and I love the coaches that I know there,” Franklin said. “I’ve got two girls still in school there. They’ve got some great guys on the staff that would do a wonderful job.”