TCU hires Arkansas’ Kendal Brides as its offensive coordinator
TCU has a new offensive coordinator.
The Horned Frogs announced Thursday Kendal Briles, Arkansas’ offensive coordinator, would be moving to Fort Worth. After Riley’s departure to become Clemson’s offensive coordinator, Briles will replace Riley.
For the last three seasons, Arkansas’ OC has been Briles under Sam Pittman. Arkansas averaged 6.8 yards per play in 2022, when the school was 7-6 and beat Kansas at the Liberty Bowl.
Briles was the Arkansas offensive coordinator in 2019. He also worked at Houston the previous season. The 40-year-old son of embattled ex-Baylor coach Art Briles was on his father’s staff from 2008-16 and worked his way up from inside receivers coach to offensive coordinator and quarterback coach in his final two seasons with the Bears.
Kendal Briles stayed as Baylor’s offensive coordinator for the duration of the 2016 season after his father was fired before the season following an investigation into the handling of sexual assault accusations against members of the football team.
Arkansas dropped from 9-4 in 2021 to 7-6 in 2022 largely because of the team’s defense. The offense averaged 6.4 yards per play, and the Razorbacks scored over 30 points per season. A defense that allowed 5.4 yards per pass in 2021 was able to give up 6.5 yards per game in 2022.
Briles, who was an offensive coordinator at five schools, including Florida Atlantic from 2017 to 2017, has shown a willingness to learn and adapt to his strengths using a creative run-game as the central point. Arkansas rushed the ball 46 times per week for more than five yards.
A strong run game was the foundation for TCU’s push to the national title game in January. The Horned Frogs averaged more than five yards per carry as a team. RB Kendre Miller rushed for almost 1,400 yards and 17 touchdowns before he was forced to withdraw from the national title game due to a knee injury. Max Duggan (QB) and Emari Delmercado (backup RB) combined to rush for over 1,000 yards. The Horned Frogs also scored 37 rushing touchdowns.
TCU’s offense in 2023 will be very different with Miller, Duggan, and Quentin Johnston heading to the NFL. Chandler Morris was the QB in the 2022 season before an injury. He will likely be the starter in 2023. Demercado is back, and the team added transfer WRs John Paul Richardson of Oklahoma State, JoJo Elliott (Alabama), T Jack Bech (LSU), and RB Trey Sanders to strengthen the offense.