Ohio football coach Brian Knorr announced the hiring of Phil Earley as the Bobcats' new offensive coordinator yesterday. Earley, the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for Nevada the past four seasons, joins the Ohio coaching staff to assume the position that was left open after the firing of Greg Gregory in December.
Phil brings in some great experience and a style of offense that we want to bring to our program
Knorr said. We want to get away from the triple offense and become more balanced with our running and passing games. With the talent we have I think he is going to be able to make our offense more effective.
The Ohio offense moved a step in that direction this season, averaging 183 rushing yards per game and 154 yards passing, but Knorr looks for more of a change in 2004.
Newfound talent at the wide receiver position this year demonstrated a need for more focus on the aerial attack. Scott Mayle and Anthony Hackett both averaged more than 40 yards receiving per game.
I'm pretty excited about (the new offense) Mayle said. Finally the receivers get to show what we can do on the field and not just leave the offense to the runningbacks all the time. The option just wasn't really working.
Earley led this type of balanced offense at Nevada. The Wolfpack offense ranked ninth in the nation in 2001, averaging more than 200 yards running and passing, and 12th in 2002. This past season was less successful, with an average 215 yards passing and 171 yards on the ground that left Nevada in the middle of the Western Athletic Conference in total offense.
I think he is going to be able to adapt well here
based on the wide range of experience he brings
Knorr said. He did a great job at Nevada in balancing their offense
and I think he can do the same for us.
Knorr added that coaching experience at the Division-I level was a key thing he was looking for in the eight to 12 people that interviewed for the position.
Prior to his experience at Nevada, Earley spent three seasons as offensive coordinator at Idaho - which won the 1998 Humanitarian Bowl - following positions at Cal Poly, Washington State, Western Washington and Weber State. His collegiate coaching career began in 1986-1987 at Western Washington. Earley was a three-year letterman at Pacific Lutheran in Tacoma, Wash., where he received his bachelor's degree in education.
Earley's salary has not been finalized yet, Knorr said.
The defensive line coach position, vacated by Eric Washington who took the same position at Northwestern, will be determined and announced after the signing period.
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