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Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee takes same position at UConn
Connecticut was able to get an offensive coordinator from a Power Five school.
The school announced Wednesday evening that Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee would be the Huskies’ new offensive coordinator.
“I am thrilled to have Rhett join our staff as the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach,” UConn coach Randy Edsall said in a statement. “He is one of the brightest offensive minds in college football and I know that his experience around some of the highest-powered offenses and top players in the country is going to be an incredible benefit to our program.”
Lashlee took over as Auburn’s primary playcaller from coach Gus Malzahn in September after the Tigers had a rough offensive start to the season. Auburn’s offense played well once Lashlee started calling plays, though things got derailed in November when quarterback Sean White was injured and played poorly vs. Georgia.
The Tigers threw for just 37 yards in the 13-7 loss to the Bulldogs that clinched the SEC West for Alabama. Two weeks later against the Tide, Auburn had 182 total yards and averaged 2.5 yards a carry against Alabama’s rushing defense.
White suffered a broken arm early in the Tigers’ Sugar Bowl loss to Oklahoma and the offense wasn’t very productive without him. Auburn averaged 4.6 yards a play in the 35-19 loss.
Lashlee told Auburn’s website that leaving the school was one of the hardest decisions he’s made.
“It’s probably one of the hardest decisions I’ve made, definitely in my professional career,” Lashlee said. “Auburn’s very dear to us. I’ve spent a total of six years here, two different times. All four of our kids were born here. We just love everything about Auburn. The Auburn family is always going to be very dear to us and a part of us.
Lashlee will be attempting to boost a UConn offense that was, among other things, quite lackluster under former coach Bob Diaco.
UConn finished the 2016 season No. 122 in total offense and averaged 4.8 yards a play for the entire season. The Huskies scored just 19 offensive touchdowns all season — tied for fewest in the country with Rutgers — and averaged 14.8 points per game, the worst mark in the country.
Diaco was fired effective at the beginning of 2017 and replaced by Edsall, who coached 11 seasons at the school from 2000-2010. UConn won eight or nine games in five of Edsall’s seasons with the team.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
