Yahoo Sports SMU announces Rhett Lashlee as its new coach before Sonny Dykes officially is announced at TCU
SMU has its next head coach and its current head coach hasn't officially gone anywhere yet.
The Mustangs said Monday that Miami offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee would be the team's next head coach. Lashlee replaces Sonny Dykes, who had long been rumored to be TCU's new head coach. Hours after Lashlee was announced, TCU said that Dykes would be its new head coach.
"As with previous transitions, our process was thorough and competitive. Ultimately, though, our conversations kept leading us back to one man — Rhett Lashlee," SMU athletic director Rick Hart said. "Rhett's ability to connect with recruits, his passion and love for his players and his alignment with our vision and values are among the many reasons he has been selected to lead SMU Football. We will provide Rhett with the support and resources he needs to bring a championship to the Hilltop, and are thrilled to welcome Rhett back to SMU."
Lashlee has been at Miami for the past two seasons. He came to the Hurricanes from SMU after serving as SMU's offensive coordinator. He was in charge of SMU's offense in 2019 when the Mustangs went 10-3 in Dykes' second season with the team.
Dykes has been at SMU for four seasons and compiled a record of 30-17 with the team. SMU started the 2021 season at 7-0 but went 1-4 over the final five games of the season to finish 8-4. SMU lost its final two games of the season in a blowout to Cincinnati and a home loss to Tulsa on Saturday.
"I am humbled and excited to be returning to SMU to lead Dallas' College Football Team," said Lashlee. "I want to thank President [Gerald] Turner, Rick Hart and the members of the search committee for this opportunity. My family and I look forward to engaging the community and continuing to strengthen the program's ties to the city. On the field, we want to build on the foundation of success we've established and compete for - and win - championships."
Patterson and TCU parted ways during the middle of the 2021 season and Dykes immediately emerged as the top candidate. He served as an analyst at TCU before he became SMU's coach for the bowl game after the 2017 season.
Before coaching at SMU, Lashlee was an offensive coordinator at UConn and Auburn.
