Earlier in the week, we spotlighted the top coaching news from across the college football landscape. Jim Harbaugh received an extension in Ann Arbor. Shane Beamer continued filling out his staff in his new role at Auburn, and Notre Dame got a new defensive coordinator in Marcus Freeman, who comes over from Cincinnati.
The season may be over after Alabama defeated Ohio State in Monday’s CFP National Championship, but the news continues. Let’s look at some of the top stories around the country about familiar faces in new places.
Rich Rodriguez to UL-M
The University of Louisiana-Monroe announced Tuesday that Rich Rodriguez will be the new offensive coordinator and associate head coach. The former West Virginia, Michigan, and Arizona head coach, Rodriguez was most recently the offensive coordinator at Ole Miss in 2019.
The 57-year old compiled a 118-83 record in 16 seasons as a head coach. “Rich Rod” went 60-26 in seven seasons at West Virginia before leaving to coach Michigan. He was 15-22 in three seasons with the Wolverines and later went 43-35 in six seasons at Arizona before being dismissed.
Rodriguez’s son Rhett also joined the program and will be eligible immediately as a graduate transfer.
Former Auburn DC Heads to Tennessee
Tennessee head football coach Jeremy Pruitt announced Tuesday that veteran SEC coach Kevin Steele has joined the program as a defensive assistant coach. Steele, a 1981 UT grad and former Vols assistant, returns to Rocky Top after serving as the defensive coordinator at Auburn the past five seasons.
Pruitt's teams ranked in the top 20 around the country in scoring defense in four out of those five seasons while producing multiple NFL draft picks
The 62-year old has 38 years of coaching experience, including 13 years in the SEC and 10 years as a defensive coordinator. Pruitt and Steele reunite after serving on Alabama’s staff together from 2007-08.
Steele In, Chandler Out at Tennessee
Tennessee running back Ty Chandler has transferred to North Carolina, a potential impact addition with the Tar Heels seeking to reload their backfield after a pair of NFL departures in Michael Carter and Javonte Williams.
Chandler played in 46 games and made 25 starting appearances across the last four seasons at Tennessee, where his 3,291 career all-purpose yards rank fifth in school history. He led the Volunteers with 630 rushing yards in 2018 and 655 rushing yards in 2019 before Eric Gray surpassed him on the depth chart this past season.
Rambo Transfers to Miami
Wide receiver Charleston Rambo has decided to transfer from Oklahoma to the Miami Hurricanes. Rambo, who announced last week his intentions to leave Oklahoma, caught 76 passes for 1,180 yards and nine touchdowns in his three seasons of playing for the Sooners.
In 2019, he hauled in 43 passes for 743 yards and five touchdowns and was the team’s second-leading receiver behind CeeDee Lamb. Miami is one of the schools that recruited Rambo out of Cedar Hill, Texas, and he’ll have Heisman hopeful D’Eriq King throwing to him in 2021.
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