Brian Kelly names Cortez Hankton, Joe Sloan as co-offensive coordinators for ReliaQuest Bowl
LSU head coach Brian Kelly has announced the replacements for the bowl game for former offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, who has left to be the OC at Notre Dame.
Cortez Hankton and Joe Sloan will serve as co-coordinators in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Wisconsin, it was announced on Friday.
Hankton is the passing gaagme coordinator/wide receivers coach for LSU, while Sloan is the quarterbacks coach for the Tigers.
“I’m confident in Cortez and Joe’s ability to run the offense,” Brian Kelly said in a statement. “They will collaborate in the passing game and work with Brad (Davis) and Frank (Wilson) in the running game. They will execute a great game plan for us. They are a cohesive group of coaches and I’m excited about this opportunity for them. I know they will do a good job.”
Both coaches are in their second season at LSU.
Cortez Hankton joined the LSU coaching staff after previously working at Georgia. He spent four seasons with the Bulldogs, including the final three as the passing game coordinator.
Joe Sloan came to LSU from Louisiana Tech after spending the previous nine seasons there. The Bulldogs appeared in seven bowl games during that time and won at least nine games on four different occassions.
More on Mike Denbrock leaving LSU for Notre Dame
Marcus Freeman is turning to a familiar face to lead the Notre Dame offense. LSU OC Mike Denbrock has been hired as the offensive coordinator for the Fighting Irish, On3’s Pete Nakos has confirmed.
Denbrock returns to Notre Dame after spending the past two seasons as the Tigers OC. LSU led the nation in total offense and scoring offense this season, thanks in large part to a record-setting year from Heisman winner Jayden Daniels.
The Tigers have averaged 547.8 yards per game and 46.4 points per game thus far in 2023.
Denbrock is replacing Gerad Parker, who left for the head coaching job at Troy earlier this month.
Mike Denbrock is back at Notre Dame for the third time. He was previously an assistant with the Fighting Irish from 2002-04 and from 2010-16.
Marcus Freeman is very familiar with Denbrock as the two previously coached together at Cincinnati. Freeman was on staff at Cincinnati from 2017-20, serving as the defensive coordinator for the Bearcats. Denbrock was the offensive coordinator at Cincinnati from 2017-21. Cincinnati reached the Peach Bowl in 2020 and advanced to the College Football Playoff in 2021.
Denbrock helped develop an impressive quarterback during his time with the Bearcats in Desmond Ridder, who was drafted in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft.
Mike Denbrock was named a finalist for the Broyles Award this season, which is given to the best assistant coach in college football.