SMU officially names Rhett Lashlee next head coach
SMU has officially named Rhett Lashlee as its next head coach. The news has been expected since the news leaked last week that Sonny Dykes will be Gary Patterson’s replacement at TCU.
The current offensive coordinator at Miami, Lashlee was the offensive coordinator at SMU for two seasons. He led the Mustangs to 41.8 points per game in 2019, good enough for No. 7 in the country.
“As with previous transitions, our process was thorough and competitive. Ultimately, though, our conversations kept leading us back to one man – Rhett Lashlee,” SMU head coach Rick Hart said in the school’s release. “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.”
Miami’s offense has struggled this year due to a myriad of injuries, but the Hurricanes did have a preseason Heisman favorite in D’Eriq King. Lashlee has been named the new SMU head coach before TCU has officially announced the Dykes hire.
SMU will be Lashlee’s first head coaching job, at any level, during his career. He’s made previous stops as an offensive coordinator at Auburn, Arkansas State, Samford, and UConn as well.
Lashlee and SMU will have the opportunity to get their revenge on Dykes and TCU, with the two rivals set to face off on Sept. 24, 2022, in Dallas. A rivalry that was already heated will take to another level with these coaching changes.
TCU hires SMU head coach Sonny Dykes as Gary Patterson’s successor
The TCU Horned Frogs are hiring SMU head coach Sonny Dykes to replace long-time head coach Gary Patterson. The Horned Frogs have yet to make the news official.
Less than 30 days removed from the split with Patterson, Horned Frogs athletics director Jeremiah Donati went just 35 miles down the road to Dallas to pick up his new head coach.
The Mustangs achieved rankings in the AP top 25 in each of his last three seasons since taking over for former Arkansas head coach Chad Morris. They ascended as high as No. 15 in 2019 before finishing the season unranked with a loss in the Boca Raton Bowl.
SMU’s offense ranks in the top-10 in points per game, thanks to junior quarterback Tanner Mordecai. The offense has finished in the top 15 in scoring in each of the last three years under Dykes.
To try to hold on to Sonny Dykes, earlier this month, the Mustangs reportedly offered the fourth-year head coach a $4 million salary with a five-year extension. Also allegedly on the table: a larger pool of money for assistant coaches and plans to build a new football-only facility.