Texas Football: 3 OC’s who could’ve been considered over Mike Yurcich

3. Rhett Lashlee

Current Position: SMU offensive coordinator

Possibly the most likely candidate for Texas football to have 20/20 hindsight on for passing up to hire Yurcich to be the next offensive coordinator is an SMU Mustangs assistant coach, Rhett Lashlee. The SMU offensive coordinator saw a true breakthrough this season, at least until facing head coach Lane Kiffin and the Florida Atlantic Owls in the Boca Raton Bowl.

SMU was a top Group of Five program throughout the regular season, and the offensive breakthrough under Lashlee’s direction is a big x-factor in that progression. The Mustangs offense ranked at No. 7 in the FBS in points per game (41.7) and racked up nearly 500 yards per game to go along with 6.1 yards per play.

A former quarterback of the Arkansas Razorbacks and assistant coach throughout different destinations in the Power Five, Lashlee had a lot of success come very fast to him. He was a graduate assistant with the Razorbacks and Auburn Tigers. He was then an offensive coordinator at a number of different spots since 2011, including Auburn and the Arkansas State Red Wolves.

What the Longhorns would be getting in Lashlee compared to another offensive coordinator like Yurcich is the potential to have a real rising star hang around the Forty Acres for a long time. Yurcich already jumped from Oklahoma State to Ohio State, and maybe onto Texas, in the span of less than three years.

The 36-year-old Lashlee could find a long-term home in Austin, and really learn to develop his schemes under the direction of Herman.