SMU names former OC Rhett Lashlee as coach replacing Sonny Dykes
SMU Mustangs offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee looks on from the sideline during the college football game between the SMU Mustangs and TCU Horned Frogs on September 21, 2019 at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, TX. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky/I
DALLAS - SMU hired Rhett Lashlee as its new head coach Monday, bringing back its former offensive coordinator to replace Sonny Dykes.
Lashlee had been Miami's offensive coordinator for two seasons after serving as OC for the Mustangs during Dykes' first two seasons in 2018 and 2019.
Dykes spent the past four seasons at SMU and will be introduced as TCU's new coach Tuesday, though there have been no formal announcements of him as Gary Patterson's replacement from either school.
The 38-year-old Lashlee has been a college offensive coordinator for 11 seasons, at six different schools. He was at Samford in 2011 before serving on Gus Malzahn's staffs at Arkansas State (2012) and Auburn (2013-16). Lashlee spent 2017 at UConn before going to SMU.
"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."
The bowl-bound Mustangs (8-4) started this season 7-0 before losing four of their past five games. SMU averaged nearly 42 points and 489 total yards a game in 2019 with Lashlee as OC before he went to Miami.
Miami (7-5) averaged 450 yards and 35 points per game during the regular season, including 530 yards in a 47-10 win at Duke in the regular-season finale Saturday.
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