UH football: Play-calling role fits Smith

The thing about Nick Rolovich is he does not make rash decisions. And, after months of pondering, Rolovich promoted running backs coach/run-game coordinator Brian Smith to offensive coordinator and associate head coach.

The move is significant. It means Smith will call the offensive plays and that Rolovich will not. It also means that if anything happens to Rolovich, Smith is in charge of the program.

Rolovich and Smith were roommates and UH teammates in the early 2000s, student managers under June Jones, and assistant coaches during Greg McMackin’s four-year tenure as head coach.

“He’s one of my best friends in the world, but that’s not why I did it,” Rolovich said of choosing Smith as associate head coach. “I looked at everybody on the staff (for the position). Everybody’s here for a reason. I’m happy everyone is here. … If I got struck by lightning, or whatever, who is the guy who will run the football team most like myself or in the way that I would like it run? When I came to the decision, it was Brian.”

Here’s a look at the move:

> The opening: After Zak Hill resigned after 48 days as OC/quarterbacks coach, Rolovich considered several coaching models, including serving as the play-caller himself. But in the past month, Rolovich began to feel he could not focus fully on running an offense and overseeing the entire football operations. “It would be unfair to do a half-assed job for these kids,” said Rolovich, noting the offensive players’ offseason dedication needed to be rewarded with a full-time OC. “Because of the way they were working, they deserved someone who was solely responsible for the offense.”

> The candidates: With Chris Naeole wanting to focus on coaching the offensive line, Rolovich evaluated Smith, receivers coach Kefense Hynson, and quarterbacks coach/pass-game coordinator Craig Stutzmann for the job as lead play-caller. “I thought Brian was the choice that could tie the (offense’s) room together, and have a strong presence, and make decisions,” Rolovich said.

> Qualifications: As a UH center, Smith made the blocking calls and was the calm Yin to line coach Mike Cavanaugh’s boisterous Yang. Smith’s high football IQ and quiet passion for the sport drew praise from June Jones, Mike Riley, Cavanaugh, and Mouse Davis. Soon after being hired as UH head coach, Greg McMackin targeted three young coaches for his staff: Smith, Rolovich and Dave Aranda. When Norm Chow was looking for an offensive assistant two years ago, he strongly considered Smith — whom he had never coached with but was highly recommended — before choosing Wayne Moses. Rolovich did not hesitate when he was picked as Chow’s successor. Rolovich’s first hire was Smith.

> Always learning: In 2009, Smith was moved from co-line coach to running backs coach. “With any position you take in football, it’s going to go back to how well you can teach (and) how well you can relate to players,” Smith said. “I don’t think you’ve had to play a position in order to coach it.” In 2010, under Smith’s coaching, Alex Green set a UH single-game record with 327 rushing yards. That year, Green rushed for 1,199 yards, averaging 8.2 yards per carry.

> How it will work: During games, Smith and Hynson will be in the coaches’ booth, while Rolovich, Stutzmann and Naeole will be on the field. Rolovich said Smith and Hynson have “great minds and will work well together up there.” Stutzmann will serve as analyst/psychologist for the quarterbacks. The Warriors did not have an on-the-sidleline QB coach the past couple years. Smith said his offense will involved elements of the read-option Rolovich used as Nevada’s OC the past four years, four-wide concepts the Warriors ran for 13 years under Jones and McMackin, and run/pass option that is widespread in college football these days.