SDS will look at new assistant coaches around the SEC, highlighting their accomplishments, achievements, history and tough tasks ahead of them. Next up, Arkansas’ Dan Enos.

DAN ENOS, ARKANSAS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR AND QUARTERBACKS COACH

History:

  • 2015 — Arkansas offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach
  • 2010-14 — Central Michigan head coach
  • 2007-09 — Michigan State running backs coach
  • 2006 — Michigan State quarterbacks coach
  • 2004-05 — Cincinnati quarterbacks coach
  • 2003 — North Dakota State offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach
  • 2000-2002 — Western Michigan quarterbacks coach
  • 1999 — Missouri State offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach
  • 1997-98 — Southern Illinois quarterbacks, wide receivers coach
  • 1996 — Northern Michigan offensive coordinator, running backs coach
  • 1994-95 — Lakeland College offensive coordinator, quarterbacks, wide receivers coach
  • 1991-93 — Michigan State graduate assistant

The Arkansas Razorbacks boasted the SEC’s eighth-best offense and two 1,000-yard rushers last season, but lost offensive coordinator Jim Chaney at season’s end when he accepted the same role on Pat Narduzzi’s staff at Pittsburgh.

The vacancy in Fayetteville didn’t last long, however, as head coach Bret Bielema was able to woo former Central Michigan head coach and Michigan State and Cincinnati assistant Dan Enos to take over as the Razorbacks’ new OC.

Like Chaney, Enos is known to run a pro-style offense that should not only benefit returning tailbacks Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins, but also quarterback Brandon Allen and star tight end Hunter Henry, who emerged as a pass-catching threat last season.

In five seasons as the head coach at Central Michigan, Enos’ teams were 26-36 with two bowl appearances in that span, although they were 20-18 in his last three seasons after posting back to back 3-9 campaigns in 2010-11.

His Chippewa offenses never ranked better than fifth in the MAC in total offense or better than seventh in rushing offense. However, Enos has a history of developing productive college quarterbacks, and his teams ranked in the top 3 in the MAC in passing offense twice in his five-year run as head coach.

Among the quarterbacks Enos has worked with are former Michigan State star Drew Stanton, former Cleveland Browns starter Brian Hoyer and former Central Michigan great Ryan Radcliff, who led the MAC in passing once and finished in the top 3 in the conference in passing three times.

Allen, who is entering his senior season and third year as the Hogs’ starter under center, shares a lot of similarities with all the aforementioned quarterbacks. All four stand about 6-foot-3, and all four are true pocket passers. The one glaring difference is Allen is nowhere near as much a focal point of his offense as the other two Enos signal callers, but perhaps a year of Enos’ tutelage can change that.

Enos also coached former NFL No. 1 overall draft pick Eric Fisher for three years at Central Michigan, helping to mold the left tackle into one of the dominant forces of professional football. That experience should help in his transition to Bielema’s Arkansas program, which has become known for its mammoth offensive lines and power rushing attack.

Enos will have plenty of huge, proven offensive linemen to work with this season, as the Hogs return four of five starters along the line from last season. He’ll also benefit from his previous experience as a tailbacks coach in leading those linemen as well as Williams and Collins, who remain the bell cows of the offense.

For what it’s worth, Enos also led former Michigan State tailback Javon Ringer to more than 3,000 yards in his final two collegiate seasons with the Spartans while Enos served as running backs coach.

Not only is he experienced, and not only has he developed a number of productive players at the college level, but Enos fits the Arkansas mold perfectly. He’s led pocket passers, physically dominant offensive linemen and tailbacks who are both explosive and consistent. He runs a pro-style offense and has coached in a power conference before.

By all accounts, he’s an excellent fit for an emerging threat in the daunting SEC West. He’ll need to hit the ground running this fall to capitalize on all the experienced talent Arkansas returns to Fayetteville for at least this coming season.