Rhett Lashlee explains his decision to leave Auburn
The SEC football world was somewhat stunned Wednesday night when it was announced that Auburn OC Rhett Lashlee was leaving for UConn for the same position.
Of course, everyone is wondering why he would leave Auburn for a school like UConn. It’s probably much simpler than what everyone believes. Perhaps he wants to take everything he’s learned from Gus Malzahn, get out from underneath his shadow a bit and get a clearer path to becoming a head coach once he’s more proven as a coordinator.
RELATED: What Gus Malzahn said about Lashlee leaving Auburn for UConn
Lashlee explained his decision to leave for UConn on Auburn’s official website, AuburnTigers.com.
“It’s probably one of the hardest decisions I’ve made, definitely in my professional career,” Lashlee said. “Auburn’s very dear to us. I’ve spent a total of six years here, two different times. All four of our kids were born here. We just love everything about Auburn. The Auburn family is always going to be very dear to us and a part of us.
“The opportunity to work for Randy Edsall, who has had success at a high level and success at UConn, and just have the opportunity to run the offense, and that’s something he’s given me to do. I’m grateful for that.
“I’m obviously very close with Coach Malzahn. Our relationship will always be good. He’s been very supportive. I’m very appreciative to him for the opportunity he gave me at Auburn.”
The “opportunity to run the offense” is the biggest key in Lashlee’s statement. Lashlee and Malzahn are tight, and ultimately, he wants to become a head coach. Lashlee (probably) thinks this is the best path to ultimately achieve that dream.
Another aspect that comes to mind is Malzahn is all Lashlee knows as a coach. To add to his resume, perhaps Lashlee wants to broaden his experience under a new head coach, which will further add to his development as a coach.
The Tigers’ offense has an opportunity to very good in 2017, even without Lashlee calling the plays, and whoever Gus Malzahn entrusts to run his offense, one has to think he will be a very good coach.
More to this story that what has been written. No coach with an ambition at all would take a lateral move from a major college football power like Auburn to go take the same position at UConn unless he was really looking for a reason to leave.
I don’t think it’s some big conspiracy. Rhett has been unsuccessfully trying to land a HC job for a couple of years. Gus wouldn’t fire Rhett, but it became apparent that he had to infuse something into the offense and he wouldn’t get that unless he made a change. Rhett also needed out. He can’t prove himself until he leave’s Gus.
Weagle99 Sub Kiffin for Rhett and Nick for Gus and see how that all sounds.
Then add in ruining programs and failing as a head coach multiple times with a side immaturity and you’ve got yourself LK. Don’t try to compare apples and oranges.
Yes, comparing Lashley to Kiffin is an insult to Lane, a guy who has multiple national championship rings and has been a head coach for two traditional college football powers and an NFL team. Lane’s Alabama teams set all sorts of offensive records at the school, despite breaking in a new QB each of his 3 seasons. Lashley’s resume consists of a partial season of calling plays with success against pitiful defenses and a distinct lack of success against the likes of Georgia, Alabama and Oklahoma.
Right on the last part; he was really looking for a reason to leave: he wants to be a HC someday and felt that path would be through getting an OC position at another school first. Don’t see anything wrong it.
He was probably told to start looking for another job to make room for Art Briles. Briles and Malzahn are good buddies.
Malzahn and Briles will be hell on wheels in the SEC West.
Maybe, but will Auburn take the risk of hiring Briles so soon after the scandal at Baylor?
Keep in mind Jay Jacobs refused to even give Bobby Petrino an interview in 2012.
Briles coming in is believe but also a little weird I think… Baylor QB comes and brings his own OC with him, players usually follow coaches… lol If this materializes AU better start building depth on D, sure gonna need it to play as many snaps as they’re gonna have to play if Briles is successful.
*believable
I don’t see anything sinister here. Lashlee wants to be a HC and to do that, he thinks he needs to be in charge of his own offense. Stidham sure seems like an upgrade at QB, so Auburn should be fine.
He knows the Gus bus is drivin buy I dead man and he is saving us own but and speaking of butt. I’d art the rape leader is headed to the plains the war eagles babes better watch out I see crime on the rise