Barry Odom’s decision to hire Derek Dooley as Missouri’s new offensive coordinator surprised some SEC fans. Dooley’s predecesor, Josh Heupel, had been a co-coordinator for four seasons at Oklahoma (2011-14) and the sole offensive coordinator at Utah State (2015) before coming to the Tigers. Dooley, on the other hand, is a first-time coordinator.

Dooley made a name for himself as an up-and-coming head coach at Louisiana Tech, which led to him getting the job at Tennessee in 2010 (a three-year tenure which ended in his firing). Though 2018 will be Dooley’s first season as an offensive coordinator, he has built up a lengthy resume of coaching experience, working as a Nick Saban assistant (with LSU and the Miami Dolphins), a head coach (at La. Tech and UT) and an NFL assistant (with the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys). It’s that variety of experience that led Odom to hire Dooley.

“I looked at his experience in the many roles he’s had and respected his approach on the lessons he’s learned,” Odom said during “The Paul Finebaum Show” Wednesday.

In his first year as a play-caller, Dooley has the luxury of being able to lean on a veteran quarterback who has already thrown for 8,695 yards and 71 touchdowns, Drew Lock.