One of Rob Ash’s former offensive coordinators will interview for the spot left vacant by Ash’s firing.
Brian Wright, Montana State’s offensive coordinator for two years including Big Sky Conference-winning teams in 2010 and 2011, will interview for MSU’s head coaching position on Thursday, three unattached sources confirmed on Wednesday. The Florida Atlantic offensive coordinator and associate head coach is the sixth confirmed candidate to interview with Montana State athletic director Peter Fields and his selection committee.
[restrict paid=”true”]Current Montana State offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey, Washington defensive line coach Jeff Choate, Southern Cal special teams coordinator and running backs coach Johnny Nansen, Missouri interim head coach Andy Hill and Arizona State co-defensive coordinator Craig Ball have each been interviewed, per multiple sources.
Wright left Bozeman for Boca Raton, Florida in January of 2012. He was tasked with transitioning FAU from the pro-style system of Howard Schnellenberger that defined the Owls’ offense since their first season in 2001 to an up-tempo spread attack like the ones Wright had so much success with at MSU.
When Carl Pelini was fired, Wright assumed interim head coach duties. During the last four games of 2013, FAU averaged 430 yards per game, 240 yards rushing per outing and rolled up four straight victories. The winning streak helped FAU become bowl eligible for the first time since 2008, the third overall in school history.
In February of 2013, FAU hired Arkansas defensive line coach Charlie Partridge as its head coach. He retained Wright as the offensive coordinator and the associate head coach. Partridge began his career as a graduate assistant in 1996 and 1997 on Ash’s staff at Drake. FAU is 3-9 in each of Partridge’s first two seasons.
Wright’s salary is $156,600.
Under Wright’s direction and with future Hall of Fame quarterback DeNarius McGhee at the helm, the Bobcat offense led the Big Sky in scoring in each of the championship seasons. McGhee earned Big Sky Offensive MVP honors as a redshirt freshman in 2010. Behind the bruising duo of Cody Kirk and Tray Robinson, the Bobcats rushed for more than 212 yards per game and advanced to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs in 2011.
In 2010, with McGhee at the helm, MSU led the Big Sky in scoring offense (33 points per game) and total offense (451.8 yards of total offense per game). McGhee threw for 3,163 yards ands 23 touchdowns in one of the most impressive debut seasons in league history. Gilbert again led the balanced receiving attack with 48 catches. Orenzo Davis rushed for 1,126 yards and 10 touchdowns. Palmer added 477 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore.
In 2011, MSU averaged 31.9 points and 430.2 yards per game. Kirk rushed for 1,351 yards and 14 touchdowns. Robinson added 641 rushing yards, 176 receiving yards and seven total touchdowns in earning Big Sky Newcomer of the Year honors after transferring from Nebraska. McGhee, Robinson’s high school teammate in Euless, Texas, threw for 2,799 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushed for 340 yards and five touchdowns.
McGhee has confirmed he has interest in returning to coach at Montana State if Wright earns the head position. McGhee spent 2014 as a graduate assistant under Wright at FAU. He is working as a graduate assistant on Dave Doeren at North Carolina State. Doern played linebacker (1990-1993) and coached linebackers at Drake under Ash in 1995 and 1996 and was Ash’s defensive coordinator in 1997.
During his Montana State career, McGhee became one of just 14 collegiate players to ever throw for 10,000 and rush for 1,000 yards. He threw for 11,203 yards and 79 touchdowns, all school records. He guided MSU to three straight Big Sky titles and won two Big Sky MVP awards.
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