Major Applewhite’s decision to hire Kendal Briles as UH’s new offensive coordinator is a fantastic decision. Kendal was a 2015 finalist for the Broyles Award, given to the nation’s top assistant coach.
In 3 years as a play-caller at Baylor and then FAU, his teams averaged 41 ppg. If given autonomy, Kendal Briles will transform UH from the boring, plodding offense we saw in 2017 into a high-scoring machine. I believe Kendal will produce at the same level as Dana Holgorsen and Kliff Kingsbury did here – he is nothing short of an offensive genius.
There are concerns about the hire, of course. I can’t blame Kendal for defending his dad while at Baylor. But whether he was involved in the cover-up of rape is another deal entirely. I presume the vetting UH did on this hire went as far as to Ian McCaw, the former Baylor AD, as well as Mack Rhoades, the former UH AD who is currently in the same job at Baylor. If Chris Pezman and Dr. Khator are convinced of Kendal’s innocence then let’s saddle up and go!
Briles’ contract does have unusual language meant to protect UH in case anything implicating Kendal at Baylor is discovered. I’m happy we included the language and that Kendal willingly agreed to it.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”#C8102E” class=”” size=””]If given autonomy, Kendal Briles will transform UH from the boring, plodding offense we saw in 2017 into a high-scoring machine.[/perfectpullquote]
In his one season at FAU, Kendal led an offense that increased scoring by 14 ppg over 2016. He also increased yardage by 100 yards a game. UH’s 2017 offensive numbers are not too far off from where FAU was before Kiffin arrived. Here’s hoping he can right the ship at UH like he did at FAU.