{"id":151293,"date":"2022-12-08T01:10:14","date_gmt":"2022-12-08T01:10:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wisconsin-to-hire-phil-longo-as-offensive-coordinator-reports-say\/"},"modified":"2022-12-08T01:10:14","modified_gmt":"2022-12-08T01:10:14","slug":"wisconsin-to-hire-phil-longo-as-offensive-coordinator-reports-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wisconsin-to-hire-phil-longo-as-offensive-coordinator-reports-say\/","title":{"rendered":"Wisconsin to hire Phil Longo as offensive coordinator, reports say"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

MADISON, Wis. \u2014 <\/strong>New University of Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell<\/b> has found his offensive coordinator, according to multiple reports Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Bruce Feldman of The Athletic and Adam Rittenberg of ESPN reported that Phil Longo<\/b>who spent the last four seasons as North Carolina’s offensive coordinator, will join Fickell at Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

Longo, 54, has a lengthy resume with stops as an offensive coordinator around the country, including at William Paterson, La Salle, Minnesota-Duluth, Southern Illinois, Slippery Rock, Sam Houston State and Ole Miss. He coached quarterbacks at Ole Miss and North Carolina, among other programs.<\/p>\n

Longo arrived at North Carolina in 2019 and implemented and air-raid passing attack and power rushing attack. UNC’s offense that season averaged 474 yards per game (12th nationally) and 33.1 points per game (30th nationally). <\/span><\/p>\n

Sam Howell<\/b> became one of the best quarterbacks in the nation under Longo’s direction from 2019-21. Howell won ACC Rookie of the Year in 2019 when he set UNC freshman records in completions (259), attempts (422), passing yards (3,641) and passing touchdowns (38). He completed 63.8% of his passes for 10,283 yards with 92 touchdowns and 23 interceptions over three seasons as the starter. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Longo’s success in developing prolific quarterbacks at North Carolina continued this season when Drake Maye<\/b> completed 67.2% of his passes for 4,115 yards with 35 touchdowns and seven picks. He won ACC Player of the Year as the Tar Heels went 9-3 during the regular season to reach the conference championship game. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Tar Heels finished fifth nationally in total offense in 2020, 10th in 2021 and 15th in 2022. The 2020 unit, by far Longo’s best, averaged 537.2 yards per game and 41.7 points per game to set program records in both categories. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Longo’s offenses have also featured dynamic running backs, especially in 2020 when Michael Carter<\/b> and Javonte Williams<\/b> each amassed 1,000 yards. Carter led the team with 1,245 yards and had nine scores, while Williams piled up 1,140 yards and 19 scores. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Fickell came to UW after six seasons as head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats, and multiple assistants from his time there have followed him to Wisconsin. That group includes Mike Tressel<\/b><\/b> <\/span>(defensive coordinator\/linebackers coach), <\/span><\/span>Colin Hitschler<\/strong> <\/span>(co-defensive coordinator\/safeties coach) and <\/span><\/span>Mike Brown<\/b> <\/span>(passing-game coordinator\/wide receivers coach).<\/span><\/p>\n

Tressel <\/span>became UC’s defensive coordinator in 2021, and his unit that year <\/span>ranked fifth nationally in scoring defense and No. 10 in total defense. <\/span>Cincinnati finished 24th in total defense this season despite losing six players from last year’s group to the NFL, including top cornerback <\/span>Ahmed Gardner<\/b><\/b>who the New York Jets selected with the fourth overall pick.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The 49-year-old Tressel previously coached at Michigan State from 2007-2020 in various roles, including as linebackers coach, special teams coordinator, safeties coach and defensive coordinator. He coached linebackers and special teams at Cincinnati from 2004-06 and served as a graduate assistant at Ohio State from 2002-03.<\/p>\n

Hitschler spent five seasons on Fickell’s staff at Cincinnati. He started as a defensive quality control coach before coaching safeties and being promoted to co-defensive coordinator this season. <\/span><\/span>Hitschler has made stops at South Alabama, Arkansas State and Division III <\/span>Widener College.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Brown, a former NFL wide receiver (2012-15), has been on UC’s staff since 2019. He started his coaching career at Michigan (graduate assistant) before moving on to Delaware (graduate assistant) and Liberty (running backs coach). <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Wisconsin hasn’t officially announced the hirings, but Tressel and Hitschler has been added to the online staff directory.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is a breaking news story. It may be updated multiple times. Check back for updates. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n