Colorado State football coach went searching for offensive and defensive coordinators from a national pool of talented candidates.
He chose a couple old friends.
No reason to cry foul assessing Bobo’s selections, though, as both have qualifications well-suited for their new gigs. Expectations will be high. And the new faces say quite a bit about the direction of the 2018 Rams.
Dave Johnson was officially announced as CSU’s run-game coordinator and offensive line coach Tuesday. The Rams have yet to formally introduce John Jancek as defensive coordinator, but his Twitter account () lists the position in his bio. Their arrival marks a reunion of three former Georgia assistants in Fort Collins.
Bobo served as the Bulldogs’ quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator between 2001 and 2014. It coincided with Johnson’s eight seasons as Georgia’s tight ends coach, and five more with Jancek as linebacker’s coach (plus one fall as co-defensive coordinator). The trio worked together from 2005 to 2007 and the Bulldogs won 30 games during that span, including an SEC championship, a Chick-Fila Bowl and Sugar Bowl. Bobo said that Johnson “was one of the best teachers I’ve ever been around.”
Whether Johnson and Jancek and can recreate some Georgia magic is yet to be seen.
Here is what Bobo is banking on.
The two new coordinators enter their posts with a combined 60 years of college coaching experience across the MAC, Big East, American Athletic Conference and SEC, plus the recruiting connections that came with each stop. Both are family men past the midway point of their coaching careers, which might bode well in limiting future staff turnover as compared to a young riser in the profession (such as now Oakland Raiders cornerbacks coach Derrick Ansley).
Much of Bobo’s coaching search narrowed down to the right fit for CSU’s existing culture, an identity based in the experiences Bobo shared with Johnson and Jancek in Athens, Ga. With little get-to-know-you period necessary, Bobo understands what to expect from each of his new hires.
Now, they’ll have to deliver.
Staff search
CSU has yet to formally announce its entire 2018 football coaching staff, but several incoming assistants have updated their Twitter accounts to reflect their new positions. Here is where the Rams’ projected staff stands as of late Tuesday.
Run-game coordinator/offensive line coach — Dave Johnson: Oversaw Ohio’s rushing attack that broke school records in 2017 for average yards per carry (5.7) and rushing touchdowns (44).
Defensive coordinator — John Jancek: In his last season as DC at Tennessee in 2015, the Volunteers finished ranked No. 16 nationally in scoring defense (20).
Safeties coach — George Helow: A former graduate assistant and quality control coach promoted to a full-time position. He played at Ole Miss (2006-10), mostly on special teams.
Cornerbacks coach — Eric Lewis: A former defensive coordinator at Weber State and Eastern Michigan who was most recently a quality control coach at Tennessee.
Defensive line coach/linebackers coach/special teams coordinator/10th full-time assistant — TBD