Kendal Briles will be leaving Arkansas to become the offensive coordinator at TCU.
Thursday is when an official announcement is expected.
The hiring of Dan Enos from Maryland as the new offensive coordinator for the Razorbacks is nearing completion. Enos played a significant role in the growth of Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa over the past two seasons.
For the past three seasons, Briles, 40, has been Arkansas’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. During his tenure, Arkansas’ offense underwent major change. The Hogs averaged 32.5 points per game this past season and 30.9 points in 2021, which was the most at Arkansas since the 2015 season. They finished 15th in the nation in total offense. In the year before Briles took over, the Hogs scored just 21.4 points per game on the year.
In 2022, Arkansas’ rushing offense ranked seventh in the nation with 236.5 yards per game. The most rushing yards the Hogs had since 2003 was 3,075. Additionally, Arkansas’ passing game and offensive balance were improved by Briles. In 2022, the Hogs were one of three FBS teams that averaged more than 230 rushing yards and 230 passing yards per game, joining Ole Miss and UCLA.
At TCU, Briles takes over for Garrett Riley. Last week, Riley left to become Clemson’s offensive coordinator. Briles joins Sonny Dykes, who is in his second season in Fort Worth, as one of the best offensive-minded head coaches in the country at TCU. This past season, Dykes led the Horned Frogs to the College Football Playoff national championship game; They lost to Georgia 65-7.
Briles has had opportunities to move to other jobs over the past two years. He was pursued by Miami a year ago, but he stayed put. The following month, Briles turned down Mississippi State’s offers.
Briles will serve as offensive coordinator for the sixth time. In 2015, he was a finalist for the Broyles Award, which recognizes the nation’s best assistant coach, and he worked alongside his father, Art Briles, as the wide receivers coach, passing game coordinator, and offensive quarterback/quarterbacks coach at Baylor.
In the wake of a sexual assault scandal at Baylor that also resulted in the firing or resignation of the school’s president and athletic director, Art Briles was fired prior to the 2016 season. Kendal Briles, who was not directly involved in any wrongdoing, served as Jim Grobe’s offensive coordinator in 2016 before moving on to Florida Atlantic in 2017 as offensive coordinator, Houston in 2018, and Florida State in 2019.
From 2000 to 2002, Art Briles and Dykes collaborated on the Texas Tech staff under Mike Leach.
This offseason, both of Arkansas’s coordinators went through significant personnel changes on the coaching staff. Barry Odom was hired as UNLV’s head coach. After linebackers coach Michael Scherer left with Odom to become defensive coordinator at UNLV, Arkansas coach Sam Pittman hired Travis Williams from UCF and Marcus Woodson from Florida State as co-defensive coordinators. Dowell Loggains, the tight ends coach, left to become the offensive coordinator at South Carolina, and Pittman fired Ben Sowders, the strength coach, and hired Jamil Walker instead.
Enos will serve as Arkansas’ offensive coordinator for the second time. He was in charge of the offense for the Razorbacks from 2015 to 2017, when they were one of only two FBS teams with a 3,000-yard quarterback and 1,300-yard rusher in 2015 and 2016.
