Longhorn Coaching Shakeup Begins as Offensive Coordinator Resigns

Greg Davis, the Texas Longhorns' offensive coordinator for the past 13 seasons, resigned today. At the same time, two other coaches, offensive line coach Mac McWhorter and defensive tackles coach Mike Tolleson, announced their retirement.

Despite a national championship in 2005 and a return to the national title game last year, Davis took the brunt of criticism this season as the Longhorns stumbled to a 5-7 record, missing a bowl game for the first time since 1997.

Penalties and the inability to open up running lanes were a constant critique of McWhorter's group this year, while Tolleson's charges were pinpointed as one of the weaknesses of the defense. Tolleson also was the team's special teams coordinator, and the Longhorns punt and kickoff teams struggled throughout the year.

The purge may not be over. The Recruitocosm blog, which has been a leading source of coaching change news, projects that strength and conditioning coach Jeff Madden will be reassigned to another position in the athletic department, and wide receivers coach Bobby Kennedy will likely move on to another team.

If you're already thinking about replacements, the most high-profile names come from programs with high-powered offenses: Auburn's Gus Malzahn, Oklahoma State's Dana Holgorsen and Boise State's Bryan Harsin. Also mentioned in the mix have been current Longhorns running back coach Major Applewhite and Tulsa offensive coordinator Chad Morris, who coached Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert at Lake Travis High School.