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Auburn hires Herb Hand as offensive line coach
Posted On Jan 14 2016
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USA Today’s Dan Wolken was the first to report the Tigers had locked in on Penn State’s Herb Hand as their new offensive line coach.
Gus Malzahn said he was, “Excited to be teaming up with Coach Hand again after working together for two years at Tulsa where we were very successful offensively”. It was an opportunity that was way too good to pass up.
Penn State was preparing for the TaxSlayer Bowl on January 16 when James Franklin was asked about the possibility that Brent Pry could leave his staff to become Georgia Southern’s head coach.
The move shouldn’t be a surprise as Malzahn and Hand have a relationship dating back to 2007-08 when the two worked together as co-offensive coordinators at Tulsa. The Nittany Lions surrendered 44 sacks in 2014 and another 39 this past season, but Hand didn’t have much to work with. “He’s a wonderful person and coach, and we’re glad to welcome him to Auburn”.
Hand coached at Tulsa from 2009-2012, serving as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. Though there was no official announcement, the coaches page on the Penn State website lists Moorhead as the quarterbacks coach (as well as offensive coordinator, obviously) and Rahne as tight ends coach.
“I want to thank J.B. Grimes for his hard work and dedication the last three years at Auburn”, Malzahn said. It was there that Hand and Malzahn began a relationship that would produce offensive magic.
(Auburn, Ala.) – Penn State coach James Franklin is dealing with more changes to his coaching staff.
Hand is replacing offensive line coach J.B. Grimes, who handled that assignment the previous three seasons for Malzahn at Auburn after making the move with Auburn’s head coach from Arkansas State. When Franklin made the move to Penn State he took Herb with him.
“As I’ve said from day one, I want my guys to get the opportunity to be head coaches”, Franklin said last month. The story within the story is that the Nittany Lions have turned over both main coordinator positions and now the OL coach. It’s unknown who will fill Hand’s role coaching the offensive line and Shoop’s role coaching the safeties.
