Who should Scott Satterfield target for the open offensive line/offensive coordinator position for Louisville football?
Scott Satterfield is embarking on yet another important offseason as the head coach of the Louisville football program. This time having to make some very big coaching hires along the way.
Shortly after the season, the coaching staff began to see quite a bit of movement. First, running back coach Norval McKenzie joined his former teammate Clark Lea at his alma mater, Vanderbilt.
Then, quarterback’s coach Frank Ponce left for the offensive coordinator position at Appalachian State where he spent five years working as the QB coach/co-offensive coordinator for Satterfield.
Next, Dwayne Ledford Louisville’s offensive line coach and offensive coordinator, took a job in the NFL. There, he joined former Cardinal and new offensive coordinator Dave Ragone’s staff.
Also relevant: Carlik Jones carried Louisville to victory over Duke
Louisville football has since brought in De’Rail Sims, a former running back’s coach at East Carolina to replace McKenzie. They’ve also promoted from within, naming quality control assistant Pete Thomas, the new quarterback’s coach.
What’s ahead for Scott Satterfield & Louisville football
Now the one post that remains open for Satterfield will be the most significant hire he’s made since bringing in Ledford back in 2019. Louisville’s offense has been a splendid surprise over the last two years, a big part due to Ledford’s coaching upfront. Now with him gone, along with multiple high-level weapons, including Tutu Atwell, Dez Fitzpatrick, and Javian Hawkins, nailing the next hire will be crucial.
It’s still unclear whether or not Satterfield will hire two coaches for the open offensive line coach and offensive coordinator positions. I would think for continuity purposes, it’s likely we’ll see the roles stay the same. Meaning the new coach hired would serve in both capacities, with help from other assistants.
Satterfield will be expected to land a top candidate for this position, not young & fairly inexperienced coaches moving up the ladder. After hiring Thomas and Sims, fans will want to see a proven commodity and a top recruiter join the staff in order to keep growing closer to the ultimate goal. It’s likely that Satterfield will look at budding candidates but I still expect an experienced, homerun type hire.
So where does Satterfield turn?
Well, according to ESPN Louisville’s Mark Ennis, there are multiple candidates emerging.
Let’s take a look at the two we know and speculate on who could be the third to decipher is the best fit.
Alex Mirabal – Oregon, Offensive Line Coach
Mirabal has been a mainstay on the staff of Mario Cristabl, serving as his offensive line coach on two separate occasions. Before leaving for Oregon both Mirabal & Cristobal worked at FIU, where we get our first connection to Satterfield. While Mirabel served as the offensive line coach, Satterfield was the team’s offensive coordinator & QB coach, working for head coach Cristobal.
Mirabal has served as an o-line coach for the Ducks since 2018 and has been a huge part of the team’s overall success. His accomplishments are notable. Including producing a likely top-five pick in 2021 in Penei Sewell, along with 2020 draft picks Shane Lemieux and Jake Hanson. Along with finishing in the top 50 in sacks allowed (35th – 2018, 49th – 2019), including 29th in 2020, surrendering just 11 sacks.
Oregon’s offenses have been dynamic with Mirabal on board. They’ve averaged more than 34 points per game over the last two years and have finished inside the top 25 in scoring offense.
It gets even better. Mirabal has been the top recruiter of offensive linemen along the west coast, according to 247 Sports, and is widely regarded as being one of the best recruiters in the country.
I’ve been vocal about being worried about this hire. But if Scott Satterfield is able to pull Mirabal away from Oregon and a coach he’s worked with for years, this will be a huge win. Not only are you getting a coach capable of developing NFL level offensive linemen. But also, a coach who is an exceptional recruiter with a proven track record.
Walt Wells – Eastern Kentucky, Head Coach
The fact that Satterfield could poach a college football head coach for a position job is a big deal. It may be a head coach at a level down, but nonetheless, not many coaches are capable of persuading those in charge to take “lesser” jobs. Even if it is for the betterment of their career.
I don’t think many would argue that being the offensive line coach/offensive coordinator for the Louisville football program would be a step up for Walt Wells, who currently serves as the head coach of Eastern Kentucky. Even if that means less power overall.
Wells has 25 years of coaching experience, including serving as the O-Line coach at WKU, South Florida, and Tennessee, before taking over at EKU. In his one season as head coach, the Colonels went 3-6 overall but won the Opportunity Bowl against Western Carolina.
His head coaching experience, as well as his time spent in the SEC, are huge pros for his hiring. While working at Tennessee, Wells helped build an offensive line that played a part in finishing as a top 25 scoring offense. He also was at one point a top-five recruiter nationally, as he landed five-star lineman Cade Mays, along with countless other four-star players.
Head coaching experience. Productive offensive lines. Proven recruiter. Those are all boxes that Wells checks. His hire would be a huge addition to Louisville and should help them continue on the onward trajectory we’ve seen thus far.
SEC Candidate – Unknown, OL Coach
This is the one “surprise” candidate, as Mark Ennis didn’t provide details outside of his current position. Taking the “current SEC offensive line” part literally, I dug into all the offensive line coaches in the conference.
Surprisingly, the list is a lot shorter than I expected. Four programs hired new head coaches this offseason (while UK and Alabama were the only to hire a new OL with the existing head coach), meaning brand new staffs (a former line coach wouldn’t match “current”).
Seven others have coaches entering only their second season in said role. If you eliminate them that would leave just James Cregg (LSU) and John Hevesy (Florida) available. However, both have deep ties to their existing program/head coaches.
So who could it be then?
Well, just for shits and giggles I’ll speculate. Randy Clements at Ole Miss and Matt Luke at Georgia both have ACC ties, with Clements serving at FSU in 2019 and Luke working for Duke from 2008-2011.
Based on the North Carolina ties, my money would be on Luke being the candidate. Here’s my reasoning.
- Served as the OC/Run Game Coordinator & O-Line coach @ Duke
- Recruited the NC’s at Duke, and we all know that’s something Satt values highly
- Knows the ACC game and comes from a similar philosophy, having spent time with David Cutcliffe
- Has experience in Kentucky, coaching at Murray State from 2000-01
Why Matt Luke?
Those are a lot of lines drawn and a ton of assuming, but it would make sense. Luke would be getting a promotion, of sorts, going from associate head coach to offensive coordinator. He’d likely be in line for a raise, moving from his $500,000 salary to the $650,00 salary that made Ledford one of the highest-paid assistants in the ACC.
**Feels like a good time to remind you that this is just speculation**
Much like the other two candidates mentioned prior, Luke would be a grand slam hire. Not only would you be taking a coach from Georgia, a national championship contender, but you’d be getting a former head coach and a top recruiter.
Luke’s tenure at Ole Miss wasn’t great, going just 15-19 overall. But he did enough to take a bad situation, that led to the removal of Hugh Freeze, and make it respectable.
His experience at Duke also can’t go unnoticed. We obviously laugh at the thought of Duke football, but there was a stretch before Louisville football got to the conference where the team was actually pretty good. Luke played a big role in producing a dominant offense, behind Thad Lewis. He also produced a first-round draft pick in Lakenn Tomlinson, and had Duke at the top of multiple stats, including sacks allowed.
Of the three candidates, this seems the most unlikely. Again, it could be a completely different coach from the SEC, but assuming it’s Luke, UofL would be getting a top SEC coach.
The verdict
So who should Louisville football fans want as the new O-Line/OC?
As much as I’d love to pull an SEC hire off, I don’t think this is the time. Especially when a coach the caliber of Alex Mirabal is available.
The connection to Satterfield, the production, the players coached, the recruiting. All of it equals up to Mirabal being an incredible fit for the Cards. When you consider that Ledford was making $650,000 and Mirabal is currently only making $350,000 – the writing on the wall seems pretty clear.
Mirabal could potentially see his salary doubled in a raise. He would be getting a promotion in terms of coaching responsibilities. Not to mention the opportunity to move further up the coaching ranks. The fit, which is important to Louisville, is evident.
If Satterfield pulls this off, it will be his biggest hire of the offseason without question.
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