Southern Miss football in search of new coordinator as Buster Faulkner leaves for UGA
For the second consecutive season, the Southern Miss football team is in search of a new offensive coordinator.
Georgia has hired USM offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner to the position of offensive quality control, according to the program’s web site.
Faulkner tweeted his thanks to USM head coach Jay Hopson for giving him an opportunity to join his staff.
“Thank you Coach Hop for allowing me to be a part of something special in Hattiesburg,” Faulkner said in the tweet. “I was able to work with some incredible men on this offensive staff! To the players-I love you guys, thanks for everything. I had a blast working with y’all. I wish you guys the best.”
Faulkner spent one campaign at USM after working the three previous seasons as the offensive coordinator at Arkansas State. The previous USM offensive coordinator, Shannon Dawson, was hired to the Houston staff after the 2018 season.
The USM offense showed early signs of progress under Faulkner, but the group’s production faded down the stretch as redshirt junior quarterback Jack Abraham couldn’t keep the momentum rolling following a promising start to a 7-6 season.
The main problem for the USM offense over the last two seasons has been the lack of a consistent rushing attack. USM averaged 26.62 points, 289.54 yards passing and 117.5 yards rushing during Faulkner’s one season. Under Dawson in 2018, USM averaged 26.18 points, 255 yards passing and 112.6 yards rushing.
After averaging 3.1 yards a rush in 2018, the Golden Eagles were at 3.5 in 2018.
At Georgia, Faulkner will work under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who served as the USM head coach from 2013-15. Faulkner has also worked at Middle Tennessee, Murray State, Central Arkansas and Valdosta State.
Faulkner’s departure marks the second significant loss for the USM staff after co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Derek Nicholson left over the weekend to join the staff at Louisville, according to FootballScoop.com.
This will mark Nicholson’s second stint on the Louisville staff after coaching defensive ends and outside linebackers for the Cardinals in 2014. He also spent time on the staffs at Akron and Alcorn State.
This story was originally published January 20, 2020 at 9:52 AM.
