Alabama co-offensive coordinator Josh Gattis was named offensive coordinator at Michigan on Thursday. The school announced his hiring with a news release.
Gattis is leaving Alabama after one season spent with the Crimson Tide’s wide receivers. He succeeded Mike Locksley, who became the dedicated offensive coordinator for the 2018 season. Gattis posted a message on Twitter on Thursday afternoon.
Thank you @AlabamaFTBL and the #RydeOuts 🙏 pic.twitter.com/GcrrQ5fEuq
— Josh Gattis (@Coach_Gattis) January 10, 2019
Alabama’s wide receivers posted strong numbers across the board in 2018 as sophomore quarterback Tua Tagovailoa broke several school passing records. Four different wide receivers had at least 40 catches and at least 600 yards.
Sophomore Jerry Jeudy led the way with 68 catches for 1,315 yards and 14 touchdowns while winning the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top wide receiver. True freshman Jaylen Waddle finished the year with 45 catches for 848 yards and seven touchdowns. Only Julio Jones, Amari Cooper and Calvin Ridley had better numbers as Alabama freshmen.
Sophomore Henry Ruggs III posted 46 catches for 741 yards and 11 scores, and DeVonta Smith had 42 catches for 693 yards and six touchdowns.
Prior to coaching at Alabama, Gattis had been an assistant at Penn State for four seasons and at Vanderbilt for two seasons. Michigan would be his first offensive coordinator job. He made $525,000 at Alabama last season.
Georgia Tech coach Geoff Collins confirmed on Thursday that he was hiring Alabama offensive line coach Brent Key to the same position, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Key spent three seasons as offensive line coach in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama’s offensive line was named a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation’s best offensive line, all three seasons he was in Tuscaloosa. He helped coach second-round draft pick Cam Robinson and sixth rounder Bradley Bozeman. Junior left tackle Jonah Williams is projected as a first-round pick should he forego his senior year, leading a handful of candidates to be drafted from Alabama’s offensive line this season.
The Crimson Tide offense ranked No. 15 in scoring in 2016 and 2017 and No. 3 nationally this year. It ranked 34th, 29th and sixth in yardage during his three seasons in Tuscaloosa. Key had made $490,000 at Alabama in 2018.
Their departure means Alabama will be replacing at least three of its full-time assistants from 2018. Locksley had previously been named head coach at Maryland. Alabama coach Nick Saban hired six new coaches before the 2018 season to the on-field staff.
