Tag: bryan mcclendon

Interim HC Bryan McClendon rebuffs speculation that he’s leaving for Miami

Interim HC Bryan McClendon could very well be leaving Oregon for Miami after the season, but he wouldn’t admit as much on Monday.

The past several weeks in Oregon Ducks football news has been concerned with commitment and wondering which coaches are hanging around, and which are jetting for new destinations.

Ever since head coach Mario Cristobal left for the University of Miami, Oregon’s coaching staff has seen a mass exodus, with a number of guys agreeing to deals with new teams for next season and signaling their departure from Oregon. While a number of them are still hanging around Eugene to help coach in the bowl game, we know for a large part who is staying and who is going after December 29th.

One guy who’s future we don’t quite know just yet, though, is interim head coach Bryan McClendon, who has served as the wide receivers coach and pass-game coordinator for the Ducks. McClendon is an extremely valuable coach who players seem to love, and decision-makers seem to respect, made clear by him being offered the interim tag. Fans would obviously like to keep him around.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like that will be the case, with some recent leaks online signaling that B-Mac might be taking off for Miami as soon as the season is over to join Cristobal.

“I don’t how much is out there is actually true, to be honest with you,” McClendon said Monday after Oregon’s practice. “The frustrating thing about it and disappointing thing about it is regardless of how some stuff came up, which I still don’t know how that happened until this point, I think everything did get rectified in that sense. The thing that’s frustrating though is I haven’t even thought about it as much as some of the other people have. My focus has been on these guys.”

The above tweet is what McClendon is likely referencing, where he was listed on the Miami website directory as the assistant football coach. On Monday, McClendon stated again that he has yet to even think about where his next destination should be if it is outside of Oregon, and that he wants to keep his focus on the players, who deserve it.

“It’s not right for those guys for my focus to be other places. So I haven’t done it,” McClendon said. “It’s not right, quite honestly, for my family to try to make a family decision while my focus is on the guys right now. I feel like anything that’s out there right now, it did not come from me and I would — not to sit up here and say one way or another, but it did not come from me. However all that stuff came out there, I think it got rectified and I do look forward to being able to make those decisions. I just feel like it’ll be a hard decision to make right now while my focus is solely on these guys and making sure that these guys have a positive influence. I don’t want to cheat them. I don’t want to make a bad decision for my family because my focus is so much on these guys right now.”

It’s extremely possible, and probable, that we find out more about McClendon’s future over the next few days or weeks as Oregon’s appearance in the Alamo Bowl comes and goes. If you were inclined to bet, I could give you a good idea of where to put your money. For now, though, B-Mac is keeping his focus on the players wearing green and yellow. Ten days from now, we’ll see how that changes.

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Oregon Ducks planning to start QB Anthony Brown over Ty Thompson in Alamo Bowl

For those hoping that it would be QB Ty Thompson running the offense in the Alamo Bowl, think again. Anthony Brown is seemingly still the starter.

For all of the fans that thought a new coaching staff might bring a change at the quarterback position, it’s time to think again.

While Dan Lanning and his staff won’t be in charge for the Alamo Bowl game against the Oklahoma Sooners on December 29th, interim coach Bryan McClendon said on Thursday that the Ducks don’t plan on making a change at the QB spot.

“Right now the quarterback situation hasn’t changed,” McClendon said. “It has not changed. Those guys are still doing a great job of getting mixed in there. We’ll see if anything does change between now and then, then we’ll see but right now the quarterback situation hasn’t changed.”

This seems like a highly questionable move, considering that the result of the game largely doesn’t matter and could be viewed as a glorified exhibition game for the Ducks. With Anthony Brown on the way out of Eugene following the contest, many people have been asking for true freshman QB Ty Thompson to get the start, since he is expected to be the QB of the future for Oregon and does not have much experience.

With a massive game against the Georgia Bulldogs opening up the 2022 season, there’s a need to get Thompson as much experience as possible between now and then. Unfortunately, it appears the Ducks will be passing on a perfect opportunity for that later this month.

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Oregon names former Georgia WR as interim coach

The Oregon Ducks have named former Georgia Bulldogs interim coach and player Bryan McClendon as their interim coach

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The Oregon Ducks have named former Georgia Bulldogs interim coach and player Bryan McClendon as their interim coach. McClendon previously worked as the assistant/wide receivers coach at South Carolina before taking the wide receivers coach job in Eugene in 2020.

McClendon is filing in for former Oregon coach Mario Cristobal, who took the job at Miami. Oregon is playing the Oklahoma Sooners, who also have an interim coach, Bob Stoops, in the Alamo Bowl.

McClendon joined the South Carolina Gamecocks for the 2016 season. He became their offensive coordinator in 2018, but the Gamecocks struggled mightily over those two seasons going 11-14. He coached NFL standout Deebo Samuel during his time with South Carolina.

Georgia fans may remember McClendon from this key touchdown catch against Georgia Tech in 2005:

Nov. 26, 2005: Atlanta: Georgia Bulldogs split end Bryan McClendon makes a touchdown catch against Georgia Tech. Georgia won 14-7.  USA TODAY Sports Copyright (c) Christopher Gooley

McClendon won 44 games and two SEC Championships during his time in Athens as a player. He returned to Georgia as a graduate assistant coach in 2007-2008. He served as running backs coach from 2009 to 2014 (he coached both Todd Gurley and Nick Chubb) before becoming recruiting coordinator.

Sept. 18, 2010; Athens; Georgia Bulldogs running backs coach Bryan McClendon. Paul Abell-USA TODAY Sports

McClendon served as Georgia’s interim coach in the 2016 Tax Slayer Bowl. Georgia won the game 24-17 over Penn State.

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Oregon Ducks name Bryan McClendon new interim head coach

The Oregon Ducks have named wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon as the interim head coach for the Ducks’ bowl game.

The Oregon Ducks have made a decision on their new head coach. In the interim, at least.

Wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon has been named the interim head coach for the Ducks after Mario Cristobal left for the Miami Hurricanes on Monday.

McClendon also served as the passing game coordinator for the Ducks this season.

“We appreciate Coach McClendon agreeing to accept a leadership role in providing the best possible bowl experience for our student-athletes,” Oregon AD Rob Mullens said in a press release. “His previous experience as an interim head coach is valuable for our program as we prepare for the Alamo Bowl, and we are grateful for his willingness to step up and assume this responsibility for Oregon football.”

It is unclear if this means that McClendon will stick with Oregon into 2022, or if he will depart to Miami with coach Cristobal. On Monday, Mullens said that they were waiting to see which coaches were following the former Oregon coach, and would decide on the interim coach once that was figured out.

McClendon’s first game at the helm will be on December 29th against the Oklahoma Sooners in the Alamo Bowl.

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Oregon hiring former Georgia Bulldogs interim coach

The Oregon Ducks are hiring former Georgia Bulldogs interim coach and player Bryan McClendon, who was an assistant at South Carolina.

The Oregon Ducks are hiring former Georgia Bulldogs interim coach and player Bryan McClendon. McClendon was the assistant/wide receivers coach at South Carolina before taking the wide receivers coach job in Eugene.

McClendon will be a great addition to Mario Cristobal’s staff. The Ducks are coming off a Rose Bowl victory over Wisconsin and are returning a load of talent.

McClendon joined the South Carolina Gamecocks for the 2016 season. He became their offensive coordinator there in 2018, but the Gamecocks have struggled mightily over the past two seasons going 11-14. He coached NFL stud Deebo Samuel during his time with South Carolina.

Georgia fans may remember McClendon from this key touchdown catch against Georgia Tech in 2005:

Nov 26, 2005: Atlanta, GA, USA: Georgia Bulldogs split end Bryan McClendon makes a touchdown catch against Georgia Tech. Georgia won 14-7. Credit: USA TODAY Sports Copyright (c) 2005 Christopher Gooley

McClendon won 44 games and two SEC Championships during his time in Athens as a player. He returned to Georgia as a graduate assistant coach in 2007-2008. He served as running backs coach from 2009 to 2014 (he coached both Todd Gurley and Nick Chubb) before becoming recruiting coordinator.

Sep 18, 2010; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running backs coach Bryan McClendon. Credit: Paul Abell-USA TODAY Sports

McClendon served as Georgia’s interim coach in the 2016 Tax Slayer Bowl. Georgia won the game 24-17 over Penn State.

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Which UGA o-lineman has most to gain this spring?

With so many starting spots available, who will offensive line coach Matt Luke turn to during his inaugural season in Athens?

Following the departure of former offensive line coach Sam Pittman, the new head coach at the University of Arkansas, multiple Bulldogs he recruited to the University of Georgia followed suit.

Tackle Isaiah Wilson, a redshirt sophomore, declared early for the NFL Draft. Fellow tackle and projected first round pick Andrew Thomas did as well following his junior season. Relatively surprisingly, guard Solomon Kindley made the same decision despite qualifying for a redshirt senior season.

Cade Mays, the first Georgia Bulldog since Jonas Jennings to play all five OL positions in red and black, transferred to Tennessee to play with his younger brother in Knoxville for their father’s alma mater.

Center Trey Hill and guard/tackle Ben Cleveland are the only holdovers to start on the Bulldogs’ offensive line. Both players are entering their final season of eligibility.

With so many starting spots available, who will offensive line coach Matt Luke turn to during his inaugural season in Athens?

Xavier Truss:

Assuming Ben Cleveland gets early reps at right tackle (if not right guard), the left tackle spot will be wide open and thus attainable for the redshirt freshman Truss. At six-foot-seven and 330 pounds, he’s got the length and mass necessary to protect right-handed grad transfer QB Jamie Newman’s blindside. Combine that with the motor and footwork necessary to facilitate outside run plays and he may just be the Dawgs’ best fit at LT.

Warren Ericson:

Following injuries and the several aforementioned early NFL Draft declarations, Ericson started at right guard in January’s Sugar Bowl win over Baylor. In 2020, the redshirt sophomore may have to rotate behind seniors Cleveland and Justin Shaffer at either of the guard positions, but can put himself in a good position to secure solid substitute reps before Cleveland and Shaffer exhaust their eligibility. Matt Luke clearly sees something in Ericson.

Warren McClendon:

The younger of the OL’s two Warrens, McClendon shares with Ericson ample opportunity to break into the starting lineup. With both tackle spots ripe for the taking, McClendon can compete with Truss at left tackle, but seems more suited for right tackle as his size. The cousin of former Georgia running back Bryan McClendon saw limited action in 2019 but has the skills and build to impose his will upon SEC defenders in 2020.

Justin Shaffer:

Shaffer has patiently waited his turn to start on the Bulldogs’ offensive line, and an untimely injury extended that timeline. He made his first career start against Tennessee and started every play of the game. In his start against South Carolina, a neck injury sidelined Shaffer for the remainder of the regular season. After having fully recovered from his injury, he’s deserved his time to show out in the trenches for the Dawgs and is expected to be a mainstay on Georgia’s 2020 offensive line.

Ex-Jets WR Jerricho Cotchery being considered for spot on Steelers staff

Ex-Jets WR Jerricho Cotchery interviewed with the Steelers last week for their opening at receivers coach.

The Steelers are in the market for a wide receivers coach — and a former Jets is among their choices.

Bryan McClendon, the former offensive coordinator and wide receivers at the University of South Carolina is considered to be a favorite for the opening, but longtime Jets wideout Jerricho Cotchery is still in the mix, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Cotchery was an assistant wide receivers coach on Ron Rivera’s staff in Carolina following the commencement of his NFL career in 2015. Cotchery was not retained by new Carolina head coach Matt Rhule.

Originally drafted out of North Carolina State in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, Cotchery was one of the Jets’ better homegrown players during his stay in New York.

For his career, Cotchery had 524 receptions for 6,623 yards and 34 touchdowns. While he enjoyed a successful career in green and white, Cotchery fell out of favor, becoming the team’s third option at receiver once Rex Ryan and Co. acquired Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards via trade.

Cotchery finished the 2010 season with 41 catches for 433 yards with two touchdowns while playing in 14 games. He started five games, his lowest number since the 2005 season when he was a second-year player and fourth-string wideout.

Coming into the 2011 season, Cotchery asked for his release just a month before the start of the season. He signed a one-year deal in Pittsburgh and caught 79 receptions for 1,044 yards and 12 touchdowns in 43 games for the Steelers.

In Carolina, Cotchery caught 87 passes for 1,065 yards and four touchdowns and played in Super Bowl 50.

Two former Georgia football players/coaches leave South Carolina for NFL

Two former Georgia football players and coaches have left South Carolina to coach in the NFL.

Two coaches are leaving the South Carolina program to take NFL coaching jobs.

Both of those coaches happen to be guys who played and coached at the University of Georgia.

Thomas Brown, who played running back at Georgia from 2004-07, has joined the Los Angeles Rams staff as the running backs coach, where he will coach former Dawg Todd Gurley.

Related: Thomas Brown hired to Rams

And Bryan McClendon, who caught passes in Athens from 2002-05, will be joining the Steelers staff as receivers coach.

Related: Report: Former Georgia WR Bryan McClendon hired to Steelers

After their collegiate playing careers, both players returned to Georgia to coach shortly after testing out the NFL.

McClendon coached the running backs and receivers in Athens from 2009-2015, after spending two seasons as a grad assistant at Georgia.

Brown coached at Georgia in 2011 as a strength coach and then came back in 2015 to coach the running backs, which at the time was Nick Chubb and Sony Michel.

Both ended up on the same staff at South Carolina under none other than former Georgia defensive back Will Muschamp, who is head coach of the Gamecocks.

Georgia ties run deep.

Report: Former Georgia football player and coach hired to Steelers staff

The Pittsburgh Steelers have reportedly hired a former Georgia football wide receiver to coach.

According to the ABC television affiliate in Columbia, S.C., the Pittsburgh Steelers have pulled from the college ranks to find their next receivers coach.

The Steelers have reportedly worked out a deal with former Georgia wide receiver Bryan McClendon, who also coached in Athens for nearly a decade.

The Steelers have been on a long search for a receivers coach. This past season, interim receivers coach Ray Sherman handled those duties after Darryl Drake passed away during training camp in August.

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McClendon played at Georgia from 2002-05, finding a ton of success in Athens.

After college, he tried out the NFL for a year with the Bears but quickly found himself coaching at Georgia in 2007 as a graduate assistant and staying until 2015. In 2009, McClendon was promoted to running backs coach under Mark Richt, a position he held until 2014, before switching to wide receivers coach in 2015. He also added other titles along the way, such as assistant head coach and interim head coach after Richt’s firing.

In 2016, McClendon was named co-offensive and wide receivers coach coordinator at South Carolina and in 2019 was named the Gamecocks’ offensive coordinator.

Oddly enough, McClendon is the second former Georgia football player to get an NFL coaching job today. And even more odd, the other, Thomas Brown, also left a position at South Carolina to do so.

Report: Steelers to add Bryan McClendon as WR coach

The Steelers appear to have found their new wide receivers coach.

According to Pittsburgh Steelers beat writer Ray Fittipaldo, the Steelers are closing in on their next wide receivers coach. The coach they have tabbed for the job is current South Carolina offensive coordinator Bryan McClendon.

McClendon would be the man to replace Darryl Drake. Drake passed away suddenly just before the start of the 2019 season. McClendon spent the bulk of his coaching career at the University of Georgia before moving to the Gamecocks and coaching the wide receivers in addition to being the offensive coordinator.

Pittsburgh’s offense struggled when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger went down with an elbow injury in the second game of the season. The offense played with a heavy heart after the sudden passing of Drake. But hopefully, the unit as a whole can re-group this season.

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