Tag: Todd Fitch

Report: LSU hiring veteran offensive assistant to analyst role

Todd Fitch has spent the last three years at Ohio State but previously worked with Joe Sloan at Louisiana Tech.

LSU will have a pair of new offensive play-callers in up-and-coming staffers [autotag]Joe Sloan[/autotag] and [autotag]Cortez Hankton[/autotag]. To help out that group, it seems Brian Kelly is bringing in an industry veteran.

The Tigers are reportedly set to hire Ohio State offensive analyst [autotag]Todd Fitch[/autotag] to the same position, where he’ll work with LSU’s quarterback room. The news was first reported by The Advocate’s Wilson Alexander.

Fitch has spent the last three seasons with the Buckeyes after a stint at Vanderbilt, where he was the offensive coordinator and later interim head coach during the 2020 season.

The 60-year-old has been a journeyman assistant with a number of programs dating back to 1986, and that includes a stint working with Sloan at Louisiana Tech, where they were co-offensive coordinators together in 2019 before Fitch left for Nashville.

Fitch also coached in the SEC at South Carolina from 1999-03, and he’s 0-1 in his career as a head coach.

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2020 SEC interim head coach discusses Harrison Bailey developing into a great player for Tennessee

2020 SEC interim head coach discusses Harrison Bailey becoming a great player for Tennessee.

Tennessee quarterback Harrison Bailey appeared in six games during his freshman 2020 season.

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound signal-caller started the final three contests for Tennessee.

He was 48-of-68, totaling 578 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions in 2020.

Tennessee defeated Vanderbilt, 42-17, on Dec. 12. Vanderbilt interim head coach Todd Fitch discussed what he saw from Bailey and the future he has at Tennessee.

“Just watching him on the sideline — good size kid, throws pretty well for his size,” Fitch said on the show “Tennessee Two-A-Days.” “I thought he threw the ball really smoothly, wasn’t a force throw, a very smooth throw. It looked like he handled himself well, too. It didn’t look like he was overwhelmed by anything in the two games I saw him play, one on tape and one live.

“He has a really good chance to be a good football player for them. I’m sure they are excited at Tennessee, and with his normal growth and development, and hopefully he can continue to stay healthy, and continue to grow and become a great player.”

Vanderbilt interim head coach Todd Fitch and Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt shake hands after the Vols’ win over the Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tenn. © George Walker IV / Tennessean.com via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Fitch served as Vanderbilt’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach before becoming the Commodores’ interim head coach.

The entire show with Fitch can be listened to here or below. Fitch discusses his time coaching alongside Ryan Day, Skip Holtz and Lou Holtz.

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A look at Todd Fitch’s offense and his time coaching alongside Ryan Day

A look at Todd Fitch’s offense and his time coaching alongside Ryan Day.

Todd Fitch is in his first season at Vanderbilt after spending four years as offensive coordinator for Louisiana Tech.

Fitch was hired by head coach Derek Mason to serve as the Commodores’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2020.

Mason was relieved of his duties Nov. 29 and Fitch is serving as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

Tennessee will play at Vanderbilt Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m. EST with SEC Network televising the contest.

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day. © Joshua A. Bickel/Dispatch via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Fitch coached alongside Ohio State head coach Ryan Day at Boston College.

Day served as Boston College’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, while Fitch oversaw wide receivers and was the Golden Eagles’ passing game coordinator from 2013-14.

Ahead of Vanderbilt playing Tennessee, Fitch discussed his time coaching alongside Day.

“Any time you work next to somebody like that, you pick up things,” Fitch said of Day. “Ryan and I were close, got to be pretty good friends, in that situation.

“Some of the things we do in the run game are very similar. We have adapted here with the use of our tight ends more than I did at Louisiana Tech.”

Vanderbilt offensive coordinator Todd Fitch watches his team against Florida during the second quarter at Vanderbilt Stadium Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020 in Nashville, Tenn. © George Walker IV / Tennessean.com via Imagn Content Services, LLC

When Fitch was named interim head coach at Vanderbilt he contacted Day.

Day has experience serving as an interim head coach when he filled in for Urban Meyer during the 2018 season at Ohio State. Day served as the Buckeyes’ interim head coach for three games before becoming head coach in 2019.

“He is one of the guys I called when all of this happened because he was the interim coach there for Coach Meyer for a short time,” Fitch said of Day. “He and I had a quick visit about some things, so certainly things you pull from every coach you are around and Ryan is no different.”

Maine head coach Nick Charlton served as a graduate assistant at Boston College alongside Day and Fitch.

Charlton previously joined the show “Tennessee Two-A-Days” and discussed his career and coaching at Boston College.

Charlton coaches similar principles to Day and Fitch, with means of attacking the middle and having shallow crossing routes. His offense also features a physical running game that allows for two tight end sets. The offense also has power and zone-gap run schemes.

The show with Charlton can be listened to here or below.

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Vanderbilt will have interim head coach against Tennessee

Vanderbilt will have an interim head coach when the Commodores play Tennessee.

Tennessee and Vanderbilt were scheduled to play in Week 10 of a 10-game, Southeastern Conference-only schedule.

The game was postponed for the purpose to facilitate a rescheduling of the Vanderbilt-Missouri contest. The rescheduling of games allows for the continued opportunity of all 14 SEC teams to play 10 games in the 2020 season.

UT Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer announced on “Vol Calls” last week when Tennessee will play Texas A&M and Vanderbilt in December.

Fulmer mentioned the Vols will play at Vanderbilt Dec. 12 and UT will host Texas A&M Dec. 19.

Tennessee will face Vanderbilt with the Commodores having an interim head coach.

Vanderbilt fired head coach Derek Mason Sunday. Offensive coordinator Todd Fitch will serve as the Commodores’ interim head coach.

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