LITTLE ROCK — Gus Malzahn has departed for Auburn, but at least Arkansas State will have its top coordinators a month from now when it plays Kent State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.
ASU defensive coordinator John Thompson, who is serving as the team’s interim head coach, announced Friday that offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee will remain on staff for the Red Wolves’ bowl game Jan. 6 in Mobile, Ala. Lashlee already has accepted the same position on Malzahn’s staff at Auburn.
Thompson said in a statement the ASU players were “extremely excited” that Lashlee will remain through the bowl game.
“I know [Lashlee] has embraced this opportunity,” Thompson said in the statement. “At this point, our offensive and defensive staffs remain intact.”
It’s a marked change from last season, when former coach Hugh Freeze left before the GoDaddy.com Bowl to take the Ole Miss job and took half of the Red Wolves’ staff with him, including defensive coordinator Dave Wommack.
ASU patched together a staff with five temporary assistant coaches, and the Red Wolves lost 38-20 to Northern Illinois.
While Malzahn handled some play-calling duties this season, Lashlee worked with ASU’s quarterbacks and assisted in all facets of game planning for an offense that ranked 17th in the Football Bowl Subdivision at 481.8yards per game and is tied for 21st with an average of 36.4 points a game.
Assuming ASU’s staff doesn’t see any more departures, the Red Wolves will face the Golden Flashes at roughly full strength.
Kent State Coach Darrell Hazzell accepted the job at Purdue on Tuesday - the same day Malzahn agreed to terms with Auburn - but will coach in the bowl game.
The Red Wolves return to practice Wednesday in Jonesboro.
Sports, Pages 26 on 12/08/2012