When Alabama switched offensive coordinators during last season’s playoff run, the Crimson Tide had an in-house solution. Steve Sarkisian, a former Washington and Southern California head coach stepped up from the support staff to help Nick Saban and Co. in the title game against Clemson.
Western Kentucky didn’t have that kind of luxury this year when offensive line coach Geoff Dart was diagnosed with brain tumors in October and underwent surgery, limiting his availability the rest of the season. The Hilltoppers relied on tight ends coach Ryan Mahaffey and graduate assistant Harris Bivin to pick up the slack.