Sources tell FootballScoop that among the candidates being considered at Lamar (FCS - TX) are two coaches with recent FBS coordinator experience.
Tim Beck, who Tom Herman recently reassigned on the Longhorns staff after previously serving as the program's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach since joining the staff in 2017, as well as Southern Miss co-offensive coordinator / wide receivers coach Scotty Walden are both very much in the mix sources tell FootballScoop.
Beck followed Tom Herman to Texas in 2017 after working together at Ohio State for two seasons. He's been an assistant and coordinator at the major college level dating back to 2005 when he made the jump from head coach at Mansfield Summit HS (TX) to Kansas wide receivers coach. He added the pass game coordinator title with the Jayhawks in 2007, left to coach the running backs at Nebraska in 2008 and moved to quarterbacks with the offensive coordinator designation for the Huskers in 2011.
Walden has been a fast rising star in the coaching profession for some time now. After three years as the offensive coordinator at Division III's East Texas Baptist, Walden was promoted to head coach and was one of the youngest head coaches in all of college football. He's known for directing explosive offenses from his stops at the small college, and before becoming the offensive play caller at ETBU, Walden's offense at Sul Ross State (D-III - TX) led all of college football with 582 yards per game while scoring 50 points per game in his first year as an offensive coordinator.
Considering their ties in the the Lone Star State and extensive resumes as play callers and effective recruiters, Walden and Beck would both be solid choices if that's the route Lamar decides to go, but other candidates are being considered as well.
Jeff Traylor reportedly was previously a candidate for this job; but he landed the UTSA head coaching position. Clearly there is strong interest in this one.
Other job openings and Lamar's budget for the program could impact who ultimately becomes head coach and the timing of that decision; but we are told Lamar would like to have their coach in place in the coming days. Back in November, the school made the decision to part ways with head coach Mike Schultz, who had led the program since 2017.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest coaching change information.