Shepherd University offensive coordinator Tye Hiatt is expected to be Eastern New Mexico's next head coach, sources told FootballScoop on Thursday.
Hiatt has been at Sheperd since 2018, helping the Rams goin 17-6 during that time. That included a 10-3 mark and a Division II playoff appearance while leading the nation in passing offense (347 yards per game) and placing among Division II's top six completion percentage, passing offense and total offense. The Rams' offense featured Division II's leading passer, a 1,350-yard rusher, and two receivers with at least 1,100 yards.
Prior to Shepherd, Hiatt was the offensive coordinator at Frostburg State, where he produced an offense that averaged 36 points and 418 yards per game. His 2017 unit led Frostburg State to the Division III quarterfinals, where they fell to eventual national champion Mount Union.
A Southern Virginia graduate, Hiatt joined the SVU staff and eventually became the club's offensive coordinator for the 2013 season. That season saw Southern Virginia win a school-record eight games while averaging over 30 points a contest.
At Eastern New Mexico, Hiatt will step in for Kelley Lee, who stepped down last month to become the head coach at Veterans High School in Brownsville, Texas.
ENMU's offense is well-positioned to thrive under Hiatt's direction. The Greyhounds set a school record with 4,191 rushing yards in 2019 while winning a school-record eight games, including the program's first postseason victory at the Division II level.
Eastern New Mexico did not compete in the 2020-21 academic year; Shepherd hosts Mercyhurst on Saturday, its only contest of the spring season.
In addition to Hiatt, finalists for the position were Stephen F. Austin (FCS - TX) quarterbacks coach Jared May and former Jacksonville (FCS - FL) and Lenoir-Rhyne (D-II - NC) head coach, and current UNLV analyst, Ian Shields.
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