When we last left the Texas State search, the Bobcats were making a strong push to hire Kendal Briles. Since then, sources have told FootballScoop that Houston has made a strong push to keep its offensive coordinator.
Still, even if Briles is off the table, that pursuit is indicative of the track this search is following.
Texas State has also spoken with South Florida offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert and Ole Miss offensive coordinator Phil Longo, but sources told FootballScoop Wednesday that West Virginia offensive coordinator Jake Spavital has emerged as a strong target for the Bobcats.
All three have experience in the state of Texas. Gilbert is a San Angelo, Texas, native who began his career in the Texas high school ranks and spent one season as the Texas offensive coordinator. Longo came to Ole Miss from Sam Houston State, where he was FootballScoop's FCS Offensive Coordinator of the Year in 2016. Spavital is an Oklahoma native who spent one season as a graduate assistant at Houston and three as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Texas A&M.
In one decade as a college coach, Spavital has worked a litany of future pro quarterbacks. As a graduate assistant, Spavital tutored Case Keenum at Houston and Brandon Weeden at Oklahoma State, then served as Geno Smith's position coach at West Virginia. From there, Spavital worked with Johnny Manziel at Texas A&M, Davis Webb at California, and for the past two seasons has helped Will Grier throw for 7,354 yards and 71 touchdowns the past two seasons at West Virginia.
Over the past few days we have heard of multiple programs interested in Spavital in various capacities, so he'll have options to consider if Texas State does offer its head coaching job to him.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.