Crowton Lands Maryland Job, LSU Looking For A New OC

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LSU is officially in the market for a new offensive coordinator.

Gary Crowton told Les Miles at a staff meeting this morning that he had accepted the O-coordinator position at Maryland under new Terrapins coach Randy Edsall.

“It’s a new challenge in my coaching career and I’m excited about that, knowing that I left LSU, which is a great place,” Crowton told The New Orleans Times-Picayune.  Of course, many believe his decision to leave was mutually arrived at by the coach and Miles.  Crowton, however, says that’s not true.

“No, I never was (asked to leave).  I never ever felt pressure to be let go.  I always felt encouraged, Coach Miles told me after the (Cotton Bowl) game he was excited about coming back with two senior quarterbacks and Zach Mettenberger.  Never ever once was that ever discussed.  I never felt any pressure whatsoever.  My wife and I talked it over and I decided to take it.  Coach Miles gave me his blessings and gave me a hug, thanked me, and I thanked him and that was it.”

Crowton has a long history of success but he came under fire in Baton Rouge when his offense’s production dropped off in 2009 and 2010.  (As we noted yesterday, that might have had more to do with LSU’s quarterbacks than LSU’s quarterbacks coach.)

So who’s next in Baton Rouge?  FootballScoop.com reports that “sources tell us Les Miles has interest in TCU co-offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach Justin Fuente and Washington offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier.”

Nussmeier and the Huskies put a scare into Miles’ Tigers 31-23 in 2009.  His background includes stops in both the CFL and NFL.

Fuente has been at TCU since 2007.  Originally hired as running backs coach, he took over as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach before the ’09 season.  Interestingly, Fuente played quarterback at Oklahoma while Miles served as offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State.  Fuente finished his collegiate career at Murray State.

TigerBait.com — the Rivals site covering LSU — believes Miles “will consider both college and NFL assistants” for the Tigers’ vacancy.