Ole Miss to hire Marshall’s Jeremy Springer as special teams coordinator
OXFORD, Miss. — Legendary coach John Wooden used to say, “Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.”
This offseason has brought about quite a bit of change for Ole Miss, not just in players who have transferred in and out, but also with respect to the coaching staff.
However, Rebels’ head coach Lane Kiffin continues to embrace whatever comes his way. While many people have focused on the changes to the offensive and defensive staff, there’s another important area that has a new coach in Oxford: special teams.
Per reports, and first reported by John Brice of Football Scoop, Kiffin has hired Jeremy Springer, most recently head of special teams at Marshall, to replace Coleman Hutzler who departed for Alabama.
While with the Thundering Herd, Springer’s unit finished in the top 10 nationally with four blocked kicks and one blocked punt. The new special teams coach arrives in Oxford with with plenty of experience that will continue to open up recruiting pipelines for Ole Miss.
Springer brings experience, recruiting ties
Prior to his arrival in Huntington to coach Marshall, the native Texan and former UTEP standout linebacker spent three years as the special teams coordinator under Kevin Sumlin at Arizona. Springer has also made notable stops at Texas A&M and UTEP.
Jeremy Springer was standout LB at UTEP
Springer played linebacker for UT-El Paso from 2007-2011. He notched 161 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss and one INT as a standout for the Miners, and after graduation was on staff with UTEP for four season.
During his time in College Station, Springer made quite an impact, wearing many hats, including quality control analyst for the Aggies. He worked under A&M’s special teams coordinator, Jeff Banks, and also helped with tight ends.
During that time the Aggies were one of the top special teams units in the country, leading the nation in blocked kicks and blocked punts. In 2016, the special teams finished top in the country in punt returns and allowed zero blocked kicks.
Springer brings not only coaching experience, but also a strong footing on the recruiting trail in Texas. During his time with the Aggies, he helped open the doors to recruitment in south and west Texas.
At the end of the day, the teams that succeed over the long haul are the ones that can adapt quickly to change — and that is exactly what Coach Kiffin has done.
Coach Wooden would be impressed with the way Kiffin is making the very best of everything that comes his way.
Hotty Toddy, Coach Springer, and Welcome to the ‘Sip!
Lee Ann Herring-Olvedo
Lee Ann is the Director of Recruiting for The Rebel Walk. She is a veteran SEC sports journalist and NFL content writer. She is also the Sr. Editor for MESPORTS digital. Herring-Olvedo is a Brown University graduate who loves good cigars, good games, and a smooth glass of bourbon — not necessarily in that order.
