Memphis football hires special teams coordinator, but loses OL coach it wanted
The Memphis football program appears to have lost out on an assistant coach it wanted to hire, but filled another crucial vacancy on Ryan Silverfield's staff.
Memphis announced Friday it hired Chris White to be its special teams coordinator.
White spent the past two seasons in the same position at Buffalo and comes with a resume that includes a wide range of assistant coaching experience in the Big Ten, ACC and NFL. He served as the special teams coordinator at Iowa (2012-16) and Syracuse (2000-03). He also worked alongside Silverfield when both served on the Minnesota Vikings staff between 2009-12.
"We are thrilled to hire Chris White as our special teams coordinator," Silverfield said in a statement. "He will be a tremendous asset to our program with his experience at every level including the NFL. Coach White knows how to build relationships and will allow Memphis to once again be recognized nationally for our special teams."
White, who spent the 2019 season as tight ends coach for the Detroit Lions, replaces Charles Bankins. Though the Tigers got strong performances from placekicker Chris Howard and punter Joe Doyle during the 2022 campaign, they ranked 121st in the country in kickoff return defense and 122nd in punt return defense.
Bankins was one of three assistant coaches Silverfield did not retain following Memphis' win over Utah State in the First Responders Bowl.
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Veteran assistant coach Will Friend was expected to be hired as Memphis' next offensive line coach, but those plans have changed.
Friend will not join the Tigers staff after all. Mississippi State announced Friday that it has hired Friend, who previously coached the offensive line at Tennessee, Auburn and Georgia. The about-face came just one day after his arrival at Memphis seemed imminent.
It means Silverfield has one last spot to fill on his staff. The Tigers offensive line has struggled in recent years under former position coach Jim Bridge.
Silverfield previously announced the hiring of new wide receivers coach Larry Smith from UAB.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis football hires special teams coordinator, loses Will Friend
