According to multiple reports, Larry Fedora is close to naming Indiana's Seth Littrell as offensive coordinator.
The news has been reported by CBS Sports, 247 Sports and Inside Carolina.
Littrell, who has spent the past two years as the offensive coordinator at Indiana and was Arizona's OC in 2011, will fill the role left when Blake Anderson was named the head coach at Arkansas State.
Greg Barnes at Inside Carolina has the relevant background.
Littrell has employed many of the same principles that define UNC head coach Larry Fedora’s offense, including an up-tempo no-huddle approach and packaged plays that allow for run and pass options. Littrell told the Big Ten Network in September that he preferred to run between 90-100 plays per game.
When Anderson - who coached UNC's quarterbacks - departed for Arkansas State, he took with him tight end coach Walt Bell. Litrell is expected to coach tight ends for the Tar Heels, which leaves quarterback coach as the lone staff vacancy remaining for UNC.
SETH LITRELL COACHING BACKGROUND
1997-00: Oklahoma - Player (Running Back)
2002-04: Kansas - Graduate Assistant
2005-08: Texas Tech - Running Backs
2009: Arizona - Running Backs & Tight Ends
2010: Arizona - Co-Offensive Coordinator/RB/TE
2011: Arizona - Offensive Coordinator/TE/H-backs
2012-: Indiana - Offensive Coordinator/TE/FB
Barnes notes that this also serves as a two-for-one hire since UNC also lost tight end coach Walt Belt who took the offensive coordinator position under Anderson at Arkansas State.
From a statistical perspective, Indiana was 9th in total offense in 2013, 17th in passing and 30th in rushing. That was an improvement on 34th in Littrell's first season and 83rd in the season prior to his arrival in Bloomington. The Hoosiers had two backs that combined for 1700 yards rushing last season dispelling any thought that Littrell's experience in the "Air Raid" offense under Mike Leach necessarily makes him "pass happy." Given UNC has T.J. Logan and Elijah Hood lined up to take handoffs next season, the running game should be productive. However Fedora has said he prefers offensive balance so the expectation is that will continue.
Fedora's remaining hire is for a quarterback coach. While he appears to have nailed the offensive coordinator hire, whoever he brings in as a quarterback coach is extremely important given Marquise Williams still needs to develop more as a passer. Bringing in a solid position coach here would help both the incumbent starter and the stable of quality quarterbacks UNC has waiting in the wings.
