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Louisville football: Comparing the tale of two completely different staffs

By Alex Stengel

ANN ARBOR, MI - AUGUST 30: Appalachin State head coach Scott Satterfield watches the pregame warms up prior to the start of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on August 30, 2014 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - AUGUST 30: Appalachin State head coach Scott Satterfield watches the pregame warms up prior to the start of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on August 30, 2014 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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CHESTNUT HILL, MA – OCTOBER 13: Quarterback Jawon Pass #4 of the Louisville Cardinals hands off to Hassan Hall #19 of the Louisville Cardinals during the third quarter of the game against the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
CHESTNUT HILL, MA – OCTOBER 13: Quarterback Jawon Pass #4 of the Louisville Cardinals hands off to Hassan Hall #19 of the Louisville Cardinals during the third quarter of the game against the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /

Running Backs

The old – Kolby Smith

You might recognize Kolby Smith as a running back himself from Petrino’s highly successful first stint at Louisville – helping the Cards win their first BCS Orange Bowl in 2006.

Petrino’s familiarity with Smith as a player helped him secure his first staff position with Arkansas as an assistant strength and conditioning coach in 2012. Like other coaches on last years staff, Smith’s short coaching resume have all come under Petrino – following Bobby from Arkansas, to Western Kentucky, and eventually landing back in Louisville.

If you think there might be a pattern starting to emerge – you’re not wrong.

There is nothing wrong with hiring a former player to coach a skill position that he formerly excelled at. The issue comes with not having any college coaching experience outside of a Petrino-led staff.

The length and scope of coaching experience was a main theme of Petrino’s staff last season.

The new – Norval Mckenzie

If you have read anything about what Louisville’s offense might look like next season, it’s no secret that Coach Satterfield loves running the ball.

With more emphasis on the run game going forward, Satterfield’s hire to lead the running backs was going to be a key piece to ensuring the success of that position. Hiring a nominee for last years Broyles Award (the best assistant coach in college football) is a hell of hire to do just that.

Prior to joining Satterfield at Louisville, Coach Mckenzie oversaw the success at the running back position for Arkansas State – with his group averaging just over 186 yards per game last season.

Mckenzie’s prior experience as an SEC running back himself allows him to provide great insight to the current running back corps that will be facing some formidable ACC defenses.

And he’s not a one trick pony.

Mckenzie also excelled as the special team’s coordinator for Arkansas State – securing the best punt return defense in the country. Arkansas State’s kick return defense was not far behind that, finishing sixth nationally.

Satterfield’s staff is filled with up and coming coaching stars, with Mckenzie firmly in that group.

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