MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama officially named Bryant Vincent its offensive coordinator on Friday, bringing back a former Jaguars assistant who spent the 2014 season running the offense at UAB. Vincent will also coach the quarterbacks.
The announcement fills the vacancy created when the program dismissed former offensive coordinator Robert Matthews. Reports earlier in the week had indicated Vincent would be the choice.
Turnaround at UAB
In his only season as an offensive coordinator at UAB, Vincent directed an offense that averaged 431.8 yards, 212.1 rushing yards and 33.2 points per game. The Blazers scored at least 40 points five times and became bowl eligible for the first time since 2004 before the university announced it was ending its football program.
UAB entered the bowl season ranked among the top 40 nationally in four statistical categories: rushing offense (33rd), completion percentage (32nd), scoring offense (37th) and third-down conversions (40th).
Four UAB offensive players earned all-conference honors, including first-team running back Jordan Howard. Howard ranked seventh nationally in rushing and 20th in rushing touchdowns with 1,587 yards and 13 scores.
Familiar Face in Mobile
Vincent previously spent three seasons on the South Alabama staff. He coached the tight ends in his first year before working with the quarterbacks for two seasons. Before joining the Jaguars, he was head coach at Spanish Fort High School, where he led the Toros to a state championship.
“Bryant Vincent is a complete football coach. He’s a great recruiter, a great motivator and has a very good offensive mind,” head coach Joey Jones said. “He went up to UAB and did extremely well, they were scoring a lot of points including 34 against Mississippi State; watching them play, you could see they had an explosive offense. It’s great to have him back.”
“I’m very excited to be back. In my opinion South Alabama is a gold mine, it’s a first-class university with first-class people and facilities,” Vincent said. “Coach Jones has done a great job building this program from the ground up, I’m really excited to be a part of it again and hope to help build on the momentum that has been established here.”
Offensive Philosophy
Vincent outlined the style he intends to run with the Jaguars.
“Offensively, we want to play fast with a true fast tempo, we want to be able to stretch the field vertically, have a power running game, and be able to get the ball out on the perimeter and down the field,” he said. “We want to put the ball in our playmakers’ hands in space and let them make plays.”
Bowl Preparation
Vincent was scheduled to join the staff for Friday’s practice and will be with the team for its bowl game against Bowling Green on Saturday, Dec. 20, in the inaugural Raycom Media Camellia Bowl in Montgomery. It is South Alabama’s first bowl appearance.
The Jaguars compete in the Sun Belt Conference.
