Report: OC Eddie Gran No Longer In The Running For FAU Head Coaching Job

Dec 5, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendon Kay (11) looks to pass during the third quarter against the Louisville Cardinals at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been rumored for weeks, months even, that Cincinnati offensive coordinator Eddie Gran would be on the short list of candidates to take over the vacant Florida Atlantic head coaching job. These heated up when it was revealed in the middle of last week that Gran would interview for the position on Wednesday. But, according to CBS Sports’ Bruce Feldman, the UC offensive coordinator was passed over by other coaches.

I’m really not all that surprised.

His recruiting prowess and connections to southern Florida aside, this move just never made much sense to me. I understood the draw of Eddie Gran; his high school connections in the Miami area would help fill the coffers of a Florida Atlantic roster desperate for talent. But he was only in the offensive coordinator position at Cincinnati for a year. Heck, less than a year. I would have thought FAU would go after a coach with a little more experience at the coordinator position that Gran. Nothing again him, just logic tells me a head coach of an entire football program should have established himself in that role longer than Gran did.

So for the Bearcats, it looks like they might get out of the crazy coaching carousel season relatively clean. And I’m glad Eddie Gran is back. He proved that he’s a capable offensive coordinator who can mold his system to meet his players’ strengths. Plus, heading into the bowl game and ultimately the 2014 season, it will only benefit the team to have the same coach guiding the offense.

That is, unless he runs Ralph David Abernathy up the middle incessantly next year.