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Linguist Announces Offensive and Defensive Coordinators
5/19/2021 12:05:00 PM | Football
BUFFALO, NY – University at Buffalo football head coach Maurice Linguist has announced the hiring of a pair of seasoned coaches to serve as offensive and defensive coordinators for the Bulls. Shane Montgomery will serve as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach while Joe Cauthen will serve as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
Montgomery comes to Buffalo after spending the last two seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at James Madison where he called plays for one of the FCS' top-ranked offenses. The Dukes ranked third in scoring in 2019 (40.0) and 14th in 2020-21 (33.6). JMU was 10th nationally in his first season in total offense (465.8) and 12th in the FCS in his second season (447.5).
The 2020-21 season, in which the Dukes reached the FCS semifinals, saw them rank second in the country on fourth down (85.7%), sixth in rushing (232.6), yards per completion (14.82) and time of possession (34:20), seventh in pass efficiency (156.28) and 10th on third down (48.4%).
In 2019, The Dukes led the country in completion percentage (70.6%) and fourth-down offense (88.9%) while also ranking second on third down (53.6%), third in first downs (24.81), fourth in pass efficiency (169.44), sixth in the red zone (91.7%), seventh in time of possession (33:14) and 10th in rushing (242.9).
The Dukes also led the CAA in total offensive touchdowns (76), rushing touchdowns (43) and yards per pass attempt (9.1) and was second in yards per carry (5.0).
Montgomery's quarterbacks group was led by Ben DiNucci, who paced the country in completion percentage and passed for better than 3,400 yards with 29 touchdowns and only six interceptions. The senior signal called produced a 169.5 passer rating and completed nearly 71% of his passes.
Montgomery has nearly 30 years of Division I coaching experience, which includes four years as an FBS head coach and 16 years as an offensive coordinator at both the FCS and FBS levels.
Montgomery came to JMU after spending the 2018 season as offensive coordinator at Charlotte. 49ers won five games, which was a program-record at the FBS level. They also finished .500 in Conference USA for the first time, finishing with a 4-4 league record.
Prior to his stint with the 49ers, Montgomery led the offense for eight seasons (2010-17) at Youngstown State, coaching the top quarterback and some of the best running backs in school history. In each of his eight seasons, YSU threw and rushed for over 2,000 yards. The Penguins achieved the program's top-four outputs of total offense during his tenure (2011, 2016, 2010, 2017) while Montgomery called the plays.
Montgomery helped four-year starter Kurt Hess rewrite the YSU record books during his first four seasons as offensive coordinator. Hess finished his career as the school's all-time leader in completions (706), attempts (1,135), yards (8,925), touchdown passes (75), yards per game (198.4), 200-yard passing games (24), passer rating (144.96), touchdown responsibility (87), four-touchdown passing games (six), total offensive yards (9,459) and total offense per game (210.2).
He was part of YSU's run to the national championship in 2016, which included playoff victories against Samford, at Jacksonville State, versus Wofford and at Eastern Washington before falling to JMU in the title game. That season ended a 10-year playoff drought for the Penguins.
Before his run in Youngstown, Montgomery spent one season as offensive coordinator at Akron (2009) and eight years at Miami (OH), serving as offensive coordinator (2001-04) and head coach (2005-08). He also led the offensive during his four years at the helm.
While at Miami, Montgomery mentored two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who set 21 program records in three seasons before being the 11th overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. Roethlisberger threw for over 10,000 yards and 80 touchdowns in his three-year collegiate career. Montgomery was also a two-time finalist for the Frank Broyles Award, which goes to the nation's top assistant coach.
In his four seasons as head coach with the RedHawks, he guided the team to a share of two Mid-American Conference East division titles (2005, 2007). His first season as head coach saw Miami win five of its last six games, place 11 players on the all-conference team and have seven players move on to the NFL the following season.
Montgomery also had stops as an assistant at Chattanooga (1993-00) and at NC State (1991-92) where he was a quarterback from 1986-89. He was a three-year starter and led the Wolfpack to two bowl berths, earning Offensive MVP honors at the 1988 Peach Bowl and 1989 Copper Bowl. He was a Second Team All-ACC selection in 1989 and finished his career with over 5,000 passing yards and 31 touchdowns.
Cauthen has over 30 years of coaching experience, most recently serving as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at the University of Houston over the past two seasons. His defenses are known to play an aggressive, attacking style.
Prior to being hired at Houston, Cauthen spent five successful seasons as defensive coordinator at Arkansas State. The Red Wolves ranked among the top 21 in the nation in defensive touchdowns each of his final four seasons with 22 total over that span. The 2015 campaign saw A-State's defense record an FBS-high eight touchdowns, while also leading the country in interceptions with a school FBS-era-record 26. During Cauthen's time at Arkansas State, the Red Wolves totaled 79 interceptions, the seventh-best total nationally in that span.
In addition, his attacking defense was a menace behind the line as Arkansas State totaling at least five tackles for loss in 39 of its last 42 games and ranked in the top 25 nationally in TFLs between 2016 and 2018, including 13th in 2018.
Prior to A-State, Cauthen most recently spent the previous three seasons as an assistant coach at Middle Tennessee. Cauthen served as the Blue Raiders' defensive line coach in 2012 and 2013 after working as the linebackers coach in 2011. He was also the special teams coordinator all three years he spent at MTSU.
The Blue Raiders put together back-to-back eight win seasons Cauthen's last two years at the school and played in the Armed Forces Bowl in 2013. He tutored a pair of all-conference players during his time as defensive line coach, including Jimmy Staten in 2013 and Omar McLendon in 2012.
MTSU?proved to be an opportunistic defense in 2013 with Cauthen a part of the coaching staff as the Blue Raiders ranked fifth in the nation in turnovers gained with 33, including 15 interceptions and 18 fumble recoveries. MTSU?also ranked 17th nationally in red zone defense (.755) and 19th nationally in passing defense (203.4 ypg). His defensive line also helped the team rack up 67 tackles for loss and 27 sacks.
In his first year guiding the defensive line, Cauthen molded a young group that showed marked improvement from 2011. McLendon earned all-conference honors while Kendall Dangerfield and Staten enjoyed career years.
Cauthen made his way to Middle Tennessee after spending the previous four seasons as the defensive coordinator at Valdosta State where he was on the same staff as Linguist. In 2010, Cauthen helped lead Valdosta State to a Gulf South Conference Championship after his defense finished ranked 23rd nationally in total defense and 18th in scoring defense. His unit was led by All-American and National Defensive Player of the Year Larry Dean. Dean, who had 122 tackles, became the first player in school history to earn the player of the year award.
Cauthen's defense was dominant during the 2008 season as it finished 31st nationally in total defense and 24th in scoring defense. The Blazers allowed opponents just 304.6 yards per game during his second season with the school while surrendering just 18.6 points per outing. On the rushing side, the Blazers only allowed 108.3 yards per game to rank 31st in the nation while opponents found throwing the ball even tougher as they were held to a 104.91 efficiency rating, a number that ranked VSU 20th nationally.
In 2007, Cauthen directed a unit that finished 14th in the nation in scoring defense at 17.6 points per game as VSU won its second national title. Cauthen's knowledge of the defensive side of the ball was no more evident than in the 2007 NCAA Championship game, where his scheme held Northwest Missouri State running back Xavier Omon, who had averaged 236 yards a game in three previous playoff contests, to just 63 yards on 27 carries, an average of 2.3 yards per carry.
Cauthen's aggressive, ball-hawking defensive approach helped VSU lead the nation in passes intercepted with 27 in 2007 while finishing second in turnovers gained with 40. Additionally, Valdosta State was 25th in passing efficiency defense (105.9) and 33rd in rushing defense (120.9 yards per game).
Prior to Valdosta State, Cauthen had coaching stints at Texas A&M-Commerce, Stephen F. Austin and Trinity Valley Community College.
Montgomery comes to Buffalo after spending the last two seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at James Madison where he called plays for one of the FCS' top-ranked offenses. The Dukes ranked third in scoring in 2019 (40.0) and 14th in 2020-21 (33.6). JMU was 10th nationally in his first season in total offense (465.8) and 12th in the FCS in his second season (447.5).
The 2020-21 season, in which the Dukes reached the FCS semifinals, saw them rank second in the country on fourth down (85.7%), sixth in rushing (232.6), yards per completion (14.82) and time of possession (34:20), seventh in pass efficiency (156.28) and 10th on third down (48.4%).
In 2019, The Dukes led the country in completion percentage (70.6%) and fourth-down offense (88.9%) while also ranking second on third down (53.6%), third in first downs (24.81), fourth in pass efficiency (169.44), sixth in the red zone (91.7%), seventh in time of possession (33:14) and 10th in rushing (242.9).
The Dukes also led the CAA in total offensive touchdowns (76), rushing touchdowns (43) and yards per pass attempt (9.1) and was second in yards per carry (5.0).
Montgomery's quarterbacks group was led by Ben DiNucci, who paced the country in completion percentage and passed for better than 3,400 yards with 29 touchdowns and only six interceptions. The senior signal called produced a 169.5 passer rating and completed nearly 71% of his passes.
Montgomery has nearly 30 years of Division I coaching experience, which includes four years as an FBS head coach and 16 years as an offensive coordinator at both the FCS and FBS levels.
Montgomery came to JMU after spending the 2018 season as offensive coordinator at Charlotte. 49ers won five games, which was a program-record at the FBS level. They also finished .500 in Conference USA for the first time, finishing with a 4-4 league record.
Prior to his stint with the 49ers, Montgomery led the offense for eight seasons (2010-17) at Youngstown State, coaching the top quarterback and some of the best running backs in school history. In each of his eight seasons, YSU threw and rushed for over 2,000 yards. The Penguins achieved the program's top-four outputs of total offense during his tenure (2011, 2016, 2010, 2017) while Montgomery called the plays.
Montgomery helped four-year starter Kurt Hess rewrite the YSU record books during his first four seasons as offensive coordinator. Hess finished his career as the school's all-time leader in completions (706), attempts (1,135), yards (8,925), touchdown passes (75), yards per game (198.4), 200-yard passing games (24), passer rating (144.96), touchdown responsibility (87), four-touchdown passing games (six), total offensive yards (9,459) and total offense per game (210.2).
He was part of YSU's run to the national championship in 2016, which included playoff victories against Samford, at Jacksonville State, versus Wofford and at Eastern Washington before falling to JMU in the title game. That season ended a 10-year playoff drought for the Penguins.
Before his run in Youngstown, Montgomery spent one season as offensive coordinator at Akron (2009) and eight years at Miami (OH), serving as offensive coordinator (2001-04) and head coach (2005-08). He also led the offensive during his four years at the helm.
While at Miami, Montgomery mentored two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who set 21 program records in three seasons before being the 11th overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. Roethlisberger threw for over 10,000 yards and 80 touchdowns in his three-year collegiate career. Montgomery was also a two-time finalist for the Frank Broyles Award, which goes to the nation's top assistant coach.
In his four seasons as head coach with the RedHawks, he guided the team to a share of two Mid-American Conference East division titles (2005, 2007). His first season as head coach saw Miami win five of its last six games, place 11 players on the all-conference team and have seven players move on to the NFL the following season.
Montgomery also had stops as an assistant at Chattanooga (1993-00) and at NC State (1991-92) where he was a quarterback from 1986-89. He was a three-year starter and led the Wolfpack to two bowl berths, earning Offensive MVP honors at the 1988 Peach Bowl and 1989 Copper Bowl. He was a Second Team All-ACC selection in 1989 and finished his career with over 5,000 passing yards and 31 touchdowns.
Cauthen has over 30 years of coaching experience, most recently serving as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at the University of Houston over the past two seasons. His defenses are known to play an aggressive, attacking style.
Prior to being hired at Houston, Cauthen spent five successful seasons as defensive coordinator at Arkansas State. The Red Wolves ranked among the top 21 in the nation in defensive touchdowns each of his final four seasons with 22 total over that span. The 2015 campaign saw A-State's defense record an FBS-high eight touchdowns, while also leading the country in interceptions with a school FBS-era-record 26. During Cauthen's time at Arkansas State, the Red Wolves totaled 79 interceptions, the seventh-best total nationally in that span.
In addition, his attacking defense was a menace behind the line as Arkansas State totaling at least five tackles for loss in 39 of its last 42 games and ranked in the top 25 nationally in TFLs between 2016 and 2018, including 13th in 2018.
Prior to A-State, Cauthen most recently spent the previous three seasons as an assistant coach at Middle Tennessee. Cauthen served as the Blue Raiders' defensive line coach in 2012 and 2013 after working as the linebackers coach in 2011. He was also the special teams coordinator all three years he spent at MTSU.
The Blue Raiders put together back-to-back eight win seasons Cauthen's last two years at the school and played in the Armed Forces Bowl in 2013. He tutored a pair of all-conference players during his time as defensive line coach, including Jimmy Staten in 2013 and Omar McLendon in 2012.
MTSU?proved to be an opportunistic defense in 2013 with Cauthen a part of the coaching staff as the Blue Raiders ranked fifth in the nation in turnovers gained with 33, including 15 interceptions and 18 fumble recoveries. MTSU?also ranked 17th nationally in red zone defense (.755) and 19th nationally in passing defense (203.4 ypg). His defensive line also helped the team rack up 67 tackles for loss and 27 sacks.
In his first year guiding the defensive line, Cauthen molded a young group that showed marked improvement from 2011. McLendon earned all-conference honors while Kendall Dangerfield and Staten enjoyed career years.
Cauthen made his way to Middle Tennessee after spending the previous four seasons as the defensive coordinator at Valdosta State where he was on the same staff as Linguist. In 2010, Cauthen helped lead Valdosta State to a Gulf South Conference Championship after his defense finished ranked 23rd nationally in total defense and 18th in scoring defense. His unit was led by All-American and National Defensive Player of the Year Larry Dean. Dean, who had 122 tackles, became the first player in school history to earn the player of the year award.
Cauthen's defense was dominant during the 2008 season as it finished 31st nationally in total defense and 24th in scoring defense. The Blazers allowed opponents just 304.6 yards per game during his second season with the school while surrendering just 18.6 points per outing. On the rushing side, the Blazers only allowed 108.3 yards per game to rank 31st in the nation while opponents found throwing the ball even tougher as they were held to a 104.91 efficiency rating, a number that ranked VSU 20th nationally.
In 2007, Cauthen directed a unit that finished 14th in the nation in scoring defense at 17.6 points per game as VSU won its second national title. Cauthen's knowledge of the defensive side of the ball was no more evident than in the 2007 NCAA Championship game, where his scheme held Northwest Missouri State running back Xavier Omon, who had averaged 236 yards a game in three previous playoff contests, to just 63 yards on 27 carries, an average of 2.3 yards per carry.
Cauthen's aggressive, ball-hawking defensive approach helped VSU lead the nation in passes intercepted with 27 in 2007 while finishing second in turnovers gained with 40. Additionally, Valdosta State was 25th in passing efficiency defense (105.9) and 33rd in rushing defense (120.9 yards per game).
Prior to Valdosta State, Cauthen had coaching stints at Texas A&M-Commerce, Stephen F. Austin and Trinity Valley Community College.
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