Report: Alabama to hire Penn State's Josh Gattis as Co-OC/WR coach
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama will hire Josh Gattis as its co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach, according to a report from FootballScoop.com on Friday.
Gattis has served as the offensive recruiting coordinator/ wide receivers coach at Penn State since 2014. He joins Alabama's staff after reports of Mike Locksley being promoted to offensive coordinator. Locksley spent the past season as the co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach for the Crimson Tide.
Before joining head coach James Franklin at Penn State, Gattis held the same position on Franklin’s staff at Vanderbilt from 2012-13. He spent the 2011 season as the wide receivers coach for Western Michigan and served as a graduate assistant at North Carolina in 2010.
Last season, Gattis helped coached a Penn State passing unit that ranked No. 23 in the nation averaging 290.2 yards per game through the air. The Nittany Lions totaled 3,772 yards and 32 touchdowns through the air. Gattis is also a talented recruiter and helped the Nittany Lions secure four consecutive Top 25 classes, including Top 15 classes in two of the last three seasons.
At Alabama, Gattis will take over an impressive young receiving unit headlined by Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs and Devonta Smith. The trio combined for 33 receptions for 659 yards with 11 touchdowns last season. With Gattis serving as the receivers coach, Locksley figures to oversee the quarterbacks next season.
