BOZEMAN — Taylor Housewright is leaving Montana State to become the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at FBS Akron, according to reports that emerged Wednesday.
Later Wednesday, the Bobcats announced the promotion of assistant Tyler Walker to the offensive coordinator role.
“I have seen a tremendous amount of growth from Tyler in our three years together,” head coach Brent Vigen stated in a press release. “The work he has demonstrated gives me great confidence in promoting him into this role. I feel strongly that this move will allow us to continue to move forward with our offense.”
Sources: Dynamic FCS play-caller Taylor Housewright headed to Akron as OC, quarterbacks coach https://t.co/uYNtZCnctH via @JohnDBrice1
— FootballScoop (@FootballScoop) January 10, 2024
Housewright spent the past three seasons as offensive coordinator and QBs coach at Montana State, directing a unit that finished No. 2 in the FCS in both scoring offense (39.9 ppg) and rushing offense (291.0 ypg) in 2023. Football Scoop first reported Housewright's defection to Akron.
At Akron, Housewright will return to his home state of Ohio. Housewright is from Ashland, Ohio, and was formerly a star quarterback at Division II Ashland University. Akron competes in football in the FBS Mid-American Conference.
“I want to thank Taylor for his efforts these past seasons,” Vigen stated in the release. “His contributions to our success in my three years has been significant, and I wish him the best in his pursuits.”
Walker completed his second season coaching Montana State’s tight ends and fullbacks in 2023. Seniors Derryk Snell, at fullback, and Treyton Pickering, at tight end, each earned first-team All-Big Sky honors this season with Snell capturing first-team All-America honors from Phil Steele.
Snell also earned first team all-league honors in 2022. Walker coached Bobcat tight ends and fullbacks in 2022 and 2023 after joining the staff as director of football recruiting in 2021.
Originally from Hamilton, Ohio, Walker played at Bethel (Tennessee) in 2008-09 and graduated from Miami (Ohio) in 2014. He began his coaching career at Miami as a graduate assistant, working with receivers in 2014 and defensive linemen in 2015.
He coached receivers and coordinated the pass game at Davenport University in 2016, becoming receivers coach/pass game coordinator at Grand Rapids Central Catholic High School in Michigan in 2017. He came to MSU after three years at NCAA Division III Muskingum (Ohio), where he worked as defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator in 2018-19 and defensive coordinator in 2020.
At times utilizing a two-quarterback system with Tommy Mellott and Sean Chambers, the Bobcats' offense ranked third in the FCS in total offense (472.0 ypg) and second in fewest total turnovers (7) under Housewright in 2023.
MSU's rushing attack led the Big Sky with the help of running backs Julius Davis (718 yards, 6 TDs), Jared White (524 yards, 4 TDs) and Scottre Humphrey (441 yards, 8 TDs).
Mellott and Chambers were also a huge factor in the ground game, with a combined 1,360 yards and 19 rushing TDs. Chambers had 14 rushing touchdowns in 2023, and had 33 rushing TDs in two seasons at MSU.
Mellot and Chambers also combined to throw 19 touchdowns and just four interceptions this past season.
Housewright was a member of a Montana State coaching staff that guided the Bobcats to two Big Sky Conference championships, three playoff berths and an appearance in the FCS championship game at the end of the 2021 season.
Walker will continue to coach MSU tight ends and fullbacks, Vigen said, indicating that offensive line coach Al Johnson has been promoted to run game coordinator. A national search for a quarterbacks coach is underway.
Housewright is the second coordinator to not return for to MSU for the 2024 season. Defensive coordinator Willie Mack Garza did not have his contract renewed following the 2023 campaign, and promoted linebackers coach Bobby Daly and defensive line coach Shawn Howe as co-defensive coordinators.
Both Housewright and Garza had off-the-field issues as members of MSU's coaching staff. Housewright was arrested last May 6 on three misdemeanor charges including aggravated DUI, while Garza was charged with DUI following the Bobcats' 55-21 victory over Montana.
