BETTER THAN ADVERTISED: Phillip Lolley’s situation

Hey everyone.

We learned yesterday that assistant coach Phillip Lolley, who’s been coaching Auburn’s cornerbacks for three seasons, has been moved into an unidentified, off-the-field role beginning today. The move gives new defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder an opportunity to hire at least one assistant of his choosing, which is important to a lot of guys in that position.

That means VanGorder can have someone he truly trusts handling things in the secondary. It’s peace of mind. And I expect that coach to be Willie Martinez.

Yet this isn’t a blog about VanGorder or Martinez; it’s about Lolley.

I’ve been puzzled for years about why more Auburn fans don’t adore Lolley. The criticism seems rooted in the fact that he came to the program in 1999 after a successful run at North Jackson High in northeast Alabama.

(Here’s a scouting report I put together a few years back.)

Some people — maybe it’s 5% of the fan base or maybe 50% — had this vague belief that Lolley somehow wasn’t good enough to coach at Auburn. He worked at the high-school level for more than two decades, sure, but some coaches just enjoy competing at that level. You need only to look at Gus Malzahn and Clemson’s $1.3-million man, Chad Morris, to see that some high-school coaches are worth their weight in gold. (Prior to the 2008 economic implosion, of course.)

I’ve always been on the opinion that Lolley served a meaningful purpose during his seven seasons as an on-the-field assistant. He knows how to coach defensive backs. I watched him carefully back in the days when practices were open and he clearly was in command of his trade. He has good players to show for his work: Carlos Rogers, Jae Wilhite, Jerraud Powers and Pat Lee. They’re all in the NFL. That’s a fine track record.

Yet somehow Lolley never was taken seriously as an assistant by a significant portion of the fan base. Auburn always had more alluring coaches who worked their way through the college ranks. Lolley was the forgotten man.

He’ll recede back into (relative) anonymity now that a new coach soon will be hired to work with the Tigers’ secondary. Lolley won’t complain. That’s not what he does. He’ll instead continue to work diligently to make Auburn better on the field and help market Auburn players when their college days draw to a close. He knows everyone. His country drawl down-home wit endear him to the younger crowd and his knowledgeable, straightforward style appeals to the older crowd. Lolley is a swell ambassador.

He just finished his 13th season at Auburn. The program could use 13 more.

On a related note, Lolley got me thinking about which assistant coaches spent the most time working here …

LONGEST-TENURED AUBURN ASSISTANTS:
25 — Joe Whitt Sr, 1981-2005
24 — “Big” Gene Lorendo, 1951-75
24 — Joe Connally, 1951-75
18 — Paul Davis, 1967-80 and 1987-90
18 — Frank Young, 1971 and 1974-90
18 — “Shot” Senn, 1947-64
17 — Dick McGowen, 1948-64
15 — Wayne Hall, 1981-95
16 — George Atkins, 1956-71
13 — Boots Chambless, 1934-46
13 — Jimmy Hitchcock, 1933-45*
13 — Ralph “Shug” Jordan, 1933-45*
13 — Hal Herring, 1953-65
13 — Buddy McCollum, 1934-46

* = Auburn lists Jordan’s and Hitchcock’s tenure as 13 consecutive seasons, but I know Jordan stormed Utah Beach in June 1944 with the Army. Hitchcock served in the Navy.

TALK ABOUT IT IN THE FORUMS