HU offensive coordinator resigns

http://www.dailypress.com/sports/dp-beat...orts-local

BY MARTY O'BRIEN
Daily Press
February 12, 2007, 4:23 PM EST

Quote:HAMPTON -- Chris Beatty resigned Monday as Hampton University's offensive coordinator to accept a position as running backs coach at Northern Illinois University. Hampton football coach Joe Taylor said that longtime assistant coach Charles Bankins, the Pirates running backs coach in 2006, will replace Beatty as offensive coordinator.

Beatty, who coached Landstown High of Virginia Beach to three consecutive appearances in the Division 6 state title game (2003-05), spent one season at Hampton. The Pirates went 10-2 in 2006, winning their third consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title.

The Pirates led the MEAC in scoring at 34.2 points per game behind a balanced attack that featured per game averages of 177 yards passing and 175 yards rushing. Beatty will replace Thomas Hammock, who left Northern Illinois to become running backs coach at Minnesota.

Beatty said that Ohio State wide receivers coach Darrell Hazell, a friend, recommended him for the Northern Illinois opening to Huskies' defensive coordinator Denny Doornbos. Beatty interviewed at Northern Illinois on Thursday and informed Taylor of his decision to accept the job on Monday.

"I look at this as an opportunity to go to a (Division) I-A school that went to a bowl game (the Poinsettia Bowl) last season," Beatty said. "It's an opportunity to move to a little higher level.

"It was a tough decision, because Coach Taylor was great to work for. But it's a career opportunity I couldn't pass up."

Taylor said, "The reason I brought Chris over is to get (defenses) out of the box and bring more balance to our attack. We'll continue using the wide-open attack he introduced here because the kids had fun with it, but we'll simplify some of the concepts.

"Charles Bankins is more-than-qualified for the job."

Bankins has coached running backs at HU for six of the past seven seasons. He spent the 2006 season as assistant special teams coach with the St. Louis Rams of the NFL.

"I've been fortunate to learn from some great coaches, like Mike Martz in St. Louis and Chris (Beatty) here at Hampton," Bankins said. "I've coached wide receivers, tight ends and running backs, so I've been involved with the running game and the passing game.

"We're going to continue to get the ball to the playmakers and let them make plays, and continue the tradition of high-scoring offenses at Hampton."

Thoughts? I know absolutely nothing about Hampton University.

Now, we only have the Offensive Coordinator position left to fill.