Former Tennessee Titans and LSU football quarterback Zach Mettenberger has returned to Father Ryan's staff as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after spending the past two seasons as Nick Saban's Alabama analyst.
Mettenberger was an assistant to Father Ryan during the 2021 season, when the Irish went 7-5 and won the eventual Division II-AAA state championship in the second round of the TSSAA Football Playoffs. Lost to Naru McCurry 42-35. He had been Hillsboro's offensive coordinator a year earlier.
Mettenberger and his father Ryan's coach, Brian Rector, have kept in touch over the past two years. Mettenberger needed a job after Saban left Alabama, and the Irish had an opening with the departure of offensive coordinator Michael Copley to become offensive coordinator at Walton (Ga.).
Mettenberger's two seasons working with Saban were particularly interesting.
“Players like (Mettenberger) are in high demand,” the university president said Thursday. “When the opportunity presented itself to us, he was very excited to rejoin and we were very excited to have him on board.” I'm very excited about it.” “I don't think you have to worry about whether he wants to work or not. Taking the time and doing the little things right is a big part of a lot of programs in college football, especially programs run by Nick Saban.” I am.”
The Titans selected Mettenberger in the sixth round, 178th overall, in the 2014 NFL Draft. He started 10 of 14 games before being released in 2016, throwing for 1,412 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions in his rookie season. He appeared in seven games in 2015 as a replacement for Marcus Mariota and started four.
Mettenberger graduated from LSU as the first quarterback to throw for over 2,500 yards in two consecutive seasons (2012 and 2013) with 5,783 yards, 35 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
more:Former Tennessee Titans QB Zach Mettenberger joins Hillsboro football staff
Mettenberger will help lead Father Ryan's offense into a new era. The Irish finished 4-7, 0-4 in Division II-AAA West, with the bulk of the offense carried out by senior two-way quarterback and VMI signee Jojo Crump. Juniors Joseph Derrick and Finn Seiver will compete at quarterback and will likely share time this fall.
“There are some things I think we can do this year that we weren't able to do last year, but there were some things we couldn't do that we primarily could have done if we had a two-way quarterback (like Crump),'' Chancellor said. .
Contact sports writer Tyler Palmateer at tpalmateer@tennessean.com or on the X Platform (formerly Twitter, @tpalmateer83).
