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2016 Preview: Western Kentucky Looks to Defend Conference USA Crown

By Shawn Spencer

Sep 19, 2015; Bloomington, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers memorial stadium reflection seen in one of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers helmets during warms up before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2015; Bloomington, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers memorial stadium reflection seen in one of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers helmets during warms up before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 7, 2015; Bowling Green, KY, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers head coach Jeff Brohm gestures from the sideline during the second half against Florida Atlantic Owls at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers won 35-19. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Bowling Green, KY, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers head coach Jeff Brohm gestures from the sideline during the second half against Florida Atlantic Owls at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers won 35-19. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports /

Coaching Staff

In just over a year from late 2012 to early 2014, the Western Kentucky football team had three different head coaches. Willie Taggert left the program at the end of the 2012 season for South Florida and Bobby Petrino bolted for Louisville after just one season with the Hilltoppers. Will Jeff Brohm be the next Western Kentucky head coach to leave for a more lucrative role?

In two seasons as head coach, Brohm has compiled a 20-7 record. Last year will go down as one of the best in program history as the team finished 24th in the final Associated Press Poll with a 12-2 record while boasting one of the best offenses in college football.

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Since Brohm took over head coaching duties in 2014, Western Kentucky is one of just four FBS schools to average at least 40 points per game each season. The former Louisville QB is also the offensive coordinator, a role he took over in 2013 when Petrino was head coach.

The 2016 season will be a challenge for Brohm, who no longer has QB Brandon Doughty at his disposal. Regardless of who ends up replacing Doughty, Brohm’s system should allow the Hilltoppers to remain one of the top offenses in the nation. It’s that offensive system that will have Brohm on the shortlist of schools with a head coaching vacancy after this coming season.

While Brohm handles the offensive duties, Nick Holt runs the defense. The former Idaho head coach and defensive coordinator at USC and Washington enters his fourth season at the school. Holt is known for his intensity on the sidelines and it rubs off on his players. The offense was given the majority of the credit and received most of the attention last season, but it was the defense that took the team to a new level.

In 2015, the defense was the third most improved scoring defense in the nation. After allowing 39.9 points per game in 2014, the Hilltoppers defense improved by two touchdowns last year, allowing just 25.9 points per game. The defense allowed at least 50 points four times in 2014, but only LSU (45) reached the 40-point mark in 2015. Only four starters are returning in 2016, but Holt has his unit headed in the right direction.

Another former head coach, Tony Levin, is in charge of special teams. The special teams coordinator (and tight ends coach) was the head coach at Houston from 2012-2014. The 2016 season will be his first at Western Kentucky. In both roles he’ll be grooming new starters as former TE Tyler Higbee and the school’s all-time scoring leader, kicker Garrett Schwettman, have moved on.

Also in his first season with the program is QB coach Brian Brohm, the younger brother of the head coach. Brohm, a former QB for the Green Bay Packers and Buffalo Bills, just wrapped up a three-year career in the Canadian Football League. Like Levine, Brohm will be looking for someone to replace one of the best to ever play the position for Western Kentucky. South Florida transfer Mike White and senior Nelson Fishback are the favorites to replace Doughty, however it was Drew Eckels and Tyler Ferguson who were the most impressive in the spring game. After that game, Brohm said it was still a four-man race to take over as the starting quarterback.

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