From Deseret News archives:

Utah's Whittingham hires offensive coordinator, secondary coach

Published: Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004 11:40 p.m. MST
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New Utah head football coach Kyle Whittingham announced Sunday the hiring of Oregon offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig and Houston secondary coach Derrick Odum.

Ludwig, Oregon's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the past three seasons, will hold the same responsibilities at Utah. Odum will coach the Ute safeties after managing the Houston secondary for the past two years. They are veteran assistant coaches with ties to Utah.

"I am very familiar with both of these guys and have been following their careers for a long time," said Whittingham.

Ludwig was a Ute defensive graduate assistant in 1992 and coached with Whittingham at Idaho State from 1989-91. Odum lettered at Utah from 1989-92 and served as a defensive graduate assistant at the U. from 1995-97.

"Andy has an excellent track record as an offensive coordinator. I have known Andy for 15 years, since we worked together at Idaho State, and I know what he is about. He has done well everywhere he has been. His pedigree is from Fresno State and Oregon, where he not only produced some outstanding offenses, but tutored quarterbacks like (Fresno State's) David Carr," says Whittingham.

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"Derrick was my graduate assistant and he has been polished at other programs since then as an assistant at Montana, Utah State and Houston. Derrick knows our system and is a solid recruiter. He will hit the ground running. He is a great addition to our staff."

Ludwig shaped the career of Carr, the top pick in the 2002 NFL Draft, and helped orchestrate one of the nation's top offensive arsenals during his four years at Fresno State. He also implemented a successful offense in his three years at Oregon.

In 2002, his first year at Oregon, the Ducks averaged 32.1 points per game, which ranked 23rd in the nation. First-team all-Pac-10 running back Onterrio Smith and first-year quarterback Jason Fife comprised one of just seven pairs to rank in the top 35 nationally in rushing and passing efficiency. In 2003, Ludwig developed yet another first year starter (Kellen Clemens) into the nation's 31st most efficient passer (139.8 average). The 2004 Ducks averaged 397.0 yards of total offense per game (36th in the nation) and averaged 238.3 yards per game passing. Clemens ranks No. 24 in the nation in total offense.

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