BREAKING: Vanderbilt fires offensive coordinator Joey Lynch, demotes defensive coordinator Nick Howell

On Wednesday evening, Vanderbilt released Joey Lynch of his coaching duties.

Dancers run with Vanderbilt flags across the field as fireworks go off in the background, as photographed on Nov. 4, 2023. (Hustler Multimedia/Ophelia Lu)

By Andrew Wilf, Sports Editor

Nov 29, 2023

On Wednesday evening, Vanderbilt Football fired offensive coordinator Joey Lynch.

“We had a season where our results and performance fell short of our expectations,” head coach Clark Lea said. “When that is the case, change is necessary. My background as a defensive coordinator will allow me to best serve our team by taking on that responsibility.”

Lynch was the offensive coordinator for the Commodores in 2022 and 2023 and was the quarterbacks coach in 2021. In 2023, Vanderbilt ranked last in the SEC in total offense with 318.92 total yards. The Commodores also ranked 110th in FBS with 22.8 points per game.

BREAKING: Joey Lynch fired. The offensive coordinator leaves Vanderbilt after a 2-10 season in 2023.
— Andrew Wilf (@andrew_wilf) November 30, 2023

It was also announced on Wednesday that defensive coordinator Nick Howell would be demoted to be the defensive backs coach. Lea will take over defensive coordinator duties.

This season, the Commodores ranked 125th in FBS in passing yards allowed per game (279.6). Vanderbilt allowed a Tennessee team that averages 250.92 passing yards per game to throw for 449 yards last Saturday.

NEWS: Vanderbilt has fired offensive coordinator Joey Lynch and demoted defensive coordinator Nick Howell, @andrew_wilf reports🚨https://t.co/MvEpCjr7Zt pic.twitter.com/pxq1nCCAHg
— On3 (@On3sports) November 30, 2023

Defensive quality control coach Jamal Richardson will be promoted to an assistant coach role and defensive backs coach Dan Jackson will be demoted to an “off-field role”.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

About the Contributors

Andrew Wilf, Former Sports Editor

Andrew Wilf (’24) is Sports Editor for The Vanderbilt Hustler. He is from Livingston, N.J., and is majoring in history and minoring in business. He joined the sports staff his freshman year, previously serving as a Staff Writer, Assistant Sports Editor and Deputy Sports Editor. Beyond writing for The Hustler, he is also the host of Anchor Analysis, Commodore Clash and Live From West End. In his free time, Andrew enjoys watching the NFL and playing golf. He can be reached at [email protected].

Ophelia Lu, Deputy Photography Editor

Ophelia Lu (’26) is from Los Angeles and is double majoring in biomedical and electrical engineering in the School of Engineering. She previously served as a staff photographer. When not covering events and sports games for The Hustler, you can find her listening to a lot of music, studying at Starbucks or lying on Alumni lawn. She can be reached at [email protected].

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Edmund Leigh

11 months ago

Been watching Vanderbilt football since 1974 and we need better guidance and new ideas for the offense. We were very poor on 3rd down efficiency. We had too many 3rd and long situations and that is when the opposing defense swarmed with blitzes to overwhelm the O line and the VU QB. Also I was amazed on how many time the receivers dropped passes when Seals and the other QB’s hit the receiver in the hands. I mean C’mon. There was a certain amount of zeal that was missing. The Vandy QB’s are talented to compete in the SEC but something was missing in their zeal. And of course Vandy football players are scholar athletes whereas many of the other SEC players are there mainly for football. I did R & D projects with the Engineering Dept at the University of Florida for 3 years and when I asked a couple of the Professors there if they ever had a Florida football player take their classes ever they just laughed at my question. That said it all.