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Sumlin Hires Noel Mazzone to Direct Texas A&M Offense

<div data-module="photo" class="photo"> <div class="photo__image"> <div class="photo__ratio-enforcer"> <div class="photo__ratio-enforced"> <img class="photo__placeholder" loading="eager" src="" /> <img class="photo__main" loading="eager" src="http://content.kagstv.com/photo/2016/01/08/mazzone_1315117_ver1.0.jpg" srcset="" alt="" style="opacity:0" onload="this.style.opacity=1" /> </div> </div> </div> <div class="photo__meta"> </div> </div> </div> <aside class="article__meta"> <div class="article__author"> <span class="article__meta-label">Author:</span> LeeBenson (KAGS) </div> <div class="article__published"> <span class="article__meta-label">Published:</span> 4:52 PM CST January 8, 2016 </div> <div class="article__updated"> <span class="article__meta-label">Updated:</span> 4:52 PM CST January 8, 2016 </div> <div class="article__sharing"> <div data-module="article-sharing" class="article-sharing"> <a class="article-sharing__icon" href="https://www.facebook.com/dialog/share?app_id=1937221269873256&display=popup&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kagstv.com%2Farticle%2Fnews%2Fsumlin-hires-noel-mazzone-to-direct-texas-am-offense%2F499-113483886&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kagstv.com%2Farticle%2Fnews%2Fsumlin-hires-noel-mazzone-to-direct-texas-am-offense%2F499-113483886" target="_blank" data-type="facebook" data-tracking-action="sharing/facebookLink" data-tracking-category="linkClick" data-tracking-label="Link From: https://www.kagstv.com/article/news/sumlin-hires-noel-mazzone-to-direct-texas-am-offense/499-113483886"> <img class="article-sharing__logo" alt="Facebook" src="/assets/shared-images/icons/facebook.svg" loading="eager" width="38" onload="this.parentElement.style.opacity='1';" /> </a> </div> </div> </aside> <div class="article__body"> <div class="article__section article__section_type_text utility__text"> <p><iframe contenttype="embed_youtube_video" elementtype="embed_video" frameborder="0" height="180" platform="youtube" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KmtBHX9skRA" videoid="KmtBHX9skRA" width="320">

((TEXAS A&M PRESS RELEASE))

COLLEGE STATION, Texas --- Innovative and experienced, former UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone was hired to direct Texas A&M's offense by Aggie head coach Kevin Sumlin on Friday. The employment contract is pending approval by President Young and The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.

"I have known Noel for many years and he is a great addition to our coaching staff," Sumlin said. "His experience is outstanding and he will do an excellent job of coordinating our offense."

Mazzone has overseen the Bruins' offense for last four seasons, and his impressive coaching resume includes time as an assistant coach in the NFL and as an offensive coordinator in the Atlantic Coast, the Big Ten, the SEC and the Pac-12 Conferences. Sumlin and Mazzone both served on the late Jim Wacker's Minnesota staff in the early 1990s.

"I am excited about the opportunity to work with Coach Sumlin and the Aggie football team," Mazzone said. "I am ready to get started."

During the 2015 season, UCLA set a school record for most 500-yard total offense games with six. Quarterback Josh Rosen, the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, set numerous school passing records and ranked among the nation's top 25 passers in completions per game (22nd), passing yards (19th) and passing yards per game, (21st). He also established a new school mark with 245 passing attempts without an interception. Receiver Jordan Payton became UCLA's all-time leading receiver. Devin Fuller moved up among the top six on that all-time receptions list and Thomas Duarte shot into the school's top 20 for career receiving yards and top 10 in career TD receptions. Running back Paul Perkins produced the first back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons since DeShaun Foster in 2000-01.

The big numbers kept coming for Mazzone's offense in year three at UCLA. Brett Hundley became the school's all-time leader in total offense (11,713) and touchdown passes (75). He also was the first UCLA quarterback to throw for at least 3,000 yards in three different seasons. The redshirt junior, who was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2015 NFL Draft, ranked fourth in the NCAA in completion percentage (.691) and 13th in passing efficiency (152.7). Perkins led the Pac-12 in rushing and became the 13th Bruin back to reach the 1,000-yard milestone for a season. His total of 1,575 rushing yards was the second-highest in school history. The offense tied the school mark with five games of 500-yard total offense. Receivers Payton (67) and Fuller (59) each ranked among the school's top 10 all-time in single-season catches.

In 2013, the team set school records for total offense (692 yards) and first downs (39) in the New Mexico State contest. A school record 26 players caught a pass during the course of the season. Hundley ranked among the nation's top 25 in completion percentage (14th-.668), passing efficiency (20th-152.9), touchdown passes (23rd-24), points responsible for (14th-216), points responsible for per game (18th-16.8), and total offense (23rd-293.8). Shaq Evans finished his career ranked tied for 10th on the all-time school receptions list and tied for ninth on the single-season touchdown reception list. Hundley also produced the third-most rushing yards by a quarterback in school history. Running back Jordon James posted career-best rushing totals and three 100-yard games.

Mazzone's first season on the field with the Bruins quickly turned into a record-setting campaign. Senior running back Johnathan Franklin established new school marks for career rushing yards (4,403 yards), career all-purpose yards (4,925), single-season rushing yards (1,734), single-season 100-yard rushing games(9) and single-season all-purpose yards (2,062). He was selected in the 2013 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers.

Also in 2012, Hundley set records for single-season passing yards (3,740), single-season completions (318) and single-season total offense yards (4,095-fifth on the all-time Pac-12 list). In addition, he became the first UCLA quarterback to throw for over 300 yards in three straight games. Team records were also achieved for most yards in a season (6,531), most points scored in a season (482), most passing yards gained in a season (3,860), most first downs in a season (331) and most points scored in a quarter (30).

Mazzone went to UCLA from Arizona State where he served in 2010 and 2011.

Mazzone worked on the professional level from 2006-08 as the wide receivers coach with the New York Jets and worked the 2009 season as a personnel consultant for the franchise.

Prior to his professional experience, Mazzone coached in college football working with quarterbacks, running backs, receivers and tight ends and coordinating offenses for Ole Miss, Auburn and North Carolina State.

He also worked on the collegiate coaching staffs at Oregon State, Minnesota, TCU and Colorado State after getting his start as a graduate assistant in 1980-81 at the University of New Mexico. He served as a high school assistant coach at Boulder High School in Boulder, Colorado as well.

Mazzone is a native of Raton, N.M., and he graduated from New Mexico in 1980. He played quarterback for the Lobos and led the team in passing in 1976 and 1977.