Bill Legg Named Bears’ Offensive Coordinator

MACON, Ga. – Bill Legg, who spent last season as a senior offensive consultant at Mississippi State and has three decades of experience as a collegiate coach, was named Mercer's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach by head coach Bobby Lamb on Monday.

Legg's long coaching career began in 1986 as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, West Virginia, and includes stops at Marshall, Florida International, Purdue, West Virginia (as a full-time coach), VMI, Eastern Illinois and West Virginia Tech. He's coached with 16 bowl teams and the 1989 Eastern Illinois squad that reached the NCAA Division I-AA quarterfinals.

"Bill is going to be a terrific addition to our coaching staff," Lamb said. "He has an innovative offensive mind with an impressive track record of high-profile offensives wherever he's been. Bill was our first choice for the offensive coordinator position in 2018 and I'm thrilled to have him on our staff now."

As an offensive consultant, Legg helped Mississippi State average 28.5 points and 397.4 yards of total offense per game in 2018. The Bulldogs finished as the No. 25 team in the FBS Coaches Poll and appeared in the Outback Bowl.

Legg had a lengthy run with Marshall (2001-02, 2010-17), holding the title of offensive coordinator in the latter stint as he turned the Thundering Herd's fortunes with his offensive scheme and grooming of quarterbacks.

With Herd record-setting quarterback Rakeem Cato at the controls for four years (2011-14), Legg took the Marshall offense to new heights as one of the best in the FBS. The Herd ranked sixth, 12th and second in total offense from 2012-14, respectively. Marshall averaged 534.3, 500.4 and 559.2 yards per game in those seasons.

After Cato's departure, Legg succeeded with a new challenge of maturing freshman Chase Litton into Cato's successor in 2015; Litton went 9-2 over the final 11 games of a 10-3 season that was capped by a St. Petersburg Bowl victory.

Legg's Herd offense had three players who later appeared on NFL regular-season rosters – tight end Gator Hoskins, tight end Lee Smith and wide receiver Aaron Dobson. He also mentored 13 All-Conference-USA first team selections and nine second team picks while at Marshall.

Prior to his second stay at Marshall, Legg served as the offensive coordinator at FIU (2008-09), helping the Golden Panthers make substantial offensive improvement in nearly every category, including a 10-point improvement in per-game scoring.

Legg coached at Purdue during the previous five seasons (2003-07); he was the offensive line coach from 2003-05 and the co-offensive coordinator during the final two years. With Legg calling plays in 2006, the Boilermakers led the Big Ten in passing offense (291.6 yards per game) and total offense (415.7), ranking sixth and 13th nationally. Purdue led the Big Ten again in total offense in 2007.

As Purdue's offensive line coach, Legg saw four of his players reach the NFL: center Nick Hardwick, tackle, Kelly Butler, guard Uche Nwaneri and tackle Mike Otto.

Legg worked at West Virginia under his former coach and College Football Hall of Famer, Don Nehlen, from 1995-2000. He served as the interior offensive line coach and was the offensive coordinator in his final season. The Mountaineers played in four bowl games in his six years on staff.

Legg's other experience includes one season as an offensive line coach at VMI (1994), five years as an offensive line coach at Eastern Illinois (1989-93) and one season as an offensive coordinator at West Virginia Tech (1988). He was a graduate assistant at West Virginia in 1986-87, working primarily with tight ends and special teams.

Born on April 9, 1962 in Poca, W. Va., Legg starred at Poca High School before becoming Nehlen's first recruit at West Virginia. Legg earned a bachelor's degree in psychology in 1985 and a master's in education in 1987 from WVU, where he was a four-year starter at center and played in a bowl game each season (1981-84). Legg was awarded the Ira Errett Rodgers Award as a senior, honoring him as the player who showed "high leadership and academic qualities as well as football performance."

Legg was drafted by the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League and subsequently had a training camp stint with the Washington Redskins in 1985.

Legg and his wife, Kelly, have a daughter, Sarah.

About Coach Legg
Birthday: April 9, 1962
Hometown: Poca, W. Va.
High School: Poca High School
College: West Virginia (1985, '87)
Wife: Kelly
Children: Sarah

Coach Legg's Coaching Experience

Year	Team	Position
2018	Mississippi State	Senior Offensive Consultant
2010-17	Marshall	Offensive Coordinator
2008-09	FIU	Offensive Coordinator
2003-07	Purdue	Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line
2001-02	Marshall	Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator
1995-00	West Virginia	Offensive Line/Offensive Coordinator
1994	VMI	Offensive Line
1989-93	Eastern Illinois	Offensive Line
1988	West Virginia Tech	Offensive Coordinator
1986-87	West Virginia	Graduate Assistant

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Bill Legg Named Bears’ Offensive Coordinator

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