Brandon emerges in UVa’s search

The most dominant coach over the past six years in the Mid-American Conference could remain decked out in orange for another year.

According to sources, Virginia coach Al Groh has placed former Bowling Green coach Gregg Brandon at the top of his wish list to become the Cavaliers’ new offensive coordinator.

Despite boasting a contract through 2011, Brandon was fired from Bowling Green last month after leading the program to three bowl games and a 44-30 overall record.

The 52-year-old coach guided Bowling Green to a 6-6 record this season before the school’s administration announced that he would not be retained. Brandon was replaced by former University of Richmond coach and former Tennessee offensive coordinator Dave Clawson.

Before being named the head coach at Bowling Green, Brandon served as the program’s offensive coordinator, assistant head coach and running backs coach under former coach Urban Meyer, currently preparing for the BCS championship game with his Florida team.

In Brandon’s final season as the Falcons’ offensive coordinator, Bowling Green ranked third in the country in scoring, averaging over 40 points per game.

This season, Bowling Green ranked No. 49 in scoring offense and No. 61 in total offense and stunned Pittsburgh 27-17 in its season opener.

Brandon has also served as an assistant coach at Weber State (1981-1986), Wyoming (1987-1990), Utah State (1991), Northwestern (1992-1998) and Colorado (1999-2000). While at Colorado, Gregg worked under former coach Gary Barnett, who also served as the program’s coach from 2002 to 2006, during which time Virginia offensive line coach Dave Borbely was employed at the school.

If Brandon — who was reportedly bought out of his contract at Bowling Green for $250,000 — were to take over the play-calling duties of Virginia’s offense, where the coach would be slotted would be interesting. The Cavaliers currently need to hire a running backs coach and a quarterbacks coach, although wide receivers coach Wayne Lineburg could be asked to coach the running backs, as he did at Richmond before returning to his alma mater.

While Brandon has not coached quarterbacks directly, he served as the passing game coordinator at Colorado in 2000.

Virginia could also be closing in on hiring assistant coach Latrell Scott, who coached wide receivers under Clawson at Richmond (2005-2007) and Tennessee (2008). The Richmond native, who played at Hampton and coached at Fork Union and VMI, has direct ties to the Commonwealth and is regarded as an excellent recruiter.

The Cavaliers also have a vacancy at defensive line coach.

Brandon would replace Mike Groh, who “stepped down” earlier this month. Mike Groh could also be on the move — he interviewed Friday for over three hours in Fairfax to become the head coach at Towson.