Brian Sipe out as San Diego State QB Coach

There’s just something about this time of year that means bad things for Browns quarterbacks, even those who haven’t taken a snap in over three decades

Former Browns great and 1980 NFL MVP Brian Sipe was relieved of his duties as San Diego State University’s quarterbacks coach Tuesday, per U-T San Diego. Sipe is a San Diego native and a former Aztec star himself, but that was not enough to save his job after a disappointing 7-6 season that saw SDSU quarterbacks throw more interceptions than touchdowns.

Sipe began coaching at San Diego State in 2009 under then-head coach Brady Hoke. The Aztecs won eight-plus games each year from 2010 to 2013, and they were Mountain West co-champs in 2012. The SDSU offense averaged at least 29 points in each of those seasons, but regressed to 25 points per game in 2014 as the Aztecs totaled just 10 touchdown passes.¹

Sipe’s most noteworthy protege at San Diego State was Ryan Lindley, last seen struggling as the Arizona Cardinals’ signal-caller. Lindley was the Aztecs’ starter in 2010 and 2011, during which time he totaled 51 touchdowns against 22 interceptions.

Sipe played at SDSU under famed head coach Don Coryell, best known as an offensive innovator for the San Diego Chargers. Sipe went 15-7 as the Aztecs’ starter, still good enough for the third-best winning percentage in school history.

San Diego State receivers coach LeCharls McDaniel (not a typo) was also let go as the Aztecs look to reinvent their passing game. Head coach Rocky Long will remain in that position, and he is promoting running backs coach/assistant head coach Jeff Horton to offensive coordinator. Former offensive coordinator Bob Toledo² retired at the end of this season.

Sipe was head coach of Santa Fe Christian High School (CA) from 2001 to 2008, and he still resides in San Diego.

1. All stats per sports-reference.com. [↩]
2. WHAT A NAME! [↩]