This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
It's a run, and something has gone wrong.
Jim Harding lets his offensive line know it. He rips off his headset and starts tearing into his players. His unmistakable bark splits the ears of everybody on the field at Rice Eccles Stadium.
Aaron Roderick is already buried in a notepad, scribbling something down, not looking up.
This is typically how it goes for Utah's offensive coordinators during spring practices — on the same play, one will be shouting, another will take a step back and digest. And while Harding and Roderick, serving as co-coordinators, typically have their set roles, they swap occasionally.
"I lost it a few days ago on some guys," Roderick said, smirking behind his beard. "And then after practice, Jim was the one giving the 'everything is gonna be OK' speech."
For Utah's eighth offensive coordinator configuration in as many years, Kyle Whittingham has handed the duties to Roderick and Harding, who could not physically appear to be more different.
Harding is often the tallest person on the field, clean-shaved and authoritative. Roderick takes on the role of puppeteer, sometimes only speaking up to a full yell once or twice in team drills. Harding is one of the newer coaches on the block, while Roderick is the only man who remains from Whittingham's first coaching staff 10 years ago.
But fundamentally, the two men see eye to eye: They're both meticulous, no-ego coaches who say they're committed to making a partnership work. They hope to bring something few of Utah's coordinators in the Pac-12 era have been able to offer: stability.
"I think it's a natural fit," Harding said. "Neither one of us has a big ego or a my-way-or-the-highway type thing. Both of us have the personality to where this can be successful."
That pairing was sprung on Roderick and Harding almost as suddenly as it was announced. They heard they had risen to co-coordinators on the morning of Feb. 2, and a school release came not long after. There wasn't a formal "interview process": Whittingham met with each offensive coach after the winter break and listened to ideas on how to fix an attack that finished last in the Pac-12 in both total offense and passing offense. Utah's tumult at quarterback — Travis Wilson and Kendal Thompson were swapped a few times — and overall lack of a competent passing game probably kept the Utes from adding a few more wins last season.
One thing they have in common is respect from the players. Privately, several players have said they did not mourn the offseason departure of former offensive coordinator Dave Christensen. On the other hand, Roderick has been a Utah staff staple for ages and recruited many current starters, while Harding ingratiated himself last season to his offensive line.
When Harding was named a co-coordinator, freshman tackle Jackson Barton said he was alarmed — but only because he was worried Harding wouldn't coach the offensive line in the fall.
"Our coach is the first OC to actually stick around in a while, so having the same offense as the fall, it's going good so far," tackle Sam Tevi said. "[Harding's] first year here, he was all up in our [faces]. Now he's chill and relaxed. He knows where we are, personality wise, and he's trying to develop to that."
Harding said the departure of Christensen, perhaps his strongest coaching mentor, was "awkward," but ultimately he felt he had found a home and built other good relationships at Utah.
Those same factors have pinned Roderick — who twice in his career accepted jobs outside the program only to return within a week — to the Utes as well. He got a shot as a co-coordinator with Dave Schramm in 2010, onlwy to be replaced by Norm Chow a year later.
Whittingham said it was a difficult conversation to have in 2011, when he stripped Roderick of coordinator duties, but if Roderick had frustrations, he hasn't shown them.
"Everybody wants to progress and not take a step backward, but Rod handled it just right," Whittingham said. "He's a guy who loves coaching for the sake of coaching. Even though there was some disappointment, there was no drop-off in his level of enthusiasm for coaching or how he approached his business."
To say it's a two-man job isn't quite accurate: Both Roderick and Harding said that the other offensive coaches will have input, particularly running backs coach and former coordinator Dennis Erickson. Their objective is to simplify Utah's concepts, rely on offensive strengths, and figure out ways to disguise what they're doing better. Both Roderick and Harding are detail-oriented, verging on compulsive thoroughness, tight ends coach Lewis Powell said.
"It's a little more serious than the defensive room," he added, "but it's still been pretty fun."
Roderick and Erickson will coach from the box on game days, where Roderick is more at home and can use his "soft vision" to see the whole field. Harding will be on the ground, where he belongs, organizing and making sure the Utes are lined up to the inch of where they're supposed to be.
Players say that while both coaches are demanding, they're relatable. And though they might blow up now and then, they don't erupt without cause.
"He doesn't expect you to be perfect right away, which is really refreshing to me, especially knowing I'm a long way away from where I want to be," quarterback Chase Hansen said of Roderick. "He's a guy who sees the potential in us but helps us slowly get there."
The entire Utah offense, which is fending off injuries this spring, hopes the slow progress results in something special this fall. Roderick and Harding expect nothing less.
After a recent practice, Harding sprawled out on his side, watching his young sons Colton and Jackson testing their agility by running figure-8s around foam mats. He directed Jackson, 3, on his proper form and route through the drill.
"Good," he said, voice quiet but firm. "Now do it again."
Twitter: @kylegoon —
Offensive tandem
Aaron Roderick
• 11th year at Utah, only remaining assistant from Kyle Whittingham's original staff in 2005
• Previously served as WR coach, QB coach, passing game coordinator, co- offensive coordinator
• Previous stops at SUU, Snow College
Jim Harding
• 2nd year at Utah, also serves as OL coach
• Served as co-offensive coordinator at Wyoming under Dave Christensen
• Played at Toledo, coached at Troy HS (Mich.) —
Utes scrimmage Saturday
P Utah hosts its first spring scrimmage Saturday, 10 a.m., at Rice Eccles Stadium. It's open to the public.