Noel Mazzone officially becomes Texas A&M offensive coordinator

A day after Jim Mora left open a slight possibility for his return, Noel Mazzone finalized his deal to become Texas A&M’s new offensive coordinator.

The Aggies announced his hiring on Friday, with head coach Kevin Sumlin saying in a statement: “I have known Noel for many years and he is a great addition to our coaching staff. His experience is outstanding and he will do an excellent job of coordinating our offense.”

The two first worked together in the mid-1990s as assistants in Minnesota, and their relationship continued through football clinics.

The former UCLA offensive coordinator will open the next stage of his career against the Bruins on Sept. 3 in College Station. A deal between Mazzone and the Aggies had been close to done since Wednesday, but Mora insisted on Thursday evening that the 58-year-old was still a part of his coaching staff.

UCLA quarterbacks coach Taylor Mazzone is expected to follow his father to Texas A&M.

Mora could seek to replace the elder Mazzone by promoting running backs Kennedy Polamalu, who held the offensive coordinator title for three seasons at USC but ceded playcalling duties to then-head coach Lane Kiffin.

UCLA has thrice filled coaching vacancies under Mora by looking in house: moving Taylor Mazzone from graduate assistant to Y-receivers coach in 2013; Jeff Ulbrich from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator in 2014; and Scott White from defensive quality control to linebackers coach in 2015.