Tiger football coach Tommy West’s decision to name assistant head coach Clay Helton offensive coordinator — as Randy Fichtner departs for an NFL assistant job with the Pittsburgh Steelers — was not only a rapid response, but the right one.

Helton has been with West since he began his run as Tiger head coach in 2001 and is an excellent communicator and teacher. There are those who think Helton isn’t too far removed from becoming a head coach himself on the college level.

In addition to working with Tiger receivers, Helton handles U of M recruiting and is adept and polished in the role. Although he hasn’t been a coordinator, he is a former quarterback at the University of Houston and an ex-running backs coach at the school.