Glen Elarbee is entering his second season as the co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for Arkansas State.
Elarbee’s first season at A-State saw his offensive line pave the way for a school-record 6,194 yards total offense, averaging 476.5 yards per game that ranked 20th in the nation.
Having to replace four starters on the offensive line in 2014, Elarbee quickly molded the group into a unit that produced record-breaking results as A-State also established new school standards for points scored (477) and touchdowns scored (65). The Red Wolves’ offense ranked among the top 45 teams in the nation in seven statistical categories while working behind the line, including scoring offense (No. 18), total offense, rushing offense (No. 25), first downs (No. 30), completion percentage (No. 36), team passing efficiency (No. 38) and passing offense (No. 39). Those results helped lead A-State to the GoDaddy Bowl for an unprecedented fourth consecutive year.
Behind Elarbee’s line, which included just two senior starters, A-State recorded at least 300 yards in every game, over 400 in nine contests and at least 500 in five outings. The Red Wolves exploded for a school and Sun Belt Conference record 764 yards total offense in their regular-season finale against New Mexico State, which was also the seventh most in the nation for a single game.
The offensive line provided protection for a school-record tying 25 touchdown passes and cleared the way for 35 rushing scores, A-State’s most ever as an FBS member and most at any level since 1987. The protection helped lead to first team All-Sun Belt Conference recognition for quarterback Fredi Knighten, while 1,000-yard rusher Michael Gordon was named a second team choice. Gordon was among three A-State players that rushed for at least 100 yards in a game, and the Red Wolves averaged 216.4 yards per game on the ground.
Prior to A-State, Elarbee most recently spent the 2013 season as the offensive line coach for the University of Houston, helping lead the Cougars to an 8-5 record and an appearance in the BBVA Compass Bowl. Elarbee was part of the offensive staff that helped the Cougars average 420.7 yards of total offense, including 280.9 passing yards per game that ranked 26th in the nation. Houston also ranked 38th in the nation scoring offense with 33.2 points per game.
His lone season at Houston saw him tutor starting left tackle DeAnthony Sims, who earned all-league recognition from the American Athletic Conference after playing a total of 899 offensive snaps with 36 knockdown blocks. Sims was part of an offense that ranked second in the AAC in scoring and fourth in sacks allowed.
Elarbee has previous ties to the Sun Belt Conference as well, serving as former league member Middle Tennessee’s offensive line coach in 2012 before joining the Houston staff. The Blue Raiders’ offensive line ranked second nationally in sacks allowed under Elarbee, giving up just seven on 344 pass attempts. The group, which included All-Sun Belt performer Micah James, also helped pave the way for three different 100-yard rushers.
Prior to his time at MTSU, Elarbee spent two seasons at West Georgia, first as the offensive line coach in 2010 before being elevated to offensive coordinator in 2011. At UWG, wide receiver and return specialist Denarius Appling earned All-America honors in 2011 and was one of three offensive players to receive all-conference honors. The 2010 season saw offensive tackle Brandon White named the Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year.
The Carrollton, Ga., native has additional experience coaching in bowl games as he spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons as an offensive graduate assistant at Oklahoma State and the 2007 campaign on the staff of an LSU team that captured the BCS National Championship. The 2008 Oklahoma State offense ranked among the top 10 teams nationally in rushing, total offense, scoring and pass efficiency while the 2007 LSU squad scored at least 40 points in seven games.
Elarbee spent the 2006 season as the offensive line coach at East Central Community College in Decatur, Miss., after a year as Middle Tennessee’s tight ends coach in 2005. Elarbee began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for MTSU in the 2003 and 2004 seasons, when he worked alongside Anderson while the Red Wolves’ head coach served as the Blue Raiders co-offensive coordinator.
As a collegiate offensive lineman, Elarbee played in 35 career games at Middle Tennessee, starting his final 23, and earned all-conference honors as a junior and senior. A four-year letterman, Elarbee was a member of the program’s first Sun Belt Conference championship team in 2001. He had 91 knockdowns on 735 snaps as a senior.
Elarbee earned his bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University in 2002. He and his wife, Holly, have one son, Griffin.
