AP Source: SMU to hire former Cal coach Sonny Dykes

SMU will hire former California and Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Dykes as its new head coach, a person with direct knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because a deal was still being finalized. SMU announced a news conference for Tuesday with university President Gerald Turner and athletic director Rick Hart.

Dykes will replace Chad Morris, who left SMU last week to become Arkansas coach.

Dykes, a Texas native whose father Spike Dykes was a longtime coach at Texas Tech, went 22-15 in three seasons at Louisiana Tech from 2010-12. He spent four years at Cal, where he had just one winning season. He was fired after the 2016 season and spent last year working as an offensive analyst at TCU.

SMU has been on the rise under Morris, who took over the program when it was coming off 1-11 season. The Mustangs went 7-5 this year to reach the postseason for the first time since 2012. Morris, another Texas native and former offensive coordinator, re-established the Dallas-based school’s in-state recruiting ties and brought an exciting style of offense to SMU.

Dykes fits a similar profile. The 48-year-old is a disciple of former Kentucky coach Hal Mumme and Washington State coach Mike Leach. Dykes’ version of the “Air Raid” offense has consistently produced some of the most productive attacks in the nation. At Cal, he coached Jared Goff for three seasons before the quarterback became the first overall pick in the NFL draft.