Steve Jones

@stevejones_cj

Bobby Petrino has turned to a familiar face to help turn around Louisville's offensive line.

Petrino announced Saturday that he has hired Florida's Mike Summers - Petrino's former longtime assistant - to coach the Cardinals' offensive line as well as become co-offensive coordinator.

Chris Klenakis, who was U of L's co-offensive coordinator and O-line coach this season, will remain on staff but has been demoted to tight ends coach. It would be the first time Louisville has had a full-time assistant coaching tight ends since Petrino was rehired in 2014. Louisville's other co-offensive coordinator is Lonnie Galloway, who also coaches the wide receivers.

In Summers, a well-respected veteran coach, Petrino will be reunited with a member of his previous staffs with Louisville (2003-06), the Atlanta Falcons (2007) and Arkansas (2008-09). Summers' other FBS-level coaching stops have been at Northern Illinois (1985-90, offensive coordinator), Oregon (1991-95, four years as offensive coordinator), Oklahoma State (2000, tight ends coach), Ohio (2001-02, O-line), Kentucky (2010-12, O-line) and Southern California (2013, O-line). He has coached the Gators' offensive line since 2014 and had an annual salary of $538,959 this past season, according to USA TODAY.

“I'm excited to welcome back Mike Summers to our staff as our new co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach,” Petrino said. “Coach Summers brings 37 years of coaching experience to the table and he fits the philosophy and direction of where this offense is headed. Mike and I have spent seven years working together and have had great success along the way, including our time at UofL. I'm excited to get him back with the Cardinals. At this time, coach Chris Klenkais will remain on staff and coach our tight ends.”

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Summers, 60, is taking the staff position of inside linebackers/special teams coach Tony Grantham, who has been let go by Petrino. Grantham is the younger brother of former U of L defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, who left this week for Mississippi State and was replaced at U of L, ironically, by MSU D-coordinator Peter Sirmon, who is also set to be U of L's linebackers coach.

Tony Grantham had said Wednesday night that he planned to be back on U of L's staff in 2017.

“In continuing with the re-organization of our staff, Tony Grantham will no longer be a part of the program," Petrino said in the statement. "I would like to Tony for his hard work and dedication in helping the growth of this program, and I would like to wish him well in his future endeavors.”

Klenakis' offensive line has long been under scrutiny, especially during U of L's three-game losing streak to end the season. After he was promoted to co-offensive coordinator after last season and saw his salary more than doubled to $607,500 annually, the Cards ended up last in the nation in sack yards allowed for the second straight season. Louisville surrendered 11 sacks in the loss at Houston and eight in the loss to LSU in the Citrus Bowl.

Klenakis, however, is regarded as one of Louisville's best recruiters, and keeping him on the staff figures to help the Cards in the run-up to national signing day on Feb. 1. Klenakis was at the Louisville-Duke basketball game on Saturday with the Cards' coaching staff hosting a big group of recruits. A key visitor, four-star Georgia offensive lineman Caleb Chandler, who has the Cards and the Gators in this final three and has been recruited by Klenakis and Summers, evidently was pleased with the staff moves.

Chandler tweeted that he was canceling his upcoming official visit to Florida and that Louisville now has two of his favorite recruiters.

Summers did some of the best work of his career the last time he was at Louisville. His offensive line helped the Cardinals to a 41-9 record during Petrino's tenure from 2003-06, including a victory in the Orange Bowl to cap the '06 season.

In 2006, Louisville ranked second nationally in total offense (475.3), seventh in passing (290.0), and 12th in rushing (185.3). Three of Summers' linemen (Renardo Foster, Kurt Quarterman, and George Bussey) were first-team All-Big East picks.

In 2004, U of L went 11-1 while setting school records for total yards, rushing yards, points, and rushing touchdowns. The Cardinals led the nation in both total offense (539.0) and scoring offense (49.8). In Summers' first season in 2003, the Cardinals ranked fifth nationally in total offense (488.9) and 10th in rushing (228.2)

Eric Wood - a former first-round NFL draft pick and current player for the Buffalo Bills - Jason Spitz, Travis Leffew, and Kurt Quarterman are among Summers' other former standout pupils with the Cards.

Also a former Kentucky assistant under Joker Phillips, Summers is a Lexington native who played football at Tates Creek High School and Georgetown College. His wife, Kathy, is the daughter of former UK basketball coach Joe B. Hall, and Summers has always had an affinity for his home state.

“Kathy and I are so excited to rejoin the Cardinal family,” Summers said. “I'm so excited to be back in the state of Kentucky and be reunited with Coach Petrino. I think he is the best football coach in the country, and I'm excited to be part of something special at Louisville.”

Louisville's 2017 coaching staff

Head coach - Bobby Petrino

Co-Offensive coordinator/O-line - Mike Summers*

Co-Offensive coordinator/WRs - Lonnie Galloway

Defensive coordinator/LBs - Peter Sirmon*

Tight ends - Chris Klenakis**

Running backs - Kolby Smith

Quarterbacks - Nick Petrino

Defensive line - L.D. Scott

Defensive backs - Lorenzo Ward*

Defensive backs - Cort Dennison

*-new hire

**-reassigned from co-OC/O-line coach