BOCA RATON – Garin Justice’s work with an offensive line decimated by injuries earned him another year at FAU, OwlAccess.com has learned.
Justice will be the lone member of Charlie Partridge’s coaching staff retained by new coach Lane Kiffin.
Justice had the most trying job of all FAU assistants last season. Four of FAU’s five starters along the offensive line missed at least one game. Left tackle Reggie Bain, a two-year starter, missed the entire season following a motor scooter accident that broke his hip.
A knee injury sidelined right tackle Kelly Parfitt for all but a handful of games. Roman Fernandez missed games early in the season, as did fellow starting guard Antonyo Woods. Back-up guards Tarrick Thomas, Bryan Beck and Jack Breshears all suffered season-ending injuries at various points during the year.
Despite the disruption, FAU still managed to put a potent running attack on the field. Buddy Howell’s 13 rushing touchdowns broke the single-season FAU record previously held by Alfred Morris. Devin Singletary became the first FAU freshman to eclipse the 1,000 yard mark and scored 12 touchdowns of his own.
The 2017 season will be Justice’s second with the Owls. He came to FAU after a five-year stint as the head coach at Division II Concord.
Justice was one of three coaches from Partridge’s staff that Kiffin considered retaining. Defensive backs coach Corey Bell ultimately accepted a job offer with South Florida despite a late FAU effort to keep him.
Wide receivers coach Dan Shula learned shortly before the new year that there wouldn’t be a spot for him on the FAU staff.
Kiffin still has three assistant coaching spots remaining to fill.
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