Charlotte 49ers coach makes staff changes after shutout loss

Coach Brad Lambert gives offensive line coach Greg Adkins the playcalling duties for a team ranked 127th out of 129 FBS teams in total offense

Kansas State defensive back Walter Neil Jr. breaks up a pass intended for Charlotte wide receiver T.L. Ford II during a game last season (Scott Sewell / USA TODAY Sports)

Two days after Charlotte suffered the first shutout loss in program history, coach Brad Lambert has decided to shake up the staff of his winless football team.

Lambert announced Monday that offensive line coach Greg Adkins will now handle the playcalling duties for the 49ers and assume the title of offensive coordinator. Former coordinator Jeff Mullen will remain on the staff as quarterbacks coach.

Adkins, who was previously in charge of the team’s run game, has 25 years of coaching experience with tenures at schools in the ACC, SEC and Big 12, as well as with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.

He takes charge of an offense that ranks 127th out of 129 FBS teams and has scored one or fewer touchdowns in three of its four games this season. Charlotte was limited to 273 yards of total offense on Saturday in a 28-0 loss to Georgia State.

“No question, we need to be more competitive,” Lambert said in a statement. “Our players and coaches come in every day and work hard to win football games. But, we need a change, offensively.

“Coach Adkins has a lot of experience from an offensive standpoint and has coached at just about every level, including the NFL and (Power Five) conferences and we feel really good about what he can bring to that unit.”

The 49ers play their Conference USA opener this week at Florida International, which is led by former UNC coach Butch Davis.