Who should our next HC be?

[Guy Chamberlin]

12 minutes ago, Red Five said:

 

 

This would be a great offseason topic.  I need to put a reminder in my phone to post this in February:

 

If Frost had stayed at UCF or chosen Florida who would we have hired?  And where do you think that Nebraska would be right now?

 

I already posted it, and it refers to the year we hired Mike Riley, but it shows what an inexact science hiring college head football coaches is:

 

Taken from Athlon's 2015 Head Coaching Hires Report Card 

 

1) Jim Harbaugh:  The Scott Frost of Michigan coaching hires

2) Gary Andersen: departed or fired from three teams since 2015, now an analyst at Weber State

3) Tom Herman: departed or fired from two teams since 2015, now an analyst for the Chicago Bears

4) Chad Morris: departed or fired from three teams since 2015, now an analyst for South Florida

5) Lance Leipold: now making hay in Kansas. In 2015 he was coming from Wisconsin-Whitewater. 

6) Jim McElwain: since 2015 worked his way from Florida HC to Michigan WR Coach, to HC at Central Michigan. 

7) Pat Narduzzi: still at Pitt. Should we make him an offer?

8) Mike Riley. Athlon rated the hire a B+

9) Paul Chryst: brought a 19-19 HC record to the table in 2015, ranked below Mike Riley

10) Mike Bobo: fills out our HC Top 10. Four jobs since 2015, now an analyst for Georgia. 

[The Dude]

8 minutes ago, Mavric said:

 

You fire one guy in September and don't have a replacement nearly three months later so they can start recruiting before the initial signing period?  Yes, that would be a colossal failure.

 

They can both be colossal failures.  There isn't a limit.

 

Seems a bit dramatic after the last 5 years.  Colossal failure is the starting point.

[TGHusker]

11 minutes ago, Guy Chamberlin said:

 

Yeah, that's my thinking, too. Had most of the other P5 HC candidates come to Nebraska that year, they would have encountered the same rebuild, but had they gone say 5-7, 8-5, 4-5 and 7-6, we would have declared them a failure, wasting years that Frost would have led us to at least one conference championship.

Conference championship??  I think the vision was a NC by year 4 or 5

[huskerpower22]

19 minutes ago, Red Five said:

 

 

This would be a great offseason topic.  I need to put a reminder in my phone to post this in February:

 

If Frost had stayed at UCF or chosen Florida who would we have hired?  And where do you think that Nebraska would be right now?

 

Didn't Lane Kiffin have an eye on the job at that time and have a snarky tweet in regard to the Frost hire? I think I remember something of that nature. Would Gary Patterson have listened to a call from Ole' Moose? Good topic, will look forward to this in February 

[Mavric]

10 minutes ago, The Dude said:

Seems a bit dramatic after the last 5 years.  Colossal failure is the starting point.

 

It would also be the ending point if that's what happens.

[Guy Chamberlin]

And here's Athlon on the 2017/2018 coaching cycle:

Grading College Football's Head Coach Hires for 2018

• STEVEN LASSAN
• FEB 1, 2018

Grading College Football's Head Coach Hires for 2018

1. Scott Frost, Nebraska

Previous Job: UCF Head Coach

Career Record: 19-7 (2016-17 UCF Head Coach)

In terms of fit and need as it relates to the 2017-18 college football coaching carousel, it doesn’t get much more perfect than Frost at Nebraska. The Nebraska native and former Cornhusker quarterback returns to his home state after a successful two-year stint at UCF. After a winless 2015 season, the Knights improved to 6-7 in Frost’s first year. And Frost capped his UCF tenure with a perfect 13-0 season, a Peach Bowl victory over Auburn and a No. 6 ranking in the final Associated Press poll. Prior to his two-year stint in Orlando, Frost worked as Oregon’s offensive coordinator from 2013-15, calling the plays for one of college football’s top offenses. And he also worked with the Ducks from 2009-12 as a wide receivers coach and had a stint at Northern Iowa (2007-08). Considering Frost’s ties to the program as a former player, he knows what it takes to succeed in Lincoln. Nebraska needed to make a big move in order to become a Big Ten power and close the gap on Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State and Wisconsin. Frost’s arrival will certainly do that in his return to Lincoln.

 

Final Grade: A+

 

2. Dan Mullen, Florida

Previous Job: Mississippi State Head Coach

Career Record: 69-46 (2009-17 Mississippi State)

Athletic director Scott Stricklin is leaning on a familiar face to get Florida’s football program back in the mix for national championships. Mullen and Stricklin worked together at Mississippi State, and Mullen had previous experience at Florida (2005-08) under Urban Meyer, so this is a natural fit for both parties. In addition to Mullen’s familiarity with the job, he also brings a needed background on offense to Gainesville. The Gators have struggled on this side of the ball in recent years and have finished eighth or worse in the SEC in scoring every year since 2010. At Mississippi State – the toughest job in the SEC West – Mullen went 69-46 and guided the program to eight consecutive bowl games. For comparison, the Bulldogs had just 12 previous postseason bids before Mullen’s arrival. Also, Mississippi State has nine seasons of nine or more wins in program history. Four of those, including a 10-win campaign in 2014 came under Mullen’s watch. Now based in better recruiting territory and with more resources at his disposal, Mullen should thrive in his return to Gainesville – and get Florida back in the mix to be a top 10-15 team on an annual basis.

 

Final Grade: A

 

3. Chip Kelly, UCLA

Previous Job: ESPN Analyst

Career Record: 46-7 (2009-12 Oregon), 28-35 (2013-15 Eagles, 2016 49ers)

Kelly is back on the sidelines in college for the first time since leaving Oregon after the 2012 season. The New Hampshire native was one of the offseason’s most sought-after coaches, and UCLA wasted no time making a move for Kelly following Jim Mora’s departure. During his stint at Oregon from 2009-12, the Ducks finished 46-7, played for the national championship in 2010 and finished inside of the top five in the final Associated Press poll in three out of the four seasons. Additionally, Oregon’s innovative offense ranked among the nation’s best under Kelly’s watch and led the Pac-12 in scoring every year from 2009-12. Kelly left Eugene for an opportunity to coach in the NFL and he had some success in Philadelphia. The Eagles posted back-to-back 10-win seasons and finished 26-21 overall before his dismissal during the 2015 season. Kelly also spent one year (2-14) with the 49ers and joined ESPN as a college football analyst for the 2017 season. It’s no secret what Kelly brings to the table. He runs a high-scoring, up-tempo, spread attack on offense and is one of the game’s best at X’s and O’s. It’s likely the rest of college football has adapted to defend Kelly’s offense since his tenure at Oregon, but he’s at one of the Pac-12’s top jobs and should have no trouble reeling in talent on the recruiting trail. While Kelly may not win 46 games in four years at UCLA, this hire should still work out in a big way for the Bruins.

 

Final Grade: A

 

4. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M

Previous Job: Florida State Head Coach

Career Record: 83-23 (2010-17 Florida State)

The 2017-18 coaching carousel only amplified how serious Texas A&M is in becoming a contender in the SEC West. Thanks to a 10-year, $75 million deal, the Aggies lured Fisher away from Florida State. That’s just one cog in the football program’s commitment, which includes a renovated stadium and plenty of money for Fisher to build his staff and off-field analysts. Fisher had the tough assignment of following Bobby Bowden at Florida State but rebuilt the program into a national power once again. The Seminoles went 83-23 under his direction, won the 2013 BCS title and won at least 10 games in six out of his eight seasons in Tallahassee. Fisher is no stranger to life in the SEC, as he coached at LSU from 2000-06 as offensive coordinator before joining Bowden’s staff at Florida State in '07 in the same capacity. Fisher also has stops on his resume from stints at Samford, Auburn and Cincinnati. The West Virginia native developed three quarterbacks during his tenure in Tallahassee who went on to become first-round NFL draft picks and the 2013 offense averaged 51.6 points a game. Fisher’s pro-style attack thrived in Tallahassee but it will be interesting to see if he adapts to more spread or tempo principles in College Station. As a proven winner, excellent recruiter and with a track record of developing talent, Fisher is a standout hire for Texas A&M.

 

Final Grade: A-

 

5. Willie Taggart, Florida State

Previous Job: Oregon Head Coach

Career Record: 47-50 (2010-12 WKU, 2013-16 USF, 2017 Oregon)

As a lifelong Florida State fan, Taggart finds himself in his dream job. Taggart has extensive ties to the Sunshine State, starting with his high school career as a quarterback at Bradenton Manatee, which led to a collegiate career at WKU. After his playing career with the Hilltoppers ended in 1998, Taggart was hired as an assistant coach with the program in '99. He left Bowling Green following the 2006 season to coach under Jim Harbaugh at Stanford. Taggart directed the running backs for three seasons on the Farm, before returning to WKU as the program’s head coach in 2010. The Hilltoppers had transitioned to the FBS level in 2009 but won just two games from 2008-09. After a 2-10 mark in Taggart’s first year, WKU showed marked improvement. The Hilltoppers went on to post back-to-back seven-win seasons, prompting USF to hire Taggart prior to the 2013 campaign. The Bulls started 6-18 under his watch, but a switch in offensive style and tempo to the “Gulf Coast Offense” helped them go 18-7 over the next two regular seasons. As a result of that success, Taggart left Tampa for Eugene and spent one year as Oregon’s head coach. The Ducks improved by three games from 2016 to ’17 under his direction. Taggart is regarded as a strong recruiter and should have no trouble attracting talent to play in his high-powered offense.

 

 

 

Final Grade: A-

 

6. Joe Moorhead, Mississippi State

Previous Job: Penn State Offensive Coordinator

Career Record: 38-13 (2012-15 Fordham)

Mississippi State landed one of college football’s top offensive-minded coaches when Moorhead was picked to replace Dan Mullen in Starkville. Moorhead spent the last two seasons revitalizing Penn State’s offense as the team’s coordinator. After the Nittany Lions averaged only 23.2 points a game in 2015, Moorhead helped this unit average 37.6 per contest in ’16 and 41.1 this past season. Additionally, Penn State’s offense averaged 6.5 yards per play in both seasons under Moorhead and generated 45 plays of 40 yards or more during that span. Prior to calling the plays in Happy Valley, Moorhead posted four winning seasons (38-13) at Fordham and led the program to three FCS Playoff appearances. He also has stops on his resume from stints at Akron and UConn. Considering Mississippi State is the toughest job in the SEC West, hiring a coach with a background on offense and a strong reputation for innovative schemes and play designs is a home run. With Moorhead’s offense in place, the Bulldogs will provide a tough matchup each week in SEC play. And the Pittsburgh native is already off to a strong start, hiring a standout staff and putting the finishing touches on a good recruiting class. With several key pieces returning from a team that won nine games in 2017, Moorhead has an opportunity to start fast in his Mississippi State debut.

 

Final Grade: B+

 

7. Chad Morris, Arkansas

Previous Job: SMU Head Coach

Career Record: 14-22 (2015-17 SMU)

Arkansas checked off two important boxes by hiring Morris. The first: Ties to the state of Texas. In order for the Razorbacks to make gains in the SEC West, this program has to recruit the Lone Star State and win some of the battles against its conference counterparts. Morris’ hire should help in that regard, as he worked as head coach at five different high schools in Texas from 1994-99. The Edgewood native (about 60 miles east of Dallas) has extensive ties throughout the state, which should help on the recruiting trail and to attract talent to Fayetteville. And the second box: Doing something different. The SEC West is one of college football’s toughest divisions, headlined by defending national champion Alabama. Trying to outmuscle Alabama or LSU isn’t a smart strategy for the Razorbacks. Instead, Morris’ up-tempo and spread principles should help Arkansas (see Auburn) and will make for a team that’s difficult to prepare for on a week-to-week basis. Morris comes to Fayetteville after a successful three-year run at SMU. He inherited a team that won just one game in 2014 and improved to 5-7 by his second year. In 2017, the Mustangs finished 7-5 in the regular season and went to a bowl game for the time since '12.

 

Final Grade: B+

 

8. Kevin Sumlin, Arizona

Previous Job: Texas A&M Head Coach

Career Record: 86-43 (2008-11 Houston, 2012-17 Texas A&M)

Arizona was the last FBS program to fill its head coach vacancy in the 2017-18 carousel, but the program ended up with a solid fit with Sumlin. The former Texas A&M coach has an opposite personality to former coach Rich Rodriguez and is likely to benefit from a fresh start. Sumlin went 51-26 in six years in the brutal SEC West but was never able to recapture the momentum from an 11-2 debut in 2012. The Aggies never had a losing season under Sumlin and finished at least .500 or better in conference play in five out of six years. Prior to Texas A&M, Sumlin went 35-17 at Houston (2008-11) and worked under Bob Stoops at Oklahoma from 2003-07 as an assistant on the offensive side of the ball. The Alabama native played his college ball at Purdue and later had stops as an assistant with the Boilermakers, Wyoming, Minnesota and Texas A&M. Sumlin is regarded as a good recruiter and has previous experience within the state of Arizona in luring Christian Kirk and Kyle Allen to College Station. Additionally, Sumlin’s background on offense should fit in well with the Pac-12. With USC in transition, and new coaches at UCLA and Arizona State, Sumlin has a chance to contend for the Pac-12 South title in his first year on the job.

 

Final Grade: B

 

9. Jeremy Pruitt, Tennessee

Previous Job: Alabama Defensive Coordinator

Career Record: First Year

Tennessee’s coaching search certainly wasn’t without its share of drama. However, after an extended search (and some help from freshly appointed athletic director Phillip Fulmer), the Volunteers settled on Pruitt to guide the program in 2018 and beyond. The Alabama native has no previous head coaching experience at any level but is well-prepared for this job. Pruitt started his career by working his way through the high school ranks as an assistant, eventually landing an off-field role at Alabama in 2007. Nick Saban promoted Pruitt to defensive backs coach in 2010, which lasted three years before the Alabama native took over as Florida State’s defensive coordinator. In Pruitt’s only year as the play-caller, the Seminoles won the national championship and allowed only 12.1 points a game. Pruitt was hired by Mark Richt at Georgia in 2014 and stayed in Athens for two seasons. After Richt was dismissed, Pruitt returned to Alabama to coordinate the defense. The Crimson Tide led the SEC in back-to-back years in fewest points allowed, limiting opponents to just 11.9 points a game in 2017. Pruitt is a relentless recruiter, has worked for the nation’s best coach (Saban) and has proven he can build a defense at other stops outside of Alabama. Running a program as a first-time head coach in the SEC isn’t easy, but Pruitt can lean on a solid staff and Fulmer to guide his transition into this role. Landing talent wasn’t Tennessee’s problem under Butch Jones. However, the Volunteers struggled to fully develop some those recruiting classes that averaged a 13.2 finish nationally from 2013-17. If Pruitt can continue to reel in top talent and do a better job in development, Tennessee should take a big step forward over the next three seasons.

 

Final Grade: B

 

10. Steve Campbell, South Alabama

Previous Job: Central Arkansas Head Coach

Career Record: 59-23 (Delta State 1999-01, Central Arkansas 2014-17)

South Alabama is still a relative newcomer to college football, as this program is entering its seventh year of FBS play. Joey Jones guided the Jaguars to two bowl trips since 2014, but the program is hoping to take the next step and compete for Sun Belt titles. Athletic director Joel Erdmann tapped Campbell as just the second coach in South Alabama history after a successful run at Central Arkansas. Under Campbell’s watch, UCA went 33-15 in four years and made the FCS Playoffs in both 2016 and '17. Campbell’s experience extends throughout the Southeast. He spent time as a graduate assistant at Auburn (1988-89), was an assistant at Delta State (1990-92) and Nicholls State (1993-95), and spent a year at Southwest Mississippi Junior College (1996) before becoming the program’s head coach in 1997. He stayed in that role for two years before Delta State hired him in the same capacity. During a three-year stint, Campbell went 27-8 at Delta State. He left the Division II ranks for assistant opportunities at Middle Tennessee (2002) and Mississippi State (2003). After one year with the Bulldogs, Campbell left Starkville to become the head coach at Mississippi Gulf Coast JC. Campbell never had a losing season at MGCCC and finished his tenure with an 87-22 record. While Campbell isn’t as big of a name as some of the others on this list, he’s a standout hire for South Alabama. As a proven winner with ties to the Southeast, Campbell should help this program move forward in the Sun Belt over the next couple of years.

[huskerpower22]

5 minutes ago, Guy Chamberlin said:

And here's Athlon on the 2018 coaching cycle:

Grading College Football's Head Coach Hires for 2018

• STEVEN LASSAN
• FEB 1, 2018

Grading College Football's Head Coach Hires for 2018

1. Scott Frost, Nebraska

Previous Job: UCF Head Coach

Career Record: 19-7 (2016-17 UCF Head Coach)

In terms of fit and need as it relates to the 2017-18 college football coaching carousel, it doesn’t get much more perfect than Frost at Nebraska. The Nebraska native and former Cornhusker quarterback returns to his home state after a successful two-year stint at UCF. After a winless 2015 season, the Knights improved to 6-7 in Frost’s first year. And Frost capped his UCF tenure with a perfect 13-0 season, a Peach Bowl victory over Auburn and a No. 6 ranking in the final Associated Press poll. Prior to his two-year stint in Orlando, Frost worked as Oregon’s offensive coordinator from 2013-15, calling the plays for one of college football’s top offenses. And he also worked with the Ducks from 2009-12 as a wide receivers coach and had a stint at Northern Iowa (2007-08). Considering Frost’s ties to the program as a former player, he knows what it takes to succeed in Lincoln. Nebraska needed to make a big move in order to become a Big Ten power and close the gap on Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State and Wisconsin. Frost’s arrival will certainly do that in his return to Lincoln.

 

Final Grade: A+

 

2. Dan Mullen, Florida

Previous Job: Mississippi State Head Coach

Career Record: 69-46 (2009-17 Mississippi State)

Athletic director Scott Stricklin is leaning on a familiar face to get Florida’s football program back in the mix for national championships. Mullen and Stricklin worked together at Mississippi State, and Mullen had previous experience at Florida (2005-08) under Urban Meyer, so this is a natural fit for both parties. In addition to Mullen’s familiarity with the job, he also brings a needed background on offense to Gainesville. The Gators have struggled on this side of the ball in recent years and have finished eighth or worse in the SEC in scoring every year since 2010. At Mississippi State – the toughest job in the SEC West – Mullen went 69-46 and guided the program to eight consecutive bowl games. For comparison, the Bulldogs had just 12 previous postseason bids before Mullen’s arrival. Also, Mississippi State has nine seasons of nine or more wins in program history. Four of those, including a 10-win campaign in 2014 came under Mullen’s watch. Now based in better recruiting territory and with more resources at his disposal, Mullen should thrive in his return to Gainesville – and get Florida back in the mix to be a top 10-15 team on an annual basis.

 

Final Grade: A

 

3. Chip Kelly, UCLA

Previous Job: ESPN Analyst

Career Record: 46-7 (2009-12 Oregon), 28-35 (2013-15 Eagles, 2016 49ers)

Kelly is back on the sidelines in college for the first time since leaving Oregon after the 2012 season. The New Hampshire native was one of the offseason’s most sought-after coaches, and UCLA wasted no time making a move for Kelly following Jim Mora’s departure. During his stint at Oregon from 2009-12, the Ducks finished 46-7, played for the national championship in 2010 and finished inside of the top five in the final Associated Press poll in three out of the four seasons. Additionally, Oregon’s innovative offense ranked among the nation’s best under Kelly’s watch and led the Pac-12 in scoring every year from 2009-12. Kelly left Eugene for an opportunity to coach in the NFL and he had some success in Philadelphia. The Eagles posted back-to-back 10-win seasons and finished 26-21 overall before his dismissal during the 2015 season. Kelly also spent one year (2-14) with the 49ers and joined ESPN as a college football analyst for the 2017 season. It’s no secret what Kelly brings to the table. He runs a high-scoring, up-tempo, spread attack on offense and is one of the game’s best at X’s and O’s. It’s likely the rest of college football has adapted to defend Kelly’s offense since his tenure at Oregon, but he’s at one of the Pac-12’s top jobs and should have no trouble reeling in talent on the recruiting trail. While Kelly may not win 46 games in four years at UCLA, this hire should still work out in a big way for the Bruins.

 

Final Grade: A

 

4. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M

Previous Job: Florida State Head Coach

Career Record: 83-23 (2010-17 Florida State)

The 2017-18 coaching carousel only amplified how serious Texas A&M is in becoming a contender in the SEC West. Thanks to a 10-year, $75 million deal, the Aggies lured Fisher away from Florida State. That’s just one cog in the football program’s commitment, which includes a renovated stadium and plenty of money for Fisher to build his staff and off-field analysts. Fisher had the tough assignment of following Bobby Bowden at Florida State but rebuilt the program into a national power once again. The Seminoles went 83-23 under his direction, won the 2013 BCS title and won at least 10 games in six out of his eight seasons in Tallahassee. Fisher is no stranger to life in the SEC, as he coached at LSU from 2000-06 as offensive coordinator before joining Bowden’s staff at Florida State in '07 in the same capacity. Fisher also has stops on his resume from stints at Samford, Auburn and Cincinnati. The West Virginia native developed three quarterbacks during his tenure in Tallahassee who went on to become first-round NFL draft picks and the 2013 offense averaged 51.6 points a game. Fisher’s pro-style attack thrived in Tallahassee but it will be interesting to see if he adapts to more spread or tempo principles in College Station. As a proven winner, excellent recruiter and with a track record of developing talent, Fisher is a standout hire for Texas A&M.

 

Final Grade: A-

 

5. Willie Taggart, Florida State

Previous Job: Oregon Head Coach

Career Record: 47-50 (2010-12 WKU, 2013-16 USF, 2017 Oregon)

As a lifelong Florida State fan, Taggart finds himself in his dream job. Taggart has extensive ties to the Sunshine State, starting with his high school career as a quarterback at Bradenton Manatee, which led to a collegiate career at WKU. After his playing career with the Hilltoppers ended in 1998, Taggart was hired as an assistant coach with the program in '99. He left Bowling Green following the 2006 season to coach under Jim Harbaugh at Stanford. Taggart directed the running backs for three seasons on the Farm, before returning to WKU as the program’s head coach in 2010. The Hilltoppers had transitioned to the FBS level in 2009 but won just two games from 2008-09. After a 2-10 mark in Taggart’s first year, WKU showed marked improvement. The Hilltoppers went on to post back-to-back seven-win seasons, prompting USF to hire Taggart prior to the 2013 campaign. The Bulls started 6-18 under his watch, but a switch in offensive style and tempo to the “Gulf Coast Offense” helped them go 18-7 over the next two regular seasons. As a result of that success, Taggart left Tampa for Eugene and spent one year as Oregon’s head coach. The Ducks improved by three games from 2016 to ’17 under his direction. Taggart is regarded as a strong recruiter and should have no trouble attracting talent to play in his high-powered offense.

 

 

 

Final Grade: A-

 

6. Joe Moorhead, Mississippi State

Previous Job: Penn State Offensive Coordinator

Career Record: 38-13 (2012-15 Fordham)

Mississippi State landed one of college football’s top offensive-minded coaches when Moorhead was picked to replace Dan Mullen in Starkville. Moorhead spent the last two seasons revitalizing Penn State’s offense as the team’s coordinator. After the Nittany Lions averaged only 23.2 points a game in 2015, Moorhead helped this unit average 37.6 per contest in ’16 and 41.1 this past season. Additionally, Penn State’s offense averaged 6.5 yards per play in both seasons under Moorhead and generated 45 plays of 40 yards or more during that span. Prior to calling the plays in Happy Valley, Moorhead posted four winning seasons (38-13) at Fordham and led the program to three FCS Playoff appearances. He also has stops on his resume from stints at Akron and UConn. Considering Mississippi State is the toughest job in the SEC West, hiring a coach with a background on offense and a strong reputation for innovative schemes and play designs is a home run. With Moorhead’s offense in place, the Bulldogs will provide a tough matchup each week in SEC play. And the Pittsburgh native is already off to a strong start, hiring a standout staff and putting the finishing touches on a good recruiting class. With several key pieces returning from a team that won nine games in 2017, Moorhead has an opportunity to start fast in his Mississippi State debut.

 

Final Grade: B+

 

7. Chad Morris, Arkansas

Previous Job: SMU Head Coach

Career Record: 14-22 (2015-17 SMU)

Arkansas checked off two important boxes by hiring Morris. The first: Ties to the state of Texas. In order for the Razorbacks to make gains in the SEC West, this program has to recruit the Lone Star State and win some of the battles against its conference counterparts. Morris’ hire should help in that regard, as he worked as head coach at five different high schools in Texas from 1994-99. The Edgewood native (about 60 miles east of Dallas) has extensive ties throughout the state, which should help on the recruiting trail and to attract talent to Fayetteville. And the second box: Doing something different. The SEC West is one of college football’s toughest divisions, headlined by defending national champion Alabama. Trying to outmuscle Alabama or LSU isn’t a smart strategy for the Razorbacks. Instead, Morris’ up-tempo and spread principles should help Arkansas (see Auburn) and will make for a team that’s difficult to prepare for on a week-to-week basis. Morris comes to Fayetteville after a successful three-year run at SMU. He inherited a team that won just one game in 2014 and improved to 5-7 by his second year. In 2017, the Mustangs finished 7-5 in the regular season and went to a bowl game for the time since '12.

 

Final Grade: B+

 

8. Kevin Sumlin, Arizona

Previous Job: Texas A&M Head Coach

Career Record: 86-43 (2008-11 Houston, 2012-17 Texas A&M)

Arizona was the last FBS program to fill its head coach vacancy in the 2017-18 carousel, but the program ended up with a solid fit with Sumlin. The former Texas A&M coach has an opposite personality to former coach Rich Rodriguez and is likely to benefit from a fresh start. Sumlin went 51-26 in six years in the brutal SEC West but was never able to recapture the momentum from an 11-2 debut in 2012. The Aggies never had a losing season under Sumlin and finished at least .500 or better in conference play in five out of six years. Prior to Texas A&M, Sumlin went 35-17 at Houston (2008-11) and worked under Bob Stoops at Oklahoma from 2003-07 as an assistant on the offensive side of the ball. The Alabama native played his college ball at Purdue and later had stops as an assistant with the Boilermakers, Wyoming, Minnesota and Texas A&M. Sumlin is regarded as a good recruiter and has previous experience within the state of Arizona in luring Christian Kirk and Kyle Allen to College Station. Additionally, Sumlin’s background on offense should fit in well with the Pac-12. With USC in transition, and new coaches at UCLA and Arizona State, Sumlin has a chance to contend for the Pac-12 South title in his first year on the job.

 

Final Grade: B

 

9. Jeremy Pruitt, Tennessee

Previous Job: Alabama Defensive Coordinator

Career Record: First Year

Tennessee’s coaching search certainly wasn’t without its share of drama. However, after an extended search (and some help from freshly appointed athletic director Phillip Fulmer), the Volunteers settled on Pruitt to guide the program in 2018 and beyond. The Alabama native has no previous head coaching experience at any level but is well-prepared for this job. Pruitt started his career by working his way through the high school ranks as an assistant, eventually landing an off-field role at Alabama in 2007. Nick Saban promoted Pruitt to defensive backs coach in 2010, which lasted three years before the Alabama native took over as Florida State’s defensive coordinator. In Pruitt’s only year as the play-caller, the Seminoles won the national championship and allowed only 12.1 points a game. Pruitt was hired by Mark Richt at Georgia in 2014 and stayed in Athens for two seasons. After Richt was dismissed, Pruitt returned to Alabama to coordinate the defense. The Crimson Tide led the SEC in back-to-back years in fewest points allowed, limiting opponents to just 11.9 points a game in 2017. Pruitt is a relentless recruiter, has worked for the nation’s best coach (Saban) and has proven he can build a defense at other stops outside of Alabama. Running a program as a first-time head coach in the SEC isn’t easy, but Pruitt can lean on a solid staff and Fulmer to guide his transition into this role. Landing talent wasn’t Tennessee’s problem under Butch Jones. However, the Volunteers struggled to fully develop some those recruiting classes that averaged a 13.2 finish nationally from 2013-17. If Pruitt can continue to reel in top talent and do a better job in development, Tennessee should take a big step forward over the next three seasons.

 

Final Grade: B

 

10. Steve Campbell, South Alabama

Previous Job: Central Arkansas Head Coach

Career Record: 59-23 (Delta State 1999-01, Central Arkansas 2014-17)

South Alabama is still a relative newcomer to college football, as this program is entering its seventh year of FBS play. Joey Jones guided the Jaguars to two bowl trips since 2014, but the program is hoping to take the next step and compete for Sun Belt titles. Athletic director Joel Erdmann tapped Campbell as just the second coach in South Alabama history after a successful run at Central Arkansas. Under Campbell’s watch, UCA went 33-15 in four years and made the FCS Playoffs in both 2016 and '17. Campbell’s experience extends throughout the Southeast. He spent time as a graduate assistant at Auburn (1988-89), was an assistant at Delta State (1990-92) and Nicholls State (1993-95), and spent a year at Southwest Mississippi Junior College (1996) before becoming the program’s head coach in 1997. He stayed in that role for two years before Delta State hired him in the same capacity. During a three-year stint, Campbell went 27-8 at Delta State. He left the Division II ranks for assistant opportunities at Middle Tennessee (2002) and Mississippi State (2003). After one year with the Bulldogs, Campbell left Starkville to become the head coach at Mississippi Gulf Coast JC. Campbell never had a losing season at MGCCC and finished his tenure with an 87-22 record. While Campbell isn’t as big of a name as some of the others on this list, he’s a standout hire for South Alabama. As a proven winner with ties to the Southeast, Campbell should help this program move forward in the Sun Belt over the next couple of years.

 

Wow look at Chip Kelly dominate the field. Whoof on whomever graded those hires 

[Mavric]

Kiffin would keep things interesting at least...

 

 

[Guy Chamberlin]

2 minutes ago, huskerpower22 said:

 

Wow look at Chip Kelly dominate the field. Whoof on whomever graded those hires 

 

Eh, don't blame the grader. That was pretty much conventional wisdom at the time. 

 

Keen observers will note that 8 out of the 10 top graded new coaching hires five years ago are no longer with the team. 

 

And remember Chip Kelly's first four seasons at UCLA?  3-9, 4-8, 3-4 and 8-4?  If they had called Chip a bust and fired him last year, probably wouldn't have been much outrcry, given that UCLA fans don't care enough to cry. 

 

Who knew that the hottest coach right now is the one who didn't make that list in 2018, a coach who only had a couple years HC experience at UCF under his belt before taking the Tennessee job. 

 

 

[deedsker]

4 minutes ago, Guy Chamberlin said:

Who knew that the hottest coach right now is the one who didn't make that list in 2018, a coach who only had a couple years HC experience at UCF under his belt before taking the Tennessee job. 

 

 

To be fair, his time at UCF was a downward slope (12-1, 10-3, 6-4) that most people would say is riding off the previous staff's players. Who would have guessed year two in Tennessee would be this high. It just points to coaching hires and what a crapshoot it is.

 

Note this guys grades for 2021 hires. Heupel is last based on his time at UCF.

https://theathletic.com/2389471/2021/02/16/college-football-coaching-hires-2020-2021-ranking/

Quote

Power 5 coaching hire grades

Vanderbilt (A-): Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea

Yes, Vandy of all schools may have won the coaching carousel. Lea had a fantastic tenure with the Irish, producing three straight top-15 scoring defenses. It’s smart to bring in an alum who understands the school’s unique challenges. And if the 38-year-old has success, he’d be less likely to automatically jump to a blue blood like James Franklin did. Perhaps he even becomes Vandy’s Pat Fitzgerald or David Shaw.

Illinois (B+): New York Giants assistant Bret Bielema

Illinois has a long history of bad coaching hires, but this is a good one. Bielema, who won three straight Big Ten titles at Wisconsin from 2010 to 2012, will be back in his comfort zone competing against Big Ten West programs like Wisconsin, Iowa and Northwestern. In fact, that division is the sport’s last remaining bastion of old-school power football. It’s hard to justify an A, though, given how miserably his last head-coaching gig at Arkansas ended.

Texas (B+): Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian

If I were judging this hire based solely on Sarkisian’s previous head-coaching tenures at Washington and USC, I’d give it a C. But I don’t think that’s the coach Texas is getting. The 46-year-old is in a much better place personally, after years of addiction recovery, and professionally; his two-year stint calling plays at Alabama could not have been more impressive. But of course, overseeing the richest program in the sport is a whole different challenge.

Auburn (B-): Boise State head coach Bryan Harsin

There’s no doubt Harsin had a successful seven-year tenure at his alma mater, going 69-19, and an eventual step up to the Power 5 was inevitable. But SEC meat-grinder Auburn feels like a bit of an odd fit. That’s not to say he can’t install Boise’s winning culture on The Plains, but can he recruit at a high enough level to regularly beat the Alabamas and LSUs? His only comparable experience was two seasons at Texas.

South Carolina (B-): Oklahoma assistant Shane Beamer

The 43-year-old has been preparing for this moment for some time, having worked for his father, Frank, but also, and perhaps most importantly, under Steve Spurrier when he got South Carolina’s program off the ground a decade ago. The initial staff he has put together, though, is a tad underwhelming, and Beamer and crew are about to undertake a massive rebuilding job. We’ll see if he’s up to it.

Arizona (C+): Patriots assistant Jedd Fisch

Arizona didn’t have a lot of takers for the job, but it’s not entirely clear what the case was for Fisch, a relentless climber who has changed jobs 10 times in the past 13 years. But he’s an up-and-comer whom Arizona got on the cheap ($2.6 million a year) by Power 5 standards, and he’s made a couple of impressive staff moves already, landing renowned DC Don Brown and bringing back Wildcats star Tedy Bruschi as a senior advisor.

Tennessee (C): UCF head coach Josh Heupel

It’s never a good sign when the fan base of the school a coach left is not exactly heartbroken to see him go. Heupel had a great first season taking over for Scott Frost but regressed each year since. Now he’s walking into a dumpster fire of a program he’ll need to build from the ground up. The good news: He has a long track record of producing star QBs and prolific offenses, neither of which Vols fans have experienced in some time.

 

[Dogs In A Pile]

1 hour ago, Mavric said:

They can both be colossal failures.  There isn't a limit.

 

And if you back at the last two decades there are many more examples including AD's and their bosses.

[sho]

2 hours ago, Guy Chamberlin said:

It's pretty fun to go back and read the 1,000+ page Scott Frost Megathread from this same time frame a mere five years ago.

 

If you have a few spare hours and minimal self-respect, I recommend it. 

 

Q:  Who was Nebraska's #1 option if Scott Frost didn't take the job?

 

A:  No one. There was no Plan B. 

 

I don't remember if I said it here or not, but my plan B, and at the time was probably closer to a co-1, was Matt Campbell.   If Frost had stayed or gone elsewhere, I think we would be arguing who we celebrate on September 4th.  Would it be Happy Bo Pelini Day or Happy Matt Campbell Day?

[Enhance]

4 hours ago, Mavric said:

 

If we don't have someone in place by December 5 it will be a colossal failure.

 

They have to be on the road recruiting so they are ready for signing day.

Agreed - I also probably should've specified I meant "early signing day" and not "signing day." Updated that just now.

[thexyz]

Mark Stoops

Dave Aranda

*Mickey Joseph 

 

I’m pretty confident it’ll be one of the three. It’d take a very strong finish for Mickey. I’d love having Jeff Grimes and Eric Mateos here. Stoops is more a of a legitimate possibility than believed. 

 

 

[Red Five]

1 hour ago, Enhance said:

Agreed - I also probably should've specified I meant "early signing day" and not "signing day." Updated that just now.

 

You were right with "signing day".  Since 90% of the croots sign in December, it should be

 

December = Signing Day

February = Late Signing Day