Why It Might Work: Muschamp, now 51, was once one of the most sought-after coaching candidates, briefly considered the head-coach-in-waiting to Mack Brown at Texas before he took the Florida job to replace Urban Meyer. Now hes Miami of Floridas DC. Matt Campbell (Iowa State) Dave Clawson (Wake Forest) Chris Kliemen (Kansas State) Jonathan Smith (Oregon State) Lance Liepold (Kansas) PJ Fleck Narduzzi seems comfortable where he is and it would take a hefty offer to make him pack his bags for Lincoln. He didnt, but a lot of that was because he didnt have internal support. Nebraska coaching candidates to replace Scott Frost, Report: Big 12 in recent contact with Pac-12 schools, Rules committee proposes change to speed up games, Saban unhappy over proposed permanent rivals, USC coach Lincoln Riley builds the perfect QB. Like many coaches of SEC blue bloods, he got run out of town when the results started to taper off. You probably have an opinion on this person. He might be better served as a coordinator. The most obligatory of all candidates to be discussed. Also, could Nebraska convince him to leave Baylor? This guy has been around. It typically doesnt go that way, but Entzs ties to the state of Nebraska, if nothing else, make him mildly interesting. Who? A steady decline in play resulted in losses piling up and he got the boot. All Rights Reserved. Does Nebraska really want to take a chance on someone with that kind of baggage? Despite some down years, hes done exceptionally well at Air Force and they have no desire to see him leave. Trev Alberts now has to embark on the long process of finding his replacement. But isnt that what Nebraska tried with Mike Riley? Some argue that he was the one who built that program into what it is todaywinning 3 FCS national championships while he was there, and posting a record of 104-32. OBriens experience coaching quarterbacks both in college and the pros make him very appealing as a developer of talent. Going 8-5 at KSU is apparently the equivalent of going 11-1 to some, and the record from NDSU predictably makes people salivate. The headlines would be juicy. on Sep 19, 2022, 8:38am CDT Candles Rockets have seen no drop off and remain one of the MACs better teams every year. Why It Might Work: He has head coaching experience from his time at Indiana and is at least familiar with the challenges of running a Big Ten program. He may have reached his ceiling. It could be possible for him to employ a similar turnaround at Nebraska. Even his one year at Oregon looked promising. Thanks to his time as an assistant at Navy and Paul Johnsons Georgia Tech, he is also one of the most well-versed coaches in the triple-optionone of the toughest schemes to prepare for. He hasnt interviewed for any vacancies since his retirement. Auburn is not an easy place to win but Malzahn might be itching to get back into the SEC like Lane Kiffin before him. Bringing that energy to Lincoln could make the Huskers a very dangerous program. Why It Might Not: It remains to be seen how hell finish in Carolina, but if he were to wind up in Lincoln, there may be the sense that this is a low-bar retread hire. Doerens time in Raleigh has been good but not great, and he hasnt lived up to the hype that came when he arrived after shocking everyone by going 12-2 at NIU. Hes an Ohio guy who loves Ohio. Wilsons biggest knock might be his personality. Seven candidates ran in the Democratic primary. 13 coaching candidates to watch. As one of the SECs historical have-nots, the Bulldogs were a bottom feeder who Mullen steadily transformed into a team that came close to beating Alabama. This seems like a long shot, but anythings possible. Trev Alberts would probably prefer someone who knows what hes doing. He was doing well at Arizona until off-the-field allegations made them show him the door. Could he be a Husker version of Jim Harbaugh? Mickey Joseph, Nebraska interim football coach Joseph, 54, was named Nebraska's interim coach Sunday. Meyer also does not appear to be the most ethical coach in the world, and theres a general sliminess about him that seems to come with the cost of winning. At the end of each candidate I include a Closing Comment, which is basically my personal take on what I think of the candidate. Prior to this development, insiders were saying Campbell was interested in only two jobs: Ohio State and Notre Dame. Hes the current head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats. Closing Comment: He seems due for a second stint as a head coach, and hes as good as any top coordinator candidate. His departure from Oregon also doesnt sit well and he seems to prefer the Florida region of the country. His record at Washington is a somewhat less stellar 55-26, but he finished (or tied) first in the Pac-12 north division for three straight years, and won the conference championship twice. Closing Comment: I was big on Charlie Strong and thought hed kick butt at Texas. Closing Comment: Given all the candidates out there with head coaching experience, even the flawed retreads, it would almost seem disappointing to pick an unproven coordinator instead. Here is a look at five early candidates for the vacant Nebraska head coaching job. Why It Might Work: He's got an impressive record, and to have the country talking about Coastal Carolina when most people have never even heard of them is quite an accomplishment. The feeling right now: If O'Brien goes anywhere, it's back to the NFL perhaps to replace Belichick one day. His recruiting classes at Michigan were all very good, and he completely transformed the Wolverines defense, which had become a joke under Rich Rodriguez. And if that were to happen, Nebraska wouldnt be the only program interested. As soon as Matt Rhule was fired from the Carolina -Lance Theres a reason it isnt in vogue anymore. That guy was Scott Frost. Why It Might Not: Urban Meyer is weird. Closing Comment: Its a huge if whether he leaves an NFL coaching gig in his prime when the Bengals have finally achieved liftoff. The latest were internal issues with Jacksonville Jaguars players last season. Why It Might Not: It looks a lot like Mike Riley, doesnt it? Why It Might Work: Hes still young at 47, and its not like his career has been a complete failure. The head coach of Eastern Michigan has a long tenure of getting the most out of teams and programs with very little. He was a tough, hard-nosed coach who got his teams at Louisville to punch well above their weight and made them think they could be champions. The coaching carousel is always fun. Yes, fresh faces do seem to be chosen often over known entities, but given the state of Nebraskas program, they would probably be better suited to pursue at least a former head coach. That cost Meyer a three-game suspension at the beginning of the 2018 season, his last with the Buckeyes. Before that he was Notre Dames offensive coordinator, and before that he was the head coach at Grand Valley State and won multiple Division II national championships, posting a record of 74-7. According to one report, a former FBS head coach and long-time defensive coordinator will be joining the Tigers for the 2023 season. His culture, tireless work ethic and no-nonsense approach would appeal to Nebraska. Why It Might Not: Did Campbell peak in 2020? And dont forget, hes built a program from scratch. Closing Comment: A perhaps-soon-to-be-former NFL coach whos done very well in college seems like a good choice on paper. It also worked out pretty well the last time the Huskers hired a Buckeye. Like Venables at Clemson, Leonhard has to be figuring he has a better job right now. For right now Ive got three basic tiers. Fine, lets talk about it. Admittedly there would be some excitement, but now with the controversy thats attached to him, its probably just not worth it. Nebraska has fired Mike Riley after three seasons with the program. The current head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks, Leipold had a stellar record at Wisconsin-Whitewater and built the Buffalo Bulls into a contender in the MAC. He certainly proved capable as head-coaching material, in the right situation. And yet he says he's not done coaching. Nebraska is not the same quality of job it used to be. Hes certainly a good coach, but is he elite? Hes got a national championship ring as a head coach. Cincinnati is going to the Big 12 soon. That changed when he brought in Tom Allen, who took over after Wilson was oustedpartly from clashing with the community, among other things. Hes probably not going to win immediately, and how many more struggling seasons can Husker fans take? How would he handle expectations in a much tougher environment? And hes kind of an oddball. After 15 seasons, Calhoun has yet to win the Mountain West. His final year at Texas saw a massive recruiting drop, including reports that his own players were actively sabotaging visits. How realistic are they? It might be worth going after him before another program can. He also lacks significant regional ties and seems more geared for the Pacific Northwest and Utah-Colorado areas. While he wasnt spectacular in the SEC, he might find an easier time in the Big Ten. That means 6-6 or even 7-5 might not be good enough for Nebraska, which absolutely has to hit a home run this time around. Why It Might Not: Stoops is 61, an Iowa grad, and he sometimes faltered under the pressure of a big game during his time at Oklahoma. Why It Might Not: Its a roller coaster ride with Fleck. He took a lowly Arizona program to the Pac-12 championship before losing to Oregon, proving hes capable of making a run in the right circumstance. Now he doesnt seem to have the ambition to go after a big job with big expectations. You may know him as the former OC who helped Penn State to their Big Ten championship in 2016. Closing Comment: Nebraska would certainly tell everyone where they stand in the Big Ten pecking order by poaching the dynamic head coach of a division rival, who also happens to be one of the best recruiters in the conference. He is .500 in bowl games and has an overall record of 135-81, marking a solid resume for any head coach. He regularly punches above his weight and has out-schemed and out-coached Nebraska on multiple occasions. Why It Might Work: Campbell is 42 with a record of 77-49 as a head coach, as of this writing. Northwestern has played in two of the last four Big Ten Championship Games. Closing Comment: It would be interesting to see Hoke roam the sidelines in Lincoln, and he would almost certainly do a better job than Scott Frost, but there isnt much he can provide in the long term. He has coached both a Heisman Trophy winner (Bryce Young) and the G.O.A.T. ), but its unclear if he could be great in the long term. The next hire must hit because the hamster wheel of coaches since Osborne is worn and rusted. The former head coach of Penn State and the Houston Texans is now enrolled in Nick Sabans rehabilitation program as an assistant coach for the Crimson Tide. 1. Strong would have to go a long way to prove that hes viable as head-coaching material for a big program. While things can and will almost certainly change before the end of the regular season, these are five realistic names for the Nebraska opening among current It took the Raiders committing $100 million to lure him away from Monday Night Football. Why It Might Work: Hoke knows the Big Ten and the Midwest very well. Jim Leonhard, Wisconsin defensive coordinator: Like Oklahoma's Brent Venables, Leonhard has turned down a lot of interest from head coaching opportunities. Hes dug them out of the doldrums and turned them into a solid program that has produced multiple seasons of double-digit wins. Nebraska has no natural rival in the Big Ten, as much as some want to make Iowa that team. It's certainly more highly resourced than Iowa State, especially with the Big 12 moving down in the pecking order with the forthcoming departures of Texas and Oklahoma. An understated, under-the-radar coach who seems to do more with less? A 54-22 record is solidly in the plus category, and he went 5-0 in bowl games as a head coach. An Air Force grad who is coaching Air Force, Calhoun is in his 16th season there and has a record of 111-75 after 15 of them. (Tom Brady). Yes, the SEC is cutthroat, but youd think a guy with Moorheads acumen would be able to weather it. Why It Might Work: Arandas Bears came out of nowhere to win the Big 12 in 2021 and beat Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl. Herman quietly served as an analyst for the Chicago Bears last year and is now looking for a job. Closing Comment: It seems like it would take a lot to talk Petersen into coming to Lincoln. His connections in SEC land make him very unlikely to stay at a program like Nebraska, even if he somehow found success. Another guy who had a surprising breakout 12-win season in year two as a head coach, Traylor and UTSA had a magical year in 2021. Were less than two weeks away from the start of NFL free agency, which begins at 4 p.m. Texas snatched him up two years later, hoping for a return to greatness. His time at Arizona wasnt perfect either. A big paycheck might make him reconsider. You cant find a more aggressive, out-of-his-mind competitor beyond him other than possibly Jim Harbaugh. Hed demand a hefty price and it seems highly unlikely that this marriage would happen. Malzahns record is proven but hes far from perfect. Why It Might Work: Narduzzi seems tailor-made for the Big Ten. Okay, okay, in all seriousness, Grudens name gets floated only because hes so damn fun to watch. Why It Might Not: Moorhead might be wary of leading a big-time college football program after what happened at Mississippi State. Trev Alberts has the rest of 2022 to find the right guy. Fickell famously turned down Michigan State to stay at Cincinnati, where he has pilfered their best recruit targets over the last half-decade. The general thinking is if he can go to a conference championship with practically nothing at Iowa State, imagine what he could do at Nebraska. Why It Might Not: OBrien bolted for the NFL at the earliest opportunity. And yes, hes from the Stoops family and is an Iowa alumnus. Because Air Force is not exactly a headline-grabber in college football, some may find hiring Calhoun to be underwhelming and head-scratching. Four candidates are vying for each of the other two district seats. Husker message boards and Facebook groups are littered with But regardless, this is a candidate that needs to be addressed. Make no mistake: if Nebraska were to pull this off, it would be utterly stunning. Desperation seems to find guys like Meyer whose winning percentage has to be ultimately balanced against off-field issues. (Consider this: How many guys with statues on campus are firedduring the season?) A coach could conceivably come in and use the opportunity to take a step up the coaching rung toward a head coaching job in the near future. After six years with the Cavaliers he unexpectedly resigned (or retired) in a similarly head-scratching departure. Hes a Penn State grad with strong Midwest recruiting ties, and was considered for the job in State College. At this point his work at Louisville may be seen as the outlier. Even when they made modest improvements in other areas, the Cornhuskers were consistently bad at a couple things: special teams and losing close games. Why It Might Work: At every stop, Creighton has left the place better than hes found it. Georgias current defensive coordinator has been a head coach at two different SEC teams, Florida and South Carolina. Johnsons lack of experience in that area means every aspect of how hed run the program would be unknown until we see it. But as caveats go, thats fairly small. After going 32-18, way below the Longhorns standards, he got the boot. Closing Comment: This would be intriguing but Taggarts status and resume isnt as hot as it was seven years ago. Closing Comment: This is a classic swing-for-the-fences, boom-or-bust type. It also begs the question: how much of Taylors recent NFL success is linked to Joe Burrow? After taking over the sturdy foundation built by Jerry Kill, P.J. The Gophers have no business being this good, and it is still mind-boggling how Fleck fell into their lap. Four of them were regarded as serious contenders for the nomination. Why It Might Work: Surprisingly Martin is only 54 and has stayed at the same spot for going on eight years. Why It Might Not: NC State still hasnt had the type of special season you would expect from someone who could be a great head coach. There is no healthier coaching tree from which to pick a coach: Bill Belichick and Nick Saban. So Ive compiled an exhaustive list below of virtually every coaching candidate I think Nebraska could pursue. This isnt a Harbaugh-and-49ers situation, where the coach and ownership are on rocky terms. Closing Comment: Its a risk. Why It Might Work: Mullen was the toast of college football after what he did in Starkville, Mississippi.
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