New Mexico – Danny Gonzales, Arizona State Defensive Coordinator
(Dec 15, 2019) Steve Virgen of the Albuquerque Journal reported that New Mexico’s search is down to two candidates, Danny Gonzales and one unidentified candidate not named Curtis Luper. Fans should expect this one to wrap up this week.
(Dec 11, 2019) Drew Davison of the Fort Worth Star Telegram reported that Curtis Luper is a candidate for the New Mexico job this morning. He also said that Danny Gonzales is another leading candidate in the search.
(Dec 5, 2019) Danny Gonzales is widely believed to still be a focus of the search. I haven’t heard any other names, so sticking with my prediction for now.
(Nov 25, 2019) It’s the first day of the search, and it feels like they’ll have a wide range of candidates. Danny Gonzales makes a lot of sense as the early frontrunner though. He’s a former Lobos player with assistant coaching experience at the school, and he has ran competitive defenses at Arizona State for the last two years.
Fresno State – Kalen DeBoer, Indiana Offensive Coordinator
(Dec 15, 2019) Adam Rittenberg replied to a tweet yesterday saying that Kalen DeBoer is still expected to be the program’s next head coach, so I’m sticking with my prediction.
(Dec 11, 2019) Two of the names being mentioned frequently in this search are Kalen DeBoer and Troy Taylor. One other dark horse candidate is Andy Ludwig, Utah’s offensive coordinator.
(Dec 6, 2019) The early favorite to take over this program is Kalen DeBoer, Indiana’s offensive coordinator. He previously served on Tedford’s staff at Fresno State, and he knows the school very well. He has been praised for the job he did this year at Indiana, and he’s certainly the name to watch in this search.
Memphis – Ryan Silverfield, Memphis Offensive Line Coach
(Dec 8, 2019) There are three names being mentioned early in this search: Ryan Silverfield, Barry Odom, and Chip Long. My early prediction is Silverfield, as he knows the staff and administration best among the group. It won’t surprise me if players lobby for him to get the full-time job.
Appalachian State – Shawn Clark, Appalachian State Offensive Line Coach
(Dec 8, 2019) It’s never easy doing coaching searches in consecutive years. Last time around, AD Doug Gillin surprised many by going with an outside hire with no direct ties to the school. His hire, Eliah Drinkwitz, left after one year for an SEC job. This time around, the smart money is on him targeting a candidate who will stay a while, probably one with more direct ties to the school. Shawn Clark makes sense as a experienced coach and former player at the school. It’ll be interesting to see how this one unfolds.
Boston College – Jeff Hafley, Ohio State Defensive Coordinator
(Dec 11, 2019) There are reports that Jeff Hafley has cooled off in this search. I don’t know who is most likely next, so I’m keeping him as my prediction in case that changes. One name I’ll be monitoring closely over the next few days is Al Washington, Ohio State’s linebackers coach.
(Dec 7, 2019) Jeff Hafley is the reported top target of AD Martin Jarmond, and that the hire could be announced as early as next week.
(Dec 5, 2019) There are three main candidates in this search: Jeff Hafley, Mike Elko, and Al Washington. He also wrote that Luke Fickell is a long-shot at this point since he hasn’t shown much interest in pursuing the job. I’m changing my prediction to Jeff Hafley, who has Ohio State ties and has resurrected one of the nation’s best defenses this year.
(Dec 1, 2019) I’m expecting Luke Fickell to be seriously involved in this coaching search. It’s day one and other names could very well emerge, but Fickell has ties to AD Martin Jarmond from their shared time at Ohio State and he’s done a great job turning Cincinnati around. There are certain aspects of this job that he could find very appealing relative to the other Power 5 jobs open so far.
Florida Atlantic – Willie Taggart, former Florida State Head Coach
(Dec 11, 2019) There are reports that Willie Taggart has emerged as a serious candidate in this search. I’m changing my prediction to follow suit.
(Dec 8, 2019) There is early speculation from Bruce Feldman about Eddie Gran and Jedd Fisch possibly being candidates for the job. There is also buzz around Kendal Briles and interim head coach Glenn Spencer for the opening. It’ll be interesting to see how this search shapes up, but my early bet is that Eddie Gran gets the job.
Old Dominion – Ricky Rahne, Penn State Offensive Coordinator
(Dec 8, 2019) I don’t know how I missed this, but Adam Rittenberg of ESPN reported that two names in the mix here are Ricky Rahne and Travaris Robinson. In addition, FootballScoop.com listed Marcus Freeman as another candidate who impressed during the interview rounds. I’m changing my prediction to Ricky Rahne, but it won’t surprise me if another candidate emerges instead.
(Dec 2, 2019) The early buzz is on Shane Beamer, the son of the legendary Virginia Tech head coach. He knows the area very well from his time on his father’s staff, and his name recognition gives him a leg up on other potential candidates for the job.
Arkansas – Sam Pittman, Georgia Offensive Line Coach
(Dec 8, 2019) It’s official: Pittman is the next coach per a Twitter announcement by AD Hunter Yurachek. This was definitely a wild one.
(Dec 8, 2019) Bruce Feldman and Pete Thamel have both reported that Sam Pittman has emerged as a strong contender, after the search took a twist last night. I’m changing my prediction to tail that information.
(Dec 7, 2019) Otis Kirk of Pig Trail Nation is reporting that the finalists are Eliah Drinkwitz, Bryan Harsin, and possibly Barry Lunney Jr., noting that he’s less sure about the latter. In addition, George Schroeder of USA Today reported that signs are pointing to Lunney Jr. being promoted to the full-time job. It will be interesting to see how this one finishes up.
(Dec 7, 2019) With Kiffin now out of the picture, two names to watch are Eliah Drinkwitz and Bill Clark. I’m sticking with Drinkwitz as my prediction, but new names could possibly emerge here.
(Dec 6, 2019) There’s too much buzz for Kiffin to Ole Miss to not follow it. While it could be a smokescreen, I’m going to play it on the safe side and change my prediction here to Eliah Drinkwitz, who could emerge as the next best candidate.
(Dec 6, 2019) Kiffin appears to be laser focused on two jobs: Arkansas and Ole Miss. I’m guessing the wind is 60/40 in Arkansas’s favor, but that could change quickly after the games this weekend. If Kiffin picks Ole Miss instead, two names I’m going to watch closely for this job are Eliah Drinkwitz and Willie Fritz.
(Dec 5, 2019) Kiffin has interviewed with Arkansas, and many insiders believe he will land a job offer. He might have a choice between Arkansas and Ole Miss should he want to leave his current job. Also, Washington State announced an extension with Mike Leach that likely takes him out of consideration.
(Dec 2, 2019) There are reports that AD Hunter Yurachek and senior administrator Jon Fagg met with Lane Kiffin in Boca Raton yesterday. I believe these reports are true, and I’m going to change my prediction accordingly. It won’t shock me if Kiffin removes himself from consideration though.
(Nov 30, 2019) Three main names that I keep hearing for this opening from the Noles247 board are Matt Campbell, Justin Fuente, and Luke Fickell. While it’s entirely possible a new candidate emerges, I’m changing my prediction to Fuente for the time being. He’s been mentioned the most in the search.
(Nov 27, 2019) Dan Wolken of USA Today reported that Justin Fuente could be a candidate for the opening. He wasn’t initially on my radar but the fit makes sense with him being from nearby Oklahoma. With that said, the Arkansas 247Sports Team reported that Fuente would likely turn down the job if offered. Given that there are conflicting reports about his candidacy, I’m going to sit still and watch for now. Norvell is still my prediction, but that could very well change with new information.
(Nov 25, 2019) It’s been over two weeks since this job opened, and I still haven’t heard much concrete information. My gut is telling me to change the prediction to Mike Leach, but I’m going to wait for more reports until doing that.
(Nov 13, 2019) There isn’t much concrete information yet on this search. Mike Norvell is my early pick here, because he has two more years of success on his resume and he should’ve been involved last time around. He’s also an Arkansas native which help make for a better culture fit. He could fall out of consideration if the search team looks to hire a sitting Power 5 head coach, but for now he’s my pick.
Missouri – Eliah Drinkwitz, Appalachian State Head Coach
(Dec 8, 2019) Drinkwitz will be the next head coach at Missouri, per multiple reports. This is one of the more surprising hires of the carousel so far.
(Dec 8, 2019) One other name being connected to this job is Eliah Drinkwitz. He as my prior prediction for Arkansas before the news about Sam Pittman came out. There are reports he started following Missouri beat reporters on Twitter, and I’m going to change my prediction to him.
(Dec 6, 2019) There have been reports that some of the names on AD Jim Sterk’s list include Blake Anderson, Skip Holtz, Jeff Monken, Jay Norvell, and Bryan Harsin. I’m changing my prediction to Anderson, who appears to be a legitimate target in the search.
(Dec 4, 2019) Two names being tossed around for this search are Will Healy and Jim McElwain. I’ll keep an eye, but sticking with my prediction of Willie Fritz for now. There are rumors floating that he might land one of these SEC West jobs this year.
(Dec 2, 2019) The early buzz around the Ole Miss coaching search is that Mike Norvell is the central focus. Several other reporters have alluded to Willie Fritz being a central candidate at these SEC West openings, and this fit makes the most sense to me. I’m changing my prediction to Willie Fritz here.
(Nov 30, 2019) It’s interesting to see that Missouri fired Barry Odom after four seasons, given that he was rebuilding the roster. He’s got deep ties to the school, so it’s always a bummer to see. There are several names that I could see emerging here, but my early prediction is Mike Norvell. He’s done well at Memphis, a school lacking a strong football history, and his offensive background could be very appealing after watching Odom not reach the level of success expected by AD Jim Sterk.
Florida State – Mike Norvell, Memphis Head Coach
(Dec 7, 2019) Norvell will be announced as Florida State’s head coach in the coming days after a long and interesting coaching search.
(Dec 5, 2019) There isn’t much of an update here, but there are whispers that Norvell and FSU have reached an agreement that will be announced after Memphis’s game this Saturday. The more time this search takes, the more likely Norvell will be the guy.
(Dec 3, 2019) Matt Campbell signed a new extension with Iowa State, likely taking him out of consideration for this job. I’m switching my prediction to Mike Norvell, who might prefer this job to other SEC openings especially when considering their head start on the search.
(Dec 2 2019) It feels like FSU will be wrapping up the search soon. I’m not really sure who they’re going to settle on, but I’m switching my prediction to Matt Campbell. They have major resources to offer, and he’s perhaps the biggest catch who has been regularly connected with the job.
(Dec 1, 2019) If I’m picking Haggins vs. the field, I’m taking the field without second guessing myself. However, there are no other names that have been reported enough for me to change my prediction.
(Nov 26, 2019) Noles247 reported that James Franklin is becoming a center focus of the coaching search. I’m still keeping Haggins as my prediction for now, but I won’t be surprised if they can persuade Franklin to leave if they offer him the right terms.
(Nov 23, 2019) Josh Newberg of Noles247 reported that Mark Stoops interviewed for the job last week, but he doesn’t consider himself to be a legitimate contender. The report also added the school is looking to reel a big name. I’m watching James Franklin and Matt Campbell, but I’ll wait for a bit more info to be reported before changing my pick.
(Nov 21, 2019) There are two big names being mentioned in the search by media outlets: Brian Kelly and James Franklin. For Kelly, I believe it’s to help his case in contact negotiations with Notre Dame. He’s probably looking for one more extension to give him added job security. For Franklin, it’s more believable that he’d be willing to leave his current job. FSU offers benefits with an easier division with a fertile recruiting slate that Penn State can’t currently match.
(Nov 15, 2019) Adam Rittenberg of ESPN reported that Bob Stoops is no longer a candidate at Florida State. We’ll see if this turns out to be true, but in the meantime I’m switching my prediction to Odell Haggins. He’s got a ton of player support, and this could turn out to be a similar situation to Ed Orgeron’s promotion to head coach at LSU.
(Nov 13, 2019) Everything I’m hearing is making me switch my prediction to Bob Stoops. There’s a fair chance he might not take it, but the search seems to be centered on him.
(Nov 8, 2019) Last night, Ian Rapoport reported that former Seminoles star Deion Sanders had emerged as a prime candidate for the vacancy. Today, the Tallahassee Democrat reported that to be false, saying that he is not a candidate. These conflicting reports are the epitome of coaching searches. With that said, there have been some interesting tweets and retweets from LeBron James and Deion Sanders Jr. to suggest there could be some truth behind the initial report. It’s fair to be skeptical that Sanders is a legitimate coaching candidate due to his lack of coaching experience. For now, I will need to see more information about it before buying into the smoke that he could be the next head coach.
(Nov 7, 2019) Bruce Feldman of The Athletic reported that Mike Norvell is an interesting name being eyed by FSU boosters, in part because of his affordable buyout from Memphis. I mentioned Norvell as a serious candidate in my first post, but I’m going to wait to change my prediction to him until more information becomes available.
(Nov 5, 2019) There were reports emerging about Bob Stoops’ involvement in the coaching search. David Coburn conformed he was on the shortlist, but Stoops denied that he was pursuing the job. Some of comments Coburn made in his opening remarks made it seem like he, or another retired coach in Urban Meyer, could be feasible options. It’s too early to rule Stoops our, but it seems like there’s a lot of ground to be made up before he emerges as the search’s frontrunner.
(Nov 3, 2019) Mark Stoops’ track record of success at Kentucky, a good Power 5 program, and ties to the university make him the early frontrunner. This job comes with challenges, but it’s undeniably a blue blood program with a strong football tradition. Perhaps AD David Coburn looks for someone with a more direct offensive background, but he’s got the most complete resume of attainable names. It wouldn’t surprise me if Mike Norvell became seriously involved too, despite his lack of ties to the region.
Ole Miss – Lane Kiffin, Florida Atlantic Head Coach
(Dec 7, 2019) Kiffin will be announced as Ole Miss’s head coach in the next few days. This hire was one of the best outcomes possible.
(Dec 6, 2019) I’m changing my prediction to Lane Kiffin. There’s a ton of buzz that he’s going to accept the job right after conference championships conclude.
(Dec 6, 2019) There are two names really emerging here: Lane Kiffin and Billy Napier. It’s rumored that Kiffin prefers the Ole Miss job, but there are complications that could prevent it happening. Expect this one to play out shortly after the conference championship games are finished.
(Dec 5, 2019) It seems like the three main names here are Billy Napier, Lane Kiffin, and Mike Norvell. Some 247 bloggers have noted Kiffin might prefer this job, but I’m going to hold off on changing my prediction for now.
(Dec 3, 2019) There are reports that Mike Norvell might pursue the FSU opening instead, and they had a major head start on the search process. It makes me think Ole Miss is more likely to go after a coach like Billy Napier, who might pursue this job more aggressively than others. I’m changing my prediction to Napier today, and will monitor this closely.
(Dec 2, 2019) The early buzz is that Ole Miss is seriously targeting Mike Norvell for the role. I’m buying into that, and changing my prediction accordingly.
(Dec 1, 2019) Yes, I know Lane Kiffin says he’s perfectly happy coaching football in Boca Raton. However, I can’t help but feel this would be the right fit for him to return as a Power 5 head coach. He did a great job as offensive coordinator at an SEC rival in Alabama, and his brother coached in Oxford for several years so there’s some familiarity between both parties.
Rutgers – Greg Schiano, former Ohio State Defensive Coordinator
(Dec 1, 2019) He’s been announced as head coach. I wrote my review in another post, but he makes a lot of sense as the hire and it was very predictable from the start.
(Nov 27, 2019) There’s a growing sense of optimism that Greg Schiano could re-emerge as a candidate, per James Kratch of NJ.com. I’m changing my prediction back to Schiano, in part due to the public support for the former Rutgers coach to return back home.
(Nov 26, 2019) James Kratch of NJ.com reported that Jeff Hafley has emerged as a top candidate for the opening. Given that there isn’t much of a consensus yet, I’m changing my prediction to follow suit. Hafley is an experienced assistant and great recruiter with New Jersey ties.
(Nov 24, 2019) Multiple outlets reported that negotiations with Greg Schiano fell through, and that Rutgers is back to square one. This is very surprising given that he was the center of their search, and speaks measures about AD Patrick Hobbs and the Board of Regents that they couldn’t close the deal. I’m changing my prediction to Jedd Fisch, who is getting much of the early buzz. Some other names to watch include Jeff Hafley, Anthony Campanile, and Butch Jones. It wouldn’t shock me if Joe Moorhead emerges in this search as well.
(Nov 20, 2019) The search remains in limbo from two weeks ago, as the Board of Regents will need to formally approve the candidate (Schiano) before he is officially announced as the next head coach.
(Nov 7, 2019) There are reports coming from AL.com that Butch Jones has withdrawn from the Rutgers search. In addition, FootballScoop.com is reporting that the hire could be made within the next 24-48 hours, with the likely candidate being Greg Schiano. They also reported that Jones could get the call if they can’t strike a deal with Schiano. Regardless of who’s right and wrong, it seems like Schiano is the name to watch, and that this search could wrap up soon.
(Nov 3, 2019) James Kratch and Steve Politi of NJ.com reported that Greg Schiano is meeting with AD Patrick Hobbs, with the possibility of things wrapping up soon. This doesn’t surprise me, and it makes me me more confident that both sides would like a reunion to occur. It was also reported that Butch Jones interviewed for the job last week, and it feels like he will a primary backup candidate.
(Oct 15, 2019) Sure, AD Patrick Hobbs hired Ventura Partners to help run the search. However, I think this search begins and ends with Greg Schiano, who will have the backing of boosters and others connected to the program. He is the most successful head coach there in several decades, and he knows how to recruit the state. It wouldn’t surprise me if names like Lance Leipold and Jason Candle are connected to the search, but anyone besides Schiano would be an upset here. Plus, he left coaching the New England Patriots last spring and it’s very plausible he did so knowing the Rutgers job would open this fall.
Colorado State – Kevin Wilson, Ohio State Offensive Coordinator
**(Dec 11, 2019) Per Brett McMurphy and Steven Godfrey, Colorado State will name Steve Addazio, former Boston College Head Coach as the program’s next head coach.
(Dec 11, 2019) There are three names who have “emerged” in this search: Butch Jones, Kevin Wilson, and Steve Addazio. One more candidate who still makes a lot of sense here is Tony Alford, Ohio State’s running backs coach. It has also been reported that Urban Meyer has helped out with this search.
(Dec 10, 2019) FootballScoop.com is reporting that the search is now focused on Kevin Wilson, with a deal possibly coming soon. I’m changing my prediction to match that information.
(Dec 9, 2019) Surprisingly, Butch Jones has emerged as a top candidate for this opening, per Bruce Feldman. Though I don’t love the hire, I’m changing my pick to follow suit.
(Dec 7, 2019) Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt discussed Tony Alford as a possible candidate for this opening during the Ohio State-Wisconsin game yesterday.
(Dec 4, 2019) The early favorite for this job is Tony Alford. He came close to getting the job last around, and he’s since gained more experience on Ohio State’s staff. It was rumored that Urban Meyer spoke with AD Joe Parker about the job in recent weeks, possibly to lobby on Tony Alford’s behalf.
UNLV – Dave Aranda, LSU Defensive Coordinator
**(Dec 11, 2019) UNLV announced this morning that Marcus Arroyo, Oregon Offensive Coordinator will be the program’s next head coach. He was my prediction to be the head coach for most of the time, up until the Dave Aranda reports came out last night.
(Dec 10, 2019) Ross Dellenger of SI has reported that Dave Aranda is the leading candidate for the job, and Bruce Feldman has backed up that report. I’m changing my prediction to match that information.
(Dec 9, 2019) There are reports circulating tonight that Arroyo will be named the next head coach. Stay tuned.
(Dec 8, 2019) There are three names being mentioned frequently in this search: Marcus Arroyo, Morgan Scalley, and Butch Jones. In addition, FootballScoop.com reported that Matt Canada is in the mix for this search.
(Dec 4, 2019) FootballScoop.com reported that UNLV is focused on an up-and-coming assistant to be their program’s next leader. I’ve read some rumblings about Marcus Arroyo being that guy. He certainly makes for an interesting fit, and I’m changing my prediction to him in the meantime. I’m also going to keep an eye on some other top regional offensive coordinators, including Graham Harrell and Beau Baldwin.
(Dec 2, 2019) With Jimmy Lake being promoted as Washington’s head coach, I’m changing my prediction to Jim Mora. He’s already started following UNLV recruits on Twitter, and he’s got a track record of success as a head coach.
(Nov 30, 2019) There were reports yesterday from Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the representatives of Tim DeRuyter toured the UNLV facilities, he added that the coach is very interested in the job. I’m keeping my prediction right now, but will keep a close eye on this moving forward.
(Nov 25, 2019) UNLV just fired Tony Sanchez this afternoon so this prediction is very speculative. However, Jimmy Lake is bound to be a head coach soon with his deep record of recruiting and play-calling success, and there are many positive factors with this job that haven’t existed during past coaching searches.
UTSA – Pete Golding, Alabama Defensive Coordinator
**(Dec 9, 2019) Multiple outlets are reporting that Jeff Traylor, former Arkansas Assistant Head Coach will be named the next head coach of UTSA. While I didn’t hear his name mentioned frequently, this isn’t a shocking hire. He’s interviewed at several schools within Texas at both the FBS and FCS level for head coaching jobs, and he’s highly respected by high school coaches in the area.
(Dec 8, 2019) It’s being reported this search is nearing an end. FootballScoop.com reported that Chad Morris is no longer in consideration. The known names in this search are Pete Golding, Joey McGuire, Graham Harrell, and Major Applewhite.
(Dec 6, 2019) JJ Perez of UTSA Insiders reported that Joey McGuire and Pete Golding have interviewed for the job so far. There are also reports that Graham Harrell has interviewed as well. It’s interesting to see how they are targeting Power 5 assistants. I’m changing prediction to Pete Golding, who previously served as UTSA’s defensive coordinator before leaving to join Alabama’s staff.
(Dec 5, 2019) Some of the names being mentioned in connection to this search are Graham Harrell, Houston Nutt, Mike Riley, Major Applewhite, Chad Morris, and Pete Golding. I’m sticking with my prediction of Todd Graham for now; while I seen his name recently, he makes a ton of sense. I’m going to wait for more concrete information to come out on this search.
(Dec 1, 2019) It’s day one and this will be a wide open search. I’m going with Graham largely because he’s the biggest attainable name, and he has plenty of in-state ties and many years of head coaching experience.
USF – Tony Elliott, Clemson Co-Offensive Coordinator
(Dec 9, 2019) Late last night, reports circulated that Jeff Scott, Clemson Co-Offensive Coordinator will be named the next head coach at USF. I’ll write more about the hires later, but I like this one a lot. I expected them to focus on Tony Elliott for the search, but they went with his offensive counterpart instead. Scott is an elite recruiter who has been integral towards Clemson’s success in recent years.
(Dec 8, 2019) Chris Torello of Spectrum Sports tweeted out this morning that Larry Scott has interviewed for the opening. There is also speculation that Jeff Scott is a serious candidate for the opening, via several football analysts.
(Dec 5, 2019) Steve Spurrier Jr., the son of the legendary Florida coach, has been mentioned by Joey Knight of TB Times as being in connection with this search.
(Dec 4, 2019) There were reports yesterday about Willie Taggart’s representatives being in contact with USF recently about the job. He’s a name to follow, but it would be a controversial hire among fans.
(Dec 1, 2019) There are many directions that I could see this search going. I’m starting with Elliott because he’s an elite assistant coach that’s due for a head coaching job, and I could see him being very interested in this job.
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