Toledos head coach, he took over when Matt Campbell left for Iowa State. Hes never worked west of Illinois, and hed be asked to live west of Iowa in the Great Plains. He has decent ties to the state and the Midwest which make him familiar with the local recruiting grounds. Frost is a Husker legend who would surely be a popular hire with Nebraskas loyal fan base. Why It Might Not: Kentucky demonstrated tremendous patience through his early years developing the program, when his record was 12-24 (4-20 in conference) after 3 seasons. If youre looking for consistency, this might not be the best choice. Meanwhile, a once-proud program suffers. He went 11-2 at Army in 2018. He served as Marylands interim coach after they fired DJ Durkin. So putting him in that position as the full-time Nebraska head coach, barring an Ed Orgeron-like interim season, would be a total crapshoot. The 3 leading candidates to replace Frost were revealed by Bruce Oh, wait, you mean yeah, okay. You know who he is. The coaching carousel is always fun. There is some question whether he has the temperament to lead a program. The Black Knights havent been this good since the 1940s. Nebraska education officials are one step closer to axing the basic skills test that keeps some new teachers out of classrooms. Why It Might Work: Rodriguez created the quintessential Cinderella program at West Virginia, where he would probably still be coaching today had he not taken Michigans offer and left so controversially. Quite the opposite, actually. That would not be the case at Nebraska. Hes still fairly young at 46. The Huskers lost 45-42 to Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Why It Might Not: Was Fickells rejection of MSU a signal he wants to stay put long term, or is he leery of Big Ten competition and high expectations which he knows all too well? You may think Nebraska needs to hire him immediately, or you may think that Nebraska should not touch him with a ten thousand foot pole. He was the DC at Wisconsin and LSU and is now coaching the Baylor Bears. And if that were to happen, Nebraska wouldnt be the only program interested. This seems like a name fairly low on the totem pole and would likely signal desperation. NC States current head coach was formerly Wisconsins DC and crashed the BCS party in his second year as a head coach at Northern Illinois in 2012, when they went 12-2. Why It Might Not: A longtime coordinator who turned heads with a special season in year two as a head coach, including a Sugar Bowl win over an SEC opponent? How committed would he be to staying at Nebraska long term if things started to work out? What would he do with the offensive players recruited to a drastically different system? Admittedly there would be some excitement, but now with the controversy thats attached to him, its probably just not worth it. He could be one of college football's most unsung program builders. Less what? Hes certainly a good coach, but is he elite? At this point his work at Louisville may be seen as the outlier. 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. He has Big Ten bona fides from his days as Ohio States DC and would bring serious credibility to a Nebraska program looking to get competitive in the conference. You may also remember him as the former OC of the New England Patriots once upon a time. Despite some down years, hes done exceptionally well at Air Force and they have no desire to see him leave. Kansas was willing to take a chance, and it very much felt like throwing anything at a wall to see what sticks. Closing Comment: All the places hes led seem to have unbreakable, hard ceilings and are traditionally basement dwellers. He struggled (to put it mildly) to develop a quarterback. He'd have much better access to the Big Ten Championship Game (as opposed to the SEC Championship Game) playing in the Big Ten West. He severely clashed with the athletic department and school officials, who were apparently looking for a reason to get rid of him. Creighton is 53. As an alumnus in the coaching field, he may have the highest possible pedigree, and candidates like this simply dont grow on trees. Monken is the current head coach at Army, a notoriously difficult place to recruit D-1 competitive athletes. Why It Might Work: Petersens record at Boise State was 92-12. Why It Might Work: I think people are more excited by the work hes done at Kansas State, which is to essentially make the program feel like moving on from Bill Snyder is possible. Nebraska Book Co. in Lincoln shutting down; 114 to lose jobs; In a van outside OUs Lloyd Noble Center, Doc Sadler lives out another season in 45 years of Closing Comment: Les Miles may have been interesting as a replacement to Mike Riley or Bo Pelini, but that window has long since closed. The former head coach at Indiana, hes now Ohio States offensive coordinator, and doing an excellent job there. Hes currently in his first year coaching at Akron. So without further ado, lets get into it. Maybe hes learned a lot and would want to take a crack at it again, in the Big Ten? When you hire an FCS coach, even one of the leagues best, youre rolling the dice. Seems entrenched in Texas. Hes quietly leading one of the most competitive programs in the country, causing a ton of trouble for their opponents in the Mountain West. Why It Might Work: Hes got a lot of energy for someone in his late sixties. He also refuses to wear red. Trev Alberts now has to embark on the long process of finding his replacement. The next hire must hit because the hamster wheel of coaches since Osborne is worn and rusted. And, surprisingly, even after two head coaching jobs, it still feels to some like his potential remains untapped. Why It Might Work: Hes still young at 47, and its not like his career has been a complete failure. I try to make the case for each one. Closing Comment: Jason Candles not a big name and maybe feels content flying under the radar in college football. Plus he got axed from the Raiders on his second stint because of controversial emails sent a decade ago. Closing Comment: Mark Stoops would be a solid hire. Does FSU or any ACC power actually have options? It might be time to take a swing. Chadwell racked up numerous Coach of the Year Honors for the job he's done recently. A big paycheck might make him reconsider. He was BYU's head coach from 2005 to 2015, going 99-43, and so it was a surprise when he left that job for a flailing Virginia program, which he promptly turned around and had them going to bowl games. LINCOLN, Neb. It also begs the question: how much of Taylors recent NFL success is linked to Joe Burrow? The 58-year-old coach has deep roots in the state of Nebraska as a former analyst at Nebraska-Omaha and assistant under Frank Solich with the Huskers. The first is the Big Names. Why It Might Not: Obligatory NDSU caveats. Why It Might Not: His stops at East Tennessee State, Delta State (Mississippi), and the Charleston-Greenville schools put him firmly in a region of the country far from Nebraska, so he lacks regional ties. These are the coaches with far more pros than cons, generally speaking, who the majority of fans would probably be on board with, and other than that its exactly what it says on the tinmay generate excitement. Nebraska Football: Mike Rileys Breakout Group Comments At Big Ten MediaDays, The 2007 Nebraska Football Season: Booing, Big Holes, and BrokenHopes, Flakes: Auto Play Videos Should BeBanned, Nebraska Football: Mike Rileys Remarks At Big Ten MediaDays, Shawn Eichorst: Nebraska Obliged To Do One Home Friday Night Football Game Every ThirdYear, Nebraska Baseball: Bolts Boys Knock Off #7 Vanderbilt 5-3, Nebrasketball: Iowa Hawkeyes Game Preview, Nebraska Baseball Brunch Date with #7 Vanderbilt Game Thread, Wrestling: Your Big Ten Championships Primer, Friday Flakes: Turner Gill Played Some Shortstop for Nebraska and Ernest Schackleton. Florida Atlantics head coach has seen an up-and-down career where he was once considered one of the hottest commodities in college football. One need look no further than his performance at WI-Whitewater, where he went an astounding 109-6 in FCS Division III, including six national championships. Assuming everyone could get past the controversy, it would be utterly fascinating to see Gruden coach on the sidelines in the Big Ten west. 2 Related. Scott Frost pulled him from LSU to coach wide receivers and almost everyone in the fan base loves him. He proved capable beyond that when he made the University of Buffalo more than just a scrappy program. While his program has yet to reach the level of Georgia or Alabama, hes built them to be competitive in the SEC, which is saying a lot, since Kentucky is generally considered a basketball school. How realistic are they? He had an outstanding first season, going 11-2 with a BCS bowl victory. Why It Might Work: Strong was a top candidate at Texas for a reason. He built USF into a serious challenger despite its perennial underdog status. How much support would he get? Mickey Joseph, Nebraska interim coach:Joseph has a lot of support as Frost's associate head coach and a fellow former Huskers quarterback under Osborne. KSU hasnt had a breakthrough season yet. He knows the Midwest and the Big Ten well. Georgia Southern's Clay Helton was the first coach fired last season at USC. Closing Comment: Theres a lot to like with Matt Canada when you look under the surface. 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. Im sure youve heard of him. Why It Might Not: On the flip side, maybe hes stayed at the same place for eight years because his phone isnt exactly ringing off the hook. Closing Comment: Like Matt Campbell, Fickell chose not to take any bigger job opportunities. Urban Meyer, Fox analyst:The Huskers wouldn't would they? He is obsessed with winning and is known for relentless coaching, sometimes to unhealthy levels. Lets start with why he flopped at Michiganhis defense and special teams. on Sep 19, 2022, 8:38am CDT If he were to hire a competent DC and win, the rest may be worth overlooking. There are some reports he prefers the job he has now and is settling in. Closing Comment: Given the state of Pittsburghs and Nebraskas programs, some might consider this a lateral move. All Rights Reserved. Gary Patterson, Texas analyst: This makes so much sense. But his two jobs at Texas and South Florida were massive failures. Scott Frost is out at Nebraska. 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. His unique motion-heavy style is sometimes difficult for quarterbacks to grasp, and there were times, as with all OCs, where the play-calling was suspect. This could be the best time in his career to go after him. Why It Might Not: Setting aside the baggage that Malzahn allegedly would bring with a reportedly outspoken wife who creates drama, this guy seems entrenched in the deep South. Corn Nation, a Nebraska Cornhuskers community, By Silantro Receivers coach Mickey Joseph will be the interim coach for the Huskers. On the other hand, theres a case to be made that maybe Nebraska should go that way. Even his one year at Oregon looked promising. But similarly I try to look at how each one might work. Nothing against Stoops, but no one is beating Georgia anytime soon. He has a respectable head coaching record overall at 87-53. ), but its unclear if he could be great in the long term. Hes nuts. Closing Comment: I didnt even want to include him on this list because he seems set at Kansas State, but the frequency of his name being mentioned forced the issue. Creightons a lot younger but it might be tough to shake off the similarities. Sep 11, 2022. If Im being honest I cant see Calhoun leaving his alma mater, but if Nebraska wants to do something different and go for a triple-option head coach, hes the next best choice after Jeff Monken. Nebraskas top three candidates for the open coaching job are Iowa States Matt Campbell, Kansas coach Lance Leipold and Alabama offensive coordinator Like Frost, Joseph worked his way up the coaching ladder most recently at LSU where he developed what some say is the best group of wide receivers in history. Why It Might Not: Nebraska would be a bigger job than anywhere hes been. Some people are pounding the table for this guy, but to me, this is a fairly un-sexy pick. He was a part of the Minnesota breakthrough in 2016 that set the runway for P.J. 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. Closing Comment: The appeal of hiring a coach with the achievement of his second season aside, this doesnt seem like a great fit on the surface. Matt Campbell (Iowa State) Dave Clawson (Wake Forest) Chris Kliemen (Kansas State) Jonathan Smith (Oregon State) Lance Liepold (Kansas) PJ Fleck Candidates. If you wanted to replicate Wisconsin at Nebraska, you couldnt do much better than this guy. Hes never been a head coach but Johnsons acumen as an assistant makes him someone likely to get an offer soon. It could be possible for him to employ a similar turnaround at Nebraska. Candidates who do this well for this longand who dont have a record to count as a negativeusually get a chance to make it as a head coach. Yes, the SEC is cutthroat, but youd think a guy with Moorheads acumen would be able to weather it. 172d Bill Connelly. Hes the current head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats. His next gig has to be the absolute right fit. Plus does he really want to leave the comfort of San Diego for a Big Ten job, again? Why It Might Work: Campbell is 42 with a record of 77-49 as a head coach, as of this writing. Traditional recruiting grounds in Texas and California were either ignored or eventually shriveled up. His two turnarounds at Ball State and San Diego State (in his first stint) were impressive, considering what they were before he arrived. And hes still young at 47. They'd be back. Hes defensive minded and knows college footballs most fertile recruiting grounds. The head coach of Eastern Michigan has a long tenure of getting the most out of teams and programs with very little. Why It Might Work: OBriens two years at Penn State were really good given the circumstances that he walked into. As soon as Matt Rhule was fired from the Carolina -Lance Hes probably done coaching and no one is really looking at him. Traylors offense was among the best in the country in 2021 and they steamrolled through most of their schedule, stumbling in the regular season only to North Texas. Even if there are some benefits, the hire would reek of nepotism. Putting aside the obvious fact that Nebraska can do worse (and typically has), Bob Stoops would bring instant credibility to the program despite his age. Doeren might be the most underrated coach in the Power 5. Then he became Houstons head coach and kicked butt in year one. He recruits well and has proven himself as a head coach at a Power 5 program. Like many coaches of SEC blue bloods, he got run out of town when the results started to taper off. But at this point he seems set on staying in Florida. Feldman believes Campbell, Leipold, and Chadwell are the leading Nebraska football head coaching candidates to replace Scott Frost. In addition, while his teams have done well overall, there are times when his ability as a play-caller has been costly. Why It Might Work: Doeren runs the ball Big Ten style at NC State, and theyre very good at it. Scott Frost has been fired. 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. His record as a head coach is simply too good to ignore. 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. A competent athletic dept. He got national attention in 2020 when he led Iowa State to its first division crown, including an upset of Oklahoma in the regular season (although they later lost the rematch in the Big 12 championship). Desperation seems to find guys like Meyer whose winning percentage has to be ultimately balanced against off-field issues. Why It Might Work: The jobs he did at Temple and Baylor were nothing short of spectacular. His record going into 2022 was 90-54, having coached at a couple spots at the FCS level. He is still a huge name that will be brought up with every vacancy at a major college football program. Why It Might Not: Everything went south in the second half of the 2021 season and Mullen got the ol ax from the Florida boosters. Why It Might Not: Its Jon Gruden. After the scandal that forced Jim Tressel to leave Columbus, Meyer moved in and promptly started kicking the entire Big Tens ass. He then went on to win two national championships at Florida. Rodriguez is notoriously stubborn and has been in the business long enough that theres a fair amount of baggage coming with him, which is why a small program like JSU was the only option he had as a head coach. Why It Might Work: Moorhead was an outstanding offensive mind at Penn State and the job he did there was the key in elevating the Nittany Lions to the next level. There is a fair argument that Fleck appears to be mostly flash and light on substance. He certainly proved capable as head-coaching material, in the right situation. Hes dug them out of the doldrums and turned them into a solid program that has produced multiple seasons of double-digit wins. Everyone hopes to nab someone who creates the success of Jim Tressel. Maybe he could be worth considering, but rest assured there would be a lot of skeptics. Cincinnati is going to the Big 12 soon. Herman quietly served as an analyst for the Chicago Bears last year and is now looking for a job. Before being Michigans head coach, he was the head coach at Ball State and San Diego State, where he turned around both programs. 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. An understated, under-the-radar coach who seems to do more with less? Closing Comment: The most impressive part of his resume is his time at GVSU, but how much of that can translate to Nebraska? Hes Miami of Ohios head coach, where hes been since 2014. Some argue that he left BYU for Virginia to prove he could coach and win outside the Mormon comfort of Provo, but even at the time it felt odd. Herman could be primed for a redemption. He also lacks significant regional ties and seems more geared for the Pacific Northwest and Utah-Colorado areas. 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. Nebraska is not the same quality of job it used to be. But here it is as written around September 12, with minor edits.). Stoops may be even better than that without the baggage. 225 Nebraska Union Lincoln, NE 68588-0451 402-472-3145 careerservices@unl.edu His time at Ohio State gives him an edge in recruiting knowledge, and at Texas he had no problem pulling in top classes. Lindsay Whalen, Ben Johnson and the emotional toll of coaching A week ago, Whalen was sounding optimistic about the future while Johnson was about as low as he could get. Ideal candidates will have a Master's degree in Social work, psychology, sociology, counseling, human development, or a closely related field. From Ottawa (KS) to Wabash (IN) to Drake (IA) and now EMU, Creighton has literally been around the Midwest. Poaching him from the NFL would be a similar coup that would grab headlines across the country. He would have to go a long way to earn the trust of the players, fans, and boosters. Nothing worked to the point Georgia Southern sealed the deal Saturday night by gaining 642 yards in hallowed Memorial Stadium where Heisman Trophy winners and national champions used to dwell. to get more serious about football, but now that they have, the results are showing. Nebraska coaching candidates Mark Stoops, Kentucky coach: Stoops has spent a decade methodically developing the Wildcats into an above-average, competent This guy has been around. Hes very much an old-school style coach and appears more stubborn than most. Why It Might Work: Johnson has quietly built up an impressive resume as a coordinator. Regionally, itd be a good fit. Aranda probably wont be coming into the Big Ten with the same level of naive arrogance, shooting off his mouth about how the conference should adjust to him. He was very successful as Louisvilles head coach, having discovered Teddy Bridgewater. Now hes Miami of Floridas DC. Why It Might Not: Fit and longevity. And it begs the question, why has no one given him a serious look before now? Johnsons lack of experience in that area means every aspect of how hed run the program would be unknown until we see it. Nebraska can turn its program around quickly; it just hasn't done so as of late. Why It Might Work: Like Jeff Monken, Calhoun is 55 and is an established head coach well-versed in the triple-optionwhich, again, is the most difficult scheme to prepare for. Why It Might Not: Moorhead might be wary of leading a big-time college football program after what happened at Mississippi State. A steady program builder with no flash means that hed be a complete unknown when it comes to recruiting. Why It Might Work: Absolutely no one expected UTSA to go 12-2, but the fact that the Roadrunners did has to count for something. Hiring him would have the obvious potential of failing spectacularly. He tried his hand in the NFL with Jacksonville and face-planted so hardexacerbated by a truly staggering amount of off-the-field dramathat the owner fired him before he could even complete his first season. 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. Who? He retired from both Florida and Ohio State for nebulous reasons. Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell Campbell has built Iowa State into a consistent winner. He went an unexpected 5-7, including 3 conference wins, and nearly beat Urban Meyers Buckeyes in overtime. He would be a top candidate at any program. His return to San Diego State has seen the program maintain its play at a high level in the Mountain West. 13 coaching candidates to watch. His recruiting ties to the Midwest (Ohio) make him a good fit for the Big Ten. Hed be an obvious bridge coach who would have to do a lot to win over the skeptics. Why It Might Work: Taggart did well at a place with low expectations. Campbell (10-7 in his last 17 games) may have simply hit his ceiling at Iowa State. Closing Comment: Okay, full disclosure: Jeff Monken is my favorite of this whole bunch. 2:45 am ET, Charges dropped against Georgia WR Rara Thomas, UCLA, Kelly agree to extension through 2027, Four Pac-12 programs renew contact with Big 12, NCAA committee approves new college football rules, Saban sounds off on proposed permanent opponents. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) In the Market: 2023 NFL Draft QB prospect superlatives after the season by Scott Rogust. Three Potential Big 12 Candidates to Replace Scott Frost at Nebraska By Matthew Postins Posted on September 11, 2022 Now that Scott Frost is out at Nebraska, speculation will naturally turn to who will succeed the For this list Im mostly focusing on guys with at least some head coaching experiencemany current, some former. 7, quickly became a disappointment and they finished 7-6 with a loss in the bowl game. Why It Might Work: Surprisingly Martin is only 54 and has stayed at the same spot for going on eight years. Nebraska football coaching hot board: 21 candidates for the job Jimmy Watkins , Evan Bland , Sam McKewon , Luke Mullin Sep 12, 2022 Updated Sep 26, 2022 He also beat Michigan in the Alamo Bowl. Mike Locksley, Lane Kiffin, and Luke Fickell all got another chance after doing some "rehab" at a successful program. 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. His turnaround of Eastern Michigan in particular was stunning, but that might be more attributable to the consistent failures of their previous hires. Make of that what you will. Closing Comment: This seems like the safest pick. When he was there, he managed to recruit some NFL talentnot easy to do, given the football programs history and Indianas reputation as a basketball school. 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. Closing Comment: This is a classic swing-for-the-fences, boom-or-bust type. Jim Leonhard, Wisconsin defensive coordinator: Like Oklahoma's Brent Venables, Leonhard has turned down a lot of interest from head coaching opportunities. He might be just the thing for a program weary of misses and failed press conferences. It didnt happen. At 63 with not much upside he is unlikely to be in high demand. Hes coached as an assistant at Louisville, Minnesota, Georgia, Colorado, and is now Michigan States OC, where hes done well.