Dont sleep on his football knowledge, either. He hasnt interviewed for any vacancies since his retirement. His teams at both places have generally shown well against Big Ten opponents. Closing Comment: This is who you hire if you want championships. Johnsons lack of experience in that area means every aspect of how hed run the program would be unknown until we see it. He had an up-and-down career thats been mostly down, at least at the head coaching level. 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. Hed be an obvious bridge coach who would have to do a lot to win over the skeptics. Why It Might Work: Petersens record at Boise State was 92-12. But lets be honest, Gruden was really overrated. Why It Might Work: Aside from the serious blow it would deal to a division opponent, Flecks prowess as a recruiter and coach are well known by this point. His best season was 2016 when he went 12-2 and lost to Georgia in the CFP. His head coaching record is an impressive 87-42, but that wasnt enough to satisfy championship-hungry Auburn boosters. Kill has decades of experience as a head There were a number of missteps, including a radical change in offensive philosophy and a lack of attention to the offensive line, which fell apart in a hurry. And unlike Frost, he has no Nebraska ties to save him if he starts losing early. Mickey Joseph, Nebraska interim football coach Joseph, 54, was named Nebraska's interim coach Sunday. Heres a look at some potential candidates to take over the Cornhuskers: Matt Rhule, Carolina Panthers head coach Rhule has several years left on his deal and Mark Stoops, Kentucky coach: Stoops has spent a decade methodically developing the Wildcats into an above-average, competent SEC program. Plus hes another triple-option coach. Jon Hale is the University of Kentucky football beat writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader. This isnt a Harbaugh-and-49ers situation, where the coach and ownership are on rocky terms. 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. No doubt youre going to disagree with some of these. 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. 1. Nebraska football has a new head coach and heading into the 2023 season, here are three breakout candidates for the Huskers. Poaching him from the NFL would be a similar coup that would grab headlines across the country. The question is whether Nebraska wants to face the price tag and stomach the baggage. Mostly known in Big Ten country for his three years at Michigan, Rich Rodriguez has actually been a head coach for a really long time and has a, shall we say, eclectic list of stops. Moving within the division to suddenly chase his old boss, Paul Chryst, and alma mater doesn't seem like an ideal move. Meyer, a three-time national championship coach at Florida and Ohio State, was responsible for hiring OSU assistantZach Smith, whose wife accused him of abuse. He also greatly benefited from Texas falling off and a Big 12 in flux with Missouri, Nebraska, and Texas A&M all leaving for other conferences. His connections in SEC land make him very unlikely to stay at a program like Nebraska, even if he somehow found success. Is he more cut out to be a coordinator? Jerry Kill: If Nebraska wants to poach a head coach from another school, Jerry Kill seems like a logical direction to go. He could be one of college football's most unsung program builders. Could that be the recipe? Hes a household name and hes crazy. Air Force has been up and down but theyre generally solid. Closing Comment: Like Matt Campbell, Fickell chose not to take any bigger job opportunities. The head coach of Eastern Michigan has a long tenure of getting the most out of teams and programs with very little. There is no healthier coaching tree from which to pick a coach: Bill Belichick and Nick Saban. Fleck, and hes one of the reasons Mel Tucker has found success at Colorado and MSU. 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. Hes been doing well at Toledo for seven years. If fans could get over the personality hang-ups, this might be the answer. FCS champion coaches havent always done great with the jump to FBS, and Bohls time at Wyoming isnt anything to write home about (other than a certain quarterback). Weve seen him be an aggressive recruiter and theres no reason to think that would not continue if he were the head coach. He severely clashed with the athletic department and school officials, who were apparently looking for a reason to get rid of him. The current steward of North Dakota States juggernaut program in the FCS, Entz has an unsurprisingly great record of 37-4 going into the 2022 season. Hes the current head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats. Regionally, itd be a good fit. Taking on the Nebraska job would place him squarely in the limelight. And yet he says he's not done coaching. It also begs the question: how much of Taylors recent NFL success is linked to Joe Burrow? But more important than nostalgia is how disciplined his teams are. The feeling right now: If O'Brien goes anywhere, it's back to the NFL perhaps to replace Belichick one day. How would he fit? Coming off one of his biggest wins Saturday at Florida, there is evidence Stoops may have peaked with the Wildcats. 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. Georgia Southern's Clay Helton was the first coach fired last season at USC. Why It Might Work: OBriens two years at Penn State were really good given the circumstances that he walked into. The guy everyone wanted once upon a time? He is 1-5 in the Cy-Hawk trophy game, leading many to question his ability to handle the defense-heavy Big Ten. But his most impressive feat is going an insane 83-9 (54-4 in conference) as Ohio States head coach, during which he won 3 Big Ten titles and 1 national championship. Creighton is 53. 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 then went on to win two national championships at Florida. Closing Comment: Its a huge if whether he leaves an NFL coaching gig in his prime when the Bengals have finally achieved liftoff. I do like the potential if he were to bring his Florida recruiting cache and mix in his Stanford-Harbaugh style from his early coaching career. Could it be interesting? Closing Comment: This seems like the safest pick. Hes nuts. If youre going for the veteran guy that no one else is looking at, this is a low-key option that has the potential of working out big time. to get more serious about football, but now that they have, the results are showing. Entz could be riding on the coattails of North Dakota State, which finds it rare to not win the FCS national title. Closing Comment: Jason Candles not a big name and maybe feels content flying under the radar in college football. Creightons a lot younger but it might be tough to shake off the similarities. Bringing that energy to Lincoln could make the Huskers a very dangerous program. 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. Why It Might Work: Strong was a top candidate at Texas for a reason. This seems like a Southern-oriented guy. 7, quickly became a disappointment and they finished 7-6 with a loss in the bowl game. Make of that what you will. Nebraska is not the same quality of job it used to be. That would not be the case at Nebraska. Finally, aside from Bowling Green and Utah, hes mostly been at places with an advantage for success thats practically built-in. How they do in replacing him will All Rights Reserved. Creighton has taken his programs as far as they realistically could go, so he could be worth a look. It could be possible for him to employ a similar turnaround at Nebraska. 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. A solid resume for a Big Ten coaching candidate. Make no mistake: if Nebraska were to pull this off, it would be utterly stunning. Why It Might Not: Wilsons stint at Indiana was a failure, perhaps unsurprisingly because its Indiana, but also in large part because of the ineptness of his defenses. Why It Might Work: Stoops had a fantastic record at Oklahoma and set the program up for long term success. 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? Candles Rockets have seen no drop off and remain one of the MACs better teams every year. This FanPost created by a registered user of Corn Nation. Hes a Youngstown State grad and famously served as Mark Dantonios aggressive DC at Michigan State. His recruiting classes at Michigan were all very good, and he completely transformed the Wolverines defense, which had become a joke under Rich Rodriguez. His time at Arizona wasnt perfect either. 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. But the legal tampering window opens two days before that on March 13, where teams will be able to negotiate with free agents before the official start of the 2023 season. At the very least, like Jon Gruden, he knows the kind of player that the NFL prefers. If nothing else, Kliemans teams have been solid and that would be a huge upgrade to the shoddy job Scott Frost has done. He regularly punches above his weight and has out-schemed and out-coached Nebraska on multiple occasions. Come on. Why It Might Work: Hes got a lot of energy for someone in his late sixties. The resume is admittedly solid. Chadwell followed it up by posting another 11-win season in 2021. Husker message boards and Facebook groups are littered with He may have bitten off more than he could chew with the FSU job, but he was also succeeding Jimbo Fisher, one of the programs most successful coaches. Monken has no Big Ten or Nebraska ties. Im sure youve heard of him. 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. Hes not wowing you unless you live in Ypsilanti. This could be the best time in his career to go after him. Some might find this hire head-scratching since these days the option is only run by service academies. There is some question whether he has the temperament to lead a program. These are guys who might be a bit of a longshot fit-wise, or who have some issues, or would take a bit more convincing to get people on board. Quite the opposite, actually. It took some convincing to get Kentuckys athletic dept. Hes got a history in the Big Ten, which he matches in terms of style. Hes a Husker and currently serving as interim coach. If youre looking for consistency, this might not be the best choice. What gives? Even if there are some benefits, the hire would reek of nepotism. Patterson's skills were on display Saturday as he teamed with Longhorns defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski to limit Alabama to its fewest points in a true road game since 2017. Some people are pounding the table for this guy, but to me, this is a fairly un-sexy pick. And if that were to happen, Nebraska wouldnt be the only program interested. Wilsons biggest knock might be his personality. Hes probably not going to win immediately, and how many more struggling seasons can Husker fans take? Buy Colts Tickets. Husker fans might be wary because Stoops appears to be a blend of Mike Riley and Bo Pelini, but somehow hes made it work in Lexington. That kind of price tag in hindsight is laughable. He also appears to be one of the better assistant coaches in Lincoln. 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. He brought Western Kentucky out of the basement and did the same at USF. He also occasionally does TV analyst work for Fox Sports, and he stepped in to coach the Sooners for a bowl game when Lincoln Riley bolted for USC. 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. He has steadily turned NC State, one of the ACCs most lowly also-rans, into an ascending program. Why It Might Not: It would be a serious gamble. Why It Might Work: Taggart did well at a place with low expectations. Closing Comment: As far as fall-back options go, this isnt bad. Cincinnati is going to the Big 12 soon. The first is the Big Names. Why It Might Not: At 64, Bohl is definitely on the tail end of his coaching career, and it might be asking a lot for the guy to completely rebuild his alma mater into something respectable. Its an exciting time, right? That's the sort of sell job Frost needs to make. The 3 leading candidates to replace Frost were revealed by Bruce February 26, 2023 4:11 pm ET. He had an outstanding first season, going 11-2 with a BCS bowl victory. 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. Jon Hale. He was the DC at Wisconsin and LSU and is now coaching the Baylor Bears. 2 Related. He was one of the Big Tens most underrated offensive coordinators, running a unique pro-style system that confused defenses with several motions. After the scandal that forced Jim Tressel to leave Columbus, Meyer moved in and promptly started kicking the entire Big Tens ass. Five Heart Podcast 318: Nebraska Basketball, Spring Game Attendance and a new Memorial Stadium? There would be cultural nuances that would take some adjusting to from both sides, but that would quickly fall by the wayside if he started winning. Closing Comment: The most impressive part of his resume is his time at GVSU, but how much of that can translate to Nebraska? I try to make the case for each one. He also has a fiery disposition like a certain former coach and Husker fans find that generally off-putting. 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. He seems like a solid head coach, but its hard to project him being either wildly successful or a disappointing failure. Going 8-5 at KSU is apparently the equivalent of going 11-1 to some, and the record from NDSU predictably makes people salivate. Theres no question he knows how to coach and recruit. So Ive compiled an exhaustive list below of virtually every coaching candidate I think Nebraska could pursue. These are the head-explode, spit-take hires that the college football world would probably lose its mind over if Nebraska pulled it off. Why It Might Not: Did Campbell peak in 2020? Also, could Nebraska convince him to leave Baylor? A 54-22 record is solidly in the plus category, and he went 5-0 in bowl games as a head coach. Yeah, remember him? He would also bring continuity to the program. Why It Might Work: Narduzzi seems tailor-made for the Big Ten. Closing Comment: Yes, his second year as a head coach was unexpectedly good, so the comparisons to Frost are there. For this list Im mostly focusing on guys with at least some head coaching experiencemany current, some former. As much as his teams have over-performed, they have also under-performed. Nothing against Stoops, but no one is beating Georgia anytime soon. Oh, look, another former North Dakota State head coach. 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. But Campbell has to get to a certain level this season to be in the mix. He's 45 and very much seems primed for a jump. Oh, and his current OC is Tim Beck. As a former Husker, he should receive the slack Mike Riley wasnt given. Kentucky had no expectations when they hired him. If Nebraska is facing rejection from experienced candidateswhich itself would be alarmingthis is a solid emergency option, assuming he takes the call. Here is a look at five early candidates for the vacant Nebraska head coaching job. While his teams arent on Clemsons level in terms of talent, they are always competitive. 122. Then he went to Kansas and did the same as every coach who went to Kansas after Mark Mangino. 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. As soon as Matt Rhule was fired from the Carolina -Lance Look at the teams against which they have lost. Theres some question as to whether hed leave as hes turned down previous job offers from better college programs. Receivers coach Mickey Joseph will be the interim coach for the Huskers. He won a national title in 2000 and racked up several conference championships during his tenure. Feldman believes Campbell, Leipold, and Chadwell are the leading Nebraska football head coaching candidates to replace Scott Frost. In both cases, he made them successful by his third season. 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. Why It Might Not: But didnt Scott Frost supposedly understand a winning culture too? Barring a stunning breakthrough this season, hes just about reached the end of his rope and is likely to return to the field of college coaching. Why It Might Work: Mendenhall quietly did an amazing job at BYU when they transitioned to an FBS Independent, but how he managed to find success in the salvage project he undertook at Virginiawhich had only 3 winning seasons in 10 years before he arrivedis even more impressive. His next gig has to be the absolute right fit. He has coached both a Heisman Trophy winner (Bryce Young) and the G.O.A.T. Rhule also seems like a fine Big Ten fit. 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. Instead, it's seen a far-flung outpost in a league that suddenly boasts a presence in New York, Chicago and soon Los Angeles. 172d Bill Connelly. I hear his wife makes a mean plate of nachos. He knows exactly the caliber of players the NFL wants, and flashing a Super Bowl ring might be enticing to recruits, too. Closing Comment: This would be a bizarre marriage if it happened. His Big Ten familiarity is also a plus. Not every place is going to be set up like that. Has the He knows how to coach up players, and most importantly, he knows how to run the damn ball, damn it. Closing Comment: Bringing Rich Rod back to the Big Ten would certainly create serious buzz. Now hes Miami of Floridas DC. Twice since 2018 he has won 10 games, perhaps prompting his angry comeback recently when John Calipari suggested Kentucky is far more focused on basketball success. Second, Im bugged by the Mississippi State thing. His recruiting ties to the Midwest (Ohio) make him a good fit for the Big Ten. 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. Maybe he could be worth considering, but rest assured there would be a lot of skeptics. Maybe he could pull it off and be great, but thats a tall order. How would he handle expectations in a much tougher environment? The headlines would be juicy. Everyone hopes to nab someone who creates the success of Jim Tressel. Nebraskas top three candidates for the open coaching job are Iowa States Matt Campbell, Kansas coach Lance Leipold and Alabama offensive coordinator 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. As an alumnus in the coaching field, he may have the highest possible pedigree, and candidates like this simply dont grow on trees. Would he be able to get the talent needed to win at a high level? He would have to go a long way to earn the trust of the players, fans, and boosters. Closing Comment: He looks like a great choice for a bridge coach, which, considering where Nerbaska is right now, might be a strong strategy for the future. on Sep 19, 2022, 8:38am CDT Arandas second season as a head coach was a surprise breakout, where the Bears won 12 games and upset Oklahoma State in the conference championship. Then he got booted for off-the-field allegations from his time at LSU. Why It Might Not: The Huskers have had mixed results with first time head coaches who needed to learn the job on the fly. This seems like a name fairly low on the totem pole and would likely signal desperation. He proved capable beyond that when he made the University of Buffalo more than just a scrappy program. Frost is a Husker legend who would surely be a popular hire with Nebraskas loyal fan base. The former head coach at Indiana, hes now Ohio States offensive coordinator, and doing an excellent job there. A competent athletic dept. 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.
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