We know who he is. Hes got a history in the Big Ten, which he matches in terms of style. He may be mercurial, but it doesnt change the fact that the job Fleck did at Western Michigan and with the once-hapless Goofers has been excellent. 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. If Nebraska missed on Matt Campbell but wanted a similar type of coach, Candle is as close as you can get without the turnaround job at Iowa State. It also worked out pretty well the last time the Huskers hired a Buckeye. When you hire an FCS coach, even one of the leagues best, youre rolling the dice. City elections include three mayoral candidates, 12 vying for Strong was quickly given a chance to redeem himself after Texas, and it could not have gone worse. Nebraska football coaching options after Scott Frost led by five What would he do with the offensive players recruited to a drastically different system? It would be fascinating, though. Both BYU and Virginia had overall low expectations relative to Nebraska's, but at the same time he'd be taking over the program when those expectations are at their lowest in nearly half a century. He could be one of college football's most unsung program builders. It would all but confirm that Nebraska is interested primarily in giving the reins to former Huskers. He is .500 in bowl games and has an overall record of 135-81, marking a solid resume for any head coach. His record at Mississippi State, while not enough to impress its athletic director, was far from terrible and showed signs of progress, especially in the SEC West. Like Venables at Clemson, Leonhard has to be figuring he has a better job right now. It typically doesnt go that way, but Entzs ties to the state of Nebraska, if nothing else, make him mildly interesting. And yeah, Im ranking thesebased on how appealing I think they are, the kind of fit theyd be, and how much energy or excitement their arrival would inject into the program. ), but its unclear if he could be great in the long term. Monken has no Big Ten or Nebraska ties. Previously he was a coordinator at Oklahoma, where he also did well. Nebraska Cornhuskers coaching candidates Jeff Monken, Army Black Knights head coach Jeff Lebby, Oklahoma Sooners offensive coordinator Brian Hartline, He might be the defensive version of Scott Frost. Why It Might Not: Hokes failure at Michigan was widely publicized, and though he generally seemed to run a tight ship, theres been a fair amount of off-the-field controversy, which he is also dealing with now at San Diego State. Yeah, remember him? Make of that what you will. Hes considerably more experienced than Monken and has a longer record. Why It Might Not: Nebraska would be a bigger job than anywhere hes been. 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). Hes now at Wyoming, where his record is more mediocre. Why It Might Work: Joseph loves Nebraska, so hes got that going for him, right? Closing Comment: Its a risk. Mark Stoops, Kentucky coach: Stoops has spent a decade methodically developing the Wildcats into an above-average, competent SEC program. Kansas was willing to take a chance, and it very much felt like throwing anything at a wall to see what sticks. Scott Frost has been fired. Closing Comment: A perhaps-soon-to-be-former NFL coach whos done very well in college seems like a good choice on paper. 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. He has steadily turned NC State, one of the ACCs most lowly also-rans, into an ascending program. Closing Comment: Its a think-outside-the-box hire like Monken if it happens. His best season was 2016 when he went 12-2 and lost to Georgia in the CFP. But as they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder. This isnt a Harbaugh-and-49ers situation, where the coach and ownership are on rocky terms. 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 0 The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the format is not supported. The first is the Big Names. Hes never worked west of Illinois, and hed be asked to live west of Iowa in the Great Plains. Nebraskas top three candidates for the open coaching job are Iowa States Matt Campbell, Kansas coach Lance Leipold and Alabama offensive coordinator A solid resume for a Big Ten coaching candidate. Why It Might Not: Despite the love for Mickey Joseph, which is understandable, hes light on head coaching experiencehe led Langston University, an HBCU, for two seasons from 2011-2012, with a record of 13-7. coaching Coaches have gone to different regions and have done wellNick Saban was a consummate Midwest guy before LSUbut I have a hard time seeing Muschamp and Nebraska finding their way to each other. And dont forget, hes built a program from scratch. Hes now back at San Diego State for a second stint. But at this point he seems set on staying in Florida. Northwestern has played in two of the last four Big Ten Championship Games. Nebraska Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell Campbell has built Iowa State into a consistent winner. Does Nebraska really want to take a chance on someone with that kind of baggage? Theres no question he knows how to coach and recruit. It would appease all Husker fans who want to go back to that style from the Osborne days, and theres no better choice for that than Monken. Feldman believes Campbell, Leipold, and Chadwell are the leading Nebraska football head coaching candidates to replace Scott Frost. Closing Comment: This would be intriguing but Taggarts status and resume isnt as hot as it was seven years ago. The most obligatory of all candidates to be discussed. (Tom Brady). He was a bad fit in Austin, but his messaging was sound and seems like the perfect thing Big Ten programs would want. His return to San Diego State has seen the program maintain its play at a high level in the Mountain West. He orchestrated Cam Newtons Heisman season when serving as Auburns OC in 2010. Nebraska 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. Georgias current defensive coordinator has been a head coach at two different SEC teams, Florida and South Carolina. Potential Nebraska coaching candidates for upcoming college But his two jobs at Texas and South Florida were massive failures. He would also bring continuity to the program. Lets start with why he flopped at Michiganhis defense and special teams. Many believe he was one of the original architects of the spread offense. The question is whether Nebraska wants to face the price tag and stomach the baggage. Bring him in, allow him to restore some semblance of competitiveness, and then when he retires (in 5 to 7 years), go after the elite guy. Prior to this development, insiders were saying Campbell was interested in only two jobs: Ohio State and Notre Dame. He does have some college experience as the Cincinnati Bearcats OC in 2016 (not too long ago), so it wouldnt be necessarily a huge adjustment for him to come back to college. Could he follow NCAA rules? That cost Meyer a three-game suspension at the beginning of the 2018 season, his last with the Buckeyes. Then he went to Kansas and did the same as every coach who went to Kansas after Mark Mangino. While his teams arent on Clemsons level in terms of talent, they are always competitive. Well see if that changes. Desperation seems to find guys like Meyer whose winning percentage has to be ultimately balanced against off-field issues. His turnaround of Eastern Michigan in particular was stunning, but that might be more attributable to the consistent failures of their previous hires. His time at Arizona wasnt perfect either. While he wasnt spectacular in the SEC, he might find an easier time in the Big Ten. Since Nebraska is going into the bye week, I figured I might as well wait until after all the post-game articles before posting this. To no ones surprise, hes doing well as Alabama OC and can now boast having coached a Heisman-trophy winner. He had an up-and-down career thats been mostly down, at least at the head coaching level. Closing Comment: It seems like it would take a lot to talk Petersen into coming to Lincoln. Hes a Husker and currently serving as interim coach. It took some convincing to get Kentuckys athletic dept. Moving within the division to suddenly chase his old boss, Paul Chryst, and alma mater doesn't seem like an ideal move. 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. Hes a Youngstown State grad and famously served as Mark Dantonios aggressive DC at Michigan State. This is probably the name every sports writer and your mom is going to mention for Nebraska or any major head coaching vacancy, because Matt Campbell seems to be the up-and-coming head coach du jour. Native son Scott Frost was fired Sunday having gone 16-31 three games into his fifth season. Why It Might Not: Its a roller coaster ride with Fleck. He might not want to take the risk himself. Hes generally seen as past his prime, and despite his Midwest (i.e. Trev Alberts now has to embark on the long process of finding his replacement. Hes dug them out of the doldrums and turned them into a solid program that has produced multiple seasons of double-digit wins. 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. WebCandidates must have either current Nebraska licensure or NDE certification and be available 3-5 days per week to serve students in a variety of settings. 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. 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. And it begs the question, why has no one given him a serious look before now? Why It Might Work: Mullen was the toast of college football after what he did in Starkville, Mississippi. 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. He wasnt exactly a total fraud, but he was given every opportunity to succeed at Texas, a place with numerous built-in advantages and benefits, and really underachieved. 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. Why It Might Not: OBrien bolted for the NFL at the earliest opportunity. It could be fun. His next gig has to be the absolute right fit. He produced Dak Prescott for the Dallas Cowboys and his first three seasons at Florida were very good. Strong would have to go a long way to prove that hes viable as head-coaching material for a big program. Thats why its fun. Why It Might Work: Petersens record at Boise State was 92-12. He was one of the Big Tens most underrated offensive coordinators, running a unique pro-style system that confused defenses with several motions. Nebraska would certainly expect more from him than what he did in Starkville. 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. Frost studied under coaching legends, knew the Nebraska program inside and out, had two years of head coaching experience, and still failed. candidates Klieman appears to lack key knowledge of the Big Ten, and the Big 12 isnt great to prepare you for that. Taylor is a young coach who caught fire in one season (sound familiar? It would be like bringing in a far less successful Dabo Swinney. Closing Comment: Les Miles may have been interesting as a replacement to Mike Riley or Bo Pelini, but that window has long since closed. So without further ado, lets get into it. Recall that he inexplicably lost to a bad Bowling Green team in 2021, in a season when Minnesota finished 9-4. And how motivated would he be? Nebraska football coaching hot board: 21 candidates for the job Closing Comment: Ive heard his name mentioned a bunch, but I just dont see him leaving Kansas two years in, barring a stunning breakthrough. He was doing well at Arizona until off-the-field allegations made them show him the door. In moving from the Big 12 to the Big Ten, the program lost its identity. But Campbell has to get to a certain level this season to be in the mix. 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. Candidates Oh, wait, you mean yeah, okay. His culture, tireless work ethic and no-nonsense approach would appeal to Nebraska. Why It Might Not: Taggart was presumably given every help and benefit at Florida State and his failure there was not just the result of impatient boosters. Regionally, itd be a good fit. Nebraska Coaching He has solid Midwest ties and knows how to recruit gems. 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. Gary Patterson, Texas analyst: This makes so much sense. 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. He was a part of the Minnesota breakthrough in 2016 that set the runway for P.J. There is no doubt in his ability as a head coach. Matt Campbell (Iowa State) Dave Clawson (Wake Forest) Chris Kliemen (Kansas State) Jonathan Smith (Oregon State) Lance Liepold (Kansas) PJ Fleck 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. He did the obligatory rehab-at-Alabama thing. 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. Nebraska Coaching Candidates -Matt Rhule Former Carolina Panthers and Baylor Bears Head Coach. 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 Almost all of his coaching career has been in the state of Ohio. But isnt that what Nebraska tried with Mike Riley? Meghan Hall. Its interesting that he got that job, given his previous spot was as Arkansass RB coach, when they went 4-20 in the Chad Morris era. Look at the teams against which they have lost. Iowa) ties and solid coaching, theres some question as to whether he could handle the style of the Big Ten. How would the fan base react? Stoops has produced double-digit win seasons, has his program regularly vying for an upper spot in the SEC East, and has sent multiple players to the NFL drafts early rounds. She secured an endorsement from University of Nebraska athletic director Bob Devaney, revered in Nebraska for his success as the coach of the university football team. He also has a fiery disposition like a certain former coach and Husker fans find that generally off-putting. As much as his teams have over-performed, they have also under-performed. Johnsons lack of experience in that area means every aspect of how hed run the program would be unknown until we see it. His two turnarounds at Ball State and San Diego State (in his first stint) were impressive, considering what they were before he arrived. He would have to go a long way to earn the trust of the players, fans, and boosters. Admittedly there would be some excitement, but now with the controversy thats attached to him, its probably just not worth it. These are the head-explode, spit-take hires that the college football world would probably lose its mind over if Nebraska pulled it off. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. He knows how to coach up players, and most importantly, he knows how to run the damn ball, damn it. His connections in SEC land make him very unlikely to stay at a program like Nebraska, even if he somehow found success. College football coaching search candidates: What we're How realistic are they? 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. Closing Comment: The most impressive part of his resume is his time at GVSU, but how much of that can translate to Nebraska? Nebraska coaching Doeren might be the most underrated coach in the Power 5. Hes still fairly young at 46. How would he fit? Theres high-highs and low-lows. Theres some question as to whether hed leave as hes turned down previous job offers from better college programs. He might be better suited for a rebuild situation where he has time to work out the kinks.