If only there was Tinder for college football. Athletic directors and coaches could post profiles, swipe left or right and just wait to see what kind of matches they get. This certainly would be more fun and cost effective. According to CBS Sports, schools spent $750,000 on search firms to hire new football coaches last offseason.
We haven’t even reached the end of October and speculation has run rampant over who will be available and which jobs will come open.
It seems inevitable that there will be at least two elite openings this winter. LSU has already jettisoned Les Miles and Charlie Strong appears to be Dead Man Coaching at Texas. These schools will likely have a heavyweight battle over the hottest coaching candidate: Houston’s Tom Herman. But what if LSU and Texas don’t get him? Herman’s job could potentially be better if the Cougars join the Big 12.
What will be Plan B for LSU and Texas? Sure, the Tigers would love to lure Jimbo Fisher away from Florida State, but the Seminoles have won a national championship (2013) more recently than LSU (2007) and have an easier path to the College Football Playoff. Plus, why would he want to butt heads with Nick Saban? The Tigers just fired a national championship coach in Miles because he couldn’t beat Saban.
Louisville’s Bobby Petrino might be attractive to both LSU and Texas. He’s arguably the greatest offensive mind in college football today. However, Petrino does come with considerable baggage. And Petrino might be reluctant to leave a school where he’s had his greatest success and one that has also forgiven his past foibles.
There are other big names to look at, such as Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio and TCU’s Gary Patterson. But what about an outside-the-box candidate: a guy with head coaching experience outside the Power 5 conferences.
Here are five potential candidates that these schools – and others looking to make a coaching change – should consider:
P.J. Fleck, Western Michigan (23-21 in four seasons):
Of all the candidates at mid-major schools, Fleck seems like the most likely to bolt. Fleck has developed a reputation as an offensive whiz kid. He’s only 35 – the second youngest coach in the FBS.
Fleck’s stock keeps rising, especially now that the 24th-ranked Broncos 6-0) are ranked in the Associated Press poll for the first time in school history. This is a colossal leap for a program that was 1-11 in Fleck’s first season in 2013. Western Michigan has more victories over Big Ten schools (Northwestern and Illinois) than nine current Big Ten programs. They also are tied for sixth in the nation in scoring (44.8 points per game).
According to the Chicago Tribune, CBS Sports Network recruiting analyst Tom Lemming calls Fleck “Jim Harbaugh Light” for being “out there, a little wacky.”
Bryan Harsin, Boise State (26-6 in three seasons):
Harsin had a tough act to follow when he replaced Chris Petersen, who left to take over Washington. Harsin has kept Boise State nationally relevant. They won 12 games in his first year and won the Fiesta Bowl.
This year, the Broncos are ranked No. 15 in the AP poll with victories over Washington State and Oregon State. All but one of those victories have been by double digits. Boise State is one of 11 unbeatens remaining in the FBS – and has a good shot to run the table in the regular-season.
Jeff Brohm, Western Kentucky (23-10 in three seasons):
Brohm is one of the brightest offensive minds in college football. Last year, he guided the Hilltoppers to their best season as an FBS member. They went 12-2 and were ranked No. 24 in the final Associated Press poll. This year, they remain a potent offense despite losing record-setting quarterback Brandon Doughty, who was a seventh-round draft pick by the Miami Dolphins and is currently on their practice squad.
For schools like LSU and Texas – which have had quarterback issues – Brohm has proven he can build a great offense. He was mentored by Petrino and Howard Schnellenberger. Plus, the school that hires him gets to play this great video of Brohm from his XFL days.
South Florida’s Willie Taggart (19-24 in four seasons):
Willie Taggart’s career record is 35-44, but it’s important to view that with some perspective. He helped build the Western Kentucky program that Brohm is currently having success with. (Taggart recruited Brandon Doughty.) He also took over another massive building project when he left WKU for South Florida.
The Bulls went 8-5 with a bowl game appearance last year and are 5-1 this season, with the only loss to Florida State. Taggart has deep connections to the Harbaugh family through Western Kentucky. Given the right situation, he might have greater success.
Scott Satterfield, Appalachian State (25-17, four seasons):
Satterfield has been associated with his alma mater for a long time (17 years). He played quarterback at Appalachian State and was an assistant before becoming the head coach in 2013. He has guided the Mountaineers to their finest season since transitioning from the FCS to the FBS.
In 2015, Appalachian State set a Sun Belt Conference record with 11 victories and the team notched its first-ever bowl appearance, beating Ohio. This season, the Mountaineers’ losses are to ranked teams. They almost upset Tennessee before losing in overtime 20-13 and were blown out at home by Miami.
