Frank Fanelli

I’m back for the second part of ideal candidates for teams looking for coaches.

Nebraska: Scott Frost

Let’s face it. The Mike Riley experiment at Nebraska hasn’t worked out. He is a complete dumpster fire. When the Cornhuskers fired volatile Bo Pelini three years ago, they went for his polar opposite in good-guy, good-with-the-media Mike Riley. But after Saturday’s 56-44 loss to Penn State, the Huskers are 4-7 and will miss a bowl game for the third time since 1961. And they haven’t looked competitive doing it, with a 56-14 loss to Ohio State and a 54-21 loss at Minnesota.

Frost spent seven years on Oregon’s staff as a wide receivers coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, helping Marcus Mariota capture a Heisman Trophy. As UCF’s head coach, he’s used a fast-paced offense to quickly turn around a program that was winless in 2015. The Knights are 16-7 under his watch, including 10-0 this season as one of four remaining FBS unbeatens. Frost’s passing offense and knowledge of the program would be a natural fit at Nebraska, which has lacked an identity under Riley. Earlier in the year, he denied a report saying that a deal with the Huskers was close, but it would be a perfect fit for Frost to come home to Lincoln.

Ole Miss: Charlie Strong

Ole Miss is in a difficult position as hiring season begins. The Rebels enjoyed significant on-field and recruiting success under Hugh Freeze, making four consecutive bowls capped by a 10-win season and Sugar Bowl victory in 2015. However, that came with a price. Ole Miss was dealt with a lengthy NCAA investigation that has already resulted in a self-imposed bowl ban this fall. And perhaps significant penalties and scholarship losses when the NCAA Committee on Infractions reveals its verdict soon.
A veteran, steady coach would fit well, and Charlie Strong should be the first the Rebels call. Strong was fired at Texas after three seasons without a winning record, but he is enjoying a bounce-back season at South Florida, where the 9-1 Bulls will play for an AAC division title against Central Florida this week. Strong is a tough-love coach who shaped up Texas’ roster with disciplinarian techniques. He’s a proven winner who could guide Ole Miss through some rough NCAA-induced waters with integrity.

Oregon State: Bronco Mendenhall

Three years ago, it looked like Oregon State had scored a major coup for its football program. After Mike Riley’s eyebrow-raising departure to Nebraska, the Beavers were able to lure Gary Andersen back to his West Coast roots. But Riley didn’t leave a lot in the cupboard, and Andersen struggled to win consistently. He walked away midway through this season with a 7-23 overall record. Oregon State is in a tough spot in the competitive Pac-12 North with Washington, Washington State, Oregon and Stanford as division rivals. How should the Beavers respond?

By going after one of their own.

Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall is a former Oregon State safety who served as a team captain in 1987. He was also an Oregon State defensive line/defensive backs and defensive coordinator in 1995-96. Mendenhall is a proven winner who took BYU to 11 bowls in as many seasons while compiling a 99-43 record. He has also turned around Virginia in just two seasons. It has been reported that Mendenhall, who was the runner-up when Andersen was hired, is being considered again.