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.
Nebraska fired the athletic director who hired Riley, Shawn Eichorst, and replaced him with Washington State’s Bill Moos. Moos told the press that Riley “deserves to finish the 2017 season,” an ill-fated comment. Nebraska will be in the market for a new coach—and the perfect candidate is Central Florida’s, Scott Frost.
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.
