What was once considered the most dominant conference in football is on the verge of a mass exodus of coaches. The SEC is looking at having five, possibly six, open head coaching gigs. That’s jaw dropping for a place where it just means more.
What’s going on outside of Alabama?
The quarterback play has taken a step back since the Aaron Murray-ish period of the conference, but the retread coaching hires are just as bad. Before we get into what jobs should be opening up, let’s take some time to eulogize the first coach sent packing from the conference:
Jim McElwain is the first head to roll Sunday in what has to be one of the strangest weeks ever for a coach.
He totally wanted to get out of there, right?
Florida didn’t do him any favors, rightfully so, by keeping him at arms length with this statement after claimed death threats:
“The University Athletic Association takes the safety of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and families very seriously. Our administration met with Coach McElwain this afternoon and he offered no additional details.”
“He offered no additional details” is where you knew what was going to happen. McElwain was bound to be sent packing, but I’m not sure anyone expected it to happen later that weekend.
The last week of McElwain’s tenure was a circus, but he wasn’t doing himself any favors before then. In his three years at Florida, the team never cracked the top 100 of NCAA total offense. When Will Grier was sent packing over an illegal substance suspension, it seemed reasonable and still does. Yet, when folks in Gainesville see what’s happening in West Virginia, they have to be holding resentment for the decision. Grier looked awful against Okie State Saturday, but he’d be paraded around Gainesville today and McElwain would still have a job.
McElwain never seemed to rub people the right way. He certainly isn’t the most personable coach. He is arrogant and egotistical, without much reason to be either of those. The SEC East has been a cakewalk the past three years when they’ve won it, but Georgia’s machine-like ascension over the last two months changes a lot.
At least Steve Spurrier set the record straight on McElwain in this interview with The State:
“The offense has been so bad, everybody knows it. Did you see us play Georgia? Yeah, it was a sad, sad day, but anyway…”
That right there, ladies and gentlemen, is peak Head Ball Coach. Priceless.
Florida is ready for a fresh start and dynamic offense. They will have several options should the administration be ready to empty its pockets. Whatever they decide, just don’t give the next guy a ludicrous buyout like those people down in Baton Rouge.
Below is a prioritized list of who the Gators should be gunning for now. While this will largely focus on just them, I’ll throw in a few other possible fits I could see happening at other schools across the league.
Here are some contenders for the Florida job:
- Dan Mullen, Mississippi State: He has a track record for developing quarterbacks and turning up diamond prospects from nothing out of Starkville. He had his beef with Jeremy Foley, and rightfully so. Mullen’s old AD is now at Florida and that could possibly repair some of the damage done by Foley years ago. Florida should go all out for Mullen.
- Chip Kelly: Is Kelly still a fit for college? Some think so. Kelly provides that offensive spark fans are so thirsty for today. A meeting with commissioner as this new rule the SEC has implemented states Greg Sankey could be a threshold the Gators won’t be willing to cross. Tennessee could be a factor here. We’re not buying that Jon Gruden is going to leave a cushy, $5 million a year commentary job for a train wreck.
- Scott Frost, UCF: A Chip Kelly disciple and undoubtedly the coach that’s received the most love this year is going to get a call. Would this hire ignite a fan base, though? I would hope so with UCF absolutely scoring at will on opponents. It’s a significant leap for a coach to climb to the Power 5 ranks. Is he ready for this? The school didn’t win a game in the year prior to him becoming the head guy and are now slotted for a New Year’s Six bowl. UCF has been prepping big time for the big boys to come calling for Frost. I like Frost, but I think it would be wise to see how his career trajectory unfolds over the next three years. Nebraska and Tennessee could be a factor here.
- a. Willie Taggart, Oregon: Taggart has been doing just fine in his first year at Oregon, taking advantage of the recruiting well he built in his time at USF. It may be too soon for him to bail on Oregon, but you can bet Florida will take a hard look at Taggart. b. Charlie Strong, USF: This would make sense, right? Strong has certainly enjoyed the stocked cupboard that Taggart left at USF and it’s well known that Strong can recruit in the state. He has a history with Florida, but I don’t think Strong is made for the “big job.” Texas wasn’t good to him and I see no reason why he’d be ready to get back on a national stage so soon.
Dark Horses
- Chad Morris, SMU: I truly didn’t think Morris could revive a program the way he has at SMU with a 6-2 record at the end of October. Heck, I thought he might win six games all year. What he’s done there is truly incredible, considering the program’s history since receiving the death penalty. Morris landed Deshaun Watson at Clemson, fighting off Ohio State and Auburn for several years after scoring his commitment. Morris can recruit, and you’re darn right he can coach an offense. Interestingly enough, SMU hosts Scott Frost’s UCF team Saturday. Morris has come a long way, but fan bases are fickle and would be wondering how a coach with a 13-19 record deserves a shot. Texas A&M and Tennessee would be wise to take a look at Morris.
- Matt Campbell, Iowa State: Campbell has worked miracles in his second season at Iowa State. The Cyclones have won two games against top-5 opponents on the season and he’s a guy you can root for. Campbell is going to have to get adjusted to the spotlight now, but he’s a name to keep an eye on in the coming months. Whoever wants him had best prepare for a monstrous buyout.
- Justin Fuente, Virginia Tech: Fuente certainly should be in the lead group of candidates, I just don’t think he’s going to leave Tech so soon. He’s an offensive guru (see a trend here among the candidates?) and could be fielding a lot more coaching calls soon. Tennessee could be a factor here.
- Bobby Petrino, Louisville: He’s not really a factor to go to Gainesville, but is a coach worth noting. With Petrino’s buyout dropping significantly after Tom Jurich getting canned, there isn’t much more reason for him to stay around. Lamar Jackson’s career has been a wash outside of the Heisman and Petrino is likely to be on the move come January. Texas A&M and Tennessee will be factors here. A reunion with Arkansas wouldn’t benefit either sides.
We mentioned above that there could be as many as seven openings, with one due to a coach leaving.
Here are the schools:
- Arkansas: It looked bad down 31-7 before coming back to win 38-37 at Ole Miss Saturday, but it won’t be enough to save Bret Bielama’s job. Bielema is 10-26 in SEC during his five years with the Razorbacks. His buyout wasn’t as much as initially thought to be. He’s gone after this year.
- Auburn: This one qualifies as a maybe. I don’t think it’d be wise to make a move here, but if Auburn loses to both Georgia and Alabama at home dropping them to 8-4, does Gus Malzahn stay around?
- Florida: McElwain is absolutely out of his mind.
- Mississippi State: I think Dan Mullen leaves after this season. That qualifies as an opening.
- Ole Miss: Ross Bjork says Matt Luke will be in the mix, but he’s an interim and only that. Mike Leach has been a name tossed out as a potential candidate here.
- Texas A&M: Kevin Sumlin has had a track record of brutal Novembers and this month won’t be much different either. 8-4 won’t save his job and it doesn’t seem like the administration has had much support for him about two years now. Sumlin could be a retread hire somewhere.
- Tennessee: Butch is gone. We at Student Union has covered this one ad nausea. Only a matter of time.
It’s mind boggling to think half of the conference will have new coaching staffs, but that’s the reality. I think Auburn is most likely to stand pat here, with the possibility Mullen stays too.
The conference must stop with the retread hires from within. Change it up. Dino Babers would’ve made for an excellent hire somewhere in the southeast. All but two of these candidates have had head coaching gigs in the SEC.
That isn’t a coincidence.
