Some Potential Head Coach Options – Looking Back to the Beginning of the Season

So while we gnaw on the Minnesota loss, and process the likely outcome of another bowl-less season, I thought it might be interesting to look at where some of the hot coordinator and head coaching prospects stand after a little over half the season! I posted a list after we laid an egg against Illinois and it’s revealing where some of the coaches on the top of “top 25 candidate” lists stand now.

A lot has been said about the fates of AAC coaches hired in and around the same year as Frost, but looking more immediately at current en vogue candidates, I think the point here is that just like our opinion of Frost’s program, the general consensus about coaches changes effectively overnight.

When we start the season it seems like there are infinite options available (“anybody could do better at Nebraska, what with *our* resources!!!”), but as we get more results on the field it becomes clearer that there aren’t many year-to-year consistent performers looking to change jobs in any given offseason. We’re already looking at several high budget (P5) programs on the coaching hunt in USC, LSU, and likely Miami. They’ll be able to afford the most desirable candidates, just as we will if we’re looking.

I’d love to update this at end of season, and see how the bowl season changes our opinion of where the grass is really greener! What other coaches have been performing well?

#Original List

Link: https://old.reddit.com/r/Huskers/comments/pdm9ah/some_potential_head_coach_options/har78al/

#Sorting the List (halfway through the season)

**Quality Candidates** (maybe not the right hire for Nebraska, but they’re doing a good job right now)

– Luke Fickell, HC of Cincinnatti

– Bill O’Brien, OC at Alabama

– Jim Leonhard, DC at Wisconsin

– Mike Tressel, DC at Cincinnatti

– Jeff Monken, HC at Army

– Jim McElwain, HC at Central Michigan

– Alex Grinch, DC at Oklahoma

**Not Looking Great** (some big oofs in here, and some who just aren’t showing the same magic as last year)

– Craig Bohl, HC at Wyoming

– Pete Golding, DC at Alabama

– Tony Elliot, OC at Clemson

– Kerry Coombs, DC at Ohio State

– Jon Heacock, DC at Iowa State

– Barry Odom, DC at Arkansas

– Phil Longo, OC at UNC

– Chris Kleiman, HC at K-State

**Jury’s Still Out** (too early in their current role, or up and down performances this year cast doubt)

– Matt Campbell, HC of Iowa State

– Lance Leipold, HC at Kansas

– Cale Gundy, OC at Oklahoma

– Tommy Rees, OC at Notre Dame

– Marcus Freeman, DC at Notre Dame

– Kevin Wilson, OC at Ohio State

– Tom Manning, OC at Iowa State

– Graham Harrell, OC at USC

– Darrell Dickey, OC at A&M

– Jeff Lebby, OC at Ole Miss

– Matt Canada, OC with the Steelers

**Likely Not Leaving for Us** (they’re staying where they are)

– Zac Taylor, HC of Cincinnati Bengals

– Bob Stoops, HC of enjoying retirement

– Brett Venables, DC at Clemson

– Matt Eberflus, DC with the Colts

#Emerging Candidates to Add

– Lane Kiffin, HC at Ole Miss (looking like a great coach after his Saban sabbatical)

– Jamie Chadwell, HC at Coastal Carolina (Coastal is strong again this year, but basically playing in what used to be considered a 1-AA conference)

– Joe Brady, OC of Carolina Panthers (dragging Darnold and a CMC-less panthers offense to decent production)

– Billy Napier, HC at Louisiana (Lousiana got hosed by Texas earlier in the year, but playing well in conference. Same concerns as Jamie Chadwell, especially post-Frost)

– Mel Tucker, HC at Michigan State (dude’s got a heck of an agent getting him in every conversation for every role. MSU is also playing solid unblemished, if unremarkable, football. Guy seems hirable for the right price, but could also leave for the right price.)

– Dave Aranda, HC at Baylor (after a rough transition year during the covid season, Baylor is back on the uptick)

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