Hes certainly a good coach, but is he elite? This isnt a Harbaugh-and-49ers situation, where the coach and ownership are on rocky terms. How would he handle expectations in a much tougher environment? Another former Big Ten head coach, Hoke ran Michigan with mixed results. First, Moorhead probably isnt leaving Akron after one year. He has coached both a Heisman Trophy winner (Bryce Young) and the G.O.A.T. The move ended weeks of speculation about Ventrones status with the organization and left a significant void to fill both on the field and in the locker room. Its not for everybody. Nebraska 11 Coaching Candidates to Replace Mike Riley at Nebraska And, surprisingly, even after two head coaching jobs, it still feels to some like his potential remains untapped. Klieman went 69-6 with the Bison and was hired by Kansas State in Dec 2018. Maybe he could be worth considering, but rest assured there would be a lot of skeptics. Some argue that he was the one who built that program into what it is todaywinning 3 FCS national championships while he was there, and posting a record of 104-32. He is 1-5 in the Cy-Hawk trophy game, leading many to question his ability to handle the defense-heavy Big Ten. Hes never worked west of Illinois, and hed be asked to live west of Iowa in the Great Plains. Hes had other stops including LSU and is now the OC for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Could it be interesting? Nebraska has fired Mike Riley after three seasons with the program. Hes an Ohio guy who loves Ohio. coaching search that changed Nebraska Why It Might Not: Despite the love for Mickey Joseph, which is understandable, hes light on head coaching experiencehe led Langston University, an HBCU, for two seasons from 2011-2012, with a record of 13-7. He might be the defensive version of Scott Frost. Closing Comment: Given all the candidates out there with head coaching experience, even the flawed retreads, it would almost seem disappointing to pick an unproven coordinator instead. March 3, 2023 7:00 am ET. He might be all flash. He also has a fiery disposition like a certain former coach and Husker fans find that generally off-putting. Lets start with why he flopped at Michiganhis defense and special teams. Closing Comment: This seems like the safest pick. And yet he says he's not done coaching. He brought Western Kentucky out of the basement and did the same at USF. 2023 NFL free agency: One player each team should re-sign Trev Alberts would probably prefer someone who knows what hes doing. Arandas second season as a head coach was a surprise breakout, where the Bears won 12 games and upset Oklahoma State in the conference championship. Northwestern has played in two of the last four Big Ten Championship Games. Coach 225 Nebraska Union Lincoln, NE 68588-0451 402-472-3145 careerservices@unl.edu Closing Comment: I didnt even want to include him on this list because he seems set at Kansas State, but the frequency of his name being mentioned forced the issue. Almost a year to the day, he had a hand in beating Nebraska and ousting Frost. Closing Comment: Okay, full disclosure: Jeff Monken is my favorite of this whole bunch. This could be the best time in his career to go after him. Stoops may be even better than that without the baggage. Instead, it's seen a far-flung outpost in a league that suddenly boasts a presence in New York, Chicago and soon Los Angeles. At this point his work at Louisville may be seen as the outlier. But at this point he seems set on staying in Florida. When you hire an FCS coach, even one of the leagues best, youre rolling the dice. Why It Might Work: Leipold is certainly a good coach. Malzahns record is proven but hes far from perfect. How could it not? Why It Might Work: Campbell is 42 with a record of 77-49 as a head coach, as of this writing. (They probably dont.). It could be fun. Creighton is 53. The resume is admittedly solid. Not every place is going to be set up like that. on Sep 19, 2022, 8:38am CDT What gives? For the seventh time since Tom Osborne's retirement in 1997, Nebraska is looking for a coach. Then he spent a season at Oregon before bolting for the "Dream Job" at Florida State, where he barely lasted two years. North Carolina or South Carolina (or even Clemson?) Hes defensive minded and knows college footballs most fertile recruiting grounds. He also greatly benefited from Texas falling off and a Big 12 in flux with Missouri, Nebraska, and Texas A&M all leaving for other conferences. All Rights Reserved. Nebraska Cornhuskers Coaching Candidates - msn.com Hes nuts. Chadwell followed it up by posting another 11-win season in 2021. Candles Rockets have seen no drop off and remain one of the MACs better teams every year. While things can and will almost certainly change before the end of the regular season, these are five realistic names for the Nebraska opening among current Closing Comment: Its a risk. Moving within the division to suddenly chase his old boss, Paul Chryst, and alma mater doesn't seem like an ideal move. Why It Might Work: Monkens teams practice great fundamentals and rarely if ever beat themselves, which would be a welcome change from the Scott Frost era. Its interesting that he got that job, given his previous spot was as Arkansass RB coach, when they went 4-20 in the Chad Morris era. He hasnt interviewed for any vacancies since his retirement. It took the Raiders committing $100 million to lure him away from Monday Night Football. Jon Hale is the University of Kentucky football beat writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader. Why It Might Work: Rodriguez created the quintessential Cinderella program at West Virginia, where he would probably still be coaching today had he not taken Michigans offer and left so controversially. 2 Related. But more important than nostalgia is how disciplined his teams are. Potential Nebraska coaching candidates for upcoming college As one of the SECs historical have-nots, the Bulldogs were a bottom feeder who Mullen steadily transformed into a team that came close to beating Alabama. (859) 414-6776. He didnt, but a lot of that was because he didnt have internal support. Since Nebraska is going into the bye week, I figured I might as well wait until after all the post-game articles before posting this. He has shepherded locker rooms accustomed to winning championships each season. Apply here. Sure, but I feel like it would take a lot of rejection for Trev Alberts to dial his number. The coaching carousel is always fun. Jerry Kill: If Nebraska wants to poach a head coach from another school, Jerry Kill seems like a logical direction to go. That would not be the case at Nebraska. The feeling right now: If O'Brien goes anywhere, it's back to the NFL perhaps to replace Belichick one day. Plus does he really want to leave the comfort of San Diego for a Big Ten job, again? Why It Might Not: Urban Meyer is weird. Bring him in, allow him to restore some semblance of competitiveness, and then when he retires (in 5 to 7 years), go after the elite guy. Seven Nebraska coaching candidates to replace Mike Frost studied under coaching legends, knew the Nebraska program inside and out, had two years of head coaching experience, and still failed. The first is the Big Names. He could be one of college football's most unsung program builders. If he were to hire a competent DC and win, the rest may be worth overlooking. His turnaround of Eastern Michigan in particular was stunning, but that might be more attributable to the consistent failures of their previous hires. Closing Comment: Mickey Joseph would no doubt excite some Husker fans, and while I do get the argument for his upside, hes now 54 without a major head coaching gig. Nebraska Cornhuskers coaching candidates Jeff Monken, Army Black Knights head coach Jeff Lebby, Oklahoma Sooners offensive coordinator Brian Hartline, A former Husker (who youve probably heard of), Bohl was the head coach at FCS powerhouse North Dakota State from 2003 to 2013. Come on. to get more serious about football, but now that they have, the results are showing. As a former Husker, he should receive the slack Mike Riley wasnt given. Hed demand a hefty price and it seems highly unlikely that this marriage would happen. Theres some question as to whether hed leave as hes turned down previous job offers from better college programs. Why It Might Not: NC State still hasnt had the type of special season you would expect from someone who could be a great head coach. But Campbell has to get to a certain level this season to be in the mix. 171d Adam Rittenberg. Second tier is "May Generate Excitement." All eyes will be on his performance as the interim coach. Who should replace Scott Frost at Nebraska? If Trev Alberts were to poach him from Lawrence, Leipold would suddenly be under a lot more pressure. He won a national title in 2000 and racked up several conference championships during his tenure. Fleck has since elevated Minnesota to a level of competition that no one would have thought possible. Im sure youve heard of him. But here it is as written around September 12, with minor edits.). Why It Might Work: The jobs he did at Temple and Baylor were nothing short of spectacular. If nothing else, Kliemans teams have been solid and that would be a huge upgrade to the shoddy job Scott Frost has done. The meltdown in Minneapolis would be legendary. He served as Marylands interim coach after they fired DJ Durkin. Fleck, and hes one of the reasons Mel Tucker has found success at Colorado and MSU. Receivers coach Mickey Joseph will be the interim coach for the Huskers. Maybe he could pull it off and be great, but thats a tall order. Although Mullen may have gotten fired in a profession with brutal expectations, there may have been problems underneath the surface. This seems like a name fairly low on the totem pole and would likely signal desperation. Mark Stoops, Kentucky coach: Stoops has spent a decade methodically developing the Wildcats into an above-average, competent SEC program. Also, could Nebraska convince him to leave Baylor? There are some reports he prefers the job he has now and is settling in. There is no healthier coaching tree from which to pick a coach: Bill Belichick and Nick Saban. As an alumnus in the coaching field, he may have the highest possible pedigree, and candidates like this simply dont grow on trees. Why It Might Work: Its Jon Gruden. Id be over the moon if Nebraska hired him. coaches This seems like a Southern-oriented guy. Why It Might Work: Narduzzi seems tailor-made for the Big Ten. He struggled (to put it mildly) to develop a quarterback. His two turnarounds at Ball State and San Diego State (in his first stint) were impressive, considering what they were before he arrived. Some might find this hire head-scratching since these days the option is only run by service academies. Why It Might Not: Kentucky demonstrated tremendous patience through his early years developing the program, when his record was 12-24 (4-20 in conference) after 3 seasons. How quickly can they learn his style and become competitive? After taking over the sturdy foundation built by Jerry Kill, P.J. Hes got a history in the Big Ten, which he matches in terms of style. Some argue that he left BYU for Virginia to prove he could coach and win outside the Mormon comfort of Provo, but even at the time it felt odd. Another guy who had a surprising breakout 12-win season in year two as a head coach, Traylor and UTSA had a magical year in 2021. Jeff Schwartz (p) (402) 395-2134 How to Apply If you are interested , submit your application! Everyone hopes to nab someone who creates the success of Jim Tressel. He was doing well at Arizona until off-the-field allegations made them show him the door. Theres a reason it isnt in vogue anymore. Closing Comment: Les Miles may have been interesting as a replacement to Mike Riley or Bo Pelini, but that window has long since closed. Many believe he was one of the original architects of the spread offense. Plus, he discovered Josh Allen. City elections include three mayoral candidates, 12 vying for Instead he kept the team competitive when it could have easily imploded. The Huskers have added 39 new scholarship players via the transfer portal and the 2023 recruiting class. Make of that what you will. There are some in Ann Arbor who still feel he didnt get a fair shake, but his career following has borne out that Michigan probably made the correct decision. Poaching him from the NFL would be a similar coup that would grab headlines across the country. He already knows the Big Ten and will likely be more prepared on what to expect given his time at Wisconsin. Closing Comment: Yes, his second year as a head coach was unexpectedly good, so the comparisons to Frost are there. It would be a jarring cultural change for him to come to Big Ten country. Why It Might Work: It only took Urban Meyer two seasons to coach Utah to an undefeated season. One need look no further than his performance at WI-Whitewater, where he went an astounding 109-6 in FCS Division III, including six national championships. WebA Day in the Life of an Account Analyst Intern. He may have reached his ceiling. Hiring him would have the obvious potential of failing spectacularly. Why It Might Work: Stoops had a fantastic record at Oklahoma and set the program up for long term success. If Nebraska is facing rejection from experienced candidateswhich itself would be alarmingthis is a solid emergency option, assuming he takes the call. Is he waiting for Ryan Day to leave Ohio State? Going 8-5 at KSU is apparently the equivalent of going 11-1 to some, and the record from NDSU predictably makes people salivate. His recruiting ties to the Midwest (Ohio) make him a good fit for the Big Ten. Aranda probably wont be coming into the Big Ten with the same level of naive arrogance, shooting off his mouth about how the conference should adjust to him. (Tom Brady). Quite the opposite, actually. Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell Campbell has built Iowa State into a consistent winner. He may be mercurial, but it doesnt change the fact that the job Fleck did at Western Michigan and with the once-hapless Goofers has been excellent. It also begs the question: how much of Taylors recent NFL success is linked to Joe Burrow? A big paycheck might make him reconsider. Nebraska football coaching options after Scott Frost led by five CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: collegefootball | pageType: stories | Other FBS programs have gone after FCS champion coaches and the hit rate is usually low. And how motivated would he be? That means 6-6 or even 7-5 might not be good enough for Nebraska, which absolutely has to hit a home run this time around. The Huskers lost 45-42 to Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. 4 potential Nebraska coaching candidates to replace Scott Frost Four candidates are vying for each of the other two district seats. Doeren might be the most underrated coach in the Power 5. No, we need more. Here is a look at five early candidates for the vacant Nebraska head coaching job. At the very least, he understands a winning culture. Why It Might Work: OBriens two years at Penn State were really good given the circumstances that he walked into. The current head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks, Leipold had a stellar record at Wisconsin-Whitewater and built the Buffalo Bulls into a contender in the MAC. Hes quietly leading one of the most competitive programs in the country, causing a ton of trouble for their opponents in the Mountain West. Hes a Husker and currently serving as interim coach. A coach could conceivably come in and use the opportunity to take a step up the coaching rung toward a head coaching job in the near future. Scott Frost pulled him from LSU to coach wide receivers and almost everyone in the fan base loves him. As much as his teams have over-performed, they have also under-performed. Nebraska Closing Comment: Nebraska would certainly tell everyone where they stand in the Big Ten pecking order by poaching the dynamic head coach of a division rival, who also happens to be one of the best recruiters in the conference. Just imagine the press conferences. Pernell: A Shortlist for Regionally, itd be a good fit. Rodriguez is notoriously stubborn and has been in the business long enough that theres a fair amount of baggage coming with him, which is why a small program like JSU was the only option he had as a head coach. Jon Hale. It would appease all Husker fans who want to go back to that style from the Osborne days, and theres no better choice for that than Monken. He has also seen what it takes to win, thanks to being inside Ohio States program. After Mike Riley was fired in 2017, Bill Moos had one target that lined up with the consensus and all he had to do was get him. This is another Ohio guy who likes being close to that area. Hes currently "coaching" the Dallas/Arlington Renegades in the XFL, a relatively low-profile job. The decline in his fourth season was truly stunning. Hes very much an old-school style coach and appears more stubborn than most.