Feldman: 40 Coaches On the Rise Entering the 2018 College Football Season
By Bruce Feldman Aug 29, 2018
Last winter, college football’s coaching carousel featured some of the biggest programs in the sport getting into the mix with Florida State, Florida, Texas A&M, UCLA, Nebraska and Tennessee among more than a dozen Power 5 schools replacing head coaches.
It’s doubtful we’ll see anywhere near that many prime jobs come open this winter, but you never know. It’s certainly been a crazy month leading into the 2018 season. With that in mind, it’s worth taking a look at the 40 mostintriguing potential options that could be in play in the FBS coaching mix later this year. Keep in mind this is a list of guys currently coaching in college at the FBS level, not in the NFL. A few guys who are hot commodities I suspect would be less tempted to bolt for a lot of bigger jobs than most people think so I didn’t include them here. One of those is Iowa State’s Matt Campbell who I doubt would jump short of an Ohio State or ND coming after him.
1. Neal Brown, Troy head coach: Among the Group of 5 guys poised to make the jump up to a much bigger, better-resourced program, start with 38-year-old Brown. He’s 21-5 over the past two years, and that includes almost knocking off eventual national champion Clemson two years ago and beating LSU in Baton Rouge on a Saturday night. Brown’s a terrific offensive coach, exceptionally detail-oriented and a deep thinker who is not afraid to stray outside the box. He’s destined to get a big job very soon.
2. Mel Tucker, Georgia defensive coordinator: A Cleveland native, Tucker is a Nick Saban protégé who was an Ohio State co-DC on Jim Tressel’s staff. Last winter, Tucker was the runner-up for the Tennessee head coaching job. We’re told he really wowed the Vols’ brass throughout the interview process. If the Dawgs go back to the College Football Playoff, expect the 46-year-old to have more head coaching options. If the Maryland job comes up, don’t be surprised if Tucker, a former Wisconsin defensive back, is a top candidate for it.
3. Ryan Day, Ohio State offensive coordinator: We’ll find out more about Day in the next month as he’s been given the Buckeyes’ reins as acting head coach in the wake of the Urban Meyer investigation. Day, 39, a Chip Kelly protégé from New Hampshire, is very well-regarded by his players and in coaching circles, and he has impressed folks inside the program since Meyer brought him on board in 2017. Day is a cool customer and has displayed a lot of poise and good organizational skills, we’re told, since he stepped into the leadership void in Columbus amid a very challenging climate. His work this season with gifted but unproven QB Dwayne Haskins certainly could strengthen his case.
4. Jimmy Lake, Washington co-defensive coordinator: No other assistant in college football was a hotter commodity than Lake this winter. He was pursued by Alabama, Florida State and Texas A&M, among others, in part because of his experience at the NFL and college levels and his ability to connect with players. One colleague of Lake’s describes him as one of the best teachers he’s ever been around. Lake keeps cranking out star defensive backs, and this season he’ll get to call the Huskies’ defense. His stock is sky high in coaching circles, and another Playoff run would only boost that. He will have plenty of options, but unless it’s a big job, don’t be shocked if he sticks in Seattle, where he’s comfortable in the situation and can be very picky.
5. Manny Diaz, Miami defensive coordinator: The Miami native has been Mark Richt’s best hire. Diaz, 44, is one of the brightest people working in college football. Diaz, one of the godfathers of the ’Canes Turnover Chain, has a great feel for what makes his guys tick and understands how to motivate people. Last season, he led a group that topped the country in sacks, was third in tackles for loss and ninth in yards per play. In 2015, the year before he arrived, UM ranked No. 64, No. 95 and No. 86 in those categories. His defense should be nasty again in the front seven and figures to be one of the country’s best overall this fall. The hunch here is that 58-year-old Richt won’t coach into his mid-60s and Diaz is lined up to be his successor, or he could be in line for pretty good Power 5 jobs before then.
6. Tony Elliott, Clemson co-offensive coordinator: A walk-on turned team captain at Clemson, Elliott earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and has overcome a lot of personal tragedy to get to where he’s at.Elliott is beloved inside the program by players and staff alike. He’s been named one of the top 10 recruiters in the ACC, and the Tigers are a staggering 41-4 since he became the OC. His image is as sterling as you’ll find. If Maryland is looking, it probably needs to give Elliott a call.
7. Jeff Brohm, Purdue head coach: He’s one of the brightest offensive minds in football. He’s fearless as a play caller and an underrated motivator. In his first season at Purdue, he immediately made the Boilers nationally relevant for the first time in more than a decade. He also did well at Western Kentucky before that. Brohm, 47, passed up a chance to be Tennessee’s coach last winter. Ohio State is a bigger job, though, than Tennessee. Would Brohm be willing to leave Purdue after only two seasons if there was an opening in Columbus?
8. Lane Kiffin, FAU head coach: There’s not a more polarizing name in coaching. He’s never been shy about stepping on toes, but he has a great feel for offense and had a fantastic first season with the Owls, going 11-3 after the team went 3-9 the year before. Expect another double-digit-win season in 2018, and it wouldn’t be a shocker if his team gives Oklahoma lots of problems in Week 1 in Norman. Kiffin’s style isn’t for everyone. Can a Power 5 AD and president feel confident to trust the 43-year-old to run their program? I think that’s much more realistic now than anyone would’ve imagined a year ago. It has worked out very well for FAU. He’s won big on the field and brought the school a ton of publicity.
9. Scott Satterfield, Appalachian State head coach: I’m surprised he didn’t get more of a sniff from any of the SEC jobs that came open this past year. He’s a really good coach and is excellent with X’s and O’s. The 45-year old from North Carolina is 30-9 over the past three seasons, and he will have the nation’s eye when his team faces Penn State in the opener. Remember, his team gave Tennessee all it could handle in the opener two years ago. If East Carolina comes open, Satterfield would be a very good option.
10. Jason Candle, Toledo head coach: Yet another Mount Union product, Candle succeeded his old college teammate, Matt Campbell, and has won big with the Rockets, going 21-7 and bringing them their first title in over a decade. What could be next for him? He’s got a plum Mid-American Conference job. Would Illinois look at him if it moves on from Lovie Smith? If Brohm left Purdue, Candle would make some sense there, as he might if Kansas makes a move.
11. Dave Aranda, LSU defensive coordinator: The nation’s highest-paid coordinator at $2.5 million per year always does excellent work, and he is expected to again in 2018 with another talented group in Baton Rouge. He’s pretty much priced out of Group of 5 head coaching jobs. If Texas Tech comes open, would the former Red Raiders assistant consider that move?
12. Jake Spavital, West Virginia offensive coordinator:With Will Grier back, along with a deep backfield, three stud wideouts, versatile tight ends and arguably the top tackle tandem in the country, this should be a huge season for the Mountaineers offense. It sets up well for the 33-year-old Dana Holgorsen protégé who has groomed more than his share of prolific passers in a relatively short time. Last year, in his first season back at WVU, Spavital helped improve the team’s ranking in TD percentage in the red zone from No. 89 to No. 28. Spavital, who got strong consideration for the Cal head coaching vacancy two years ago, could be in line for AAC or Conference USA jobs if there are shake-ups there.
13. Greg Schiano, Ohio State defensive coordinator: He did an excellent job turning Rutgers from a disaster into a winner and produced impressive results academically at RU before taking the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ head coaching job. He was offered the Tennessee coaching job last winter before that whole situation imploded. Schiano turned down good Power 5 opportunities at Oregon and Minnesota. He also was the runner-up at Miami when Mark Richt was hired. He’ll likely be in the mix for more jobs this winter, but does Ohio State opting for Ryan Day as interim head coach over a guy with extensive head coaching experience — perhaps because it was seen as a less-controversial option amid a ton of other drama in Columbus — mean Schiano’s head coaching prospects have dimmed since last year? We’ll see. Schiano should get a close look from North Carolina if the Tar Heels move on from Larry Fedora.
14. Alex Grinch, Ohio State co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach:Another Mount Union product, Grinch has drawn rave reviews from colleagues and did more with less than just about anyone else with a Pac-12 defense in the past few years, working some magic with an exceptionally undersized Wazzu defense. Rival Pac-12 coaches called Grinch the most unpredictable defensive play caller in the conference. It was pretty amazing what his group accomplished without a single defensive starter that was ranked as more than a three-star prospect. The nephew of Gary Pinkel, Grinch also learned under Chip Kelly and Mike Leach before returning home to Ohio to work for Urban Meyer. If Jason Candle leaves Toledo, Grinch should be in the mix there.
15. Seth Littrell, North Texas head coach: He’s improved this program a lot since taking over. The Mean Green went from five wins to nine last season, and he’s on a lot of folks’ radars. UNT should be very good again, with most of its starters back. A longtime Mike Leach assistant in Lubbock, Littrell should be in the mix if Texas Tech opts to make a change this winter. He seems ready for a Power 5 job.
16. Ken Niumatalolo, Navy head coach: If Maryland’s looking for an image cleanup, it should give strong consideration to the guy who’s been down the road piling up wins for more than a decade. Few other coaches elicit as much respect among their peers as Niumatalolo. He’s 84-48 in 11 seasons leading the Midshipmen. Arizona and Cal gave him strong consideration. Expect him to get consideration if Maryland or Kansas comes open this winter.
17. Brent Venables, Clemson defensive coordinator: He’d be a lot higher on this list if we thought he was more itchy to bolt for a range of head coaching jobs. He’s done fantastic work under Dabo Swinney and has been very choosy. He loves his situation, which includes a new five-year deal that will pay him almost $12 million and his son Jake playing linebacker for him. Venables had interest in Arkansas last year. Would he give any consideration if the job came open at Texas Tech, where one of his best friends, Kirby Hocutt, his old K-State linebacker mate, is the AD?
18. Tee Martin, USC offensive coordinator: He did something the great Peyton Manning couldn’t get accomplished in Knoxville by leading the Vols to a national title. Martin has risen up the coaching ranks by earning a lot of credit as a recruiter and a developer of talent. Few other coaches have produced more good NFL wideouts than the 40-year-old from Mobile, Ala., from Randall Cobb to Nelson Agholor, Marqise Lee, Robert Woods and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Players and their parents love Martin. Last winter, his alma mater and former head coach Phillip Fulmer did him a disservice by not even bringing him in for an interview for the Vols’ head coaching job. Martin was qualified enough for it, but that didn’t happen. At the very least, that experience would have helped the former UT star down the road. It wouldn’t be a shock if Maryland gives him a close look if its coaching job comes open. Relying on a true freshman QB and with expectations relatively low — at least by USC standards — a big 2018 would bode well for Martin’s prospects.
19. Mike Norvell, Memphis head coach: He’s picked up right where Justin Fuente left off, going 18-8 over his first two seasons with the Tigers, and we’re told this could be his best team yet. Norvell has worked in the Pac-12 at Arizona State, but we could see him leading a program in any region. The 36-year-old will be patient and can afford to be because he’s making north of $2.5 million plus bonuses.
20. Tosh Lupoi, Alabama defensive coordinator: As we said above, the Saban touch can change coaching careers. Lupoi is another good example of it. He’s always been known as an outstanding recruiter, but he has impressed Saban and his Tide colleagues with his work developing players. He’s turned down some good DC jobs to stay on Saban’s staff and keep developing and earn his coordinator opportunity. If the Tide are as good as we expect them to be in 2018, Lupoi’s coaching stock is going to rise.
21. Marcus Arroyo, Oregon offensive coordinator: It’s his offense now with the Ducks, and it will be fun to see what happens there with talented junior QB Justin Herbert. Arroyo has been aided by the arrival of Pistol guru Jim Mastro, and that should spice things up in Eugene. Arroyo, a 37-year-old from Sacramento, is regarded as a top recruiter who has done a very nice job at several coaching stops, including Oklahoma State and all over the West Coast. He should be in consideration for Mountain West Conference vacancies and perhaps at Colorado if there is a shake-up in Boulder.
22. Matt Canada, Maryland interim head coach/offensive coordinator: He went from the hot OC at LSU to an interesting situation at Maryland after a chaotic 2017 in Baton Rouge. Canada is a good play caller and knows the Big Ten well. His name is a polarizing one in part because this is his seventh OC job in nine years. He inherits a pretty talented offense with two good dual-threat QBs, one of the country’s deepest running back groups and all five starting O-linemen. If he can somehow get Maryland to crack the top four in the toughest division in college football, he’d make a strong case to keep this job if DJ Durkin isn’t brought back. Or he would be in pretty good position for a different head coaching opportunity — in the MAC or potentially at Illinois.
23. Mike Locksley, Alabama offensive coordinator: His career resurgence was been quite a story after a dreadful three-year run as New Mexico’s head coach almost a decade ago during which his team went 2-26 and he was reprimanded for an altercation with an assistant. Locksley, 48, long known as a terrific recruiter, especially in the Maryland/D.C. area, returned to the Terps as OC for four seasons before working his way up on the Tide staff, where he really helped Brian Daboll’s transition from the NFL in the QB run game and with RPOs. As has been the case with several coaches, most notably Lane Kiffin, Locksley’s time under Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa has done wonders for his career. At Maryland, Locksley did lead an offense that produced over 5,000 yards in a season, and he also proved to be a good OC in his time at Illinois. There are influential Maryland folks who would like to see Locksley — his New Mexico baggage notwithstanding — take over if Durkin doesn’t return as the Terps’ head coach.
24. Beau Baldwin, Cal offensive coordinator: The former Eastern Washington coach had a nice first season coaching in the Pac-12 after going 85–32 as a head coach in Cheney. The Bears should take another step forward in 2018, and that could help him get consideration at Colorado if that job comes open.
25. Chip Lindsey, Auburn offensive coordinator: In his first season back with the Tigers as their OC, Auburn became just the eighth team in SEC history to rush and pass for 3,000 yards each in a season, ranked 26th nationally in total offense and set an Auburn record by scoring 327 points in SEC play, winning the SEC West. A few years before that, as offensive coordinator at Southern Miss in 2014 and ’15, he developed the Conference USA 2015 Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback Nick Mullens and produced record-setting offenses there. Lindsey almost got the Louisiana Lafayette head coaching job last year, but the school opted for Billy Napier. With QB Jarrett Stidham primed for a big 2018, Lindsey could be in the hunt for East Carolina and perhaps Troy and Arkansas State if those programs need to replace their coaches moving on to bigger jobs.
26. Sonny Cumbie, TCU offensive coordinator: Gary Patterson is as good as there is as a DC, and Cumbie, an old Air Raid QB, has had the benefit of trying to deal with that every day at practice. Cumbie’s a terrific play caller and is more than ready to run his own FBS program. If Seth Littrell moves on from North Texas, Cumbie would be a strong option.
27. Phil Longo, Ole Miss offensive coordinator: He’s worked his way up thanks to his version of the Air Raid and produced the SEC’s No. 2 offense last season despite having to replace his starting QB at midseason and coaching a team dealing with the cloud of NCAA issues. Longo led ridiculously explosive offenses at Sam Houston State before coming to Oxford and would be an option at North Texas and probably some Sun Belt and C-USA programs.
28. Todd Orlando, Texas defensive coordinator: Like Dave Aranda, Orlando isn’t a big talker but consistently gets results. His safeties also rack up interceptions, and his teams play very smart and very hard. He drew interest from SMU but didn’t jump at it. He knows he can be picky because he’s making close to $2 million in Austin.
29. Ricky Rahne, Penn State offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach:Replacing Joe Moorhead isn’t going to be easy, especially with Saquon Barkley moving on to the NFL. But Rahne, a longtime James Franklin assistant dating to their time together at Vanderbilt, still has a stud in Trace McSorley and a bunch of big receivers. I’m expecting another big year from Penn State’s offense, and I could see the Cornell product’s stock heating up this fall. Rahne, a Colorado native, might get on the radar in his home state if things get shakier at Colorado and Colorado State.
30. Mike Elko, Texas A&M defensive coordinator: He’s made two huge moves since doing an outstanding job at Wake Forest. Elko played a key role in Notre Dame going from 4-8 to 10-3 last year. He also proved to be a very good recruiter and evaluator. Elko, who has an Ivy League background, has a chance to make a splash with the Aggies, where he takes over a defense that has ranked No. 9 and No. 10 in the SEC over the past two years and has never finished better than eighth in the conference.
31. Chip Long, Notre Dame offensive coordinator: Somewhat lost in all of the attention Mike Elko got from the Irish’s improvement was what Long did for the offense, taking one that was ranked No. 43 in yards per play and improving it to No. 21 despite having to break in a new starting QB. The Birmingham, Ala., native who spent a lot of time under Bobby Petrino has shown he knows offensive football well. If Notre Dame can produce similar results on offense this season despite losing a great O-line coach and two top linemen to the NFL, Long’s star will get a lot more shine.
32. Walt Bell, Florida State offensive coordinator: He’s only 34, and his offense last year at Maryland was decimated by injury, losing his top two QBs. Before that, his Terps hung 51 points on Todd Orlando’s D at Texas. The Tennessee native has interviewed for a couple Group of 5 head coaching jobs and was strongly in the mix for the South Alabama vacancy last winter. He comes to Tallahassee with Willie Taggart to take over a ’Noles attack that ranked No. 100 in total offense last season. FSU will make a big improvement on that this fall.
33. Eliah Drinkwitz, N.C. State, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach:A Gus Malzahn/Bryan Harsin disciple, Drinkwitz is one of the most underrated coordinators in the country. He did very well at Boise State and has quietly done a good job in Raleigh, where State finished the 2017 season ranked fourth in the ACC in scoring offense (32.2 ppg) and total offense (451.8 ypg). Drinkwitz also has developed Ryan Finley into one of the nation’s top QBs. Word is, he impressed search committees in his two head coaching interviews last winter for Group of 5 jobs. Keep an eye on him this winter.
34. Tony Gibson, West Virginia defensive coordinator: Last season was a down year for his defense — the Mountaineers ranked No. 8 in the Big 12 after back-to-back seasons finishing in the top two in the league. It’s even more impressive when you consider how few starters he had back on those other defenses. I think this will be a big year for WVU, and it could springboard both coordinators into the mix for head coaching jobs. If Satterfield leaves Appalachian State, Gibson could be in play there. He also could be a factor at Bowling Green or perhaps Toledo if those jobs come open.
35. Josh Gattis, Alabama co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach: In the past seven seasons, 34-year-old Gattis has produced seven all-conference receivers and three All-Americans. He also won Big Ten Recruiter of the Year honors in 2015 for his work at Penn State. The former Wake Forest DB spent a few years in the NFL and is regarded as a great teacher who has a lot of presence about him. Mark it down: He’s going to be an FBS head coach within the next few years. A few seasons with Saban would be a very good thing for Gattis, who learned well under James Franklin. Still, I could see East Carolina being tempted to give a long look at the North Carolina native even though its current coach on the hot seat also arrived as a first-time head coach.
36. Luke Getsy, Mississippi State offensive coordinator: I’m expecting a big season in Starkville, and the Joe Moorhead tree could become very fertile fairly soon with Getsy, a guy who also learned under Mike McCarthy with the Green Bay Packers as well as Bulldogs assistants Andrew Breiner and Charles Huff. Getsy, a 34-year-old Pennsylvania native, has a very strong résumé for a relatively short amount of time as a coach in the NFL, at Western Michigan (where he helped Corey Davis blossom into a star and a future first-rounder) and as a Division II offensive coordinator on a top-10 Indiana University of Pennsylvania team.
37. Lance Leipold, Buffalo head coach: At 54, he’s the oldest guy on the list. He’s also won more national titles than anyone else, with six Division III championships from his time at Wisconsin-Whitewater. He got the Bulls to 6-6 last season in his third year, and his team has a bunch of NFL prospects this fall. Keep an eye on him and this team in 2018.
38. Brian Polian, Notre Dame special teams coordinator/recruiting coordinator: As we mentioned a few weeks back, Polian led Nevada to bowl games in two of his four seasons after taking over for legend Chris Ault. It certainly wasn’t a great run, but we expect him to get strong consideration for potential MAC openings this winter.
39. Morgan Scalley, Utah defensive coordinator: Eric Weddle’s old DB teammate has done very well in his decade learning under Kyle Whittingham. Scalley knows how to develop talent and has proved to be one of the Utes’ top recruiters.
40. Graham Harrell, North Texas offensive coordinator: One of the best QBs to ever run the Air Raid, he’s rising fast. Everyone who has been around him as a teammate or coach loves him. He’s bright and charismatic. He’s only 33, but we wouldn’t be shocked if North Texas flipped the keys to him if Seth Littrell moved on.
By Bruce Feldman Aug 29, 2018
Last winter, college football’s coaching carousel featured some of the biggest programs in the sport getting into the mix with Florida State, Florida, Texas A&M, UCLA, Nebraska and Tennessee among more than a dozen Power 5 schools replacing head coaches.
It’s doubtful we’ll see anywhere near that many prime jobs come open this winter, but you never know. It’s certainly been a crazy month leading into the 2018 season. With that in mind, it’s worth taking a look at the 40 mostintriguing potential options that could be in play in the FBS coaching mix later this year. Keep in mind this is a list of guys currently coaching in college at the FBS level, not in the NFL. A few guys who are hot commodities I suspect would be less tempted to bolt for a lot of bigger jobs than most people think so I didn’t include them here. One of those is Iowa State’s Matt Campbell who I doubt would jump short of an Ohio State or ND coming after him.
1. Neal Brown, Troy head coach: Among the Group of 5 guys poised to make the jump up to a much bigger, better-resourced program, start with 38-year-old Brown. He’s 21-5 over the past two years, and that includes almost knocking off eventual national champion Clemson two years ago and beating LSU in Baton Rouge on a Saturday night. Brown’s a terrific offensive coach, exceptionally detail-oriented and a deep thinker who is not afraid to stray outside the box. He’s destined to get a big job very soon.
2. Mel Tucker, Georgia defensive coordinator: A Cleveland native, Tucker is a Nick Saban protégé who was an Ohio State co-DC on Jim Tressel’s staff. Last winter, Tucker was the runner-up for the Tennessee head coaching job. We’re told he really wowed the Vols’ brass throughout the interview process. If the Dawgs go back to the College Football Playoff, expect the 46-year-old to have more head coaching options. If the Maryland job comes up, don’t be surprised if Tucker, a former Wisconsin defensive back, is a top candidate for it.
3. Ryan Day, Ohio State offensive coordinator: We’ll find out more about Day in the next month as he’s been given the Buckeyes’ reins as acting head coach in the wake of the Urban Meyer investigation. Day, 39, a Chip Kelly protégé from New Hampshire, is very well-regarded by his players and in coaching circles, and he has impressed folks inside the program since Meyer brought him on board in 2017. Day is a cool customer and has displayed a lot of poise and good organizational skills, we’re told, since he stepped into the leadership void in Columbus amid a very challenging climate. His work this season with gifted but unproven QB Dwayne Haskins certainly could strengthen his case.
4. Jimmy Lake, Washington co-defensive coordinator: No other assistant in college football was a hotter commodity than Lake this winter. He was pursued by Alabama, Florida State and Texas A&M, among others, in part because of his experience at the NFL and college levels and his ability to connect with players. One colleague of Lake’s describes him as one of the best teachers he’s ever been around. Lake keeps cranking out star defensive backs, and this season he’ll get to call the Huskies’ defense. His stock is sky high in coaching circles, and another Playoff run would only boost that. He will have plenty of options, but unless it’s a big job, don’t be shocked if he sticks in Seattle, where he’s comfortable in the situation and can be very picky.
5. Manny Diaz, Miami defensive coordinator: The Miami native has been Mark Richt’s best hire. Diaz, 44, is one of the brightest people working in college football. Diaz, one of the godfathers of the ’Canes Turnover Chain, has a great feel for what makes his guys tick and understands how to motivate people. Last season, he led a group that topped the country in sacks, was third in tackles for loss and ninth in yards per play. In 2015, the year before he arrived, UM ranked No. 64, No. 95 and No. 86 in those categories. His defense should be nasty again in the front seven and figures to be one of the country’s best overall this fall. The hunch here is that 58-year-old Richt won’t coach into his mid-60s and Diaz is lined up to be his successor, or he could be in line for pretty good Power 5 jobs before then.
6. Tony Elliott, Clemson co-offensive coordinator: A walk-on turned team captain at Clemson, Elliott earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and has overcome a lot of personal tragedy to get to where he’s at.Elliott is beloved inside the program by players and staff alike. He’s been named one of the top 10 recruiters in the ACC, and the Tigers are a staggering 41-4 since he became the OC. His image is as sterling as you’ll find. If Maryland is looking, it probably needs to give Elliott a call.
7. Jeff Brohm, Purdue head coach: He’s one of the brightest offensive minds in football. He’s fearless as a play caller and an underrated motivator. In his first season at Purdue, he immediately made the Boilers nationally relevant for the first time in more than a decade. He also did well at Western Kentucky before that. Brohm, 47, passed up a chance to be Tennessee’s coach last winter. Ohio State is a bigger job, though, than Tennessee. Would Brohm be willing to leave Purdue after only two seasons if there was an opening in Columbus?
8. Lane Kiffin, FAU head coach: There’s not a more polarizing name in coaching. He’s never been shy about stepping on toes, but he has a great feel for offense and had a fantastic first season with the Owls, going 11-3 after the team went 3-9 the year before. Expect another double-digit-win season in 2018, and it wouldn’t be a shocker if his team gives Oklahoma lots of problems in Week 1 in Norman. Kiffin’s style isn’t for everyone. Can a Power 5 AD and president feel confident to trust the 43-year-old to run their program? I think that’s much more realistic now than anyone would’ve imagined a year ago. It has worked out very well for FAU. He’s won big on the field and brought the school a ton of publicity.
9. Scott Satterfield, Appalachian State head coach: I’m surprised he didn’t get more of a sniff from any of the SEC jobs that came open this past year. He’s a really good coach and is excellent with X’s and O’s. The 45-year old from North Carolina is 30-9 over the past three seasons, and he will have the nation’s eye when his team faces Penn State in the opener. Remember, his team gave Tennessee all it could handle in the opener two years ago. If East Carolina comes open, Satterfield would be a very good option.
10. Jason Candle, Toledo head coach: Yet another Mount Union product, Candle succeeded his old college teammate, Matt Campbell, and has won big with the Rockets, going 21-7 and bringing them their first title in over a decade. What could be next for him? He’s got a plum Mid-American Conference job. Would Illinois look at him if it moves on from Lovie Smith? If Brohm left Purdue, Candle would make some sense there, as he might if Kansas makes a move.
11. Dave Aranda, LSU defensive coordinator: The nation’s highest-paid coordinator at $2.5 million per year always does excellent work, and he is expected to again in 2018 with another talented group in Baton Rouge. He’s pretty much priced out of Group of 5 head coaching jobs. If Texas Tech comes open, would the former Red Raiders assistant consider that move?
12. Jake Spavital, West Virginia offensive coordinator:With Will Grier back, along with a deep backfield, three stud wideouts, versatile tight ends and arguably the top tackle tandem in the country, this should be a huge season for the Mountaineers offense. It sets up well for the 33-year-old Dana Holgorsen protégé who has groomed more than his share of prolific passers in a relatively short time. Last year, in his first season back at WVU, Spavital helped improve the team’s ranking in TD percentage in the red zone from No. 89 to No. 28. Spavital, who got strong consideration for the Cal head coaching vacancy two years ago, could be in line for AAC or Conference USA jobs if there are shake-ups there.
13. Greg Schiano, Ohio State defensive coordinator: He did an excellent job turning Rutgers from a disaster into a winner and produced impressive results academically at RU before taking the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ head coaching job. He was offered the Tennessee coaching job last winter before that whole situation imploded. Schiano turned down good Power 5 opportunities at Oregon and Minnesota. He also was the runner-up at Miami when Mark Richt was hired. He’ll likely be in the mix for more jobs this winter, but does Ohio State opting for Ryan Day as interim head coach over a guy with extensive head coaching experience — perhaps because it was seen as a less-controversial option amid a ton of other drama in Columbus — mean Schiano’s head coaching prospects have dimmed since last year? We’ll see. Schiano should get a close look from North Carolina if the Tar Heels move on from Larry Fedora.
14. Alex Grinch, Ohio State co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach:Another Mount Union product, Grinch has drawn rave reviews from colleagues and did more with less than just about anyone else with a Pac-12 defense in the past few years, working some magic with an exceptionally undersized Wazzu defense. Rival Pac-12 coaches called Grinch the most unpredictable defensive play caller in the conference. It was pretty amazing what his group accomplished without a single defensive starter that was ranked as more than a three-star prospect. The nephew of Gary Pinkel, Grinch also learned under Chip Kelly and Mike Leach before returning home to Ohio to work for Urban Meyer. If Jason Candle leaves Toledo, Grinch should be in the mix there.
15. Seth Littrell, North Texas head coach: He’s improved this program a lot since taking over. The Mean Green went from five wins to nine last season, and he’s on a lot of folks’ radars. UNT should be very good again, with most of its starters back. A longtime Mike Leach assistant in Lubbock, Littrell should be in the mix if Texas Tech opts to make a change this winter. He seems ready for a Power 5 job.
16. Ken Niumatalolo, Navy head coach: If Maryland’s looking for an image cleanup, it should give strong consideration to the guy who’s been down the road piling up wins for more than a decade. Few other coaches elicit as much respect among their peers as Niumatalolo. He’s 84-48 in 11 seasons leading the Midshipmen. Arizona and Cal gave him strong consideration. Expect him to get consideration if Maryland or Kansas comes open this winter.
17. Brent Venables, Clemson defensive coordinator: He’d be a lot higher on this list if we thought he was more itchy to bolt for a range of head coaching jobs. He’s done fantastic work under Dabo Swinney and has been very choosy. He loves his situation, which includes a new five-year deal that will pay him almost $12 million and his son Jake playing linebacker for him. Venables had interest in Arkansas last year. Would he give any consideration if the job came open at Texas Tech, where one of his best friends, Kirby Hocutt, his old K-State linebacker mate, is the AD?
18. Tee Martin, USC offensive coordinator: He did something the great Peyton Manning couldn’t get accomplished in Knoxville by leading the Vols to a national title. Martin has risen up the coaching ranks by earning a lot of credit as a recruiter and a developer of talent. Few other coaches have produced more good NFL wideouts than the 40-year-old from Mobile, Ala., from Randall Cobb to Nelson Agholor, Marqise Lee, Robert Woods and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Players and their parents love Martin. Last winter, his alma mater and former head coach Phillip Fulmer did him a disservice by not even bringing him in for an interview for the Vols’ head coaching job. Martin was qualified enough for it, but that didn’t happen. At the very least, that experience would have helped the former UT star down the road. It wouldn’t be a shock if Maryland gives him a close look if its coaching job comes open. Relying on a true freshman QB and with expectations relatively low — at least by USC standards — a big 2018 would bode well for Martin’s prospects.
19. Mike Norvell, Memphis head coach: He’s picked up right where Justin Fuente left off, going 18-8 over his first two seasons with the Tigers, and we’re told this could be his best team yet. Norvell has worked in the Pac-12 at Arizona State, but we could see him leading a program in any region. The 36-year-old will be patient and can afford to be because he’s making north of $2.5 million plus bonuses.
20. Tosh Lupoi, Alabama defensive coordinator: As we said above, the Saban touch can change coaching careers. Lupoi is another good example of it. He’s always been known as an outstanding recruiter, but he has impressed Saban and his Tide colleagues with his work developing players. He’s turned down some good DC jobs to stay on Saban’s staff and keep developing and earn his coordinator opportunity. If the Tide are as good as we expect them to be in 2018, Lupoi’s coaching stock is going to rise.
21. Marcus Arroyo, Oregon offensive coordinator: It’s his offense now with the Ducks, and it will be fun to see what happens there with talented junior QB Justin Herbert. Arroyo has been aided by the arrival of Pistol guru Jim Mastro, and that should spice things up in Eugene. Arroyo, a 37-year-old from Sacramento, is regarded as a top recruiter who has done a very nice job at several coaching stops, including Oklahoma State and all over the West Coast. He should be in consideration for Mountain West Conference vacancies and perhaps at Colorado if there is a shake-up in Boulder.
22. Matt Canada, Maryland interim head coach/offensive coordinator: He went from the hot OC at LSU to an interesting situation at Maryland after a chaotic 2017 in Baton Rouge. Canada is a good play caller and knows the Big Ten well. His name is a polarizing one in part because this is his seventh OC job in nine years. He inherits a pretty talented offense with two good dual-threat QBs, one of the country’s deepest running back groups and all five starting O-linemen. If he can somehow get Maryland to crack the top four in the toughest division in college football, he’d make a strong case to keep this job if DJ Durkin isn’t brought back. Or he would be in pretty good position for a different head coaching opportunity — in the MAC or potentially at Illinois.
23. Mike Locksley, Alabama offensive coordinator: His career resurgence was been quite a story after a dreadful three-year run as New Mexico’s head coach almost a decade ago during which his team went 2-26 and he was reprimanded for an altercation with an assistant. Locksley, 48, long known as a terrific recruiter, especially in the Maryland/D.C. area, returned to the Terps as OC for four seasons before working his way up on the Tide staff, where he really helped Brian Daboll’s transition from the NFL in the QB run game and with RPOs. As has been the case with several coaches, most notably Lane Kiffin, Locksley’s time under Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa has done wonders for his career. At Maryland, Locksley did lead an offense that produced over 5,000 yards in a season, and he also proved to be a good OC in his time at Illinois. There are influential Maryland folks who would like to see Locksley — his New Mexico baggage notwithstanding — take over if Durkin doesn’t return as the Terps’ head coach.
24. Beau Baldwin, Cal offensive coordinator: The former Eastern Washington coach had a nice first season coaching in the Pac-12 after going 85–32 as a head coach in Cheney. The Bears should take another step forward in 2018, and that could help him get consideration at Colorado if that job comes open.
25. Chip Lindsey, Auburn offensive coordinator: In his first season back with the Tigers as their OC, Auburn became just the eighth team in SEC history to rush and pass for 3,000 yards each in a season, ranked 26th nationally in total offense and set an Auburn record by scoring 327 points in SEC play, winning the SEC West. A few years before that, as offensive coordinator at Southern Miss in 2014 and ’15, he developed the Conference USA 2015 Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback Nick Mullens and produced record-setting offenses there. Lindsey almost got the Louisiana Lafayette head coaching job last year, but the school opted for Billy Napier. With QB Jarrett Stidham primed for a big 2018, Lindsey could be in the hunt for East Carolina and perhaps Troy and Arkansas State if those programs need to replace their coaches moving on to bigger jobs.
26. Sonny Cumbie, TCU offensive coordinator: Gary Patterson is as good as there is as a DC, and Cumbie, an old Air Raid QB, has had the benefit of trying to deal with that every day at practice. Cumbie’s a terrific play caller and is more than ready to run his own FBS program. If Seth Littrell moves on from North Texas, Cumbie would be a strong option.
27. Phil Longo, Ole Miss offensive coordinator: He’s worked his way up thanks to his version of the Air Raid and produced the SEC’s No. 2 offense last season despite having to replace his starting QB at midseason and coaching a team dealing with the cloud of NCAA issues. Longo led ridiculously explosive offenses at Sam Houston State before coming to Oxford and would be an option at North Texas and probably some Sun Belt and C-USA programs.
28. Todd Orlando, Texas defensive coordinator: Like Dave Aranda, Orlando isn’t a big talker but consistently gets results. His safeties also rack up interceptions, and his teams play very smart and very hard. He drew interest from SMU but didn’t jump at it. He knows he can be picky because he’s making close to $2 million in Austin.
29. Ricky Rahne, Penn State offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach:Replacing Joe Moorhead isn’t going to be easy, especially with Saquon Barkley moving on to the NFL. But Rahne, a longtime James Franklin assistant dating to their time together at Vanderbilt, still has a stud in Trace McSorley and a bunch of big receivers. I’m expecting another big year from Penn State’s offense, and I could see the Cornell product’s stock heating up this fall. Rahne, a Colorado native, might get on the radar in his home state if things get shakier at Colorado and Colorado State.
30. Mike Elko, Texas A&M defensive coordinator: He’s made two huge moves since doing an outstanding job at Wake Forest. Elko played a key role in Notre Dame going from 4-8 to 10-3 last year. He also proved to be a very good recruiter and evaluator. Elko, who has an Ivy League background, has a chance to make a splash with the Aggies, where he takes over a defense that has ranked No. 9 and No. 10 in the SEC over the past two years and has never finished better than eighth in the conference.
31. Chip Long, Notre Dame offensive coordinator: Somewhat lost in all of the attention Mike Elko got from the Irish’s improvement was what Long did for the offense, taking one that was ranked No. 43 in yards per play and improving it to No. 21 despite having to break in a new starting QB. The Birmingham, Ala., native who spent a lot of time under Bobby Petrino has shown he knows offensive football well. If Notre Dame can produce similar results on offense this season despite losing a great O-line coach and two top linemen to the NFL, Long’s star will get a lot more shine.
32. Walt Bell, Florida State offensive coordinator: He’s only 34, and his offense last year at Maryland was decimated by injury, losing his top two QBs. Before that, his Terps hung 51 points on Todd Orlando’s D at Texas. The Tennessee native has interviewed for a couple Group of 5 head coaching jobs and was strongly in the mix for the South Alabama vacancy last winter. He comes to Tallahassee with Willie Taggart to take over a ’Noles attack that ranked No. 100 in total offense last season. FSU will make a big improvement on that this fall.
33. Eliah Drinkwitz, N.C. State, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach:A Gus Malzahn/Bryan Harsin disciple, Drinkwitz is one of the most underrated coordinators in the country. He did very well at Boise State and has quietly done a good job in Raleigh, where State finished the 2017 season ranked fourth in the ACC in scoring offense (32.2 ppg) and total offense (451.8 ypg). Drinkwitz also has developed Ryan Finley into one of the nation’s top QBs. Word is, he impressed search committees in his two head coaching interviews last winter for Group of 5 jobs. Keep an eye on him this winter.
34. Tony Gibson, West Virginia defensive coordinator: Last season was a down year for his defense — the Mountaineers ranked No. 8 in the Big 12 after back-to-back seasons finishing in the top two in the league. It’s even more impressive when you consider how few starters he had back on those other defenses. I think this will be a big year for WVU, and it could springboard both coordinators into the mix for head coaching jobs. If Satterfield leaves Appalachian State, Gibson could be in play there. He also could be a factor at Bowling Green or perhaps Toledo if those jobs come open.
35. Josh Gattis, Alabama co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach: In the past seven seasons, 34-year-old Gattis has produced seven all-conference receivers and three All-Americans. He also won Big Ten Recruiter of the Year honors in 2015 for his work at Penn State. The former Wake Forest DB spent a few years in the NFL and is regarded as a great teacher who has a lot of presence about him. Mark it down: He’s going to be an FBS head coach within the next few years. A few seasons with Saban would be a very good thing for Gattis, who learned well under James Franklin. Still, I could see East Carolina being tempted to give a long look at the North Carolina native even though its current coach on the hot seat also arrived as a first-time head coach.
36. Luke Getsy, Mississippi State offensive coordinator: I’m expecting a big season in Starkville, and the Joe Moorhead tree could become very fertile fairly soon with Getsy, a guy who also learned under Mike McCarthy with the Green Bay Packers as well as Bulldogs assistants Andrew Breiner and Charles Huff. Getsy, a 34-year-old Pennsylvania native, has a very strong résumé for a relatively short amount of time as a coach in the NFL, at Western Michigan (where he helped Corey Davis blossom into a star and a future first-rounder) and as a Division II offensive coordinator on a top-10 Indiana University of Pennsylvania team.
37. Lance Leipold, Buffalo head coach: At 54, he’s the oldest guy on the list. He’s also won more national titles than anyone else, with six Division III championships from his time at Wisconsin-Whitewater. He got the Bulls to 6-6 last season in his third year, and his team has a bunch of NFL prospects this fall. Keep an eye on him and this team in 2018.
38. Brian Polian, Notre Dame special teams coordinator/recruiting coordinator: As we mentioned a few weeks back, Polian led Nevada to bowl games in two of his four seasons after taking over for legend Chris Ault. It certainly wasn’t a great run, but we expect him to get strong consideration for potential MAC openings this winter.
39. Morgan Scalley, Utah defensive coordinator: Eric Weddle’s old DB teammate has done very well in his decade learning under Kyle Whittingham. Scalley knows how to develop talent and has proved to be one of the Utes’ top recruiters.
40. Graham Harrell, North Texas offensive coordinator: One of the best QBs to ever run the Air Raid, he’s rising fast. Everyone who has been around him as a teammate or coach loves him. He’s bright and charismatic. He’s only 33, but we wouldn’t be shocked if North Texas flipped the keys to him if Seth Littrell moved on.
