Why It Might Work: I think people are more excited by the work hes done at Kansas State, which is to essentially make the program feel like moving on from Bill Snyder is possible. Has the He flamed out of the NFLtwice. to get more serious about football, but now that they have, the results are showing. Nebraska is not the same quality of job it used to be. Hes still fairly young at 46. The most obligatory of all candidates to be discussed. Strong was quickly given a chance to redeem himself after Texas, and it could not have gone worse. Malzahns record is proven but hes far from perfect. And even though hes now saddled with one of college footballs toughest projects at Kansas, many believe he has the Jayhawks headed in the right direction. Why It Might Not: It felt incestuous when Muschamp fell into the job at South Carolina, but such things are common in the SEC. Scott Frost, offensive coordinator, Oregon. Why It Might Not: But didnt Scott Frost supposedly understand a winning culture too? He retired suddenly after a disappointing 8-5 record in 2019 and hasnt sought any coaching opportunities since. Why It Might Not: Everything went south in the second half of the 2021 season and Mullen got the ol ax from the Florida boosters. A big paycheck might make him reconsider. There are many who would see this hire as a bit of a desperate move. GP has plenty left in the tank at age 62 after a bitter departure from TCU. He might not have the same passion for Nebraska, and that could affect his performance. Closing Comment: Its a risk. This seems like a name fairly low on the totem pole and would likely signal desperation. The fact that he was scooped up almost immediately by UCF shows that he was and will continue to be a hot commodity. Thats why its fun. Almost all of his coaching career has been in the state of Ohio. Hes now at Wyoming, where his record is more mediocre. If youre looking for a Husker with head coaching experience who is likely to take the job and do at least moderately well, this is it. I hear his wife makes a mean plate of nachos. Hed demand a hefty price and it seems highly unlikely that this marriage would happen. Interim coach Bo Pelini, the fiery, 36-year-old defensive coordinator in his first season at Nebraska, snuffed out the boycott discussion, walking in on a Dec. 16 players meeting. Is he worth hiring? He struggled (to put it mildly) to develop a quarterback. KSU hasnt had a breakthrough season yet. He is 1-5 in the Cy-Hawk trophy game, leading many to question his ability to handle the defense-heavy Big Ten. Frost is a Husker legend who would surely be a popular hire with Nebraskas loyal fan base. Klieman went 69-6 with the Bison and was hired by Kansas State in Dec 2018. Does Nebraska really want to take a chance on someone with that kind of baggage? Dont sleep on his football knowledge, either. While his program has yet to reach the level of Georgia or Alabama, hes built them to be competitive in the SEC, which is saying a lot, since Kentucky is generally considered a basketball school. Nebraska can turn its program around quickly; it just hasn't done so as of late. In both cases, he made them successful by his third season. Unless Iowa State suffers a total collapse this year, hes going to be the top target for most major open head coaching jobs. Nebraskas top three candidates for the open coaching job are Iowa States Matt Campbell, Kansas coach Lance Leipold and Alabama offensive coordinator His next gig has to be the absolute right fit. Hes also been a successful OC at Oregon from 2020-2021. Previously he was a coordinator at Oklahoma, where he also did well. Everyone has their favorites. It would all but confirm that Nebraska is interested primarily in giving the reins to former Huskers. ), but its unclear if he could be great in the long term. Why It Might Work: He's got an impressive record, and to have the country talking about Coastal Carolina when most people have never even heard of them is quite an accomplishment. He was BYU's head coach from 2005 to 2015, going 99-43, and so it was a surprise when he left that job for a flailing Virginia program, which he promptly turned around and had them going to bowl games. While he wasnt spectacular in the SEC, he might find an easier time in the Big Ten. Both BYU and Virginia had overall low expectations relative to Nebraska's, but at the same time he'd be taking over the program when those expectations are at their lowest in nearly half a century. Why It Might Work: Hes 42 and is clearly seen as one of college football up-and-comers, as Campbell was before him. His time in Ann Arbor was one catastrophe after another, and the mistakes he made set the program back significantly. Why It Might Not: A longtime coordinator who turned heads with a special season in year two as a head coach, including a Sugar Bowl win over an SEC opponent? Why It Might Work: OBriens two years at Penn State were really good given the circumstances that he walked into. This is another Ohio guy who likes being close to that area. The coaching carousel is always fun. Moving within the division to suddenly chase his old boss, Paul Chryst, and alma mater doesn't seem like an ideal move. Hes been under the big lights of a major college football program, and may be looking for another chance to be on that kind of stage again. He orchestrated Cam Newtons Heisman season when serving as Auburns OC in 2010. He hasnt pursued head coaching gigs very much and might be more comfortable as an assistant. His connections in SEC land make him very unlikely to stay at a program like Nebraska, even if he somehow found success. After the scandal that forced Jim Tressel to leave Columbus, Meyer moved in and promptly started kicking the entire Big Tens ass. His culture, tireless work ethic and no-nonsense approach would appeal to Nebraska. Urban Meyer, Fox analyst:The Huskers wouldn't would they? 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. Nebraska football fired head coach Scott Frost following their difficult start to the 2022 season. Once considered a paltry candidate after floundering to 6-7 as Ohio States interim head coach in 2011, Fickell has since proven to have massive coaching chops by quietly building Cincinnati into one of the G5s powerhouses and crashing the CFP as the first non-Power Five program to do so. Hes a household name and hes crazy. He knows exactly the caliber of players the NFL wants, and flashing a Super Bowl ring might be enticing to recruits, too. Mickey Joseph, Nebraska interim coach:Joseph has a lot of support as Frost's associate head coach and a fellow former Huskers quarterback under Osborne. FCS champion coaches havent always done great with the jump to FBS, and Bohls time at Wyoming isnt anything to write home about (other than a certain quarterback). Traditional recruiting grounds in Texas and California were either ignored or eventually shriveled up. If Trev Alberts were to poach him from Lawrence, Leipold would suddenly be under a lot more pressure. And yes, hes from the Stoops family and is an Iowa alumnus. His departure from Oregon also doesnt sit well and he seems to prefer the Florida region of the country. Why It Might Not: Setting aside the baggage that Malzahn allegedly would bring with a reportedly outspoken wife who creates drama, this guy seems entrenched in the deep South. Craig Bohl, head coach, Wyoming. His time at Arizona wasnt perfect either. So without further ado, lets get into it. Im sure youve heard of him. Plus hes another triple-option coach. In addition, while his teams have done well overall, there are times when his ability as a play-caller has been costly. It could be possible for him to employ a similar turnaround at Nebraska. Does FSU or any ACC power actually have options? You may know him as the former OC who helped Penn State to their Big Ten championship in 2016. He got all that and then some at USF, and good lord, what a disaster. He brought Western Kentucky out of the basement and did the same at USF. He does have some college experience as the Cincinnati Bearcats OC in 2016 (not too long ago), so it wouldnt be necessarily a huge adjustment for him to come back to college. An understated, under-the-radar coach who seems to do more with less? Who should replace Scott Frost at Nebraska? Buy Colts Tickets. Would he succeed in a Midwest spot? Toledos head coach, he took over when Matt Campbell left for Iowa State. Thats insanely good. Recall that he inexplicably lost to a bad Bowling Green team in 2021, in a season when Minnesota finished 9-4. Assuming everyone could get past the controversy, it would be utterly fascinating to see Gruden coach on the sidelines in the Big Ten west. Hes a Penn State grad with strong Midwest recruiting ties, and was considered for the job in State College. 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. You know who he is. At the very least, like Jon Gruden, he knows the kind of player that the NFL prefers. Aside from 2021, hes had an impressive coaching career and Nebraska should definitely consider him. His record at Mississippi State, while not enough to impress its athletic director, was far from terrible and showed signs of progress, especially in the SEC West. Instead, it's seen a far-flung outpost in a league that suddenly boasts a presence in New York, Chicago and soon Los Angeles. Five Heart Podcast 318: Nebraska Basketball, Spring Game Attendance and a new Memorial Stadium? 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. Northwestern has played in two of the last four Big Ten Championship Games. Yes, fresh faces do seem to be chosen often over known entities, but given the state of Nebraskas program, they would probably be better suited to pursue at least a former head coach. Hes now the head coach at Jacksonville State in Alabama. But they also end there. He also refuses to wear red. He tried his hand in the NFL with Jacksonville and face-planted so hardexacerbated by a truly staggering amount of off-the-field dramathat the owner fired him before he could even complete his first season. That would not be the case at Nebraska. Why It Might Not: The Huskers have had mixed results with first time head coaches who needed to learn the job on the fly. Strong would have to go a long way to prove that hes viable as head-coaching material for a big program. Traylors offense was among the best in the country in 2021 and they steamrolled through most of their schedule, stumbling in the regular season only to North Texas. Now that Frost is gone our focus turns to who Trev Alberts will hire to be Nebraskas next coach. Closing Comment: Given the state of Pittsburghs and Nebraskas programs, some might consider this a lateral move. Come on. Because Air Force is not exactly a headline-grabber in college football, some may find hiring Calhoun to be underwhelming and head-scratching. Closing Comment: I could get on board with this, if not be super excited, and honestly, itd be an excellent hire. That guy was Scott Frost. All eyes across the country would be tuning in to watch how he does with the Huskersand it could work. Oh, wait, you mean yeah, okay. Hes now being talked about for bigger jobs, but was he a one-hit wonder? Nebraska Football: Mike Rileys Breakout Group Comments At Big Ten MediaDays, The 2007 Nebraska Football Season: Booing, Big Holes, and BrokenHopes, Flakes: Auto Play Videos Should BeBanned, Nebraska Football: Mike Rileys Remarks At Big Ten MediaDays, Shawn Eichorst: Nebraska Obliged To Do One Home Friday Night Football Game Every ThirdYear, Nebraska Baseball: Bolts Boys Knock Off #7 Vanderbilt 5-3, Nebrasketball: Iowa Hawkeyes Game Preview, Nebraska Baseball Brunch Date with #7 Vanderbilt Game Thread, Wrestling: Your Big Ten Championships Primer, Friday Flakes: Turner Gill Played Some Shortstop for Nebraska and Ernest Schackleton. Fleck has since elevated Minnesota to a level of competition that no one would have thought possible. Plus, he discovered Josh Allen. WebCareer Services. Meghan Hall. And if that were to happen, Nebraska wouldnt be the only program interested. He knows how to coach up players, and most importantly, he knows how to run the damn ball, damn it. Many believe he was one of the original architects of the spread offense. This seems like a Southern-oriented guy. Closing Comment: Its a think-outside-the-box hire like Monken if it happens. Experience in training, coaching, and/or mentoring experience. 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. Closing Comment: He seems due for a second stint as a head coach, and hes as good as any top coordinator candidate. It's certainly more highly resourced than Iowa State, especially with the Big 12 moving down in the pecking order with the forthcoming departures of Texas and Oklahoma. He has Big Ten bona fides from his days as Ohio States DC and would bring serious credibility to a Nebraska program looking to get competitive in the conference. While his teams arent on Clemsons level in terms of talent, they are always competitive. Seven Nebraska coaching candidates to replace Mike Riley. Twice since 2018 he has won 10 games, perhaps prompting his angry comeback recently when John Calipari suggested Kentucky is far more focused on basketball success. Like Venables at Clemson, Leonhard has to be figuring he has a better job right now. Once considered a paltry candidate after floundering to 6-7 as Ohio States interim head coach in 2011, Fickell has since proven to have massive coaching chops by quietly building Cincinnati into one of the G5s powerhouses and crashing the CFP as the first non-Power Five program to do s Prior to this development, insiders were saying Campbell was interested in only two jobs: Ohio State and Notre Dame. Why It Might Not: Lincoln might be outside his comfort zone. Hes had other stops including LSU and is now the OC for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Why It Might Not: Taggart was presumably given every help and benefit at Florida State and his failure there was not just the result of impatient boosters. WebA Day in the Life of an Account Analyst Intern. And to be fair, though there is potential, his head coaching tenures with both the Nittany Lions and the Texans were not exactly spectacular. Nebraska coaching candidates to replace Scott Frost, Report: Big 12 in recent contact with Pac-12 schools, Rules committee proposes change to speed up games, Saban unhappy over proposed permanent rivals, USC coach Lincoln Riley builds the perfect QB. And yeah, Im ranking thesebased on how appealing I think they are, the kind of fit theyd be, and how much energy or excitement their arrival would inject into the program. Theres a pretty big crop of them right now and Nebraska should definitely exhaust all options there before looking at coordinators whove never been a head coach. Its an exciting time, right? Why It Might Not: It looks a lot like Mike Riley, doesnt it? His heyday at North Dakota State is tough to overlook, and his ties to Nebraska are very appealing. Why It Might Not: At 64, Bohl is definitely on the tail end of his coaching career, and it might be asking a lot for the guy to completely rebuild his alma mater into something respectable. He also appears to be one of the better assistant coaches in Lincoln. The 11 games that explain the downfall of Nebraska football. How would he handle expectations in a much tougher environment? On the other hand, theres a case to be made that maybe Nebraska should go that way. Cincinnati is going to the Big 12 soon. A former Husker quarterback (sound familiar? There are some reports he prefers the job he has now and is settling in. Hes got a national championship ring as a head coach. Georgia Southern's Clay Helton was the first coach fired last season at USC. He may have reached his ceiling. Why It Might Not: Moorhead might be wary of leading a big-time college football program after what happened at Mississippi State. Jim Leonhard, Wisconsin defensive coordinator: Like Oklahoma's Brent Venables, Leonhard has turned down a lot of interest from head coaching opportunities. So putting him in that position as the full-time Nebraska head coach, barring an Ed Orgeron-like interim season, would be a total crapshoot. That changed when he brought in Tom Allen, who took over after Wilson was oustedpartly from clashing with the community, among other things. The decline in his fourth season was truly stunning. Trev Alberts would probably prefer someone who knows what hes doing. Does Nebrsaka really want to try that again? 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. Nothing against Stoops, but no one is beating Georgia anytime soon. Hes the former head coach of the Florida Gators and, before that, the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The 3 leading candidates to replace Frost were revealed by Bruce Creightons a lot younger but it might be tough to shake off the similarities. But now, Frost is done, and we have no idea what direction Nebraskas going to go. He took a lowly Arizona program to the Pac-12 championship before losing to Oregon, proving hes capable of making a run in the right circumstance. Maybe he could be worth considering, but rest assured there would be a lot of skeptics. Closing Comment: You cant deny that youd be at least a little excited by this. Auburn is not an easy place to win but Malzahn might be itching to get back into the SEC like Lane Kiffin before him. It might be worth going after him before another program can. Closing Comment: Mullen isnt coaching anywhere right now, so hed be available. Hiring him would have the obvious potential of failing spectacularly. Monken has no Big Ten or Nebraska ties. Four candidates are vying for each of the other two district seats. Instead he kept the team competitive when it could have easily imploded. Plus he got axed from the Raiders on his second stint because of controversial emails sent a decade ago. Could Nebraska lure the former Oklahoma coach out of retirement (or semi-retirement)? Maybe he could pull it off and be great, but thats a tall order. Hes the current head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats. Hes never worked west of Illinois, and hed be asked to live west of Iowa in the Great Plains. 6-keys: media/spln/collegefootball/reg/free/stories, at He could bring that recipe to Nebraska, which would afford him the necessary resources. He got national attention in 2020 when he led Iowa State to its first division crown, including an upset of Oklahoma in the regular season (although they later lost the rematch in the Big 12 championship). Closing Comment: Mark Stoops would be a solid hire. How could it not? Apply here. March 3, 2023 7:00 am ET. Hes never been a head coach but Johnsons acumen as an assistant makes him someone likely to get an offer soon. Closing Comment: Mendenhall is a really good candidate on paper. Obviously he wasnt ready for the big job in Austin, but maybe Nebraska might be a better fit. And if he does, would he stick around? Doeren might be the most underrated coach in the Power 5. Nebraska coaching candidates Mark Stoops, Kentucky coach: Stoops has spent a decade methodically developing the Wildcats into an above-average, competent I try to make the case for each one. Nebraska would certainly expect more from him than what he did in Starkville. 7, quickly became a disappointment and they finished 7-6 with a loss in the bowl game. Hes generally seen as past his prime, and despite his Midwest (i.e. At 63 with not much upside he is unlikely to be in high demand. With likely more than two head-coaching jobs opening up, here are some of the very best coordinators in the NFL who could be up for leading a team of the Kellen Moore, Dallas Cowboys. Kentucky had no expectations when they hired him.