2014 College Football Coaching Carousel Could be Hot
By Michael Schneid
Coaching turnover is all part of the business. This year's coaching carousel has involved mostly guys jumping from one job to another. There weren't a lot of major conference coaches fired. USC was the best opening. Uconn and Wake Forest were among two others. Texas opened because Mack Brown "resigned." Penn State opened due to Bill O'Brien going to the NFL. There is a chance Louisville, Miami, Vanderbilt all open as well.
The 2014 coaching carousel has serious potential to spin out of control. A lot of coaches were given pardons this year, be it due to wanting continuity, large buyouts, or whatever the reason. The amount of coaches given one last chance for 2014 could result in a mass amount of firings if those coaches do not meet expectations.
We look, conference-by-conference, at some of the coaching situations to watch entering 2014.
ACC
Georgia Tech: there were rumors this week about Paul Johnson being unhappy at GT, especially following the surprising transfer of starting QB Vad Lee. Johnson has a $7.5 million buyout, if they fired him. The Yellow Jackets were a disappointing 7-6 in 2013. The triple option offense has drawn mixed reviews and some fans and high ranking school officials are no longer fans of the gimmick.
Virginia: After a 2-10 season, Mike London survived. London is 18-31 in 4 years at Virginia. A high buyout and strong incoming recruiting class bought him one more year. Virginia, at a minimum, must win six games and go bowling to save his job
Virginia Tech: Frank Beamer has built a Hall of Fame legacy in Blacksburg and won't just be fired. But the Hokies have been average for a few years now. With older guys like Bobby Bowden, Mack Brown, Jim Tressel pushed out in recent years, it wouldn't be surprising if Beamer was soon pushed out. It may not be after 2014 but there may soon be a time table with Defensive Coordinator Bud Foster the likely heir apparent to the job.
Big 12
Kansas: Charlie Weis is a brutal 4-20 in two years in Lawrence. Weis is trying to clean up the mess left behind by Turner Gill, who was fired after two years. So Kansas is giving Weis another year as they can afford (literally and figuratively) to keep recycling through coaches.
Iowa State: Paul Rhoads has had success in Ames and is well liked but just completed a 3-9 season. The Cyclones were a young team and should be able to return to a bowl game in 2014, which is likely all Rhoads needs to keep his job.
West Virginia: Dana Holgorsen is 21-17 in three years but is 11-14 the last two years, since joining the Big 12. Holgorsen may need more than just 6 wins to save his job.
Big Ten
Maryland and Rutgers: we start in the B1G with the two newest coaches. After a disastrous first two seasons, Randy Edsall finally led Maryland to a bowl game. The Terps need a strong showing in their first year in their new conference to keep alums and officials happy. Kyle Flood had a rough 2013 and Rutgers has lost a lot of ground in recruiting. A losing record and more recruiting failures will likely lead to a new coach for 2015. I hear from Rutgers coach Greg Schiano is now available...
Illinois: Tim Beckman's first year was a poor 2-10 season. The Illini finished 2013 4-8. It will likely take another two win improvement and bowl appearance to give Beckman a fourth year.
Nebraska: It seems like no one in Lincoln likes Bo Pelini. He has lost exactly four games every year, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, except Nebraska has higher standards than most. Pelini needs to just keep winning and not talk too much
Michigan: Brady Hoke is an interesting case. Hoke is 26-12 in 3 years. Following an 11-2, Sugar Bowl win season in 2011, Michigan has decreased their win totals the last two years. Hoke isn't necessarily in true danger but the seat may get warm soon if he can't get back to 10-11 win seasons soon.
Ohio State: After winning his first 24 games in Columbus, Urban Meyer has lost his last two and fans....ah nevermind....
Pac-12:
Utah: Kyle Wittingham has been the Utes full-time head coach since 2005, and is 76-39 overall. Utah went 8-5 in their first year in the PAC-12, including a win in the Sun Bowl. But consecutive 5-7 seasons has put some heat on Wittingham. His previous success has certainly bought him time but he needs to get Utah back to their winning ways. Utah is 7-1 in 8 bowl appearances under Wittingham, which came in his first 8 years on the job.
*Other than Wittingham, Mike Riley, and David Shaw, no other Pac-12 coach will be with their current school longer than three years entering 2014.
SEC
Florida: This is an easy one. Will Muschamp was given another year by AD Jeremy Foley but he knows the pressure is on to win and win big in 2014 or he will be gone.
Mississippi State: We pegged Dan Mullen for the hot seat entering 2013, and he won another 7 games, including a bowl. As long as Mullen has moderate success, he will be safe. But if he wins under 6? Could be change or he could move on at some point
Other
SMU: June Jones was given an extension following a 5-7 season but contracts mean nothing in college football. The American Athletic Conference is far from a power house and June Jones will need a successful 2014 to be back in 2015
Florida International: It was surprising when Ron Turner was hired as the head coach in 2013. It wasn't all the surprising that he went 1-11. Another miserable season like that and Turner will be gone.
Coaching turnover is all part of the business. This year's coaching carousel has involved mostly guys jumping from one job to another. There weren't a lot of major conference coaches fired. USC was the best opening. Uconn and Wake Forest were among two others. Texas opened because Mack Brown "resigned." Penn State opened due to Bill O'Brien going to the NFL. There is a chance Louisville, Miami, Vanderbilt all open as well.
The 2014 coaching carousel has serious potential to spin out of control. A lot of coaches were given pardons this year, be it due to wanting continuity, large buyouts, or whatever the reason. The amount of coaches given one last chance for 2014 could result in a mass amount of firings if those coaches do not meet expectations.
We look, conference-by-conference, at some of the coaching situations to watch entering 2014.
ACC
Georgia Tech: there were rumors this week about Paul Johnson being unhappy at GT, especially following the surprising transfer of starting QB Vad Lee. Johnson has a $7.5 million buyout, if they fired him. The Yellow Jackets were a disappointing 7-6 in 2013. The triple option offense has drawn mixed reviews and some fans and high ranking school officials are no longer fans of the gimmick.
Virginia: After a 2-10 season, Mike London survived. London is 18-31 in 4 years at Virginia. A high buyout and strong incoming recruiting class bought him one more year. Virginia, at a minimum, must win six games and go bowling to save his job
Virginia Tech: Frank Beamer has built a Hall of Fame legacy in Blacksburg and won't just be fired. But the Hokies have been average for a few years now. With older guys like Bobby Bowden, Mack Brown, Jim Tressel pushed out in recent years, it wouldn't be surprising if Beamer was soon pushed out. It may not be after 2014 but there may soon be a time table with Defensive Coordinator Bud Foster the likely heir apparent to the job.
Big 12
Kansas: Charlie Weis is a brutal 4-20 in two years in Lawrence. Weis is trying to clean up the mess left behind by Turner Gill, who was fired after two years. So Kansas is giving Weis another year as they can afford (literally and figuratively) to keep recycling through coaches.
Iowa State: Paul Rhoads has had success in Ames and is well liked but just completed a 3-9 season. The Cyclones were a young team and should be able to return to a bowl game in 2014, which is likely all Rhoads needs to keep his job.
West Virginia: Dana Holgorsen is 21-17 in three years but is 11-14 the last two years, since joining the Big 12. Holgorsen may need more than just 6 wins to save his job.
Big Ten
Maryland and Rutgers: we start in the B1G with the two newest coaches. After a disastrous first two seasons, Randy Edsall finally led Maryland to a bowl game. The Terps need a strong showing in their first year in their new conference to keep alums and officials happy. Kyle Flood had a rough 2013 and Rutgers has lost a lot of ground in recruiting. A losing record and more recruiting failures will likely lead to a new coach for 2015. I hear from Rutgers coach Greg Schiano is now available...
Illinois: Tim Beckman's first year was a poor 2-10 season. The Illini finished 2013 4-8. It will likely take another two win improvement and bowl appearance to give Beckman a fourth year.
Nebraska: It seems like no one in Lincoln likes Bo Pelini. He has lost exactly four games every year, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, except Nebraska has higher standards than most. Pelini needs to just keep winning and not talk too much
Michigan: Brady Hoke is an interesting case. Hoke is 26-12 in 3 years. Following an 11-2, Sugar Bowl win season in 2011, Michigan has decreased their win totals the last two years. Hoke isn't necessarily in true danger but the seat may get warm soon if he can't get back to 10-11 win seasons soon.
Ohio State: After winning his first 24 games in Columbus, Urban Meyer has lost his last two and fans....ah nevermind....
Pac-12:
Utah: Kyle Wittingham has been the Utes full-time head coach since 2005, and is 76-39 overall. Utah went 8-5 in their first year in the PAC-12, including a win in the Sun Bowl. But consecutive 5-7 seasons has put some heat on Wittingham. His previous success has certainly bought him time but he needs to get Utah back to their winning ways. Utah is 7-1 in 8 bowl appearances under Wittingham, which came in his first 8 years on the job.
*Other than Wittingham, Mike Riley, and David Shaw, no other Pac-12 coach will be with their current school longer than three years entering 2014.
SEC
Florida: This is an easy one. Will Muschamp was given another year by AD Jeremy Foley but he knows the pressure is on to win and win big in 2014 or he will be gone.
Mississippi State: We pegged Dan Mullen for the hot seat entering 2013, and he won another 7 games, including a bowl. As long as Mullen has moderate success, he will be safe. But if he wins under 6? Could be change or he could move on at some point
Other
SMU: June Jones was given an extension following a 5-7 season but contracts mean nothing in college football. The American Athletic Conference is far from a power house and June Jones will need a successful 2014 to be back in 2015
Florida International: It was surprising when Ron Turner was hired as the head coach in 2013. It wasn't all the surprising that he went 1-11. Another miserable season like that and Turner will be gone.
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