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With Florida firing Dan Mullen, there are now many very big coaching vacancies in the Power 5. We’ve already had more coaching firings by this point in a season than any other season, and more will be coming. As The Athletic spoke with industry sources, one thing became very obvious: There are going to be more vacancies than proven, quality candidates to fill them.
Who should college football fans watch closely during this carousel? Here are 33 names that figure to be very in demand during the next few months.
Of the three biggest openings out there — USC, LSU and Florida — the Trojans have the biggest connection, considering that USC athletic director Mike Bohn was the guy who hired Fickell at Cincinnati. Fickell has six children and strong Midwestern roots; he’s never coached outside of the state of Ohio. He does have a team that figures to lose a ton of key talent to the NFL. Would he be tempted to make a move for 2022? We hear he’ll be very choosey. Word is, the three jobs he’s most interested in — Ohio State, Notre Dame and Penn State — aren’t programs likely to have an opening any time soon … unless James Franklin makes a move.
His buyout is around $9 million, and it doesn’t drop to $6.5 million until Jan. 15, 2022. He also knows his next two Ducks teams have the kind of talent that could make them national title contenders, and that will be something hard for him to leave behind. We could see Florida wanting to bring the Miami native back to the state, and we also would expect his alma mater, Miami, to make him their top candidate if the school fires Manny Diaz. There are many in South Florida hustling to try and create a path to get him back to Miami. The hunch here is that Cristobal — if he were to leave what he has built at Oregon — would be more tempted to go to Miami to try and rebuild the program he played for, rather than go to Gainesville. But that is a big if.
Aranda does have a sizable buyout, but it’s not entirely eye-popping, a source told The Athletic. Keep in mind that Baylor was coming off losing coach Matt Rhule to the NFL when Aranda was hired, so the program was going to be shrewd in trying to protect itself, and Aranda’s only in the second year of his contract. The Bears have the No. 34 recruiting ranking and do have some momentum on that front. Whether he’d be open to leaving Waco now after taking such a big step forward is one thing. Whether he’d be open to leaving and perhaps picking Washington over the blue blood program less than an hour from where he grew up might be another thing.
“Lanning’s been in for a couple of jobs the last couple of years between the AAC and some other Group of 5 programs where he was a top candidate for some ADs, but he didn’t want to jump for some of those jobs,” an industry source told The Athletic last week. “A lot of people are really high on him. Yes, he’s got great players (at Georgia), but he’s done a really good job of coaching them and they’re playing really, really hard. Maybe Arizona State tries to hire him. He’s been there before (as a GA and recruiting coordinator from 2012-13). I think with him it’s only a matter of time when he wants to take a job, and knowing that, he doesn’t have to rush to take something that is at a place where it’s really tough to have a lot of success. He’s still young and has a lot of energy. He knows how it went for Kirby (Smart) — if you can have patience, you can end up with a great job.”
With Florida firing Dan Mullen, there are now many very big coaching vacancies in the Power 5. We’ve already had more coaching firings by this point in a season than any other season, and more will be coming. As The Athletic spoke with industry sources, one thing became very obvious: There are going to be more vacancies than proven, quality candidates to fill them.
Who should college football fans watch closely during this carousel? Here are 33 names that figure to be very in demand during the next few months.
1. Luke Fickell, head coach, Cincinnati
While several coaches came into this season with their stocks rising, the 48-year-old former Buckeye standout is one of the few whose team is have a great year. Cincinnati is 11-0 and has a legitimate shot to make the College Football Playoff. The Bearcats have beaten Notre Dame in South Bend and Fickell has proven he can keep a team on track and avoid stumbles. The Bearcats, 42-6 over the past four years, have recruited a bunch of big-time athletes to rebuild what had been a floundering program under Fickell’s predecessor, Tommy Tuberville.Of the three biggest openings out there — USC, LSU and Florida — the Trojans have the biggest connection, considering that USC athletic director Mike Bohn was the guy who hired Fickell at Cincinnati. Fickell has six children and strong Midwestern roots; he’s never coached outside of the state of Ohio. He does have a team that figures to lose a ton of key talent to the NFL. Would he be tempted to make a move for 2022? We hear he’ll be very choosey. Word is, the three jobs he’s most interested in — Ohio State, Notre Dame and Penn State — aren’t programs likely to have an opening any time soon … unless James Franklin makes a move.
2. Mario Cristobal, head coach, Oregon
Mullen was fired in part because of his inability to recruit close to the level of the other top SEC coaches. Cristobal is recruiting maniac who has taken what he learned from Nick Saban and employed a similar model in Eugene. Cristobal has reset the recruiting tempo on the West Coast and made it very difficult for others to keep up. He’s won Rose Bowls and Pac-12 titles and created a new identity for the Ducks. And he got a signature win earlier this year, thumping Ohio State in Columbus in Week 2.His buyout is around $9 million, and it doesn’t drop to $6.5 million until Jan. 15, 2022. He also knows his next two Ducks teams have the kind of talent that could make them national title contenders, and that will be something hard for him to leave behind. We could see Florida wanting to bring the Miami native back to the state, and we also would expect his alma mater, Miami, to make him their top candidate if the school fires Manny Diaz. There are many in South Florida hustling to try and create a path to get him back to Miami. The hunch here is that Cristobal — if he were to leave what he has built at Oregon — would be more tempted to go to Miami to try and rebuild the program he played for, rather than go to Gainesville. But that is a big if.
3. Billy Napier, head coach, Louisiana
Napier, like Cristobal, is another former Saban Alabama assistant. Napier has used what he’s learned in Tuscaloosa and has done excellent work putting together the Ragin’ Cajuns program. He’s 31-5 in the past three years. Napier has been selective, holding off on going for some other good Power 5 jobs. He’s ready for a job of this caliber, but will Florida (or an LSU) be willing to hire someone from the Sun Belt? We expect Florida to look very closely at Napier as its search ramps up, and the Gators may be more aggressive knowing how many other good jobs he also could be a candidate for.4. Matt Campbell, head coach, Iowa State
Campbell and Iowa State are not having a great year. A team that was a preseason top-10 pick is currently 6-5, but that shouldn’t undermine how terrific a coach he is. The 41-year-old is a terrific developer of talent who gets everything out of his roster. Campbell has won Big 12 Coach of the Year three times since 2017. He got the Cyclones to a program-best No. 9 in the country last year and might be more open to make a move now than in recent years, when there’d been a lot of interest from both colleges and the NFL.5. Dave Aranda, head coach, Baylor
After a rocky first season, Aranda shook up his offensive staff and has the Bears rolling at 9-2, highlighted by shutting down Lincoln Riley and the Sooners in a 27-14 whipping. The Bears limited Oklahoma to just 260 yards of offense, its fewest since 2014, before Riley was even coaching in Norman. The former LSU defensive coordinator might be in play for the Tigers job, but we hear the Southern California native has really intrigued the brass at USC and Washington.Aranda does have a sizable buyout, but it’s not entirely eye-popping, a source told The Athletic. Keep in mind that Baylor was coming off losing coach Matt Rhule to the NFL when Aranda was hired, so the program was going to be shrewd in trying to protect itself, and Aranda’s only in the second year of his contract. The Bears have the No. 34 recruiting ranking and do have some momentum on that front. Whether he’d be open to leaving Waco now after taking such a big step forward is one thing. Whether he’d be open to leaving and perhaps picking Washington over the blue blood program less than an hour from where he grew up might be another thing.
6. Kalani Sitake, head coach, BYU
He’s done an excellent job in Provo, Utah. The 46-year-old knows the Pac-12 well from a decade with the Utes and some time at Oregon State. Sitake’s teams are physical, tough and smart, and he’s got very strong West Coast recruiting ties. Sitake is 20-3 in the past two seasons and 4-0 against Pac-12 teams this season. He’s coaching at his alma mater and BYU is poised to increase its profile by moving into the Big 12, but he’s one of the lower-paid coaches in the Top 25 and might be interested in listening to Washington and USC if they come after him hard.7. Sonny Dykes, head coach, SMU
He is the clear front runner for the TCU vacancy, according to sources. The 51-year-old Texas native has ties there, having spent the 2017 season with the Horned Frogs as an offensive analyst, and he knows that state extremely well. Dykes has been a good fit at SMU, going 25-9 the past three years. The issue for him there, though, is that SMU was one of the big losers in the latest round of conference realignment. We hear Virginia Tech athletic director Whit Babcock likes Dykes a lot, but would Dykes leave his home state to go to the ACC over another very good Power 5 job in a place he knows much better? The last time he made a big move like that — California — did not work out so well for him.8. Lane Kiffin, head coach, Ole Miss
He’s probably the most polarizing name on this list. He’s a brilliant offensive mind and play caller, although he’s handed over that role to offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby. Kiffin is 14-7 in two seasons at Ole Miss after an impressive run at FAU. He knows the SEC very well from his time in Oxford and on Nick Saban’s staff. He’s also proven to be very adept at using social media to build his, and the Rebels’, brand. Kiffin has long been intrigued by the Miami job, and we’re told many old Miami players would really want him if the Canes couldn’t get Cristobal (if Diaz is let go). They love his demeanor. Kiffin has been rumored for a few other big jobs, but we hear some schools will be reluctant to hire him due to concerns about his behavior at previous coaching stops and whether he’s grown since them.9. Mark Stoops, head coach, Kentucky
The 54-year-old Ohio native won SEC Coach of the Year honors in 2018 and has only kept building at UK since. He’s now beating other more high-profile SEC programs for some prime prospects. He is 31-17 in the past four years. He has proven he has a sharp eye for talent and can develop NFL-caliber players and his teams are physical and focused. Stoops is expected to be a target for UF and perhaps LSU too. On the field, he beat Florida when the Gators were No. 10 in the country and his Cats thumped LSU. Stoops also might be a target for Miami if the Canes can’t get Cristobal and don’t go after Kiffin. Stoops knows the state well from time coaching on the USF, Miami and Florida State staffs.10. Jay Norvell, head coach, Nevada
There are already several Pac-12 vacancies and possibly a few more to come, and Norvell figures to be in the mix for a couple of them. The 58-year-old has done very well at one of the tougher jobs in the Mountain West. He also knows the Pac-12 well from time spent at Arizona State and UCLA. He is a proven leader and very respected. His program is 21-12 over the past two years and he has proven he knows how to coach offensive football, something that would sell well at a place like Washington, but he also could be in play at ASU if Herm Edwards is out in the wake of the Sun Devils’ recruiting scandal.11. Dave Clawson, head coach, Wake Forest
It’s hard to win at Wake Forest and he keeps doing it. He also did a fantastic job at his other coaching stops: Bowling Green, Richmond and Fordham. His team is 9-2 and 6-1 in ACC play. He could be a good fit at Virginia Tech, especially because he knows this league very well. He has a unique, vexing offense and has proven to be a respected leader. Clawson has been choosey. He is self-aware enough to know what would be a good fit for him and what wouldn’t be. The upside of the Tech job is higher than Wake’s, but does he really want to leave a place where he’s comfortable? Then again, he has a super-experienced team right now, and the Demon Deacons will likely slip in 2022. The timing might be ideal to make the jump now.12. James Franklin, head coach, Penn State
His stock has cooled of late — he’s now 11-9 since 2020. He’s been in consideration for USC and LSU, but the hunch has been that he has looking to sign on for a longer-term commitment in Happy Valley. Franklin did a stellar job at Vanderbilt, getting the lowly Commodores into the AP Top 25 in two of his three seasons. He’s made Penn State nationally relevant again, posting three top-10 seasons in a four-year stretch. He’s also shown to be one of the best recruiters in the country, which might be tempting for Florida, given how much Mullen struggled there. Franklin has the No. 5 ranked recruiting class in the country right now and it’s No. 1 in the Big Ten. Franklin’s buyout, at $4 million, is also relatively low, especially for schools like Florida or LSU.13. Jake ****ert, acting head coach, Washington State
He was elevated into a very tricky situation replacing his boss Nick Rolovich— and ****ert’s acing it. The 38-year-old has spent a lot of time at small schools in the Midwest, especially in the Missouri Valley Conference. He’s been very shrewd in his messaging and leadership at a program that desperately needs it. The Cougars are 2-2 under him and that includes a two-point loss to BYU and a blowout win at ASU. We hear ****ert’s gaining a lot of momentum to keep this job outright because of how well he — and his team — have responded.14. Joe Moorhead, offensive coordinator, Oregon
He has done wonders for the Ducks as a play caller/game planner, most notably in their big win at Ohio State this year. Moorhead also has head coaching experience. He did a very good job as the head coach at his alma mater, Fordham. At Mississippi State, he was 14-12 and 2-0 in the Egg Bowl, but ended up getting pushed out. The Pittsburgh native is expected to be a candidate at Washington State and Washington, but he might be tempted to return to the East Coast for the right job there.15. Kalen DeBoer, head coach, Fresno State
DeBoer is one of the best-kept secrets in college football. We hear he is someone Washington is considering. DeBoer did a terrific job as an offensive coordinator at Indiana, where he impressed many other Big Ten coaches who didn’t know much about him before they took notice of his offense. Before that, DeBoer, 47, had been a remarkable NAIA head coach at Sioux Falls, going 67-3 and winning three national titles in five seasons. He’s 8-3 this season and has had a lot of success helping turn former Washington quarterback Jake Haener into a star.16. Mike Elko, defensive coordinator, Texas A&M
He has been up for other Power 5 head coaching jobs, and is expected to be in play for Virginia Tech. He knows the area well, having coached at Richmond and in the ACC at Wake Forest. The Aggies rank No. 8 in yards per play allowed this season. The 44-year-old former Penn safety is in the mix for a few other jobs, including TCU’s.17. Jamey Chadwell, head coach, Coastal Carolina
This guy keeps winning. He was passed over by some solid Power 5 jobs last winter. Word is, it was due to the fact that neither he nor his staff had any Power 5 experience, and there were concerns it might be too big of a jump. Chadwell runs an innovative offensive system. He’s also shown a good eye for talent. The 44-year-old Tennessee native is 20-3 in the past two years and is more than ready for his big shot.18. Marcus Freeman, defensive coordinator, Notre Dame
Freeman is definitely a rising star who has done a nice job at Notre Dame despite losing All-American safety Kyle Hamilton at midseason. The Irish are No. 12 in the country in scoring defense, up two spots from last year, and they’re fourth in red zone touchdown percentage allowed, up 19 spots from last year. The 35-year-old Freeman was excellent in his time running the defense at Cincinnati and has proven to be a very good recruiter, ranked second in the country for the Class of 2022 by 247Sports. He will get a good head coaching job sooner rather than later. It wouldn’t be surprising if Virginia Tech made a run at Freeman.19. Dan Lanning, defensive coordinator, Georgia
He was a finalist for the Broyles Award, and probably will be one again this year given how dominant the Dawgs have been on that side of the ball. Lanning turned down coordinator jobs at Florida State and Texas in the past couple of years, but his next move likely will be as a head coach. He’s bypassed some Group of 5 head coaching opportunities but we expect he will have some good Power 5 chances in this cycle. Whether the 35-year-old jumps at them is another story.“Lanning’s been in for a couple of jobs the last couple of years between the AAC and some other Group of 5 programs where he was a top candidate for some ADs, but he didn’t want to jump for some of those jobs,” an industry source told The Athletic last week. “A lot of people are really high on him. Yes, he’s got great players (at Georgia), but he’s done a really good job of coaching them and they’re playing really, really hard. Maybe Arizona State tries to hire him. He’s been there before (as a GA and recruiting coordinator from 2012-13). I think with him it’s only a matter of time when he wants to take a job, and knowing that, he doesn’t have to rush to take something that is at a place where it’s really tough to have a lot of success. He’s still young and has a lot of energy. He knows how it went for Kirby (Smart) — if you can have patience, you can end up with a great job.”
