Hiring him would have the obvious potential of failing spectacularly. Tim Daniels September 20, 2022 Bill O'Brien (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien, Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell and Kansas head coach Lance Leipold have. Closing Comment: Its a risk. The meltdown in Minneapolis would be legendary. A 54-22 record is solidly in the plus category, and he went 5-0 in bowl games as a head coach. Putting aside the obvious fact that Nebraska can do worse (and typically has), Bob Stoops would bring instant credibility to the program despite his age. Why It Might Not: Nebraska would be a bigger job than anywhere hes been. Foley is an accomplished special teams coach and has strong recruiting ties to the Northeast including New Jersey, which has produced some of the greatest players in Nebraska history. Nebraska coach Matt Rhule has reportedly made his first staff hires. He has decent ties to the state and the Midwest which make him familiar with the local recruiting grounds. His turnaround of Eastern Michigan in particular was stunning, but that might be more attributable to the consistent failures of their previous hires. 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. Theres some question as to whether hed leave as hes turned down previous job offers from better college programs. He hasnt pursued head coaching gigs very much and might be more comfortable as an assistant. Could it be interesting? 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. Why It Might Work: Arandas Bears came out of nowhere to win the Big 12 in 2021 and beat Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl. Closing Comment: So Im skeptical about this. He also has a fiery disposition like a certain former coach and Husker fans find that generally off-putting. 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. He also would not be completely new to the Big Ten and might be more prepared in his second go-round. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (CO/IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/OH/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500(VA). Thats an untenable situation for any head coach. Wilsons biggest knock might be his personality. He retired suddenly after a disappointing 8-5 record in 2019 and hasnt sought any coaching opportunities since. He may have bitten off more than he could chew with the FSU job, but he was also succeeding Jimbo Fisher, one of the programs most successful coaches. The break from Virginia was equally confusing, and Mendenhall gave the now-typical "spend time with family" line as the reason. Closing Comment: This seems like the safest pick. The headlines would be juicy. A standout player in the NFL, Knighton has four total years of coaching experience, including two years at Wagner in 2019 and 2020. He is 1-5 in the Cy-Hawk trophy game, leading many to question his ability to handle the defense-heavy Big Ten. 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. 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. Campbell first worked with Rhule at Baylor where he served as an assistant strength coach beginning in 2017. Like Klieman, he's won big on lower levels of competition. Its odd that hes never been a head coach beyond the interim run with Maryland, which makes me think hes not really interested in it. He flamed out of the NFLtwice. The program was plagued by the scandal involving Joe Paterno and Jerry Sandusky, most big-time recruits and players jumped ship, and OBrien took the job with no previous head coaching experience and under the auspices of a two-year bowl ban. 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, Monday Night Therapy: Husker Sports Updates, And The Dadgummed Transfer Portal, Monday Flakes: Husker NFL Undrafted Free Agent Signing Update & Baseball Series Win vs Minnesota, Wrestling: Incoming Freshman McDanel Wins U20 US Open Title, Nebraska Running Back Ajay Allen Enters The Transfer Portal, Nebraska Baseball Wins Series Over Minnesota with 11-5 Victory, Nebraska Baseball vs Minnesota Rubber Match Sunday Game Thread. How much support would he get? We have heard about all six of these assistants, but it is now official that they are a part of the program. Oh, and his current OC is Tim Beck. Head coach Scott Frost met with reporters on Tuesday for the first time since news broke that he would be returning for a fifth year at Nebraska under a restructured contract and buyout.. 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. He won a national title in 2000 and racked up several conference championships during his tenure. Stoops would represent a home-run hire for the Cornhuskers based on his work transforming Kentucky from SEC punchline to one of the toughest teams in the Power Five. Closing Comment: Given all the candidates out there with head coaching experience, even the flawed retreads, it would almost seem disappointing to pick an unproven coordinator instead. would be inclined to hire him. That would give him a serious advantage in recruits living rooms, if he can also win games. 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. Why It Might Not: It looks a lot like Mike Riley, doesnt it? 3. Nebraska dumped a significant portion of its offensive staff, including offensive. By the time it got resolved, it was Thursday before the Oklahoma game. These are high-energy men with great passion for coaching and teaching, who have a history of developing outstanding college players and preparing them for the next level. His time at Ohio State gives him an edge in recruiting knowledge, and at Texas he had no problem pulling in top classes. Even if the search isn't geared toward winning immediate public acclaim, there's a matter of what sort of goodwill the new hire brings to the position: Leipold would be in a better place from the start if Kansas gets to five or even six wins during the regular season. From Ottawa (KS) to Wabash (IN) to Drake (IA) and now EMU, Creighton has literally been around the Midwest. There may be a candidate who emerges who is not on this list, something thats very likely to happen. Former Husker standout Joseph might get consideration. 2-5 years of experience as an assistant coach in Higher Ed or high school head coach preferred. Maybe he could be worth considering, but rest assured there would be a lot of skeptics. While things can and will almost certainly change before the end of the regular season, these are five realistic names for the Nebraska opening among current Power Five head coaches. RE-RANK:There are four new top 10 teams in the NCAA Re-Rank 1-131, HIGHS AND LOWSs:Winners and losers from Week 2 in college football, UNDER RADAR:USC's domination, Michigan QB race leadthings you missed, MISERY INDEX:Jimbo Fisher continues to rob Texas A&M in broad daylight. A lot can change over the course of the season. 827 shares Evan Bredeson November 10, 2022 5:15 am CT The Nebraska coaching search is now closing in on the two-month mark since the firing of Scott Frost on September 11th. John Brice from FootballScoop.com is reporting that interim Nebraska Head Coach Mickey Joseph, along with former TCU coach Gary Patterson, former Baylor coach Matt Rhule and the current. Being a true triple-option team in the Big Ten would be fascinating. At 41, Fleck is still a very young head coach, and although his full potential is still somewhat unproven, all the signs are there that this is a guy who could be next-level great. Hes had other stops including LSU and is now the OC for the Pittsburgh Steelers. 7, quickly became a disappointment and they finished 7-6 with a loss in the bowl game. Why It Might Not: But didnt Scott Frost supposedly understand a winning culture too? Everyone hopes to nab someone who creates the success of Jim Tressel. KSU hasnt had a breakthrough season yet. While he's in a good spot with very solid job security, the Nebraska job ranks higher on the Power Five ladder. Originally from the Midwest and an assistant at Kansas and Wisconsin before being named the head coach at Northern Illinois, he would understand the landscape in the Big Ten but would need to reestablish a recruiting foothold in the Cornhuskers' 500-mile bubble. Would he succeed in a Midwest spot? You probably have an opinion on this person. Satterfield has 11 years of experience as an offensive coordinator in addition to two seasons as the head coach at Tennessee Tech. A couple years removed from college football may be enough to make everyone forget about the struggles in Austin. Why It Might Work: Hes a phenomenal recruiter and has demonstrated the ability to both scout and develop talent. Is he worth hiring? Closing Comment: Only the most butthurt Iowa-hating Husker fans would be against this. Mickey Joseph, Nebraska Interim Coach . And yes, hes from the Stoops family and is an Iowa alumnus. Nebraska Huskers (@Huskers) September 11, 2022. Why It Might Not: OBrien bolted for the NFL at the earliest opportunity. Could he be a Husker version of Jim Harbaugh? At most this would feel like a bridge coach. Would he be able to get the talent needed to win at a high level? Nebraska Football (@HuskerFBNation) October 2, 2022 Bill Busch, in his debut at the helm of the defense, coordinated an effort that led to 11 Indiana punts and eight three-and-out series. The University of Nebraska has now official announced the hiring of. The former Washington head coach who led the Huskies to their only CFP appearance and who also built Boise State one of the Group of Fives top level programs, Petersen is currently retired and seems happy to be so. Hes been doing well at Toledo for seven years. Evan Cooper played at Temple when Matt Rhule was an assistant coach, and Cooper has served on Rhules coaching staff for the past decade. Hes not wowing you unless you live in Ypsilanti. He orchestrated Cam Newtons Heisman season when serving as Auburns OC in 2010. But they also end there. That changed when he brought in Tom Allen, who took over after Wilson was oustedpartly from clashing with the community, among other things. And dont forget, hes built a program from scratch. And hes still young at 47. Doeren might be the most underrated coach in the Power 5. Closing Comment: He seems due for a second stint as a head coach, and hes as good as any top coordinator candidate. Less what? That guy was Scott Frost. Hes still fairly young at 46. Malzahns record is proven but hes far from perfect. You may also remember him as the former OC of the New England Patriots once upon a time. Hes never even interviewed for a head coaching job in college. Hes coached as an assistant at Louisville, Minnesota, Georgia, Colorado, and is now Michigan States OC, where hes done well. It also worked out pretty well the last time the Huskers hired a Buckeye. The Redhawks were a complete tire fire when he took over, and hes made them relatively competitive in the MAC, which always seems like auditioning grounds for Big Ten jobs. Why It Might Not: Fit and longevity. This seems like a long shot, but anythings possible. Closing Comment: Yes, his second year as a head coach was unexpectedly good, so the comparisons to Frost are there. (They probably dont.). Hes the former head coach of the Florida Gators and, before that, the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Closing Comment: I could get on board with this, if not be super excited, and honestly, itd be an excellent hire. He losta lot. Then there's the question: Why would he leave the SEC for a spot at a historically stronger but recently far weaker program? He also has head coaching experience from FCS Fordham and Mississippi State. Fresh off an overtime win at West Virginia that leaves Kansas at 2-0 for the first time since 2011, Leipold has quickly reversed the Jayhawks' losing ways and placed the program on an upward trajectory for the first time in over a decade. Could Nebraska win a bidding war? Basically, Campbell is a 300-yard drive down the fairway that leaves you in range of a birdie but with the floor of saving par. Facebook But that kind of long term thinking and recalibration of expectations seems very unlikely in todays trigger-happy arms race of college football. Roughly two hours after it was revealed Frost would be returning in 2022, the head coach announced that effective immediately, he was firing four of his five offensive assistants; offensive. Why It Might Not: Hokes failure at Michigan was widely publicized, and though he generally seemed to run a tight ship, theres been a fair amount of off-the-field controversy, which he is also dealing with now at San Diego State. Previously he was a coordinator at Oklahoma, where he also did well. If youre looking for consistency, this might not be the best choice. Second tier is "May Generate Excitement." Why It Might Work: Taggart did well at a place with low expectations. Mostly known in Big Ten country for his three years at Michigan, Rich Rodriguez has actually been a head coach for a really long time and has a, shall we say, eclectic list of stops. Gruden hasnt even sniffed, let alone showed interest, in a college head coaching job in his entire career, but that wont stop people from pounding the table for him. The most obligatory of all candidates to be discussed. He built USF into a serious challenger despite its perennial underdog status. Hes probably done coaching and no one is really looking at him. If Nebraska is facing rejection from experienced candidateswhich itself would be alarmingthis is a solid emergency option, assuming he takes the call. Why It Might Not: Moorhead might be wary of leading a big-time college football program after what happened at Mississippi State. Before that he was Notre Dames offensive coordinator, and before that he was the head coach at Grand Valley State and won multiple Division II national championships, posting a record of 74-7. He was a bad fit in Austin, but his messaging was sound and seems like the perfect thing Big Ten programs would want. His recruiting classes at Michigan were all very good, and he completely transformed the Wolverines defense, which had become a joke under Rich Rodriguez. He was doing well at Arizona until off-the-field allegations made them show him the door. Many believe he was one of the original architects of the spread offense. Its an exciting time, right? As anoff-field Nebraska assistant in the early 2000s, he understands the program, the expectations and, importantly, the disadvantages that come with the position. Nov 15, 2022. Going 8-5 at KSU is apparently the equivalent of going 11-1 to some, and the record from NDSU predictably makes people salivate. The Cornhuskers released four assistant coaches on Monday with just two games left in their 2021 campaign. Herman quietly served as an analyst for the Chicago Bears last year and is now looking for a job. Eligibility restrictions apply. He certainly proved capable as head-coaching material, in the right situation. Tom Herman: In Herman, Arizona State would get a coach with an excellent overall record (54-22 at Texas and Houston) who has ties to both Texas and California.Herman has two AP top-10 finishes, no . Plus does he really want to leave the comfort of San Diego for a Big Ten job, again? Rodriguez is notoriously stubborn and has been in the business long enough that theres a fair amount of baggage coming with him, which is why a small program like JSU was the only option he had as a head coach. Why It Might Not: On the flip side, maybe hes stayed at the same place for eight years because his phone isnt exactly ringing off the hook. 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. If Im being honest I cant see Calhoun leaving his alma mater, but if Nebraska wants to do something different and go for a triple-option head coach, hes the next best choice after Jeff Monken. Is he willing to restart that process in an tougher situation with the Cornhuskers? But isnt that what Nebraska tried with Mike Riley? 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.