1 Bill Stewart, West Virginia – Considering he has already been fired (effective as a forced resignation at the end of the season), Stewart is automatically at the top of the list. Normally I would disqualify him and say he is beyond saving and toast. Then comes the reports from various places that coach-in-waiting/offensive coordinator Dana Holgerson's alcohol issues may have been leaked by either Stewart or his wife. Ugh. With his contract now on hold pending the investigation by West Virginia, Stewart now may not make the season. And thus another coach-in-waiting situation is botched (just like almost all of them have been).
2 Mike Locksley, New Mexico – For those who haven't followed my coverage of Locksley, I have taken a perverse interest in comically chronicling the failings of Locksley. Considering the 2-22 record may not even be in the top three reasons he is this high on the list (the lawsuits, assaults and general inability to deal with the media in a civilized manner come to mind), it is amazing he still has a job. Of course that may have something to do with the $1.5 million buyout in his contract. Wait a minute. He renegotiated his buyout down to half of that in the off-season. Is he stupid? He sits on one of the hottest seats in college coaching and he lowers his buyout making it easier to fire him (a near formality given the horrible quality of his teams so far). Somehow, moves like this don't surprise me coming from this guy. He is a loose cannon with anger management issues trying to recruit players in an unfamiliar area. Evidently, smarts were not among his traits (being a salesmen is considering New Mexico's still strong recruiting and Illinois really strong recruiting while he was there).
3 Paul Wulff, Washington St. - Another beyond reclamation situation given a reprieve by the current budget crisis in this country. In three seasons, he currently sits on five wins and some of the most grisly blowouts in Pac-10 history. About the only negative thing he hasn't managed is a winless season. He even managed NCAA violations (found at his previous stop as head coach of FCS Eastern Washington). Sometimes I wonder what it takes to get fired at some schools?
4 Rick Neuheisel, UCLA – Slick Rick came into UCLA talking of taking the city back from USC. Well, the Trojans have been sunk by probation, bad talent evaluation at the end of the Pete Carroll era and crazy Lane Kiffin. Meanwhile, UCLA has two wins over bad Tennessee teams, a bowl win over Temple and a biblical plague of quarterback and offensive line injuries to show for their attempts to retake Los Angeles. It's not cutting it. Neuheisel needs to find some semblance of an offense (quarterback or not) or this thing is going to end quite soon.
5 Houston Nutt, Ole Miss – Mr. Nutt did a good job his first two seasons at Ole Miss. Sadly for him, he got no good press for it and then lost to an FCS team to start last season. Now, he is coming off a losing season at a delusional school that not that long ago fired its coach after one 4-7 season the year after 10-3 and a string of five winning seasons. 6-6 won't save you here Houston and that appears to be the best you will do.
6 Mark Richt, Georgia – Richt survives despite being on the Phil Fulmer/Tommy Tuberville career path because the wheels haven't totally fallen off. There hasn't been a no bowl season and annual expectations still start them in the top 25 every year. Considering the disappointment here (failed to reach preseason expectations three years in a row), finishing in the top 25 this year is paramount to Richt saving his job. To do that, he needs to avoid the dreaded 0-2 start against Boise St. and South Carolina.
7 Bob Toledo, Tulane – Only survives in this spot because its Tulane and they can't get anything going post-Katrina. Toledo was a bad retread hire in the first place, but at least he has gotten plenty of time to try and turn it around. Even with that, we got the ultimate sign this isn't going well in March: offensive coordinator Dan Dodd left to become a high school coach in California. Toledo will likely be joining him in California soon.
8 Dennis Erickson, Arizona St. - A great first season in 2007 bought Erickson some time. Time is now up after three straight bowl-less seasons at a big-time underachiever. The defense has been good for two years and the offense returns nearly everybody. In a wide open Pac-12 South, the time to make a move is now. The Sun Devils don't necessarily have to win the division, but 8-4 or 9-3 is a minimum with the roster they have.
9 Neil Callaway, UAB – Should have been fired already considering the 15-33 record. Callaway needs to find an offense. In Conference USA, having a decent offense seems to keep bad coaches around for awhile (see Mike Price at UTEP).
10 Ron English, Eastern Michigan – Considering his record is equal to Locksley, its no surprise that English is on this list. Of course, he inherited a much worse situation and is well-liked by players and media with no off-field issues to speak of giving him a little more leeway. He doesn't even need a bowl game to keep his job, just continued improvement considering he went 0-12 and then 2-10. A jumpr to 4-8 should be enough to get a fourth year.
Others who have a toasty seat – Jeff Tedford (Cal), Mack Brown (Texas), Mike Price (UTEP), DeWayne Walker (New Mexico St.),Steve Fairchild (Colorado St.).
Nutt & Richt both need to go. They have managed to somehow hangon in the SEC longer then they should have. Every year both coaches enter the season full of high expectations, and plenty of tallent to back it. But it seldom plays out for either of them. Just as soon as they do enough to get off the hotseat, they get right back on it.
ReplyDeleteNutt saved his skin at Arkansas by jumping ship before the ax swung, but loosing to Jax State in a game that they donimnated till the 4th Qtr is unacceptable unless your Kentucky or Vandy...and then he goes on to loose to Vandy. Honestly, I'm suprised that he survived this offseason after that, muchless the rest of last season.