This is my personal opinion on possible coaching hires that would give SEC teams the best chance at becoming winning programs again. I try to make these hires are realistic as possible but obviously don't know all the ins and outs. Feel free to offer your thoughts.
In order of the programs in most need of a HC change:
1. Tennessee: no one worth their salt will touch this place until Fulmer is exiled or dead. Fulmer is the definition of a cancer destroying a program. Unfortunately I think they have to stay the course with Pruitt...I don't see any G5 coach or P5 coordinator worth a crap going here.
2. Arkansas: Gus Malzahn (HC Auburn) This is a low a probability play and A LOT of things would have to change during this current season for this to happen, but he's still the best coach in CFB who has any level of interest in Arky. Offer him what Auburn never could: stability and reasonable expectations. I think Jerry would have to throw in a 10-year, $80M to get him away and AU would have to go 8-4 or worse...but again this is really Arky's only chance at an upgrade.
3. Vanderbilt: Ken N (HC Navy): Vandy won't ever have the means, facilities, talent etc to compete on the playing field with the rest of the SEC. But I really think they could cause some upsets and disruption and go 7-5 yearly running the Triple. Definitely worth a shot and it worked quite well in P5 for Georgia Tech. This is my wishful thinking and won't likely happen...
4. Ole Miss: Jay Norvell (HC Memphis): Memphis is basically northern MS and Norvell has done quite well for years now. Ole Miss has been most successful lately with high flying offense and Norvell can do that as well. This is an obvious fit IMO.
5. South Carolina: Steve Spurrier (Retired): USCe follows the Mack Brown at UNC blueprint. Spurrier brings together hand picked offensive minds from his Orlando Apollo days, or whoever else he wants. Spurrier then grooms that coordinator to take over in 3-5 years. Spurrier is old so this is a low probability hire, but it seems like he still loves coaching and did great in the AAF.
6. Kentucky: the rumor mill is saying Mark Stoops moves on to better places after this year. Obviously keep Stoops if you can.
Assuming that happens the hire is obvious: Mike Leach (HC . Obvious ties to this university and where the Air Raid began in P5 football. I think Leach could achieve equal success here as he did at Texh.
7. Mississippi State: Keep current
8. Mizzou: Keep Current
9. Texas A&M: Keep current
10. Auburn: Auburn isn't looking like it will tank, but for the sake of this thread let's assume they end up going 7-5 or 8-4. I assume the buyout is still too big for them to get a new HC. Auburn boosters will huff and puff and throw a fit, but they're attached to Gus for at least another year.
B. Scenario: Gus leaves for record setting 10+ year deal at Arky to escape Auburn's knee-jerk during coaches toxicity: In this scenario I'm going to assume neither Urban nor Bob Stoops is going to want to be compared to Saban on an annual basis. I think Bill Clark (HC - UAB) will be the best hire. He took a G5 program that had canceled it's footb program and within 2 years had won 11+ games with that team. He obviously can recruit Alabama and develop talent.
11. Florida: Keep current
12. LSU: Keep current
13. Georgia: Keep current
14. Alabama: Keep current
In order of the programs in most need of a HC change:
1. Tennessee: no one worth their salt will touch this place until Fulmer is exiled or dead. Fulmer is the definition of a cancer destroying a program. Unfortunately I think they have to stay the course with Pruitt...I don't see any G5 coach or P5 coordinator worth a crap going here.
2. Arkansas: Gus Malzahn (HC Auburn) This is a low a probability play and A LOT of things would have to change during this current season for this to happen, but he's still the best coach in CFB who has any level of interest in Arky. Offer him what Auburn never could: stability and reasonable expectations. I think Jerry would have to throw in a 10-year, $80M to get him away and AU would have to go 8-4 or worse...but again this is really Arky's only chance at an upgrade.
3. Vanderbilt: Ken N (HC Navy): Vandy won't ever have the means, facilities, talent etc to compete on the playing field with the rest of the SEC. But I really think they could cause some upsets and disruption and go 7-5 yearly running the Triple. Definitely worth a shot and it worked quite well in P5 for Georgia Tech. This is my wishful thinking and won't likely happen...
4. Ole Miss: Jay Norvell (HC Memphis): Memphis is basically northern MS and Norvell has done quite well for years now. Ole Miss has been most successful lately with high flying offense and Norvell can do that as well. This is an obvious fit IMO.
5. South Carolina: Steve Spurrier (Retired): USCe follows the Mack Brown at UNC blueprint. Spurrier brings together hand picked offensive minds from his Orlando Apollo days, or whoever else he wants. Spurrier then grooms that coordinator to take over in 3-5 years. Spurrier is old so this is a low probability hire, but it seems like he still loves coaching and did great in the AAF.
6. Kentucky: the rumor mill is saying Mark Stoops moves on to better places after this year. Obviously keep Stoops if you can.
Assuming that happens the hire is obvious: Mike Leach (HC . Obvious ties to this university and where the Air Raid began in P5 football. I think Leach could achieve equal success here as he did at Texh.
7. Mississippi State: Keep current
8. Mizzou: Keep Current
9. Texas A&M: Keep current
10. Auburn: Auburn isn't looking like it will tank, but for the sake of this thread let's assume they end up going 7-5 or 8-4. I assume the buyout is still too big for them to get a new HC. Auburn boosters will huff and puff and throw a fit, but they're attached to Gus for at least another year.
B. Scenario: Gus leaves for record setting 10+ year deal at Arky to escape Auburn's knee-jerk during coaches toxicity: In this scenario I'm going to assume neither Urban nor Bob Stoops is going to want to be compared to Saban on an annual basis. I think Bill Clark (HC - UAB) will be the best hire. He took a G5 program that had canceled it's footb program and within 2 years had won 11+ games with that team. He obviously can recruit Alabama and develop talent.
11. Florida: Keep current
12. LSU: Keep current
13. Georgia: Keep current
14. Alabama: Keep current
