So after looking at some coaching lists for 2020, here are some names that interest me:
FCS
Jeff Choate, Montana State
-28-22 overall record, but improved each year and made it to the playoffs the last two years
- Considers himself a teacher, which I believe is important as a head coach
-Was on a staff with Mike Leach and Chris Petersen
-Worked at a ton of schools including Boise State, Washington State, Florida, and Washington
-Obvious concern would be recruiting and its a big jump from Montana State to Pitt and the ACC
-Nowhere near the top of my list, I just liked his resume
FBS Head Coaches
Will Healy, Charlotte
-13-21 at Austin Peay, 9-8 at Charlotte
-Set a school record 7 wins in his first season as head coach
-The 2019-20 recruiting class was the team's best
-Lacks coaching background and is the second-youngest HC in college football
-High energy, fast talker. I get the P.J. Fleck comparisons.
Josh Heupel, UCF
-25-6 career record
-True offensive mind who will transform what we will do at Pitt
-Recruiting footprint similar where Pitt would recruit for the ACC
-UCF is a good Group of 5 program and it will probably take a great opportunity for him to leave.
Assistant Coaches
Marcus Freeman, DC, Cincinnati
-Strong background with experience at Ohio State, Kent State, Purdue, and now Cincinnati.
-Productive defense at Cincinnati
-Not worried about him being a defensive guy because there is the opportunity to hire a good OC
Graham Harrell, OC, USC
-Successful offenses while at North Texas that he helped turn around.
-Simply considering a fast riser who was a former QB in the mold of Frost and Heupel.
Steve Sarkisian, OC, Alabama
-34-29 at Washington, 12-6 at USC
-Mixed bag as a head coach, but has since worked at Alabama and with the Atlanta Falcons
-The big question is if he learned from his head coaching days and specifically if he gained anything from working in the NFL and under Nick Saban
-If nothing else, I try to pick his brain from his two failed head coaching stints