Hope you stuck around this long - this is where the list gets weird (finding 25 names was really tough give me a break)
Without further ado the final page of my magnum opus:
Group 5 - The Kevin Sumlin Category - Soon to be fired P5 coaches
20. Larry Fedora - 56 - Head Coach - UNC - Yes [78-56] - College Station, TX/Austin College
The offensive mastermind that just can't be stopped. At least that's how it feels as a Pitt fan. He is widely revered for his ability to coach the offensive side of the ball, but he's a head case and Carolina fans may be done with it. Is it something worth exploring if you're Pitt? Absolutely. But I don't think that would be a job that interests him. I'd imagine he becomes and OC in Texas/Oklahoma and then gets another job in a few years down there.
Notable jobs: Southern Miss HC - Oklahoma State OC - Florida OC - MTSU OC
21. Derek Mason - 49 - Head Coach - Vanderbilt - Yes [21-33] - Phoenix,AZ/Northern Arizona
The replacement to James Franklin at Vanderbilt has not been what the Commodores had hoped. He came in a rebuilt the defense and found his quarterback but things still aren't working. Is it the SEC that's not working for him? Is it Vanderbilt's higher than Pitt's academic requirements preventing the top recruits? I don't know but something isn't right. I thing this would be a lateral coaching change.
Notable jobs: Stanford AHC/DC - Vikings DB
Group 6 - The Donnie T. "You're Fired" Category - Already fired Coaches*
22. Bill O'Brien* - 48 - Head Coach - Houston Texans - Yes [15-9] - Dorchester,MA/Brown
Wouldn't this be a turn of events? The former Penn State head coach is more than likely going to be fired by the Texans, but the next question will be if he wants to return to college or go back to being an offensive assistant in the NFL. He was widely regarded as one of Tom Brady's guys with the Patriots pre-McDaniels. He did have a vast background in college prior to that. I would be incredibly interested in O'Brien as he can recruit with the best of them and knows QB's thus knows offense. Very intriguing - but which level will he choose?
Notable jobs: Penn State HC - Patriots OC/QB - Duke OC - Maryland RB - Georgia Tech OC
23. Bret Bielema - 48 - Unemployed - Unemployed - Yes [97-58] - Prophetstown,IL/Iowa
Did you like Paul Chryst? Well then boy do I have some news for you. He had all the success in the world at Wisconsin. He won 3 Big Ten Titles and a Big Ten coach of the year - taking Wisconsin to 3, count-em, 3 Rose Bowls. I would have signed up for that in a heart beat. Well, Arkansas did sign up for that and it didn't exactly work out. He took over a very bad Arkansas team and in the first three years went 3-9(0-8), 7-5(2-6), and 8-4(5-3). Things were looking up in Fayetteville until they weren't. He followed up in year 4 with all of his guys to another 7-5 record - which would be capped by a 4-8 5th season, and a kind see ya never. What happened? I'm no expert but the height of Alabama and Auburn took place and Ole Miss/Mississippi State/LSU/Texas A&M isn't easy to deal with. Bielema would fit in the Steel City because it's basically a Big Ten city that isn't. Unfortunately that's not a brand that I think Pitt wants to sign up for. I think Bielema bides his time with NFL consulting jobs (like the one he took with the Patriots) until Iowa inevitably lets go of Kirk Ferentz.
Notable jobs: Arkansas HC - Wisconsin HC - Wisconsin DC - Kansas State co-DC - Iowa DL
24. Jim McElwain - 56 - Wide Receivers Coach - Michigan - Yes [44-28] - Missoula,MT/E.Wash
This would be a weird hire for Pitt, but I guess I could get behind it? He's older than I would like but he has a decent track record. Again, another case of the SEC being the hardest conference to coach in if your name isn't Saban. He didn't even get three years in Florida. He is an offensive mind who couldn't land a quarterback and after 10-4, then 9-4 seasons - where he WON THE SEC EAST - he started 3-4 and was fired. What? I would sign up for that right now! It isn't the sexiest name but why not? He recruited really really well just not QB's. And we've seen a majority of the time finding a QB is luck. This is a name I would strongly consider event hough it doesn't have the splash factor
Notable jobs: Florida HC - Colorado State HC - Alabama OC - Fresno State OC - Raiders QB
Group 7 - The Ed Orgeron Category - Current Assistant Most logical to take over
25. Charlie Partridge - 44 - Assistant HC/DL - Pitt - Yes [9-27] - Drake/Iowa State
I really am kidding, but it's super hard finding 25 legitimate names you know? At one point however Partridge looked like the next young AHC/Coordinator ready to take the mantle of a Power 5 job. He came from the Bielema Coaching tree - but sufferent three consecutive 3-9 seasons coaching the Owls. A job we've seen Joey - er- Lane Kiffin do pretty well at. The thing is, I think he would be a decent head coach... not at Pitt but I think he would have success. I mean look at Ed Orgeron, he was once one of those up and coming names and until this season he couldn't wi big games to save his life. Always the interim. I think if Narduzzi gets fired he's our next head coach. But for like, a bowl game.
Notable jobs: look it up yourself I'm tired.
For the record I think we should retain Narduzzi unless there is a clear jump in quality between him and the next coach. But if one of the 25 (24 let's be real) candidates gets the job I could at least swallow it.
Let me know your favorite names on the list - or if you think I missed an obvious choice! I might rank em I might not. I wrote more than I thought I would. Chris - need a writer? I'm cheap
Without further ado the final page of my magnum opus:
Group 5 - The Kevin Sumlin Category - Soon to be fired P5 coaches
20. Larry Fedora - 56 - Head Coach - UNC - Yes [78-56] - College Station, TX/Austin College
The offensive mastermind that just can't be stopped. At least that's how it feels as a Pitt fan. He is widely revered for his ability to coach the offensive side of the ball, but he's a head case and Carolina fans may be done with it. Is it something worth exploring if you're Pitt? Absolutely. But I don't think that would be a job that interests him. I'd imagine he becomes and OC in Texas/Oklahoma and then gets another job in a few years down there.
Notable jobs: Southern Miss HC - Oklahoma State OC - Florida OC - MTSU OC
21. Derek Mason - 49 - Head Coach - Vanderbilt - Yes [21-33] - Phoenix,AZ/Northern Arizona
The replacement to James Franklin at Vanderbilt has not been what the Commodores had hoped. He came in a rebuilt the defense and found his quarterback but things still aren't working. Is it the SEC that's not working for him? Is it Vanderbilt's higher than Pitt's academic requirements preventing the top recruits? I don't know but something isn't right. I thing this would be a lateral coaching change.
Notable jobs: Stanford AHC/DC - Vikings DB
Group 6 - The Donnie T. "You're Fired" Category - Already fired Coaches*
22. Bill O'Brien* - 48 - Head Coach - Houston Texans - Yes [15-9] - Dorchester,MA/Brown
Wouldn't this be a turn of events? The former Penn State head coach is more than likely going to be fired by the Texans, but the next question will be if he wants to return to college or go back to being an offensive assistant in the NFL. He was widely regarded as one of Tom Brady's guys with the Patriots pre-McDaniels. He did have a vast background in college prior to that. I would be incredibly interested in O'Brien as he can recruit with the best of them and knows QB's thus knows offense. Very intriguing - but which level will he choose?
Notable jobs: Penn State HC - Patriots OC/QB - Duke OC - Maryland RB - Georgia Tech OC
23. Bret Bielema - 48 - Unemployed - Unemployed - Yes [97-58] - Prophetstown,IL/Iowa
Did you like Paul Chryst? Well then boy do I have some news for you. He had all the success in the world at Wisconsin. He won 3 Big Ten Titles and a Big Ten coach of the year - taking Wisconsin to 3, count-em, 3 Rose Bowls. I would have signed up for that in a heart beat. Well, Arkansas did sign up for that and it didn't exactly work out. He took over a very bad Arkansas team and in the first three years went 3-9(0-8), 7-5(2-6), and 8-4(5-3). Things were looking up in Fayetteville until they weren't. He followed up in year 4 with all of his guys to another 7-5 record - which would be capped by a 4-8 5th season, and a kind see ya never. What happened? I'm no expert but the height of Alabama and Auburn took place and Ole Miss/Mississippi State/LSU/Texas A&M isn't easy to deal with. Bielema would fit in the Steel City because it's basically a Big Ten city that isn't. Unfortunately that's not a brand that I think Pitt wants to sign up for. I think Bielema bides his time with NFL consulting jobs (like the one he took with the Patriots) until Iowa inevitably lets go of Kirk Ferentz.
Notable jobs: Arkansas HC - Wisconsin HC - Wisconsin DC - Kansas State co-DC - Iowa DL
24. Jim McElwain - 56 - Wide Receivers Coach - Michigan - Yes [44-28] - Missoula,MT/E.Wash
This would be a weird hire for Pitt, but I guess I could get behind it? He's older than I would like but he has a decent track record. Again, another case of the SEC being the hardest conference to coach in if your name isn't Saban. He didn't even get three years in Florida. He is an offensive mind who couldn't land a quarterback and after 10-4, then 9-4 seasons - where he WON THE SEC EAST - he started 3-4 and was fired. What? I would sign up for that right now! It isn't the sexiest name but why not? He recruited really really well just not QB's. And we've seen a majority of the time finding a QB is luck. This is a name I would strongly consider event hough it doesn't have the splash factor
Notable jobs: Florida HC - Colorado State HC - Alabama OC - Fresno State OC - Raiders QB
Group 7 - The Ed Orgeron Category - Current Assistant Most logical to take over
25. Charlie Partridge - 44 - Assistant HC/DL - Pitt - Yes [9-27] - Drake/Iowa State
I really am kidding, but it's super hard finding 25 legitimate names you know? At one point however Partridge looked like the next young AHC/Coordinator ready to take the mantle of a Power 5 job. He came from the Bielema Coaching tree - but sufferent three consecutive 3-9 seasons coaching the Owls. A job we've seen Joey - er- Lane Kiffin do pretty well at. The thing is, I think he would be a decent head coach... not at Pitt but I think he would have success. I mean look at Ed Orgeron, he was once one of those up and coming names and until this season he couldn't wi big games to save his life. Always the interim. I think if Narduzzi gets fired he's our next head coach. But for like, a bowl game.
Notable jobs: look it up yourself I'm tired.
For the record I think we should retain Narduzzi unless there is a clear jump in quality between him and the next coach. But if one of the 25 (24 let's be real) candidates gets the job I could at least swallow it.
Let me know your favorite names on the list - or if you think I missed an obvious choice! I might rank em I might not. I wrote more than I thought I would. Chris - need a writer? I'm cheap
