I know there has been a lot of threads here discussing who everyone thinks could be our next coach. I just wanted to post my predictions of who will be hired as the new coaches at the schools participating in this year's coaching carousel. This article could either make me a genius or a fool (probably the latter) but all of this soothsaying talk fascinates me so I felt compelled to write a post about it.
Most Confident Predictions
1. South Carolina: Justin Fuente
For some reason I just have a strong gut-feeling that Carolina is going to hire the genie from Memphis.
2. Georgia: Kirby Smart
I would honestly be very shocked if Georgia keeps Mark Richt given the constant hatred from UGA fans for his lackluster performance according to Georgia standards. If they do so, I think this is the best coaching opportunity for Smart and will be hard for him to pass up such an attractive SEC job.
Semi Confident Predictions
1. Maryland: Matt Campbell
This one is tough because I know Maryland has the resources to spend big and attempt to attract a top tier guy but I just don't see how a big money name would want to come coach here. This would still be a home-run hire for Maryland and a major upgrade from Randy Edsall.
2. Southern California: Kyle Whittingham or Bryan Harsin
USC, in my opinion, is tough to predict because of my lack of knowledge of Pac-12 football culture and the fact that Lord knows what circles around Pat Haden's head as he sits in his Hollywood Ivory Tower office. Whittingham would be a phenomenal hire for the Trojans and would give the fanbase a refreshing feeling after the burning dumpster fire hires in Kiffin and Sarkesian. I initially was thinking about making a very bold prediction in Chip Kelly going to LA but I just don't think the Eagles are quite yet ready to pull the plug. I can either see Whittingham (which is a wildcard hire given the fact he doesn't fit USC's culture) and a more sound pick in Harsin.
Less Confident Prediction
1. Virginia Tech: Mark Richt
Who knows what Whit's going to do so this is pure speculation, however Mark Richt checks a lot of the boxes that we want in our next coach. I know there are some risks in hiring him (ex. can he take us to the next level, can he recruit at a school with less resources than Georgia), however this is a type of guy that would keep Bud and continue on with the culture that Beamer has built here at Tech. It's also much less stressful job than in Athens for Richt.
2. Miami: Tom Herman
There are many names swirling around that could be a good fit for Miami. Some of these include Butch Davis, Mario Cristobal, and Greg Schiano. I am tempted to say that Cristobal could be the next coach in Coral Gables, however I don't think Miami will pull the trigger on such a high risk and mysterious option. I'm thinking Miami goes for Herman, a guy that could really develop the playmakers Miami already has on offense and effectively recruit boys from South Beach into the program again.
Pure Speculation
1. Virginia: Matt Rhule or Al Golden
Although UVA hasn't decided to can the timecop yet, I would hope that LOLUVA might not pull a derp move and keep him for another year. I think Matt Rhule would be a fantastic hire and could be a guy that could challenge George Welsh's spot as UVA's best coach in history. UVA already recruits heavily in Pennsylvania, especially in Philadelphia, which would be expanded upon by Rhule. However, given that AD Craig Littlepage and his right hand man Jon Oliver have only curbstomped the program to oblivion, it would be more realistic if UVA goes for one of its previous top options in Al Golden (oddly enough another Temple guy).
Apart from USCe, UGA, and possibly Tech, these predictions are more speculative. Feel free to shred up my predictions like overshredded barbacue or make your own gut predictions.
Comments
As much as I don't want to go through this time and time again (looking at you Pitt), this is a pretty exciting and interesting time. It literally is like being a kid again and opening that one huge present under the tree that you have no idea what it is.
I just hope its the new super nintendo with super scope 6 and not some terrible sweater that great Aunt Gertrude knitted.
As a poli sci major, it is exactly like the presidential primaries and the presidential general election. The fact that both this and that are happening so close to each other makes super anxious yet excited about it all.
As a PoliSci grad and election junkie, I'd have to disagree with the comparison. There's a lot of data available from which to draw very probable conclusions in the election, and you're only talking about filling two slots, which then compete to fill one slot. With the coaching carousel, there are far more candidates, far more positions to fill, and demographics and history aren't nearly as conclusive to help predict outcomes. Both are fun to discuss, but elections don't give me near the same level of anxiety over every single bit of info that trickles out, because we already have a very good picture of how things will shake out.
They're the same in that both the president and college football coaches are chosen by the Illuminati.
The ironic thing about the sweater comment is that's the analogy that Roanoke Times columnist Bill Brill used when Frank Beamer was hired.
To quote: Beamer's hiring "was comparable to what you used to feel on Christmas Day. Remember when you would go to grandmother's, expecting the latest in toys, and you got a nice sweater instead? And then you said politely, 'Gee, that's great.' But you wondered if somehow you had been handed the wrong package."
Either way, I believe in Whit.
Wow. If Da U gets Herman and UVA gets Rhule and VT gets stuck with Richt VT will not win the ACC for at least another 10 years...I hope your predictions are way off there
I personally think Richt is a solid choice, but Herman is higher in my list for us. I think UVA would end up with Golden over Rhule in reality, but Rhule should be one of their top targets.
Richt will keep us consistent and perhaps even a little dangerous. We'll be able to go into every season expecting 8 wins and usually coming pretty close to that, maybe even surpassing it once every 4 years. He has seriously underperformed at UGA which has me pretty concerned. He's a nice guy and a good recruiter. But for someone with all of the resources at UGA and being in the considerably weaker SEC East division (basically only having to beat one of USCe and UF to make it to the SEC CG each year) Richt has done extremely little. VT doesn't even come close to having the same resources UGA has so it would figure logically that Richt would have less success at VT. With both UVA and Miami getting competent offensive minded coaches who are young, energetic, and can recruit, we'll be in a load of trouble.
I'm not trying to hate on Richt, I think he is a really good coach. That said, IMO he is just as much of a question mark at VT as the unproven HQ power 5 guys like Fuente, Herman, or Rhule. The caliber of talent he had at Georgia will not be the same as Virginia even if he is an really good recruiter. Similarly, if Fuente, Herman, or Rhule came in and recruiting the hell out of the 757, they may be dealing with better talent than at their current programs. Any of these guys could be hit or miss. All are exciting names in their own right.
My point is that at this stage it appears Richt has done less with more whereas the other guys (Fuente, Herman, Rhule) have all done more with less. Give them comparable jobs in the same division with access to the same caliber recruits and my money is on any one of the 3 younger guys to win the division over Richt every day of the week and twice on
sundayssaturdaysI'm agreeing with your point.
YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO AGREE WITH ME BECAUSE I SAID IT FIRST!!!
/s
Hey Hokiestone, I still hope to attend the UNC game in Bburg, was wondering if your ticket offer is still on the table, or if circumstances have changed due to Beamer's announcement. Totally cool if you have new plans sir. I will likely be there one way or another.
Why is 8 wins the goal?
it's not the goal. It's what we can expect out of Richt given VT's resources
How is that any better than now? We win 7-8 games every year counting bowls. Not that hard with 13 games
That's exactly my point. I don't want Richt. I don't think he can win here.
My prediction is Richt just up and retires and goes on into doing his own thing after this year. He could be a coach but I could really see him just surprising us all and retiring.
Yea this shit is too much. They could potentially fuck this hiring process up.
Last SEC championship before Richt:
I'm pretty sure most recruits know the 'Georgia glory days' as Richt. He's been there for 15 years...any Georgia goodwill seen by these kids is because of him
USCe - Fuente - I think you're dead on here.
UGa - Gary Patterson... Yep, I think they do it. The money rips him out of TX.
USCw - Whittingham. It almost makes too much sense.
Miami - Butch Davis. Seriously, I don't think the fans are going to allow them to do anything else.
UVa - Pep Hamilton
UMd - RichRod. We pass, and they jump all over it.
VT - Unknown Candidate. I seriously believe the guy we are getting is someone we don't even know is available, yet
Tech gets Rhule.
..and then Bud is gone I believe. Phil Snow is a good DC and I'd bet Rhule brings him along.
That's exactly the kind of move we want them to make.
There is a part of me that thinks the AD keeps London around for the last year of his contract. There is another part of me that figures that the only way London keeps his job is to beat Beamer. Here is is hoping that London's career goes out in flames and the AD has to fire him to keep their 28 fans happy.
I have talked to a friend of mine at UVA who works with the team and he has doubts that they will fire London because he has one more year on his contract. Although I have a hard time seeing them keeping him because the they'll lose donors faster than the Colts are losing games, it is a possibility.
Sounds good to me.....
I don't think it would be that crazy if they kept him with all these vacancies.
I just don't see Herman as a fit for the culture of Miami. From everything I've heard he's a down to earth country boy, which is the exact opposite of all that Miami stands for
USCe - Herman or Fuente
UGa - Kirby Smart
USCw - Whittingham
Miami - Richt or Butch Davis
UVa - Mike London (seriously, I'm not kidding)
UMd - RichRod or Rhule
VT - Chad Morris (or Mark Richt, but leaning towards Morris)
Leg just for Mike London
I'm seriously not joking. Who wants to work for Oliver and Littlepage? London is their guy. No change until after 2016 when the athletic department administration is gone. London runs through the end of his contract (up after 2016).
I agree! They have totally sacrificed football in order to do well in Olympic sports and basketball, however Littlepage and Oliver won't be gone anytime soon.
Hope they stay forever! Keep counting the rowing and field hockey titles - the new era of VT football and Buzzketball are coming to town.
My opinion is that it really doesn't matter who they hire, they don't have the dedication from the Athletic Dept to succeed in today's football climate, much in the same way we were not set up to succeed anywhere other than football before Whit.
I agree. I work with 5 UVA grads (a whole 3rd of my company) and theyre all dead set on London staying there for the 2016 season.
As one of them put it (paraphrasing) "It's not like we are talking basketball. No one cares. It's cheaper to let him coach another year than pay the termination fees."
I didn't think you were joking, I was just glad somebody said what most tech fans know, UVA doesn't care about football.
I can see this- also what coach would come in to that mess knowing the AD is a short timer and a new AD would likely want his guy in the job. With the number of open positions I'd have to say this makes LOLUVA much less attractive. The Dynamic Duo knows this so they figure what the hell let this burn out and try to get someone better next year when they're less competition for talent.
I will bet a rail at TOTS with anyone that VT's next HC is not currently being talked about right now on the coaching mega-board.
I would take that bet.
Done.
I'm including PJ Fleck who has been mentioned on another thread
I'll allow it
I think I'd just like to join in for a rail at TOTS.
UVA hires Al Groh - mark it down, friends!
#ReHireAlGroh
I had a dream last night that Mike London got a letter in the mail from the Miami AD that said...."U!!!"
South Carolina: Fuente
UGA: Smart
USCw: Herman
Miami: Chudzinski
VT: Morris
UMD: RichRod
UVA: Rhule
Illinois: Golden
Memphis: Meacham
FCS school at random: Shane
I could live with that
The Colts just promoted Chudzinski to OC so I don't see him leaving the NFL.
If Herman is making a big deal in the media about attendance at Houston games he's going to hate Miami. Don't know if he is a Miami type guy. Think Miami would be very wise to hire Mario Cristobal.
Don't see Whit hiring Morris. Think Chad Morris is too risky a hire for Whit, bringin in a coach with 1 year HC experience that's likely to go 2-10 this year. Also Clemson is looking pretty good without him right now. That's a ton of bad optics and puts a lot of pressure at the first sign of trouble. Just my opinion.
All of the wrong ways to look at a Potential Hire in Chad Morris. Im a strong believer in him. Clemson is doing pretty good without him. He helped Lay that new brand of clemson football. If im not mistaken Dabo was actually paying Chad Morris out of his pocket because he knew he needed the services of morris.
Ok, but where is Lane Kiffin going to be next year?
Saban's house!
Too soon??!!
Va Tech- Chad Morris
Southern California- Justin Fuente
South Carolina- Tom Herman
Miami- Mark Richt
Maryland- Rich Rod
Georgia- Kirby Smart
Minnesota- Al Golden
UCF or Murray State- Shane Beamer
We should get a bracket going for coaching hires
#ChadToVt
UVA will hire Charlie Weis, you heard it hear first (because that would be the most UVA hire, ever.)
Tech - Rhule and Bud stays.
GA - Smart
Miami - Rich Rod
Southern Cal - Chip Kelly
South Carolina - Chad Morris
Maryland - Fuente
UVA - London
Illinois - Herman
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your post reminds us that VT won't be making a coaching selection as much as a coach will be selecting VT from a number of opportunities.
This kind of analysis is inherently more difficult than merely projecting who ends up at VT, but I would say a good place to start is pedigree. Where is the place or region that the coach calls 'home.' Where has he coached before, what do his goals appear to be.
Take Mark Hudspeth, a guy who used to come up in our conversations all the time but abruptly vanished at some point. If you look at his pedigree, you'd be shocked if he ended up anywhere other than LSU, Ole Miss, or Miss St. Were he to come to VT, it would be like Lane Kiffin going to UT - just biding his time until USC-w opened up for him.
That said I have a hard time seeing:
Miami: Tom Herman - first off, Miami is so far away from his stomping ground, and such a different culture, that I just can't see him fitting in. But more practically, I can't remember a time that Miami didn't run a pro style offense.
Southern California: Kyle Whittingham or Bryan Harsin - For better or worse, the main thing USC-w looks for is a personality that fits with the LA Hollywood culture. They need a big 'star' type hire. That's why they've been reluctant to hire outside the Pete Carroll coaching tree. I could see another Carroll like hire - a failed pro coach looking to reinvent himself, Chad Kelly maybe.
Georgia: Kirby Smart - I don't know really, and my gut is very neutral here. But Kirby Smart is the very definition of a defense-first guy. Is that the best fit for UGa? Who knows. God knows, though, he'd be able to stockpile talent on both sides of the ball. With the right OC this could be a killer hire. You could say that, though, for most programs willing to take a chance on Smart. The variable would be, could he recruit well regardless of the school. I don't assume that for Richt if he came to VT, so I don't think I could assume it for Smart either. Smart fits best in a talent rich state with a well resourced program.
Agreed on almost all points, Herman seems like a good fit in many areas (roots in California, experience in midwest and now Texas), but not at Miami. And he's a smart guy and Miami in a lot of ways, isn't a smart guy choice. It's a choice of an egomaniac who thinks he can overcome fundamental flaws like facilties and fan support. If Schiano wants back in the game, that makes a lot of sense.
USC needs a celebrity. Jeff Fisher may make some sense, so would Jack Del Rio if he didn't seem to finally be putting it together in the NFL this season. Maybe Kelly. I could also see Sumlin there because it seems like it might be time to get out of College Station before he's run out.
I disagree on Smart. Kirby Smart is often compared to Muschamp, but Muschamp is insane. Smart is a defense first guy, but he's also one of the top, if not the best overall, assistants in the game right now. The fact that he hasn't taken the risk to be a HC at SMU or Memphis so far shouldn't be held against him. And I'm not sure Fuente or Morris ever were as well considered as an assistant as Smart is. It's really a tough thing to say a guy can't recruit at VT if he has recruited elsewhere. Richt may not be able to bring in UGA talent, but I bet Richt can bring in better than Beamer talent. Smart is a proven recruiter, I'm sure he can do well at VT. He could also do well at UGA who needs some toughness. I'm warming to Smart, either at UGA or VT. He's not Muschamp because Muschamp is an raving lunatic.
Sadly let's not forget with Alabama's warchest, they probably pay Kirby more as DC than SMU or Memphis could as a head coach.
Haven't seen this guy's name out there. . .
the dabo promotion was ridiculed by VT fans for sure.. but they definitely got the last laugh.
I just hope to god richt won't get hired..
London will still be at UVA in '16
Only thing crazier than London himself, is the Littlepage
This would be the best present ever. Celebrations will be wonderful.
The funny thing is...I don't think UVA can afford to Fire him and hire a good coach...I think he stays.
List of SEC coaches with more SEC championships than Mark Richt: