So I've been digging and digging.
The one name that comes up the most as really (I mean really) wanting the job is Jon Gruden. Gruden comes with name value that will likely sell some season tickets and a lot of coaching experience but only two years of actual full-time college coaching experience. I talked to a source close who has connections to Gruden and he is pushing hard to get his foot in the door at USF. The NFL door is closed and likely to stay shut on Gruden for some time so that would help bring some stability to the situation if hired. He isn't going to be able to jump quickly to another job either given the lack of a college resume so he would be in it for a while. While he was knocked for his rookie and drafting issues with the Raiders, he loves coaching ball and developing players so he feels like he could be very effective at USF. He would give USF a coach who can win the press conference for the first time since Willie Taggart.
A name I have not seen mentioned much but I could see coming into play is another former NFL coach, Bill O'Brien. O'Brien spent almost his entire early career in college before going to work for the New England Patriots. Word on the street at Bama is Nick Saban is looking to retool his offense and O'Brien had basically promised to stay with Bryce Young until he was able to go pro which will happen after this current season. The knocks on O'Brien are mostly about his personality and the dumpster fire he led at Houston after grabbing control of the organization, but he can coach and he demands a lot from his players and would be viewed as the opposite of Jeff Scott in many ways. So far, O'Brien has struck out on getting a P5 gig and has been picky about what he is looking at. I could see Michael Kelly getting sold on O'Brien and they should know each other from O'Brien's time in the ACC.
Obviously, everyone wants Deion Sanders, I'm still hearing Colorado is pretty hot and heavy on trying to land prime. Auburn and Georgia Tech who were expected to be involved as well are apparently focused on other candidates for now per my sources.
One name that has not heard from USF is Scott Frost. I happen to have some connections with ole Frosty and he is definitely interested in getting back in the game and some USF alums have reached out to the coach, but no one involved with the search has contacted the unemployed former UCF and Nebraska coach. I think that would be a bad hire knowing quite a bit about Frost.
Tom Allen is in play at IU, he is not getting fired there, but I think the ceiling at the job is very apparent and Allen knows he would kill it recruiting in the Bay Area.
Tom Herman is also very interested in the job. The lack of connections to the area and the way that Texas flamed out is concerning to me. I think Herman ends up with a more logical job especially if Tulsa opens up. I think he would be a good fit there.
With Michael Kelly's job likely on the line I still think Willie Simmons is a no-go for the reasons I outlined early on and Larry Scott isn't moving the needle at Howard either. I cannot imagine him hiring a coach with zero head coaching experience after the way things went with Jeff Scott so Ole Miss RB coach Marquel Blackwell is a no-go to me as well so is Penn State's Ja'Juan Seider who I've seen people mention too.
I see Jason Candle's name mentioned a lot and the man has literally never lived outside of Ohio in his 43 years on earth other than two years at Geneva college as a college player and he moved back to Ohio as soon as possible. I just don't see that happening. I have a connection there, so I'm digging into it.
If you go the non-HC route I still think Alex Golesh is the guy you hire from Tennessee.
I don't see a wild card hire like Urban Meyer or Dan Mullen or anyone like that coming into play either.
The one name that comes up the most as really (I mean really) wanting the job is Jon Gruden. Gruden comes with name value that will likely sell some season tickets and a lot of coaching experience but only two years of actual full-time college coaching experience. I talked to a source close who has connections to Gruden and he is pushing hard to get his foot in the door at USF. The NFL door is closed and likely to stay shut on Gruden for some time so that would help bring some stability to the situation if hired. He isn't going to be able to jump quickly to another job either given the lack of a college resume so he would be in it for a while. While he was knocked for his rookie and drafting issues with the Raiders, he loves coaching ball and developing players so he feels like he could be very effective at USF. He would give USF a coach who can win the press conference for the first time since Willie Taggart.
A name I have not seen mentioned much but I could see coming into play is another former NFL coach, Bill O'Brien. O'Brien spent almost his entire early career in college before going to work for the New England Patriots. Word on the street at Bama is Nick Saban is looking to retool his offense and O'Brien had basically promised to stay with Bryce Young until he was able to go pro which will happen after this current season. The knocks on O'Brien are mostly about his personality and the dumpster fire he led at Houston after grabbing control of the organization, but he can coach and he demands a lot from his players and would be viewed as the opposite of Jeff Scott in many ways. So far, O'Brien has struck out on getting a P5 gig and has been picky about what he is looking at. I could see Michael Kelly getting sold on O'Brien and they should know each other from O'Brien's time in the ACC.
Obviously, everyone wants Deion Sanders, I'm still hearing Colorado is pretty hot and heavy on trying to land prime. Auburn and Georgia Tech who were expected to be involved as well are apparently focused on other candidates for now per my sources.
One name that has not heard from USF is Scott Frost. I happen to have some connections with ole Frosty and he is definitely interested in getting back in the game and some USF alums have reached out to the coach, but no one involved with the search has contacted the unemployed former UCF and Nebraska coach. I think that would be a bad hire knowing quite a bit about Frost.
Tom Allen is in play at IU, he is not getting fired there, but I think the ceiling at the job is very apparent and Allen knows he would kill it recruiting in the Bay Area.
Tom Herman is also very interested in the job. The lack of connections to the area and the way that Texas flamed out is concerning to me. I think Herman ends up with a more logical job especially if Tulsa opens up. I think he would be a good fit there.
With Michael Kelly's job likely on the line I still think Willie Simmons is a no-go for the reasons I outlined early on and Larry Scott isn't moving the needle at Howard either. I cannot imagine him hiring a coach with zero head coaching experience after the way things went with Jeff Scott so Ole Miss RB coach Marquel Blackwell is a no-go to me as well so is Penn State's Ja'Juan Seider who I've seen people mention too.
I see Jason Candle's name mentioned a lot and the man has literally never lived outside of Ohio in his 43 years on earth other than two years at Geneva college as a college player and he moved back to Ohio as soon as possible. I just don't see that happening. I have a connection there, so I'm digging into it.
If you go the non-HC route I still think Alex Golesh is the guy you hire from Tennessee.
I don't see a wild card hire like Urban Meyer or Dan Mullen or anyone like that coming into play either.
