Looking West for the Next Head Football Coach?

[JDubyadawg]

The Big 12 Conference has continued to be a hotbed for supplying coordinators for HC jobs and we all know the names that have been talked about on here and other sites. I will add a few more names and share what I know or have found out about some of the previous names discussed:

Jay Norvell: Co-offensive coordinator at Oklahoma.
http://www.soonersports.com/school-bio/jay_norvell.html

A lot of NFL experience plus previous OC experience at UCLA and Nebraska and more experience at Iowa State and Wisconsin. He has not been pursued in the past or has been known to be interviewed for HC positions. Like Todd Monken, he is at an age (48) that if he wants an HC position it’s probably time to make that move.

Josh Huepel: Shares co-offensive coordinator duties with Norvell at Oklahoma.
http://www.soonersports.com/school-bio/josh_heupel.html

The great QB for Oklahoma in their 2000 National Championship and has been as assistant there since 2004 with the exception of 2005 (Coached at U of Arizona). Coached Sam Bradford and Landry Jones.

Things are not great at the mighty OU. Recruiting is lagging; they are not in a BCS bowl and headed to play in the Cotton Bowl vs Texas A&M. It could be their turn to be embarrassed by Johnny Football. Many feel Stoops has simply plateaued or is too comfortable in his current position and bringing back ole brother Mike to be DC didn’t help. Oklahoma sources believe Norvell wants to seriously look at HC positions and Huepel while he is very tied to Oklahoma in many personal ways is possibly open if someone comes looking.

Major Applewhite: Co-offensive Coordinator at Texas
http://www.texassports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/applewhite_major00.html

Baton Rouge native, Catholic HS graduate and starting QB for the Longhorns with a 22-8 record as a starter. Also coached at Syracuse, Rice and was the OC/Quarterbacks coach at Alabama’s first year under Nick Saban. Coached at the Independence Bowl when Alabama beat Colorado 30-24. (Wow have things changed since then!)

Bryan Harsin: Co-offensive Coordinator at Texas
http://www.texassports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/harsin_bryan00.html

Former Boise State player and OC there from 2006-10. Knows how to beat the crap out of LA Tech. Was hired in 2011 at Texas to help straighten out the offensive mess at Texas and develop QB’s.

Things at Texas are in flux at best. It’s strongly believed that next year will be Mack Browns last year regardless of the success they have. It is believed that Applewhite has been “uncomfortable” since Harsin was hired even though he is personally close to Brown. Harsin’s two years at Texas has seen improvement but some of the play calling this past season with Ash and McCoy starting at different times has been confounding to many. Others say that Mack will just not leave it alone and keeps overriding Harsin and has left Harsin frustrated. There is no "Head Coach in Waiting" situation at Texas as there was when Muschamp was there.

At both Oklahoma and Texas you have two legacy head coaches who appear to be underachieving with the talent they have and it is making the job of OC’s there tougher to do because if too much heat is brought – they can always fire the OC’s. These are obviously two great programs that seem to have tremendous talent but there is great expectations and demand for performance from very well paid coaches and assistants. Neither program is meeting those expectations and people are getting impatient and frustrated. Just think if Texas A&M would have stayed in the Big 12 this year!

I believe one or more these OC’s will interview for some HC positions. Time will tell how serious they are taken or how serious they will pursue the jobs.

A note on Monken – Nearly everyone in OK believes he will take a HC job somewhere. The problem he seems to have is that he is conflicted with the strong desire to become a head coach with the fact that he is extremely cautious about where he wants to go. He does not want to walk into a mess. Right now, LA Tech is a possible mess, Southern Miss (which he interviewed at last year) is a definite mess and frankly Texas Tech isn’t much better. Todd – life isn’t always easy or a guarantee, you have to make a choice or take a chance at some point. You can always go to Arkansas State – they are stable!

[jchaisson]

Why would TECH be considered a possible mess?

[BCSDAWG]

Excellent overview and analysis. If Monken doesn't end up our guy, one of these might. I'd just like to hear more of what's going on with "the committee". Who's on deck for an interview, rumors, rumors, rumors, etc.

[rangerdawg]

Why would TECH be considered a possible mess?

That was not a serious questions was it??

[johnnylightnin]

That was not a serious questions was it??

[JDubyadawg]

Why would TECH be considered a possible mess?

Coaches are comfortable and secure and confident men with the AD's who officially hire them. They are very insecure little boys when that AD leaves or is replaced. Ask Derek Dooley and Tommy Tuberville.

I don't know if anything chayinges with BVDV in the future but I do believe there is only one person who can reassure our next coach and that is Les Guice. That is exactly what I expect Dr. Guice to do. I am sure Steve Davison will be sittiing right behind him when he is does that and nodding his head and saying things like "Uhmm- thats right - whatever Les says!"

[jchaisson]

Yeah ok I get that. I just wouldn't classify a Tech mess in the class as say an Auburn, or Tenn, or even a USM mess.

[Goose]

Is Major Applewhite considered to be the coach in waiting in Texas? If not, why hasn't he been mentioned much? He'd be great since he's from Louisiana.

[JDubyadawg]

That is why I used the adjective "possible". I don't believe we are in the situation those schools are in but we must make sure we clear up any perception of that by a potential HC candidate.

[JDubyadawg]

Is Major Applewhite considered to be the coach in waiting in Texas? If not, why hasn't he been mentioned much? He'd be great since he's from Louisiana.

I think Applewhite is considered a "favorite son" because he was a player and has been a loyal coach to Mack Brown. People in Texas go out of their way to insist there is no "coach in waiting" since Will Muschamp left. What Texas seems to be mostly about now is Mack Brown securing his legacy, going out on a high note and possibly onto the AD position. He could have named Applewhite the sole OC after he fired his longtime buddy Greg Davis - he didn't. Instead he brought in Harsin and paired him with Applewhite, which is not unique to Texas. A number of BCS teams now have "co-coodinators" on offense. Harsin just ain't from TEXAS- he is from Idaho. Born and raised in Idaho.

[DoubleDDawg]

Todd Monken would love this job and IMO,he's a perfect fit with the players and existing coaches but.........It's not HIS decision .

[DQDawg]

What the heck??? No matter who it is, we're back in this in 3 years or so. As a matter of fact, we're (Dawgs) getting good at the process.

[JDubyadawg]

Todd Monken would love this job and IMO,he's a perfect fit with the players and existing coaches but.........It's not HIS decision .

For what it's worth: http://newsok.com/oklahoma-state-foo...rticle/3736226

[cberg]

The main concern is the Big $$$ alumni willing to put out. Is there rumblings inside the selection committee or maybe others that have influence on their decesion ? We as fans have really expressed ourselves in this matter. We will only know what direction we're headed by the coach they select...

[JDubyadawg]

So we are taking a serious look at the HC of Toledo? A 32 yo guy of DIII Mount Union fame and the MAC. Nothing against Coach Campbell, he might be a great hire and I for one believe that MAC football is pretty good and consistent through the years. We must be broke.