re: Buccees Mascot Coaching Edition (Former Jet Tracking)

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Well my Corner Peeps, as promised its time for version 2 of what I started last week. For those that missed the previous week's addition, this is a continuation of what I've heard or seen this week as it pertains to the current 2022 college coaching carousel, specifically our opening, as well as openings at Nebraska, GT, Colorado, Wisconsin, Arizona State, South Florida, and UAB. With that said, here's what I'm hearing and my educated guesses as to who fills those openings:

Auburn - I've been on record since Sunday as this has become a Lane Kiffin vs this field scenario, and I still feel that way today. It's not a secret that we have prioritized Kiffin to this point (credit to @JustinHokanson for his outstanding reporting here), and I believe that will continue to happen until Lane makes a decision regarding his future. For the record I still like what I've heard here as well regarding his mutual interest in Auburn, but it's not a done deal yet and there's more than a week to go here before we'll have a final public resolution.

That said, the field should not be discounted in this coaching search. While several people will disagree, my belief is that Hugh Freeze is still the most likely person not named Lane Kiffin to be the next head coach at Auburn. Chris Low is the most respected journalist that covers the entire SEC and he has relationships at every major program in the country. In addition, he's very deliberate about what he says and doesn't say, so when he name dropped Freeze and Kiffin as the two most likely to land the Auburn job my ears perked up. I've asked around and Freeze is definitely being vetted throughly and is still a popular coach with certain PTB, and has the type of relationships matter in the hiring process at Auburn. There are certainly other prominent coaches that have reached out and had dialogue w/ Auburn thought the last week of this search (Justin has reported on those), however my gut and some anecdotal evidenceI just makes me believe at this time that Freeze is still the other name to watch should we move beyond Kiffin.

My Prediction for this Opening: Lane Kiffin

Other Openings:

Nebraska - I've gone back and forth with what I've heard here vs what make sense because of the changing landscape of the post NIL world. Matt Rhule, Lance Leiopold, and Gary Patterson are the names that are getting the most run for this opening as of this week, but as of now I think this is very much Matt Rhule's job to lose.

My Prediction: Matt Rhule

Ole Miss - In this scenario I've created an opening at Ole Miss by projecting Lane Kiffin to Auburn. With that being the case, Ole Miss dips into the prior assistant bag and brings back someone they really liked during his two years on the Grove in Kane Wommack (the current South Alabama HC). Other candidates would probably include Oklahoma OC Jeff Lebby, UCF HC Gus Malzahn, and Troy HC Jon Summrall, but I think Wommack's body of work at USA and his connection to that program will be hard to overcome for anybody as of now. I'm sure certain Ole Miss beat writers will dispute my take here, but I like this fit and the intel I've gotten on a guy coaching right here in Mobile.

My Prediction: Kane Wommack

Arizona State - This is easily the most confusing opening of any P5 school that's currently in the market, and that's partly because Ray Anderson is still the AD at ASU (this is in and of itself completely mind blowing given his hiring history), and partly because ASU has a history of middle of the road hires. As of now, the names that have been associated w/ this search are Oklahoma State DC Derek Mason, former Auburn HC Bryan Harsin, Oregon OC Kenny Dillingham, former Texas HC Tom Herman, and current Interim HC Shaun Aguano. With an NCAA investigation looming over the head of ASU, it's not the sexiest job on the market, so whoever the hire is a level of patience is going to be needed which affords a new coach time to find his groove and dig the program out of the hole that Herm Edwards has created.

My Early Prediction: Kenny Dillingham

Georgia Tech - GT is a semi attractive job w/ access to lots of talent but has extremely stringent academic standards and is currently devoid of money. Ace Alabama fundraiser Jay Batts is now the AD, but he's going to need time to right the ship and get it on the right side of the facilities and NIL arms race, so the whoever takes this job is going to have to start out by being able to do more w/ less. Legitimate candidates who are linked to this job are Interim HC Brent Key, Alabama OC Bill O'Brien, former UAB HC Bill Clark, Coastal Carolina HC Jamey Chadwell, and Marshall HC Charles Huff. Key is a former player and has a lot of connections at GT who will campaign for this job, but I think ultimately Jay Batts will want someone that he has history with, and is a recruiter with head coaching experience.

My Prediction: Charles Huff

Colorado - Someone who's been a head coach before is the term most associated w/ this opening. Bronco Mendenhall and Tom Herman are the two names you hear the most here, and hiring either one of these two is the smartest move AD Rick George could make in his short but controversial stint as AD for the Buffalos. Both are proven program builders and have recruiting connections in California and Texas (two areas Colorado has to recruit), as well as fit culturally at the once proud program that has been reeling for a long time now.

My Prediction: Brono Mendenhall (I think he fits the culture better at Colorado, but this could go either way)

Wisconsin - Jim Leonhard was quite possibly the easiest slam dunk hire ever, and then he lost to Iowa last week and that opened the door for other candidates here. Leonard has two winnable games down the stretch, however I think Minnesota trips him up in the finale and in the process is seen as not ready for this job.

My Prediction: Lance Leiopold

South Florida - When most people think of HCBU football these days they think of Coach Prime and his powerhouse program at Jackson State. Everything I've heard about this job has me predicting another HCBU football coach here, and I think current FAMU HC Willie Simmons would be a grand slam hire for the USF Bulls. A proven program builder (30-12 at FAMU) with recruiting connections littered throughout the state, Willie Simmons would fix a lot of issues for a completely fledgling program under Jeff Scott's leadership. Another name that popped up this week in relatively strong fashion is former Nebraska HC Scott Frost, though I still lean to Willie Simmons being the pick as of now.

My Prediction: Willie Simmons

UAB - UAB is serious about getting this hire right, and according to Steve Godfrey (formerly of SB Nation), they will try and hire former Virgina Tech and Memphis HC Justin Fuente. Two other names that I've heard associated w/ this hiring are current UGA assistant Dell McGee and the other is former Alabama assistant coach and current JMU Head Coach Curt Cignetti. All 3 have been successful and are all talented recruiters/evaluators, but I'm giving the edge here to Fuente as he feels exactly like what UAB is looking for as an HC in their upcoming move to the AAC.

My Prediction: Justin Fuente

Bonus Nugget

- Expect major coordinator changes this offseason at Texas A&M (as well as the whole offensive staff), Alabama (both coordinators), Kentucky (only at OC), Miami (only at OC), and Oklahoma (only at DC).

Have a great night and I look forward to reading your comments!

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My Prediction for this Opening: Lane Kiffin

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How is A&M doing with the buy-out?

Are they close to completing the buyout?

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And when the economy keeps slowing down there could be even less demand for gas.

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