Butch Jones' replacement as Tennessee football coach: 15 names from Gruden to Gundy
Blake ToppmeyerThe Butch Jones era ended Sunday. Here are some names that could come up during the coaching search as the Vols look for Jones' replacement.
Jon Gruden
Current job: ESPN analyst
Why it makes sense: Gruden’s wife, Cindy, graduated from Jefferson County High School in Dandridge. She's a Tennessee alumna and was cheerleader there. Their son is a current UT student. Gruden started his career as a graduate assistant at Tennessee from 1986-87. Gruden won a Super Bowl championship with Tampa Bay after a successful stint at Oakland. He’s enjoyed a cushy gig with ESPN for the past decade, but Tennessee is one of the few college jobs that might be able to package the money and the family ties that could make it worth Gruden’s while.
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Why it doesn’t: Does Gruden want to return to coaching? If so, why hasn’t he jumped on a job since his last coaching gig ended in 2008? And does Tennessee want a guy who hasn’t ever been a head coach in college and hasn’t coached period for a decade? It would take a lot of money to make Gruden take a sniff at UT.
Chip Kelly
Current job: ESPN analyst
Why it makes sense: Kelly went 46-7 in four seasons at Oregon. He was fired from his two NFL jobs, so if he wants to get back in coaching, going back to college makes sense. Given his profile, it would take a big-time program to put together a package that could entice Kelly.
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Why it doesn’t: At the 2017 SEC spring meetings, the league amended a hiring bylaw, adding a hurdle to any SEC school hiring Kelly. The rule states that if an SEC university wants to hire an individual who has participated in an activity that resulted in a major NCAA infraction, the university chancellor or president must consult directly with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey before offering employment. In 2013, Oregon received three years of probation and Kelly received an 18-month show-cause penalty after a major infractions case. Would UT Chancellor Beverly Davenport want to vouch for Kelly with Sankey? Also, Kelly has never held a position in the southeast. Does he want to jump into the SEC, or would it make more sense to return to a Pac-12 job?
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Scott Frost
Current job: Central Florida coach
Why it makes sense: Frost is one of the hottest Group of 5 coaching names. He’s going to appear on a lot of “watch lists” for Power 5 openings. He was the offensive coordinator for three seasons at Oregon after four seasons as Kelly’s wide receivers coach, so he has high-level experience. He’s in his second season at UCF. Tennessee hired a head coach from a non-Power 5 school the last two times the job was open, so there’s a track record for this move.
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Why it doesn’t: He’s only in his second season as a head coach and went 6-7 in Year 1, though he’s off to an undefeated start this season. He’s a Nebraska alumnus. Would he want to wait for that job? Or what about the Florida job, which is open?
Dan Mullen
Current job: Mississippi State coach
Why it makes sense: Mullen knows the SEC. He has taken Mississippi State to seven straight bowl games. That’s no small feat at Mississippi State. He has a track record for shepherding exciting quarterbacks. He was Urban Meyer’s offensive coordinator during Florida’s national championship seasons in 2006 and 2008. After proving himself as a first-team head coach at Mississippi State, might he be ready for a new challenge?
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Why it doesn’t: Mullen is paid handsomely at Mississippi State, earning $4.5 million a season. The expectations at MSU aren’t what he’d face at Tennessee, though the Bulldogs compete in what has been the tougher side of the conference for the past several years. Also, with Florida's job open, that would seem an attractive landing spot for Mullen if he wanted to leave Starkville. Florida's AD, Scott Stricklin, used to be Mullen's AD at Mississippi State. And Mullen was on staff at Florida during a decorated period for the program.
Matt Campbell
Current job: Iowa State coach
Why it makes sense: The 37-year-old Campbell’s career is on the fast track. He was 35-15 in four seasons as Toledo’s coach before departing for Iowa State after the 2015 season. The Cyclones were just 3-9 last year but already have doubled that win total this season. That includes major upsets over Oklahoma and TCU. He had the Cyclones in the Top 25 at one point this season. Campbell overlapped with Tennessee AD John Currie in the Big 12 last year. Campbell’s first season at ISU was Currie’s final fall as the AD at Kansas State. Campbell makes $2.1 million, so a jump to the SEC would send his salary shooting up.
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Why it doesn’t: Campbell’s contract is through 2021, so he has good job security. He’d never been a coach in any position at a Power 5 school before going to Iowa State, but if Campbell proves he can win at Iowa State, like he’s doing this year, he’ll be in high demand. Campbell, in an interview with the Des Moines Register, recently assured Iowa State fans that he's not eyeing an exit. Campbell also has a lofty buyout that calls for him to pay the entire portion of his salary remaining on his contract if he were to leave early. That total is in excess of $9 million.
Mike Norvell
Current job: Memphis coach
Why it makes sense: Norvell is thriving in his second season at Memphis. He’s built a strong passing offense behind quarterback Riley Ferguson, a former Vol. Previously, he was the offensive coordinator/quarterback coach at Arizona State for four seasons. Norvell makes $1.86 million at Memphis, so UT could make it worth his while to make the move to east Tennessee.
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Why it doesn’t: Would UT check its pride at the door and hire a coach from Memphis? And does Norvell want to head to the SEC, or would the Texas native rather forge ahead at Memphis and see if a Texas or Pac-12 school comes his way?
Brent Venables
Current job: Clemson defensive coordinator
Why it makes sense: Venables is one of the hottest coordinator names, having operated the defense for the national champion Tigers last season. He was also the co-DC for Oklahoma’s 2000 national championship team. He has one of the best résumés of any coordinator. His time at Oklahoma overlapped the early years of Currie’s tenure at Kansas State. Venables reportedly makes $1.7 million. That’s great money for a coordinator, but that’s not head coach money. The SEC East also has been looking toward defensive coordinators recently, with Georgia (Kirby Smart), Missouri (Barry Odom), South Carolina (Will Muschamp) and Vanderbilt (Derek Mason) also tapping coordinators for their openings in recent years — though Muschamp had previous head coaching experience.
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Why it doesn’t: Does Venables want to be a head coach? Surely he’s had opportunities throughout his time as a coordinator at Oklahoma and Clemson. He enjoys good job security and autonomy at Clemson.
Mike Bobo
Current job: Colorado State coach
Why it makes sense: Bobo has spent most of his coaching career in the SEC. The Augusta, Ga., native worked under Mark Richt for all but the final year of Richt’s tenure at Georgia, serving first as his QB coach (2001-06) before bumping up to offensive coordinator/QB coach from 2007-14. He tutored quarterbacks Aaron Murray, Matthew Stafford and David Greene. He’s in his third season at CSU, where he replaced Jim McElwain. He has a small buyout.
Why it doesn’t: He hasn’t proven himself yet as a head coach, posting back-to-back seven-win seasons at Colorado State. He's 6-5 this year. Bobo would be seen as a conservative hire, not a splashy one. Could UT sell that to its base?
Mike Gundy
Current job: Oklahoma State coach
Why it makes sense: Tennessee made a run at Gundy the last time the job came open, but he turned the Vols down and remained at his alma mater, Oklahoma State. Gundy’s résumé and his cachet have only grown since then. Gundy, in his 13th season at Oklahoma State, hasn’t had a losing season since his first year in Stillwater. Perhaps UT will make another run at him.
Why it doesn’t: Gundy, an Oklahoma native, didn’t want to leave his home state and his alma mater last time Tennessee came calling. Why would he this time? He enjoys a good salary and good job security at Oklahoma State.
Kyle Whittingham
Current job: Utah coach
Why it makes sense: Whittingham has a solid track record at Utah, where he’s been on staff since 1994 and been the head coach since 2005. He’s seeking a winning record for the 11th time in 13 seasons.
Why it doesn’t: The 57-year-old Whittingham has spent his entire coaching career in Idaho and Utah. He’s a California native and a BYU alumnus. Would he really want to come to the SEC? He’s got solid job security at Utah.
Bobby Petrino
Current job: Louisville coach
Why it makes sense: Petrino has won big everywhere he’s been. His coaching career includes a pair of stints at Louisville, along with stops at Arkansas and Western Kentucky. He’s considered an offensive guru. Also, Petrino’s athletic director, Tom Jurich, was recently fired. Petrino was a big supporter of Jurich. Petrino's buyout to leave his post reportedly was cut in half following Jurich’s ouster. Might Petrino want to follow his AD out the door?
Why it doesn’t: Petrino comes with baggage. He was fired at Arkansas after a motorcycle crash in which he had his mistress riding with him. The mistress worked for Petrino. He’s also known to be a tough personality to deal with.
Troy Calhoun
Current job: Air Force coach
Why it makes sense: Calhoun has a varied, polished background. He’s in his 11th season at Air Force, where he’s posted a winning record eight times. He was the offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans for a season after serving as an assistant for three years for the Denver Broncos. He’s 51 and still in the prime of his career. If he wants to move to a Power 5 school, now is the time.
Why it doesn’t: Air Force runs a triple-option offense. Calhoun surely knows more than one way to skin a cat, given his NFL past, but would UT hire a coach from a triple-option school? Also, he’s never coached at a Power 5 in any capacity.
Mike MacIntyre
Current job: Colorado coach
Why it makes sense: MacIntyre oversaw an impressive rebuild at San Jose State during his tenure there, culminating with an 11-win season in 2012. The year before MacIntyre took over, in 2009, SJSU went 2-10. Then he left for Colorado and shepherded another successful rebuild. The Buffaloes went 10-4 last year in MacIntyre’s fourth season, its first 10-win season since 2001. Colorado was 1-11 in 2012 before hiring MacIntyre.
Why it doesn’t: Although MacIntyre’s track record of taking struggling programs and putting them on solid footing is impressive, his overall coaching record is below .500, and he's 5-6 this season. Could UT sell that mark to its fan base by explaining the situations MacIntyre inherited?
Jeff Brohm
Current job: Purdue coach
Why it makes sense: Brohm is a trendy name who picked up momentum after a 35-3 win over Missouri early this season. He went 30-10 in three seasons at Western Kentucky, and he’s made Purdue competitive in his first year there.
Why it doesn’t: Brohm is in his first season as a head coach at the Power 5 level, and he has no coordinator experience at that level. Also, although he’s quickly made Purdue better than it was under his predecessor, the Boilermakers face an uphill path to bowl eligibility. He’s probably at least a year or two away from being the right fit for a job like this.
Chad Morris
Current job: SMU coach
Why it makes sense: Morris was Clemson’s offensive coordinator from 2011-14, a span in which the Tigers won at least 10 games and averaged more than 30 points per game in each season. Morris is in his third season at SMU. He inherited a team that went 1-11 the year before he arrived and now has the Mustangs bowl eligible. Morris makes $2.1 million, so he’d be in line for a pay boost if UT came calling.
Why it doesn’t: His below .500 coaching record might not impress Vol supporters, and he has no experience in the SEC. It's too early to say whether SMU is enjoying a breakout season or just an improved one.