Well, it finally happened. West Virginia fired Neal Brown. And, now, pepperoni rolls for everyone in Morgantown, right?
Brown finished 37-35, took the Mountaineers to three bowl games and got them eligible for one this year. But WVU never won more than the nine games it won a year ago and never challenge for a Big 12 title. Plus, well, Brown was a quote machine in all the wrong ways this season, almost as if he knew it was coming.
So, now, athletic director Wren Baker prepares to hire a football coach for the first time. You can’t say he wasn’t patient. He could have made this change last year, but he didn’t.
So who could it be? After a little research, here are seven potential options.
Andy Kotelnicki, Penn State Offensive Coordinator
Let’s start with the coach that has already been connected to the job. Mike Asti at WV Sports Now reported on Sunday that Kotelnicki would interview for the job.
He’s going to be one of the hottest commodities on the market this offseason. I included him on my list of potential UCF targets. He revitalized the Penn State offense this season, his first year away from Kansas coach Lance Leipold in more than a decade. The Nittany Lions will play Oregon in the Big Ten title game on Saturday.
He runs sound offensive concepts and gets the most out of his players. His rep only got better away from Lawrence.
Jimbo Fisher, Unemployed
Fisher is a Clarksburg, W.V. native who, at 59 years old, still has some coaching left in him. Plus, he has millions coming from Texas A&M because, well, you know why.
Jimbo Fisher was 128-48 as a head coach, won a national championship at Florida State and, depending upon your point of view, would either galvanize the fan base or alienate it. That all depends on your point of view of Fisher as a coach.
At one time he was the best offensive coach in college football. Now, the bloom is off the rose. West Virginia would be a homecoming and a chance for career rehab that would come with risk for both parties.
Jon Sumrall, Tulane Head Coach
Another name I included on my UCF list, Sumrall will be THE Group of 5 coaching candidate to watch. With Tulane this season he’s led the Green Wave to nine wins and a berth in the American Athletic Conference championship game against Army West Point.
Before that, He led Troy (he didn’t succeed Brown; he succeeded the coach that succeeded Brown) to 23 wins and to two straight Sun Belt titles. If you want a defensive-minded coach, he’s one to watch.
CBS reported that Sumrall is expected to be choosy if he decides to leave the Green Wave.
Ryan Silverfield, Memphis Head Coach
He’s likely to get some play this offseason after leading the Tigers to 10 wins and just missing out on the AAC title game due to two league losses. He just wrapped up developing an NFL caliber quarterback, Seth Henigan, with the Tigers.
He’s 41-21 in six seasons, the Tigers have been bowl-eligible every season and he boasts NFL assistant experience. He will get a power conference job soon.
Jason Candle, Toledo Head Coach
Candle was Iowa State coach Matt Campbell’s successor with the Rockets and he’s worked out well. He’s now been there 10 seasons and is 72-40 with two MAC titles, an additional division title and seven bowl appearances (and nine seasons being bowl-eligible).
His apprenticeship was similar to Campbell’s. Both were Mount Union players who were assistants with the Division III power before they moved to Toledo. Candle has proven everything he needs at Toledo. He’s a bit overdue for a promotion, which makes you wonder if he’s just happy with being at Toledo? He is a Salem, Ohio, native.
Barry Odom, UNLV Head Coach
Odom is a classic coaching career rehab case. He went 25-25 at Missouri but he never got the Tigers to the upper reaches of the SEC and was fired. After working as Arkansas’ defensive coordinator for three years, he took over at UNLV and he has the Rebels on the cusp of a potential Mountain West title and, quite possibly, a College Football Playoff berth (they just have to beat Boise State. That’s all).
He’s a quality coordinator. But is he better off at a Group of 5 job as a head coach, or has he learned enough to help WVU “trust the climb?” (sorry, couldn’t resist).
Bryant Haines, Indiana Defensive Coordinator
If defense was the problem for the Mountaineers, perhaps Haines can solve the problem? As Indiana’s defensive play-caller he’s helped the Hoosiers move to a No. 2 ranking in total defense, behind only Ohio State.
He’s a long-time Curt Cignetti assistant who has been with the veteran coach everywhere he’s been. Which means Haines is partly responsible for Cignetti’s 130-36 record as a head coach.
Haines may be ready for his own job.
And, yes, I’m well aware that Cignetti played quarterback at WVU but he just signed a massive extension with Indiana so he’s not going anywhere.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
