College Football Coaches Whose Jobs Are on the Line in 2015
The hot seat was forgiving last season, although it did claim victims from a pair of college football blue-bloods (Brady Hoke at Michigan and Will Muschamp at Florida).
Still, look at some of the names who were coaching for their lives last year and succeeded. Dana Holgorsen at West Virginia. Paul Johnson at Georgia Tech. Even Dan Mullen at Mississippi State heard whispers about job security two years ago.
The names on this list are in positions similar to those of Hoke, Muschamp, Holgorsen and Johnson (and kinda, sorta Mullen) last season. They have failed to reach their program's expectations, so if they don't right the ship, they'll be given the slip.
Sound off below and let us know what you think.
Tim Beckman, Illinois
1 of 7
Prior to 2014
Tim Beckman lost 18 of his first 24 games at Illinois. He went 2-10 in his debut season of 2012 and 4-8 as a sophomore in 2013, starting 0-14 in Big Ten play before winning at Purdue last November.
2014 Season
Illinois made a surprising bowl game but was never per se "good" in 2014. The Illini finished No. 75 on the F/+ ratings at Football Outsiders, beneath such teams as Arkansas State and UAB, and lost the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl to Louisiana Tech.
The season as a whole was a positive for Beckman, who entered on the hot seat and likely would have lost his job had the Illini not beaten Northwestern in the regular-season finale. Still, the bowl earned him a one-year reprieve more than any genuine job security.
What He Needs to Keep His Job
If Illinois makes another bowl game, Beckman has a chance. If it doesn't—even if the team actually plays better—he's gone. The Illini return a decent amount of talent, play in the weaker Big Ten West and have quarterback Wes Lunt coming back from injury. There is no reason a team in this situation should finish below .500.
Larry Fedora, North Carolina
2 of 7
Prior to 2014
Larry Fedora came to North Carolina in 2012 after a 12-2 season at Southern Miss. He was billed as an offensive juggernaut and expected to get a potentially dominant program over the hump, but after a solid 8-4 debut in 2012, he regressed to 7-6 in 2013. The Tar Heels lost five of their first six games before getting hot at the end of the year.
2014 Season
For the second consecutive season, UNC came slow out of the gate. It lost four straight games in late September and early October before sneaking into the Quick Lane Bowl at 6-6.
Only this time, instead of ending the season with momentum, Fedora's team laid an egg against Rutgers, losing 40-21. In its final two games of the season, North Carolina gave up 728 rushing yards.
What He Needs to Keep His Job
8-5? That sounds about right. Another seven-win season would put Fedora at 20-19 since 2013. Ignoring the vacated wins from 2009, the Tar Heels went 23-16 in the three years before his arrival. With former Auburn head coach Gene Chizik as its new defensive coordinator, there is no excuse for this team to dangle around .500.
Al Golden, Miami
3 of 7
Prior to 2014
Al Golden was heading upward. He survived the Nevin Shapiro sanctions—a leftover from the previous regime—and improved from 6-6 to 7-5 to 9-4 in three seasons. However, that 9-4 record came after a 7-0 start, which on second glance makes it less impressive. Even in his best season, Golden lost four of his last six games.
2014 Season
Miami finished with a losing record (6-7) for just the third time since 1980. It did so despite playing well in the middle of the season, especially in the run-up to the Florida State game on Nov. 15.
Like so many teams before them, the Hurricanes took a big lead on FSU but couldn't close the door in the second half, falling to the 'Noles on their home field, 30-26. They ended the season on a four-game losing streak after losses to Virginia, Pittsburgh and South Carolina.
What He Needs to Keep His Job
1. Miami needs to win nine games. Even 8-5 is too close to mediocrity. If Nebraska fires its coach for consistent nine-win seasons, you can bet Miami will fire its coach for one nine-win season in five tries.
2. The 2016 recruiting class must stick. Miami ranks No. 1 (by a huge margin) on the 247Sports team rankings thanks to a class that features 19 early committments. But how long can Golden keep things together? This is the key to his staying employed.
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Mike London, Virginia
4 of 7
Prior to 2014
Mike London saved his job with a strong 2014 recruiting class. Virginia had lost 20 of 26 games, but its head coach convinced a pair of 5-star recruits (safety Quin Blanding and defensive tackle Andrew Brown) to stay local and come to Charlottesville.
2014 Season
Virginia made drastic improvements but still finished 5-7. That the team looked so much better is a testament to London's coaching potential; but that the team could look so much better and still miss a bowl game is a testament to how bad things were last season.
Still, Virginia's moderate development did the trick. "It was important to see improvement in our football program this season," said athletics director Craig Littlepage, who announced his decision to retain London in November. "I've seen signs of progress in many areas."
What He Needs to Keep His Job
At the very least, Virginia must make a bowl game. Realistically, it might need even more. The Wahoos finished No. 40 on the F/+ ratings at Football Outsiders—highest of any team that missed a bowl game—so there's reason for cautious optimism. But they also lose a ton of defensive talent, so London remains a long shot to stay.
Paul Rhoads, Iowa State
5 of 7
Prior to 2014
After four years of rough mediocrity—7-6 in 2009, 5-7 in 2010, 6-7 in 2011 and 2012—Iowa State dropped below the middle tier. Paul Rhoads had decent job security before the season, but a 3-9 record turned his seat a little warm before 2014.
2014 Season
The Cyclones went from bad to terrible, finishing 2-10 overall and 0-9 in Big 12 play. They lost to FCS Champion North Dakota State in Week 1, blew a game they should have won against Kansas State in Week 2 and then gradually got worse throughout the season.
What He Needs to Keep His Job
A bowl game would be nice. It seems like forever ago, but Rhoads led ISU to three bowls in his first four seasons. If he follows that with zero bowls in three seasons, the administration has no reason to keep him.
Willie Taggart, South Florida
6 of 7
Prior to 2014
After three years resurrecting Western Kentucky, Willie Taggart was expected to resurrect South Florida. On paper the plan seemed flawless, as the latter sounded considerably easier, but Taggart stumbled a 2-10 record in his first year at USF. Fortunately he did the same in his first year at WKU, so no one freaked out.
2014 Season
The Bulls finished 4-8—three games worse than Taggart's second year at Western Kentucky—and people started freaking out. Their four wins came over one FCS team (Western Carolina) and three FBS teams that combined to finish 5-31 (SMU, Tulsa and UConn). Unsurprisingly, USF has overhauled its coaching staff this offseason.
"There's no bigger sign of a coach feeling some heat than shake-ups on the coaching staff," wrote Tom Fornelli of CBSSports.com.
What He Needs to Keep His Job
Is it crazy to say he needs more than a bowl game? Taggart has been two games worse (6-18) than the final two years of Skip Holtz (8-16), but Holtz started his tenure with an 8-5 season in 2010.
A 10-3 record would get Taggart to the same mark for which Holtz was fired. Are we sure something like 7-6, which would get Taggart to 13-21 overall, would be enough for him to save his job?
He might need at least eight wins.
Kevin Wilson, Indiana
7 of 7
Prior to 2014
Kevin Wilson had Indiana on the up-and-up. He started with a 1-11 season in 2011 but went 4-8 in 2012 and 5-7 in 2013. Thanks to Wilson's air raid offense, the Hoosiers were on track to make their second bowl game since 1993. Or at least that's how it seemed.
2014 Season
Things moved in the wrong direction. Tevin Coleman rushed for 2,000 yards, and the Hoosiers upset eventual SEC East champion Missouri, but the loss of injured quarterback Nate Sudfeld threw the offense out of whack and resulted in a 4-8 record.
What He Needs to Keep His Job
Wilson is the only coach on this list who doesn't need to make a bowl game. Indiana is such a difficult, thankless job that keeping it even near the postseason deserves credit. Still, Wilson can't slog to another 4-8 record or worse. Five wins can at least be billed as progress.
Note: All recruiting info refers to the 247Sports composite rankings.
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