College Football Hot Seat

The college coaching carousel seems to be never ending every offseason. While the occasional big job has opened up in recent years (Auburn, Alabama, Notre Dame, Washington), most offseason's are filled with fledging teams looking to be the next Boise State, or lower BCS schools looking to get out from the basement. Here are the top coaches to get ousted this year, as well as the record they likely need to attain to keep their job.

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10. George O’ Leary, Central Florida

2008 Record: 4-8

O’Leary has been decent at Central Florida in his 5 year career at the college. However, with recent legal troubles, O’Leary needs to show that his on-the-field ability outweighs the off-the-field issues. The Knights had the worst offensive in division 1 football, but with 10 starters returning on offense, they need to show significant improvement.

Record Needed to Stay: 7-5

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9. Mark Snyder, Marshall

2008 Record: 4-8

Snyder may get a bad shake here. 2008 was his first year with a full load of scholarships, so he could be on pace to really turn the program around. However, going 16-31 in his four years with the Herd and ranking near the bottom in the country in passing and passing defense a season ago, Marshall may want to make a change. He deserves to keep his job, but there still is a lingering question.

Record Needed to Stay: 6-6

8. Bob Toledo, Tulane

2008 Record: 2-10

Tulane was flat out bad the last eight games of 2008. They held Alabama to a 20-6 win over them, lost to East Carolina by only 4, and won their next two games. However, they were terrible in those last 8 games, losing 6 of those by more than 20 points (including against Army). Toledo has been 6-18 in his 2 seasons with the team, and needs to show significant improvement this year.

Record Needed to Stay: 7-5

7. Neil Calloway, UAB

2008 Record: 4-8

Last season, the MAC made an overhaul with coaches, and judging by the fact that the first 4 hot seat coaches are from the C-USA, they could be in store for that as well. Calloway has gone 6-18 in his two seasons, and with some talent, this 3rd year could be crucial. Joe Webb is a sleeper quarterback with possible NFL talent, and with 11 starters returning for UAB on offense, they need to improve on their 86th ranked scoring attack.

Record Needed to Stay: 7-5

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6. Bill Lynch, Indiana

2008 Record: 3-9

In his first season at Indiana, things looked promising. The Hoosiers were struggling for a years before he came, and going 7-6 with Kellen Lewis and James Hardy competing in the Big Ten as one of the top duos. Well, after Hardy left, they lacked a playmaker, and now Lewis has transferred. The Hoosiers went 3-9 in Lynch’s second season, and with only 1-2 games they’ll be favorite in, it could be another down season for a BCS school program.

Record Needed to Stay: 5-7

5. Mike Stoops, Arizona

2008 Record: 8-5

On the hot seat the past 2 seasons, Stoops saved his job last season by beating Arizona State and BYU to end the season. This offense will likely struggle without Willie Tuitama and Mike Thomas, and have a somewhat rough schedule. Central Michigan to start the season won’t be a sure win, they have to go @ Iowa, @ Oregon State, @Cal, @ Arizona State, and @ USC. With some really solid coaches on the west coach looking for a big name job like Kyle Whittingham, Chris Pederson, and other coordinators, Stoops needs to remain in the top half of the Pac-10

Record Needed to Stay: 7-5

4. Charlie Weis, Notre Dame

2008 Record: 7-6

This is defintely getting tons of stress as the coach (the now infamous billboard just outside the campus that said “Best of Luck Charlie Weis on you 5th year Internship”) but that “comes with the territory” as Weis said himself. After starting his career hot at Notre Dame with Brady Quinn and all of Tyrone Willingham’s guys, Weis now has a very mediocre 29-21 record with the Irish. With loads of preseason BSC hype for the team, Weis needs to get to a big time bowl and show that he’s not just a great offensive mind, but a great coach as well.

Record Needed to Stay: 9-3

3. Dan Hawkins, Colorado

2008 Record: 5-7

The original starter of the Boise State dynasty, Hawkins has not transferred his WAC success to the Big 12 as easily as some hoped. He’s gone 13-24 in 3 seasons now, and Buffalo alum are starting to call for his head. He has his son playing quarterback (who I think is very talented), some solid young backs, and a solid defense. He’ll need to compete for a Big 12 North crown, anything less than Top 2 in the North means he’s gone.

Record Needed to Stay: 7-5

2. Steve Kragthorpe, Louisville

2008 Record: 5-7

The 5-7 record a from 2008 is actually worse than it sounds. They went 1-5 in the Big Easy, barely beating South Florida at Louisville. Their wins included games against Tennessee Tech, Kansas State, Middile Tennesse State, and a close win over Memphis. Kragthorpe hasn’t posted a winning record in his 2 seasons in Louisville, even with NFL quarterbacks Brian Brohm and Hunter Cantwell. Now he’ll have a new quarterback to improve his 88th ranked scoring defense.

Record Needed to Stay: 7-5

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1. Dave Wannstedt, Pittsburgh

2008 Record: 9-4

Although that 9-4 record looks pretty solid, Wannstedt has only posted a 25-23 record in his four seasons there. He has brought in top recruiting classes since he’s been there, but hasn’t won a Big East crown yet. With a Big East conference this season that has 4-5 teams vying for the Top spot, Pitt needs to show steady improvement, or the Panthers will find a big name coach to use Wannstedt’s recruits to win conference titles.

Record Needed to Stay: 8-5