20 College Football Coaches Who Will Do Great in the Broadcast Booth Someday

For better or for worse, some of the college football coaches of today are destined to be the broadcasters of tomorrow.

Yes, whether they should or shouldn’t, and whether they can or can’t, a handful of guys on the sidelines this season will spend a plethora of years with a microphone in their hands rather than a clipboard.

Lee Corso, Lou Holtz and Herm Edwards are all examples of ex-coaches who have made broadcasting their long-term second career while Urban Meyer and Mike Leach illustrate guys who use the profession as a layover between coaching stops.

The following slideshow identifies 20 current college football coaches who are prime candidates for a successful stint upstairs in the press box once their sideline gig is over.

Some have the verbal skills, some are witty and wise, while others just look good on the tube.

Dabo Swinney, Clemson

Swinney has a folksy, Southern accent and is as personable and likeable as they come.

But don’t let his drawl fool you, Dabo Swinney has an MBA from Alabama and his experience outside of football would lend perfectly to a more balanced approach to broadcasting.

 

Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State

Gundy has it all—decent looks, star power, a previous notable run in with the media (a la “I’m a man, I'm 40”) and the kind of on-field success that garners the respect of even the staunchest Sooner fan.

Gundy may be the most broadcast-ready guy on our list.

Bob Davie, New Mexico

From the “no duh” department we have Bob Davie who just left a second career as a broadcaster at ESPN to take the job at New Mexico.

Davie hasn’t stalked the sidelines since he left Notre Dame in 2001. Though some folks found his commentary mildly annoying, he will surely be back in the booth if things don’t work out in Albuquerque.

Brian Kelly, Notre Dame

Many an ex-Notre Dame head coach has found his way upstairs to the media hospitality suite and, regardless of how Brian Kelly’s career eventually shakes out, he may ultimately meet the same destiny.

Kelly is another heralded gridiron hero who, if he even has marginal success in South Bend, could have a long-term gig in broadcasting.

Les Miles, LSU

There is no doubt that national championship rings will help you in your next life—a fact which is especially true if your reincarnation involves a television camera and microphone.

Les Miles can offer the big networks not only expertise, but a huge heaping serving of theatrical style, spunk and the irresistible (and dangerous) draw of having absolutely no idea what this guy will say (or eat) next.

 

Sonny Dykes, Louisiana Tech

Regardless of the fact that he’s the son of former Texas Tech coach Spike Dykes, Sonny Dykes has taken a long, winding road to become a full fledged college head football coach.

And now that he’s made it, Sonny Dykes is coming into his own and may well be a coaching commodity destined to bigger and better things in the future.

Since his daddy also made his folksy, down home mark in regional college football coverage, Sonny might have a shot at a broadcasting job either in between coaching stops or once his days with the Telex headset are done.

James Franklin, Vanderbilt

Though James Franklin may be destined to bigger things in coaching before he ascends to the soundproof booth, his fiery on-field persona makes him an attractive candidate for a network blazer.

Franklin shows as much emotion as anyone currently in the game. If nothing else, it would entertaining to see if he broke anything while Joe Tessitore took cover in a corner.

Skip Holtz, South Florida

Despite winning the “Who’s Your Daddy” sweepstakes at birth, Skip Holtz is making his own name in college football coaching.

Holtz went 34-23 at UConn, 38-27 at East Carolina and is now 13-12 two years into his stint at South Florida, a run which could explode given the current climate of the Big East.

Though it’s hardly fair (but hard to feel bad for him), Holtz the Younger will probably be considered a “natural” to follow his Dad into broadcasting when the time comes.

 

Doc Holliday, Marshall

The third year head coach at Marshall, Doc Holliday played linebacker at West Virginia before setting off on a string of assistant jobs in the ACC and SEC.

Holliday is a fine fellow but for me it’s all about the name.

“Doc Holliday and Rod Gilmore, live from Toledo’s famous Glass Bowl.”

Yes, that’s good stuff.

 

Mark Richt, Georgia

In 2012, we’re likely to find out whether Mark Richt will continue his long-term employment status at Georgia, or instead find another way to subsidize his Hope chest.

Richt’s Bulldogs will be stacked next season and will be expected to play for titles in the East division, the SEC and perhaps more.

If and when Richt gets out of coaching his confidence, experience and previous exposure make him a perfect fit for a microphone-based job.

Urban Meyer, Ohio State

Though Ohio State ought to be a long-term destination for Meyer, his interlude as a member of the ESPN college football coverage team last season primes him for future employment behind the shiny desk.

Meyer is a superstar and the respect he has garnered thus far makes in his career him a natural “expert” brand on television.

Dennis Franchione, Texas State

Former New Mexico, TCU, Alabama and Texas A&M head coach Dennis Franchione enters his second season at Texas State in 2012.

The Bobcats move up from being an FCS independent to become a member of the FBS Sun Belt Conference this season, marking Coach Fran’s fifth stop in what was once called Division I-A ball.

After leaving College Station, Coach Fran spent 2008 as a radio broadcaster for ESPN, meaning the experience is there, which would combine nicely with a couple of winning campaigns as a coach if he wants back on the air.

Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern

Though it’s hard to sell anyone on the idea that the head coaching job at Northwestern is the stuff stars are made of, Pat Fitzgerald is more than just a college football coach.

Fitzgerald also played at Northwestern as a linebacker and was a part of the 10-1 Rose Bowl team from 1995.

Beyond that, he was also the first guy in history to win both the Bronco Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award twice, a feat he pulled off in 1995 and 1996.

So, he’s a coach, he was a great player and he’s a smart, young guy who got a degree from Northwestern.

I’d imagine they’ll take him for a ride on the elevator to the sky if he decides he wants to.

Will Muschamp, Florida

So, what happens if Will Muschamp never delivers on the promise he showed coming into his first head coaching job at Florida?

Yes, what if Muschamp either never makes it to the level of greatness predicted or what if it takes another coaching move to get him there?

Well, after either of those two options has played out Muschamp can fall back on a television career, because, if nothing else, because he looks like a broadcaster.

Whether it’s the hair, the trustworthy features or the aura of respectability, here’s a guy people will watch for more reasons than because he knows what he is talking about.

 

Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech

Given the fact that Frank Beamer has been a head coach in college football since 1981 and he’ll be 66 this October, it would be safe to assume that retirement isn’t too far off into the future.

Beamer has been the head man at Virginia Tech since 1987, and he also played cornerback for the Hokies from 1966-69, making him a natural fit for a regional broadcasting role, an ACC gig or perhaps the bigger national stage.

Beamer has earned the respect he owns and though he doesn’t have the celebrity gloss of say Nick Saban or Meyer, he’d be very broadcast-able.

Mike Price, UTEP

With Mike Leach making a grand entrance into Washington State football, it’s a good time to recall another Mike in Cougar history.

Before the scandal at Alabama in 2003, Mike Price was the coach at Washington State from 1989-2002 where he led the Cougars to three double-digit win seasons, two Pac-12 titles and a pair of Rose Bowl bids.

Price has been at UTEP since 2004 and overall he has been around the block enough to make Pac-12 broadcasts very entertaining.

 

Steve Spurrier, South Carolina

Though it’s difficult to imagine the “old ball coach” rubbing shoulders with Kirk Herbstreit and Tom Hammond, he’d be a fabulous edition to any booth across America.

Spurrier’s unsurpassed experience as a player and coach plus his down-home, frankly speaking approach would have viewers tuning in to both learn something and be thoroughly entertained.

The best part might be if he gets frustrated with the “over-the-top” nature of current game coverage and shows his disgust in an overtly obvious fashion.

 

Frank Solich, Ohio

Another oldie but goodie, Frank Solich’s “life before Ohio” included a playing career at Nebraska (1963-65 as a fullback) and a head coaching stint for the Cornhuskers (1998-2003).

Solich owns six division titles and one conference crown as a head coach. Though he’s nearly 70, he would bring a lot to the table as a Midwestern-based announcer.

Derek Dooley, Tennessee

Did you ever wonder how Louisiana Tech got on ESPN for what seemed like endless Thursday and Friday night games when Dooley the Younger was the head coach?

Seriously, that is the most I’ve watched La. Tech football since I dated a guy who worked at the Huddle House in Ruston.

The bottom line is that ESPN already likes Derek Dooley (and what’s not to like) and so if things don’t pan out at Tennessee and he needs either part-time or full -time work, look for “The Leader” to come calling.

 

Mack Brown, Texas

Mack Brown is the perfect candidate for a major microphone fitting.

First, he’s a politician that people naturally listen to even if they don’t want to.  Secondly, here’s a guy who has led one of the most publicized programs in the nation for over a decade, meaning he’s already a household name.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, when Brown steps down at Texas he’s got access to his very own customized broadcast destination in the Longhorn Network.

In the words of MC Hammer, “can’t touch this.”