NFL Coaches Who Could Be Working at the College Level Soon
We’re less than a week from Christmas, which means we’re in the sweet spot of silly season.
While most of us are scrambling to find the perfect gift for our loved ones, college administrators are scrambling to fill coaching vacancies or preparing their “short list” should a vacancy occur. As of Thursday night, there were only three FBS head coach openings: Colorado State, Michigan and Pitt.
But that could change with a moment’s notice if the right hire sets off a new set of coaching dominoes. And don’t forget that the NFL’s “Black Monday,” when professional teams typically jettison their underperforming leaders, is set for Dec. 29. If an NFL team poaches a college coach, that, too, would set off a chain reaction. All candidates must be considered. And what of NFL coaches and coaches with NFL experience who are interested in coaching at the collegiate level?
While Michigan’s apparent pursuit of Jim Harbaugh is the most prominent storyline, a number of coaches with NFL ties could find themselves back in the collegiate ranks soon. Let’s take a look at coaches with pro experience who could be stalking college sidelines before you know it.
Pep Hamilton
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Make no mistake: Pep Hamilton has a pretty sweet gig right now. Who would complain about coaching Andrew Luck in one of the NFL’s best offenses in Indianapolis? Nobody. Hamilton spent three seasons on Stanford’s staff before becoming the Colts’ offensive coordinator last fall, and he is helping Luck develop into one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks.
Hamilton has found success at the collegiate and pro levels, coaching at Stanford, Howard University and with the NFL’s Chicago Bears, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers and Colts. He would be an excellent candidate for any college opening, particularly on the West Coast. Would Hamilton make the leap back to college to run his own program? We’ll have to wait and see.
Jim Harbaugh
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With the San Francisco 49ers eliminated from the NFL playoffs, the buzz surrounding Jim Harbaugh has turned up to 11. Despite a Super Bowl appearance sandwiched around a pair of NFC title games, Harbaugh’s act has worn thin in the Bay Area, and he and the 49ers are apparently headed for a divorce sooner rather than later.
So it’s only natural that Michigan would pursue Harbaugh for the vacancy created by Brady Hoke’s firing. Harbaugh is a Michigan man who would bring a fresh perspective to Ann Arbor, and Michigan is apparently ready to open its checkbook. The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Michigan is offering Harbaugh a six-year, $49 million contract, although that figure has been debunked elsewhere. That’s an average of over $8 million annually, which would make Harbaugh college football’s highest-paid coach.
He told Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News, "I only talk about the job that I have."
SI.com's Michael Rosenberg says this is the perfect time for Michigan to pursue Harbaugh.
He would be an obvious fit at Michigan, and his rivalry with Ohio State’s Urban Meyer would instantly become one of the nation’s best. The only question: Is Harbaugh ready to come home?
John Harbaugh
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If you can’t get Jim Harbaugh, why not pluck another branch from the Harbaugh coaching family tree? Jim’s brother, John, would be a solid fit for a college program looking for its next leader. Like Jim, he grew up in a coach’s home and grew up in Ann Arbor, although John played collegiately at Miami (Ohio). He spent 14 years as a college assistant with stops at Western Michigan, Pitt, Morehead State, Cincinnati and Indiana before making the transition to the NFL.
John is in excellent shape in Baltimore. The Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII and made the playoffs in each of his first five seasons before slipping to 8-8 a year ago; at 9-5, they’re in position to make another run this season. However, he remains an excellent potential candidate who would make any program better with his presence.
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Chip Kelly
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When college programs look to the NFL to fill vacancies, you have to imagine that Chip Kelly would be at the top of anyone’s list. Kelly enjoyed tremendous success at Oregon, going 47-6 in four seasons with a BCS national runner-up finish in 2010. That attracted the interest of the NFL, and one year after nearly taking the Tampa Bay Buccaneers job, Kelly took the Philadelphia Eagles head coaching position following the 2012 season.
His hurry-up offense has found success at the pro level. The Eagles finished 10-6 and made the NFL playoffs last season and are in contention for another berth with two regular-season games remaining. That hasn’t stopped college interest. Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Florida reportedly contacted Kelly for its vacancy before hiring Jim McElwain, which Kelly denied, per CSN Philadelphia's Geoff Mosher.
In June 2013, the NCAA levied a show-cause order against Kelly connected to his involvement with NCAA violations at Oregon, which effectively prevented him from taking a college job. The 18-month show-cause expires on Christmas Day.
Would Kelly have interest in returning to the college ranks? The right opening doesn’t exist now, but never say never.
Josh McDaniels
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For a guy who has spent virtually his entire coaching career at the professional level, Josh McDaniels gets a surprising amount of attention for college jobs. McDaniels’ only collegiate experience came as a graduate assistant under Nick Saban at Michigan State in 1999-2000.
Since then, he has carved out a nice NFL career with the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos and St. Louis Rams. His only head coaching experience turned out poorly; McDaniels was 11-17 in just under two seasons in Denver before being fired late in the 2010 season.
McDaniels has excellent offensive knowledge and has learned plenty at the side of Bill Belichick. His name also surfaced briefly, per Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, in Florida’s search before the Gators hired Jim McElwain. Does McDaniels want to coach at the college level? Would he leave Belichick’s side to do so? Don’t rule it out. He is only 38 years old and has plenty of time to shape his career and his legacy as a head coach.
Greg Roman
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While all of the attention surrounding the San Francisco 49ers has centered on Jim Harbaugh, and with good reason, college programs seeking to pluck a pro coach should look a bit beyond the fiery head coach—to the 49ers offensive coordinator, Greg Roman.
Roman followed Harbaugh from Stanford after serving as the Cardinal’s offensive coordinator in 2009-10 and received interest from Penn State and Tennessee last offseason. If Harbaugh heads to Michigan, would Roman follow him there, too? Or could Roman strike out on his own eventually? Either way, he is an attractive under-the-radar collegiate candidate. Dave Miller of the National Football Post says "there is a job waiting" for Roman in college.
Greg Schiano
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Despite an ugly two-year stint with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Greg Schiano’s star hasn’t dimmed much. Schiano did amazing work at Rutgers, taking the Scarlet Knights from college football’s depths and transforming them into a well-respected outfit before leaving for a shot at the NFL.
He is taking this season as time away from coaching but has openly admitted to Pete Thamel of the MMQB and SI.com that he wants to coach collegiately or professionally next fall. One natural fit? Pitt. The Panthers are seeking a replacement for Paul Chryst, who bolted for Wisconsin Wednesday.
Schiano would be an excellent replacement: He knows the Eastern seaboard and Pitt’s recruiting territories. Pitt has reportedly already made contact, per Sam Werner of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Schiano walking the Heinz Field sidelines in blue and gold next fall.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
