Mark Mangino Resigns: Edsall, Harbaugh, Strong All Potential Candidates

In a meeting that took place just minutes ago, Mark Mangino resigned (it was probably suggested...) from his position as head football coach at the University of Kansas. 

He has reportedly reached an agreement that will not financially weigh down the University's athletics department. Rumors are already flying around campus concerning potential successors Lew Perkins may have his eye on.

I don't claim to know that much about the world of coaching, or that there is any truth to these rumors whatsoever, and that these are nothing more than the currently most popular names on campus (not counting Xavier Henry).

Just for fun, here's a run-down of the main guys people seem to like the most up here on Mount Oread...

Brent Venables (Oklahoma Defensive Coordinator)

This coordinator will be at the top of every major job opening in the NCAA next year, so it's hard to imagine him coming to Kansas. 

Had Bob Stoops left or should he, for whatever reason, change his mind and head to South Bend, Venables would be the Sooners' head honcho. 

As long as Stoops is in town, however, Venables could be searching for another venue, and Kansas wouldn't be an awful spot for a first prime-time coaching gig.

However, I think waiting another year at Oklahoma may ultimately result in better opportunities elsewhere. Besides, if players think Mangino's rough, wait til they get a load of this guy.

Outlook: There will be far greener pastures for Venables.

Robb Akey (Idaho Head Coach)

The Idaho Vandals' head coach has been on a 20-year trip that has taken him everywhere throughout the west, and he has been successful at every pit stop.

In just two years, he has turned Idaho from a nobody to a contender. However, this is still the WAC we're talking here, and his Vandals are currently just 4-4 in conference play. 

I think he's a good enough coach for a job like Kansas, but is still a bit unproven and would be a risky pick-up. Another improved season for the Vandals next year will mean big, BCS-style bucks for Akey in 2011.

Outlook: There are far more 'qualified' candidates available, but Akey is young and has potential.

Jim Harbaugh (Stanford Head Coach)

Harbaugh seems really intriguing to me. The window is open in the Pac 10 with USC on a bit of a decline, and Stanford is a pretty quality school to coach football for. It's hard to argue with BCS football on the west coast, isn't it?

Only two things push me to put Harbaugh on this list. First, a source tells me that his wife is from Kansas City, and that he's familiar with and enjoys the area.

Secondly, despite being out west, the recruiting at Kansas provides stronger opportunities than Stanford due to the Cardinals' stringent academic requirements.

Hey, I like him, and he seems like the kind of guy Lew Perkins would be interested in as well.

Outlook: I can't say I'd argue with an offer to a coach of his caliber if he's interested.  That's a huge 'if', though.

Charlie Strong (Florida Defensive Coordinator)

Strong is a fantastic recruiter and manages to compile supremely athletic and talented defenses year in and year out.

He promotes tough, disciplined football, and would be a welcome addition to any coaching opportunity in the country.

Once again, however, therein lies the problem. Louisville has him on the radar already, and while I think Kansas provides a much more enticing offer for potential football coaches, I only wonder who else might be eyeing him already.

For now, I'll put him in the same category as Venables, as he hasn't had a major head coaching gig yet, but could and should have one soon.

Outlook: I'm appalled that more noise hasn't been made surrounding Strong, but if Louisville doesn't snatch him up, some other even-better opportunities should arise for him.

Randy Edsall (Connecticut Head Coach)

In reality, I think Edsall makes the most sense. Lew Perkins hired him once already, to a very similar 'basketball school' situation none the less, and he has been consistently successful there since.

He's a tough, classy, Perkins kind of guy and Kansas could probably offer him a little more potential (in both financial and football terms) than UConn would likely propose. He even brought UConn from the subdivision into the BCS football world.

However, his team hasn't gone far since, and his win column is scattered with some random 3's and 4's over his tenure at UConn. He'd fit right in at Kansas, but could he bring our football team anywhere?

Outlook: I think he'd look heavily at Kansas, and I think Kansas will look heavily at him.  The intrigue is definitely there, especially for Lew Perkins, but would Edsall want to come?

Will Muschamp (Texas Defensive Coordinator), Brian Kelly (Cincinnati Head Coach)

For all of you hopefuls throwing these two names around, I'm going to give you some advice.

Stop.

No matter how big the names above seem, these are the two hottest one's on the coaching market right now, and I can assure you Kansas is not on the radar.  I don't understand why Muschamp would go anywhere; he's set to inherit the best team in the best recruiting state in the world sooner or later!

I know I've barely scratched the surface of potential coaches, though. 

Leave your comment at the bottom and let me know about the names you've heard, what you think of them, and who you'd ultimately enjoy seeing as the head football coach for the University of Kansas! I'm interested to hear!

In the meantime, I'm going to sit back, relax, and let a very experienced athletic director take care of business. 

I'd also like to wish Mark Mangino the best in whatever he decides to do, because he is still what made Kansas football great. 

Retirement, a smaller head coaching gig, or an assistant job somewhere seem like the ideal spots for the big fella. Anyone think Bill Snyder would like to have him around?

Anyway, I'd also like to say that while I have enjoyed having Mangino around and that he's still a great football coach, I also think that due to recruiting, potentially recurring issues, and both his and the school's image, the coach did the best thing he could've done for himself and the University of Kansas.