College Football: Power Ranking The Pac-10 Hot Seat Coaches
While we are still early in the year, it is never too early for coaches to start feeling the heat. Start off 3-0, everything is well with the world but go 1-2 or 0-3 and you are already looking over your shoulder.
The Pac-10 is starting to transition into conference play and some coaches are already looking like they could be looking for a new job.
Time to take a look at the Pac-10 coaches and the temperature of their coaching seat on a scale of 100 degrees.
Oregon: Chip Kelly
1 of 10
Out of all the Pac-10 coaches, Chip Kelly's seat is the most comfortable at the time. Since taking over as head coach, Kelly has won the Pac-10 championship and took the Ducks to their first Rose Bowl since 1995, all in his first year.
This year, Kelly has guided the Ducks to a fast 3-0 start and has an offense that is averaging 60+ points per game and a defense that has only given up 13 points in three games.
Despite the results from this year or even next year, Kelly has the strongest job security in the conference.
Coaching Seat Temperature: -10 degrees
Stanford: Jim Harbaugh
2 of 10
Boy has Jim Harbaugh come in and turned around the Stanford football program. He has racked up some big victories in his coaching career at Stanford and has the Cardinal in the conversation for the Pac-10 championship.
This is an interesting situation since Harbaugh's seat is icy cold but the bullets that Stanford fans are sweating are another thing. Harbaugh is doing such a great job, fans are hoping he doesn't leave for a bigger program. You know that Stanford fans are always cheering for Michigan to keep on winning and keep Rich Rod in place.
Coaching Seat Temperature: 5 degrees
Oregon State: Mike Riley
3 of 10
Mike Riley is another coach that is currently enjoying solid job security. Despite the slow starts that seem to plague the Beavers, Riley has found a way to keep the Beavers in contention for the Pac-10 title the past few years.
This year, Oregon State has taken on an aggressive out of conference schedule that has them taking on both TCU and Boise State. This aggression may lead to two early season losses but Riley job security has come from Pac-10 performance and the Civil War against Oregon.
Coaching Seat Temperature: 10 degrees
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Arizona: Mike Stoops
4 of 10
Stoops and the Wildcats are coming off a big win against Iowa. They also have added victories over the Citadel and Toledo to start the year 3-0.
Arizona is looking very strong right now and are a top three contender for the Pac-10 title and Stoops is a major reason why. There is very little that Stoops could do this year or even next year to lose his job after what he did last year and so far this year.
Coaching Seat Temperature: 15 degrees
USC: Lane Kiffin
5 of 10
Lane Kiffin is dealing with a very unique hot seat. While the Trojans have started out 3-0, they have done so in a very unimpressive way, squeaking out wins over Virginia and Minnesota.
Kiffin's job security could go two ways. One way is that the school understands the handcuffs the current probation puts on him and cut him slack until the restrictions are lifted. The other way is that Kiffin could end up being the sacrificial lamb and will take the fall for what could be a couple of mediocre years for USC.
Coaching Seat Temperature: 60 degrees
Cal: Jeff Tedford
6 of 10
Jeff Tedford is another coach is starting to feel a little fire under his seat. Early in the year, things seemed to be going well after two blowout wins over UC Davis and Colorado. Things took a turn for the worse this past week for Tedford when Cal was beat by Nevada, 52-31.
Cal has some big games coming up including going on the road to Arizona and USC. If Tedford and Cal can go 2-1 or better against the Pac-10 big three, Oregon, Stanford and Arizona, Tedford will be able to cool things off for himself.
Coaching Seat Tempature: 62 degrees
Washington: Steve Sarkisian
7 of 10
Going into the year, the media could not get enough of Washington and Jake Locker. Many expected Locker to be a top Heisman candidate and expected Washington to be a contender in the Pac-10. Three games later and a 1-2 record, everything has changed.
Steve Sarkisian is the man guiding this ship and another year of being in the Pac-10 basement may be too much for the proud Huskie program. Unless Sarkisian can get this turned around and help Washington get to a bowl game in Locker's last year, he may find himself looking for a new job.
Coaching Seat Temperature: 78 degrees
Arizona State: Dennis Erickson
8 of 10
Arizona State has been out of the national eye for a few years now and Dennis Erickson has not led them to a bowl game since 2007.
To start out the 2010 campaign, the Sundevils are 2-1 and almost pulled out a big win against No. 11 Wisconsin but feel short 20-19.
This week, Dennis Erickson and the Sundevils play host to the Oregon Ducks and a win could really do wonders for Erickson's job security. If he can lead the Devils back into a bowl game, he may be able to breathe a bit easier but for now, things are heating up for Erickson.
Coaching Seat Temperature: 82 degrees
UCLA: Rick Neuheisel
9 of 10
Rick Neuheisel is starting to feel the heat down in UCLA and for good reason. He came into UCLA with the idea of shifting the power in southern California in his favor and has failed thus far.
The Bruins have started the year 1-2 and are facing Texas this week, which will likely move them to 1-3.
Things continue to look bad for Neuheisel as UCLA figures to finish in the bottom half of the Pac-10 and could possibly lead to a change being made at UCLA.
Coaching Seat Temperature: 95 degrees
Washington State: Paul Wulff
10 of 10
Washington State has been the Pac-10 whipping school for a while now and Paul Wulff has not been able to change that perception.
Washington State has started the year 1-2 and four out of their next five games are against USC, Oregon, Arizona and Stanford.
While the view is always that you can only go up from there, Wulff and Washington State have gone nowhere. This could be Wulff's last year.
Coaching Hot Seat: 100 degrees
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
