Texas-Sized Turnover: The Longhorns' Staff Set for Colossal Changes

It is painfully unfamiliar to have the Texas Longhorns watching the bowl season instead of participating in its festivities, but a highly disappointing 5-7 record in 2010 will do that.

A season of monumental shortcomings and inconsistencies on the field and on the sidelines has led to several vacancies on a coaching staff that looks to be refilled in the coming weeks after the New Year.

The facelift began with the resignation of long-time offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Greg Davis, in addition to the retirements of offensive line coach Mac McWhorter and defensive tackles coach and special teams coordinator Mike Tolleson.

Rumors began to swirl of the next offensive coordinator in Austin, then as quickly as the reports came in, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Will Muschamp bolted for Gainesville to succeed Urban Meyer as Florida’s head coach, an abrupt switch to say the least.

These changes leave about half of the coaching positions vacant, but Mack Brown no doubt will be seeking to make huge splashes with new faces on the Forty Acres, especially at the coordinator positions.

Here is a look at the coordinator vacancies inside the Texas program:

Offensive Coordinator

Before Muschamp left for Florida, the offensive coordinator was thought to be the lone vacancy filled by a big-name hire. 

Some coaches reportedly on the Texas radar:

Bryan Harsin, Boise State

Although many point to head coach Chris Petersen as the conductor of one of the most efficient and high-scoring offenses of the last few years, Harsin has added his own tweaks to the prolific Broncos unit.

Running that high-octane playbook with Boise State’s talent is commendable, but imagine that damage that Harsin can inflict with the ultra-talented roster that Texas is able to field year in and year out.

After a season of offensively challenged play-calling and execution, a fiery, young coordinator that knows how to move the ball would likely be a welcomed hire for the Longhorn faithful.

Paul Chryst, Wisconsin

Chryst may be a tough get to pull out of Wisconsin, but his power running game is akin to what Mack Brown had intended to implement in the 2010 season, but everyone knows how that went.

The 45-year-old Wisconsin native has the NFL coaching experience that Brown wants, along with a steady run of success at the college level at Oregon State and Wisconsin.

He would likely bring in his own offensive line coach to mold the blocking schemes to fit his liking, which could solve two problems with one hire.

Jim McElwain, Alabama

Whether or not McElwain is truly interested in a move to the Big 12 remains to be seen, at least until Alabama returns from the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla.

If money is solely the determining factor, Texas may have their guy.

Major Applewhite, Texas

Applewhite currently is the running backs coach, but is Brown ready to hand the reigns over to the 32-year-old?

The former Longhorn quarterback served as offensive coordinator at Rice in 2006 and Alabama in 2007, but he is hardly the big splash hire that many are expecting.

Other rumored candidates: Norm Chow (UCLA), Gus Malzahn (Auburn)

Defensive Coordinator

Teryl Austin, Florida

Austin originally was thought to be in as the new defensive coordinator a couple of weeks ago, but that speculation has died down considerably. 

He served as a defensive backs coach in the NFL for the Seahawks (2003-2006) and the Cardinals (2007-2009), but conflict with current defensive backs coach Duane Akina—who is regarded as one of the best in college football—may have derailed a quick hire.

Justin Wilcox, Tennessee

The newest name that has appeared on the radar for defensive coordinator is Wilcox, a 34-year-old former defensive back with a relatively short coaching record.

The catch here is his connection with Harsin. The two worked under Petersen at Boise State before Wilcox left for Knoxville.

A double-hire with Wilcox and Harsin would make sense from a stability and familiarity standpoint, but Wilcox hardly possesses the experience that Brown desires.

Randy Shannon

The former Miami (FL) head coach was the first name to be dropped on the Forty Acres after Muschamp departed, but the connection with Shannon faded almost as quickly as it came.

Should Shannon reappear on the screen for a defensive coordinator hire would be a surprise to many. The Miami native has never held coaching position outside of the city, serving on the Miami Dolphins staff as an assistant and linebackers coach as well as the Hurricanes’ as an assistant, defensive line coach, linebackers coach (twice), defensive coordinator and eventually head coach for three seasons before getting fired.

Other rumored candidates: John Chavis (LSU), Ellis Johnson (South Carolina), Phil Bennett (former Pittsburgh)

Whatever way it is spun, Texas has many positions to fill on a staff that is destined for huge changes come next season, where Brown is searching for a big splash with a quick impact.