Ten Coaches Who Will Be in Their Last Year With Their Current Team in 2011
If you're looking for job security please don't apply to become a college football head coach. Obviously, the job is not for the faint of heart. It's also not for the introvert who cannot assert himself or for the easily confused.
This is a big boy's game. It is all about big contracts, big recruits, and big programs.
To quote the famous line, "to whom much is given, much is required."
While the speaker of that line was, obviously, not talking about football, the concept still applies.
In the following slides you will see some coaches who have not followed through on their end of the deal. While others have exceeded expectations and are ready for the next big thing.
Either way, these coaches are likely about to spend their final days with their current program's.
Mark Richt: Georgia
1 of 10
Despite a talent-laden roster, Georgia has fallen on hard times recently. As a result, Mark Richt has landed squarely on the hot seat.
All of the equity the Georgia head coach built up from '01-08 clearly played in a role in his being retained after an incredibly disappointing losing season in 2010.
Georgia is reloading its roster, yet again. So the pressure on Richt is not going to lessen anytime soon.
If Georgia doesn't win at least eight games in 2011, Richt will find himself unemployed before the calendar changes from 2011 to 2012.
Dabo Swinney: Clemson
2 of 10
The embattled Clemson head coach barely made it through the first two weeks of the offseason.
Swinney was forced to make changes in his staff. In the process, Clemson has lost more than one key recruiting commitment.
Clemson was amassing quite the impressive class before Swinney basically had to choose between losing his own job or cutting a couple of his assistants loose.
Chances are, he won't have that option after Clemson loses its customary five games next season.
Bill Stewart: West Virginia
3 of 10
Ok, so this one's a gimme.
Bill Stewart is already confirmed to be on his way out following the 2010 season. New offensive coordinator, Dana Holgorsen is set to take over the job in 2012.
The arrangement was basically forced upon Stewart. That constant look of utter confusion and bewilderment will usually get you canned.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Jeff Tedford: California
4 of 10
How much longer will California accept mediocrity? Since Cal shared the Pac 10 title in 2006, the Golden Bears are just 29-22.
That mediocre mark over the past four seasons is compounded by Cal's 5-7 mark in 2010.
It would take another losing season in 2011 to cost Tedford his job. With the increased competition in the new Pac 12, another losing season in 2011 is not a far-fetched notion.
Mike Locksley: New Mexico
5 of 10
This would seem to be another gimme. Locksley reportedly lost his job once during the 2010 season. The report turned out to be erroneous and Locksley was given a reprieve following New Mexico's one win season in 2010.
It's a safe bet that Locksley will be gone before November 2011.
Ron Zook: Illinois
6 of 10
The Zookster barely made it out of 2010 alive. As a matter of fact, there's speculation out there that says if Illinois hadn't completely obliterated Baylor in the Texas Bowl, Zook could very have been fired before the plane ride home.
Bottom line, 7-6 will not cut it—especially after 16 losses in two seasons.
By my count, Zook has exactly one season to win eight games or he's a goner.
Might as well get a head start and put the house up for sale now, Ron.
Houston Nutt: Ole Miss
7 of 10
There are always rumors surrounding the "right reverend". Always.
Whether he was interested in the Nebraska job in '07, or the Colorado job last year, Nutt cannot seem to escape the constant chatter that surrounds his next move.
Thing is, Nutt may not have a say in his next move. The SEC West is the strongest division in all of college football. Ole Miss is dead last in every conceivable facet in that division.
Nutt should probably go ahead and get started on his next rumored destination.
Rick Neuheisel: UCLA
8 of 10
One bowl game in three seasons.
You can pretty much sum up Neuheisel's chances with that sentence alone. UCLA wanted to bring the rivalry back to its crosstown hate-fest with USC. That hasn't happened—at all.
Supporters can blame it on injuries or the state of the program when Neuheisel took over, but those excuses are running thin following UCLA's second four win season in three years.
So much for ending that USC/Los Angeles monopoly, Rick.
Gary Patterson: TCU
9 of 10
Would the coach of the top non-BCS program leave right before said program goes to a BCS conference? If the offer was right, you better believe he would.
Patterson has been the top highly sought after and linked to just about every high profile position that has come open these last few years. As a result, the TCU head coach has signed two different extensions in the last two years. In '09, Patterson was extended to 2016. Just two weeks ago he was extended to 2018.
With the Big East move, Patterson has no reason to ditch TCU, unless the offer is just too huge to pass up.
Which bring us to the final slide...
Mack Brown: Texas
10 of 10
This is not to insinuate that Mack Brown could/would be fired following the 2011 season. Not even close. But there has been some speculation that Brown would have left Austin following the 2010 season had things not gone horribly wrong resulting in the Longhorns first losing season in 13 years.
If Texas wins the ten team Big 12 in 2011, look for Mack Brown to graciously ride off into the sunset.
It doesn't get any bigger than Texas. Texas is the premier job head coaching in the country. The team has amazing depth on both sides of the ball. The program just signed a sweetheart deal acquiring its own television network. The coach has five-star recruits lined up at his office door.
Think the head coach of the soon-to-be-BCS school, 200 miles north of Austin, would be on the list of potential replacements?
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
