College Football: 10 Teams That Will Benefit From Their Coaching Change
It appears the offseason college football coaching shuffle has slowed to a halt with all major vacancies being filled.
All in all, 21 teams will have a different coach patrolling the sidelines in 2011.
Big names such as Jim Harbaugh and Urban Meyer left major voids in their programs by resigning, while other big-time programs, such as Michigan and Miami, fired their coaches.
With the dust all settled, which teams stand to benefit the most from their coaching changes?
10. Pittsburgh Panthers
1 of 10
Who's out? Dave Wannstedt (Fired)
Dave Wannstedt had an underwhelming career as the head coach of Pittsburgh.
Despite bringing in talented players such as Dione Lewis, Jonathan Baldwin and Greg Romeus, the Panthers were never able to live up to the hype that always seemed to be surrounding the program.
It was time for Wannstedt to go.
Who's In? Todd Graham (Tulsa)
Tulsa went 36-17 in Todd Graham's four seasons with the team and also won all three bowl games that they appeared in.
Todd Graham had already brought three recruits in to start constructing his offense.
For now, it looks like Pitt is heading in the right direction again.
9. Temple Owls
2 of 10
Who's Out? Al Golden (Miami Fl.)
Al Golden helped turn around the Temple football program and that earned him a job offer from the Miami Hurricanes.
Temple was 17-8 in the last two seasons and has produced some legitimate NFL prospects.
Losing Golden will hurt, but...
Who's In? Steve Addazio (Florida Offensive Coordinator)
While losing Al Golden is a tough pill to swallow for Temple, they managed to pick up one of Urban Meyer's leftover pieces, Steve Addazio.
Addazio has coached under Urban Meyer for six years but has no head coaching experience.
Still, Owl faithful have reason for optimism.
8. Colorado Buffaloes
3 of 10
Who's Out? Dan Hawkins (Fired)
Dan Hawkins should have been shown the door quite some time ago.
He went just 19-39 during his tenure at Colorado and lost the only bowl game he appeared in.
Who's In? Jon Embree (Former Colorado Tight End)
Although Embree is not the most experienced candidate, Colorado has nowhere to go but up after the Dan Hawkins era.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Indiana Hoosiers
4 of 10
Who's Out? Bill Lynch (Fired)
The Indiana football program appears to have hit an all-time low.
Bill Lynch led the Hoosiers to just one bowl game, which was a loss.
Who's In? Kevin Wilson (Oklahoma Offensive Coordinator)
For years Oklahoma has had one of the most prolific offenses in the nation, so Kevin Wilson makes a great head coaching candidate. He could put this offense back on the map.
6. Kent State Golden Flashes
5 of 10
Who's Out? Doug Martin
Doug Martin resigned after a mediocre career with the Golden Flashes, in which he was unable to complete a winning season. I'm not sure why this move was not made sooner.
Who's In? Darrell Hazell (Ohio State assistant)
After seven seasons at Ohio State, Darrell Hazell will bring a winning attitude to a football program that desperately needs one. Kent State is another program with nowhere to go but up at this point.
5. Minnesota Golden Gophers
6 of 10
Who's Out? Tim Brewster (Fired)
After a disappointing start to the 2010, the Gophers let go of Tim Brewster, despite signing him to a contract extension just months earlier.
Minnesota responded by upsetting both Iowa and Illinois in the season's final weeks, showing signs of life and reason for optimism.
Who's In? Jerry Kill (Northern Illinois)
After leading Northern Illinois to a 10-win season in 2010, Jerry Kill takes over a Minnesota football team in need of rebuilding.
He is the perfect fit for the job. He is experienced but has plenty of room for growth. Kill has a perfect chance to grow along with this football program in Minnesota.
4. Florida Gators
7 of 10
Who's Out? Urban Meyer (Resigned)
Urban Meyer was the best coach in Florida history. He won two national championships, three SEC titles and 104 games total. But is there a silver lining to his departure?
For one, Meyer will no longer be an offseason distraction. Will he stay or will he go? Is he committed to the Gators? They know he is gone and can focus on the future. Which, by the way, involves quite the coach in Will Muschamp.
Who's In? Will Muschamp (Texas Defensive Coordinator)
Will Muschamp was comfortably awaiting his turn as the head football coach at Texas when the Gators came in and scooped him up.
Considered by many to be the jewel of this coaching class, Muschamp is just 39 years old, and his best coaching years appear to be in front of him.
Florida appears to have found a guy that will allow them to transition smoothly into a new era of football.
3. West Virginia Mountaineers
8 of 10
Who's Out? Bill Stewart (Will Step Down After 2011)
Bill Stewart has not gotten the job done for West Virginia in recent years.
Despite a terrific stop unit and numerous talented pieces on the offensive side of the football, the Mountaineers were unable to capture the Big East Title in 2010.
You can bet the Mountaineer Maniacs are ready for Stewart to turn in his headset.
Who's In? Dana Holgorsen (Oklahoma State Offensive Coordinator)
Dana Holgorsen has led one of the most explosive offenses in the country at Oklahoma State for a number of years now. He will know how to make the most out of Geno Smith's big frame and cannon arm.
2. Miami Hurricanes
9 of 10
Who's Out? Randy Shannon (Fired)
28-22 just doesn't cut it at the "U." Randy Shannon did not win a single bowl game in his four years and was justifiably let go.
Who's In? Al Golden (Temple)
Al Golden did a masterful job making the Temple Owls relevant. In addition to his back-to-back winning seasons at Temple, he produced a handful of players who project as solid NFL players.
Just think about what he could do with some of the talent Miami brings in.
1. Michigan Wolverines
10 of 10
Who's Out? Rich Rodriguez (Fired)
Rich Rodriguez completely tore down a storied football program at the University of Michigan.
Rodriguez went just 15-22 in his three-year career at Michigan, which culminated in a blowout loss in the Gator Bowl to Mississippi State this past season.
Michigan was right to cut their losses.
Who's In? Brady Hoke (San Diego State)
Brady Hoke is known for turning programs around. He did it at Ball State, as well as San Diego State, and now is faced with a rebuilding project in Ann Arbor.
Lucky for him, it does not look like a total rebuild as some pieces are in place.
Brady Hoke has to prove he can sustain success, something he hasn't done in his career, but he cannot possibly be more of a disaster than Rich Rodriguez, right?
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
