College Football 2011: 10 Coaches Under Even More Pressure After Signing Day

With National Signing Day behind us, fans and programs will start to turn their attention to spring practice and their spring games.

With plenty of time between now and the spring, some coaches will be feeling pressure of different varieties.

Some coaches may be just stepping onto campus for the first time, while others are hanging on for dear life. Either way, with National Signing Day behind us, these coaches are all feeling the pressure.

Bret Bielema: University of Wisconsin

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Head coach Bret Bielema of the Wisconsin Badgers stands on the field during the game against the TCU Horned Frogs in the 97th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

I know—you're saying, what is a coach that led his team to the Rose Bowl doing on this list? Even though the Badgers had a great year, only to come up short against TCU, Bielema capped off the year the seventh overall Big Ten recruiting class.

With the heat that he took from the Rose Bowl defeat, combined with a subpar recruiting class, Bielema's coaching seat may not be as comfortable as it may seem.

Lane Kiffin: University of Southern California

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PALO ALTO, CA - OCTOBER 09: USC Trojans head coach Lane Kiffin stands on the sidelines during their game against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on October 9, 2010 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Again, I have you scratching your head. Lane Kiffin had a great class going into the final hours, and then he lost the top recruit in his class. Within the last few days, Kiffin lost De'Anthony Thomas, and to make it worse, he lost him to Pac-12 rival Oregon.

While this is just one recruit, Oregon and Chip Kelly were able to pull a home born and grown recruit that has been a solid verbal to USC. While Kiffin pulled in a great class, without an NFL team in Los Angeles, all eyes will remain on Kiffin and how he handles the NCAA sanctions.

Brady Hoke: University of Michigan

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ANN ARBOR, MI - JANUARY 12: New University of Michigan head football coach Brady Hoke (L) speaks to the media as, Athletic Director Dave Brandon looks on, after introducing Hoke as the nineteenth Michigan head football coach in Michigan history at the Ju

Brady Hoke has now stepped in at the University of Michigan and taken over for Rich Rodriguez. Hoke has never felt the pressure that he is feeling now at Michigan, and not being in the Top 20 will not be accepted for long.

While Hoke has just arrived, this fanbase is not going to be patient for him to turn this around.

Al Golden: University of Miami

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CORAL GABLES, FL - DECEMBER 13: Former Temple University football coach Al Golden, 41, speaks to the media after being introduced as the new head coach at the University of Miami on December 13, 2010 in Coral Gables, Florida. Golden is replacing Randy

Another coach who is stepping into the fire is Al Golden. Miami is coming off a 7-6 season and finished outside of the top 25 for recruiting.

Golden has a chance to bring Miami back into the national spotlight, but much like Michigan, the fans down in Miami will not tolerate losing for long.

Dennis Erickson: Arizona State

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TEMPE, AZ - NOVEMBER 26: Head coach Dennis Erickson of the Arizona State Sun Devils watches from the sidelines during the college football game against the UCLA Bruins at Sun Devil Stadium on November 26, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Pete

Things have been rocky for Dennis Erickson for a while. Seems like every year Erickson finds himself on the hot seat and keeps hanging on to his job. With the Pac-10 expanding to the Pac-12, Erickson will be competing with two more schools for recruits.

If Erickson doesn't get the Sun Devils to a bowl game this year, he will be looking for a new job in 2012.

Paul Wulff: Washington State

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SEATTLE - NOVEMBER 28: Head coach Paul Wulff of the Washington State Cougars paces the sidelines during the game against the Washington Huskies on November 28, 2009 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. The Huskies defeated the Cougars 30-0. (Photo by

Staying in the Pac-12, Washington State head coach Paul Wulff finds himself in an uncomfortable situation. Last year, the Cougars went 2-10 but had the feel of getting better and being more competitive.

If Wulff takes a step back this year and the Cougars don't build on last season, WSU will be looking to go in a new direction.

Frank Beamer: Virginia Tech

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CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 04: Head coach Frank Beamer of the Virginia Tech Hokies at Bank of America Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

The question with Frank Beamer is not whether he is a good coach; it is whether he has brought this program as far as he can take it. This past recruiting season, Tech finished outside of the top 25, and it has not been able to win the big game.

If Virginia Tech continues to stay in this holding pattern, Beamer Ball could be on his way out.

Bill Stewart: West Viriginia

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - JANUARY 01: Head coach Bill Stewart of the West Virginia Mountaineers watches his team take on the Florida State Seminoles during the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl on January 1, 2010 at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville, Flori

Bill Stewart has been "given his marching orders," so he says. When thinking about Stewart's job security, it seems to be only a matter or time before he is shown the door. If he cannot win the Big East this year, his coaching seat will burst into flames.

WVU's latest class barely found its way into the top 50, a result that will only fan the flames in West Virginia.

Tom O'Brien: North Carolina State

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ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 28: North Carolina State Wolfpack head coach Tom O'Brien celebrates after winning the Champs Sports Bowl against the West Virginia Mountineers at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium on December 28, 2010 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mik

Coming into the 2010 season, NC State was a dark horse to win the ACC. After going 5-3 in conference, Tom O'Brien finished with the lowest-ranking recruiting class in the ACC.

With the lack of success both on and off the field, O'Brien will need to turn one or the other around to stick around.

Rick Neuheisel: UCLA

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EUGENE, OR - OCTOBER 21: Head Coach Rick Neuheisel of the UCLA Bruins watches the game agianst the Oregon Ducks on October 21, 2010 at the Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

After a 4-8 season, Rick Neuheisel's promises of taking over Southern California are starting to fall on deaf ears. While being at UCLA, Neuheisel has not advanced the program, and with the seventh overall recruiting class in the Pac-12, recruits are taking notice.

If Slick Rick is unable to get the Bruins to a bowl game or defeat USC, his time in California will be over.