College Football 2011: Seven Coaches Who Need a Change of Scenery

Every year, college football's season begins with a list of coaches who are in need of a change of scenery. Some of these coaches need a change to advance in their own success and some need a change so that the program can move forward.

The problem that some coaches run into is staying at a school too long. In these cases, the change of scenery may become easy, as the program may force them to make that change.

Here is a list of seven coaches who need a change, whether they choose to make it or have that choice made for them.

Mike Locksley

Things have not gone well for Mike Locksley since taking over at New Mexico in 2009. The worst part for Locksley is not only are things go bad on the field but they are also bad off the field.

On the field, Locksley has led New Mexico to back-to-back 1-11 seasons, and things are not looking up for the 2011 season.

Off the field, he has had to deal with a sexual discrimination claim and then had an altercation with an assistant coach that he ended up hitting. The outburst led to a 10-day suspension and some hard feelings.

Despite his high contract, it may be time for the school to either buy him out or for Locksley to move along.

Dennis Erickson

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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

In 2007, Dennis Erickson led Arizona State to a 10-3 season and helped get the Sun Devils back in the national eye. Since that season, things have gone straight downhill, and 2011 could prove to be a make-or-break year.

From 2008-2010, Erickson's best season was 6-6 and he had a combined record of 15-21. Not only have the records been bad, but missing the bowl season for three straight years is starting to eat at fans.

In 2011, Erickson has a team that figures to compete for the Pac-12 South championship. Should he not take a big step forward with this team, Erickson will be heading out of town, something that may do him some good.

Mark Richt

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AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 13: Head coach Mark Richt of the Georgia Bulldogs against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The honeymoon in Athens is over and it may be time for Mark Richt to get out of town and start over at a new program.

Fans of the Georgia Bulldogs have begun to turn on Richt and after the past two seasons, things have gotten worse. In 2009 and 2010, Georgia went 8-5 and 6-7 and hit rock bottom when they lost to Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl.

With the 2011 season right around the corner, even if Richt is able to have success, it is still time for him to look elsewhere.

Rick Neuheisel

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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)

When you come to UCLA with promises of taking down USC and becoming the local power, and the best season you put together in three seasons is 7-6, it is time to look elsewhere.

Rick Neuheisel has coached at UCLA since 2008 and has a combined record of 15-22 and has only led the Bruins to one bowl game.

After a 4-8 season in 2010, Neuheisel has run his course at UCLA and should start to look for an opportunity at another program.

Ron Zook

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CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 02: Head coach Ron Zook of the Illinois Fighting Illini gives instructions to his team against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Memorial Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Champaign, Illinois. Ohio State defeated Illinois 24-13. (Photo by Jon

Ron Zook is still living off his 2007 Rose Bowl season, but that may end after 2010.

Since that season, Zook has gone 5-7, 3-9, and 7-6 and have not played a factor in the Big 10 race.

With only two bowl appearances in his time at Illinois, fans and alumni are already growing tired of the lack of success the program is having on the field.

Zook appears to have hit the wall, and making a move would not be such a bad thing for both Illinois and Zook.

Greg Schiano

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PISCATAWAY, NJ - OCTOBER 16: Head Coach Greg Schiano of the Rutgers University Scarlett Knights watches his team play against the University of Pittsburgh Panthers on October 16, 2009 at Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Jared Wickerham

Greg Schiano's career at Rutgers has been like a slow rising roller coaster that peaked in 2006, with a 11-2 season, and has started to go back downhill.

The problem for Schiano is he may have missed his opportunity to cash in on his success at Rutgers and land a better job. After coming off a 4-8 season and things not looking up for this year, Schiano may start to wear out his welcome.

Regardless of how 2011 goes for Rutgers, Schiano needs to get ready to make a move that should have been made four years ago.

Jeff Tedford

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BERKELEY, CA - NOVEMBER 20: Head coach Jeff Tedford of the California Golden Bears watches his team warm up before their game against the Stanford Cardinal at California Memorial Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/

While Jeff Tedford has had tremendous success at Cal, the problem he is running into is inconsistency and the idea that he may have taken the program as far as he can.

Since taking over in 2002, Tedford is a career 72-42 and has led Cal to seven bowl games.

2010 was Tedford's worst year, with Cal as they went 5-7 and did not make a bowl game.

Tedford is a great coach who has led Cal to success, but if Tedford sticks around much longer, he may end up wearing out his welcome and missing out on other opportunities.