Ron Zook and 2 Other College Football Coaches Getting Off the Hot Seat

It's unfortunate when a coach gets put on the hot seat, but at the same token it can reignite their team to play better.

For the following three coaches, they were either on the hot seat before the season began, or got onto it after the first few weeks of 2011.

However, their respective teams have rallied and saved their coach his job for the time being.

Also, don't be surprised if each of these school's finish with eight to 10 wins on their respective records by regular season's end, as evidence of the motivation the players used from their coaches' going on the hot seat.

Ron Zook, Illinois

From 2008 to 2011, Ron Zook was 15-22 at Illinois. He has yet to post a ten-win season, but is currently 5-0 and ranked No. 19.

A win over 1-4 Indiana should manifest this weekend, but a loss would knock them from the rankings.

That said, the Illini have a very favorable schedule and could potentially be 9-0 before they play a tough two-game stretch against Michigan and Wisconsin in November.

Nonetheless, the undefeated start clearly has gotten Zook off the hot seat and it'll be interesting to see if his Illini can keep it rolling in the newly aligned Big Ten.

Brian Kelly, Notre Dame

In his first season at Notre Dame, head coach Brian Kelly was looking at a 4-5 record with three games left in the regular season.

Needless to say, the Irish ran off four straight victories and finished 8-5.

Furthermore, they had a lot of momentum heading into the 2011 season, but started off 0-2 and it what no surprise to see Kelly on the hot seat.

Well, upon Kelly assuming that seat, Notre Dame then ran off three straight wins and are playing with a new level of tenacity.

Based on their current playing status, the Irish are capable of finishing off the regular season anywhere from 8-4 to 10-2.

Either way, Kelly is off the hot seat and continued his winning-everywhere-he's-coached tradition.

Cynics just have to be a little more patient because Notre Dame's schedule is a lot more difficult than anywhere Kelly's coached.

Mark Richt, Georgia

The 2010 Georgia Bulldogs season finished out at 6-7. This marked their first losing season under Mark Richt.

Yet, Richt was on the hot seat after last season despite having two top five finishes to his resume, as well as six top ten finishes.

The Bulldogs started out 0-2—with the two losses coming top five ranked Boise State and then 12th-ranked South Carolina—so it's safe to say he was on thin ice.

However, Georgia has won three straight games and are back in the SEC East title race.

For now, Richt is off the hot seat, but Bulldog fans are eager another SEC title sooner than later.

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