Texas A&M Fires Mike Sherman: The Aggies Top 4 Replacement Candidates

We all knew the firing of Mike Sherman was coming; it was only a matter of time. 

Sherman didn't win a bowl game in three-plus seasons and had a mediocre 25-25 record. He was 15-18 against other Big 12 teams and 2-6 against rivals Texas and Oklahoma.

This year had to have been the last straw, as the Aggies were 6-6 and will once again have to settle for a lousy non-BCS bowl. What made it even more disappointing is that they opened the season as a preseason Top 10 team. They also had 18 returning starters from a team that finished 9-4 a year ago.

Five of those six losses have come when the Aggies had a lead at halftime.

With the Aggies moving to the SEC, they will need to find a solid head coach who can help make them competitive in the best college football conference.

Here are four possible candidates.

Kevin Sumlin

Kevin Sumlin has been a candidate for several coaching openings but Texas A&M would make a great fit. He was an assistant coach and offensive coordinator for the Aggies in 2001-2002.

Sumlin is a great offensive coach, and he proved it during his time in Oklahoma and Houston as he's 35-16 in four years. He also has a great chance to lead the Cougars to a BCS bowl this season.

With Case Keenum leaving this season and doing as much as possible with Houston, he will be looking to leave. The Aggies may be that fit.

Charlie Strong

Strong is a great defensive coach, and the Aggies will need a defensive-minded coach heading into the SEC. He was the defensive coordinator for the Florida Gators when they won two national championships.

Strong was a graduate assistant with Texas A&M in 1985.

He has coached Louisville the last two seasons and has a 14-12 record and led the Cardinals to two straight bowl games.

Chris Petersen

I really think the Aggies have a shot at Chris Petersen who is probably looking to leave with nearly his entire team leaving this season. Petersen has turned down a few offers already but why wouldn't he join a decent Texas A&M team that is leaving for the SEC?

He would get the chance to prove himself in the best conference in college football.

Petersen has been one of the most impressive coaches the last few years and a solid recruiter. Texas A&M should get on the phone with him right away.

Kirby Smart

Kirby Smith doesn't have any head coaching experience, but he has a ton of experience running great defenses. He is currently running the Alabama defense, and we all know how that is going for the Crimson Tide.

He has run defenses across the SEC and would bring that experience to this team. The question is would he leave one of the top SEC teams to join a new SEC team?

This may be a dark horse pick but a smart one.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]