The Best and Worst College Football Coaching Hires for the 2012 Season

This season has included a lot of things that makes college football so great, but one of the main things that has been consistent is the firing of head coaches. There have been quite a few this season, and several of them have come from big programs.

While there are still a few teams that are searching for a replacement, many schools have already found a coach heading into the 2012 season.

Here are some of the best and worst college football coaching hires so far.

Best: Mike Leach, Washington State

Leach has a great resume and is known as an offensive guru who runs the spread offense better than almost anyone in the country.

His overall coaching record is 84-43 and he is great at using his players strengths and getting the most out of them. 

Leach was without question the best possible hire for the Washington State Cougars and playing in the Pac-12, his offense should be high-flying.

Worst: Jim Mora Jr., UCLA

I don't know if the Bruins are trying to find their own Pete Carrol by hiring Jim Mora Jr. or what, but I don't see this working out. Other than being a graduate assistant for Washington, he has no college coaching experience at all.

Even his head coaching time in the NFL didn't go over so well as he finished 31-33 in four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.

This hire seems to be more of a shot in the dark than anything, and I really don't see it working out. You can count on one hand how many coaches left the NFL for college and actually succeeded.

Best: Urban Meyer, Ohio State

Ohio State needed some direction after a horrible scandal and a terrible season this year. They really couldn't find a better candidate than Urban Meyer.

He has a proven track record everywhere he has gone, and is a fabulous recruiter. He should also be looking to stay with the Buckeyes for a while, considering he is from the Ohio area.

Meyer will have this team competing for Big Ten titles and national championships in no time.

Worst: Larry Fedora, North Carolina

Larry Fedora had a decent career at Southern Miss, but I think that win over Houston was really blown up bigger than it really was. Every season in his four year coaching career at Southern Miss, his teams lost to sub-par opponents. Including Rice, Middle Tennessee State and Alabama Birmingham.

Fedora is a solid offensive coach and has done some great work, but I'm pretty sure the Tar Heels had better options out there.

Best: Charlie Weis, Kansas

Amazing how Charlie Weis goes from Notre Dame and Florida to coaching the Kansas football program.

This is a big hire for the Kansas Jayhawks as it will help build this program and bring in some top recruits. Weis is a offensive mastermind that will have the Jayhawks winning some games once he gets the right pieces.

This hire will require some patience, but for a school that's only made four bowl games since 1995, a couple more years won't hurt. 

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