5 Top College Coaches Who Should Interview for NFL Vacancies

The head coaching carousel has already started turning in 2011, with the axe falling in such locales as Jacksonville, Kansas City and Miami. You can bet that by the time the dust settles over this season, at least a few more head coaching positions in the National Football League will become available.

Among the NFL assistants and former NFL head coaches that will be considered for these vacancies, a few names from the college ranks are sure to be tossed around. Here's a look at a handful of candidates that we could see make that proverbial leap in 2012.

1. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma

Any time an NFL vacancy opens up and college coaches are discussed, the name of Oklahoma head man Bob Stoops comes up. While he lacks NFL experience and he seems to be in no rush to leave Norman, he's a very highly regarded coach who would undoubtedly surround himself with a crew of highly knowledgeable assistants.

2. Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern

While he has no NFL experience, Pat Fitzgerald already has six seasons of head coaching experience under his belt and at only 36 years old would bring a great deal of youthful enthusiasm to the table. But it's unlikely that the former Wildcats standout would leave the position he took on after the untimely death of Randy Walker.

3. Steve Sarkisian, Washington

University of Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian has coached in the National Football League before, serving as the quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders in 2004. The former CFL signal-caller was reportedly the first choice of Al Davis to lead the Raiders before they settled on hiring Lane Kiffin in 2007.

4. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa

The name of Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz is another that is often raised when discussing possible NFL head coaches from the college ranks. While Ferentz has half a dozen years of experience coaching in the National Football League it's highly unlikely he'd leave a fairly safe and very lucrative position in Iowa City, especially with his son presently enrolled there.

5. Mike Sherman

After four years in College Station as head coach of Texas A&M, Mike Sherman was let go after the 2011 season. With six years of head coaching experience in the National Football League on his resume (with the Green bay Packers from 2000-2005), Sherman may well merit consideration from franchises looking for an experienced coach.