Coaching Carousel Update: Neuheisel, Erickson, Zook and Others Out. Who Replaces Them?

The regular season ended for most teams last Saturday. So did the tenures of a number of coaches. We took a look at the coaching carousel might look like before the carnage began. Here’s a look at those ousted and a guess at their possible replacements.
Dennis Erickson (Arizona State): The Sun Devils reached their first bowl since 2007, but losing five of six to close the season was unimpressive. Even worse was who they lost to. UCLA, Washington State and Arizona each had or were in danger of having a new head coach next season. Erickson’s ASU lost to all three, in consecutive weeks. We’ll guess ASU allows the Leach rumors to fester, tries for Sumlin initially and, unwilling to wait until after the bowl game, ends up with former assistant Ron English.
Larry Porter (Memphis): The former LSU running backs’ coach inherited a program that went to five bowl games in seven seasons. He won two FBS games in his two seasons and had a 1-15 record in Conference USA. That’s how you get fired after just two years. They will want an established name for fundraising efforts. Mike Leach will think he can do better. So will the up and comers. We’ll guess Terry Bowden.
Neil Callaway (UAB): UAB hired Neil Callaway in 2007 after the school’s Bama-minded board of trustees blocked them from extending an offer to Jimbo Fisher, then in play to be Alabama’s offensive coordinator. He did what they expected, going 18-42. Expect the next coach to be cheap, ineffectual and Tuscaloosa-approved.
Paul Wulff (Washington State): I can’t say I understand this one. Yes, Paul Wulff had a 9-40 record, at a school that had once played in Rose Bowls. However, he inherited an absolute mess. His team showed signs of life last season. This year, they won four games, despite losing expected star quarterback Jeff Tuel to injury. A couple better breaks and they could have gone bowling. They look poised to break out next year. He deserved another year. The Seattle Times claims Leach is the top candidate.
Rick Neuheisel (UCLA): UCLA brought in Rick Neuheisel to close the gap with USC. He lost 50-0. Pistol Rick struggled recruiting, assembling a coaching staff and rousing the players. He squandered the chance to establish a beachhead during a USC downturn. He equaled the best regular season finish of his tenure this season, 6-6. UCLA will make a play for Chris Petersen and fail. The next call will be to Kevin Sumlin who will have better offers. Then, they will turn to Tom Cable or Mike Martz who will accept the job and not be successful.
Rob Ianello (Akron): If the Zips weren’t the worst team in FBS, they were close. LeBron’s hometown team was 118th in points scored and 116th in points allowed. They gave up 189 points in the final four games against Miami of Ohio, Kent State, Buffalo and Western Michigan. One FBS win in two seasons? Not going to cut it. Though, he received the news in about the worst way possible. We’ll guess someone on the Ohio State staff not returning or former Grand Valley State coach and current ND assistant Chuck Martin.
Ron Zook (Illinois): Unfortunately, “pulling a Ron Zook” was not a colloquial term for being really awesome. He took the Illini to the 2007 Rose Bowl, but never recreated that magic. His late season collapses became inevitable (3-13 in regular season games after Nov. 1 since 2008). The worst came this season – an 0-6 finish after a 6-0 start. He seems like a swell fellow, just not the most capable head coach. Illinois AD Mike Thomas made the Brian Kelly hire at Cincinnati. Desperate to claim Chicago and make B1G noise, we expect him to go big. The first play will be for Sumlin, who has B1G roots.
Turner Gill (Kansas): Kansas went from mediocre to awful under Turner Gill. In year two, they were 1-10 against FBS teams. Their average MOV was -21.5. The Jayhawks’ B1G highlight was blowing a 21-point fourth-quarter lead against Baylor. There’s no building from this. We’ll guess Larry Fedora, if he doesn’t get the Ole Miss job. Moderate Leach potential.
[Photo via Getty]

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37 Responses to “Coaching Carousel Update: Neuheisel, Erickson, Zook and Others Out. Who Replaces Them?”
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November 29th, 2011 at 4:37 PM
Leach is a pipedream for KU. We’re totally going to get Zooked or Bad-Stoopsed.
November 29th, 2011 at 4:39 PM
Local idiot Mike Martz interested in ASU job-
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-report-bears-martz-interested-in-arizona-state-job-20111129,0,2721559.story
He has no contract beyond this year.
As a Bears and ASU fan, I’m happy and sad to hear this.
/Give me Leach at ASU
//Anyone else to OC Bears
November 29th, 2011 at 4:40 PM
Much as I hate to admit it, the Memphis job is pretty undesirable right now. They will go on the cheap (again) and pick up some unknown coordinator who will either fail right away or do well enough that he will want a higher profile/better funded program. Tommy West told us that two years ago, that without deeper commitment they will always founder.
Memphis will never be a destination program. They ain’t getting in a diminished Big East, let alone the SEC. They are an FBS orphan.
November 29th, 2011 at 4:42 PM
What’s Mark Mangino up to these days?
November 29th, 2011 at 4:42 PM
Did Zook stock Illinois with talent like he did Florida? Could be a really good job though not one I see Sumlin taking.
November 29th, 2011 at 4:43 PM
Sumlin or Leach. All I ask.
November 29th, 2011 at 4:44 PM
im pretty surprised that OSU didn’t hire tyrone willingham.
/tbl’d
November 29th, 2011 at 4:45 PM
It’s Kansas. You could do a lot worse.
November 29th, 2011 at 4:46 PM
Desperate to claim Chicago and make B1G noise, we expect him to go big
Cmon Duffy, you know Illini football in Illinois ranks behind ND, UM, Iowa, Wisconsin and University of Phoenix in interest and potential.
November 29th, 2011 at 4:46 PM
What’s Mark Mangino up to these days?
Sitting on a beach in Florida. He even went to the KSU v Miami game and hung out with the alumni and some coaches. The led some around here to speculate he’d be back on the sidelines with KSU. If he didn’t appear to be five seconds from a massive heart attack at all times, he’d be a hot item now.
November 29th, 2011 at 4:47 PM
It’s Kansas. You could do a lot worse.
I know. Nebraska graduate Turner Gill was just our coach.
November 29th, 2011 at 4:52 PM
I’m assuming Glenn Mason turned down the Buckeyes job with hopes of the Memphis gig opening up?
November 29th, 2011 at 4:54 PM
Leach cannot be that desperate.
November 29th, 2011 at 4:56 PM
If they want Sumlin they will wait. I don’t see what would make them not wait if they think thats there guy. My guess is Ron English will be there after the bowl games as well. Probably don’t need to rush to hire him.
November 29th, 2011 at 4:58 PM
Rex, cut it out. In that case, why not hire Craig T. Nelson?
/laughing and shaking my head
November 29th, 2011 at 4:59 PM
I’d say their even at this point.
/1st and 1st’d
November 29th, 2011 at 5:00 PM
In regards to the previous post, good one to follow on Twitter
@MikeFrancesaNY
November 29th, 2011 at 5:12 PM
craig james thinks menarky needs a breather
November 29th, 2011 at 5:13 PM
UCLA brought in Rick Neuheisel to close the gap with UCLA
How very meta.
November 29th, 2011 at 5:15 PM
Craig James thinks this is the appropriate place to post this comment.
November 29th, 2011 at 5:17 PM
not sure how much truth there is behind it, but I heard Houston Nutt’s name associated with Memphis…
now pardon me while I laugh it up a minute.
November 29th, 2011 at 5:22 PM
Dan Mullen is reportedly at the top of Penn State’s list for its coaching search.
Admittedly, I’m an Mississippi State fan and alum, but isn’t MSU a better job than Penn State right now? Aside from not having to play in the SEC West, I can’t see that job being more desirable.
November 29th, 2011 at 5:26 PM
tressel to akron
if penn state still has a football program it is better
November 29th, 2011 at 5:26 PM
not sure how much truth there is behind it, but I heard Houston Nutt’s name associated with Memphis…
Are you sure that the way it was associated wasn’t Memphis saying “So first things first, we don’t want to hire a dumbass like Houston Nutt, agreed?”
November 29th, 2011 at 5:28 PM
When was the last time you were on tv? PSU has been on ABC at 3:30 for 3 straight weeks.
November 29th, 2011 at 5:28 PM
I’ve already applied for the Illinois coach job 7 times today. I can’t wait until they read the applications for Urban Meyer and Ron Turner.
November 29th, 2011 at 5:28 PM
Coincidentally, the pedo-mania thing happened about 3 weeks ago.
November 29th, 2011 at 5:31 PM
Last week, actually, as well as the vast majority of the games this year (having season tickets, I can’t say which home games weren’t on TV, but I know I didn’t miss a road game … although at least a couple of those were admittedly on regional tv). Are you unaware of the mammoth deal ESPN has with the SEC?
November 29th, 2011 at 5:32 PM
Uhmm…because Craig T. Nelson is an entry-level 1999 Toyota Tercel to Glenn Mason’s loaded Audi A8?
November 29th, 2011 at 5:32 PM
heh. happens to the best of us.
when was the last time PSU was on tv for non-rapey reasons.
November 29th, 2011 at 6:13 PM
If Memphis is smart enough to hire Terry Bowden, the Tigers will win the CUSA title within three seasons.
November 29th, 2011 at 6:27 PM
Are you unaware of the difference between regional Mississippi TV and national ABC?
November 29th, 2011 at 7:08 PM
This year, they one four games,
C’mon Duffy, you’re better than this….
/how many did they loose?
November 29th, 2011 at 8:16 PM
i see what you did they’re
November 29th, 2011 at 10:45 PM
This year, they one four games,
Corrected by Duffy….
/the grammar police thank you
November 29th, 2011 at 10:47 PM
However, the continuity police still have an issue
November 30th, 2011 at 9:45 AM
Are you aware that when you say “TV,” it implies more than network channels?
/rabbitears