Top 5 coaching hires

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By John Colby Roessler

At the end of every college football season, coaches come and go faster than Starbucks coffee shops around the country. Some get fired. Some head for greener (much greener) pastures. Some simply retire. Such experiences leave programs looking to the future and what could be. They all someday hope to raise that crystal trophy about their heads. They all want to be national champions.

I have chosen the top five programs that have given themselves a greater chance of someday becoming, at least, recognizable in the world of college football … again.

1. UCLA

You may be saying to yourself – What? Bear with me. The Bruins hired former UCLA quarterback and Washington head coach, Rick Neuheisel, in late December. This is a great hire not because it is Rick Neuheisel, but because of who he was able to bring in as an assistant. Just last week, Neuheisel hired offensive guru Norm Chow, of former USC and Tennessee Titan fame to become the offensive coordinator.

The combination of these two offensive-minded coaches will create a UCLA attack worth mentioning in just a few short seasons. Neuheisel replaces Karl Dorrell who coached the Bruins for five seasons finishing 35-27 with five bowl appearances. Neuheisel has been an assistant coach at the professional level the past three seasons after being let go by Washington for betting on the NCAA tournament.

2. Ole Miss

Our foes to the east snagged up Houston Nutt not long after the Arkansas defeat of LSU after Thanksgiving. Nutt knew his tenure was just about up at Arkansas, so he resigned after the game to be quickly hired by the Rebels. Nutt brings a since of continuity to the floundering program who has not had a winning season in three years.

Ole Miss fired Ed Orgeron, now an assistant with the Saints, after a winless conference record in 2007. Nutt takes over a squad filled with the talent who has not lived to its potential. If Nutt can create the same type of success he created in Fayetteville, Oxford will be booming once again.

3. Texas A&M

After coach Dennis Franchione resigned in November, the Aggies turned to a former assistant and former NFL head coach in Mike Sherman. Sherman coached the Green Bay Packers for six years and was most recently an assistant with the Houston, Texans. He also coached the Aggies from 1989-1993 and again in 1995-96.

“I like coming back home,” Sherman told ESPN about his hiring.

In the last five seasons under Franchione the Aggies have been, at best, mediocre. Sherman looks to rekindle a program once proclaimed as one of the nation’s best.

4. Duke

Duke finally got themselves a coach worth mentioning since Steve Spurrier left many years ago. Duke hired former Ole Miss head coach and Tennessee offensive coordinator, David Cutcliffe. Cutcliffe is known for his ability to mold college quarterbacks into Heisman candidates and NFL prospects. He also helped mold and mentor the Manning brothers into what we see on Sundays. Cutcliff – widely considered to be an average college head coach – will look to defy the critics and revive a Duke program that has been a laughing stock for years.

5. Nebraska

For decades the Nebraska Cornhuskers have been known for their option offensive attack and stellar defense – two things that have disappeared in the last few seasons. Under Bill Callahan, the option attack was considered obsolete, so a West Coast offense was implemented. Now, since Callahan has gone, former LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini will take the reins. Pelini coached a Nebraska before making his way to the bayou. He was also an interim coach at Nebraska in 2003 where he served in the Alamo Bowl after the firing of Frank Solich. This is Pelini’s first head coaching job, and according to many, is a little under the radar. After a subpar 2007, the Cornhuskers should be able to bounce back under their new leader next year and the many years to come.

Originally Published: Issue 595 - January 30, 2008

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