So the time has come again for a head coach hot board. While this developed fast, the one thing we know for sure is that Rob Mullens knows a thing or two about searches. One thing to consider, Oregon has been 'agented' each of the last five seasons. What we saw last night with the story in the Oregonian is that I think the athletic department has decided that they can play 'agenting' as well as anyone. The secrecy which surrounded Lincoln Riley to USC was reverse agenting and I think that there is the potential that Oregon does the same thing here. So, we are going to go off of what we get from some sources within, some outside sources; but understand that some of what we get from inside the athletic department could be subterfuge as they look at a lot of potential replacements.
Today we start with a long list of candidates. I have to throw the obligatory internal candidates, but I think those are about as likely as anyone on this site to become the next head coach. But we have to at least include them in our list. We start with the internal, then some external ad finally some dark horse candidates.
INTERNAL CANDIDATES:
To start the hot board we must start with internal candidates no matter how unlikely, so we do so first.
Joe Salave’a: ‘Big Joe’ is listed as an assistant head-coach and run game coordinator. He has a lot of knowledge and experience and is likely to bring stability. He has also never called plays and has not had to build a program. He has a young family and does not seem like the type to want to keep moving. I don’t know that he is ready for being the head coach, though. He might be a great fit to keep on the sidelines for the next head coach.
Tim DeRuyter: He has been a head coach before at Fresno State and had a couple of really good years before the Bulldogs fell completely off the charts. While he has experience, I don’t know that this would be a good fit for the program. This one is not really likely at all, but he is currently on staff and has head coach experience, so I included him in this portion.
EXTERNAL CANDIDATES:
Dave Aranda: Simply put, this is someone that Oregon has targeted. He knew that the opening was likely coming and this is a program he would consider leaving Baylor for; his resume as a defensive coordinator speaks for itself. The Bears were not very good his first season, but he has the team on its way to a New Years Six bowl game in year two. Aranda is probably the best candidate around.
Chip Kelly: The former Oregon head coach, now at UCLA, is thought to be interested in a return and there is a faction of people within the Oregon program who would welcome his return. I know this is a very polarizing name at this point because there are still a lot of people who have an affinity for his offensive prowess; but he has a lot of flaws that need to be fixed to be a good fit this time around. I know that some people have put him at the top of their list, but I also think that some of this is reverse agenting from Oregon.
Justin Wilcox: I have already said that there are some fences to mend here if this is going to happen. I do know that there are people close to Wilcox that say he regrets the decision to spurn Oregon when they came calling for him as a coordinator, but he would have to show something more than he has at Cal. He is a good defensive coach, but has not shown a proclivity for finding a good offense to go along with that; probably not going to happen this time.
Matt Campbell: A year ago, I thought Campbell should have taken a bigger opportunity; the regression at Iowa State this year for what was – on paper – his best team ever, is concerning. He did a good job getting the Cyclones to respectability, but is that his ceiling? I don’t know that Oregon goes this direction unless he has a really strong plan for getting the right recruiters on board and the right offensive coordinator.
Luke Fickell: Obligatory. But, not going to happen.
Dan Mullen: Look, Mullen was almost the head coach instead of Willie Taggart. That did not happen, but he is likely to get the tires kicked some. Do I think he is going to be the next head coach? No. One thing that the last 5 seasons have taught Oregon fans is that it IS possible to get top ten recruiting classes, but it requires work; Mullen had a difficult time recruiting to Florida where the talent is a stones throw away, he was competing in the SEC, and had plenty of resources. I think that will likely hold him back unless he presents a plan that shows an elite recruiting force of assistant coaches.
Chris Petersen/Kellen Moore: I put these together because there are a contingent of folks who think Petersen really wants to coach at Oregon and wants to return. I would imagine, though, that the same grind that caused him to step down might be a reason for folks to ask that he get Kellen Moore to come. Personally, I think that the the Moore connection would be better; he is young, has NFL experience and could put together a dynamite staff.
Kalani Sitake: I know not everyone likes him, but he has done a really good job as the head coach of BYU and is a former defensive coordinator at Utah (2005-14) and Oregon State (2015) before heading to BYU. He is not afraid to let his offensive coordinator run the offense and would be a really solid coach in the conference. Would it be a home run? No. But the Ducks could do worse than Sitake.
DARKHORSE CANDIDATES:
Dan Lanning: The Georgia defensive coordinator is young, an ace recruiter with a great background and would bring instant credibility to the hire. His name has come up for a couple of jobs this carousel and was even at one point thought to be the leading candidate at Oklahoma. He does not have many ties to the west – except for some time at Arizona State under Todd Graham, but he would be a good hire.
Blake Anderson: The former Arkansas State coach is now at Utah State and has done a tremendous job getting the Aggies to a Mountain West title in his first season. He runs a great offense and has done a lot of good work with QBs in the past. I don’t think Oregon goes down this road, but he is one of those dark horse types.
Bryan Harsin: If only Harsin had known a year earlier that the Oregon job would be open, he would be blowing Rob Mullens’ phone up with calls. He really did covet the job at one point. If it were not just his first year at Auburn. Would he bolt after a single season? No clue.
Bill O’Brien: He has head coaching experience and did a really good job turning around Penn State in the wake of massive sanctions. His first few seasons in Houston showed promise, but he lost control of that team. He has done a fantastic job this season with Alabama, but I am not sure that Oregon will be the right fit for him. I think he could do some really good things, though and put together a really good staff.
