After SMU's Chad Morris elected to remain with the Mustangs on Tuesday, Baylor officials are turning their attention toward California coach and native Texan Sonny Dykes to be the Bears' head coach next season.
According to the Dallas Morning News, Morris had countered Baylor's offer with a five-year, $24.5-million offer that Baylor did not accept. Morris, who is 7-17 in two seasons as coach of the Mustangs, then told his staff he was staying with SMU, which is working on a contract extension for him through the 2022 season.
MORE: Tracking the 2016 coaching carousel
Per ESPN, Morris' rejection leaves the Bears courting Dykes, who is 19-30 in four seasons at Cal but runs a similar "Air Raid" offense the Bears used with success under Art Briles. Dykes, son of Texas Tech legend Spike Dykes, is also a potential candidate to replace Tom Herman at Houston, a far more secure job than Baylor, which is still reeling from a sexual assault scandal.
The new coach taking over for interim coach Jim Grobe at Baylor will not only have to deal with continued aftermath from the scandal but also with creating a staff and recruiting players willing to play for a scrutinized program.
After three-star prospect Noah Daniels decommitted Sunday, Baylor’s only commitment for next season is three-star safety Jalen Pitre.
But someone has to take the job and according to 247Sports, other coaching targets include North Carolina’s Larry Fedora, Colorado’s Mike MacIntyre, Tulsa’s Philip Montgomery. ESPN says former San Francisco 49ers coach and ex-Baylor All-American linebacker Mike Singletary and Arkansas State's Blake Anderson are also options.