With Mack Brown finished as head coach of the Longhorns, SN provides 10 candidates who would look great in burnt orange.
Jim Mora, UCLA
Mora has the Bruins moving in the right direction — he’s 18-8 in two seasons — and it would appear unlikely that he would leave for Texas if he didn’t go after the opening at his alma mater, Washington. Still, it is Texas.
Al Golden, Miami
You have to admire Golden for sticking with the Hurricanes after unknowingly stepping into a job that would soon have the Nevin Shapiro situation looming over head. The Hurricanes were proactive, banning themselves for bowls the past two seasons and the NCAA decided that was enough and Miami will play in the Russell Athletic Bowl on Dec. 28. With that behind, the path appears to be clear for Golden to attempt to bring the Canes back to national prominence.
James Franklin, Vanderbilt
He’s young, energetic, a dynamic recruiter and clearly can coach — the Commodores are 23-15 in his three seasons and are going to a bowl for an unprecedented third straight season. His style would be a change from Mack Brown in Austin, but one Longhorn Nation would embrace.
Jimbo Fisher, Florida State
The former college quarterback knows the big time. He’s been head coach at FSU for four seasons, worked under Nick Saban and LSU and also spent time as an assistant at Auburn, the team his Seminoles will play for the BCS championship. By all accounts, he’s happy with things in Tallahassee and why shouldn’t he be? The talent level is high, possibly the best in the nation. Is the grass greener at Texas?
Mark Richt, Georgia
Richt has had one losing season in 13 years in Athens. He’s won at least 10 games eight times and came within a few yards of playing for the BCS championship last season when the Bulldogs fell short in the SEC Championship Game against Alabama. He’s 53 and settled at Georgia, but will the frustration of near misses be enough to take a look at Texas?
Todd Graham, Arizona State
No way Graham leaves after going 10-3 this season with the Sun Devils, right? He’s only been at ASU for two seasons, but was only at Pitt for a season before bolting for Tempe.
Les Miles, LSU
Can’t you just see the Mad Hatter roaming the sidelines in Austin, wondering what the turf tastes like? He’s been hot and cold in Baton Rouge, winning a BCS title and losing one that were sandwiched around seasons where he lost five and four games. Miles can be tough to figure when it comes to coach searches. His name pops up regularly, but does he really have any interest in leaving one of the best jobs in the country in the nation’s best conference?
David Shaw, Stanford
Like his predecessor, Shaw is often mentioned as a likely future NFL coach. It’s worked out well for Jim Harbaugh. Even this week Shaw dismissed talk associating him with potential NFL jobs. Shaw graduated from Stanford and is 34-6 in three seasons with the Cardinal. He’s had them oh-so-close to playing for a BCS title, but hasn’t gotten over the hump. It’s hard to see him leaving without getting over that last hurdle and having a shot at a title.
Jon Gruden, ESPN analyst
Gruden hasn’t coached since 2008. It’s been more than a decade since he won the Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Yet, his name still pops up whenever there’s an opening in the NFL or at a big college program. It’s good to be wanted. But if Gruden doesn’t throw his name into the hat for this job, it’s difficult to imagine he’ll ever coach in college.
Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State
Gundy graduated from Oklahoma State and has been head coach there for nine seasons. A dream job, right? Things haven’t always been smooth in Stillwater for Gundy. He’s 77-37 there and, like Mark Richt, has come real close to playing for the big one, but hasn’t gotten over the hump. Would he leave for Texas and then enjoy going against his alma mater every season?