November 12, 2008
By Todd Helmick

Only a few years ago, Gary Pinkel was actually on the hot seat. What a difference two seasons and a Heisman-caliber QB (Chase Daniel) can make. The Big 12’s overall offensive explosion is the talk of the 2008 season, and Pinkel is no stranger to the spread approach that is responsible for putting the entire conference as a whole on the national map. But is a lateral move for Pinkel in his best interest since he already is coaching at a BCS level school and competing in one of the toughest leagues? Only a higher profile school with tons of booster money (such as Tennessee) may be a better option personally for the man from Akron.

A former NFL head coach, Jim Mora Jr. (referred to as just ‘Junior’ by most media; his father of the same name was also an NFL head coach) continues to have his name mentioned based on his ties with the University of Washington. He played for the Huskies from 1980-83 and continues to reside in Seattle as the NFL Seahawks DB coach. Being top dog at his alma mater was supposedly Junior’s “dream job”…it was only two years ago that Mora had mentioned he would take the UW job immediately if it became available…oh well. Although Mora denounced the statement by claiming he was only kidding, his name now shows up on other lists outside the Apple State.

This coach has a solid résumé, which includes a year in the NFL with the Dolphins and stops at three different SEC schools. Currently the defensive coordinator for the Longhorns, the Texas defense has not exactly been that inspiring the past two seasons. That could put a current damper on his demand in the free market to some degree. In time, Muschamp should make his way into the collegiate head-coaching realm. In fact, the University of Texas just valued his presence enough to give him a hefty pay raise.

No one really knows the answer as to why Todd Graham left Rice for Tulsa. After all, he pulled off the biggest turnaround of the 2006 season in finishing 7-5 and putting the Owls into the school's first bowl game since 1960. Graham was then named CUSA Coach of the Year. In his two seasons at Tulsa, he has taken two different under sung QBs (Paul Smith and David Johnson) and turned them into players the NFL has to consider. Other than Mike Leach at Texas Tech, Graham may be considered the best offensive mind in the game right now. And that’s not even mentioning how he was also the defensive coordinator at Tulsa from 2003-05; his 2005 secondary unit was the best in the league and No.9 in the nation (for pass efficiency defense).

In the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately-world of collegiate coaching, Tim Brewster’s name continues to pop up at most any school with a coaching vacancy. Brewster came to Minnesota just two seasons ago fresh out of the ranks of the NFL. He was employed as a tight end coach with both the Chargers and Broncos. Brewster’s first year with the Gophers produced a 1-11 record, eliciting some fans to question letting the former head coach Glenn Mason go in favor of Brewster. The new coach responded by winning seven of his first eight games this season. The Gophers came out of the depths of the forgotten, and now Brewster becomes the latest ‘super coach’ to resurrect a program in the blink of an eye.

The hottest defensive coach in America may be Bud Foster. His Virginia Tech defenses have been well respected for the past nine seasons. At some point Foster will be a head coach. He has put in his time and the Hokie administration has done all they can in terms of making his financial compensation worthwhile. If the right offer came about, one has to believe that Foster’s time is just around the corner.

All one has to do is look at the current BCS standings to see why an undefeated Ball State makes Brady Hoke a wanted man. The MAC has become infamous as of late for putting their head coaches into other elite programs. Hoke leads that list in 2008. His playing career and head coaching experience begins and ends with his current Ball State tenure, so his loyalty may remain true. However, if he winds up putting Ball State into a BCS game at season's end, the offers may become too big to pass on.

Kelly’s name does not appear to be popping up on many of the short lists at schools with head coaching vacancies. But in this new world of spread offenses, Kelly is at the top of his game. The Ducks led the Pac Ten in total offense in 2007, and that made QB Dennis Dixon a legit Heisman Candidate (until injury precluded his campaign). Oregon continues to lead the Pac Ten in the same manner in 2008. His shortcomings probably stem from the fact he has only been coaching at the FBS level for two seasons.

Not only is he renowned for being one of the nation's best recruiters (pulled in the blue chip prep athletes for Ron Zook both at Illinois and Florida), he also elevated the 2007 Illini offense to the Rose Bowl–caliber unit that beat Ohio State in the Horseshoe (OSU’s first home conference loss in three years). Many of Locksley’s star recruits hale from way outside the state where he currently coaches…this is his strength. Last season his offense became only the third in school history to surpass the 5,000 total-yard mark while making RB Rashard Mendenhall the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.

No coaches stock was higher than that of Skip Holtz on September 7, 2008. Just two weeks into the season his unranked East Carolina squad had just defeated two BCS bowl contenders from the season prior (Virginia Tech and West Virginia). Since that point, Holtz’s team has had problems duplicating the same success rate against its Conference USA brethren. His name carries a certain prestige (the son of now ESPN analyst/broadcaster Lou), but his wins against much larger opponents to start the season likely carries more weight. Skip has the skills to produce a winner, but his impact at a school currently struggling to manufacture wins may not get the younger Holtz fully recognized until a few more years down the road.