Next Head Coach - Who's really out there?

[Perd Hapley]

So... right now... we couldn't poach Boston College's head coach if we wanted him? You don't have Boston College on your list.
Georgia Tech?
Cincinnati?
BYU?
West Virginia?
Kansas State?

All things being equal, those schools are just out of our league prestige wise and/or ability to outspend?

Boston College? Maybe. Didn’t really consider them.

The rest? No. BYU has tons of cash and is now in a power conference. KSU is well positioned, just won the Big 12 last year and has been to all three of the Cotton, Fiesta, and Sugar Bowls just in the past 12 years. Whoever their coach is wouldn’t have that opportunity at MSU. WVU has a statewide monopoly and more history than MSU, along with similar money. Georgia Tech, similar resources and better and more abundant talent base nearby. Cincinnati already made the 17ing CFP from the G5, and historically been a kingmaker program for future star HC’s, AND they are now in a P5 conference. Brought in $83 million even while in the crappy AAC TV deal last season. For any good coach worth having from any of those programs, the current school will be able to easily match MSU dollar for dollar if it came down to it, and then some.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

 

[travis.sixpack]

Let's have a real conversation about the 'what ifs' and 'who would?' if we were to really pull the trigger after season 1 and limit it to the traditional Mississippi State pool of candidates:
Bottom Half Power 5 Head Coaches
Power 5 Coordinators/Position coaches
Good but not world beating Retired/Semi-retired/former head coaches
Group of 5 Head Coaches

Bottom Half Power 5 Head Coaches - This would be ranked/RV schools at or below State in terms of Power 5 prestige:
Washington State - Jake Dickert
Oregon State - Johnathan Smith
Duke - Mike Elko
Kentucky - Mark Stoops
Kansas - Lance Leipold
Missouri - Eli Drinkwitz
Louisville - Jeff Brohm
Kansas State - Chris Klieman
West Virginia - Neal Brown
Colorado - Deion Sanders
Maryland - Mike Locksley

Power 5 Coordinator/Position Coaches - If you look at the last 5 of these (Felker, Croom, Mullen, Moorhead, Arnett), we hit on one of them (Mullen), so I think we've gotten bitten by the coordinator bug too many times to go down this path again, but I kept it on the list because you just know some of the fanbase is going to get all jazzed up at the idea of the OC of one of the CFP semifinalists or a Heisman finalist being in our candidate pool. I'll throw one name out there:
Ryan Grubb - Washington OC

Group of 5 Head Coaches - Right now, the only ranked/RV G5 programs are:
Fresno State - Jeff Tedford
Tulane - Willie Fritz
Air Force - Troy Calhoun
James Madison - Curt Cignetti
Wyoming - Craig Bohl
Marshall - Charles Huff
Memphis - Ryan Silverfield

Retired/Semi-retired/former head coaches - This one is going to be rife with wild speculation. My rando name to throw out there would be:
Chris Petersen


For me personally, I think we NEED head coaching experience (preferably P5 head coaching experience) as a program.

Jake Dickert
Johnathan Smith
Mike Elko he’s in line for bigger jobs
Mark Stoops if he wants to leave there are bigger jobs available
Lance Leipold see above
Eli Drinkwitz pass
Jeff Brohm not leaving his alma mater
Chris Klieman
Neal Brown was on the hotseat in August
Deion Sanders waiting for a top 10 program to come open
Mike Locksley see Neal Brown
Ryan Grub like his offense, but no SEC/HC experience
Jeff Tedford had one bad season at Cal
Willie Fritz may be too old tho
Troy Calhoun has only lost 6 games ‘21-23
Curt Cignetti still winning after moving up to FBS
Craig Bohl too old
Charles Huff left Starkville at the first opportunity
Ryan Silverfield no thanks

I would add: Sean Lewis, Buffs OC…what he did with the offense has been amazing, also turned one of the worst FBS programs around at Kent State.

 

[Will Rogers.sixpack]

Out that group, I would go with Troy Calhoun.

 

[BIGDAWG44]

Jake Dickert
Johnathan Smith
Mike Elko he’s in line for bigger jobs
Mark Stoops if he wants to leave there are bigger jobs available
Lance Leipold see above
Eli Drinkwitz pass
Jeff Brohm not leaving his alma mater
Chris Klieman
Neal Brown was on the hotseat in August
Deion Sanders waiting for a top 10 program to come open
Mike Locksley see Neal Brown
Ryan Grub like his offense, but no SEC/HC experience
Jeff Tedford had one bad season at Cal
Willie Fritz may be too old tho
Troy Calhoun has only lost 6 games ‘21-23
Curt Cignetti still winning after moving up to FBS
Craig Bohl too old
Charles Huff left Starkville at the first opportunity
Ryan Silverfield no thanks

I would add: Sean Lewis, Buffs OC…what he did with the offense has been amazing, also turned one of the worst FBS programs around at Kent State.

I’d have to give Brian Hartline a call. No HC experience but he’s produced some serious talent.

 

[aTotal360]

why would Stoops leave Kentucky for Miss State?

Why would anyone leave anywhere for MSU?

 

[MSUDC11-2.0]

Jake Dickert
Johnathan Smith
Mike Elko he’s in line for bigger jobs
Mark Stoops if he wants to leave there are bigger jobs available
Lance Leipold see above
Eli Drinkwitz pass
Jeff Brohm not leaving his alma mater
Chris Klieman
Neal Brown was on the hotseat in August
Deion Sanders waiting for a top 10 program to come open
Mike Locksley see Neal Brown
Ryan Grub like his offense, but no SEC/HC experience
Jeff Tedford had one bad season at Cal
Willie Fritz may be too old tho
Troy Calhoun has only lost 6 games ‘21-23
Curt Cignetti still winning after moving up to FBS
Craig Bohl too old
Charles Huff left Starkville at the first opportunity
Ryan Silverfield no thanks

I would add: Sean Lewis, Buffs OC…what he did with the offense has been amazing, also turned one of the worst FBS programs around at Kent State.

Would also add GJ Kinne from Texas State but he’d definitely be a roll of the dice. Very intriguing offense though.

 

[Bulldawg77]

Tom Herman

 

[Trojanbulldog19]

Just realized UCF hasn't been playin with Jrp. Explains their loss to Baylor.
I would still take Gus in a heartbeat over what we have now

 

[Rupert Jenkins]

We hired a coach from Washington State once before. Let's do it again.

 

[Trojanbulldog19]

We hired a coach from Washington State once before. Let's do it again.

Wazzu has been playing well. I don't know much about their cosch and his history of success. What I want to avoid is flash in the pan success. I would prefer success over time and someone who can build a program. I'll be watching their game against ucla today.

 

[preacher_dawg]

I hear this guy is a available.

 

[Rupert Jenkins]

Tbh I'm sure this is all a huge waste of our collective time. Even if we go 0fer in the SEC they will give him another year. I would like to see success but seems unlikely at this point. Maybe they can get it pulled together in the next 2 weeks.

 

[Barkman Turner Overdrive]

I like him but he likes being in Texas

I like him as well, but there are not enough skrip clubs and casinahs in the Golden Triangle for him. He would have been a great fit when our basketball staff consisted of Williams/Stands/Brady.

 

[Perd Hapley]

Wazzu has been playing well. I don't know much about their cosch and his history of success. What I want to avoid is flash in the pan success. I would prefer success over time and someone who can build a program. I'll be watching their game against ucla today.

He’s young and if he continues to be successful he’s going to land at a destination much more prestigious than MSU. Very different dynamic from when we hired Leach.

 

[Coast_Dawg]

Lou Holtz