Report: Deion Sanders, Kellen Moore among names for TCU head coach opening

TCU head coach search is starting to pick up steam.

Three current college head coaches — Jackson State’s Deion Sanders and Nevada’s Jay Norvell — are on TCU’s list for potential interviews, according to 247Sports’ Chris Hummer. Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott is also reportedly on the list.

Hummer also reports Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore’s representatives have reached out to TCU about the position.

TCU is working to interview Deion Sanders, Jay Norvell and Tony Elliott, a source tells @247Sports. Also of interest, representatives of Dallas Cowboys OC Kellen Moore have reached out to the Horned Frogs. https://t.co/wULVHMSz4t

— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) November 3, 2021

TCU is working to replace Gary Patterson, who was let go as Horned Frogs coach this week. Patterson is the winningest coach in program history, going 181-79 in his 20 years at the helm. He led TCU to six conference titles in four leagues, including four Mountain West championships. Patterson was also a two-time AP Coach of the Year in 2009 and 2014.

These names come out just four days after TCU announced Patterson’s departure. SMU head coach Sonny Dykes — a former TCU player — has been heavily linked to the position. Early in the process, it sounds like he’d be the favorite to replace Patterson.

Why would TCU be interested in these coaches?

Let’s dive into these potential candidates, starting with Sanders. He’d bring a big name to Fort Worth, which could make for a good recruiting boost. After all, he’s one of the greatest athletes of all time, playing in the NFL from 1989-2001 and MLB from 1989-95 before returning in 1997 and 2001. That’s quite a recruiting pitch.

But he doesn’t have much college coaching experience, now in his second year as head coach at Jackson State. He’s doing a pretty good job, though. The Tigers are 7-1 overall and 5-0 in SWAC play this year.

Moore’s interest is kind of surprising, though. He’s a huge reason why the Cowboys are 6-1 this year and the No. 6 offense in the NFL. Losing him would be huge for Dallas, but the 33-year-old had some success in college. After all, he won the Heisman Trophy in 2010.

Elliott is another young name on this list. He’s been a college assistant since 2006 and has been at Clemson since 2011, working his way up from running backs coach to assistant head coach/offensive coordinator this season. Experience under Dabo Swinney could give him a bit of an edge, as well.

Norvell has plenty of experience on his side, though. He broke into coaching in 1986 as a GA at Iowa and worked his way through the ranks — NFL and college — before landing his first head coaching job at Nevada in 2017.

This is all unfolding quickly. It’ll certainly be interesting to see who TCU gets to replace a coach of Patterson’s stature. SMU head coach Sonny Dykes has been heavily linked to the position.