List of (realistic) coaches to replace Stoops.

JulesCamara=GOD

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Jan 11, 2009
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Any chance we can take a look at a really good ex NFL HC or more appropriately a rising NFL Coordinator wanting to take a stab in HC?? Just some food for thought. Not saying anyone big like a Gruden, but there are some solid coordinators that might want to make the leap to being a head coach.
 

Beatle Bum

Heisman
Sep 1, 2002
39,899
60,269
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Tubberville or Houston Nutt. These guys know what it takes to win in the SEC. Nutt was let go but he did have some success at Arkansas. Also James Franklin would be a good choice. Bottomline all of these guys worked in the SEC and know the ins/outs of what it takes to be competitive in this league.

Franklin just beat his ACC rival. His defense is suspect, but he may have his offense clicking. Doubt he looks to leave PSU.
 
Oct 1, 2001
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Former SEC head coach, proven winner, Tommy Tuberville. Heck, two of his assistants are already in place.
Thank you. Coach Tuberville makes the most sense of any of the above names. He has worked with Gran and Hinshaw. He has the experience and SEC pedigree to lead us out of this quagmire. He knows how to develop players and is a proven head coach. He can bring stability and respect from players. He's also tough minded and demanding. He can be here long enough to be make UK competitive.

Our problem is not the players or Mitch. The problem is development. There is none except on the offense. Gran and Hinshaw will improve that situation. The issue is the defense. We lost starters from last year. Three starters this year are gone for various reasons. The lack of development on that side of the ball is crippling.

I'm only a fan, but that is my opinion.
 
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brianpoe

Heisman
Mar 25, 2009
27,769
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(note: most of Brian's post deleted to focus on one line)

I though we save 6M just by waiting until after Dec 1st of next year. Please explain.


You may be right, I thought it went from $12M to 10...?

I'm probably wrong.
 

rabidcatfan

Senior
Jan 25, 2003
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LOL! Be honest. How many of you guys were predicting 7-8 wins a couple of weeks ago? On multiple threads, I tried to tell you that this is a 4-5 win team, but nobody was listening. So now, we have lost games to 2 football teams that were ranked higher than Kentucky in national polls, and some of you guys are freaking out. Instead of accepting what people like Lorenzen saw all along, many of you want to fire everyone this week. Here is what will happen. You can discount what I am saying now if you want, just like most of you discounted me in August when I told you this is a 4-5 win team. Kentucky has a bad offensive line coach, an OJT defensive coordinator, and a bad front 7. This team will get better, but the 2016 season won't be what everyone wants. We will easily beat NMSU, but basic problems remain. South Carolina, Vandy, Mississippi State are vulnerable, rebuilding teams that must travel to Lexington. Kentucky will win some of those games. This is probably still a 4-5 win team. If Stoops only squeezes 2-3 wins out of this year, then he could resign or be fired. The more likely picture is that Stoops survives to coach our team in 2017, which would become do or die. The next hire would probably be a young, winning head coach at a feeder school that has produced successful P5 head coaches in the past. It's the same path Hugh Freeze and Butch Jones took to the SEC. While this plays out, people need to take a deep breath and chill. Barnhart will not be fired. Briles and Leach will not be hired. People calling for stuff like that just lose credibility. So if you want to be taken seriously, learn from what you have seen, and try not to post before thinking carefully. Above all, our players deserve your support.

I agree about Briles, but believing that someone like Mike Leach would come here/or would be interviewed for the UK job should it become vacant should not discredit anyone. Leach has mentioned multiple times that he loves Lexington and would love to have the opportunity to come back and coach here. Also, he is at the end of a 5-year rollover contract at WSU that would put him in prime position to be plucked away should UK come calling this post season. He's been a successful power-5 HC for nearly 15 seasons, has ties to UK, helped develop the air raid offense with Hal Mumme, and even had a hand in developing Tim Couch - arguably our greatest football player. Why in the world would a UK fan who sees reaching out to and ultimately hiring Mike Leach lose credibility???
 
Feb 3, 2007
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PJ Fleck is the answer. Someone is going to get him in a big program, probably in the Big 10, but if we strike aggressively we would get him.

Of course we would have to put up with suddenly having a nautical theme on our unis, posters, etc. A small price to pay.
He is, as deadspin said, "the swaggiest bro-coach to ever swag". It'd be hard to take some of his cliches and all that stuff seriously but he can coach and recruit. That and I'd like to see some of the people who sit down all game get their feathers ruffled by his style. It'd either be him or Brohm for me. I think James Franklin and Mike Leach would be good backup options. We need someone with head coaching experience.
 

CatsCats78

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Jun 17, 2016
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I gotta say Kliff Kingsbury is my top choose at the moment. He would have to get fired to have a chance at him though. No way he leaves his alma mater to come here. Young, charismatic and his players absolutely love him. Runs a high powered offense that would allow him to compete in SEC, even with the caliber of players we have here now. Also has ties to the biggest recruiting hot bed in country. Place him with an experienced DC and we'd be rolling. He makes over 3 mil now, offer him 4-6 mil and I really believe he'd take it. (Assuming Tech lets him go)
 

Nuke99m.

All-American
Aug 30, 2002
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He is, as deadspin said, "the swaggiest bro-coach to ever swag". It'd be hard to take some of his cliches and all that stuff seriously but he can coach and recruit. That and I'd like to see some of the people who sit down all game get their feathers ruffled by his style. It'd either be him or Brohm for me. I think James Franklin and Mike Leach would be good backup options. We need someone with head coaching experience.

I'd take him in a minute.
 

rabidcatfan

Senior
Jan 25, 2003
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Anyone who doubts that Mike Leach could succeed here needs to watch this. It's seven years old, but it's still relevant.
 

CB3UK

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Apr 15, 2012
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Kiffin is divorcing. Rumor has it he likes the company of co-eds.
Joey Freshwater does work.

 
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JStaff21

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
12,735
58,188
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cares about football

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SIX MILLION DOLLARS INVESTED - TRUE FOOTBALL FACILITIES -
Just a bad hire - let's hope he pulls one of those post Billy G screw ups with football -

From the time Mitch has been AD he hasn't really cared about football, not until recently anyway. At the height of our success all our coach asked was for these upgrades to be made. Were they? Not until Brooks resigned in frustration, we hit rock bottom and the fans stopped showing up in mass. They could see they were going to lose a ton of money if something didnt change. And I think it only changed because Stoops started off so hot.

As far as Stoops goes, he called us. If he hadn't I truly wonder who we end up with. And Mitch didn't want Cal. It took another force from within to get that ball rolling.

I realize the money they finally sunk into football... But lets not act like just because they finally did, Mitch cares about football suddenly.
 

JHB4UK

Heisman
May 29, 2001
31,836
11,258
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Any chance we can take a look at a really good ex NFL HC or more appropriately a rising NFL Coordinator wanting to take a stab in HC?? Just some food for thought. Not saying anyone big like a Gruden, but there are some solid coordinators that might want to make the leap to being a head coach.
no, please no more coordinators. UK is obviously too difficult a job for a first timer to learn as they go, Joker & Stoops have shown that demonstratively. our next coach simply has to be an experienced vet who has done it before.

maybe Chip Kelly flames out in Frisco by the end of the 2017 season.....
 

EliteBlue

Heisman
Mar 27, 2009
16,751
20,269
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If it's not one of the big names then I would take a real hard look at Georgia Southerns Head coach and run option football here. Control the clock, a system that makes up for undersized linemen, and nobody else in the SEC runs it. GSU ran for over 300yds against 2011 champs Alabama.

It can work here with the type of talent we consistently get. We can be the Georgia Tech of the SEC. 7-8 win team with the occasional 9-10 win season.
 
Jan 29, 2003
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1. agree with Poe and others on the money issue. $12 million is still a lot of money, even with the SEC's every rising coffers - but still, recall the very sparse crowds at the end for Joker, and you simply can't stand for that. It's more damaging long term than writing even a $12 million check.

2. agree with JHB - no more coordinators. You can line up 10 "great" coordinators, most of them won't be very good head coaches. Different skill sets, too hard to predict.

3. You can demand that Barnhart lessen his standards on moral conduct as far as who he'd hire, I doubt you can also make him hire someone who's known to be incredibly difficult to work with. Which would nix both Leach and Kiffin.

4. As attractive as Brohm might be....just the idea that he'd likely drop us for UofL as soon as Petrino leaves is enough for me to say no. If we think we've hit bottom (multiple times in fact!), I'd say that would be the worst.

5. Butch Davis strikes me as interesting. Kinda like Cal, sketchy or thought to be, but nothing identifiable like Petrino or Briles. I've asked for middle ground on the baggage issue, maybe he fits.

6. Don't know the Western Michigan coach, but someone like that sounds right....

just random thoughts....
 
Feb 21, 2006
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UK is not going to get a top up and coming assistant with no baggage in their prime. Or HCs like Herman who are going to have their pick of jobs.

I'd honestly rather not go with top coordinators with no HC experience anyway. It really hasn't worked out. Or guys from Houston even if they are tearing it up.

Riding the gravy train at top P5 team as a coordinator under a top coach is different than trying to build up a doormat in a P5. So is taking over a mid major and winning, especially if that mid major is in a weak conference and you have easy access to rich talent areas.

Our list needs to have guys like Randy Shannon, Lane Kiffin, Mike Leach, Ed Orgeron, Butch Jones, Houston Nutt, Bo Pelini, Gene Chizik, Greg Schiano, Mario Cristobal, june jones. Guys with HC experience who have fallen out of favor and/or have a little bit of baggage.

It's either guys like that. HCs who have fallen out of favor, old retired coaches, and/or guys with some baggage.

Or we have to go way off the reservation like we did with Mumme and go after somebody a bit unconventional like Niumatalolo and/or his OC Ivin Jasper at Navy.
 
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allabouttheUK

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Jan 28, 2015
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PJ Fleck
Butch Davis
Tubberville
Brohm (had him #1, but UofL ties scare me)
Franklin
Leach
Andruzzi - Would be stout defensively. I'm just guessing but it's much harder to get into B.C. than it is UK. Wonder if that has always been part of their problem?
 

STUCKNBIG10

All-Conference
Aug 30, 2006
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1. agree with Poe and others on the money issue. $12 million is still a lot of money, even with the SEC's every rising coffers - but still, recall the very sparse crowds at the end for Joker, and you simply can't stand for that. It's more damaging long term than writing even a $12 million check.

2. agree with JHB - no more coordinators. You can line up 10 "great" coordinators, most of them won't be very good head coaches. Different skill sets, too hard to predict.

3. You can demand that Barnhart lessen his standards on moral conduct as far as who he'd hire, I doubt you can also make him hire someone who's known to be incredibly difficult to work with. Which would nix both Leach and Kiffin.

4. As attractive as Brohm might be....just the idea that he'd likely drop us for UofL as soon as Petrino leaves is enough for me to say no. If we think we've hit bottom (multiple times in fact!), I'd say that would be the worst.

5. Butch Davis strikes me as interesting. Kinda like Cal, sketchy or thought to be, but nothing identifiable like Petrino or Briles. I've asked for middle ground on the baggage issue, maybe he fits.

6. Don't know the Western Michigan coach, but someone like that sounds right....

just random thoughts....

Regarding #4, I would think that Mitch (or whomever makes the hire) has a restriction in the contract that would not allow him to leave for another state school. The PR disaster of him leaving to coach UL would be terrible for the UK admin.

Regarding #5, I don't see this happening. Past his prime.
 
Jan 29, 2003
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Regarding #4, I would think that Mitch (or whomever makes the hire) has a restriction in the contract that would not allow him to leave for another state school. The PR disaster of him leaving to coach UL would be terrible for the UK admin.

Regarding #5, I don't see this happening. Past his prime.
yeah, Davis is past his prime - but as everyone keeps saying, at UK, the only way you get a really good head coach is if there is something about him that makes him unattractive to others. On the other hand, it just occurred to me that - apparently - Tim Couch is now a big deal at UK in terms of money and influence. If so, can't imagine he has good things to say about Davis. although that's an off the top of my head guess.....
 
Dec 12, 2010
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You do realize they were on severe probation at USCw right? Like he had 60 players. Couldn't even practice 1s on 1s.

I'd take Kiffin in a heartbeat but UK isn't glamorous enough for him.

Don't care, he still had plenty of talent and sarkasian won upon his departure. He also only won 7 games with a loaded Teneessee roster (three previous recruiting classes were top 15 with one top 3.)

Alabama is statistically similar to where they were pre Kiffin. If you watched any of the WKU game, you saw Kiffin being out coached and speed/talent bailing them out.

Kiffin is that guy that everyone works with that is mediocre at his job but is consistently given the best positions. He would bomb bad at Kentucky.
 
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appaws

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Dec 17, 2013
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If it's not one of the big names then I would take a real hard look at Georgia Southerns Head coach and run option football here. Control the clock, a system that makes up for undersized linemen, and nobody else in the SEC runs it. GSU ran for over 300yds against 2011 champs Alabama.

It can work here with the type of talent we consistently get. We can be the Georgia Tech of the SEC. 7-8 win team with the occasional 9-10 win season.

This could be a lot of fun. I like watching Georgia Tech a lot.

We can succeed this way with "system" recruiting. Although it would be an admission that we can never compete straight up in the SEC and have to turn to a "gimmick."
 
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GrandePdre

All-American
Jan 21, 2008
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He's about as unattainable as Saban, but I love Mike Gundy of Okie State. He almost bolted for UT a few years ago, but they smoothed things over with him.

Realistically, I'd like to see Brohm, Tuberville, Troy Calhoun (Air Force), Fleck, Doc Holliday (Marshall), or Scott Satterfield (App State) get serious consideration.

I think Hermann stays put in Houston until a true heavyweight program comes calling, i.e. Texas, USC, Ohio State, etc.
 

Mr Schwump

Heisman
Nov 4, 2006
29,563
23,097
18
Whoops!

I saw Pitt had a lead, but someone said that Penn St came back.

I watched most of that game. The Pitt coach, Pat Narduzzi, is the son of Bill Narduzzi who was Curci's DC for awhile. His Ds were really good. Pat was DC at Mich St for several years and has a good future as a HC.
 

buckkiller

All-Conference
Nov 6, 2003
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I would look at nfl AC's see who might be willing if Herman or Art turns Down job. I think Art Briles would be a great get. Give him a 2nd chance and let him right his wrongs. He should get a 2nd chance everyone deserves it. We would compete in the East if we Get Art or Herman.
 

buckkiller

All-Conference
Nov 6, 2003
131,233
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Someone metioned Gundy Meh he cant win the Big 12 ever. He hardly ever beats OU,TEXAS etc..... We need someone who can beat big teams IE Herman, Art etc...
 

Free_Salato_Blue

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Aug 31, 2014
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Fired from Nebraska and won 9 games a year.
Native of Youngstown OH , hotbed for OH recruits.

Maybe can get Tressel away as a assistant AD over football.
 

Grumpyolddawg

Heisman
Jun 11, 2001
28,442
37,224
113
Houston coach is the only option...thats the short and long list

I agree, anyone who hires Herman will be hitting a homerun. But what is UK willing to pay to get him here or what will they be able to play with the huge buyout owed to Stoops? I realize UK is getting SEC money but they have also recently spent a big chunk of change on needed improvements and football has to support other sports. That will eat into SEC money pretty quick. Then from Herman's end, his agent, I don't know but probably Sexton, will let it be known Herman open to leaving Houston, then sit back and watch the bidding war. Texas was ready to give Saban 10 mil and he was going to take it but Mack Brown didn't go quietly and Saban backed out. If and when Herman lets it be known he is on the market, he will become the highest paid coach in college football, both of the big Texas schools want him and who knows, he could be waiting on Saban to step down. I think he gets more than 10m a year. UK willing to pay that?
 

Beatle Bum

Heisman
Sep 1, 2002
39,899
60,269
113
I watched most of that game. The Pitt coach, Pat Narduzzi, is the son of Bill Narduzzi who was Curci's DC for awhile. His Ds were really good. Pat was DC at Mich St for several years and has a good future as a HC.

I remember Pat. He was an outstanding DC.
 
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