I'm back with my coach candidate list. Going to dust the cobwebs off with the Ohio job before hitting the big dawg in Michigan. If you haven't yet seen any of my coach candidate lists for college, it will be down below. Keep an eye in a few weeks as I will make a coach candidate list for all NFL jobs open and will also update my Giants and Titans list as well.
https://fanspo.com/nfl/s/college_football/p/ehkeG_1Wbo6Yb-/coach-candidate-tier-list-links
As you may or may not know, the Ohio job was one of two jobs that opened after firing their coach for cause as it has been reported that he was having an affair with a nursing student. Brian Smith is now suing the university for wrongful termination and may push the hiring process back a little bit depending what is going on behind the scenes with rumors swirling that he is trying to sue to get his job back. No matter what happens, here is a list of coaches who could be considered.
Hire From Within
John Hauser, Ohio (Interim; Frisco Bowl Only)
A fun fact about this job, if Ohio does not hire Hauser than it makes the next coach the first Bobcats HC to not previously work for the school the year prior since Frank Solich. After Solich retired, they replaced him with his OC in Tim Albin, and then when Albin left last year for Charlotte they promoted the interim and OC Brian Smith. Hauser was the DC last year for Albin and this year for Smith and done a fantastic job with a top 10 defense in the FBS last year and then a top 15 defense this season finishing 1st and 2nd in the MAC respectively. This is the hire I would make in a heartbeat if I were Ohio.
Candidates On The Rise
Mike Denbrock, Notre Dame (OC; 2024-?)
This was apparently the runner up for the job last year, maybe he is interested this time around? The one major caveat to this is he is making $2.1 million as an OC right this second, Smith wasn't making a million. Will Denbrock be willing to take a sizable paycut for an HC job in the MAC or will he wait for an American or a P5 school take a shot on him next year at the the age of 63 heading into the 2027 season?
Spence Nowinsky, New Mexico (DC; 2025-?)
This is a fan favorite towards Bobcats fans as he is the former DC for Ohio who Hauser replaced. He had a top tier defense for the Bobcats in 2023, left for Memphis had a great year, then took the New Mexico job in what seemed to be a last second hire to replace their DC they hired who left for the South Dakota State job.
Tim McGarigle, Northwestern (DC; 2024-?)
Northwestern looked really good this season and much improved this season, which may cause their HC in David Braun to get some looks to go elsewhere in 2027. McGarigle is a NU alum and may want to bolster his resume to make a plea that he is qualified for the job when it opens, so why not take over one of the top MAC programs for a year than return to Evanston? This is all hypothetical, but he had a top 7 defense this year in a really good Big Ten and held playoff teams in Tulane and Oregon to 23 and 34 in what became one of their worst offensive scoring games each.
Assistants Who Could Gain Attention
Deland McCullough, Las Vegas Raiders (RB; 2025-?)
Was allegedly a candidate last years cycle for this job. Has NFL and college experience and has already have a Super Bowl ring as a RB coach for the Chiefs in 2019. He is already seen as a hot commodity if he chooses to leave the Raiders and could wind up as either a team/schools highest paid non coordiantor or a G5 HC in the next three years.
Chris Kapilovic, Alabama (OL; 2024-?)
A long term O Line coach and an Ohio native. With Alabama already losing two of their offensive coaches for higher positions (one as the HC at Oregon State, the other will be OC at Michigan State) it could possibly be time for Kapilovic to wander towards becoming a HC himself or looking for a pay raise and earn the co-OC title to replace the co-OC's who are leaving. Coach Kap is also a fantastic recruiter and may possibly help Ohio gain some top high 3, low 4 star recruits in state and build them up for a year or two just so they can go off to places like Penn State or Miami and shine and earn tons of accolades and NIL money.
Lou Esposito, Michigan (DL; 2024-?)
Esposito is no stranger to the MAC working with Western Michigan for ten, non consecutive seasons and running their defense for seven. He also has HC experience coaching at DII Davenport for a short while finding success there. With Michigan looking uncertain to retain most of the staff, Esposito may try looking elsewhere just like Chip Lindsey did and if Ohio comes knocking, why not?
There is my Ohio coach candidate list. Please let me know your thoughts down below!