I was planning on posting this one Thursday, but I had to post this back because I realized that some of my names were not matching with the names I was hearing. For context, I write down a list of coaches I would prefer then I compare it to articles and message boards and other ways you here from reliable sources and I take what they say and what I wrote down and come up with a list based off of that. Sunday, when I made the list, there were no articles about top candidates besides one questioning if Bryant Vincent or Drew Cronic will take the job. I made my list based off of who I liked and thought would work for them. Tuesday, when I tried to get further information, I found three articles naming their top candidates then I went to the message boards and found a consensus top three and realized only one of them was on my list. I rewrote most of my candidate list and mostly had to go from scratch.
This is not my first candidate list, instead this is my ninth candidate list and it will not be my last any time soon. If you haven't seen any of my list, I recommend you checking them out below:
https://fanspo.com/nfl/s/college_football/p/ehkeG_1Wbo6Yb-/coach-candidate-tier-list-links
The UAB story is a very fascinating story that I can talk about for a long time, but I will try to make it quick. UAB was a struggling football team who just hired a new coach in 2014 and led them to a 6-6 record after going just 2-10 the following year. They are bowl eligible and prepared to go bowling... Until the AD walked in to their meeting and informed him that he is shutting down the football program entirely. It caused some backlash, not really with the fans but with the players mostly. That summer, the AD announced he will reinstate the program and in 2017 it was back and they had a remarkable return making it to their second bowl game ever. They maintained their success with six in a row bowl appearances and three in a row C-USA Championship appearances with two wins. Everything looked great until their coach retired in the summer of 2022. I was ironically in Birmingham when the news broke that he was retiring due to back issues. The interim took over and kept the team afloat with a 7-6 record. UAB elected to hire Trent Dilfer whose only experience as a head coach was at Limpscomb Academy, a High School in Tennessee and was only hired due to name recognition, or what everyone calls the Deion effect. It also didn't help that they were joining the American Conference that year. Dilfer seemed like an alright hire first season playing close Georgia and Tulane, second season was a dumpster fire and everyone thought he was done at season's end, he stayed and you can tell year three he was just enjoying the moment like on the phone ten minutes before kickoff at the Tennessee game. The Dilfer experiment proved to UAB that if one person can perfect it, a second can only try.
Come Back
Bill Clark, former UAB Head Coach (2014, 2017-21)
If you read the long paragraph above, you can probably put two and two together and realize that I was talking about him. An incredible story that he fought for the return of the football program and he stayed loyal and waited for its return and he rode them to 8-5 then to a C-USA Championship twice. Phenomenal coach who retired before the rise of the NIL. He has stated multiple times to be interested in returning back to coaching, will UAB allow him to make his third tenure happen?
Former FBS Head Coaches
Jimbo Fisher, former Florida State (2010-17) and Texas A&M (2018-23) Head Coach
I haven't really believed much into the hype of future destinations for Jimbo, but I believe this might be the most realistic for him so far. The former Samford Quarterback went to college about thirty minutes from UAB and then went and followed Terry Bowden to Auburn. He was supposed to be the head coach of UAB in 2007 but the Alabama Board of Regents shut that down due to "fiscal responsibility". If Jimbo seriously wants to get back in, UAB might be his way in.
Skip Holtz, Birmingham Stallions (2022-?)
The son of Lou Holtz and the former head coach of Louisiana Tech has been crushing teams in the XFL, UFL, or whatever that thing is called now. He has found a way to win at almost everywhere he goes (USF don't count, that's a fluke) and is 33-7 in a semi-pro league with three straight championships. He deserves a return in college football after Louisiana Tech did him dirty.
Neal Brown, Texas (Special assistant to the head coach; 2025-?)
The former West Virginia and Troy head coach is actually a hot name in the UAB community. I did not have him or thought of him anywhere near my list until I seen him in every candidate lists and every message board consider, him, Jimbo, and Skip as the top three candidates. I really like Neal Brown, but kinda thought he would end up at a high end MAC school.
Alabama Connection
Lance Taylor, Western Michigan (2023-?)
A Mount Vernon native, was considered one of the best RV coaches in the nation then shocked the world when he took the Western Michigan job. Had a shaky start, but got them to a bowl game last season. The Broncos are now sitting undefeated in conference and in a three way tie for first in the MAC. He also revitalized OC Walt Bell's career after it went on a downward spiral after getting fired as OC at Florida State to three terrible seasons as UMass HC to Indiana's two season fill in at OC.
Freddie Roach, Alabama (DL; 2020-?)
One of two Saban assistants still on DeBoer's staff. Florence native who also played for Alabama and later joined Saban's staff as an assistant strength coach. He left to be an defensive line coach elsewhere just to wind up back on staff and coaching premier talent year after year. I had Roach as one of my top candidates for this job when Bill Clark retired and feel like he is ready to take on a new challenge.
Bryant Vincent, UL Monroe (2024-?)
This is the interim who took over for Bill Clark half way through the season, and should had been the choice then. It was not easy to replace a legend in Bill Clark. It is like a G5 version of replacing Nick Saban. How can you do it? He was able to float the ship to shore and capped it with a bowl win. Now, he is at by far the worst program in the FBS and may get them a bowl appearance for the first time in twelve years.
Have To Consider
Alex Mortensen, UAB (Interim; 2025 season only)
I rarely put interims on my list, but I had to put him on here after that win against Memphis. The son of the late Chris Mortensen has been a longtime Saban assistant and thought he can go to UAB as OC and then find him as a OC at a NFL team in the next ten years. Instead, he is stuck trying to coach a bad UAB team and he is finding success dethroning a top 25 team like it was easy. He need to interview him, but I feel like he wants to go coach in the NFL instead.
Tom Herman, former Texas (2017-20) and FAU (2023-24) Head Coach
He used to be one of the top coaches in the country and has now fallen to the bottom. I don't know if he wants to get back in the ring, but he was able to make Texas look good for a glimpse and he destroyed teams like Oklahoma and Louisville at Houston, so he can win games it's just unsure what happened at FAU for him to see a total collapse.
Drew Cronic, Navy (OC; 2024-?)
Green flag: He is a former head coach and is 75-23 at three different schools. Red flag: He runs the triple option. It isn't that bad if you're willing to go traditional. If Cronic is your HC, you know you have winner on your staff and will bring winners along.
Kerwin Bell, Western Carolina (2021-?)
On my initial candidate list, I had his son Kade Bell. Now I have Kerwin on my official list. He is on the older side, but he brings a lot to the plate and has an explosive offense that fits well for UAB. He is also a 1988 Miami Dolphins 7th round draft selection and even though it didn't work, I'll consider him a legend.
Ed Orgeron, former LSU Head Coach (2016-21)
I'll say the quiet thing out loud. He is not that great of a coach and is really there for the soundbites, but he knows how to build a roster and hire staff to coach that team. If he could go to UAB and hire a SEC level coaching staff, you won't see 2019 LSU levels but will see a team competing in the American.
There is my list. I have so many more to come. Virginia Tech 2.0 to next, I have Florida and Colorado State ready to go, the Titans one is taking me a bit to solidify and I expect Mike Norvell to be fired first thing in the morning so I will be busy posting coach candidate lists. Be on the lookout and I want to hear your thoughts in the comment section!