This is going to be a long post, so let me start off by saying that if you want to read any of my other posts, I have the link here below:
https://fanspo.com/nfl/s/college_football/p/ehkeG_1Wbo6Yb-/coach-candidate-tier-list-links
Let me start off by saying that it took me twenty minutes to come up with names and place them in the particular order I wanted, but posting this took even longer. I nearly finished the coach candidate list and then I walked away for a moment and then I lost it and had to completely restart. If you are seeing this, then that means I have restarted and it normally takes between 1-3 hours to write and post all of this because I also do additional research while I write so I have both my phone and my computer on at the same time. So overall, I spent between 3-6 hours to get all of this done.
The Penn State job is the biggest job right now, and with Florida, Florida State, Wisconsin, LSU, USC, and Kentucky all potentially opening up, Penn State will have first dibs and plenty of time to make a decision on who they would like to lead their team in 2026. With that also being said, with Saban gone, this job may become a bidding war for the eventual highest paid coach in college football. Kirby Smart is currently at top with $13.3 million, but if they are looking for the best of the best, they may be asking between $12-$15 million starting a possible domino effect that will cause the number 2 guy getting his salary matched if he doesn't leave and then guys like Sarkisian, Dabo, and Ryan Day getting unwarrented salary boosts because of this ultimately ending with Kirby Smart getting a $15 million contract to stay on top of the pact.
Also, in my coach candidate list, I have eleven guys on this list with a little more broad taste of the landscape, but the AD probably has three names to pick from as they are looking for someone that not just gives them 9 or 10 wins like Franklin did, but can also compete for the championship and could win big games against the Ohio State's, the Oregon's, and the Michigan's. A team like Arkansas can settle with a guy that gives them 8 or 9 wins and an occasional upset to Texas or LSU, but they are not exactly worried about bringing home a CFP hardware at the moment. They will be just as happy with back to back Outback Bowl wins then sitting in the dumps. Without further ado, here is my list.
Cream Of The Crop
Matt Rhule, Nebraska (2023-?)
I have been talking a big game about one person, but realistically, this may be the first option for everybody in Happy Valley. He is a former walk on for the Nittany Lions, started his coaching career as a volunteer assistant. He went on to have success at Temple and Baylor and put both teams at the very top that has since made both schools struggle to fulfill similar success since he left. He tried coaching in the NFL which lead to... Nothing, but he coached Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield and somehow had more success with Teddy Bridgewater. He got fired and got back into coaching months later at Nebraska. Everyone knew that this will be his last stop as he is too good of a coach that would get fired, but everyone also knew that one team may be the only team to make him walk away from Nebraska, and that is Penn State. Don't be surprised if on November 30th you see him take a plane from Lincoln to College Township. If it isn't Rhule than it has to be...
Curt Cignetti, Indiana (2024-?)
The hottest name in football right now. He is a Pennsylvania kid who was the recruiting coordinator for North Carolina State in 2006, after the season, he gets poached by the then new head coach of Alabama, Nick Saban and he brought him in after having success in the state of Alabama bringing in Decatur native (played for nearby city Athens) Phillip Rivers (I have a fun story about his family but that will be another day). He came in and recruited and set the recruiting standard that Saban lived up to til his retirement. One name in particular he recruited was Julio Jones, and Cignetti is credited for developing him to a starter and later a future Hall of Famer. In 2011, instead of waiting to become a OC at a big name school, he left Bama after one championship to become a head coach at Indiana University, Pennsylvania. He found instant success and went to Elon and found instant success and then took the James Madison job and found success, but not as much success as when the Dukes transitioned from FCS and FBS and never missed a beat which earned him the Indiana job which he has now turned this basketball school into a top 3 team in football with a win against Oregon and a Heisman frontrunner and potential number 1 pick.
Top Power Coaches
Mike Elko, Texas A&M (2024-?)
Elko is a East Coast guy stuck in the Southeast. One of the best defensive coaches you will see and could probably guarantee a top 15 defense every year. His offense always seems flawed but will be ignored after a huge win in September or early October but will become noticeable before Thanksgiving. Would be a good fit, just I fear he may fall in the James Franklin trap.
Matt Campbell, Iowa State (2016-?)
If you can turn Iowa State into a top tier Big 12 program with no financial help until after you start winning and had tons of NFL talent walk in and out unto the Sunday World is crazy to think he hasn't left. Campbell can go 6-6 every year and the fans don't care. The standard is very low and he has over performed and has stayed committed to this program. He has turned down interviews for big jobs from USC to Florida to possibly LSU (not confirmed) to NFL jobs like the Vikings and Jets (Saleh hire not Glenn) and people wander what will take him to leave, and I have to assume maybe the Ohio State job or could it be Penn State?
Lance Leipold, Kansas (2021-?)
I like the idea of hiring Leiopld, I don't like actually hiring him. This is a guy who went six time DII champ to taking the Buffalo job and turning them into powerhouses then leaving Buffalo and turn Kansas around is impressive, I just think he is too much of a small town, midwestern guy that won't be able to fulfill the massive pressure in this coaching time cooker that Penn State will put on him. Leipold has to let things sit for a year or two then he pounces, Penn State may not even give him six games if he does it like that.
Jedd Fisch, Washington (2024-?)
Probably one of the most underrated coaches right now. He got caught in the Nick Saban retirement coach cycle leaving Arizona for Washington, and after the first year being pretty good even though coming in eight months before kickoff, he has everything rolling this season and may place them with a 9-3 record and a possible CFP berth. I am a really big fan of his, I just expect him to have some sort of Chip Kelly downfall where you just don't expect it right away but there is nothing else you can do until he leaves.
Manny Diaz, Duke (2024-?)
The former Miami head coach who was technically the Temple head coach for 11 days until leaving for the Miami job after Mark Richt retired (Diaz was his DC). After he was fired at Miami, he rebuilt his image at Penn State as the DC and bounced back and is now the head coach at Duke who has had success with back to back transfer QB's thanks to the basketball money being thrown in for football to lend.
Hometown Kid
Terry Smith, Penn State (Interim; 2025 season only)
I have to make a dedicated tier for Terry. This is probably the third person on the AD's list behind Cignetti and Rhule, but he would be taken off immediately if he doesn't at least go 4-2. Former Penn State standout who played professionally then went and coached High School. Found his way in college and has been on James Franklin's staff since day one. If he succeeds, he may be the best option. If not, he will mostly likely land a position on KC Keeler's staff in Temple.
A Lot Has To Happen
Jake Dickert, Wake Forest (2025-?)
The former Washington State head coach left to replace Dave Clawson who struggled to win games the last few years without Sam Hartman. Dickert found no problem by using disgraced SEC QB Robby Ashford and making him look as prime Kyler Murray. If you can win at Wake, you can win anywhere, but I feel like for Penn State to consider him is if he coaches a 10-2 team who makes the ACC Championship Game.
Dan Mullen, UNLV (2025-?)
I guess at this point, Dan Mullen is in the same boat as Jimbo Fisher and James Franklin. Top coaches, just can't win big games when it matters the most. If Mullen wants this job, there has to be something off about the program for coaches to not want to go there and then they will ask Mullen, and he takes it.
Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns (2020-?)
A curveball hire right here. One of the smartest minds in the NFL is born and raised in Pennsylvania and went to the Ivy League school Penn. I saw flashes of Baker in 2020 and then the front office wanted you to think he was washed so they swapped him for Deshaun Watson. Stefanski has not been able to do anything after that miracle Flacco half season in 2023, I am beginning to wonder if it is more on the front office than on the coach for the failures. If they somehow lose to the Dolphins Sunday, there is a chance he is let go which means Penn State will have time to talk to Kevin about the job.
There you have it! Penn State. I am going to be busy getting all of these coach candidate lists going to keep just slowly churning them out, just expect the Titans one to be last. Also, leave your thoughts. Is there anyone I left out that you would had put in?