Twice in one day. This will be my last college coach candidate list until maybe Sunday because this is the only coach vacancy I have yet to do a coach candidate tier list for. But don't worry. I will probably have my Titans coach candidate list out soon after this is posted. If you want to check out any of my other coach candidate lists, I will post it below:
https://fanspo.com/nfl/s/college_football/p/ehkeG_1Wbo6Yb-/coach-candidate-tier-list-links
Fun fact: Eight months ago, while the Rams were competing for the NCAA tournament and the school was on Spring Break, I was on campus for a national collegiate competition focused in my field. I walked on campus multiple times that week in the cold and thought how beautiful it was. I went to the bookstore and talked to the employees who were students their at CSU and they both talked about how much Jay Norvell has brought them back from the grave. I was a big Norvell guy dating back to Nevada was elated and thought they would never return to the dark ages they were in post Jim McElwain. Turns out I was wrong. They are 2-5 and after their homecoming loss to a new and improved Hawaii, it was time to pull the plug.
This is going to be a interesting coaching search for Colorado State, because this will be their first head coach heading into the Pac 12. With a new look Pac 12, this hire might identify what the Pac 12 will look for. We expect the top schools and coaches heading into the new season will be Boise State, Spencer Danielson and Washington State, Jimmy Rogers. With Oregon State also currently open and Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State, and Texas State all taking a step and/or may lose their coach for a bigger job, this will be an interesting off season. I believe the new Pac 12 will put them back in the Power Five Conferences as Boise State is built like a Big 12 team, Fresno State and San Diego State has the resources like a Big 12, put is trying to get back to competing like one, and Oregon State and Washington State are the old guard and we expect them to be the ones to compete against Boise State each season. Oregon State and Colorado State's hiring will just confirm if they believe so based on how aggressive they want to be and who they hire.
Priority No. 1
Tony Alford, Michigan (RB; 2024-?)
Now, you may think I'm crazy wanting to prioritize a RB coach for a team I thought is in a P5 school, but Tony Alford is a former Colorado State RB and is a proud alum who talks highly about it every second he gets. He has also been a top target for the job twice before (After McElwain left and after Bobo was fired). Nobody considered him mostly because the AD who hired both Bobo and Addazio was the same AD who was hiring Norvell. Now, there is a new AD in charge and we expect him to go all in in bringing the best coach possible. Alford worked at Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Michigan and working for Urban Meyer, Ryan Day, Sherrone Moore, Brian Kelly, Charlie Weis, and Rick Neuheisel. He has also been endorsed for the job by Urban Meyer.
If Alford Isn't An Option
Jay Hill, BYU (DC; 2023-?)
He has no ties to anywhere outside of the state of Utah, but he is a former FCS coach going 68-39 at Weber State. He is a fantastic coach who has done a lot of work rebuilding this Cougars defense to compete for the Big 12.
Matt Lubick, Kansas (Co-OC; 2025-?)
Lubick is an older coach who was able to kind of bring the Kansas Jayhawks offense back to life after a lackluster offense with mostly returning veterans. He was a GA for the Rams in 1995 and a position coach in the early 2000's, does he want to come back as the head coach with no head coach experience?
Jason Eck, New Mexico (2025-?)
If you can't join, jump on the other team and join another way? As New Mexico is staying put in the Mountain West and they are having a fantastic season so far starting 4-3 and with a win against UCLA forcing them to fire DeShaun Foster, he may want to get a bigger job and since Colorado State will be in the Pac 12, maybe he would want to join them to the rebranded conference.
Collin Klien, Texas A&M (OC; 2024-?)
A household name in the Midwest. Former Kansas State QB who was a Heisman finalist in 2012. Has found success as an OC for Kansas State and then made the shocking decision to leave his alma mater for Texas A&M. He has been fantastic helping Marcel Reed become a top 10 QB this season, but Aggies fans are not too impressed with him after close calls against Arkansas and Auburn.
Not Sold, But Realistic
Klint Kubiak, Seattle Seahawks (OC; 2025-?)
The son of Super Bowl champion coach Gary Kubiak and Colorado State alum may want to be a head coach and find college football to be easier to start and then make his way to the NFL. But, I expect him to be a big name in the NFL HC coaching search after his current success he has with Sam Darnold showing last season was no fluke.
Brent Vigen, Montana State (2021-?)
The hottest name in the FCS, has been thrown around for basically any Midwest jobs available. I may be wrong, but I don't see him leave any time soon. I see him trying to stay and build a dynasty to compete against North Dakota State and South Dakota State and then he may leave or retire.
Mike Gundy, former Oklahoma State Head Coach (2005-25)
I hope he can get a second shot at coaching and rebuild his legacy and reputation, I just don't see Colorado State being the place. I also feel like school will be hesitant with Gundy because he has been at one place for over twenty years. We'll see where he lands up.
Another day, another coach candidate list down. Trying to get all of my lists out of the way before I get behind once again. Sunday or Monday, I will either post a coach candidate list of the coach fired that Sunday (whomever it is) or I will make a 2.0. Let me know your thoughts down below and let me know who you want to see for an updated version. I just updated Virginia Tech, there are a few schools I can update and want to know what y'all want to see.