| 16 December 2009
The 2009 college football season is winding down. As 2009 disappears in the rearview mirror and 2010 rises on the horizon, there are several coaches on next year's hot seat.
Who are these coaches and what have they done to deserve inclusion on our Coaches Hot Seat List?
Please note: This list is what it is ... it is my opinion and if you believe my opinion sucks, that is fine: put it in the comments and we'll talk about it because we are always up for solid conversation. Also, the indicated records are only the records the coach has compiled at that school.
What will get a football coach fired faster? A poor record or lost concession stand sales? If you said concession stand sales, then you would be correct. Money drives everything. If you want your coach canned simply do not show up to the game or if you do attend, don't buy anything. Fan apathy can be a killer. Don't believe me? Just ask Phillip Fulmer about that one.
- Rich Rodriguez
University of Michigan
8-16 overall (3-13 conference)
Fire Site
Rodriguez seemed to be the no brainer hire two seasons ago. Coming off a successful run at West Virginia, Rodriguez was a hot commodity. Rodriguez's compensation has been inline with other coaches at comparable schools, about 2.5 million annually. Rodriguez has not yet gotten his entire system implemented at Michigan and this has hurt his over all record ... and will likely lead to his termination in 2010. - Ron Zook
University of Illinois
21-39 overall (12-28 conference)
The 2nd FireRon Zook Site
Give Zook the Hook
Florida Gator fans could have told Illini fans that this was coming the year Zook was hired by Illinois. Zook was ran out of Gainesville following a 23-14 overall (16-8 conference) record ... at 21-39 overall since moving to Illinois, Zook's seat isn't simply hot, it is on fire. Just think, we are only two years removed from his raise in salary. Zook was forced to clean house following the regular season this year and we all know that is the first sign of desperation before a coach enters the 'Death Roll' prior to his firing. How many Fire Ron Zook sites will exist by next September? We set the over/under at five. The man can recruit, he just can not perform the duties of being a head coach. - Dan Hawkins
University of Colorado
13-24 overall (8-16 conference)
Some Want Him Fired
Some Do Not
Dan Hawkins was brought into Colorado to rescue the ailing Buffs program. Hawkins posted a 53-11 record at Boise State and was one of the hottest coaching commodities on the market at that time. Apparently Hawkins was not the sole reason the Boise State program was winning because they still are. 2010 will be the put up or shut up year for Hawkins and his staff because "It's Division I football! It's the Big 12! It ain't intramurals!". - Jim Tressel
Ohio State University
93-21 overall (59-13 conference)
FireJTressel.com
For fans outside of the Big Ten, one look at the record will make you scratch your head. How does someone with an 81.6% winning percentage even get a sniff at a termination? Believe it or not, many Buckeye fans are growing tired of the Sweater Vest's basic, plodding, conservative offensive philosophy. Hard to believe? Yep, that's what we thought as well. The team is preparing for their fifth consecutive BCS Bowl (three straight losses), but at the same time fans are beginning to turn apathetic towards the program. Why? Because of a lack of BCS Titles ... big time college football will jade the fans like that. I do not necessarily agree with Tressel being this high on the list, but feeling the pulse of the fans puts him here. He will make a solid coach for an SEC program in two years if he does not clear the hump. Buckeye fans, be careful what you wish for ... reference the coach in the number one position above and keep in mind that your coach has won ten-plus games per season. - Mark Richt
University of Georgia
89-27 overall (50-22 conference)
Like Hawkins, Some Want Him Fired while Some Do Not
Mark Richt is a faithful follower, a good family man, and a solid coach. Under Richt's tenure, the Bulldogs have celebrated with a bowl game following every season, including this one. Richt was another coach that was forced to clean house (defense) following this season. Again, when you see Athletic Directors Head Coaches terminate droves of assistants, either a turn around or a death roll is right around the corner. While publicly the terminations were Richt's doing, let's not kid ourselves and look at the fact that Richt was in a 'fire or be fired' position that Slu Croom, Tommy Tuberville and other SEC Coaches have found themselves in. Either Richt turns this ship around within the next year to two years (max) or he will be looking for a head coaching position elsewhere. Imagine a coach who is 6-2 in bowl games being jobless ... you must beat your arch rivals in the SEC. - Les Miles
Louisiana State University
51-14 overall (27-13 conference)
Apparently He Never Got Past the Test Stage
Les Miles has been drawing some Tiger fans' ire since day one. While Miles record has been much higher than most would have anticipated, two straight sub-double-digit wins will get you on this list. Miles' buy out is not as high as many would be led to think. LSU fans are used to challenging for SEC and National Titles ... seasons of 8-5 and 9-3 simply do not cut it on the bayou. To top it off, Miles threw his own quarterback under the bus after lying to reporters following the now famous 'Spike Gate' game against Ole Miss earlier this season. Miles had to fire an assistant coach under the table a receivers coach resign due to recruiting violations and had to replace Larry Porter at the same time. Either Miles leads LSU back to Atlanta next December or the voices of the fans will drown out his record. - Bill Lynch
Indiana University
14-23 overall (5-19 conference)
Site Has Not Been Updated Recently
Lynch went 7-6 in his first season. After getting 'his' players into the program, Lynch has been 7-17 since. - Dennis Erickson
Arizona State University
19-18 overall (13-14 conference)
Fire Dennis Erickson on Facebook
Erickson was brought in to resurrect the Sun Devils football program in the way he did at Miami ... has not happened. - Paul Wulff
Washington State University
3-22 overall (1-17 conference)
If anyone deserves to be fired on record alone ... look no further. Granted the Cougars are not the team they once were, but when was the last time they were 1-17 in the conference? - Todd Dodge
University of North Texas
5-31 overall (2-20 conference)
Fire Todd Dodge? Are You Crazy?
2-10, 1-11, 2-10 ... see a pattern here? Regardless of who the fans believe is the root cause of this pitiful record, ultimately, the job rests on the shoulders of the head football coach.
Steve Spurrier (South Carolina; 35-27 with am 18-22 conference mark; just lost his offensive line coach)
Houston Nutt (Ole Miss; would not be ran out of town based solely on record ... interviewed for the Kansas opening)
Mike Sherman (Texas A&M; 10-14 overall with a 5-11 conference mark)
Mike Leach (Texas Tech; the TTU Board of Trustees wanted to fire him last February for not signing his contract ... Texas state law prevented them from doing so ... it will only take one bad season for the quirky pirate lover to be canned eventhough he has never had a team finish worse than 7-5 and is preparing for his tenth straight bowl game).
