Notre Dame Coaching Options:

There is no guarantee that Weiss will be fired as head coach of Notre Dame.  AD Jack Swarbrick has said he reviews all programs at the end of each season, not just football.  So presumably, no final decision has as of yet been made.  But its fun to speculate.  Here are some of the options as to who might be coaching the Irish next season.  Thank you Brick for submitting your ideas earlier this week

1.  Charlie Weis

Weis has had some successes at Notre Dame, but also some epic failures.  He is the incumbent candidate though, so we have to at least consider the possibility of Weis staying.

Why He Should Stay:

Weis has brought the recruiting back up to where Notre Dame fans think it should be.  Notre Dame has an average recruiting ranking of 14th since 2005, but a 40th place finish in '05 skews those numbers.  Since Weis has taken over, he has rankings of 8, 8, 2, and 21 nationally.  And this season, he is on pace for another top ten class.  Every school in the nation wanted Jimmy Clausen when he was coming out of high school, and Notre Dame landed him, and Weis deserves a lot of credit for that.  And lets not forget the contract he has.  With 6 years left on a 10 year contract, Weis would be owed at least $10 million if fired this season in a buyout.  This contract was supposed to create stability at Notre Dame, and the powers that be would love for that to still be the case.

Why He Should Go:

Because he sucks as a head football coach.  He has a 35-25 record at a school that even a retarded monkey could probably have at least a .500 record based off of talent alone.  He gave up play calling duties for a period of time last season when he is supposed to be a play calling offensive genius.  Notre Dame is better than a close to .500 football program every year.  The Weis era's best season was 2005 when the team was mostly made up of Tyrone Willingham players.  And we just won't mention the 2007 season at all.

My Prediction:  Weis is gone.  Big wins over UConn, Stanford, and in a Bowl Game could save his job, but I don't think so.  In the preseason I said if they did not make a BCS bowl Weis was gone.  I am sticking to that.  5% chance he stays.

2.  Brian Kelly - Cincinnati

Kelly has been a fast riser up the coaching ladder in recent years.  After 8 years at Grand Valley State, Kelly moved on to Central Michigan for just three years, improving their record in all three before moving on to the Bearcats in 2007.  And once again, Cincinatti has improved in every season with Kelly at the helm (assuming they win at least one more game this season).

Why He Will Take the Job:

Kelly's name is the trendy pick for the Notre Dame Job.  Kelly wants to move up the coaching ladder, this much is clear.  He had a good thing at Central Michigan, but he wanted to be in a BCS conference.  But the Big East as the bottom of the BCS barrel.  And as someone born in the North East and coaches in the Midwestern region, Notre Dame is a the premier job in the area.  Notre Dame is a destination job - no where to go up unless you want to test the NFL waters - a scary proposition for career college coaches.

Why He Will Not Take the Job:

He has a good thing going at Cincinnati.  It is the best three year run in school history, and it is thanks to Kelly.  In the weak Big East, Kelly can pretty much have his way with the conference possibly as long as he wants to.  No one really gets much talent, so it is thanks to good coaching that teams do well.  Notre Dame is a sinking ship at this point.  There is probably no job in college football more scrutinized than Notre Dame head coach, and do you really want to be a part of that?  Kelly hasn't so much as been an assistant on a big time program never mind a head coach.  If you go to Notre Dame, you may not play the toughest schedule in the nation, but you do play USC, Michigan, and Michigan State every season.  This year, all three programs are down.  But that will not last.  Coaching in the Big East makes it hard to make the National Title game, but there is a guaranteed slot in a BCS game if you can win the conference.  Kelly wants to move up the ladder, but Notre Dame is not the right time or place.

My Prediction:  If offered, Kelly will take the job.  But Notre Dame shouldn't offer Kelly unless they whiff on everyone else.  He isn't ready for this job, and there are better options out there.  25% chance.

3.  Bob Stoops - Oklahoma

This is a name I was surprised to see.  Stoops is a national championship winning coach at Oklahoma, and has 6 conference titles in 10 years plus another Divisional title - which should have been a conference title if not for a major upset by Kansas State.  But three straight and 5 of 6 bowl losses (the only win being the 2005 Holiday Bowl) leaves Sooner nation a little restless.  Mostly great in the regular season, Stoops just can never seem to win the big one.

Why He Takes The Job:

Stoops is another Midwest guy.  He was born in Ohio, and played his college football in Iowa.  The expectations are getting too high at Oklahoma, and with Texas in the division continuing to get stronger every year, Stoops may have a tough time winning the division for a while.  The Notre Dame schedule is easier to manage than the Big 12 south schedule is every season.  Texas = USC, but after that Notre Dame plays a much easier schedule than OU does.  All he has to do is finish near the top of the polls, and Notre Dame will play in a BCS game.  Something that is not assured if OU loses to Texas and doesn't make the conference title game.

Why He Does Not Take the Job:

Stoops is one of the highest paid coaches in the NCAA and Oklahoma would be dumb to let him go.  He has a tough time winning the big games for sure, but last year Florida was a buzz saw so that can hardly be blamed on him.  Some of those other losses however can be.  Oklahoma plays in the 2nd toughest conference in the nation, but he has at least made the conference title game in 6 of the last 7 seasons, although he will miss this year.  But that is also without Sam Bradford at quarterback.  With a healthy Bradford and top target Jermaine Gresham this OU team may be in the national championship talks still.  Notre Dame will inquire about this job, but Oklahoma will not let it happen.

Prediction:  Very very slim chance at this one.  This would be a major steal for Notre Dame.  3% chance.

4.  Jon Gruden - ESPN Analyst - Former Coach

Gruden had been an NFL head coach from 1998-2008 with the Oakland Raiders and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before being let go before the 2009 season.  Currently, he is a color analyst for ESPN's Monday Night Football.  Gruden has said publicly that he does want to get back into coaching if the right opportunity presents itself. 

Why He Will Take the Job:

Gruden is, shockingly enough, a Midwestern guy born in Ohio.  Other than Ohio State, Notre Dame would make sense as a place he would want to coach at.  Gruden does have some college coaching experience as a Graduate Assistant from 1968-87 at Tennessee, SE Missouri State QB coach in 1988, University of Pacific Wide Receivers coach in 1989, and the Pitt receiver coach in 1991.  Gruden's father was an assistant coach at Notre Dame under Dan Devine, but John decided not to go there because he thought he would not get much playing time.  Nevertheless, the family ties are there.  Gruden went to High School in South Bend.  Ironically, both he and Weis attended the same high school.

Why He Will Not Take the Job:


Gruden is an NFL guy.  He started as an assistant with the 49ers in 1990 and after a year back in college 1991 had been on an NFL staff from 1992 until this season.  If he wanted to be back in college, he could have done it this season as the Oregon Offensive Coordinator, but he turned that down.  The college game has changed a lot in that time and Gruden would not be ready for it.  Just ask Pete Carroll, Steve Spurrier, and Nick Saban among others how different coaching is between college and the pros.  In college, you motivate people and lead players trying to advance their football careers.  In the pros, you deal with players trying to improve their contracts.  Gruden is used to that type, not the college type.  His name alone would bring in some players, which is something Notre Dame must have if they want to succeed, but that is about it.  Also, Gruden and Weis have the same agent.  Talk about a precarious situation.

My Prediction:  Gruden will not be offered the job and even if he was, he wouldn't take it.  I think he will be on the Washington Redskins sidelines next season.  2% chance.

EDIT:  After writing this post, it appears that Gruden will be staying in the Monday Night Football booth after this season.   So it looks like its really a 0% chance now.

5.  Kirk Ferentz - Iowa

Ferentz is always a popular name this time of year.  Nearly ever season he seems to have an offer, or at least gets strong consideration from several major college or NFL teams. 

Why He Will Take the Job:

Yet another Midwestern guy (born in Michigan).  Is there a pattern developing here?  Iowa seems to have peaked.  They had their best chance to win a conference title this season but couldn't get it done.  This is not Ferentz's fault, but the team can't really get any higher than it is right now.  Iowa won two conference titles in 2002 and 2004, but since then have not cracked the ten win barrier, although they can still do that this season with one more win.  This is his 11th season as the Hawkeye head coach, so the restlessness has to be setting in.  He is already the 3rd highest paid coach in the nation, but Notre Dame has the money to bump that up if necessary.

Why He Will Not Take the Job:

Ferentz just signed a contact extension this season.  Iowa would have to release him from that contract for him to collect any remaining money, and it is not likely they would do that.  Iowa is relevant in the Big 10 nearly every year, and in a conference with Michigan and Ohio State that is really all you can ask for as a program.  Ferentz hasn't taken any other job offered in the past few seasons including the Michigan job before the 2008 season, so you have to think he is happy where he is.  After turning down the Cleveland Browns job last season, Ferentz got this extension.

My Prediction:  Ferentz will be going somewhere soon.  I do not think it will be Notre Dame, but I would not be surprised at all.  Ferentz will be offered the job, and depending on the wiggle room in his current contract, he should take it.  20% chance.

6.  Urban Meyer - Florida

And BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE!  Here is your possible surprise selection.  Although it probably should not be - and it you listened to Boston Game Time Podcast from Friday Night, I mentioned this there as well.   Meyer has everything he wants at Florida right now.  He could have had the ND job back in 2005 but chose the Gators instead.

Why He Will Take the Job:

Meyer has stated publicly that Notre Dame is his dream job.  And like all the rest, he is a Midwestern guy (Ohio).  But why now?  Why not back in 2005 when both the UF and the ND jobs were open?  Meyer was the hot name that season.  But he ran a trendy spread option offense that many said would not work in a power conference with faster defenses.  Meyer had alot to prove, and under the scrutiny and microscope that is Notre Dame football he would have had a hard time doing it.  It is tough to go to your dream job when no one is sure how well you will do.  Now that he has proven himself at Florida, the time might be right.  Next season, Florida loses much of its top talent.  "The Recruiting Class" of 2006 will all be gone.  This was thought to be the class that brought back the glory to Florida, and it has.  Two national titles, a Heisman trophy sandwiched in the middle, and right in the hunt for another title this season, this class has done what Florida wanted it to do.  Tim Tebow and Brandon Spikes are both seniors, and they are the leaders of this teams.  Top receiver Riley Cooper is as well.  Top Juniors who could declare for the draft include the Pouncey brothers, Aaron Hernandez, Carlos Dunlap (he will be a top ten pick), A.J Jones, Pierre-Louis, Joe Haden, and Major Wright.  I would expect of those 7 top juniors, at least 3 probably 4 will declare.  Florida will drop off next year from where they have been these past several seasons.

Why He Will Not Take the Job:

Florida is on top of the world, and it is probably one of the easiest schools to recruit at.  Both Florida State and Miami are in the state as well, but both are down compared to Florida, and UF can pretty much pick whoever they want for talent in that state right now.  They may be down next year, but they will just reload and be right back and may even compete for a division title, just probably not national title.  If he wins this national title, he will be able to name his price and Florida will pay it.

My prediction:  Meyer is gone if Notre Dame wants him.  And they will.  His stock is as high as it ever will be, and its time to sell yourself to the highest bidder.  And if that bidder is Notre Dame, your dream job school, well then so be it.  44% chance.

7.  Anyone Else:  1%

There will be some other names thrown out there without a doubt.  I'm also hearing names like Jim Harbaugh but he is a Michigan Man and he wouldn't do it.


What do you think?