The Sporting News has a list of five up and coming coaches. We had heard of Dan Hawkins (Boise State) and Greg Brandon (Bowling Green) before, but others are not as well known. Then again with Dorrell at the helm we could be taking on any one of them at some no-name bowl next year, and make them instant winners. Anyways, here are three news names from the Sporting News:
Tim Murphy, Harvard. Before leaving for Harvard, Murphy had a five-year stint at Cincinnati (1989-93), where he took a dog of a program and carved out an 8-3 record in 1993. One of the game's best offensive minds, he has proved he can recruit with strict academic standards (and no athletic scholarships). One problem: Harvard is his dream job, and he's not leaving for just any mid-major spot. It would have to be a BCS team with unwavering administrative support.
Chris Hatcher, Valdosta State. In five years, he has put up 59 wins, one Division II national title, one national title runner-up and four Gulf South Conference titles. Here's the best part: He's only 32. He won the Harlon Hill Trophy -- the Division II Heisman -- in 1994 as a quarterback at Valdosta State, and he has fantastic knowledge of the passing game.
Bobby Hauck, Montana. A young Rick Neuheisel without all of the baggage, Hauck is an energetic, passionate recruiter and the charismatic voice of the program. He has worked as an assistant at major programs -- UCLA, Colorado, Washington -- and flourished in his first head coaching job despite huge expectations (think Alabama). Hauck won a piece of the Big Sky Conference title in each of his first two seasons and lost in the I-AA championship game last season.
Sounds good. We will add their names to our running list of prospective KD replacements, a list we are hoping will come in very handy for our discussion at the end of next season:
Chris Hatcher, Valdosta State. In five years, he has put up 59 wins, one Division II national title, one national title runner-up and four Gulf South Conference titles. Here's the best part: He's only 32. He won the Harlon Hill Trophy -- the Division II Heisman -- in 1994 as a quarterback at Valdosta State, and he has fantastic knowledge of the passing game.
Bobby Hauck, Montana. A young Rick Neuheisel without all of the baggage, Hauck is an energetic, passionate recruiter and the charismatic voice of the program. He has worked as an assistant at major programs -- UCLA, Colorado, Washington -- and flourished in his first head coaching job despite huge expectations (think Alabama). Hauck won a piece of the Big Sky Conference title in each of his first two seasons and lost in the I-AA championship game last season.
Tom O'BrienThoughts, additions, comments?
Dan Hawkins
Randy Edsall
Bobby Petrino
Mike Price (he is rollin' baby!)
Butch Davis
Mike Leach
Gregg Brandon
Dick Vermeil
Al Saunders
Mike Heimerdinger
Jim Schwartz
Scott Linehan
Tom Rossley
Dick LeBeau
Gregg Williams
Jerry Gray
Dennis Erickson
George O'Leary
Norm Chow
Rick Neuheisel
Tim Murphy
Chris Hatcher
Bobby Hauk